11.08.2010
Flood? Time for a quick help!
In the border triangle of Poland-Czech Republic-Germany media is full with disaster news. High time for a good message: BELFOR helps you with all types of flood damage - quickly and competently. Call us - we are coming!
Germany:
0180 1234566
(Festnetzpreis 3,9 ct/min; Mobilfunkpreise maximal 42 ct/min)
Poland:
0800 235367
Czech Republic:
800 235367
26.07.2010
New dates - BELFOR event for Claims Managers and Loss-Adjuster!
BELFOR Technical Support has announced some more dates for the Loss Adjuster Training:
25./26. Januar 2011 Loss Adjuster Training German - Invitation
27./28. Januar 2011 Loss Adjuster Training English - Invitation
In a 2-day course BELFOR Technical Support in Ismaning impart valuable skills relating to the potential of restoration methods.
01.07.2010
BELFOR Environmental Positioned to Help Gulf Coast Clients
To protect BELFOR clients potentially affected by the Deep Water Horizon oil spill, BELFOR Environmental has positioned workers and equipment in Florida should oil begin to wash up on the Florida coast. Similar preparations have also been made in Biloxi, Mississippi.
An oil spill of this magnitude can easily outstrip local resources for cleanup and support, and BELFOR has resources strategically placed to respond should clients require immediate assistance. Click here to read an interview with BELFOR's Senior Spill Response Manager.
13.04.2010
BELFOR USA Response in Chile
A team of BELFOR responders, many multi-lingual, were dispatched to Chile in mid-March to help Red Alert clients in the area with property damage mitigation efforts. Several retail and other commercial projects are under way, as well as a large volume of document recovery work – over a million cubic foot at the time of this writing. So far, seven commercial buildings have been shrink-wrapped to provide temporary roofing. Due to the volume of work, a permanent BELFOR Chile office may be established.
09.04.2010
Business Continuity Award
BELFOR-Relectronic UK is shortlisted for the Business Continuity Award for “Most effective recovery of the year”. This offers us the possibility to win this awar for the third time. The winners will be announced on Wednesday 12th May 2010 at the Awards Gala Dinner in London.
11.03.2010
BELFOR event for Claims Managers and Loss-Adjuster
BELFOR Technical Support has announced some more dates for the Loss Adjuster Training:
08./09. November 2010 Loss Adjuster Training German - fully booked
10./11. November 2010 Loss Adjuster Training English - fully booked
In a 2-day course BELFOR Technical Support in Ismaning impart valuable skills relating to the potential of restoration methods.
17.02.2010
BELFOR working alongside Darlington & Durham Fire Service
BELFOR know that it can be difficult for small businesses to recover following an incident if they do not receive the correct advice quickly and some don’t recover at all. That’s why BELFOR have recently agreed a referral arrangement with Darlington & Durham Fire Service whereby BELFOR will be on hand to provide Disaster Restoration Services and advice following any commercial fire or flooding incident attended by Darlington & Durham Fire & Rescue Service.
BELFOR will be providing an invaluable, no obligation ‘loss and mitigation service’ to SME’s following an incident, and fire crews are able to hand over the scene, knowing that there is a next stage happening for the business owner to help them on the road to recovery.
If you are interested in learning more about this service please contact us – click here
16.02.2010
METAV 2010
Two companies which coordinate with each other, BELFOR DeHaDe and Rothenpieler, present solutions for highly demanding machinery refurbishment on METAV 2010 from 23rd to 27th February 2010 in Düsseldorf. Our combined retrofits update your machine tools and manufacturing machines, increase your efficiency and product quality.
Visit us on METAV in exhibition hall 16, booth 66!
Please click here to view the Flyer.
27.01.2010
BELFOR event for Claims Managers and Loss-Adjuster
The first loss adjuster training last year was very successfull so that we are offering now the second loss adjuster training in March 2010. The training will take place on 18th and 19th March.
In a 2-day course BELFOR Technical Support in Ismaning impart valuable skills relating to the potential of restoration methods.
