Partnership Story: The Helvar & HC Center Success
Partnerships lie at the heart of our business – we consider long-lasting relationships with our Partners to be the key to mutual success, and one of them is HC Center from Poland.
Due to the development of the lighting control systems market in Poland, HC Center became a local competence center, contributing to the evolution of the market and aiming to become the best in the game by offering comprehensive services as experts in Helvar lighting control systems.
We’ve been partners for 9 years, and it’s been a journey of great projects resulting from our effective collaboration. Together, we have completed more than 300 projects across the country.
From shared visions to future plans, in this interview, representatives from HC Center (Katarzyna SiuchniĆska, Dariusz Prekurat, Anna Tomczuk,), and PrzemysĆaw Skorupa from Helvar, will take you through our partnership journey. You will hear from them how it all started, what the process of becoming Helvar’s partner was like, the activities that have driven business growth, the benefits of partnering with Helvar, and their overall experience.
PrzemysĆaw Skorupa, Regional Director at Helvar
As Regional Director, he has led Helvar’s East Europe operations to a huge growth through strategic vision and new business development. A passionate advocate for sustainable lighting solutions, he has been sharing his expertise at multiple industry events and the Technical University – Politechnika GdaĆska. With a focus on green building practices and innovation, he continues to drive Helvar’s success in the CEE region.
Dariusz Prekurat, CEO, Founder, Owner of HC Center Sp. z o.o. Sp.j.
Began the cooperation with Helvar in 1991 via DJP company. Seventeen years later (in 2008) DJP became Helvarâs certified partner in Poland. In 2015 DJP was already Helvarâs system partner. In 2017 a separate company was registered and since then Helvar Competence Center has been the official distributor of Helvar lighting control systems. The strengthening of the regional organization was an expression of recognition for the professionalism, experience, and potential of the Polish lighting market.
Katarzyna SiuchniĆska, Sales Development Director at HC Center Sp. z o.o. Sp.j.
Katarzyna took over the sales reins of the company in February 2018. Since then she has built a strong team of professionals in sales, commissioning, and marketing. Doubling the team in size. Currently HC Center offers professional, fast service, high-quality technical knowledge, and product training.
Anna Tomczuk, Marketing Specialist at HC Center Sp. z o.o. Sp.j.
As a Marketing Specialist, Anna has built marketing initiatives that support the sales teamâs needs. She builds brand awareness and promotes product knowledge.
Origins of Collaboration
How the journey started?
In 1991, I traveled to Finland knowing I could meet companies I wanted to collaborate with. Among them was Helvar, a manufacturer of ballasts for fluorescent lamps at the time. By the late 90s, I had built a customer base for Helvarâs ballasts. As for the control systems Helvar began offering, they were analog. Interestingly, the first such system was sold in 1997 to the Hotel Victoria in Warsaw (now the Sofitel). Helvarâs analog system operated for exactly 20 years. Since 2017, we have been operating as Helvar in Poland, with the support of PrzemysĆaw Skorupa, Regional Director of CEE at Helvar.
Helvar’s technical level was something completely new in Poland. They were highly automated. From the moment I stepped into the company, I knew I wanted to work with them. They were already implementing environmentally friendly solutions, and Helvar’s approach to technology and sustainability fascinated me.
Since signing my first contract with Helvar in December 1991, I have been immensely pleased to cooperate with this company. I will do everything in my power to make Helvar present everywhere possible in Poland. I am a strong advocate of collaboration, and that is the foundation of Helvar’s business.
â Dariusz Prekurat, Chairman of the Board at HC Center
We first met in January 2015. From the beginning, I had a good feeling and noticed a great level of ambition and engagement. At that time, I was solely responsible for the Polish market at Helvar.
Back then, we didn’t have any materials in Polish, nor were there any events. The brand was known only among lighting specialists â a limited number of people. This sole responsibility led me to consider how to grow Helvar’s presence and the Polish market. That’s when the idea of the HC Center emerged. We knew that lighting controls were the future. I truly appreciate that Dariusz took on this challenge and jumped into the deep end. Initially, the HC Center had only three or four people in its organization. Over the years, we have experienced rapid growth, and the company now has over 20 people focused solely on Helvar lighting controls.
