How are these companies managed?
Each business has a full team of executive directors and is chaired by a Halma Executive Board member. They report to a small head office team that is responsible for Group strategy, sets targets and priorities, provides financial resource and identifies opportunities for mutual advantage. The Group has an outstanding record of retaining its successful executives and draws most of its senior management from its most effective operational leaders.
How important is international regulation?
World wide, safety standards are improving. Best practice, wherever it is established, is soon exported as a result of safety conscious international companies and by the global movement towards higher safety standards for people at work.
Safety from fire and explosions is improving from better systems of fire protection and explosion protection. More advanced equipment helps prevent poisoning or asphyxiation from gases. Increased safety benefits the individual, the economy and the environment.
Every country needs more pure water for its population. Companies within the Group measure water contamination, sterilise water and produce equipment that stops clean water being lost from distribution networks.
Safety legislation affects every part of our lives. It covers food, water and transport. It affects clients and employees at work in shops and offices, factories and offshore oilrigs. Rules apply to cultural sites and leisure centres, to hotels, schools and hospitals. Halma products are found in every one of these applications.
What techniques do you use to protect people?
Many of our instruments provide information to people about a hazard. They provide a warning of danger. Typically, the information is conveyed electronically and arises from the use of specialist data analysis methods and sensor techniques. We use chemical, electro-chemical, electronic and optical methods to measure the risk.
We make electrical safety systems and electro-mechanical safety locking systems. We use some mechanical techniques, for example on explosion prevention where these provide the optimum solution.
How do you keep your high market shares?
We have groups of companies that provide a wide range of products that meet the vast majority of customer needs in specialised niches. Each company is expert at its own niche applications, serving regularly ordering customers and providing a high level of service. These are specialist businesses selling to skilled professionals who both demand and recognise optimum technical solutions. They also recognise the economic, social and environmental value of protecting their people and their assets.