Three questions for ... Ulrich Brumm

At the beginning of April, Ulrich Brumm was newly elected to the board of the Association for Elevator Technology (VFA-Interlift) at its general meeting. We asekd the 56-year-old managing director of Orba-Lift Aufzugsdienst our three questions.

Mr. Brumm, what does your company expect to gain from membership in the VFA?
Brumm: My predecessor, Wolfgang Bretschneider, decided in the mid-1990s that we should join the VFA-Interlift. I see membership as a mutually beneficial relationship. The association keeps us informed about the latest trends in the market and in standardization. The companies contribute their practical expertise. Together, we form a large community that benefits from mutual exchange and the activities of its members.

When I attend VFA meetings or events like this one in Schwelm, I take a lot of notes and make sketches. As soon as I'm back in Reichenbach, I pass on my knowledge to our management and our team. We have a lot of good employees at Orba who take care of the day-to-day business, so I can concentrate on the strategic direction of the company. An important part of this is my membership and involvement in the VFA.

Photo: © VFA-Interlift

As the managing director of a 90-person company, you certainly have a very busy schedule. Why are you now also involved in the VFA's executive board?
Brumm: I have been active in the VFA's standards working group and expert panel for several years. Serving as an assessor on the executive board takes this commitment to a higher level. Of course, this also involves a certain amount of effort. But the work for the association is virtually embedded in my daily business.

For example, to clear my head after the week, I often sit at my desk on Saturday mornings. That's when I get a lot of good ideas – both for Orba and for the association. The VFA meets several times a year in person. That means you're away for two days at a time. Together with the preparation and follow-up work, the association work probably adds up to one or two weeks.

But you see, I like being an entrepreneur because you can literally do something. At the VFA, I can also shape things and be creative. The board is a good team. The back office in Hamburg has become very professional in recent years. Together, we can continue to advance lift technology in Germany and Europe.

What impetus do you want to give the VFA?
Brumm: Measured by the number of employees, the lift industry is relatively small. That's why it receives little public attention. Orba is present on various channels such as Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn to recruit new employees. One initiative could be to use storytelling on social media to show young people how attractive and future-oriented careers in lift construction are and how wide the range of activities is: architecture, mechanical engineering, electronics, mechatronics, monitoring, emergency calls, etc. A second point is that as lift manufacturers, we have our finger on the pulse of the economy.

Orba is at the interface between operators and approved monitoring bodies. On the other hand, we are also end customers for component manufacturers. It is important to me to bring the associated experience and perspective of a medium-sized company to bear in the association's work.

More information: orba.de
vfa-interlift.de