"Growth is never by mere chance. It is the result of forces working together." — James Cash Penney
SFC Energy is no stranger to building business and growing relationships internationally. With operations in four countries, including Germany, Canada, Romania and the Netherlands, the company has earned its stripes as a global leader in clean energy and power management. And this year, they’ll continue building their client base with an expansion into a country that wears its stripes proudly, too — the United States.
Over the past few years, SFC’s Canadian and German teams have joined forces to coordinate the U.S. expansion, combining their knowledge and expertise to set the stage for success. Putting their best foot forward to grow the company’s clean energy solutions in the American market, the team continues to offer innovative technology throughout the country.
Germany’s Korbinian Edelmann is leading the charge. Korbinian is the Sales Director based out of SFC’s Munich headquarters. With over 16 years of experience with SFC and an education in international business, Korbinian is uniquely positioned to build success in the U.S. alongside his Canadian and German colleagues.
We recently caught up with Korbinian to get his take on the expansion and learn what makes him the ideal person for the job.
I joined SFC Energy AG fairly early in my career in 2007 and have since held multiple roles with the company. What drew me here originally was the innovative focus on clean energy, which I’m interested in both personally and professionally. I was excited about the possibility of working for a company that’s been a pioneer in the industry, and that helps people reduce their environmental impact through technology.
My academic background in international business economics has been helpful because it provided me with a strong foundation in theory and practice. In my opinion, relationships are critical in business. Being with SFC for so long and utilizing my interpersonal skills in communication have contributed to my success. My passion for the technology and the company’s mission has also kept me driven to continuously learn and grow.
My time working in North America and China has been an asset because it’s provided me with a multicultural perspective. This has enabled me to create and execute successful international market strategies and collaborate effectively with colleagues and customers from diverse backgrounds — which is crucial in a global industry like ours.
I deeply believe in developing innovative ways for people to reduce their environmental impact, and SFC’s EFOY fuel cell technology does just that. I also really enjoy working with such a range of customers because, at the end of the day, it’s the people and connections that matter. From RV owners to large corporations, it’s a thrill finding the ideal solution for customers’ specific needs.
With its potential, I can see fuel cell technology completely transforming the world’s energy and mobility industries. I’m proud to be part of SFC because we’ve been blazing the trail in this field, providing emission-free off-grid power for over 20 years. It’s so exciting to introduce our technology to people.
I really liked the AuroraHut project we worked on. The concept of the AuroraHuts was to provide floating luxury hotel rooms on boats that could be easily moved from one place to another. To achieve their vision, the huts needed a reliable power source that could operate in all weather conditions, be self-sufficient and be environmentally friendly. I enjoyed the challenge of finding a solution for such a unique application by integrating our EFOY fuel cell technology. It’s always fulfilling to see creative and innovative examples of how this technology can be used.
North America is one of the most robust global economies, so this expansion offers great growth potential. Combining best practices that we’ve developed in our European operations for various markets, such as CCTV, environmental measurement and telecommunication, with our Canadian market experience in oil and gas, we’re well-situated to tap into new and exciting opportunities. The U.S. has also shown its inclination towards hydrogen and renewable energy, as evident from the “Inflation and other initiatives. So we’re confident we can help U.S. customers minimize their environmental footprint while enhancing their operations.
My personal career goal is to keep building my skills and contributing to SFC’s success. I’d like to see the company continue to promote a culture of innovation and diversity and inclusivity and grow by expanding our market reach. It would be incredible if one day I could say that I personally helped SFC to further expand its reliable and sustainable off-grid power solutions for customers around the world and to make a contribution to the global race to zero!