Schlagwort: GRANIT PARTS

GRANIT PARTS Iberia at FIMA 2026

Every two years, the Spanish city of Zaragoza hosts “FIMA” – a five-day agricultural trade fair in February with around 1,200 exhibitors. Agricultural innovations and technologies are presented to interested trade visitors across more than 100,000 square meters. Experts, manufacturers, and dealers come together here to engage in conversation and exchange ideas at the exhibition space as well as in conferences and presentations.

Acquiring new customers through a customer journey

GRANIT PARTS‘ Spanish subsidiary was represented at this agricultural sector event by a strong team of 14 people. GRANIT PARTS Iberia’s focus at the trade fair was on welcoming existing customers and acquiring new ones. The latter was achieved through a competition and an associated “customer journey.” As part of this, participants in the competition also signed up to receive a newsletter, which was then sent to them over several days, providing them with interesting information about GRANIT PARTS.

The GRANIT PARTS stand at FIMA had a lot to offer: in addition to various LEDs, there were diagnostic devices from Jaltest to discover. Visitors were also able to find out about some of our own brands: batteries from Endurance Energy, PROBOSS seats, workshop equipment from TRAXOR, and ROTARO drive shafts. The topic of smart farming also had its place at the booth, allowing visitors to learn more about the future of agriculture.
Of course, GRANIT PARTS also attracted some visitors to its booth with its enticing competition. The prizes on offer were toolboxes and hammer drills from the GRANIT BLACK EDITION!

The GRANIT PARTS Iberia booth at FIMA 2026

To participate in the competition, visitors received a digital registration form that asked for some information. In addition to their name and address, this included details of the number of tractors they owned or the number of hectares they farmed, in order to get an idea of the size of their operation. By submitting this digital registration form, participants in the competition were entered into the prize draw. They also signed up for the newsletter mentioned above, ensuring that GRANIT PARTS would remain in their minds even after their visit to the trade fair.

Preparations for the lottery & customer journey

Lucía and I were responsible for the registration form and the subsequent newsletter. Lucía is in charge of marketing in Spain and therefore had a lot of contact with FIMA. I, on the other hand, don’t have any trade fair experience yet, but as part of my training I am currently in the department e-commerce/marketing and therefore work a lot in the field of “digital presentation.” Lucía and I already know each other from my stay abroad in Spain in October – a perfect match and a great advantage for communication!

We started working together on the aforementioned registration form for the competition. Lucía gave me a few guidelines and suggestions, and I implemented them in the form. In a short time, we created a quick-to-fill-out digital document that was designed to encourage participation with a logo, images, and a short text.

The customer journey begins

Further down the form, participants were asked to provide their contact details. The “email address” field was important for notifying participants if they won, but it was also essential for the newsletter so that they could be added to the mailing list. The participants were then divided into two groups in the mailing list: retailers and commercial end customers. Fortunately, the information that visitors provided in the form enabled our tool to do the work of distinguishing between the two groups for us.

Here, the journey split into two paths: commercial end customers and dealers.

After dividing the participants into dealers and commercial end customers, both groups received emails over several days informing them about GRANIT PARTS and the benefits we offer. The emails sent to commercial end customers contained comprehensive insights into our product range and practical instructions on how to find a dealer near them via the GRANIT web shop.

The email history for retailers – more detailed and with more branches

The part of the journey aimed at retailers was somewhat more complex. The first introductory email from GRANIT contained a brief overview of the scope of services and a comprehensive presentation of our product ranges. With the trade audience at the trade fair in mind, the focus here was on the agricultural product segment. After a certain waiting period, further emails followed. In addition to interesting insights into our product range, dealers also received information about our partner shop program, Rep.Guide, and our useful special searches.

The difference between this and the email history of commercial end customers was not only in the content of the emails. What also distinguished the course of the customer journey for dealers from that of commercial end customers were the “splits” that the marketing automation tool regularly performed. As part of a split, the tool checks whether the recipient is already registered as a customer with GRANIT. If this is the case, they would embark on a new “path” in the journey. They would now receive emails explaining how to use the web shop and introducing them to other benefits, such as the GRANIT app or the shop system. Participants in the journey who have not registered as customers continue to receive the “regular” newsletter emails.

Here, the journey split again if the participant had registered with GRANIT PARTS.

The conclusion on FIMA 2026

During the trade fair, several people signed up for our competition. GRANIT PARTS is now sending interesting information about our company to a large number of trade fair visitors with the aim of convincing them to become customers or find a dealer in their area.
Of course, visitors were particularly interested in the prizes: every day, two lucky winners were drawn from the new contacts made that day using a tool! One won a toolbox and the second a hammer drill from the GRANIT BLACK EDITION.

