The inaugural Dorfner Industry Days event was held in Hirschau on September 24-27, 2019. At the newly conceived event, distribution partners and customers learned about Dorfner’s strategy and products in composites. Around 30 participants from five partner and ten customer companies from nine different countries accepted our invitation and, with their positive response, encouraged us to continue the event in the coming years.

Dorfner Industry Days build on our Partner Days and take our strategic focus into account. The aim of the event is to provide our existing and potential partners and customers with comprehensive information about offers, activities and planning in composite products. In addition, we offer a platform for all participants to exchange ideas in order to better understand the specific requirements of the market and to further develop this strategic business area together.

A varied program – from factory tour to Oktoberfest

On the evening before the event, all participants got to know each other over dinner. The next morning, Dr. Oetzel greeted the conference guests and officially opened the event. In his presentation, our managing director introduced the company and explained Dorfner’s strategy and philosophy.

He described Dorfner’s development from a mining company to a refiner and supplier of industrial specialty fillers. In summary, Dr. Oetzel emphasized that Dorfner sees itself as an R&D partner for its customers, working with them to develop individual solutions for their requirements in the area of industrial fillers.
After the presentation, our customers had the opportunity to take a detailed factory tour in small groups. In addition, Mr. Schraut and Ms. Kretzschmar presented our partners with the latest from composite product sales and marketing. Mr. Schraut reported on the growing number of distributors and excellent business performance in the kitchen sink segment. Ms. Kretzschmar presented a comprehensive online and offline marketing package to support our partners. For example, a new microsite for our composite products provides straightforward information about this dynamic product area. Targeted lead generation supports sales and partners in winning new customers.
In a very constructive and lively discussion, it was then discussed with the distribution partners how the potential for composite products, in particular in the sanitary sector, can be better exploited in the individual countries.

After lunch followed the technical part of the event for the entire group of participants. Mr. Suess started by presenting innovations for kitchen sinks and from the sanitary sector (e.g. Granucol® Effect Mix and the rheology-optimized Granucol® Mix+). Afterwards, Mr. Dohnau introduced the machine manufacturer Respekta to our guests before things proceeded to the practical part in the factory. At our pilot plant, Mr. Suess demonstrated the production of a sample panel with Granucol® Effect Mix, including hardening in an annealing furnace and subsequent polishing. For 2 years now, we have been offering customers the option of test production with the system, which has been taken up over 100 times.

The next morning the official part of the event ended with a hearty white sausage breakfast. During a joint visit to the Munich Oktoberfest, conversations and discussions continued in a relaxed atmosphere.
Partners and customers thought that the first Industry Days event was a great success. The professionalism, the well thought-out process and the organization of the entire event by Ms. Kretzschmar, Mr. Suess and their teams were repeatedly praised. For us, it is both an incentive and a challenge to successfully continue this event format in the area of paints and varnishes next year.

Christoph Brenneis