Gardening power tool manufacturer VIKING from Langkampfen was recently delighted to receive a special certificate following the successful introduction of its environmental management system in accordance with the international ISO 14001 standard. A conscious environmental policy and a sustainability strategy have been practiced by VIKING for many years, a fact which has now been recognised by the German Association for the Certification of Management Systems (DQS). Audits over several days preceded the certification.
This environmental management system according to ISO 14001 represents a voluntary commitment to continuously minimising the environmental impact of the processes at the location. All departments and activities at VIKING were therefore examined and the consumption of resources such as energy and raw materials determined as well as emissions and waste assessed in order to subsequently elaborate measures leading to a reduction in environmental impact.
Successful examples of measures aimed at reducing the environmental impact include the extensive conversion of the building lighting to energy-saving LEDs and the utilisation of ground water as a cooling medium in the buildings. In terms of the products themselves, which of course have a direct connection to nature at VIKING, particular emphasis is placed on low-emission engines and ongoing noise reduction efforts. The product range, for example, now increasingly embraces battery-powered, but nevertheless powerful, machines.
Environmental protection is deeply embedded in VIKING's corporate philosophy. In order to ensure readiness for high environmental standards, capital investments have and continue to be made, for example in a state-of-the-art sound testing room.
The Tyrolean gardening power tool manufacturer was also delighted to receive a number of international design awards. Impressively, VIKING has recently obtained three of these. The prestigious "red dot design award" was won for the new professional 7 Series lawn mowers, the "Plus-X-Award" for the electric ME 235 lawn mower, which has recently been successfully launched, as well as the "Good Design Award" for the MI 6 Series iMow robotic mower.
As the international panels of judges also evaluate factors such as functionality and environmental friendliness in addition to an attractive design, the awards obtained also provide excellent confirmation of VIKING's premium strategy.
VIKING GmbH produces and sells lawn mowers, robotic mowers, ride-on mowers, scarifiers, garden shredders and tillers. VIKING is a member of the STIHL Group and achieved a turnover of €153.9 million with 329 employees in 2013.
Caption "Environmental management certificate": VIKING Managing Director Peter Pretzsch with two of the main employees responsible for environmental management, Ralph Hauser and Michael Grindhammer (left to right), who accepted the DQS certificate on behalf of the entire workforce.
Caption "MB 756 YC red dot design award": several VIKING products recently snapped up prestigious design awards; for example the MB 756 YC professional lawn mower from the new 7 Series, recipient of the "red dot design award 2015".
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