In conclusion, FIMA was a real success for GRANIT PARTS Iberia: Lucía reported consistently positive results. Many customers were welcomed in the VIP area, and commercial end customers also showed great interest in GRANIT PARTS products. We are already looking forward to GRANIT PARTS Iberia’s next trade fair visit and to more exciting insights!

10 März, 2026
Gian Luca in Switzerland – New team, new opportunities

Gian Luca started as a customer advisor at GRANIT PARTS in Italy in 2018 and moved to the export team in Heeslingen in 2020. Since the beginning of 2025, Gian Luca has been working for GRANIT PARTS in Switzerland as an internal sales manager. Today, February 3, 2026, marks his one-year anniversary there. This is a good opportunity to look back on the past year and take a look at upcoming projects.

Gian Lucas’s place on his first day at work a year ago

Well settled in the Swiss team?

Gian Luca describes himself as more of an extrovert. Having grown up bilingual near Venice and in the Lüneburg Heide, he has never had any great difficulty settling into and adapting to new environments. This is why he found it easy to settle into his new working environment. Gian Luca has settled in very well within the small Swiss team of 9 people. Even though he has not yet fully mastered Swiss German, he deliberately encourages his colleagues to speak to him in the local language. This allows him to continuously improve his language skills and feel even more integrated into the team.

Even though Gian Luca has already proven his leadership skills as team leader in export in Heeslingen, his colleague Loris is a welcome support for him in Switzerland. Loris will be taking his well-deserved retirement in March and will be supporting Gian Luca until then, particularly with his operational expertise. In addition, Gian Luca is continuing his education with the internal leadership program f.leadership in order to further develop his professional and personal leadership skills and prepare himself specifically for future management tasks.

It’s great to take on responsibility in a small team while learning from experienced colleagues.

The sales representative Swiss team with manager Martin (in the middle in the back, Gian Luca is on the right in the back)

The figures at a glance

In his role, Gian Luca is responsible for the strategic side of the Swiss branch and devotes much of his time to process optimization and change management. Certain areas such as warranties, accounting, and returns will be expanded in the future and assigned to individual employees so that each person is responsible for their own area of expertise. Appropriate deputy arrangements will be put in place to ensure that a contact person is always available in the event of vacation or illness. The aim is to develop experts in each area and create clear responsibilities to ensure quality and efficiency.
Another focus is on monitoring key figures that are relevant to the Swiss office. These include, for example, backorder figures. These are items that have not yet been delivered to customers in Switzerland because the goods are not yet available and are therefore delayed. Gian Luca works closely with Lea, the responsible customer advisor based in Heeslingen, on these evaluations. These key figures are regularly evaluated together and appropriate measures are derived to reduce backlogs and continuously improve the delivery situation for customers in Switzerland.

Optimizing processes and clearly dividing responsibilities makes work exciting and efficient.

We would like to thank Gian Luca for sharing his personal impressions with us and wish him continued success in his work and projects in Switzerland!
In this blog post, you can find more information about the history of GRANIT PARTS‘ Swiss subsidiary.

3 Februar, 2026
Three Countries, Diverse Experiences: Till’s International Assignment

As part of his dual study program at the FRICKE Group, our student Till had a unique opportunity: instead of visiting just one international subsidiary, as is usually the case, he was able to experience three different international sites. His assignments took him to Spain, Italy, and France, providing him with valuable professional and personal experiences.

Building Bridges in EDI: Collaboration, Strategy, and Implementation
Before and after his international assignments, Till worked in the EDI department. EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) refers to the automated connection between IT systems (e.g., ERP systems) of different companies, enabling the electronic exchange of standardized business documents, such as purchase orders, invoices, or delivery notes, without manual intervention.

The goal of his assignments was to make EDI more tangible and understandable within the respective local subsidiaries. His work focused on collaborating with colleagues on-site, jointly developing strategies, and conducting training sessions on EDI processes. In addition, Till ,just as he did in Germany, was involved in traditional EDI tasks, ranging from communication with customers and suppliers to the development and maintenance of system interfaces.

Spain – Work, Culture, and Sunshine
The first stop was a five-week assignment in Spain. After arriving in Madrid, Till traveled to our site in Valladolid, where he was warmly welcomed by the Spanish Managing Director Álvaro and the Head of Internal Sales Emilia, who invited him to a shared lunch, a perfect start to building connections.

His centrally located apartment made commuting easier, as colleagues gave him a lift each day. The sunny Spanish weather, with temperatures reaching up to 35°C, added a true summer vibe to his workdays. Outside of work, Till spent a lot of time with the team, exploring parts of the city such as Parque Campo Grande with its free-roaming peacocks, as well as attending cultural events like concerts. Personal highlights included a short Bachata course, morning churros at the office, group bowling and padel evenings, and a weekend excursion.

