hydraulik - HANSA-FLEX Hydraulics Canada Inc.

HYDRAULIKPRESSE
GENERAL MANAGER TECHNOLOGY
More than just a technician
Axel Tammen takes a global view
solution designed to meet their requirements.” Axel
Tammen considers the company’s cooperation with
customer Terex O&K Mining in Dortmund to be an
example of this type of work. HANSA-FLEX was
asked whether the company as a preferred supplier
would be capable of continuously delivering
32,000 parts complying with the specifications of
Terex O&K. Here the Technical Department provided
Sales with efficient back-up and helped shape the
“works in works” concept.
HANSA-FLEX has developed into a complex business
in terms of applied manufacturing processes and
products. To ensure a sound technical basis for success,
the firm has created the position of “General
Manager Technology” and appointed a key figure
with international experience to this role. Since 1 April
2007 Axel Tammen has been employed as “General
Manager Technology” at HANSA-FLEX’s Head Office.
In this period Mr Tammen, a graduate engineer for
precision mechanics, has assisted the company in its
transformation towards becoming a system partner
for fluid technology. Here he has shown plenty of
initiative by introducing an optimised process for
the approval or parts and suppliers and so extending
the existing quality management system. “We
intend to further professionalise the entire product
and service quality process,” comments Axel
Tammen, “in order to mould HANSA-FLEX into a
company offering uniform high quality standards.”
This engineer, who was born in 1962, has extensive
experience in the hydraulics sector, something that
is reflected in his involvement and management of
national and international standardisation committees.
Optimum customer satisfaction is his philosophy.
But to achieve this a rethink will be necessary
in many cases: “in all departments” stresses the
Technology Manager, noting that his own is no
exception. “Here we must develop our expertise as
advisors and a department with inherent responsibility
for technical solutions and offer support to
all HANSA-FLEX branches and specialist centres of
competence in terms of customer orientation.”
It is not enough, says Axel Tammen, to have all
technical aspects under control. He therefore asks
all staff to “simply look beyond their own noses”.
Axel Tammen also demonstrates this approach in
his spare time. As a keen amateur photographer
who adores taking pictures of animals he uses the
latest camera equipment for his breathtaking shots
of South Africa’s Kruger National Park. He adds
however, “if such photos are to come off, I need to
know how animals behave in the wild”.
The adventure of technology
In the world of work this means “applying the expertise
of the specialists from the Technical Department
so that customers are offered a future-proof
According to Axel Tammen, this support function
will give rise to even greater potential in the
Technical Department in the future. “Customers are
presenting HANSA-FLEX with increasingly complex
problems,” one reason why he wants to involve
this department in the overall development of the
company more closely. “We are already pretty good,
but we want to be even better, and this can best
be achieved if customer satisfaction is increased.” A
philosophy that is going to be used by Axel Tammen
to make a few more changes at HANSA-FLEX.
But for the time being it is the XWORLD Tour with
its exciting offroad routes that is occupying his
thoughts. “This is pure delight. I can only hope that
every participant will enjoy this fantastic experience.”
26
HYDRAULIKPRESSE
ISSUE APRIL 2008