Group MD Kevin Brown emphasises the strategic priorities over the next five years, with plans to increase the company’s global coverage, strengthen brand awareness and loyalty and to further invest in the UK’s manufacturing capabilities

The 14th Hi-Force business partners conference, recently held in Istanbul, Turkey brought together over 85 delegates, including both Hi-Force employees and business partners from around the world including Africa, America, China, Europe and the Middle East.

Presentations from group managing director, Kevin Brown, illustrated the growth and fundamental developments of Hi-Force over the past two years and showcased the significant investments made for the relocation and global expansion of Hi-Force’s network of regional offices, particularly Italy, Malaysia, Abu Dhabi and the UK. Brown emphasised the strategic priorities for Hi-Force over the next five years, with plans to increase the company’s global coverage, strengthen brand awareness and loyalty, and to further invest in the UK manufacturing capabilities.

Delegates continued to be impressed. Technical manager Martin Davies, design engineer Charlie Watts and operations director Chris Dickinson illustrated substantial investments made for the additional purchase of the ‘state-of-the-art’ machinery, cutting edge technology and the latest design software. Together with the ever-increasing capabilities and efficiencies of Hi-Force manufacturing, the presentations also highlighted the future plans for further improving its productivity.

A presentation by training manager Steve Wakelin focused on training courses at Hi-Force and the opening of new training schools within the group, as well as the expanding network for the provision of ECITB (Engineering Construction Industry Training Board) approved training courses. Wakelin emphasised the importance of technical training in both a safety and commercial capacity. Director Craig Brown closed the sessions by drawing attention to further expansion of the Hi-Force product range and reinforced how business partners can utilise new products to enter new markets and increase the opportunity of added value business for Hi-Force.

After two days of presentations and business partner meetings, delegates were welcomed to the Hi-Force gala dinner at Renaissance Istanbul Bosphorus, where the winners of the distributor’s competition were announced. Director Craig Brown commenced the awards ceremony and congratulated the ‘Performance against Target’ gold award winner, Kuwait Oxygen and Acetylene Co of Kuwait who achieved 213.65 per cent of their target.

In second place, and taking home the silver award, was Smail Engineers of Scotland with 151.96 per cent of their target having been achieved. Completing the top three and taking home the bronze award was Assurich Industries of Singapore, with 140.77 per cent of target achieved.

In the ‘Revenue Performance’ category, Craig Brown congratulated Intratool of Russia for achieving the gold award, which sent last year’s winner, HES Sales Limited of UK to second place with silver. A consistent performance from Al Mojil Supply & Services of Saudi Arabia helped them once again secure third place, and taking home the bronze award. Commenting on the awards, Craig Brown stated: "Congratulations to all Hi-Force business partners who achieved awards this year, as well as to the respective unit heads and sales managers who have continued to support them throughout the year."

To end another successful conference, Kevin Brown commented: "The business partner conference is a fantastic forum to exchange ideas, information and developments within Hi-Force, it also provides a great opportunity for our staff to interact with our global distributor network. Congratulations to this year’s award winners, not only have they excelled in their respective territories, they have also proved to be substantial revenue generators for both themselves and Hi-Force. A huge thank you goes out to the entire delegation for attending, wherever we decide to hold the next conference in 2017, I am confident it will continue with the same success".