On weekends, Till aimed to explore a new region each time. His travels took him from snow-capped mountains to hot valleys with temperatures up to 37°C. He was particularly impressed by the historic city of Ávila, with its fully preserved and largely walkable city walls.

Want to get a closer look at our Valladolid office? Check out Off to the south – three weeks in Valladolid, by our trainee Annabell.

Italy – EDI and Field Work Up Close
Next, Till spent a week in Italy, where he was again warmly welcomed, including a shared meal. In addition to professional discussions on EDI topics, he had the unique opportunity to accompany the field service team on a tour, gaining insight into another core business area. While he enjoyed the stunning landscapes, his personal highlight was undoubtedly the Italian cuisine.

France – Strategy, Collaboration, and Unique Experiences
Before returning to Germany, Till completed a two-week assignment in France. In Reims, he worked closely with the local EDI expert to raise awareness of EDI topics and develop strategic approaches.

Outside of work, he gathered many memorable experiences. Highlights included an impressive light show at Reims Cathedral, sports activities such as a group run through the city and a squash match with colleague Fred, as well as a guided tour of the Vranken-Pommery Champagne cellars.

Back in Germany, Till continues to be involved in projects with the sites in Spain, Italy, and France, contributing to their ongoing development.

An International Experience to Remember
Till’s international assignment clearly demonstrates the opportunities offered by a dual study program at the FRICKE Group: international collaboration, professional development, cultural exchange, and numerous personal experiences. Three countries, different teams, and countless new impressions—an experience that will stay with Till for a long time.

20 Januar, 2026
Team Good Vibes

A look back at Agritechnica 2025

Every two years at the beginning of November, the who’s who of the agricultural technology industry traditionally meets in Hanover. This year it was that time again: 476,000 visitors flocked to the capital of Lower Saxony for the world’s leading trade fair for agricultural technology, AGRITECHNICA. Of course, the FRICKE Group couldn’t miss this event! FRICKE Landmaschinen, SAPHIR Maschinenbau, and GRANIT PARTS presented themselves to the entire industry in Hanover from November 9 to 15.

Svea and Larissa were there for GRANIT PARTS and report firsthand on an intense but successful week at the trade fair in this blog post.

A different kind of school trip

A week at a trade fair means months of preparation, weeks of setting up, and a week of constant stress. But it also means tremendous teamwork and a great opportunity to grow closer to your colleagues. The GRANIT team at AGRITECHNICA 2025 comprised around 130 colleagues. With such a large group together for a week, it felt a bit like a big school trip.

At AGRITECHNICA, GRANIT PARTS invites customers and suppliers from all over the world to come and talk. Once again this year, it was not possible to visit the stand without prior registration. However, this exclusivity did not detract from the attractiveness of the stand. On the contrary, large crowds gathered in front of the reception area on all days of the fair, and the booth was constantly bustling with conversations and product presentations. Over the course of the week, the GRANIT team welcomed more than 10,000 visitors to the booth.

Good vibes everywhere

It took a lot of manpower to handle such a large crowd. A team of 15 trainees spearheaded the effort. From reception and admission to logistics and supporting promotional modules, the team worked tirelessly to make things as easy as possible for their colleagues in sales and product management. Always in good spirits and ready for a bit of fun. The morning at the trade fair started with a group dance at neighboring booths.

Despite the exhausting days at the trade fair with little fresh air and daylight, lots of conversations, and an extremely high noise level, the GRANIT team didn’t let up in the evenings either. On Sunday evening, a joint networking event organized by GRANIT PARTS and CNH crowned a successful first day at the trade fair. Over good food and a cold drink or two, everyone looked forward to the coming AGRITECHNICA week with anticipation.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, the evenings kicked off true to the motto “those who can work can certainly party,” and Hall 2 was rocked by two trade fair parties. Within minutes, the GRANIT team, with the help of many helping hands, transformed the exhibition stand into an atmospheric event location. This meant that the start of 30 years of GRANIT PARTS could be celebrated in style at AGRITECHNICA. And this year, it quickly became clear once again that GRANIT trade fair parties are legendary for good reason!

A team like no other

As the week progressed, each day of the trade fair took its toll on our colleagues in Hanover. However, the strain of long days and short nights quickly faded into the background in light of the successful trade fair appearance and, in particular, the positive atmosphere within the team. On Friday evening, a team evening with colleagues from FRICKE Landmaschinen and SAPHIR once again highlighted the family-like atmosphere within the FRICKE Group. Hans-Peter and Kirsten Fricke took the opportunity to thank the entire team for their hard work. In a relaxed atmosphere, everyone toasted to a successful week. And even those who didn’t want to miss the 9:00 p.m. shuttle bus to the hotel quickly realized that this evening didn’t deserve to end so early!

