At the end of last year, Schoeller announced its re-entry into the power plant business after a five-year hiatus. The decision was reinforced by geopolitical developments, improvements in quality and process stability, and favorable conditions among material suppliers. To actively engage with key markets, members of the sales team traveled to China and Korea at the beginning of the year—two crucial regions in this industry. Their goal was to establish and strengthen business relationships while gaining deeper insights into market trends and ongoing projects.
Over nearly two weeks, Bernd Jansen (Head of Sales Automotive), Philipp Nickel (Sales Manager Industry), and external consultant Axel Lechtken held extensive discussions with local partners and potential clients. In China, meetings were arranged with leading companies in the energy and infrastructure sector. In Korea, the team engaged with businesses specializing in power plant construction, offshore solutions, and heat exchangers.
The trip yielded immediate results: A promising discussion in China led to a concrete and promising inquiry.
Reflecting on the trip, Philipp Nickel shared a positive outlook: “We brought back exciting inquiries, but more importantly, we strengthened our presence on the ground. Personal relationships are essential in Asia for building trust and securing long-term business. Thanks to the excellent groundwork laid by our consultant and local partners, all meetings took place in a welcoming and productive atmosphere. Strengthening these connections and building long-term customer relationships will now be much easier.”
Bernd Jansen also sees significant potential: “The ‘Made in Germany’ label and the Schoeller brand hold a strong reputation in our target markets. Our quality, expertise, and process reliability are recognized as being on par with international leaders. In cases where projects are internationally tendered, and Chinese suppliers are excluded from consideration, we have a level playing field, giving us a strong competitive advantage.”
With valuable market insights gained, the next step is to turn this momentum into tangible business opportunities.
Pictures: CNOOD Asia Limited & Schoeller Werk GmbH & Co. KG