SMB International GmbH is a good choice for specialists from near and far and will continue to expand its team in 2021. The material handling specialist offers unique products and system solutions and is largely independent thanks to regional sales channels and in-house production.
A strong team
SMB International and the measurement technology experts from MBA Instruments together form the SMB Group, which has been based in Quickborn for almost 50 years. Just outside Hamburg, around 160 employees offer cross-industry products and systems from a single source. Whether engineer, electrician, PLC programmer or fitter - the well-established team with many long-standing employees from a wide range of areas of expertise was expanded by more than 22 new colleagues in 2020 alone. The search for the best in their field will continue in 2021. Even if even well-trained people are currently worried about their job prospects, it pays to remain selective. "In any situation, it's important to find the right employer for you. And as a company, the right employees!" says Andreas Heckel, graduate engineer and Managing Director of SMB International GmbH. "Attracting and retaining them is also crucial for the future of SMB."
Technology that has proven itself
Securing a good position on the market in the long term is often achieved through specialization and niche strategies. As a material handling specialist, SMB continues to focus on individual production. Guaranteeing the uniqueness of their products is therefore easy for the special machine manufacturers and designers. Market-leading compact storage systems with truck shuttle systems or the new "SHARK" layer palletizer with its versatile range of applications are second to none. Above all, however, it is about the absolutely flawless functionality of the products. Reliable technology requires a particularly high level of vertical integration and a high degree of independence. For this reason, the company management made a conscious decision from the outset to develop a large proportion of the components in-house and to realize them locally with a very high level of in-house production. This means that customer requirements can be implemented quickly, individually and in line with deliveries. "As SMB engineers, we are proud and grateful that successes such as the new "SHARK" palletizer allow us to look to the future with optimism, even in these times," says Andreas Heckel.
The future of SMEs
SMB International is one of the 99 percent of companies in Germany that provide the majority of all in-company training positions and contributes to the value creation power of the important innovation and technology engine of SMEs. The addition of partnership projects with experts from various sectors is the icing on the cake. It makes SMB technology even more flexible to use and always means exciting challenges for the design engineers. Last but not least, the cooperation as a strong SME sector - the backbone of the German economy - benefits everyone in the long term.