Walmag Magnetics is a long-standing supplier of magnetic applications. It manufactures lifting magnets, magnets for clamping during machining, demagnetization solutions, and more. Its customers include companies from the metallurgical and engineering industries, among others. From an initial manufacturing plant with American ownership, it has risen to become a top manufacturing and development company in Europe and is now celebrating its 10th anniversary of being in purely Czech hands. We spoke with its managing director and co-owner, Filip Šejba. 

How did an average company with a long tradition, but on the verge of financial difficulties, become a leader in its field? 

The company was founded in the early 1990s as part of the American Walker Magnetics Group. However, due to poor management and an underestimated investment strategy, the group's European assets did not achieve the results the parent company expected, and so in 2011, it decided to scale back its European operations. Together with two other colleagues in managerial positions, we decided to buy out the company, and however exaggerated it may sound, it rose like a phoenix from the ashes, with the new name Walmag Magnetics. We started to manage profitability, established our own development department, and invested. Thanks to the team we have here, which I am truly proud of, we managed to move to new premises within two months without interrupting production and gradually reached a completely different economic dimension than it was ten years ago under the original owner.

In the last decade, you have invested several times more in the company than the original owner did in twenty years. Where did the investments go, and what changes did they bring about? 

Originally, we were focused only on the production of permanent magnets and electromagnetic products, and within the group, we could only serve Eastern markets. The acquisition of the company opened up new possibilities for us. We could invest in expanding our portfolio, machinery, and most importantly, our people, because as I say, machines are dead; without people, they would be nothing. We established our own development department and focused on electro-permanent technology, which now accounts for approximately a quarter of our production. We also started developing and manufacturing new generation control units for lifting battery magnets and control units for electromagnets and electro-permanent products, and innovating existing products. Currently, we have several product lines designed for lifting loads and machine clamping, especially for machining centers, and we also produce demagnetization products. Today, over fifty people work directly in Kroměříž, we all know each other well and understand why we do what we do and where we are heading. We have become a sought-after manufacturer for Czech and Slovak companies, and thanks to a wide network of distributors and dealers, we are active worldwide. A large volume of our production goes to the USA, but interestingly, we have also supplied to Mongolia and New Zealand.

Reference customers appreciate your flexibility and the safety of your products. What are your other competitive advantages?

We are a Czech company, and we are close to our customers. We have a strong development and service team that conducts site visits and communicates with customers about their requirements, and I dare say we are truly the fastest in the world when it comes to order fulfillment. We can manufacture some products in as little as 2 weeks, which is unique in our industry. As for our portfolio, we have standard products in all lines, which account for over half of our production. Our great added value is our ability and willingness to meet demands even for the smallest modifications. Such minor modifications account for up to 20 percent of total production. Our customers highly appreciate this, along with direct communication and fast delivery. In addition, we also manufacture special custom-made products. This month, for example, we handed over a large order for an important customer – a Czech manufacturer of bearing rings for wind turbines. We developed and supplied an electro-permanent solution for them – a large circular magnet for machining intermediate rings with a diameter of over four meters, a weight of 13.5 tons, and a high clamping force. The delivery also included a control unit subordinate to the magnetic table's control system.

What are your future plans? Do you plan to respond to the growing demands of Industry 4.0?

Some of our products – electro-permanent and electromagnetic solutions – already meet the requirements of Industry 4.0, as was the case with the mentioned order. Their control units can be fully interconnected and communicate with the control units of machine tools to ensure maximum automation of our customers' production processes. The area of automation occupies a prominent place in our long-term company development strategy, as does the development of products and applications for other industrial segments.

Source: Hospodářské noviny