Schmersal Böhnke + Partner is a member of the Schmersal Group. The owner-managed Schmersal Group has been committed to the safety of man and machine with its products for decades. The company has been supplying high-quality components for the elevator industry for over 50 years.
Interview with Dr. Andreas Hunscher, Managing Director at Schmersal Böhnke + Partner.
Easy Engineering: A brief description of the company and its activities.
Andreas Hunscher: With the incorporation of Böhnke + Partner into the Schmersal Group, we have also adopted the system concept for the elevator industry. Since then, the product portfolio – with control systems and components – has included all the necessary elements for equipping an elevator system electrically.
Our customers’ elevator systems are the focus of our attention. Regardless of whether it is a new installation or modernization, we use our many years of experience to determine an individual or standardized solution according to your wishes. After all, our common goal is to ensure the safe movement of the elevator system for the users.
E.E: What are the main areas of activity of the company?
A.H: Our company offers system solutions for electric and electronics for the elevator industry. Based on our extremely flexible lift controller “bp408” we engineer control cabinets serving the needs of all kinds of applications. Starting from our standard line which offers building block possibilities for a fast development of lift cabinet for entry level applications we extend to engineer highly complex vertical transportation solutions like for airports, train stations, cruise-ships, hospitals, industrial sides and many more.
E.E: What’s the news about new products/services?
A.H: Our newest product extension is our destination call system, which finds applications in large office buildings, hotels, etc. to optimize the traffic flow in such buildings and helps reducing investment cost by a significant number.
An absolutely new product is our lift-analysis box which helps digitizing the elevator in approximately 15min only without any intervention into the existing system. It works for all kinds of elevators and comes along with mobile app or desktop control software to manage the elevators data. Using this system, the customer can very easily analyze the status of its elevator fleet, plan preventive maintenance much more efficiently, react very fast in case of elevator-issues and help looked persons or helpless persons in an extremely fast reaction time.
E.E: What are the ranges of products/services?
A.H: Starting from the elevator-control cabinet we offer all kinds of electric electronic components and systems which are needed to run the elevator efficiently. This includes all shaft and machine-room wiring, measurement systems, safety components, inverters and machines and much more.
Dr. Andreas Hunscher, Managing director of Schmersal Böhnke+Partner and head of the global Schmersal lift-business joined Schmersal in 2014. After finishing his PhD in electrotechnical engineering, Andreas worked in various management functions at Delphi Automotive Systems in the electrical, electronic and safety area for nearly 15 years. At Schmersal he started managing the safe signal processing business located in Wettenberg, Germany in 2014 and took over the responsibility for the elevator-sector of Schmersal end of 2016 in addition. This dual role enables Schmersal to drive developments combining the know-how from lift-automation and safe signal processing. Following the company slogan “DNA of safety” the team is driving substantial innovations to bring elevators to the next level of safety and digitalization.
E.E: What is the state of the market where you are currently active?
A.H: As a result of uncertainty in the investment markets and increased interest rates the amount of new installations of elevators is reduced significantly in nearly all global markets. Market players use this situation to concentrate their resources in the field of modernization so that we see a growth in that area.
E.E: What can you tell us about market trends?
A.H: As in many areas in the next years the digitalization of the elevator market is one of the major driving forces to optimize the usage of elevators. Besides these also environmental aspects will play an increasing role in investment decisions so that market players have to analyze the CO2 footprint of their products and will improve the CO2 balances in the manufacturing processes step by step.
E.E: What are the most innovative products/services marketed?
A.H: As mentioned above our new lift analysis box “Eyelevate” is our most innovation product.
E.E: What estimations do you have for the beginning of 2024?
A.H: Due to the significant downturn in the building industry for new buildings we expect significant less revenue in this area. This will be compensated by new businesses in the modernization area which in total will result in a stable business for 2024.