INTERVIEW WITH MJ-Gerüst

The Plettenberg family business dates back to the year 1957 when Alfred Junior started a small business for metal processing – the foundation of today’s JUNIOR company group. Today, it comprises MJ-Gerüst GmbH and the Junior Kühlkörper GmbH, a manufacturer of precision components for the electronics and electrical industry. MJ-Gerüst specializes in the production and sale of high-quality scaffolding systems made in Plettenberg. The continuous development of established systems and the development of new scaffolding solutions are at the centre of the company’s activities.

With modern machinery and more than 450 committed employees, the companies of the Junior Group are some of the region’s most important employers and among the leading scaffolding manufacturers in Germany, with an annual turnover of around 150 million Euros.

Easy Engineering: What are the main areas of activity of the company?

JUNIOR: “Made in Plettenberg” is our aspiration. In the Sauerland region, we produce all MJ-Gerüst scaffolding components on an area of over 200,000 square meters – with highly automated high-tech equipment and consistently high precision. The production unit with its highly modern and efficient machinery is the heart of our company. Here, scaffolding systems and components are manufactured in optimally adjusted and automated production processes. Our precision is recognized and appreciated by scaffolding professionals worldwide.

E.E: What’s the news for 2021 about new products?

JUNIOR: To prevent the danger of falling during the scaffold assembly, MJ-Gerüst has developed the OPTIMA guardrail system in cooperation with leading scaffolders. The system only includes some new units which, in combination with proven scaffold components from the UNI, UNI TOP or UNI-CONNECT systems, provide system-related fall protection (side protection) at the top scaffold level. Due to the system-related design, the top side guard is mounted as fall protection from the lower, secured position and remains in the scaffold (without further additional components). The disassembly also takes place from that secured area. Another novelty is the OPTI-BOARD safety enclosure providing answers to the many questions you may have about noise protection and environmental issues when planning your construction site. During renovation or new construction, the enclosure protects employees and passers-by from noise, dirt and dust.

E.E: What are the ranges of products?

JUNIOR: Our broad product range consists of three high-quality facade scaffolding systems, two modular scaffolding systems and a wide range of non-system accessories – compatible with particular systems of leading German manufacturers and suitable for most scaffolding needs.

Extensive and functionally matched accessory components allow our systems to be flexible for trouble-free scaffolding even with difficult objects.

E.E: What can you tell us about market trends?

JUNIOR: Market trends have shown that more and more emphasis is being placed on safety. This has led to increased purchases of scaffolding systems such as our OPTIMA system, which provide safety through a leading side protection.

E.E: What are the most innovative products marketed?

JUNIOR: Our most innovative products are the modular scaffoldings COMBI and OPTIMA and the OPTI-BOARD safety enclosure. Our new products, OPTIMA and OPTI-Board, have already been described above.

The COMBI scaffolding system is based on the proven and flexible functionality of the modular perforated disc. To create the node design, we made use of the finite elements method (FEM) to achieve a stress-optimized load-bearing capacity whilst reducing weight. In addition, this resulted in optimized load transfer via the ledger into the posts. As a result, the COMBI scaffolding system convinces with excellent static values. With up to eight connection options per node – freely selectable in a height grid of 0.5 metres – the system offers the greatest possible variability for modular scaffolding. The small recesses of the perforated disc are used to connect the ledger to create a 90-degree angle, as required for many practical applications. With regard to the large recesses in between, there are variable additional mounting options for all other angles besides the 90-degree grid. The decisive benefit of a modular scaffolding system – besides free angle formation of the nodes – is that customers can decide on individual bay lengths, bay widths and floor heights. This allows for a flexible adaptation to almost any architectural shape or form.

E.E: What estimations do you have for 2021?

JUNIOR: There is a noticeable positive trend in the construction industry, which also has an impact on scaffolding construction. One of the main goals of MJ-Gerüst GmbH is to satisfy customers with continuous fast delivery of their numerous orders.  

MJ-GERÜST GMBH

Ziegelstraße 68, 58840 Plettenberg, D-Germany

Hotline: +49 2391 8105 350

Website: www.mj-scaffolding.com

Email: info@mj-scaffolding.com