11.12.2009
A time for peace
As Christmas comes around, it’s time for peace. Especially in stormy days, this time of year is a precious opportunity to relax and unwind. Treat yourself to a well-deserved rest.
With this in mind we wish all our business partners a calm and relaxing Christmas time and all the best for the new year.
30.10.2009
FERMA 2009
Again BELFOR was present at the international FERMA congress in Prague from Oct. 4-7, 2009. FERMA takes place every two years and has served as an international platform for addressing risk management issues and trends for many years.
More than 1.000 visitors from 38 countries proved again the importance and the attention of the insurance and risk management world especially in the hard financial period we are going through.
The Technical Visit to our BELFOR document restoration centre in Prague was part of the official FERMA program and a group of FERMA participants gained insight of processes and opportunities of document restoration.
28.09.2009
Managing crises with supreme ease – new input with SOLUTIONS
We are pleased to send you today the latest issue of BELFOR’s customer magazine SOLUTIONS. The focal point this time is “de-escalation”, a topic at the core of corporate activities at BELFOR. After all, we are confronted with small and big crises, with exceptional situations at our customers on a daily basis. It is important here to keep a cool head and find the best solutions helping a company out of the crisis as quickly as possible.
This issue of SOLUTIONS examines this topic from very different perspectives: not only from the view of BELFOR as a damage restoration specialist, but also from the standpoint of crisis managers, insurance companies and experts. We are especially glad that “external” parties, partners and customers of ours also use this magazine as a platform for an exchange and their own contributions.
The examples in the magazine show that there are many ways of surviving crises with supreme ease – even though it sometimes appears hopeless. This should be ample motivation to head into the future in a confident and solution-oriented manner!
I wish you what will hopefully be exciting reading. As always, we look forward your feedback very much.
26.05.2009
Surveyors attend a two-day training course at BELFOR in Ismaning, Germany
BELFOR Technical Support in Ismaning organised a two-day training course for surveyors entitled “Knowing what works and what doesn’t: damage limitation via modern restoration methods”.
Six surveyors from BELFOR Belgium took part in the course, which aimed to teach participants, through hands-on experience, how to identify and use potential restoration methods in order to achieve maximum damage limitation.
The following topics were covered:
- Assessing the damage limitation that can be achieved through restoration
- Selecting the appropriate restoration methods on the basis of the available options, technical restraints, and cost-effectiveness
- Logistics in major damage events
- Safety requirements
- Quality guarantee
- Documentation and data storage
By trying out for themselves the various restoration methods available for buildings, machinery and electronics, as well as possible drying techniques, participants were able to familiarise themselves with the operational side of restoration.
For the participants, acquiring practical know-how about various restoration methods and experiencing them personally was without doubt one of the major benefits of the course, which will certainly help them in future to identify and select the most suitable action to take in order to limit potential damage.
Based on the positive feedback that we have received from participants, it appears that this first Surveyors’ Training Course has been a success.
In response to demand from several surveyors’ offices, BELFOR Belgium and Technical Support Ismaning will be repeating this initiative in the future.
We would like to offer all participants my sincere thanks for the interest and enthusiasm that they showed in Ismaning.
20.04.2009
BELFOR strengthens its European Sales Force
Filippo Emanuelli, who started his career in BELFOR in 1994 and since 1997 he is Managing Director of BELFOR Italia, has been appointed Director of the ISE - International Sales Europe Department. He will devote great part of his efforts to this new responsibility still maintaining his position in BELFOR Italia.
15.04.2009
BELFOR Europe appoints COO (Chief Operational Officer)
We are delighted to announce that BELFOR Europe GmbH has appointed Mr. Conor Roche as COO for the group.
Conor Roche, a native of Ireland but living in Germany, has previously been with BELFOR from 1999 - 2003 as CFO in BELFOR USA. In 2003 he joined the Celesio Group, a subsidiary of the Franz Haniel & Cie. GmbH, as Corporate Director of Mergers & Acquisitions and from 2005 – 2008 he was Group CEO of Movianto GmbH, a multinational European logistics company operating across 10 European countries.
