Building the American Dream: Marcus Schneck, CEO at norelem explains how the company’s US expansion will support American design engineers in creating exciting new products.
What does the American Dream mean to you? To some people it is all about freedom, but we like to think that it’s also about building a better tomorrow. The USA has thrived because every generation has innovated; this ensures that America remains a technologically advanced nation with high productivity.
If the American Dream is about creating a better future, then design engineers are the biggest dreamers. Design engineers work at the nexus between traditional engineering and design departments. They are multidisciplinary masters who can find innovative solutions that move us forward.
Manufacturing remains a vital sector in the US economy as the third largest private sector contributor to GDP. However, globalization means that manufacturing has never been more competitive than it is today. The catalyst behind this powerhouse is innovation, as design engineers find incremental gains or step changes in productivity that can help maintain a leading edge.
Facilitating this innovation are companies like norelem which help design engineers realize their ideas. Fast access to thousands of standardized components enables mechanical designs to become clear. This is why norelem has invested in a US operational facility as it seeks to better support the North American market.
Meeting a need
Given America’s proven track record on innovation, you would be entitled to ask what norelem brings to the party – after all, it would appear the USA has been getting along just fine without us. However, we have been serving the US market for over a decade. American design engineers already buy from our European facilities because we meet their needs for high quality standardized components. Many clients are from the American arms of global companies we have supplied for years.
In fact, the US has become our largest market outside of those where we already had a subsidiary, so it was the right time for us to invest in bricks and mortar and boots on the ground. There is an established base of loyal norelem users in the USA and through this investment, we will be able to reach many more.
The key benefits of a North American facility to our existing clients are faster delivery and reduced shipping costs. This will enable engineers to get the parts they need much quicker, avoiding delays and project downtime. It will also further enhance the personalized service that norelem can offer its US customers. Local technical support and customer service means tailored advice, troubleshooting technical issues and even guidance on product selection.
As a European company, norelem has traditionally worked on the metric system, but for some years now we have offered a sub-set of our products in imperial dimensions. As we strengthen our presence in North America, our product management team will continue to expand on our imperial offering, focusing on the most relevant products in our catalog.
Having begun our journey in France before establishing our headquarters in Germany, we have continued to expand globally since 2012. Throughout that journey, we have discovered that the needs of design engineers are consistent throughout the world. While we know we can meet most of America’s needs with our standard components, our investment in a US facility also gives us the flexibility to fulfil specific local requirements.
Partner of choice
American design engineers are already buying from our European facilities for good reason. Worldwide, norelem is the partner of choice for mechanical engineering and industrial automation. Originally founded in France, it is established in Europe as the premier provider of standard parts and components for the machine building industry. Part of the reason we have US customers already is our success in building deep and long-lasting partnerships with our clients. This has enabled us to remain a global leader in our field for more than 60 years.
Design engineers in over 75 countries around the world rely on our products every year – and since 2012 we have established successful subsidiaries in nine of these countries. The consistent feedback we receive is that the norelem brand meets a unique market need and is highly sought after. America is an incredibly important market and our experiences in other territories have prepared us well for this expansion. They also provide a proven track record that will give American design engineers the confidence to buy from norelem.
The secret to our success – and what differentiates us from the competition – is our commitment to personalized, end-to-end support, plus the immense breadth and depth of our product offering – over 100,000 standardized parts. We are fully focused on the industrial sectors of designing, building and maintaining machinery. For the markets we serve, we believe no other US provider offers anywhere near the array of products that we can deliver.
Our support for design engineers includes the fact that CAD data for our parts is available free of charge. We also provide access to technical application specialists who can answer your design, application and maintenance questions. Our mission is to treat every customer as a partner, working in a personalized way to build deep trust and add genuine value.
Freedom of choice
Our entry into the US market is built on the strength of the norelem brand and the core values which have resulted in such strong partnerships with our global customer base. Specifically, our strong technical support and the focus of our product line will bring new options and time-saving solutions to designers in the US.
At the heart of freedom is the ability to choose. Our strategy is to bring the same freedom of choice enjoyed by customers of our 12 other facilities to the US market. norelem’s investment in America enriches the landscape for design engineers by offering them access to superior products, fostering innovation by improving parts availability and support.
In addition, norelem’s proven track record in other regions underscores why our arrival in the US is great news for design engineers. Our customers can rely on norelem to provide the same personalized service and focus on their needs that they have come to expect from norelem.
Our commitment to the US also demonstrates that we don’t just want to support the American Dream – we want to be a part of it.
To discover the range of products and services and find the perfect solution for your application, click hereor visit our website: www.norelemusa.com/en-us/.
About norelem
norelem has been manufacturing and supplying parts and components for the mechanical engineering industry for over 65 years. Committed to expanding its extensive product portfolio, norelem currently supplies over 100,000 high-quality standard components for machinery and automation. From new products every month to guaranteed fast and reliable delivery times, norelem understands the fast-paced nature of the engineering industry. Plus, with 12 locations worldwide, norelem’s team are on hand to deliver on-site technical support to its customers, wherever they may be.
The norelem online shop is available for customers to order its standard parts conveniently at any time. Here, customers can also access norelem’s extensive CAD data to ensure efficient designs and considerable time savings when specifying products. norelem’s CAD data facilitates the integration of a product into the design process with unparalleled accuracy, so its customers no longer need to manually draw components from scratch.
Going above the role of a manufacturer and supplier, the norelem ACADEMY is the company’s commitment to shaping the future of engineering. Providing a gateway to expert knowledge in engineering, design and manufacturing, students and seasoned professionals alike can access a wealth of online resources, technical articles, and webinars as well as book the ACADEMY’s ShowTruck for more hands-on learning.