Altrex and innovation: always looking for new and better

Innovation is part of what Altrex does. For over 70 years, we have constantly been working on 'better, easier and safer'. We do this together with our Altrex professionals and our customers. After all, they work at heights and on our access equipment, day after day. And only the best is good enough, that’s what we believe.

When dealers and end-users are accustomed to using the best access equipment, that sets the bar very high for us. This is thanks to our drive for innovation ... and we are just fine with that, because we like to innovate. “This keeps Altrex on the move, and we just keep coming up with better and more innovative products”, says Maarten Hogervorst, manager of Marketing & Development, when asked about Altrex's genes of innovation.

Innovate by listening

Innovative access solutions, that is what the Altrex range excels in, and we have every confidence in saying that. Like the Safe Quick® GuardRail, the smart running rail which constantly protects all around while constructing scaffolding. The MiTOWER, the first rolling tower that can be assembled by one person. And the modular suspended platform system with lengths up to 26 meters. According to Hogervorst, each of these are innovations that originated from customer demand: “Innovation begins by listening. To the demands and needs of our customers, but also to changing legislation. These two combined, provide important input to really innovate.”

Innovation begins by listening. To the demands and needs of our customers, but also to changing legislation. These two combined, provide important input to really innovate."

In addition to innovative access equipment, other smart solutions are also developed, such as the online scaffolding configuration tool. Putting together a rolling tower is quite a difficult task. For example, which components do you need and what is really a safe scaffold? The online configuration tool helps you, as a user, to assemble a complete scaffolding that can be built the way it should be: the safest, most efficient manner, and in accordance with the safety standards. The configuration tool knows exactly what you need.

Working together on smart solutions

Innovation and improvement is a matter of working together. In order to innovate, you need to have good people in your organization, and you need a sophisticated process. It involves the translation of customer demands and market trends, into smart solutions that don't yet exist in the market.

“We talk to our customers and dealers. This information is passed on to our engineers, who then develop new products. If this requires new production techniques, the Engineering department will take care of it. We then think about the smartest way of production and distribution. So it’s an internal chain in which all departments work together and complement each other. Each using their own knowledge and skills. This results in the safest and most innovative Altrex products. And there will be many more to come.”