The voice of businessmen: Queins Machines

Our column “The voice of businessmen” is making a comeback with an interview with Mr Manfred Hoffmann of QUEINS Machines GmbH, the Germany-based company supplying first-class new machinery as well as reconditioned machines to customers of the cable and rope industry worldwide. He has a very interesting point of view to share, about prospects of international markets and competition.

- How was your first part of 2015, compared to the most recent years?
Basically 2015 will be a good year for us and we were and are quite busy. Within the last 12 months we have delivered several machines such as bow stranders, rigid stranding machines, planetary machines as well as different types of pay-offs and take-ups, taping machines and all kinds of capstans. Especially noteworthy is a machine which will be delivered in the second half of 2015. It is a planetary stranding line for reels of 55 tons per reel.

- Besides standard machines for the production of cables and ropes, Queins also supplies lines for special industries like the offshore industry. How is this market evolving?
Heavy machinery is required and only few manufacturers are experienced with the supply of such heavy duty machines which are laid out for huge reels and very heavy weight. Some customers are presently withholding new investments due to the low oil price. They say that they would consider new expansion only when the oil price comes back to at least 75 US$/barrel.

- You have three representatives in the Americas. Which role does this continent play for Queins and which prospects do you see in the next future?
The US as well as Mexico are one of our main markets with good perspectives for the years to come. The actual exchange rate Euro to US Dollar makes imports for these markets less expensive compared to previous years.

- Queins will attend both wire Southeast Asia and wire South America soon. On which trade show do you place higher hopes?
Frankly, both markets are different and are not in the best shape. In Asia we are facing severe competition from Chinese manufacturers and there are few investments in the electric cable industry right now. In South America the economy in Brazil and Argentina is not in good shape either. Here, however, we count on visitors from surrounding countries like Chile, Peru, Bolivia and Colombia.

- Is there a strong competition among the cable machinery manufacturers? What are the key factors and strong points you rely on?
It is clear that when few investments are being done the competition is very strong. Everybody wants to have a full order book. Several European manufacturers are building their products in China. Furthermore we have competion from Chinese manufacturers approaching European and American cable factories. The same applies to Turkish machine manufacturers. We as Queins Machines GmbH manufacture our machines in Germany and have to convince our customers with arguments of higher technolgy, longer lifetime and safer equipment.


In the picture, Mr Manfred Hoffmann in front of a heavy duty gearbox for planetary cabler.