Extrusion International 6-2021

49 Extrusion International 6/2021 was originally known as e-norm. All of these put together with the devel- opment of electronics have been sig- ni fi cant steps along the way. You have spoken about your Father and the part he played – where do you two fi t into the overall picture? Jan: We both started as apprentices learning as much of the overall pro- cess as we could and steadily made our way up the ladder in both the good and the bad times the compa- ny went through. Frank is now CEO, and the guy with a clear vision of the future and in charge of the strategy to get us where we want to go, and I’m the CSO with the responsibil- ity of looking after our worldwide customer base through a team of Area Sales Managers and network of agents spread over 60 different countries. In your time with the company, what major changes have you seen in the market? Frank: Too many to list overall, but if we look at more recent times, on the technology side it’s been the advance in electronics and the ability this gives us to apply a powerful electrical dis- charge to sensitive substrates at very close range. This has been matched by the development of more com- plex substrates with sometimes chal- lenging properties that are now be- ing used for packaging purposes. For example, customers are now looking for special coatings and effects, so we must gear our R&D to respond to these changes in market demand. How have you taken the company from a small family business to a mar- ket leader? Frank: It’s all about careful planning. We’ve just been through an exciting period in our development, despite the problems posed by the COVID-19 pandemic! Since 2017 we’ve invested in a new high-tech HQ here in Kold- ing – last year we opened our Test Lab, which is a unique global facility in this industry – andmost recentlywe have commissioned a fully equipped showroom where we can demon- strate the latest technology to cus- tomers either in person or by video link. All these investments have been market driven and highlight our fl ex- ible approach to any new situation. It allows us to develop new products in partnership with our customers and test them in the Lab before they com- mit to the expense of commercial production. You have always maintained that Vetaphone’s people are its greatest asset – why do you say that and how does it work? Frank: We realise that everyone is dif- ferent and that no single person can run a company. This sets the frame- work for how we operate here, with every member of staff engaging with the concept that they play an impor- tant part in the company’s success. By empowering them in their own jobs, we bene fi t from their ideas on how to improve work processes and make the company more productive – they all want to be part of a successful business and we’ve managed to do it in a typically Danish way by creating a strong team-spirit. Looking outside the company, why does Vetaphone believe so strongly in educating the market? Jan: Because we know there is still a limited understanding of surface treatment technology and the co- rona process. It’s still true to say that many companies know they need it, but they don’t know why, or what it can do for them. Corona is not a ‘set and forget’ process because not all jobs and substrates are the same, so it’s our job to teach them how it works and how to control it – and if it stops working, they need to know who they can ask for help. In addi- tion, as new applications come onto the market and new manufacturers enter the production chain, they are faced with the same issues and have the same questions that we have been asked to solve many times be- fore – so education is an ongoing process. By sharing our knowledge, we empower our customers to im- prove their productivity. If we look ahead from this year’s 70th Anniversary, what plans do you have for continuing the company’s success in the global market? Frank: First of all, I’d like to say how proud we are of what the company and the whole Vetaphone family has achieved up to now – it’s a privilege to be leading such a dynamic and suc- cessful team. Looking ahead, I can see that market demand for our custom- ers’ products will continue to grow, so we are here for the long term too. All demand projections for labels and printed packaging are upwards and as new materials are developed and employed, our technology will play a major part in securing success for manufacturers by working to devel- op strategic partnerships. Do you see a growing importance in these partnerships? Jan: Yes, no question about that. Our partners are already working hard with us to develop more environ- mentally friendly packaging using bio-degradable and easier to recycle materials, like mono-layer plastic fi lms with special plasma coatings, but there are many more examples. Vetaphone will continue to play an integral role in fi nding these new solutions, and we have the unique knowledge and experience that al- lows us to adapt to these challenges. Overall, what would you say has been your greatest achievement? Frank: From a personal point of view, I’m really proud of the way we sup- port our worldwide customer base with the latest technology that im- proves their ef fi ciency and end prod- ucts – and we do it with a company culture that makes it fun to go to work! Vetaphone A/S Fabriksvej 11, DK-6000 Kolding, Denmark www.vetaphone.com