07. January 2010
Mr Reichelt, you took over BLOCK in 1971. What has changed since that time?
BLOCK has grown into an electrical engineering company with a global presence. In 1971 I set the company on an entirely new course. I investigated which products were not only right for our areas of expertise, but could also sell well. We have continually developed these products and have always demanded the highest standard of quality in our production work.
BLOCK has always nourished a desire for healthy growth. We have extended our operating and production facilities, expanded to other countries and continents, set up an in-house EMC lab and research and development centre, and placed new products on the market. Our company is certified in accordance with DIN EN ISO 9001 and 14001, which means everything relating to quality and the environment is subject to an ongoing process of optimisation, from how we use raw materials to how we dispose of waste - and how we use energy.
You have a strong presence on the global market as a medium-sized company. What does BLOCK do differently from other companies of a similar size?
We are a family company in the traditional sense. We don't siphon the profits we make out of the company - instead, we're always making investments in the future.
BLOCK has been a powerful global partner to trade and industry in the field of coiled products for decades. Everyone working in the electronics sector appreciates the reliability and on-time delivery our brand stands for, especially since the introduction of our blue PCB transformers.
With our products, we can offer fully integrated systems for connecting to the grid. All BLOCK products are developed and produced in-house, from the research and development phase to production and right through to certification.
In addition to the large selection of products we keep in stock, we offer rapid customisation and new product development services. BLOCK does it all - from engaging in discussions with customers, to getting products ready for manufacture and actually producing them, right through to dispatching.
Since 1983 you have been involved in standardisation work. How important is this to you?
My work as a technical expert in standardisation on both the national and international stage isn't just important to me personally. The insights I have gained into a vast range of companies and production structures, as well as the latest developments and findings, are a great asset to our company, products and customers.
Through my involvement in industry and trade organisations, I aim to spread the word about the importance of international standardisation. I get a good overview of how things relate to one another as a result, and it means that our technology is always at the cutting edge.
In 2006 you received the Lord Kelvin Award, the highest accolade the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) can bestow - what does it mean to you?
A great deal. I received the Lord Kelvin Award as a result of the many different contributions I've made to the field of standardisation. I was one of the drivers behind the IEC/TC 96 committee ("Transformers, reactors, power supply units and similar products"), which was established in 1993 as the successor to IEC/SC 14D. I have held the position of Secretary of the IEC/TC 96 committee since 2004, and have been a member of the ACOS/WG ELV group ("Extra-low Voltage") since 1987. I have restructured existing standards and part of my work is to serve as a technical expert on the IEC/TC 108 committee ("Safety of electronic equipment within the field of audio/video, information technology and communication technology") and the IEC/TC 112 committee ("Evaluation and qualification of electrical insulating materials an
A strong sense of social responsibility is a key part of the company's philosophy. BLOCK is also involved in charitable causes. That must have a particular reason behind it?
People are our most important resource. Even if you have state-of-the-art machinery, it will only give you the edge over your competitors if it's operated by motivated and competent employees. We must find innovative ways of ensuring our employees are ready to face future challenges with us. That's why we provide training, are always investing in fresh crops of skilled employees, offer qualifications through dual courses combining study and practical work at bachelor's and master's degree level, and support Ph.D students on the path towards achieving their doctorates.
We are committed to employing staff who are at a later stage in life too. Not only that, but we receive valuable support in the manufacturing of some of our products from people with physical and mental disabilities working at the Heide-Werkstätten factories in Walsrode.
Additionally, wherever we can we give financial assistance to deserving causes. For example, we offer sponsorship to the Lebenshilfe Rotenberg-Verden, which provides support and services for disabled people, and the Verdener Tafelhaus, the first food bank in Germany to have been given its own premises.
When it comes to exporting electrotechnical products, China has managed to outperform Germany - one of the world's leading exporters. How does BLOCK cope with competition from Asia?
The way I see it, if you can't beat them, join them - I see China as a friend of ours. Germany is able to hold its own in the cost battle and is the first choice when it comes to creating innovative products rather than simply carrying out mass production.
Within China, we employ the services of a Chinese partner when it comes to labour-intensive work - and dispatch employees to ensure quality standards are sufficiently high - but we keep the fundamental research work and engineering expertise in-house. If you give your expertise to the competition, whether at home or abroad, you lose the battle.
What drives you forward? What's the secret of your success?
A sense of curiosity. I like getting to the bottom of everything - I want to understand it, learn more about it and reinvent things wherever I can. I completed my apprenticeship as a radio and television technician here at BLOCK - so I've been on the payroll here since 1956! But before that I used to build radios using old receiver parts. Later I began to repair and sell on radios and television sets, and I qualified as a master technician in that field and studied electrical engineering. My career is entirely consistent with my attitude, abilities, dreams and outlook on life. When I start something, I don't just want to carry on doing it ad nauseam - I want to keep doing it better and better.
I like creating efficient ways of organising, developing strategies to meet the needs of tomorrow and finding intelligent solutions. It's no accident that we can guarantee a consistently high level of quality in our series production work, it's down to our continual monitoring of processes in our production facilities and our highly qualified employees. All of our production areas are equipped with the latest tools and cutting-edge technology. Many of the production processes we have developed ourselves are unsurpassed anywhere in the world.
How does the future look to you?
Thanks to a well planned-out road map, we are in the best position we can be. In the future we will be able to continue providing thoroughly tested products and services that are packed with innovation and feature technology we've perfected - and we'll do it on time and at the right price.
Our technical expertise still ranks among the best in the world today. Economical electrical devices are the way of the future. Lighting installations in industrial and public settings offer huge potential for making savings. With our intelligent products, we can guarantee increased energy efficiency during energy transfer.
For industrial applications and modern energy generation facilities, for example, we are developing transformers that offer increasingly high performance whilst featuring smaller components.
The future still looks bright! Thanks to the fundamental research projects and development work we carry out in-house, in addition to our testing lab, our range of products means that we at BLOCK are ready to face whatever challenges the markets of the future will bring.d systems").