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PowerPac
Making
life easier
PowerPac
offers mini-transporters and compaction technology
By
including the manufacture of motorised wheelbarrows, PowerPac has opened
a business segment with room for expansion. Known for its tampers and
vibrating plates, the German company from Kronberg-Oberhöchstadt has
marketed its Dumper series successfully since 2001. These transporters
are equipped with petrol or electric engines, and wheel or track drive.
PowerPac
has been represented in the German construction machinery market since
1991 with its tampers and vibrating plates, which are used particularly
for soil and concrete compaction. Lothar Urbschat is the founder and
managing director of the company, based in Kronberg am Taunus.
"PowerPac
stands for expertise in compaction technology", says Urbschat. "From
design to distribution, we employ professionals with extensive know-how
for providing a service to professionals. Our philosophy includes
market-based product development, taking into account the tried and
true".
The idea
of making wheelbarrow use easier was born two years ago during a private
construction project. A motorised wheelbarrow had to be developed. The
company immediately requested a utility patent for these machines.
"Since
then, we have continuously expanded the product line of motorised
wheelbarrows", reports Urbschat. The first on the market was the
Multi-Dumper, a multi-function device with optional attachments,
including power accessories. Later came the Mini-Dumper with a deeper
tipping trough, and then the Electric-Dumper. A year ago, the product
line was expanded with the introduction of the Track Drive Dumper.
The
demand for a simpler carrying system led to the development of the
Mini-Dumper. This has a lower load volume and a lower structure overall.
"By expanding our product line with this small versatile transport
device, we have also expanded our dealer network", says the managing
director. "With compaction technology, we continue to have a presence at
construction equipment dealerships. Our Dumper products are also
conveniently available at dealers of motorised equipment".
"We have
developed many new designs of small, off-road transport equipment in
recent years", emphasises Urbschat. "We participated in 18 trade fairs
in 2004 alone. We also sent flyers and direct mailings to dealers. The
launch of our second product line was accompanied by an extensive
advertising campaign. It met with a good response". In the first year, a
total of around 500 Dumper units were supplied to both men and
women alike. A special technical feature of the Dumper is the
option to use it with various attachments, such as road sweepers or
cutter-bar mowers. Of course, it was inevitable that perceptive
competitors came out with similar products on the market.
Another
advantage of PowerPac is the company's fleet of rental equipment. This
fleet has slowly expanded and offers the customer a broad range of
machines for indoor and outdoor jobs. These machines range from garden
equipment to mini-excavators. The rental line even includes parquet
sanders.
The
emphasis is on compaction technology and the Dumper series. In 2004,
compaction technology sales were down. "Not only were we able to offset
this decline with transporter sales, but we even increased total
turnover by 10 percent", said an obviously pleased Urbschat. "In any
case, there is an expandable market for mini-transporters".
Product
Range
The
transport technology division includes small transporters with wheel and
track drives. The Mini-Dumper is a wheelbarrow with a 140 kilogram
payload driven by a 3.3 kW motor mounted behind the tipping trough. A snow
guard can be attached. On the Multi-Dumper, the 4.3 kW motor is mounted
under the tipping trough. It has a 180 kilogram payload. The arrangement
of the motor allows the attachment of power-driven accessories such as
road sweepers or cutting-bar mowers. A road sweeper can also be
conveniently attached to the electric-drive Multi-Dumper (1000 W,
350 kilogram payload). The small-transporter series is rounded off by
the track drive Dumper. The motor outputs for this series are 3.2 and
4.2 kW. The payload ranges from 350 to 1200 kilograms. The range also
features a road sweeper with a 4.4 kW motor and a working width of
880 millimetres. As optional equipment, a 1040 millimetre road sweeper,
a cutting-bar mower, a snow guard or salt spreader can be attached.
Compaction technology products include vibration tampers and vibration
plates. The tampers are available with petrol or diesel engines, and
weigh 58 to 74 kilograms. The vibration plates weigh 70 to
850 kilograms. The smaller models are equipped with a single-shaft
circuit exciter so that there is just one forward motion. Models with an
operational weight of 95 kilograms or greater are reversible. They are
equipped with a dual-shaft directive force exciter. In addition to the
Honda petrol motor, the small models also come with Hatz diesel engines.
The diesel engine is standard equipment from the 170 kilogram model
upwards.
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Quality
is the Priority
"When it
comes to price, we do not offer a cheap line of mini-transporters", says
the PowerPac MD. "We think it is important to offer sound quality at
reasonable prices. Our products are distinguished by their durability
and sturdy design. In addition, we provide comprehensive customer
service with individualised solutions".
PowerPac
works with various suppliers who deliver parts for the transporters to
Kronberg in accordance with precise specifications. Engineering,
development and comprehensive testing of new products all take place in
Germany. The tests are performed under actual conditions and in the
difficult everyday circumstances of construction sites.
Final
assembly of the Dumper products takes place in Kronberg-Oberhöchstadt. As
the volume of demand continues to grow, management is considering
whether to expand production and outsource assembly orders. The
company's experiences with this in the compaction technology area have
been positive. PowerPac has been working in this area for years with a
competent partner in Belgium/Hungary, which produces the equipment
according to specifications from Germany. However, Lothar Urbschat and
his team continue to control research and development.
With this
organizational structure, the company is able to operate with relatively
few internal employees. There are a total of 12 people on the payroll.
For distribution, the Kronberg-Oberhöchstadt company uses freelance
commercial representatives who attend to sales partners on site. Between
400 and 450 dealers offer PowerPac machines. "With the expansion of our
product line by means of transport devices, we were able to increase the
number of sales partners for motorised equipment and agricultural
machines", reports Urbschat. However, there are still a few a sales
gaps, mainly in Germany, that could be filled by more partners.
The
company's main outlets are in Germany and other European countries, but
it also has markets in Asia and South America. The export quota is an
expandable 10 percent. Replacement part supplies are guaranteed by night
shipments. The parts are delivered to the dealer from
Kronberg-Oberhöchstadt via DPD parcel service. The dealers also have
parts in stock and available on site.
In
Kronberg-Oberhöchstadt, the company places great value on a familial
atmosphere. "Our dealers have a secure distribution area in which they
are responsible for everything to do with the sale of our products",
says the managing director. "It is a partnership with rights and
obligations that requires a great deal of trust on both sides. The
transport and compaction specialist supports the sales partners by means
of extensive documentation material, demonstrations and training. For
example, if the operator of a rental outlet would also like to sell
equipment, this option is accompanied by service and sales training. |
