NEWS & EVENTS > Berco at Bauma China for the first ... - Berco S.p.A

From the SubsidiariesBerco UK: a very intense yearThe British branch has just ended its third financial year, withlots of things achieved and many more plans for the future.The Christmas period, perhaps morethan any other, is a time when youlook back and make an assessment ofthe year just ending.Looking back at the last twelvemonths, we can say that they werereally intensive, highly eventful andlived in two completely differenteconomic contexts: the former full oftrust in a very healthy market (withturnover growing by 30%), the latter -evident as from May - in rapid declineand characterised by an almost verticaldrop in demand.Nevertheless, despite this suddenslowdown, by the end of the yearBerco UK had achieved a turnover of51 million euros, in line with 2007,with a growth in profit over theprevious year. The organisationalstructure grew as well, rising to 25units, and work was done onoptimising internal structures andimproving assembly line productivity(getting up to the rate of 12 trackchains a shift).Great efforts were also put intomaintaining the excellent standards ofservice to the two main customers,with the attainment of the KomatsuUK’s prestigious “Supplier of the Year”award.NEW PREMISESThe most important project of the yearwas undoubtedly the move to newpremises in Spennymoor, near Durham.With the rental contract on theMiddlesbrough building about toexpire, the search began for biggerpremises (about 14,000 m2), bigenough above all to housenew track chain assemblyand complete frame subassemblylines, becausethese are the activities thatBerco UK is banking on toincrease its business in theyears to come.After completing thebureaucratic necessities(contract, permits, etc.),work began at the end of’07 on fitting out thebuilding, with jobs such theinstallation of two bridgecranes and a paint boothand the electricity, gas andcompressed air circuits, etc.This work went on for fivemonths.The office move was done atthe beginning of May, andthe goods and stock movebegan in May and lasted 4-5weeks, with no interruptionin the flow of deliveries tocustomers.On the 18th of July we werefinally able to celebrate therelocation to the newpremises with a Berco UKOpen Day.This began in the morningwith a press conference,followed by an inaugurationceremony and an officialpresentation. Guests werethen shown round thefactory, followed by thecustomary toast.Numerous customers,suppliers, friends and local authoritiestook part in the event, including localMP Helen Goodman, the guest ofhonour.In the afternoon, after the guests hadleft, it was the turn of the employeesand their families, they too having thechance to have a look round Berco UK.FUTURE PROJECTSAlthough the difficult economicsituation and continuous talk of therecession hitting Europe and Americaleave little room for optimism,nevertheless, at the same time,difficult periods are a unique occasionto look for new stimuli, discoveruntapped resources and develop newideas and projects to lay the basis forstrong future growth.Despite the drop in sales, Berco UK hasredoubled its efforts and is working onnumerous projects, both internal (suchas the ISO 9001, ISO 14001, OHSAS18001 and Investor in People qualitycertification schemes), and external(such as, in particular, thedevelopment of the aftermarket andthe supply of complete frames formobile crushers and screens).The challenges are ambitious, but theenthusiasm and dedication of theBerco UK team are bound to achievesatisfactory results in the near future.Giovanni MichelettoGeneral Manager, Berco UKBN56 > december 20089