"We are strong enough to assert ourselves in the world"
Interview with Jens Hummes, COO, and Nadine Girschewski, Chief Communication & Marketing Officer, as well as Vincent Bossert, CEO of Koch-Chemie GmbH
With great attention to detail and the right instinct for the customer, Koch-Chemie GmbH, based in Unna, has been successful in the market with its cleaning and care products since 1968. Wirtschaftsforum spoke with CEO Vincent Bossert, COO Jens Hummes, and Nadine Girschewski, head of communication and marketing, about convictions and responsibility in the company and the country.
Wirtschaftsforum: Mr. Bossert, Mr. Hummes, Ms. Girschewski, what can you tell us about the origins of Koch-Chemie?
Vincent Bossert: The origin of the company is also its future: satisfying customer desires and achieving customer satisfaction. Hans Koch founded the company over 55 years ago because he was dissatisfied with the vehicle care products that the market offered. He developed and produced the products that were important to him and built up the company. From a small medium-sized business, it has become an international player with a global annual turnover in the high tens of millions of EUR. With the support of our shareholders, we have been able to maintain our growth rates in the double-digit percentage range, and customer feedback shows us that we are succeeding in meeting customer needs.
Jens Hummes: In addition to over 120 staff members in Germany, more than 20 are employed in our subsidiary in Atlanta. Our foreign business accounts for over 50%. We are experiencing a very positive market response. One of the first sentences I heard in the company was, 'We stand by what our products can do' – the products exactly fulfill what we promise. This makes it easier for our clients to work and they can increase their process speeds. We give them the opportunity to improve and make their business more successful. That's what we want.
Wirtschaftsforum: What product areas does your portfolio include?
Nadine Girschewski: Our two main areas are wash chemistry and vehicle detailing chemistry. The first involves classic chemistry for wash station technology and hall cleaning. In the area of vehicle detailing chemistry, our clients are not only the actual vehicle detailers but also car dealerships and OEMs. Here, in addition to polishes, for example, we also offer suitable accessories as optimized complements to our entire chemistry product range such as brushes, dosing units, or spraying options. We see ourselves as a system provider of product, product accessories, and service, imparting the knowledge our clients need to be able to optimally use the products. Therefore, we also offer, with our Competence Center in Unna and our on-site technical experts, theoretical and practical support and knowledge transfer for the optimal application of our entire product range.
Wirtschaftsforum: Are there any new developments or topics that you are focusing on in the product area?
Vincent Bossert: With our experience in surface treatment, we can be very successful not only in the automotive sector, but also now offer the right portfolio in the marine sector - also with the aim of conservation and value preservation, and thus sustainability. Recreational vehicles represent significant assets, often the second highest investments in life after a house. These should be maintained in value and in an excellent technical condition.
Wirtschaftsforum: In your opinion, what are the reasons for the success of Koch-Chemie?
Nadine Girschewski: I think it's our attention to detail, which Hans Koch already incorporated into product development. It extends through all areas and is anchored in the minds of the employees. In this sense, everyone works hand in hand.
Wirtschaftsforum: How would you describe your corporate culture?
Vincent Bossert: We promote a medium-sized, rather family-like collaboration. Responsibility, transparency, and performance are important to face the challenges of the markets. Responsibility is actively practiced by us and is a continuous learning process. I would like to draw a connection to politics here: The economy complains too much about politics. When things get tough, they immediately call for political intervention. Every company in Germany is strong enough to assert itself in the world. We can be very successful independent of the political landscape as long as we remain democratic. Let's just do our job and stop constantly complaining.
Wirtschaftsforum: Let's also take a look into the future. What is your vision for the company?
Jens Hummes: Our goal is clearly to grow. We want to expand our presence in Germany, Europe, and worldwide. Koch-Chemie will be present on all continents, with a product portfolio that continues to excite the market. Because delighting our customers is our claim. We fight for this every day.