Conor Roche will be responsible for the operational business within BELFOR Europe as well as supporting the country managers on strategic planning and execution.
07.04.2009
Earthquake in Italy
BELFOR Italia offers the customers who suffer damages from the massive earthquake in the Abruzzi the help of a (special) major-loss team.
To obtain technical help please call the free hotline 080082018 (national) or contact Mr. Ing. Vincenzo Sgaramella, technical responsible for earthquake-damages, under +39 334 6964021.
17.03.2009
ACE Protect - in partnership with BELFOR
ACE Protect is a new property coverage aimed at companies which have installed sprinkler fire extinguishing systems in their premises.
ACE Protect offers training and risk management advice which is provided by ACE’s award winning team of Risk Engineers. In addition, direct access to emergency sprinkler leakage remediation services is available through BELFOR, leading experts in the reduction and control of damage following the leakage of water from sprinkler systems.
Commenting on the launch Steve Walker, ACE’s UK Property Underwriting Manager said:
“The ultimate aim of ACE Protect is to reduce the likelihood of adverse incidents and in the event that an incident does occur, help our insureds to minimise damage and consequent business interruption and get back to running their business as soon as possible.”
Please click here for the complete article.
24.11.2008
BELFOR and professionalism – that fits!
For BELFOR, professionalism forms the basis for all successful business. It is just as important in our internal processes as in our work with our customers, whether these are insurance companies, surveyors, industrial enterprises or individuals. With every assignment and every telephone call, we convey something of our professionalism. Professionalism is our chance to set ourselves apart from our competitors, and to establish a connection in people’s minds between our services and specific values. Reason enough, surely, to make professionalism the focus of our latest customer magazine! Interviews with our customers, news items and background information give readers an overview of our services and newest innovations. The magazine conveys an excellent image of BELFOR, which readers are then very welcome to pass on to others...
Please click here to download our latest issue.
22.08.2008
BELFOR founded new companies in China and Slovakia
BELFOR (Asia) has opened the new founded BELFOR Recovery Services (Shanghai) Co., Ltd in Shanghai, China. Thus we have expanded our presence in Asia and we are now represent at the Chinese and Hong Kong market. For further information please click here.
In Eastern Europe we have expanded our presence by founding the new BELFOR Slovakia, spol. s r.o. in Bratislava, Slovakia. Beside Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic we are now acting in Slovakia, too. For further information please klick here.
09.04.2008
BELFOR Holding opens new job portal
Visitors who are interstested in working at BELFOR, have now the possibility to see worldwide job offers on the Internet page. By choosing the menu item "Jobs/career worldwide", the visitor can see all job offers of a special country by cklicking on the chosen country flag. Job offers of the BELFOR Holding are still accessible by choosing the menu item "Jobs/career BELFOR Holding".
31.03.2008
BELFOR Responds to Monte Carlo Hotel Fire in Las Vegas
After a fire burned off the upper levels of the 32-story Monte Carlo Hotel in Las Vegas on Friday, January 25th, BELFOR USA was immediately dispatched to mitigate damage and begin restoring this MGM Property. Team members were mobilized from several of BELFOR’s 57 offices across the US. Approximately 350 workers were working around the clock as of Tuesday to minimize business disruption to the hotel. The job was completed within 9 days!
Please click here for the video!
14.02.2008
Drawing inspiration from real-life experience
The topics examined by the experts in the Technical Support Department at BELFOR are determined by real-life experience. This is where the ideas for new products and procedures germinate. The goal is to make repair efforts even more efficient in customers’ best interest. More efficient means more sustainable, more effective, more economical – and faster. In the field of post-fire repairs, for example, the Technical Support Department developed what is known as soot removal film. This is a completely new procedure that helps remove soot from certain surfaces even more effectively. The idea came from the restoration sector, where experts have long been using latex to restore monuments to “their former glory”. Transferring this process to soot removal was BELFOR’s idea. Technical Support further developed it and prepared it for use on items damaged by fire. In the soot removal film process, the soot is drawn off of contaminated surfaces into the film. This reduces the time needed for repair operations, cuts any operational downtime and saves costs.
