Gallery:3 PicturesOne of the shop’s tools, made to the requirements of some of the world’s biggest and most prestigious carmakers.(Source: Tebis)Gallery:3 PicturesSF Moldes, a mould manufacturer in Oliveira de Azeméis in northwestern Portugal, uses software from Tebis from start to finish, relying on programs from the point of job planning to actual manufacturing.
Despite all the advances in mould making, some parts of the industry are still lacking, according to António Rocha, managing director of SF Moldes. “High-quality, all-around service isn't a matter of course today.”
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Rocha is a man who has seen plenty of changes in the market, giving him insight into what it demands. As a subsidiary of Germany’s Schneider Form, SF Moldes continues to run the business of CRMoldes, a firm that Rocha himself founded in 1980. Thanks to Rocha and his team, CRMoldes was able to rise to an position in the upper ranks of Portuguese mould manufacturers, even before the takeover in 2006.
Supplying top carmakers
The success of the company, which currently has 200 employees, speaks for itself. SF Moldes manufactures products that include plastic and die casting molds for the electrical equipment and electronics industries. However, the largest portion of the company's revenues – 97% – comes from the automotive sector. The company’s products wind up in models from some of the world’s most famous badges. Customers include Audi, Jaguar, and Volkswagen as well as Ford and BMW.
Rocha views the comprehensive customer support as one of the main reasons why SF Moldes was able to establish itself as a manufacturer of top technology: “I really believe that this distinguishes us from the other mould manufacturers: Our goal is to consistently deliver the best to our customers.” But there’s more, he said. “Customers should be satisfied not only with the products themselves, but also with the service we offer afterward. This is how a company gains credibility. If a company values quality, good service, reliability, and an after-sale warranty, they turn to us.”
This mindset was at the forefront when the company selected a software vendor, Rocha explained. “Why did we choose Tebis? Tebis pursues a customer strategy similar to our own.”