On Saturday, it was time to get back to work! As on previous days, the GRANIT stand was filled with customers from early in the morning. Sales and product management presented the GRANIT product and service world, while the team of trainees worked behind the scenes to ensure that everything ran as smoothly as possible. Because even though the trade fair ended at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, the GRANIT team’s work was far from over. The dismantling team worked until Monday morning to transport the exhibited products away.

Our conclusion on AGRITECHNICA 2025? We had one of the most exhausting weeks of the whole year, but we would do it again! We would like to thank all our colleagues who contributed to the great success of our trade fair appearance, whether on site, in Heeslingen, or around the world! Without this fantastic team, such an achievement would not have been possible!

Now we are looking forward to our next trade fair highlight: PARTS & SERVICE WORLD 2026! Want to find out more about PSW now? Then read our behind-the-scenes look at PSW 2024.

2 Dezember, 2025
International Sales Conference 2025

The annual International Sales Conference (ISC) of GRANIT PARTS is always one of the highlights of the year but in 2025, it proved to be a truly memorable event. For the first time in several years, after previously being split across different weeks, all international teams came together in Heeslingen from September 9 to 12, 2025. In total, 220 colleagues from 25 countries traveled to the FRICKE Group headquarters in Lower Saxony.

Barbecue Evening at Foras

The conference started on Tuesday evening with a relaxed barbecue at FORAS. CEO Hans-Peter Fricke officially opened both the evening and the following conference. In a welcoming atmosphere, colleagues had the opportunity to settle in, exchange ideas and reconnect or meet for the very first time.

Professional Insights

Alongside product innovations from the GRANIT PARTS portfolio, the agenda focused on topics of major importance across all international markets. These sessions offered plenty of opportunities for lively exchange and discussion. A particular highlight was the presentation on the new logistics center in Tholey, an important milestone for the future development of many countries.

Evening Event on Campus

In a festive setting, CEO Hans-Peter Fricke opened the evening with a speech that reflected on the past year and celebrated the outstanding contributions of the international field sales teams.

ver the past months, colleagues and teams had shown remarkable commitment. To honor this, special awards were presented, including “Best Country,” “Best New Field Sales Employee,” “Field Sales Employee of the Year,” and “Best Long-Term Field Sales Employee.” Together with their colleagues, the award winners celebrated their achievements well into the night.

Conclusion at HeatWave – Oktoberfest Edition

The official conference program ended on Friday. While some colleagues returned home immediately, others joined the FRICKE Group’s traditional employee festival HeatWave. This year’s Oktoberfest edition offered the perfect closing highlight to a successful week. Many international colleagues also embraced the spirit by attending in traditional Bavarian attire.

Thank you and see you at ISC 2026!

The International Sales Conference 2025 was a complete success. It not only promoted the exchange of knowledge across countries but also strengthened the unity within the FRICKE Group. Beyond the professional input, countless valuable personal encounters and unforgettable moments were created. We are already looking forward to the International Sales Conference 2026.

Do you want to learn more about our international locations?
Check out the article about our success story in Switzerland or the opening ceremony of our new office in Denmark. Do you want to learn more about our international colleagues?
Then read the stories of Nico, who supports our team in the USA or of Maja, our Managing Director in Poland. Both were also part of ISC 2025 and thus briefly returned to Heeslingen.

30 September, 2025
A Guest Among Friends – My Vacation in Istanbul and Surroundings

I already introduced you to the team from our purchasing office in Turkey in this post from 2020. Since then, my contact with the colleagues in Istanbul has steadily deepened. This year, I took the opportunity to combine the personal with the professional. I extended my one-week vacation with three additional days of working from our local office.

Insider Perspective – Exploring with Locals

In January, I planned to visit our colleague Ipek in Turkey. She lives about an hour outside of Istanbul, and during my stay in early July, I stayed with her and her family. This gave me countless opportunities to experience local traditions up close and to get to know the country from a completely different perspective.

A very special highlight was preparing traditional Turkish baklava together. It’s a pastry soaked in sugar syrup. We made one filled with hazelnuts. While rolling out the dough, we were helped by Ipek’s mother-in-law and her sister. Without their assistance and guidance, we would have been completely lost. Afterwards, we also made Gözleme—flatbreads filled with cheese. Both dishes tasted absolutely delicious!

Here, I’m spreading melted butter over the pastry

Freshly baked baklava just out of the oven

Discovering the Locals’ Vacation Spots

The next morning, we set off early to catch the ferry. We spent one night on the island of Bozcaada, where we were able to truly unwind. Our hotel had its own small private beach, perfect for swimming, and the island’s charming town center radiated a Greek flair. The island is especially popular among locals as a holiday destination.