Please read more about the soot removal film in our customer’s magazine “Solutions” on the pages 18/19.
02.02.2008
RED ALERT® – The BELFOR emergency response programme
When crisis grips a company, the effects are always widespread and the greatest burden is borne by the inner circle. However, others are also impacted, not only customers and suppliers but also a wider group of insurers and reinsurers. All have one common goal: getting the company back on its feet as quickly as possible – making sure downtime doesn’t mean the end of the line.
RED ALERT® offers maximum support when disaster strikes. Drawing on its vast practical experience in damage remediation, BELFOR developed its emergency response programme. RED ALERT® benefits everyone affected by a crisis because its detail-oriented, forward-thinking disaster management scenarios keep damage to a minimum. A key attribute of RED ALERT® is the way it works proactively to anticipate what could be. Possible risks are assessed before the fact and vital emergency measures put into place. Because risks will vary from company to company, individual game plans can be devised for RED ALERT® customers.
Learn more about RED ALERT® in our brochure!
24.01.2008
Restoration of a princess
A graceful entrance, the “Star Princess”: the Californian ocean carrier’s ship was cruising through the Baltic Sea when water leaked in from a hole in the extinguishing water-supply pipe into the ship’s interior. Soon there was almost two metres of water in the room. But that wasn’t all: water also penetrated the air-conditioning and ventilation system. The disaster quickly progressed - a total of 60 tonnes of water entered the ship, flooding the bow and port sides.
BELFOR USA and BELFOR Netherlands worked in perfect collaboration, to get the ship back in operation again.
Please read more about this ship restoration in our customers’ magazine “Solutions” on the pages 30/31.
09.10.2007
Summit meeting for risk managers – and BELFOR is there
What risks will we face in the future? How will they change? And what consequences will this have for risk management? These questions were at the heart of this year’s FERMA, the most important international event for risk managers from all over the world. A total of some 1000 visitors from more than 40 countries attended FERMA 2007. Global responsibility and sustainability were the central topics discussed in various forums and workshops. FERMA, which takes place every two years, is an important platform for BELFOR to deepen existing business contacts and establish new ones. Because risk managers decide which partners companies should work with in order to handle risks in a professional way. They decide on provisions for emergencies, and determine e.g. the procedure in case of a crisis, always with the objective of maintaining business activities with as little interruption as possible. Just as when storms flood a company with problems or an earthquake shatters all normal processes. In this sense, risk managers and insurers are key partners for BELFOR. Because BELFOR offers services and programmes that are tailored to these emergency scenarios. We also help companies, e.g. with RED ALERT®, to recognise potential risks and minimise possible consequential damage before an emergency occurs. Communicating this at FERMA is an important task for BELFOR. What counts is to position and present our company as the first port of call and the best partner for risk management.
BELFOR well placed – with stand and workshop
Now BELFOR has done this successfully for the third time at FERMA, which took place in Geneva from 30 September until 3 October. BELFOR presented itself there with a stand next to those of leading international insurance groups among others. The level of interest was pleasing, not least thanks to a memorable invitation. It contained a corroded trolley coin which the visitors could bring with them to the BELFOR stand. There it was “restored” again in a series of mini-immersion baths. BELFOR demonstrated with this example how a repair can restore values that were believed to have been lost. Visitors to FERMA could experience BELFOR’s competence for themselves not only at the stand but also in a workshop. Neil Courtney gave a lecture on effective emergency planning and offered practical tips. Participants learned how, even in an emergency and under difficult conditions, they could minimise downtime and keep business running at full steam. Case studies rounded off the workshop and made it into a practical and highly interesting event for all attendees.
02.10.2007
Autumn Seminars in Ismaning (Munich)
BELFOR offers annual seminars in autumn in Ismaning near Munich, which are very popular by our customers. This year the seminar was fully booked as in the year before. The event deals with themes like industrial claims or Drying techniques.