We have full visibility of projects, we can approach different stakeholders in the project process, we have stock, marketing events, websites, and materials in Polish. However, I think the most important aspect is the people â people with passion. Thank you, Dariusz and Katarzyna, for this journey so far. I know we can achieve even greater things together. The newly opened headquarters in Warsaw is just a stop on our path towards further development.
â PrzemysĆaw Skorupa, CEE Regional Director
A strategic partnership has led to the development of a winning market strategy. This synergy propelled remarkable growth, culminating in the establishment of HC Center’s headquarters and showroom as the vibrant heart of Helvar’s Polish operations.
The Strategic Shift to Exclusive Distribution & Partnership Development
In 2014, a collaboration between Helvar and HC Center reached a turning point. Recognizing the growing demand for intelligent lighting control systems, HC Center proposed an exclusive distribution in Poland. This collaborative decision marked the beginning of a new chapter, with HC Center taking on a leading role in shaping the Polish lighting control market.
What was the process of becoming Helvarâs partner?
For over 25 years, we have been working with Helvar in the sale of lighting components. However, control systems were also distributed by other partners. Around 2013, we recognized the immense potential of control systems, but we knew that their promotion and training required significant investment. In 2014, we organized a meeting with Helvar’s management, presenting our vision of the market and proposing exclusive distribution of control systems. Together, we discussed the right approach and strategy. After a few months, we were granted permission to establish a company dedicated to systems and take over distribution from other local partners. This is how the HC Center story began.
In 2023, we established the HC Center headquarters office as our central hub for Helvar operations in Poland. – Katarzyna SiuchniĆska, Business Development Director
What do you consider to be Helvarâs biggest strength that has helped you to gain brand awareness in Poland?
Experience, expertise, and reliability of products. – Katarzyna SiuchniĆska, Business Development Director
What are the key benefits of being a partner with Helvar?
Partnering with Helvar fosters a sense of stability and unwavering support, providing your business with the confidence to thrive. You’ll have the ability to offer best-in-class solutions, anticipating and meeting market needs with Helvar’s cutting-edge technology. We look forward to well-organized annual meetings in exciting locations, and the opportunity to receive recognition through prizes and awards. – Katarzyna SiuchniĆska, Business Development Director
How has Helvar supported you in your journey?
We were supported by the introduction of Helvar’s CEE Region Director, PrzemysĆaw Skorupa, who was responsible for developing this market and coordinating all activities, co-creating with us the basis for market strategy and sales policy. On a day-to-day basis, we had support in commercial matters in terms of price optimisation or substantive support at meetings. Together, we create and implement the Action Plan, and organize trainings about new solutions. – Katarzyna SiuchniĆska, Business Development Director
Driving Business Growth
HC Center’s marketing approachâa strategic blend of industry events, targeted campaigns, and thought leadership initiativesâhas proven to be a driving force behind their success. This winning formula not only strengthens Helvar’s brand presence but also significantly increases market adoption, showcasing the effectiveness of a well-rounded marketing strategy in securing new projects and establishing Helvar as a leader in the lighting control industry.
What joint marketing or promotional activities have effectively driven business growth?
Since the establishment of the HC Center, we’ve undertaken various activities aimed at increasing brand recognition within the industry and raising awareness of system utilization among investors, contractors, designers, electrical engineers, architects, and end-users. We’ve participated in trade fairs, conferences, and other industry events, as well as organized local events such as the “Design the Invisible” series. We’ve also developed marketing and promotional materials, published articles, became a member of PLGBC, participated in Pollighting (Association of Lighting Equipment Manufacturers), and numerous working groups as an expert, organized training sessions, and conducted many social media campaigns. â Anna Tomczuk, Marketing Specialist at HC Center
Case Studies: Helvar and HC Center Projects
Helvar’s solutions and HC Center’s expertise have transformed spaces across various sectors in Poland into more sustainable, human-centric, and smart buildings. Read the case studies below to learn more about our smart lighting control systems in real-world applications.
