Juerg Bartlome, Ceo Of Daes: “if You Are In Aerospace, You Are Working On Cutting-edge Technology Regularly.”

In this exclusive with Thirty to Net Zero, Bartlome talks in detail about the different stakeholders in the aviation industry, his insights on the different types of consumer experiences and why the concept of repairs over replacements could have put him at crossroads with manufacturers but has continued to earn the respect of his peers. His commitment to sustainability stays unhindered as DAES flies to new heights!

Q: Since sustainability has become such a big part of the aviation industry, how do you balance the need for profit, and deliver the results that you need to for your stakeholders?

A: We are basically a service company to the aviation industry. And we are focused on the MRO side, that's the Maintenance Repair and Overall, of all the equipment that is related to the aircraft and its engines. When it comes to sustainability, it's not only the operations that have to be streamlined and optimized, it's also the whole service around the airline itself. When it comes down to the repair, basically, there are two elements that are important; first, the repair is usually better than replacing when it comes to the carbon footprint. So, when you can repair something, your footprint is less severe. That's not much to the liking of the manufacturers, because the manufacturers would sell you something new, rather than repair something. But we try to help and support the organizations so that they can repair. And then when it comes to the repair, there are different ways on how you can do that. We need to ascertain the equipment is environment friendly because there are a lot of processes that you can use that are not so friendly. The chemicals in use today and the technology can be managed in a very good way if state-of-the-art technology is used. And that's what we try to bring to our customers together with our partners. So, it's twofold, trying to bring more repairs rather than replace and use technology that is state-of-the-art and clean.

Q: Please tell us about your vision for DAES when it comes to sustainable solutions?

A: Our goal really is to provide value to our customers. By giving them this value or having this value in our minds, many times, we have to discuss with our customers that value generation is not done within a year or two. Many times, we have to look at the lifetime of the use of the equipment and must inform them that they can maybe purchase a piece of equipment now at a lower price. But when you add the operating cost over the lifetime of the equipment, it's actually better to invest a little bit more and save in the long run. By providing value to our customers, it's that explanation and that vision that doesn’t look at the short term, look at the life of an object or a machine and make the calculations like that. That's where we provide the value. And that's our vision: where we can bring value to our customers. One would think that this is logical. But to be honest, there are still customers whose view is short-term and they prefer looking at things with an annual horizon and what happens afterwards is a different story. This view depends somewhat on global regions as well. There are regions where maybe the education, the know-how is further developed than in other parts. And usually, these are the regions and areas that adopt newer technologies easier and faster.

Q:  How difficult is it for you to currently stay on top of this sustainable pyramid and the aerospace industry at the same time?

A: If you're in aerospace, you're always working at the edge of technology because you need to be aware of new developments. We have a number of partners who develop their equipment and we grow together with these partners. Our business is a global business. So, we are not just focused on one region. And we see from that globality what other parties are looking at and that helps us to understand what is the state-of-the-art today.

Q: What are your internal ESG goals for the company? What are your initiatives to reduce the carbon footprint of your company operations’?

A: I think the key for us is that we have the vision that we want to continue to support the aerospace community. We want to do that by supporting them with value that we generate for them. This value we generate by using our local people who understand the local requirements. Then we try to generate and translate the local requirements so that our partners can supply the best solution. That is really what we try to bring to the industry, the best solution that's the best from the long-term point of view in terms of overall value. If the cost is lowest, then usually this means that less resources such as water, electricity and so on is used, resulting in a win for the environment.

Q: Today, your group offers a lot of solutions in the commercial sector, aviation sector as well as defense sector. How important is quality control for the business? And how do you ensure that once the customer is satisfied, he remains satisfied?

A: The aviation industry is a very regulated industry. You have to understand the regulatory body and what kind of approvals are required. You must design your equipment and your services to fit within this regulatory work. So, the aviation regulations are very strict. And then, on top of that, in our industry, we use common quality control systems like ISO etc.

Q:  One of your key talking points is that you customize solutions, but how do you customize them as Technology is always changing?

A: That's true. Technology is changing. But there are some bases that in many cases remain the same as you build on a certain foundation. It's just key to show the advantages of the technology. For example, if you have a cleaning system with an open tank that is very hot in a room in UAE, which is air-conditioned to 20 degrees, and because of this open tank, you have to change the air in that building 10 times an hour that's a lot of air-conditioned air that you put outside. If you can change the equipment in such a way that you don't have to blow out the conditioned air and can save that, you don't need to ventilate the building so much. Now that's a huge, huge saving. So that is the customized solution. Customized solutions are key, depending on the problem.

Q: So, you are finding a custom solution for the problems your customers come to you with, within the constraints of your business. You find an apt solution for it, explain that solution to make sure that they are happy with it, how it's going to turn out, and then implement it.

A:  Exactly. The chemical and the requirements required for cleaning are standard. That's the base as to how to do it in a better way. On one hand, you need to understand what the customer requirements are and they may be also defined by the regulatory bodies. On the other hand, you have to understand what the partner and the supplier of the equipment can do, and then try to modify and connect it in such a way that it all fits together.

Q: You have a tough task ahead of you and it looks like your businesses are more specialized in the thinking process before you even make one case.

A: It is very technical in a way. I think convincing the customer is the right way. And that will help in the long run. That is his key as well. If we have customers who are looking at the timeframe of one year normally, we are not successful with them. It is a long-term view that people need to adjust to in order to get there.

Q: Do you see the Middle East actively moving away from its dependence on non-zero non-sustainable ways of working to more sustainable and renewable methods of working and sustainable processes?

A: I think when it comes to aviation, you have some regulations that define what you can do and what you cannot do. So, the limitations are given already. When you build MRO facilities, there are a lot of drives to make them greener and more sustainable.

Q: How did you get into the aviation industry?

A:  I'm an engineer by trade. In my first job as an engineer, I started with a company called Swiss Air in Switzerland, and I stayed with that company for 20 years. Charles Lindbergh, a famous aviator said that if you're in aviation, there are three main things, why you stay. One is you're able to work at the edge of technology. And number two is you get to travel all over the world. And number three, is you make friendships all over the world. And that's what I found in aviation as well. And that's why I'm still today, after a good few years in aviation.