MILAN, Oct 9 (Class Editori) - Dulevo International, a company based in Fontanellato, near Parma, specializing in the design of machines for industrial and urban cleaning, won a maxi order in Kuwait, one of the Persian Gulf countries most affected by the Belt & Road Initiative projects. It has signed a commercial agreement with the Kuwait City Municipal Company for the delivery of over 220 Dulevo 6000 sweepers that will generate sales of around 25 million euros, and also includes spare parts that will be sold in the next 5 years.
At the end of the year, thanks to this contract, the company led by the CEO Tighe Noonan and by the commercial director Mario Pepe will, for the first time, exceed the threshold of 100 million of turnover. “70% of our business comes from abroad, especially from the Middle East, where this year we have achieved exceptional results,” explained Noonan, who as an interim area manager for the Middle East, closed another important contract in the past few months in Abu Dhabi. “The contract with Kuwait, one of the most important contracts in the world, is a commitment of great responsibility, because in addition to meeting delivery times we will guarantee five years of full-service and training of the approximately 2,000 operators who will use the machines,” stated Noonan.
“In a country where in summer the temperature rises to 50° and where sand storms are the order of the day, we will also be put to the test in terms of maintenance. It will undoubtedly be an experience that will serve as a lesson, in view of future orders of this magnitude,” added the CEO.
To ensure the management of such challenging production volumes, the company has recently switched to lean-type production which has made it possible to reduce the number of hours for the construction of each individual machine, leading to the creation of 48 Dulevo 6000 monthly against 22 -24 previously manufactured on a monthly basis.
The acceleration has initially caused resistance, because in the face of change the tendency is to remain in one's comfort zone. But Noonan managed to reverse the situation. “I led the whole company to visit the production plant of a well-known Italian motorcycle manufacturer, to show how it was possible to move to this new work approach. It was an exciting and decisive day, because it made it clear to our employees that change was possible. Soon all our production will also be lean, the industrial management model born in Toyota, and this will give us the necessary flexibility to manage other extraordinary orders,” said the CEO.
The growth forecasts for 2019 are very positive, with a growth in turnover, 85 million in 2018, around 27%, according to the management. “We have maintained our commitment in the area of research and development by allocating one million euros a year in search of new products, today the competition is global and we must face competitors who can be born at any time and in any part of the world. It is always important to be innovative, but innovation must be at the customer's service, starting from their needs and using these considerations for the development of new products,” explained Noonan.
The mechanical-suction technology developed by Dulevo has become a reference model over time, because sweepers pollute less, perform cleaning with great efficiency at reduced costs and very low use of water. In addition, the company introduced the first D.zero2 electric sweeper, a forerunner in this sector, as demonstrated by the orders received.
“These premises allow us to accelerate on innovation and expansion, pursuing the objective of strengthening our presence in strategic international markets,” concluded the entrepreneur.
Currently, the company registers around 55% turnover on European markets, in Italy Germany and Spain in particular. Another 22% comes from the Asian world and the rest is represented by the American and Eastern markets.
(Source:Class Editori)
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