Company growth and supply are heavily dependent on foreign markets. The ongoing geopolitical tensions, the customs situation, and the increasing number of non-tariff trade barriers are currently forcing most industrial companies to rethink their export, location, and logistics strategies and to develop them further or fundamentally restructure them to make them more resilient for the future. Despite, and precisely because of, the current high level of uncertainty, it is important to proceed with great care, but also with consistency. Waiting or doing nothing in the expectation of better conditions are usually the worst options.
With our integral expertise, Helbling can provide you with comprehensive support in meeting these challenges.
We accompany you from strategic footprint optimization to site selection, factory and building planning, and the implementation of fully digitized and automated manufacturing. We are also at your side as a partner for turnkey construction project management.
Consolidation of the global location portfolio of a Swiss mechanical engineering company
The mechanical engineering company has grown significantly through acquisitions and has gained more than ten locations in Europe. However, its main business is in Asia – and growing. High structural costs are weighing on the company, especially in times of low capacity utilization in a highly volatile business. Various consolidation options, including halving the number of locations, are to be evaluated. The preferred option allows for a payback within two years. Overall, the engineering company is moving closer to its target markets and significantly reducing its structural costs and customs risks, resulting in an average annual EBIT improvement of more than 50%.
Construction of a new production plant in Spain to increase the capacity of an automotive supplier
A global manufacturer of light alloy wheels has reached its capacity limits and therefore wants to increase capacity by 40%. An initial study demonstrated the feasibility of this. Furthermore, in-depth analyses and material flow simulations were used to develop and implement a flexible and scalable factory concept. Thanks to precise cost and schedule planning, the new plant was completed within 2.5 years. It has been operating successfully ever since – with optimized processes, a high degree of automation, and sustainable investment security.
Evaluation of locations and advice for construction clients
To cope with growth, a medical device manufacturer planned to establish another site in Europe in addition to its production facilities in Asia. Helbling assisted in the search for a suitable location. Potential sites were systematically evaluated together with the client using a multi-stage evaluation process. The final choice was an urban industrial and innovation park in Zug. Helbling supported the client not only in the site selection process, but also in the planning and implementation phases. Thanks to the comprehensive consulting services provided by various Helbling teams, the client not only received a well-founded site recommendation, but also reliable support through to successful implementation.
Establishment of a fully automated, digital factory for a medtech company
A new plant was built in South Carolina, USA, using a greenfield approach and an investment of around US$220 million. Over 300 jobs were created on a site covering 330,000 square feet. With more than 100 injection molding machines, several hundred million devices – mainly autoinjectors – will be manufactured there in future. Helbling supported the design of the entire, highly regulated process landscape with its closed-loop manufacturing approach. On this basis, we also ensured the implementation of integrated and digital development, planning, and production solutions as well as SAP S/4HANA. Thanks to our support, rapid growth can be successfully achieved while simultaneously increasing productivity and significantly reducing time-to-market.
