Featured Story – Reaching for the skies…aerospace propels HARALD PIHL to greater heights

Record-breaking turnover

The inclusive environment certainly pays off for the innovative HARALD PIHL team. 2019 was a bumper year for the company, with turnover increasing by 35% across the board. “Of course we are delighted with this result, and especially with the fact that we grew across all of our markets.”

The sky is the limit with aerospace

From those early days, the HARALD PIHL team has built up years of experience supplying aerospace alloys to the aviation industry. Stock includes a wide range of high temperature and corrosion resistant aerospace metals including titanium Grade 5 AMS and Grade 5 ASTM. The quality management system is approved and registered to ISO 9001 and AS9120, and the company is an approved source for many of the key aerospace manufacturers, including Europe’s largest supplier of aircraft.

“Our focus is on supplying aerospace materials to the European aerospace industry, and in particular we’ve increased stock levels of Western aerospace titanium” continues Jonas. “With strong demand for high-end nickel alloy and titanium alloys, it’s a lucrative but very demanding industry with the most stringent demands. We now have a dedicated team in-house who focus on servicing our aerospace clients. The number of approvals we have attained for aerospace companies is a good indicator that we are on the right path.” Indeed over the past year, the company has gained several new accreditations for the aerospace industry in its drive for contact improvement.

Waterjet cutting services

Jonas explains: “Due to demand we recently had to invest in a second waterjet cutter. We hit maximum capacity around six months ago, so expanded our warehouse in Stockholm by 40%, and purchased a new machine. Today both waterjet cutters are working 24/7 providing custom-cut products to our clients.”

Global expansion

With business doing so well, it is no surprise to hear that HARALD PIHL continues to expand its presence around the globe. The company now has fourteen sites all over the world (including agents), with the latest office opening taking place in Vietnam.

“We are also focusing strongly on further expanding our reach into the German market at the moment,” explains Jonas. “We are moving to new, bigger and more efficient premises in Germany. There are many opportunities for us to expand our market share in Germany further.”

The company’s success and geographical expansion have also in required an increase in staff numbers. “One very interesting example is our newest recruitment, Mr. Ingo Stiebe who will start as our new Managing Director in Germany at the end of 2020. Recruitment of good staff is not only focused in our international offices but also at home in Sweden.

These have included the appointment of an aerospace specialist, whom Jonas fondly refers to as the “Wayne Gretsky” of aerospace, to oversee the company’s expansion into this sector, applications for certifications, etc.

Efficient online systems

One important area HARALD PIHL is regularly improving is their online presence and ordering systems. The company’s accessible website is self-explanatory with a good overview of what’s on offer. Customers can easily find what they need online. The company has an unusually transparent system in place, where the customer can see online exactly what is in stock. The system is highly beneficial for the customers as they know immediately what stock is available and when new stock will arrive, saving them precious time.