Interview with Philippe Godbil, Product Marketing Manager at Graco

Founded in 1926, Graco today supplies products and equipment to many different industries. In the interview we conducted, Graco Industrial Division Product Marketing Manager Philippe Godbil answered our questions. Godbil provided information about Graco's products and technologies, particularly aimed at the paints and coatings and surface finishing sectors.

Could you briefly tell us about your education and professional background?

For 17 years I worked in the Class A automotive sector as a paint robot programmer and paint application engineer. I joined Graco as an Application Engineer and then moved into Product Management.

Could you provide information about Graco's history and milestones? What is Graco's current structure today?

Graco was founded in 1926 by the Gray brothers; we started as a local family business specializing in lubrication and today have grown into a global company with 3,500 employees. The Industrial Equipment Division was established in the 1940s, which set Graco on a path that would take us far beyond our "local business" origins. As Graco expanded into international markets, we experienced important milestones in our growth. In the mid-1980s, our shares began trading on the New York Stock Exchange. In the 1990s, Graco expanded its Technical Center for product development in Minneapolis, opened a center in Europe and built a world-class manufacturing and distribution facility in Minnesota. After the 2000s, Graco grew through numerous strategic acquisitions and continued major investments in capacity, opening a new facility in China and expanding operations in the United States. In the 2010s, Graco reached a major milestone with revenue of 1 billion dollars, and also completed significant company acquisitions that opened new opportunities in niche markets and established a major business unit for oil and natural gas markets.

What sectors does Graco fundamentally serve with what types of products? Could you provide information specifically about Graco's products, brands and services in the field of paints and coatings and surface finishing technologies?

Graco serves a broad range of sectors in paints and coatings and surface finishing technologies, from general industry to construction and building, and automotive manufacturing. We provide machines for pumping, mixing and metering, paint application and everything related to these. Under the Graco umbrella in this range are many brands such as GEMA, Sharpe, QED and White Knight.

Could you tell us about your local and international sales activities? What regions and types of products does Graco fundamentally sell to?

Graco has centers in Minneapolis, Belgium, Shanghai (China) and Porto Alegre (Brazil). Across all divisions, we serve customers in over 100 countries across six continents.

Could you provide information about Graco's innovation and R&D activities? Do you have projects developed within the framework of university-industry cooperation?

Graco continues to grow by investing in new products and transferring our technology to new markets and applications. We work continuously for improvement and development in collaboration with paint manufacturers, OEMs and others for validation purposes.

Could you provide information about Graco's environmental policy and sustainability approach? What types of activities are carried out regarding employee health and safety?

Graco works to advance its sustainability initiatives: we have only one world and must take good care of it to continue our business in the future. Our environmental policy is very clear: we work to comply with all applicable environmental laws and to make meaningful improvements for the future of our business and the communities we operate in. The necessity of fact-based decision-making is a deeply rooted belief in the Graco organization. The facts tell us that the future of our business is built on sustainable practices. We will do everything we can to protect the Earth for the future of our business. To make data-driven decisions, we track our air emissions, waste generation, water use, wastewater discharge and energy consumption. Two of our major factories in the United States are ISO 14001 certified. Employees participate in environmental and sustainability initiatives through "Green Teams" and Graco's "Continuous Improvement Program." Efficient products use fewer of the world's resources, and we design our new products accordingly. We continuously conduct research and development to design recyclable products that save energy and materials and increase efficiency. We have expanded our range of electric and battery-powered products to reduce emissions related to energy consumption, and most of our products now use energy-efficient brushless motor technology. Graco is committed to providing a safe working environment for its employees and has made significant investments in best safety practices. Through our health, fitness and safety program, we incorporate our commitment to safety and employee welfare into our company culture by providing training that promotes health and reduced injuries. As a result, Graco has repeatedly been selected by Fortune magazine as a "Great Place to Work in Manufacturing and Production."

What are Graco's priority criteria when establishing investment plans? Does Graco have any investment plans for the near and distant future?

Graco strives to be the manufacturer of the highest quality fluid management products in many markets. Our innovation focus results in products and equipment that lead the industry with advanced features, pioneering design and high performance. As a result, Graco spends a larger proportion of its revenue on New Product Development compared to all other competitors.