Get more informations in our SPECIAL (only in german language)
22.09.2007
BELFOR at Cunningham Lindsey Symposium
They all met in the Palazzo della Borsa: over 300 insurers, brokers, reinsurance companies, banks, risk managers and international law firms – participants in the symposium organised by Cunningham Lindsey in Genoa on 13th/14th September. And BELFOR was also there. Filippo Emuanuelli presented RED ALERT® in the framework of the round table on the subject of natural disasters. He encountered a highly interested audience among an important circle of customers for BELFOR. After all, many experts were in attendance who take decisions which are important for BELFOR, including the choice of partners to work with companies in the event of an insurance claim. BELFOR’s participation in events like this is therefore extremely important for the development of our business. Among other things BELFOR showed at the round table how (also smaller and medium-sized) customers can take precautions with RED ALERT® and thus reduce potential damage impact.
Please read more about the BELFOR emergency response programme RED ALERT®
20.09.2007
BELFOR remains unfailing
How can a company reach a continuous quality standard? How will be set new standards? The key to success is an efficient organization. You can find a perfect example for efficient organization in the fauna: ants reach their aim very quick and with low effort.
BELFOR takes advantages of this profitability. Through our knowledge, experience and internal structure is it possible for us to find a quick and optimal solution and to perform this collective. Efficient organization is no means to an end, but an element of our principles and the main point in our latest customer magazine solutions.
Please click here to download our fifth issue.
21.08.2007
Meet us at...
The BELFOR Group will be very active in autumn at different trade fairs and congresses. We will be present at the DVS Symposium in Munich from 11. – 13. September. This industrial insurance-congress has the focus on themes of industrial insurance and Risk Management of companies.
From 13. – 14. September the Cunningham Lindsey Lercari Meeting takes place in Genoa, Italy. Insurers, Brokers and Risk Managers from Europe, especially Italy will primarily meet there.
Traditionally we will be present at the FERMA in Geneva. At this Risk Management Forum (30. September – 3. October) you will find us on booth 25. Please click here for the plan of the trade fair. Click here to download the detailed program.
We would be pleased to meet you!
29.05.2007
BELFOR speaks Japanese
Our Asian BELFOR companies are an inherent part of the collective BELFOR internet presence – so far in English. BELFOR Japan offers now the first Asian web-site in their national language. The BELFOR services are now shown in Japanese characters, which is a better service for the customers in this country market. Everyone who wants to see this page has probably to upgrade his computer with the Japanese language, or download it from the internet. Within short the other Asian pages will also be available in their national languages.
19.04.2007
IUA MARKET BRIEFING: Reducing the Impact of damage from Climate Change and catastrophic or wide area events.
On Wednesday, April 18, 2008, 1pm-5pm, the IUA (International Underwriting Association, London) hold a market briefing in the London Underwriting Centre to explore the damage resulting from severe storms and hurricanes in both the USA and Europe and how this can be most effectively addressed afterwards to minimise the disruption to insureds and financial losses to insurers. In this market briefing three speakers from BELFOR have reviewed the lessons that can be learned from managing the aftermath of such events. How disruption to individuals whose homes have been severely damaged or destroyed can be reduced and how businesses can get up and running again as quickly as possible and not become another business failure statistic.
11.04.2007
BELFOR receives award from Sony
In January 2007, a fire occurred at Sony in Japan, causing considerable damage and contamination to both production and administration areas, including contamination of cleanrooms.
Fortunately, due to a very good risk management culture within Sony, this facility was covered under a RED ALERT contract and the Sony corporate risk manager, quickly contacted BELFOR Japan for assistance. Following a rapid but detailed assessment carried out by BELFOR the extent of contamination and damage was determined and a recovery proposal prepared for Sony. BELFOR was subsequently engaged by Sony to decontaminate the affected equipment and facilities, as well as supervising decontamination of the building structure and also providing ozone deodorizing of fire affected areas.
