Everything in balance

Everything in balance

According to the two managing directors of INP Deutschland GmbH in Römerberg, Knut Mertens and Georg Jester, strategy and balance are the key factors in the sustained growth of their company. It is 25 years old this year. In 2014, about 430 employees worldwide generated sales of more than €43 million. Two new foreign branches are planned for 2015.
 
BY STEFAN KELLER
RÖMERBERG. "We take a strategic approach and, at the same time, we always strive for balance in all areas," says Georg Jester in conversion with RHEINPFALZ, describing the company's philosophy. It was founded in 1989 by the engineer Katharina Jester-Lutz as Nicklas & Partner GmbH in Speyer. Balance refers to customers, markets, services and our own workforce as well. Work-life balance has a high priority in the company, they confirm, and observe that the continuous process of employee qualification is a standard feature.
INP defines itself as a technical service provider in the areas of process control engineering and automation technology, electrical energy, welding and thermal process engineering. Tailor-made solutions are offered for power plants and large installations. In addition, the company describes itself as an "expert for quality management, health and safety on large construction sites". The portfolio of the Römerberg company includes planning, installation management, commissioning, maintenance and optimisation of running systems and processes at the customer. "We pursued a good course by not relying on just one mainstay in any area," says Jester. The list of references includes projects from Australia to Sweden, from North America to China and on the African continent.
 

FACTS & FIGURES

INP Deutschland GmbH

• Founded: 1989
• Type of corporation: owner-managed limited liability company (GmbH)
• Partners: Katharina Jester-Lutz, Klaus Jungknecht, Norbert Nicklas, Georg Jester and Knut Mertens (both managing directors)
• Workforce: 430; Germany: 180, Switzerland: 70, Austria: 20, France: 30, USA: 60, Brazil: 5, South Africa: 65, Canada: 10
• Company HQ: Römerberg
• German sites: Leverkusen, Hügelheim, Erlangen
• International sites: Switzerland, USA, Austria, South Africa, France, Brazil, Canada
• Sales 2014: the thick end of €43 million
• Investments: more than €2 million since 2012.

The company is successful and is making significant investments, including once again in its premises in Römerberg.
As well as Römerberg, there are three more company offices in Germany, in Erlangen and Leverkusen. Ten years after the company was founded, it took its first step into foreign business: in 1999, INP Switzerland was founded as a regional company. This was followed in 2000 by the USA, Austria in 2006, South Africa in 2007 and France in 2009. Brazil joined the party four years ago, and this year was Canada's turn. Two more are planned for 2015. But the MDs aren't saying where. Jester: "In one year, one regional company does better, and in another year, another company." In the end, the balance is right, they point out. "Internationalisation was a correct decision. It remains a decisive part of our strategy for success," says Jester, looking back on a series of what have been "good years".
The figures document this success: 2009, 20 years after its foundation, INP recorded sales of €28.5 million with a workforce of 260 people at the time. This year, they've pencilled in sales north of €43 million, with a current workforce of 430. Next year, Jester and Mertens are expecting to see ten percent growth — both in terms of sales and headcount. The managing directors are not prepared to reveal any information about profits. INP has about 180 employees in Germany. About 60 of them work in Römerberg. The remainder — mostly engineers — work on the various construction sites almost exclusively. The company is keeping its headquarters in the small town on the outskirts of Speyer. Recently, there has been a steady stream of expansions there. These will continue in 2015.
The engineering company sees itself as closely tied to the region as an employer and a training company. About 20 apprentices and "works students" are learning their trade at INP.
 
"We also recruit in the region," confirms Mertens. "On our international constructions sites, we work on a project basis and of course we use freelancers — to cope with peaks in demand," adds Jester. There are major companies in the vicinity which provide work. These include ABB, Alstom and Siemens in Mannheim, as well as the operators of large offshore wind farms in the North Sea. Of course, INP has a base in BASF. The INP project office at BASF Mannheim/Ludwigshafen was opened one year ago. In 2015, engineers from Römerberg will be working at the chemicals giant to optimise the second sewage combustion line using fuzzy technology developed by INP. "We're grateful for the investments that BASF is making here. It's a lighthouse, one that is important for the entire region," says Jester with praise.
However, the energy experts are not so convinced about of the turnaround in energy policy taking place in Germany. "Of course, we'll be on board. If the power lines are built from north to south, we can start immediately with the planning and commissioning," assures managing director Mertens. "If ..." The engineer does not believe that the country's energy demand can be met just using "new energy". "At present, grid capacity is on a knife edge," he says, calling for the construction of more power plants. For decades, energy supply was planned from a technical perspective, then from a commercial one. Both approaches yielded good results. Now it is being conducted from a political perspective. To date at least, this has not been particularly promising. "We're not yet feeling the full force of the turnaround in energy policy," say Jester and Mertens, with an eye to their order books. Things are different with the big players like EnBW, Alstom and RWE, they observe.

INSERT In balance

BY STEFAN KELLER
The engineering company INP in Römerberg is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. This equates to 25 years of market success — and the prospects continue to be rosy. However, the globally active service provider in large installation and power plant construction does not regard this as grounds for an elaborate ceremony with lengthy speeches and a sprinkling of politicians. No, say managing directors Knut Mertens and Georg Jester. "That isn't our style. Only our employees should be the centre of attention." The business philosophy of the engineering company can be summed up in one word: balance. This also applies to holidays. Instead of concentrating on a ceremony, the management will be working to make customer support even more intensive, and distributing many relatively small presents to the workforce throughout the year. Every two months, the payslip contains a new surprise — sometimes a voucher for a bouquet of flowers, sometimes fuel vouchers, or a polo shirt with the anniversary logo. A balanced approach.

The Palatinate-based company, INP, is growing with tailor-made solutions

BACKGROUND: Engineering service provider with 430 employees
BY STEFAN KELLER

RÖMERBERG. Within 25 years from Römerberg into the wide world: The engineering company INP Deutschland GmbH was founded in 1989 as Nicklas & Partner GmbH in a small office in Speyer. Today, the company operates at eight sites worldwide as an internationally active firm that is still managed by its five owners. Since 1997, the company has been based in its own building, which has undergone several expansions, in Römerberg just outside Speyer.
INP GmbH operates in the fields of power plant and major plant construction. "Our customers can count on us, from planning through to implementation and support after successful completion of the project," say the two managing directors, Georg Jester and Knut Mertens in conversation with RHEINPFALZ. There is a tailor-made solution for each customer's problem, they continue. "We are a flexible technical service provider in the fields of process control and automation technology, power technology/power transmission, distribution and conversion, welding technology and thermal process engineering. In addition, we are experts for quality management, health and safety on major construction sites." The Group not only operates branches in Germany but also in Switzerland, the USA, Austria, South Africa, France, Brazil and Canada. Two other foreign branches are slated to be added in 2015. The company employs about 430 people worldwide, 180 of them in Germany. About 60 of them work at the headquarters in Römerberg.
This year, INP is expecting to achieve sales of €43 million. In the coming year, sales and workforce figures are targeted to be increased by 10 percent, according to information from the two managing directors. Major customers in the local region include Alstom, ABB and Siemens in Mannheim as well as BASF. INP has its own project office there.