Tracing the Footsteps of Antiquity

Afterwards, we made our way toward Izmir. About 70 km south of the city lie the ruins of the ancient city of Ephesus, which have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2015. To escape the heat of the day, we visited Ephesus in the evening. With the lighting, the ruins looked all the more impressive!

FSR 2025 – Turkey Was Involved Too

My stay happened to coincide with the FRICKE Social Run 2025. Of course, Ipek and I didn’t want to miss the chance to contribute a few kilometers ourselves. We took a long walk in the evening sun around a small lake near her hometown.

Business After Pleasure

Of course, work wasn’t neglected during my time in Turkey. I spent the last three days working from our office in Istanbul. The agenda focused on identifying potential for improvement among our Turkish suppliers. A key priority was enhancing the punctuality of deliveries from Turkey. This involves considering the entire supply chain — from order placement and production to the transport of goods. In addition, we aim to further strengthen our collaboration with the Turkish team. To that end, we discussed suitable workarounds and defined responsibilities to ensure smooth coordination with the team in Germany.

Dinner with Yücel, Ipek, me, Tamer, Ali and Melik (from left)

I would like to thank the team at our purchasing office — and especially Ipek — for the warm welcome and the opportunity to spend such a wonderful time in Turkey!

22 Juli, 2025
The Faces Behind Tholey

When we published our first article “FRICKE goes Tholey” about the construction of the new logistics center, the project was still in its infancy. Today, large warehouse buildings rise where there was once only a muddy field. The groundbreaking took place in July 2024, and the first construction phase was recently completed. Commissioning of the logistics center is planned for spring 2026. Until then, a lot still needs to happen behind the scenes. Every day, the team works hard to stay on schedule. With this update, we’d like to share where the project currently stands and introduce some of the team members involved.

Andreas – In Full Control as Project Lead

Andreas will be the future site manager of the logistics center in Tholey and has been part of the FRICKE Group for three years. Originally from the Saarland region, he’s happy to be working in his home region again, having left it at the age of 18. His first six months at FRICKE were all about getting to know the company and its processes. To best do that, Andreas spent this initial phase on-site in Heeslingen. Today, he only travels there every two to three weeks, spending the rest of his time in Tholey.

While the offices there are still located in construction containers, the team is expected to move into the finished office space within about a month. Andreas is currently focused not only on completing the automation and defining on-site processes but also on building the entire infrastructure. Everything that already exists at the main site in Heeslingen needs to be newly set up in Tholey – from recruiting staff and sourcing consumables to organizing cleaning services and waste disposal. It’s a full-time job!

Andreas (left) guiding Hans-Peter Fricke (right) through the logistics halls in Tholey

Hendrik – Interface Between Software and Warehouse Technology

Hendrik was already involved in selecting the site for the new logistics center, making him the first FRICKE Group employee to visit the Tholey site back in late 2017. Since February 2022, he has been actively involved in the project again. At the Tholey site, SAP EWM (Extended Warehouse Management) will be used – the same warehouse management system already in place at our subsidiary Hofmeister & Meincke.

Just like at Hofmeister & Meincke, Hendrik is responsible for implementing SAP EWM and ERP integration in Tholey. This includes mapping the entire process chain from goods receipt to goods issue, and answering overarching questions such as: How will we steer fulfillment in the web shop and SAP ERP system? Which orders will be dispatched from which site? What shipping options will each site offer, and how will they be displayed to customers? How are stock transfers between warehouses handled?

Additionally, the material flow controller must be mapped in EWM, and the automated shuttle warehouse must be integrated. Hendrik works closely with Wesley, especially regarding the shuttle warehouse, to define future software solutions for the Tholey site.

Hendrik is your go-to expert for all IT-related topics affecting logistics processes

Wesley – Responsible for Automation and Logistics Planning

Wesley has been involved in the Tholey project since the very first kick-off meeting in spring 2021. He began as a working student and took over the role of subproject manager for automation after completing his master’s degree in spring 2022. While his passion originally lay in production engineering, he became increasingly engaged with logistics planning throughout the year-long project preparation phase.

Wesley has supported the project from the very first concept discussions with external logistics consultants to the procurement of automation technology and now through the current implementation phase. The installation of the automated intralogistics systems inside the buildings is progressing rapidly. Still, planning is far from over. The process is evolving from rough to detailed planning, and the team is currently finalizing the last steps. This includes designing efficient workstations for future employees, conducting final system simulations, and preparing for technical testing and ramp-up.

With the addition of the Tholey location, a new GRANIT logistics network is also emerging. Wesley is therefore working on network planning questions such as: “Which customers will we serve from which logistics center in the future?”