In recognition of the good service provided, BELFOR Japan was presented with an award by the President of Sony.
02.12.2006
Employees create calendar for 2007
The various submissions for the calendar not only include photos with creative ideas, there are also pictures with a very personal touch. Whether the family is included or someone shows how he or she camps near a construction site: Our staff is involved wholeheartedly. The BELFOR calendar is set off on a trip to our employees within these days. Just click here to have a look at the creative ideas of our employees.
23.11.2006
solutions - Customer magazine in a new look
Our forth and latest issue of the BELFOR international journal will soon be available. It has got a new name: solutions. This is to stand for a very important economic demand: to quickly offer professional solutions for our customers after a damage occured. One of the most important assets in this situation is a great response team. This is why the main topic of this issue is "team". Our magazine throws light on the topic from different angles - informative, entertaining, thrilling.The magazine now appears in a handy DIN A 4-format. Interested in your own issue? Just order yours under internationaljournal(at)belfor.com. Here you can see it online!
16.10.2006
BELFOR remains BELFOR
BELFOR, so far a 100%-subsidiary of Franz Haniel & Cie. GmbH in Duisburg, Germany, will now continue its successful way as world wide market leader in the water and fire damage restoration in autonomy. At the beginning of the year, we have announced that the BELFOR Group together with Haniel is looking for a new investor. Now we can proudly inform that with the newly established BELFOR Holdings Inc. the present managing directors of the holding company, the managing directors of the European and, in particular, of the North American country operations as well as other top managers are the new shareholders of BELFOR. Franz Haniel & Cie. GmbH has a 25 per cent interest in BELFOR Holdings Inc. The BELFOR Group is jointly headed by the current chairman of the Managing Board, Bernd Elsner, and his American colleague, Sheldon Yellen, the CEO of BELFOR USA. The existing Managing Directors of the European, US and Asian subsidiaries will continue to head their respective companies and will therefor guarantee continuity in all respects. As always, our customers can count and rely on us, on our operational readiness and competence as leader of our industy - around the clock and for 100 per cent.
Click here to read the official press release of Franz Haniel.
11.09.2006
BELFOR-project wins Deutsche Public Relation Award 2006
The German Public relation society (DPRG) and the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung institiute for management, market and media information award the "Deutsche Public Relation Award" since 1970. The heads of communication etc. from major companies, professors and professional communication companies form the jury, the patron is Michael Glos, the minister of economy of Germany.
In the category "internal communication" were 94 submissions, 2/3 by DAX 30 listed companies.
We are proud to announce that our project won the "Deutsche Public Relation Award 2006" in the category "internal communication". Our contribution was about our BELFOR Manual including the corporate values and management guidelines and its implementation.
For more information about our corporate values, just click here.
15.08.2006
BELFOR - When the chips are down!
The new BELFOR video is available. To welcome you in our world, just click here... (15 MB)
18.07.2006
Winning by Understanding
Success in business can be measured in many different ways; by the size of your turnover, your increase in profits, your return on capital. However for a service based company such as BELFOR one of the key indicators of success is customer satisfaction, however this is very difficult to measure as it is a subjective matter. How people react to a disaster in their home such as a fire or a flood varies dramatically from person to person and therefore how they perceive the quality of the restoration services performed by BELFOR varies widely. So how do you, or more particularly your insurance company customers, measure customer satisfaction?
Please click here to read the full article.
15.06.2006
Restoring Tulane University after Hurricane Katrina
Many companies had a role to play in dealing with the aftermaths of Hurricane Katrina. For BELFOR it was the biggest single restoration project in company history. Click here to read what Theresa Williams, BELFOR USA, wrote for "Catastrophe Risk Management", April issue 2006.
