Massive turnover increase reported.

The Management Board of the HARTING Technology Group pushed the button launching the Harting Digital Business Platform (HDBP):
Dr. Michael Pütz, Dietmar Harting, Margrit Harting, Maresa Harting-Hertz, Philip Harting, Andreas Conrad and Dr. Frank Brode

The Harting Technology Group in Espelkamp (Kreis Minden-Lübbecke) massively increased its turnover for trading year 2016/17 (to 30 September). The family owned and managed global company saw a 14.7% in turnover, taking it up to €672 million (previous year: €586 million) – the highest figure in the company’s 72-year history. The increase exceeded the Management Board’s forecast at last year’s annual press conference in December 2016 by some way.

Digitalisation: vital area driven forward The company sees digitalisation as a major issue for German industrial policy over the next ten years. Everything that can be connected will be connected. Harting addressed the issue closely at an early stage. “The company is highly aware of the consequences of the effect that digitalisation will have. We know that, in order to remain competitive, we need to digitalise all the necessary processes,” said the Chairman of the Board, taking a clear position at the annual conference and seeing it as the duty of the German Federal Government to invest in the country’s digital infrastructure. And the issue is being driven forward overseas. Harting is also looking for momentum as a member of the Robotation Academy, founded in Foshan, Southern China in October, where around 1,000 industry representa-tives will be working on seminars and conferences on technology trends every year. ”We want to work with our customers to expand our Industry 4.0 skills and technology,” said Philip Harting. But he sees the increasingly strict Cyber Security Regulations in China as burdensome. And not just there - increasingly complex data protection rules and protectionist requirements are hampering free trade in other regions, too.

“We are really pleased with the growth in business”, enthused Company Chairman Philip Harting. “We are still on course towards becoming a global company. More than ever before, our success relies on our global corporate network of development, production and distribution companies. Customers see our products as some of the world’s best connectivity solutions and services in our industry.”

The Technology Group is progressing its international growth strategy and extending its global production network, with new plants in Chennai (India) and Agnita (Romania). There was also major expansion in Sibiu. Components for charging points for electric cars are manufactured in Sibiu and Agnita. Harting produces encapsulated cables and cable harnesses at the new plant in Silao, Mexico. Following the initial “ramp-up phase”, staff numbers are scheduled to be increased significantly from the current 35 over the next three years. Mexico is the partner country for HANNOVER MESSE 2018. “And we are expecting plenty more momentum from this”, says Philip Harting.

Strong turnover growth and investment in the future have had a positive effect on personnel development, explained Dr Michael Pütz Senior Vice President Human Resources. The number of employees (including trainees) rose to 4,639 in the 2016/17 trading year (previous year: 4,286) – an increase of 8.2%. 104 (4.3%) new jobs were created in Germany, and 249 (13.2%) new people were taken on at international production plants and subsidiaries. As of 30 September 2017, a total of 2,500 people were working at German Harting locations (Espelkamp, Minden and Rahden) and the overseas figure stood at 2,139. Outside recognition for personnel development

Training and further professional development have enjoyed high status at the Technology Group for decades now. 152 commercial and technical/business trainees and dual students across 22 different professions are currently preparing for a future career at Harting – twice as many as in 2009. Numerous awards and excellent exam results are evidence of the high quality of training, as illustrated by Dr Michael Pütz, Senior Vice President Human Resources. Pütz was delighted with
the 45 trainees who graduated with an average grade of 2.0 (“more than ever before“) and when four trainees were honoured at an award ceremony in Bielefeld by the East-Westphalia Chamber of Commerce (IHK).

Harting has overhauled the careers pages on the homepage to make the company an even bigger attraction to potential applicants: they’re fresh, bold, modern and inspiring. They also offer new digital services to simplify the application process.

Partner Margrit Harting talked about how the Harting Technology Group always stands up to the competition, performing as an excellent employer and source of momentum for the local area. Awards from around the world for quality, products and sustainability and the Group’s local and regional commitments were the main drivers. “We cannot rest on our laurels and must continue to prove ourselves. This is the only way to the future and long-term security for the company and its employees.”

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