A Pleasant Conversation with Mr. Horst Juergens, Senior CEO of Omnilab Group

We had an enjoyable conversation with Omnilab Group Senior Chief Executive Officer Horst Juergens. Juergens provided important information regarding Omnilab Group's operations.

Could you tell us about the development history of Omnilab, which has been operating in the sector since 1935?

Omnilab was founded in 1935, and following the difficult war period, the restructuring process gained momentum in 1947 in Bremen, Germany. Our company, which opened its first branch in Münster in 1954, subsequently expanded to Braunschweig, Hannover, Hamburg, and Leipzig. With a central warehouse system, created with our own resources and good evaluation of growth opportunities through successful business volume, Omnilab today has reached 7 group companies and 18 branch locations, including Omnilab Turkey. Today, Omnilab is a private company with 160 employees and extensive national and international laboratory trade operations. Our objective is to continue advancing with principles that always place people and comprehensive service at their core.

When did Omnilab open its Turkey office? What are Omnilab's expectations from the Turkish market?

Omnilab Turkey entered the Turkish market in 2011. In our country, where a large percentage of industrial and medical laboratory needs are met through imports, the sector continues to grow rapidly. Particularly in recent years, government support regulations in production have indirectly accelerated sector growth. Turkey holds significant economic opportunities in this field.

Could you tell us about your products and product groups? Which sectors do you serve?

90 percent of our product group consists of products manufactured in Germany. We have a product portfolio that meets the equipment and daily consumables needs of industrial laboratories. We supply more than 400,000 product varieties. Among these, we conduct user-focused operations in Turkey with 11 special brands that are indispensable to daily laboratory life. Particularly in the field of occupational health and safety, the progress made over the past two years is gratifying in terms of public awareness and the alignment of employee and employer satisfaction with a common denominator. All of our products are supplied to industry, schools, and private hospitals on this basis.

Could you briefly describe your laboratory installations?

We have turnkey projects that encompass architectural and engineering planning through implementation, from consultation through professional selection of all equipment suited to needs, installation, and post-sales maintenance package services for a period of 3 years. Our most recent complete laboratory project for DEUTSCH SCHULE, which implements the IB diploma program, was realized with Wesemann products.

Which sectors in Turkey do you serve most?

In Turkey, we can say that the food and pharmaceutical sectors and universities are our main service sectors. We also continue to provide specialized services to various sector operations where international quality standards are applied and production is carried out.

Could you tell us about your post-sales technical support service?

For us, post-sales technical support constitutes the essence of sales. Particularly in our post-sales support, we have our Pro Service application. Here, whether or not under a maintenance agreement, we provide all our customers with 24/7 free advisory support. Our main objective is to enable employees to continue their work without interruption and to allow companies to navigate this process without loss of labor, time, or money.

Could you tell us about your corporate social responsibility campaigns?

This matter is managed from Omnilab headquarters. We have sponsorship activities throughout Germany and Europe. Among these, the JUGEND FORSCHT program, which supports young researchers, holds an important place for Omnilab. For 2017, sponsorship activities will be conducted with German International School.

Why do your customers prefer you?

We value customer satisfaction. In evaluations we conduct with our customers, it stood out that we honor our commitments at any cost. This is also one of the main principles supported by our company culture. Easy accessibility, speed in communication, and information completeness are other leading reasons. We advance in line with our slogan. We continue to be FLEXIBLE, RELIABLE, and PERSONAL.

Could you provide information about Omnilab's environmental policy and sustainability approach?

This matter is managed from Omnilab headquarters. In general, the concept of renewability and its dynamics are a rapidly spreading process, and we contribute indirectly to work being done in sustainability matters and areas.

When laboratories are mentioned, safety measures come to mind. Does Omnilab have any work underway on this subject?

People are the common denominator of everything and very valuable. Within the dynamics of today and circumstances, we should check whether we have not reduced their importance to very low levels for many different reasons. Whatever we do, whatever we produce, whatever we create, having happy employees is the richest resource a company can possess. In our own field, we provide the correct product with a safety approach compliant with regulations in terms of both ergonomics and working environments and equipment. We transfer technological developments concurrent with Europe to all our customers. The health and quality of the whole is essential and must be managed with maximum safety measures. Finally, do you have a message you would like to convey to the sector? The concept of unity and solidarity continues to demonstrate its importance at many points today. Beautiful developments are taking place and will continue to take place within the sector we belong to. Along with our increasing successes, we hope for its continuation.