September 2009

Rheinmetall Technical Publications GmbH in Bremen

Success on the technical documentation market

Before an airline can take a new Airbus into service or Eurocopter can hand over a brand new helicopter system, all the relevant maintenance, repair and servicing instructions have to be available. Bremen-based Rheinmetall Technical Publications GmbH (RTP) specialises in the provision of technical documentation services. The 100% subsidiary of Rheinmetall AG emerged from the business unit Technical Publications/Logistics Engineering of Rheinmetall Defence Electronics GmbH in the wake of Rheinmetall's reorganisation. "The creation of an independent company has given us greater flexibility and efficiency to secure an even stronger position on the market, and to generate further growth", says managing director Jörg Daniel. The positive development of business last year has confirmed this step to be correct: with a total turnover of € 31 million in 2008, RTP now has its eyes set on sales of around € 33 million in 2009. Business activities at the Bristol-based subsidiary RTP-UK Ltd. that was founded at the beginning of 2008 are also developing positively.

As a technical publications specialist, RTP has secured a niche market for itself: the company supplies technical information services for the civil and military markets. In the civil sector which makes up for roughly 40% of sales, authors and illustrators prepare technical publications for all Airbus models including the military transport plane A400M. The military departments mainly provide technical manuals for the German armed forces, system companies like Rheinmetall, helicopter manufacturers such as Eurocopter and the German shipyard Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft. RTP plans to expand its military business which makes up for around 60% of the turnover in the coming years. "Our competitive position in the military market is distinctly better as our extensive know-how relates to all three services– the army, navy and air force – and we therefore hold a strong position in the market. As a result, we anticipate more growth in these areas", notes managing director Jörg Daniel.

Military and civil customers alike are served from the company headquarters in Bremen and its other facilities in Hamburg, Rostock and Gera. To meet growing demand in the helicopter business, a field office was opened at Donauwörth in December 2008.

The creation of the UK subsidiary RTP-UK Ltd. in Bristol was the first step in the direction of international expansion. RTP already entered into a co-operation with partner companies in the UK, France, and Spain in 2002. The international consortium called TPRI (Technical Publications Relations International) led by RTP in Bremen was forged to reflect the Airbus development, design and technical data organisation that is spread across Germany, France, the UK, and Spain.

To tap further markets, RTP plans to strengthen its international activities. RTP director Jörg Daniel says: "Additional facilities in France and Spain could assist this process in the long term. RTP is currently in discussion with Rheinmetall Canada to explore further opportunities for outsourcing technical publications work in Canada. This would help drive the internationalisation of technical documentation services."

Given the complexity of the technical publications business – especially for aircraft and other airborne systems – RTP applies a strict quality management system that is supervised, audited and certified by Germanische Lloyd Certification GmbH in accordance with the relevant aerospace regulations. To maintain the high standard of quality and ensure that every single author is familiar with the latest documentation rules, regular training is provided for RTP's employees.

Managing director Jörg Daniel is convinced on-the-job-training offers an excellent means of sustaining high qualification levels: "We consult our customers in all project phases. Our employees who are either engineers or technicians get to know the customer's requirements and how to best meet them."