Richmond Profiles of Excellence: Hansen Industries LTD.
Since 1975, Hansen Industries LTD has supplied precision sheet metal and machined components to Fortune 500 manufacturers around the world.
While providing clients with a complete package – from product conceptualization to prototyping to production – Hansen actually has no products of its own, says President Edwin Beange. “Our customers typically e-mail their designs to us and we manufacture their parts” he says. The list of services offered by the business located right off Bridgeport Road on Olafsen Ave. reads like a science fiction novel: CO2 laser cutting, Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) machining, sheet metal fabrication, water-jet-cutting, wire Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM), Tool and Die, metal stamping and CAD/CAM/CIM capabilities. In plain English, it means they are extremely versatile producing components that range from tiny circuit board connectors to large electrical cabinets.
The company has come a long way since 1975 when founder Bjorn Hansen, from Denmark, started making elevator replacement parts on small lathe in the same location. Now, there are more than 25 pieces of CNC equipment and 70 employees. Beange says he bought into the company in 1991 and instantly clicked with Hansen forming a “long-lasting ideal partnership, lust like in a Walt Disney movie.” “I think it worked out this way because both of us put the business needs ahead of our personal needs.”
Before becoming president, Beange worked with macDonald Dettwiler and Associated (MDA) and Bruker Spectrospin (Canada) LTD. Installing Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectrometers. A Sudbury, Ontario native, he had the chance to first visit Vancouver while repairing a spectrometer at UBC and instantly fell in love with the city.
Beange, a Professional Engineer/BMA by trade, says his job is come up with a vision that staff and management can follow, hire the right people, and create a company culture. “Our company puts a great deal of effort into the culture part. We have an employee-run social commit, profit sharing, training, an RRSP program, barbecues, ping-pong, pig roasts, go-karting, golf tournaments, picnics, carnival days with candy floss machines, and family open houses” says Beange.
The diverse population of Richmond is very much reflected at Hansen Industries, which is staffed by employees from more than 22 different countries. Moreover those cultures are celebrated. “We have ethnic lunches where everyone brings in a dish from their home country. This is the most difficult meal because the choices are endless and our stomachs are only so big. I announce employee’s birthdays in their native tongue over the intercom, which brings great laughter as I attempt their language.”
Working as hard as they play, Beange says their employee’s act as one big team and that produces some great results. Last year on-time delivery was 98 percent and product acceptance was 99 percent. “Our strengths are our technical versatility and our superior customer service. We survey our customer’s satisfaction level and post the surveys and testimonials on our website. Potential customers read these and realize that they want what we are selling: ‘Quality on time’, which is our quality statement.”
Motivated employees working together to make world-class components in a fantastic city - another Richmond success story!