In May, DAN-doors celebrated its 40th anniversary with a big event where around 200 guests visited the company. In this context, we talked to DAN-doors's director, Amdi Simon Kjærgaard.
Question:
Looking at DAN-doors from the outside, is there anything you are particularly proud of?
Answer:
There are many things I am proud of. In particular, our employees deserve to be highlighted on the occasion of our 40th anniversary. Many of our employees have been with the company for 10, 20, 30 and 40 years, and that is certainly something I value and am proud of. I can also feel that there is a special pride among DAN-doors employees, and that pride has been a great driving force for me in creating the right framework for the company as a workplace. DAN-doors is a medium-sized company with a flat organization, but we still deliver both door and technology solutions to the whole world and special projects in our home markets. Here we contribute with our innovative specialist competencies - not only in door solutions, but also in supporting customers in their project management. This is unique in the industry, and it is only possible because our employees go the extra mile every day.
Question:
Where do you see DAN-doors's greatest strength in a competitive market?
Answer:
High quality is - and has always been - DAN-doors's trademark, and good craftsmanship traditions are an important part of the company's DNA. DAN-doors' doors are known to have an exceptionally long lifespan, and this naturally helps to minimize the customer's investment and operating costs, which is also reflected in the bottom line. Looking to the future, there is no doubt that it is crucial to consider sustainability in both materials, processes and the solutions we pass on to our customers. Our solutions must help customers improve their ability to operate more efficiently and sustainably, and the way they can do this is by saving energy, minimizing waste and reducing the need for disposal and replacement of products. Another thing we can help them do is to help them understand where in their processes and operations they can improve. We are in the process of developing a solution that provides a nuanced insight into operations and highlights the potential for optimization. Based on the incoming data, it becomes tangible what adjustments need to be implemented to save energy, and in the future we will be able to help the customer directly minimize their operating costs. Here we are not only talking about minimizing cold loss, but also the energy used to operate the gates. We have no doubt that this will be a strong competitive parameter.
Question:
How are you addressing the challenges facing the industry - both in terms of labor shortages and the downturn in construction?
Answer:
Fundamentally, I believe that decency is the most important basic principle in our company - both internally and externally. If we are to be an attractive company for new employees, we must be a workplace with high employee satisfaction and great freedom. If you look at the seniority of our staff, it is very high, and I believe and hope that this is because our employees are happy to be here. This happiness is contagious and can be felt far beyond our own premises.
In the same way, I believe that integrity is the cornerstone of a healthy business and essential for getting through the difficult periods that come and go. DAN-doors is a professional and reliable business partner, and this is reflected, among other things, in the fact that we have built a strong and healthy business, which for the seventh year can show a AAA rating, which is the highest credit rating awarded by Dun & Bradstreet. It is a huge pat on the back to be among the one percent of the Danish business community that can show AAA rating for so many years in a row.
At the same time, DAN-doors delivers the best products on the market, and we are extremely innovative in our project organization, which, based on the customer's needs, stands on its hands to deliver competitive solutions. This is of course important, just as it is important that customers, suppliers and partners feel confident that they can trust what we say. This means, among other things, that we have our calculations validated by DTU, so that the U-values and energy calculations we publish are not just something we say, but something we have had confirmed by a higher authority. It is important for our credibility that we always stick to the facts and treat our partners with respect.
