Interview with Rafael bonnet, CEO of Mettler Toledo Spain

Without a doubt, the Automation reduces or minimizes human error as far as possible. In addition, facilitates continuous measurements, standards, quality, parametrización… in the end, all the requirements of production and control. I believe that Automation is key in sectors such as pharmaceuticals and food. The first, perhaps to which check a little the trend, while the rest imitate him and approaching him.

Today, the production lines are increasingly faster. In fact, industry looks for higher performance and our teams are tailored to these requirements, in a progressive manner. Calls for teams weighing and detection of metals in continuous, automated, to increasingly rapid processes. As beverages, exceeding to the pharmaceutical sector. We have teams of measuring up to 900 units per minute. We innovate continuously releasing new products and solutions…solutions

For us, there are two strategic sectors: food, cosmetics, chemicals, petrochemicals, for example outside and pharmacist. In general, the company runs a permanent phase of evolution and innovation. The latter, with the purchase and integration of companies with interesting technology developments for our market and pose a synergy with the equipment that we have now. Innovation is part of the culture of Mettler Toledo.

On the basis of criteria of volume, with greater weight Division is the industrial. However, during recent years, the packaging industry has been nipping the heels, growing steadily, due to the automation of industrial processes. Increasingly, pharmaceutical and food production chain is more automatic and requires the implementation of systems of quality control in line, features in accordance with the standards required. It is possible that either the Division with a percentage of highest growth, in recent years. For its part, the area of laboratory is still very strong for us, especially because it is part of one of the origins of the company. Mettler Toledo is derived from the merger of two companies: Switzerland (Mettler) and American (Toledo). The first, started business creating laboratory balances, something that is already part of the first steps of this multinational. Today, it is about 20% of the turnover of Mettler Toledo Spain. Another important Division for us is that of services. We do not understand the product as such, but we are trying to sell solutions. By virtue of that, we offer product, after-sales assistance, maintenance contracts, etc. In other words, we provide all service which a customer may need.

For example, the industrial division could be of the order of 25%, the packaging industry for almost 20%, lab 20%, services between a 23 and 24%... While retail has less weight, a 7-8%. In percentages, the Division fastest growing is analysis of processes. Basically, dedicated to the measurement of parameters of production online such as dissolved oxygen, conductivity, CO₂, turbidity for control of water in industry farmacéutica… are talking about a brutal surge, as 35 per cent per annum. Despite its small representation, it is a very strong commitment by Mettler Toledo. And, certainly, we hope that during the next few years continues to increase at the same pace.

Any, but there are also certain market niches where each of the companies are specialized. Mettler Toledo we are more focused on the treatment of water for pharmaceutical industry than to the wastewater, refined, for example. They are processes to be monitored continuously, with high levels of precision, that few manufacturers are capable of providing. Situations that also occur in the food sector, of the brewing industry with the monitoring of all processes and parameters of the brewery. It is one of the businesses that have most increased in recent years, something which we hope will continue in the coming years. Think that food and pharmacy were key segments for us, for the portfolio of solutions that we provide. The measurement of parameters online increases this range. Our goal is to become a 'partner' essential for these companies.

Most of our industrial processes are manual, from the Assembly of laboratory balances for the production of electrodes for continuous measurement. Our emission of pollutants into the atmosphere or of waste generation rates are absolutely minimal. Most of our factories are in Europe and we always comply with all existing legislation on the environment. In addition, our teams are focused on ensuring the quality control of products manufactured by our clients, both in the phase of design and laboratory and at the stage of industrial production. In this last phase we take care of the control of a net content of packaging ensuring that they are not filled or in excess or in default, guaranteeing the veracity of the labelling and also inspection of contaminants in the product. As a result, the product reaches the market free of impurities. From Mettler Toledo, we produce and commercialize teams of metals, glass, plastics and other detection by Ray x. maybe this is our contribution to sustainability, "sustainability" of product. For example, when you give your child a yogurt or you take a drink, you have to make sure that the product does not contain any impurity. This is something that we detected prior to the placing on the market of any product.

Our main challenge is the to return to the path of growth. As it has already happened with the majority of the companies, the year 2009 was also difficult for us. We had strung 10 years of continuous growth, but during the past year opened a gap in this trend. However, what we year, already we are seeing good prospects not only in sales but also as to demand from our customers. This is our most important challenge: resume that upward path and continue to offer solutions for the segments in which we work.