11.05.2006
BELFOR in an interview with the “Sunday Times”
What it can lead to if companies do not take any precautions against stoppages was shown by an explosion in the English town of Buncefield. The disaster occurred last December at an industrial estate in which 630 companies are located. At 88 of them the explosion resulted in large-scale interruptions of operations. Among other things, because such risks were unfortunately not on the radar screens of the responsible company staff members. On this occasion the English Sunday Times interviewed, among others, Dr. Greg French, Managing Director of BELFOR UK. He was able to provide reliable information because he had immediately hastened to the site of the accident at the request of an insurance company. What he discovered there was a disaster. Not only as far as the direct impacts of the explosion were concerned. French also found out that most of the companies affected had not carried out any emergency planning. It was often little things with big consequences. In a flooded company, for instance, the shutoff valve for water was not found. In the destroyed rooms of another enterprise the machine that could have maintained operations if provision had been made for its installation elsewhere was still intact. But: nothing doing. For French it was still uncertain at the time of the survey whether some of the companies affected would ever recover from the stoppage. According to French, whenever there is no backup, the future prospects are bleak. Therefore, he urgently advises emergency precautions, for which BELFOR – not only with RED ALERT® – is a competent partner. “Even though we are a restoration company,” states French, “it is not in our interest for companies not to carry out emergency planning.” The hope remains that the realization of this necessity among the responsible persons will either help to avoid such a “worst case” in future, or at least significantly mitigate it.
13.04.2006
Fire on board cruiser ship
It was meant to be a pleasure cruise through the caribbean – until fire broke out on board the luxury liner “Star Princess”. Even today it is not clear how the fire started. Of the 2,960 passengers on board, many suffered smoke injuries and one man died of a heart attack. 100 cabins were damaged; many were completely burnt out. When BELFOR USA was alerted to the incident, materials, machinery and drying equipment were assembled from various locations in the USA and flown to the Bahamas within five days. Everything necessary was brought on board two freighters. BELFOR was contracted to strip out all the damaged cabins and to clean and repaint the surfaces. The experts from BELFOR worked in two shifts – plus one hour per day on account of the time difference. Needless to say, the voyage continued – and in extremely rough seas, which resulted in further water damage in the cabins. The material stripped out from the cabins was temporarily deposited by BELFOR in two large swimming pools. A total of nearly 100 BELFOR staff were in action, 95 of whom were from the USA. Some team members remained on board until the vessel arrived at the Lloydwerft dock in Bremerhaven in order to hand over the ship to the local project managers. Lloydwerft has an international reputation for its ship repair work: the Queen Elizabeth II will shortly be overhauled there. The customer was very satisfied with the BELFOR operation – and the possibility of follow-up contracts cannot be excluded!
23.03.2006
New processes: satisfied customers
A year rarely goes by without the Technical Support Department in Ismaning, near Munich, improving existing processes. One example of this is the so-called Soot Removal Film (SRF). This material now is free of ammonia, which means that users no longer require personal protective equipment even in enclosed spaces. The new SRF process which is exclusively offered by BELFOR with appropriate machines also has other advantages. Unlike the high-pressure cleaning technique, large scaffolds and dust barriers are not required. To the delight of our customers!
21.02.2006
Information of the Management Board
Thanks to its international presence, the BELFOR Group had a successful year 2005. The perspectives for 2006 in Europe, USA and Asia are also positive. Being the global market leader with our successful business model we are looking for further long-term growth opportunities. Therefore Franz Haniel & Cie. GmbH and BELFOR are jointly looking for a new investor for BELFOR International GmbH. The BELFOR International Management is available for further information.
07.02.2006
Satisfied with BELFOR?
WE MEET OUR CUSTOMERS CHALLENGE is one of our six key corporate values. Do we put this value into practice? A question only one person can answer: our customer. How did he find our work? Was he satisfied with our skills and commitment? From this year, all European branches of BELFOR will ask their customers these and other questions in a survey. Our success ultimately depends on the satisfaction of our customers. Only with the help of their open and honest feedback can we develop further and achieve our goal: to be the world's best damage restoration specialist.
