Meet the team: Bob Summers
International Key Account Manager Transport
TRANSPRESS
This month Bob Summers, International Key Account Manager Transportation – UK, sat down to tell us a little more about his role and how he works with clients to achieve their flooring requirements.
How long have you been with Forbo?
Interestingly, it wasn’t Forbo that I applied for, but Tufton Ltd back in 1994, long before Forbo purchased the Low and Bonar Group in 2008. My first role back then was Area Sales Manager for the North West and Midlands. It was a huge area as there were only the 4 of us covering England, with two agents covering Scotland. My patch covered everything west of the Pennines as far north as Keswick down to the West Midlands and Warwickshire and across to Wales. It meant a lot of travelling but I enjoyed it and quickly learnt a huge amount about the Coral entrance matting portfolio, and about the benefits of installing effective entrance systems.
What does your current role with Forbo Flooring Systems entail?
I am responsible for all types of transport sales in the UK. The majority of my time is focused in the rail segment however I do also cover the marine and bus and coach segments. Over the years Forbo has developed a wide range of specialist fire retardant textile and resilient products that meet the highest fire standards applicable to the various industry standards. In rail we have `the widest portfolio of floor and wall products`, including entrance systems, carpets, flocked flooring, linoleum floor coverings as well as textile wall coverings.
I get out and about across the UK to visit customers at their offices and/or manufacturing installation sites although a lot of communication these days is via online channels. My colleagues in the International Key Account Transport team and at our manufacturing sites also liaise together regularly, via Teams video. In addition, I also attend/exhibit at a few exhibitions each year – You’ve probably seen me doing cleaning demonstrations on Flotex FR at our expos over the years!
What does a typical day/week look like for you?
Typically, I can spend 18 months on a single large project. Initial inquiries will come in from the appointed designers who are looking to create a rail interior design scheme. This process can take up to 12 months as bespoke designs are produced and various products are proposed to the end client. It involves a lot of collaboration between Forbo production sites and design offices, but we work well together, and the results always looks amazing.
Once the design work is signed off by the end client the manufacturer issues tenders for the work and I can spend months negotiating
contracts and finalising paperwork, quoting prices and warranties and ensuring installation methods and cleaning and maintenance standards are all covered off.
I work closely with numerous Forbo manufacturing sites including Krommenie (NL), Assendelft (NL), Ripley (UK) and Bamber Bridge (UK), and always have the full support from my colleagues in the departments of design, technical, production, logistics and customer services.
How have customers’ expectations and requirements changed in recent years?
There has definitely been a keener focus on sustainable materials and practices. They also pay more attention in finding partners that they can trust, and have confidence in, in an economy that changes every day.
How do you think Forbo Flooring Systems brings value to your customers?
The demands of customers vary, whether they need more sustainable products, more cost-effective products or a bespoke solution. We bring value to our customers through our versatility, wide product range and vast amount of knowledge and experience in the floor covering industry.
Plus, in order to `create better environments`, Forbo are always striving to make improvements linked to sustainability. By centering everything we do around three key values: Renewability, Transparency and Circularity, we ensure that all of our products deliver value to both people and the planet.
What do you enjoy most about working at Forbo Flooring Systems?
It feels like my own business to be honest. I was instrumental in developing the FR product ranges and building the business in the early days with manufacturers such as Bombardier and Alstom Transport. All of the design companies we work with today, I have known for many years. I get incredible support from Forbo designers who get as excited about a new project and design as I do, plus the factory sites always rise to the challenge of bespoke production and nothing is off the table when it comes to services that can be offered to the client. I like the freedom offered by my position to chase the long-term projects and to bring them to completion.
What do you like to do in your free time?
I have lots of interests and things to keep me busy outside of my work. Here are just a few;
• I love spending time with my family, especially my lovely granddaughter
• When relaxing I do like a good book to read, especially a spy thriller. Authors such as Robert Ludlum and David Baldacci are two of my favourite authors
• Photography is a passion of mine – I’ll take pictures of all sorts
• I am a member of my local Masonic Lodge – and support them in various ways
• My desire to learn more has never stopped – I love to travel in the UK and abroad to visit castles, cathedrals, museums… anything that has an interesting history I’m interested in
• Finally, when the time is right, I do like a nice 18-year-old Whisky Macallan