Wesley knows the conveyor technology down to the smallest detail

While Wesley knows the conveyor system like the back of his hand, part of his role now is to pass this deep technical knowledge on to the technical team. This is where Randolf and his team come in.

Randolf – Keeping an Eye on the Technology

Randolf was the second permanent team member on-site in Tholey after Andreas. He is the team lead for systems and building technology and has been with the FRICKE Group since April 1. Like Andreas, he is from the region and witnessed the development of the logistics center up close. The site is located along his former commute, allowing him to observe progress daily. The project quickly became well-known in the area and sparked his curiosity.

His team will eventually include 11 electricians, electrical engineers, and mechatronics specialists. Together, they will be responsible for keeping all systems and machines running smoothly and making repairs when needed. To prepare, they are currently undergoing extensive training on the system components and maintenance routines.

In terms of building technology, the team manages fire sprinkler systems, ventilation and heating systems for climate control, and backup generators that ensure uninterrupted operations during power outages. Randolf’s team will be in charge of the entire intralogistics system, ensuring that internal material flows run smoothly.

Randolf during his first visit to the warehouse in Heeslingen

Tholey as a Team Effort

The project is progressing right on schedule, and the team expects to ship the first packages by March. The gross floor area of 28,000 square meters from the first construction phase corresponds to about one-third of the warehouse space in Heeslingen. With this capacity, the Tholey logistics center will support and relieve Heeslingen, especially in serving customers in southern regions. Once fully completed, Tholey’s warehouse will even surpass the size of the Heeslingen site.

Inside the warehouse halls

The site from a bird’s-eye view

The project surrounding the new logistics center in Tholey is a true mammoth task that can only be achieved together. In addition to the local project teams, other subprojects are crucial to its success. A comprehensive IT infrastructure and network planning are essential to ensure efficient goods flow between Heeslingen and Tholey. And of course, qualified personnel must be recruited to keep processes running smoothly.

Thanks to the excellent collaboration throughout the project, the timeline has remained intact—and the entire team is looking ahead to the big go-live with optimism.

19 Juni, 2025
A top-class week of events

The second week of March is traditionally marked by the Heeslinger Landmaschinenschau (agricultural machinery show) in the FRICKE Group. The open days in Heeslingen, Zeven and Bockel took place for the 59th time. But it is not only this event, which is aimed at interested parties and families from the entire Elbe-Weser region, that keeps the FRICKE Group on its toes in March. With the GRANIT dealer event and the FRICKE party, which celebrated its 20th anniversary this year, the group of companies started the event year 2025 with a bang. Take a look behind the scenes of these event highlights with us.

Behind the scenes of GRANIT PARTS – The GRANIT dealer events

The Heeslinger Agricultural Machinery Show offers the ideal setting not only to introduce the diversity of our group to interested parties from the region, but also to inspire our customers with our expertise. That is why the GRANIT dealer event has been taking place for years in the run-up to the exhibition, where national and international customers can experience our locations and services up close.

This year, we were even able to organise two dealer events in the second week of March. Around 150 AGRAVIS spare parts and workshop experts visited us in Heeslingen on the first day to find out about our product range, the processes in our logistics centre, the quality management tests at FRICKE and our various services, from the GRANIT Service Centre to the web shop.

And because such an event thrives above all on personal exchange, a joint evening event was of course an absolute must. For this, we invited the AGRAVIS dealers to our main building in Heeslingen, the FRICKE Campus. The ceremonial welcome by Hans-Peter Fricke and AGRAVIS board member Jörg Sudhoff was followed by an exciting lecture by refereeing legend Felix Brych. The topic of decision-making in exceptional situations was one that the guests were able to apply in many ways during the course of the evening: fish or meat or both? A second dessert glass or three? FRICKE Korntail or our signature drink, FRICKE Korn Orange with tonic water?

While the AGRAVIS guests stopped off in Zeven at FORAS and in Bockel for various workshop demonstrations on the second day, we were expecting almost 300 customers from 17 European countries in Heeslingen who also wanted to get an idea of the processes behind the GRANIT PARTS trading company. In glorious sunshine, Heeslingen was much busier than usual with so many customers from all over Europe. But the colleagues from Logistics, QM, Service Centre, e-Commerce, Product Management and the Event Team also mastered this rush of visitors brilliantly. The informative day was also crowned by an evening of nice conversations, good food and the odd cold drink.

Machine enthusiasts, bargain hunters and families – the 59th Heeslinger Agricultural Machinery Show

On 8 and 9 March, the FRICKE Group opened its doors again to all interested parties. As every year, the event got off to a turbulent start: the treasure troves at FRICKE Landmaschinen, FORAS and SAPHIR. Bargain hunters gathered well before the start at 9:00 a.m. to secure the best offers. When the stampede began, not even North Germany’s favourite tractor driver, Sven Tietzer, was safe from the pack.

