JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #67 - August/September 2011 - 31

Connecting supply and demand
To understand one's market, know how to meet its needs and offer relevant new developments in cooperation with all the departments of the company, these are just a few of the tasks of the marketing manager. Here's an interview with one of these specialists...
identifying new business trends – always with the global view for market segments that behave completely differently (like renewable energy, aerospace, transportation or civil engineering) – describes my work best. JCM: Are composites specific from a marketing point of view? M.S. : Composites require a tailored marketing approach as the industry is still young and dynamic. Structures, products and applications are still changing fast, which is why one has to be able to react with at least the same speed. Trying to
Weaving machine at warn of the SAERTEX®’ facilities

human ressources

MARC SCHRIEF GLOBAL SALES & MARKETING DIRECTOR SAERTEX GMBH & CO. KG, GERMANY

BARD Energy GmbH ©

JEC Composites Magazine: How did you become marketing manager? Via specialized studies and/or experience? M ARC S CHRIEF : I started at Saertex as a sales manager back in 1998, when we were just about 80 people and a small local manufacturer of special fabrics. Having a techno-commercial background as a textile engineer as well as an MBA, my main task was to set up the sales team for the small group. At that time, we had no structured marketing approach in mind, which came later with the growth and globalization of the company. So finally the job as a marketing manager was a lot of "on-the-job training" and learning from experience.

JCM: What does your daily work involve? M.S.: SAERTEX® has divided its marketing into two groups: one is the technical marketing group, which works closely with customers and partners to define and implement new trends and technologies. This group acts as the connection between R&D and sales. The other part works closer to the traditional definition of “marketing”: SAERTEX®’ brand management as well as collecting, analyzing and preparing market information for internal divisions such as sales or R&D. As I am in charge of both sales and marketing, my daily work includes parts of both worlds. Defining strategies, implementing the right structures ...as well as

No67 August - September 2011 / jec composites magazine stay ahead of markets and trends is the key goal. JCM: What was the biggest challenge you faced in your job? M.S. : The high rate of change of the whole industry, the rapid globalization as well as our enormous growth rates – our size increased more than 20fold during the past 10 years – were the main challenges in the past. The traditional composite markets (wind energy, boats

The SAERTEX® Group is a global market leader in the development and production of multiaxial non-crimp-fabrics made of glass, carbon, aramid and other fibres. With plants in Germany, France, Portugal, South Africa, the USA, India and China, the Group is well placed to meet the rising global demand for high-tech reinforcing fabrics. Its products are used in many market segments including wind energy, aerospace, marine, automotive, sports and leisure, railway systems, pipe relining and civil infrastructure.

and... recreational goods) have been attracting a lot of newcomers as well as established companies to build capacity in our arena. The biggest challenge of the coming years is to keep us “fit for the future” by identifying the right markets and trends for a special technology in a period of consolidation. More information: M.Schrief@saertex.com www.saertex.com

More information ...

http://www.saertex.com

JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #67 - August/September 2011

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #67 - August/September 2011