Combining Proven Solutions with New Ideas
For more than a year, Marcel Olivier has been the Plant Manager of HELU Connectivity Solutions Haan GmbH, the specialists in drag chains and drag chain systems within the HELUKABEL Group. In this interview, he tells us what his vision and goals are for the company, what changes came as part of its integration into the Group, what are yet to come, and what excites him about working with so many different people every day.
Mr. Olivier, you've worked with HELU Connectivity Solutions Haan for two years and have since become Plant Manager. How did you originally find your way to the company?
That's actually a funny story. I completed my doctorate in Aachen in manufacturing technology and, while I was finishing my dissertation, I was registered as unemployed for three months. I actually wanted to travel after completing my dissertation—enjoy a break—but things just didn't work out that way. A head-hunter wrote to me saying that they thought my profile fit perfectly with a small company near Dusseldorf, known at the time as EKD Systems. Since we were already in the process of moving to Dusseldorf, I drove there and spoke with the leadership at that time for almost three hours.
By then, HELUKABEL had already acquired the company, and the vision of building something new together really excited me. I joined EKD as a Project Engineer. During the process of restructuring the company into HELU Connectivity Solutions Haan, the newly created position of Plant Manager was offered to me. For me, this was a real honour and challenge that I gladly accepted.
What about the development and production of drag chains fascinates you personally?
I find it very interesting that a product, that is typically a background player, actually fulfils such an important role. This mirrors my personality a bit. I don't particularly enjoy being in the spotlight and prefer to let my performance speak for itself. In many applications, drag chains perform an enormously important role, and there are many complex parts and factors that must be perfectly tuned to one another. We're talking about tolerances in the tenths, hundredths, or even thousandths of millimetres. And when everything fits, customers can expect our drag chains to withstand millions of movement cycles without complaint. I find this very impressive.
Marcel Olivier, Plant Manager at HELU Connectivity Solutions Haan GmbH
What tasks or challenges are part of your daily work life as Plant Manager in Erkrath?
I lead our employees in many different areas. It’s important to connect with each and every individual, as every person is different in their way of working, or even in how they communicate. In addition to that, I need to make many decisions that affect not only our goals here, but also those of the entire HELUKABEL Group. That's why I make sure that the direction we're heading will allow us to be successful.
HELU Connectivity Solutions was previously named EKD Systems, and before that, EKD Gelenkrohr, a company with around 50 years of history. What has changed as part of its integration into the HELUKABEL Group?
The name change has us feeling more strongly like we're a member of the Group. And we identify with it even more so, now. For some of our older colleagues, the integration was a significant change. To make it a success, it meant that many goals and channels had to change. Now, our employees understand our direction as a group very well, especially the solutions mindset, meaning that we want to provide our customers with installation-ready, complete solutions.
What advantages does this closer interconnectivity with HELUKABEL have for your customers?
The biggest advantage for our customers is that installation-ready system solutions are now available to them. Of course, even before, we would suggest appropriate cables when delivering a drag chain. But now that we have our entire gambit of competencies under one roof, we can more precisely and efficiently produce optimal solutions for our customers. Furthermore, as part of the Group, we can develop new products that are better tailored to the requirements of our customers, thereby expanding our portfolio. Drag chains play a central role in many industrial applications.
In what areas do you currently see the most potential?
Generally speaking, the current market situation isn't so simple. We do, however, see great potential in many industries, for example in the manufacturing of tooling machines, handling technology, and intralogistics— applications such as high-bay warehouses or pick-and-place systems. All of these industries require increasingly dynamic movements and higher travel speeds. For our products, we're seeing these as promising growing markets.
What are your vision and goals for HELU Connectivity Solutions Haan in the coming years?
My goal is for our location to become the benchmark within the Group. We want to overcome our challenges in a way that other Group companies can use as inspiration, and we want to be able to support them, too. To achieve this, I would like to get us to a place where we have all of our processes perfectly under control, and always following the standard of working together with the Group to provide our customers with perfect solutions.
Are there any innovations or investments that customers especially can look forward to?
At the beginning of 2025, we unveiled our new drag chain, the HELUCHAIN PLASTIC LINK 4-45. This drag chain is specially designed for demanding industrial applications, and its impressive features include its ease of installation, exceptionally quiet operation, and its suitability for a wide range of applications. And this is just a taste of what's to come. We have a number of ideas, including this drag chain, that are sure to cause a stir in the market soon. Of that, I'm sure.
What do you enjoy the most about your work?
Easy, the people. We have a fantastic team, and every member wants to make a difference, which is a lot of fun. We are able to create and affect so much, and in so many industries. We orient ourselves according to our customers' needs, as well as future needs, by combining proven solutions with new ideas. This continues to inspire me, day after day.
In your opinion, what are the most important qualities to have when in a leadership role?
For me, the most important thing is to respect and value people. This means trying to understand why someone acts the way they do, that you actively ask questions, and exchange ideas. I aspire to lead our employees by supporting and challenging them in order to get the best out of each and every one of them. As a leader, you need to also provide consistency and always be authentic, because your employees will immediately notice if you're not being genuine. If you can't be authentic in your role, then you're not the right leader for the job.
If you were to have a motto for your day-to-day work, what would it be?
“We’ve got this,” he said. (In German: “wir kriegen es auf die Kette”—a phrase that evokes the image of getting things aligned or running smoothly, like links in a chain.)
