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60,000
rpm
Even Faster than Formula One
Management Report / Vorwerk Engineering / 27
The powerful, maintenance-free motor of the Kobold VK 140 generates an
impressive 60,000rpm for optimum suction power. By way of comparison,
a Formula One car only manages 10,000rpm. We don’t want to make a lot of
noise about it, but at just 74dB, the Kobold VK 140 is also one of the
quietest vacuum cleaners in the world.
Innovation will continue to be a major issue for Engineering in the future, too. Under the strategic management
of Vorwerk International – located in Switzerland – the notion of innovation is increasingly being
interpreted in a much broader sense. In this context, the division is focusing more and more on a structured
innovative approach that comprises all the core processes such as research and development, manufacturing
and procurement. Besides the classic product innovations, process and procedural innovations
are now being increasingly strived for. Additionally, the growth strategy prevailing at the Vorwerk direct
sales organisations necessitates an efficient, international value chain. The set-up at both R&D and
manufacturing is therefore oriented towards a clear allocation of value creating elements and assignment
profiles as well as focusing regionally on competencies. Every location within the division therefore has a
clearly defined task in the international production network.
The division pursues a policy of continual development of management staff to secure the successor
planning process. Annual development interviews, the measures thus derived, the identification and
targeted application of development functions as well as the implementation of “development centres”
for the assessment of potential are just some of the development instruments. These activities are carried
out in all locations at regular intervals.
At the Engineering location in Wuppertal, additional vocational training workplaces were created in the year
under review for the development of skilled workers. Moreover, manufacturing has been brought in line
with the latest developments in respect of workplace ergonomics. Initiatives targeting health management
supplement these measures.
The Engineering Division anticipates a further increase in the utilisation of the manufacturing facilities in
the current business year. Due to the increasing significance of international markets, both for procurement
and for sales and production, Engineering believes it is exposed to more risk from exchange and raw
material price fluctuations than before.