The event continued in Heeslingen, Zeven and Bockel with a varied programme for young and old. Bouncy castles, face painting and kids areas, machine test drives, vintage and classic car exhibitions with numerous rarities, a Ferris wheel and logistics tours, a climbing wall, fire brigade activities and culinary delicacies attracted tens of thousands of visitors to the FRICKE Group sites this weekend in perfect weather. FRICKE Agricultural Machinery, FORAS, FRICKE Commercial Vehicles, SAPHIR Mechanical Engineering and GRANIT PARTS were once again able to show the entire region what makes us special as a group of companies: family cohesion and passion for the cause. The conclusion of this weekend is clear: we could not have imagined a more beautiful 59th Heeslinger Agricultural Machinery Show!

We turn night into day – 20th FRICKE Party

The FRICKE Party has now become as much a fixture in our event calendar as the Heeslinger Agricultural Machinery Show. For 20 years, the first tent party of the year has been attracting partygoers from the surrounding area and now even from the entire DACH region to Heeslingen on the second Saturday in March. Because on this Saturday, if you miss this party, it’s your own fault.

The FRICKE Party, which had already sold out in advance, more than lived up to this motto for its 20th anniversary! Not only did four DJs really heat up the party crowd all night long, but Mallorca star Mia Julia also celebrated a real smash hit on stage with her first appearance of the year. Confetti and pyrotechnics included. With hits like Mallorca (Da bin ich daheim), Bring mich nach Hause and her new song Herzblatt, the FRICKE party not only turned into a Ballermann party stronghold, but also into a huge sing-along.

We say thank you for a top-class event week! A week like this is only possible with the help of all our colleagues in Heeslingen, Zeven and Bockel and our partners in technology, catering and tent construction. We are already looking forward to next year.

Be sure to mark 14 and 15 March in your calendar now for the 60th Heeslinger Landmaschinenschau! We have a lot planned for you for this special anniversary.

18 März, 2025
GRANIT PARTS at Agromek 2024 – Focus on Innovation and Partnershop

Agromek 2024, Northern Europe’s largest agricultural trade fair, has come to a close, and we look back on a successful week full of exciting moments and inspiring encounters. With a total of 43,197 visitors, the event was a great success. This year, our focus was on several key highlights: the new Rotaro PTO shafts, our Partnershop, and the exclusive BLACK EDITION tool series.

Rotaro PTO Shafts: Robust and Innovative

Our new Rotaro PTO shafts were a major attraction. With their sturdy construction and innovative features, they offer a perfect solution for efficient agricultural machinery. Many visitors were impressed by the technical details and high quality of this product series.

BLACK EDITION Tools: Premium Quality for Professionals

With our new BLACK EDITION tool series, we drew attention to high-quality, ergonomic tools that combine modern design with maximum functionality. Visitors praised the combination of elegance and reliability that these tools offer, making them a true highlight for workshops and operations.

Partnershop: Everything in One Place

Another focus was our Partnershop, which provides customers with easy access to a wide range of high-quality products. The Partnershop reflects our commitment to supporting the retail trade with tailored solutions while meeting the needs of end customers.

A Trade Fair Experience Full of Variety

Agromek 2024 was not only a platform for us but also for many other exhibitors from the agricultural industry. From leading machinery manufacturers to innovative startups, the range of products and solutions on display was diverse. The fair once again showed how the industry continues to grow and evolve.

A Thank You and a Look Ahead

We are proud that all employees from our Aabenraa office had the opportunity to visit the fair. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who visited our stand and to our dedicated team, who made this event a success.

We are already looking forward to Agromek 2026

10 Dezember, 2024
How to plan a trade fair in three steps – a review of PARTS & SERVICE WORLD 2024

The PARTS & SERVICE WORLD trade fair organised by GRANIT PARTS opened its doors again in Kassel from 25 to 27 October. 17,500 visitors flocked to the exhibition halls to experience the world of service and workshops for agricultural and construction machinery and power tools. Three days of hustle and bustle with valuable discussions, exciting innovations and a successful trade fair party lie behind us. In this blog post, we reveal just how much work goes into organising a trade fair and what happened behind the scenes during the event.

Step number 1: Slow start-up

After the PSW is before the PSW. As soon as the exhibition halls in Kassel closed their doors, the first preparations for the 2024 event got underway. Right at the top of the to-do list: Finding a date. But the follow-up to the trade fair was also an important step on the way to PARTS & SERVICE WORLD 2024. What went well? Where was there still room for improvement? What needed to be changed?

