SubscribeLaser and Multimedia Systems Introduced From HB-laser Komponenten GmbH.
"We want to set standards"
It is getting dark after the last light is switched off in the showroom.
The fog machine of HB-Laser is fizzling once again. After that a three-dimensional world of light, music, forms and colors is created; it is a kind of castle in the air made by laser light.
Sometimes the lasers are smooth sometimes they are pulsing; the light is weaving a luminous dress for the music which is surrounding the viewer and which is giving you the feeling to be in your own universe.
You think that you can feel how the light is fondling your skin. Together with the music the light is creating a symbiosis and a goose skin is generated. That kind of feeling was also caused when Mr. Harald Bohlinger saw his first laser show. "That is what I want to do, too" was the first intension of the machinist. At that time he was 20-year-old.
Delight and Trouble
It started completely harmless as a hobby and a kind of weekend activity. At that time Mr. Bohlinger had a mobile disco and so he was responsible for the laser system. Since that time he has been stuck to it with his "lifeblood" but nevertheless he is not always lucky as there is "that much soul" in the business.
"This is putting a strain on me and you can¥t do anything about it", the businessman explains. At the beginning 18 hours a day were normal of course and it was the price for his passion and perfection. Meanwhile the 40-year-old family man is working 12 hours a day which is for the benefit of his two children and his wife.
He doesn¥t allow himself more than 2 weeks of holidays a year. He doesn¥t have a free Saturday either. For Mr. Harald Bohlinger this has remained a normal working day.The attitude to work of the businessman is rubbing off on his employees. In case of fix delivery dates or if there are exhibitions everybody knows: "Sunday is working day, too".
The motivation and enthusiasm for this work allow such a dedication for all. "Here you can see that we are a well-rehearsed and very good team where you have very few trouble."
Beginning And Development Of The Company
The businessman recalls: "It really started in 1990. It was a one-man-business and there were some free rooms in my parents¥ house. At that time I was doing this business as part-time job. Formerly, my father also had his own company and the rooms in our basement were vacant." Mr. Bohlinger forged ahead consequently. Working until being completely tired and exhausted was quite normal, numerous services were made. The young founder of a new business was also operating as a subcontractor.
In 1996 Mr. Harald Bohlinger met his present business partner. In those days he was a graduand at the university in Aalen with the subject optoelectronics. Together with him he established a booming business for services which has quickly been expanded by a fast-selling trade of second hand lasers and components. The company increased between 1997 and 1999 from a necessary space of 100 square meters to 250 square meters in rented rooms. The two owners got recruitment by 2 student apprentices of the university in Aalen.
Again, the required space of the small company was increasing and so they had to come to a decision in 1999: They wanted to have their own company building and the foundation of a limited liability company was planned. So there were meetings with the Bank in Schwaebisch Gmuend in order to get a loan. "We showed our financial statement and the annual balance sheets and so we had no problems at all to get the loan", says Harald Bohlinger proudly.
Business policy of HB-Laser GmbH
Now, HB-Laser GmbH has an annual turnover of about EUR 2.5 million. It is a well positioned and booming enterprise.
Still there is the trade with second hand lasers of course. "We nearly have the biggest stock selection of second hand laser systems in Europe", the businessman says. However, not only the trade of these second hand devices has been increased, HB-Laser has become a producing industrial firm.
Meanwhile about half of the products sold are produced by HB-Laser itself. In the case of shows, the company is producing about 80% by itself. Regarding the refill of laser tubes, the heart of the laser, HB-Laser has made a name for itself, not only in Germany.
The company is active globally. About 80% of the orders are coming in from abroad. Among these orders are representative projects like the famous Iranian Asadi Square Museum which was equipped with a laser system. Further competences have expanded, too.
Nowadays, the company is researching exclusively by order of well-known industrial enterprises and is selling licences for its developments in the laser technology branch. Mr. Bohlinger and his team developed a laser-tomography measurement system for the big company "Bosch". So it has become possible for Bosch to make 3D photos of particles moving in a room.
"We want to set standards", the businessman says about himself and about his employees. And he is managing that by setting a good example. More than half of the time he is having meetings with his employees, constructing and assembling by himself for hours on innovative products in the shop.
Since the beginning a lot has changed in terms of staff. First there were 4 people now HB-Laser has 26 staff members. Mr. Bohlinger is setting a high value on a good cooperation with his team. This is also specifically supported.
Sometimes at noon he is ordering pizza for his own account and so the whole team is having lunch together. An amicable atmosphere is a precondition for him to do a good job. "However, if a new colleague does not join in or if this person is working against this philosophy it is selected by itself during the time of probation."
According to the opinion of the manager no mistakes should occur. If one of his employees has a problem during his work on a project he should consult the manager of course. "But after asking once or twice everything should be clear", Mr. Bohlinger affirms. "There must be a structure otherwise we can¥t supply the necessary quality", Mr. Bohlinger confirms.
"The most important must be the manufacture of a good product"
Mr. Bohlinger seems to be down-to-earth and not arrogant at all. He wants to concentrate on the most essential: His products and his customers. "I don't have to walk around in town with a tie", he says. Instead he prefers going to customers with his technicians in order to help them installing laser systems and to give some advise, which is often beyond the actual order. Therefore a great number of regulars has established who like the personal and individual customer service of HB-Laser's staff.
He wants to stress that it is very important to be honest to his customers: His motto: "He rather is selling nothing before the customer is not satisfied with the product." However, Mr. Bohlinger does not criticize if a customer is still unhappy or does not want to place an order. Quite the contrary: He is asking for the reason "why" the order is not placed to get to know what the customers want and to remain innovative.
"We must stand behind our products, that applies for me as well as for my team", the businessman states. That is the reason why the "cheap and saving money attitude" is out of the question for Harald Bohlinger. It is very important for him to have a very high level of development and product conception. He calls it "scalable technology". It is a upgradeable and expandable technology.
The customer can start from scratch with a good device. Later he can upgrade it if he wants to make his laser system more professional for instance. That is not going without saying in the electronics branch.
Germany: The location
If you ask Mr. Bohlinger about his wishes for Germany he says less bureaucracy. "That¥s really nerve-racking. It is not that difficult for young businessmen in other countries. Our politics has to make up for that", the successful founder of a new business thinks. Apart from that his wishes are rather simple. "The offices should be a little bit more tidy", he is wishing from his team.
However, the managing director is a little bit frustrated about the fact that time and again there are customers who fell for cheap articles. "That is a central problem in Germany, regarding quality we have been slipped off to cheap production.
Thereby we forget that in the long run a high quality product is worth while in any case." Even in his branch the most bargain offers are coming from China; it is a country which has made HB-Laser an attractive offer to relocate its production.
But Harald Bohlinger is too much linked with his home in southern Germany. Further on he wants to support the business location Germany: "Germany is offering the best laser technology; our country is still number one in that field."
Whoever has met Mr. Harald Bohlinger, the successful and satisfied businessman, knows that it will remain like that.