Partnership to grow from simplicity

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IBG - SA Instrumentation & Control Buyers' Guide

February 2003 News

A new basic product concept adopted by Danfoss is expected to significantly enhance the company's ability to meet individual customer needs efficiently: one basic printed circuit board per technology and a range of modules covering actual individual needs will form the basis of this new approach, according to Danfoss head of product development, Frands W. Voss. "As our three core technologies share the same architecture, it is easy to implement individual features according to customer requirements."

"Partnership is never in question when handling today's enormous challenges to water management - it is a must if the solutions of tomorrow are to be ready to meet even more severe future requirements," says Mick Baugh, Danfoss South Africa business unit manager - motion controls and flow.

Mick Baugh, Danfoss South Africa business unit manager - motion controls and flow.”

"We are able to say to any partner: tell us your needs and we shall design flowmeters that meet them exactly," says Baugh. "In this way, partnership is a built-in function of our architecture."

Danfoss took the first step towards utilising the strength of its flexible product concept in early 1998 when the company hosted a seminar of experts from the British water industry to discuss the flowmeter of the future on a general scale. This was followed by a more specific workshop looking at trends in the market, local requirements and technological possibilities. Well-equipped with the results of this workshop, Danfoss then contacted 10 key customers for feedback as to their individual flowmeter requirements. This process is ongoing and will become the driving force behind product development at Danfoss.

As examples of customer specifications that had to be incorporated into Danfoss' flowmeter blueprint, Voss mentions reverification of flowmeters and the possibility of carrying out remote readouts via bus connections or alternative communication systems.

"Price will gradually cease to be the only decisive parameter for customers when choosing their vendor of instrumentation products," predicts Baugh. "Our development engineers are out there getting hands-on experience, local knowledge and direct information about applications that will enable them to design products more in line with real world needs. Our commitment is binding, and we have the resources to follow up on the good ideas developed jointly with our customers."

For more information contact Mick Baugh, Danfoss, 011 803 8390, [email protected], www.danfoss.com

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Partnership to grow from simplicity

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