2022 also saw the start of exhibitor acquisition. Many of those who attended the second edition of PSW were keen to secure a place at the next trade fair. As a result, PARTS & SERVICE WORLD 2024 began to take shape shortly after the conclusion of the second edition. At the same time, the event team organised numerous other events throughout Germany. 2023 in Heeslingen was all about the 100th anniversary of the FRICKE Group. The gala event, dealer events, Heeslingen agricultural machinery show, FRICKE party and staff party made the year something very special. The AGRITECHNICA in Hanover also needed to be well prepared, as did the laying of the foundation stone in Tholey and the many other trade fairs and conferences that the FRICKE Group had organised over the past two years. So the next PARTS & SERVICE WORLD was drawing ever closer.

Step number 2: Meetings, meetings, meetings

Things started to get serious at the beginning of the year: exhibitor acquisition was as good as complete and the team was once again looking forward to a fully booked exhibition space in 2024. This then had to be optimally planned to enable all exhibitors to make an attractive trade fair appearance. A lot of time also went into the design of the GRANIT stands and the live workshop in order to offer visitors exciting points of contact again in 2024. In addition to the classic trade fair programme, the team also took care of everything else. From catering and furniture to lighting and sound technology, show acts for the trade fair party and hotel bookings as well as printed matter and advertising material. Almost as if on the side, visitor acquisition was started, the social media presence was intensified and an award ceremony for the PSW Service Champ was organised together with the media partners Agrartechnik and bauMagazin.

In all these steps, the team always had to ensure that colleagues who would also be attending PSW were involved in the process in order to offer everyone the best possible platform. Months before PARTS & SERVICE WORLD, the event team sat together almost daily in internal meetings and with external partners in order to make the trade fair a success. With each passing week, not only did the tension increase for everyone involved, but above all the anticipation.

Step number 3: Just do it

One week before the start of the trade fair, the time had finally come: the theoretical plans of the last two years were to take shape. The event team travelled to Kassel and began to set up home in the exhibition halls for the next 7 days. On site, the individual trades such as technology, catering, advertising technology and furniture were already in full swing and many colleagues from GRANIT PARTS were already busy setting up their exhibition stands and the live workshop.
As a result, the initially empty exhibition halls filled up with each passing day.

A special moment: the arrival of the Tractor of the Year Xerion 12.650 TERRA TRAC from Claas. Planned for Tuesday morning, the arrival of the giant tractor was postponed until the evening due to the volume of traffic. However, the trade fair construction had to continue. The approximately 3.30 m wide tractor had to be manoeuvred through a 3.60 m gap. And around the corner. It wasn’t just the event team who held their breath for a few minutes. But with professionals at the wheel, the whole thing was no problem. Bit by bit, the Xerion made its way into the exhibition halls and finally took its place of honour next to the PSW show stage.

The Claas Xerion 12.650 TERRA TRAC was also the perfect photo spot

Every challenge was tackled in this way throughout the week of the trade fair. By the time most of the GRANIT PARTS colleagues and exhibitors arrived on Thursday, the phones were ringing off the hook. The event team ran from one hall to the next, spontaneously rescheduled hotels and bus routes and found solutions where there was a need. Always under the motto: Just do it.

The gates open

On Friday morning, the time had finally come: PARTS & SERVICE WORLD officially entered its third round. Work continued diligently behind the scenes, while exhibitors engaged in dialogue with visitors. On the days of the trade fair, the event team not only focused on ensuring that everything ran smoothly at the entrance, in the catering areas and at the action areas of the trade fair, but also on preparing the evening events with the trade fair party on Saturday evening with Mallorca star Mia Julia as the highlight.

At the end of PSW Week, the faces in the trade fair office were tired but happy. Two years of planning had paid off again in 2024. Exhibitors and visitors alike were satisfied with the trade fair and the atmosphere at PARTS & SERVICE WORLD 2024 could hardly have been better. In times when organising a trade fair can be challenging, we are particularly pleased that our trade fair concept with its focus on service and workshops continues to be so well received by trade visitors from the agricultural and construction machinery and power tool industries.

The GRANIT PARTS team would like to thank everyone for a great PARTS & SERVICE WORLD 2024!

A big thank you goes to all our colleagues who helped make PARTS & SERVICE WORLD 2024 such a great success once again, not only in Kassel but from all over Europe. First and foremost, our 45 trainees and dual students who volunteered to spend their weekend with us in the halls of Messe Kassel. PARTS & SERVICE WORLD would not have been possible without you! We look forward to 2026!

Are you interested in even more events in the FRICKE Group? Then read our article on the visit of our trainees and dual students to the Ferdinands Feld Festival.

7 November, 2024