31.01.2006
Vienna University library in dire straits
The biggest economics library in Austria was hit by a devastating fire last December. The cause of the disaster was arson. Europe's biggest faculty of economics with over 20,000 students suffered severe damage including contaminated service pipes, extensive damage to the basement, ceilings and walls and above all to the heart of the faculty – its library. 100,000 books were damaged, some were covered in an oily layer of soot and smelt strongly of smoke. In this sombre situation, the university management and accident assessors contacted BELFOR in Vienna and commissioned us to carry out restoration work. Up to 100 colleagues from many different countries have been working around the clock since Christmas. To allow university activities to be at least provisionally resumed, parts of the building, especially escape routes, were decontaminated, service pipes were repaired and most importantly, the 10,000 books required for teaching were restored by 9th January. A laborious task because each book had to be carefully cleaned of soot and dust by hand. Brushes, special sponges and fine blasting abrasives for pressure washing were used. The smell of smoke was then eliminated in the ozone chamber where each book was individually fanned out. Having been restored to their original state, the books could then be replaced on the library bookshelves. This restoration assignment has been covered with interest by the Austrian media. ORF has so far broadcast four features and various newspapers reported on it.
16.12.2005
Contentment - Happiness - Health
Each of us needs values to live by, as a frame of reference guiding our actions. The challenge for us all is to constantly breathe new life into them in our daily activities. We hope that, for all our customers too, the coming year will be truly one to value! Here is wishing all of them a peaceful and relaxing Christmas season.
21.11.2005
On the save wavelength: The art of putting the customer first
How do companies succeed in providing lasting value to clients? What keeps clients coming back project after project? How do new customer approaches look in practice? The latest BELFOR international journal tackles these very questions. As in previous editions of our customer magazine, we approach these issues from various angles, supplementing our thoughts on the topic with those of outside experts. For a damage restoration specialist such as BELFOR, customer relations play a central role – we are often called in during extreme emergencies, when everything is at stake. What counts at such times is taking responsibility, reacting fast and providing expert assistance. Plus, the needs of the various parties involved, including insurers and technical experts, have to be balanced. BELFOR has made it its mission to come up with professional solutions customised for every client, no matter how big or small. Our relationships with clients are conducted in the same spirit of partnership as with insurers. And day in, day out, we go out there to meet new challenges as we continue to strive for ever better solutions. We hope our customer magazine makes interesting and insightful reading. Of course, we are open to your suggestions and requests.
08.11.2005
Biggest Hurricane Mobilisation for BELFOR USA in company history
The destruction caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita has spurred BELFOR’s largest ever CAT operations to action in Mississippi and Louisiana. Between these two states, over 3000 BELFOR disaster recovery workers are deployed on approximately 175 projects, one of the largest being Tulane University with over 80 buildings on campus. BELFOR is deployed on 22 of the 46 high-rise building in downtown New Orleans. Projects in both states range from structural decontamination to reconstruction to vital records and electronics recovery, with many projects encompassing all elements. Plans are in place for long-term mobilization and, eventually, permanent offices in both states.
11.10.2005
BELFOR employees create calendar
Bring the BELFOR values to life - that was the task. All BELFOR employees have been asked to create the 2006 BELFOR calendar. Have a look at a selection of pictures which have been sent in, showing their every-day-life. The 12 top pictures and slogans will make the BELFOR calendar 2006. These will visualise what the values mean to us - and our customers. Sometimes with some sense of humour.
05.09.2005
BELFOR Responds to Hurricane Katrina
As Hurricane Katrina approached the gulf coast last weekend, BELFOR USA began mobilizing equipment and manpower to their Pensacola office. This location will be the command center for CAT operations for Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi. Where access by authorities has been granted, BELFOR teams have begun damage assessment and restoration for certain high priority clients such as hospitals, universities and telecommunication companies.
01.09.2005
Where`s the `off` button for disasters?
For new insights, smart solutions and top-calibre contributions on the subject of risk management, the place to be is FERMA 2005 in Lisbon from October 2-5. We will be there, taking part in workshops 1,8,14 - will you be there, too? To find out all there is to know about BELFOR and damage remediation, we invite you not only to visit our booth no. 56 in Lisbon, but also to have a closer look at our website and the publications!
