Current Electronics

Since electric power became available at a large scale in the beginning of this century, it has become of vital importance in our societies. In fact, it has become indispensable, as so many functions are dependent on it. And with the expansion of ICT this dependence on electricity has only increased. The computer may be a 'logical machine' that mainly runs on so-called software, it still remains a machine, and the hardware runs on electricity. Now the computer, as a vehicle for information technology, is installing itself in almost every corner of society, and many industrial processes are computerized. So you might speak of a twofold dependence on electricity – or even a manifold dependence.
A company that determinedly rowed with this current is the German Kamb Elektrotechnik GmbH at Ludwigshafen. As manifold as the applications of electricity are the services Kamb provides. The Company has expertise in the installation and maintenance of electrical appliances of almost any kind.

Company owner Mr. Georg Ludwig Kamb talks with enthusiasm about his business. The company was founded by his grandfather in 1907. For more than ninety years electrotechnical installation an power cabling remained the main field of activity. Nowadays however, quite some cables, networks and appliances are added to the standard equipment of a building or house. About six years ago, Kamb expanded therefore the spectrum of services, that now cover a whole range of appliances, from traditional electrotechnical installations and power cabling, through telecommunication to data networks. Also the more traditional electronic control engineering in manufacturing processes remains a field of activity.

The different networks that the company installs may vary in size from only a few too several hundreds of connected workstations. Next to the design an installation of such networks, Kamb also offers maintenance services. Also the necessary documentation – manuals that is to say – is provided by the company.

The customers are to be found in almost any kind of business, including industrial, trading, financial and administrative companies. In particular the food and the chemical and pharmaceutical industries are strongly represented – as they are abounding in Ludwigshafen an surroundings.

Bundling services

The chances are good for so general a service provider. Outsourcing is a major trend, an many companies confine themselves to what they see as their core business. On the other hand 'one stop shopping' and 'total solution' are the cry of the day. So also these kind of technical services should be rendered by one provider. And who would be better equipped than the electrical engineer? In no branche there is a more comprising knowledge of the crossing points and intersections of the different technologies. Next to the traditional power cablings and the telecommunication and data networks, one may also think of alarm installations, closed TV circuits, entrance control, and so on. When for instance an office building has to be equipped or rearranged, all of these installations have to be taken into account and linked to each other. A customer certainly would prefer to have only one addressee, who not only safeguards that everything is geared together, but also will guarantee maintenance and safety of operation later on. And this is just what Kamb Elektrotechnik is doing. When necessary, the company works in co-operation with competent partners that are specialized, for instance in fire and burglary alarm systems. Facility management, as the bundle of services is also called, requires the mastery of complex and organizational problems. In this respect Kamb really is on top. Typically, the company goes one step further than its competitors. One will deal with the authorities, for instance, when something has to be arranged.

Company Structure and Business Organisation

Kambs personnel counts 96 technical engineers. They are spread over 6 divisions that work rather autonomously. Each division has its own account of profits and costs that is controlled every month. If a division is doing very good business, a kind of cell-division process is started. All engineers are exchangeable between the distinct divisions and this way the success may spread to other divisions as well.

The organizational structure is rather flat, as the different divisions or teams are not too big. Instead of hierarchical lines, direct and open communications are emphasized, not in the least in relation to clients. Most of the operations are executed on site, at the customers location. This way Kamb is in direct contact with the customer. Kamb maintains its own infrastructure - office, workshop and personnel – on site in order to offer direct customer support. Thereby Kamb is bearing the risk, the services are offered at a fixed price and the client only pays what is actually carried out for him. Besides the high level and broad range of services – Mr. Kamb would not know another company with as manifold a competence – this is certainly one of the company’s selling points, Mr. Kamb says.

Looking at the future

As for the future, Mr. Kamb speaks of even increasing and intensifying the services provided. Furthermore, an expansion is aimed at by means of partnerships. 'We are looking for competent partners,' Mr. Kamb says 'an would like to exchange, or outsource, services between each other.' When distance is too great sometimes colleagues are approached on behalf or clients. By means of such co-operations one also is willing to expand activities abroad. At present only 5 % of the turnover is due to export. The share of international activities could grow with the help of reliable partners with native speakers amongst their personnel. Of course, one will be maintaining and try to reinforce the company’s regional strong position. 'We remain a general entrepeneur for the providing of technical services', Mr. Kamb concludes his story.