Magret Menzel joined VDMA in January this year and is promoting www.tec4people.com to customers who are looking for technical information about machinery produced by its 3,000 plus members.
85% export ratio
Beatrix Fraese, head of export marketing, VDMA, responsible for food processing machinery told FoodProductionDaily.com customers worldwide will now be able to find exactly the right suppliers for the machines they need for the production and packaging of food and beverages.
In addition to a detailed Manufacturers and Products Directory the website will have information on technology, trends, future topics and resource and energy efficiency.
“Our members have an export ratio of 85% so they sell their machines to more than 100 countries worldwide,” said Fraese.
“We attend tradeshows and organise conferences overseas and our customers come to us looking for a machine to do a certain type of thing. Before, we had printed brochures and CD ROMs but now we think it’s better to have an online visible presence with the website and we can direct people to that – it’s like a program catalogue of all our members, but much more focused and easier for people to find what they’re looking for.
“If you are looking for a machine producing chocolate products or if you want to buy a new packaging machine we have linked the catalogue to each company so that you can easily find their website.
“It’s like a trade catalogue but more focused. Additionally, we have some information about relevant subjects eg hygienic design, food safety, or anything we think will be of interest for the customers of our members.”
38 industry divisions
Fraese has worked for the VDMA for 14 years. The federation is the trade association of the German capital goods industry and represents all major manufacturers of machinery, plant and apparatus in the country.
The Food Processing and Packaging Machinery Association is one of 38 industry-specific divisions of the group and comprises more than 300 companies.
“Our association regularly receives phone calls from all over the world from people looking for a specific type of machine,” added Fraese.
“If you are not so familiar with technology you try to find a product relevant to your manufacturing technology, for example, if you want to make a chocolate bar and you want to find a company in Germany you are not sure which company can make your machines so this catalogue can help.”
VDMA is attending the 20th edition of Propak China at Shanghai New International Expo Centre(SNIEC) from July 16-18 and is exhibiting at Interpack, Dusseldorf, Germany, hall 5, stand J38 until May 14.