Simba Dickie Group – Optimization of Network Quality

Network Quality Monitoring Ensures IT Stability at SIMBA-DICKIE-GROUP GmbH

Whether it was the popular BIG Bobby Car, the impressive monster truck from Dickie Toys, or the lovingly crafted wooden train set from Eichhorn – chances are you played with one of these toys from the Simba Dickie Group as a child. Following a successful collaboration, the company group once again turned to KBR with an exciting new project: optimizing their in-house power quality.

Company Size

2600 Employees

Industry

Consumer Goods

Location

Headquarters in Fürth (Bavaria)

KBR Product

Power Quality Monitoring

As one of Europe’s leading toy companies with over 2,600 employees and more than 4,000 products in its range, the group stands for innovation, creativity, and quality. However, even for a well-established company like the Simba Dickie Group, success today depends largely on a powerful, stable power supply and IT infrastructure.

As part of a new project, the Simba Dickie Group turned to KBR GmbH to analyze and optimize the quality of the electrical supply at its headquarters in Fürth (Bavaria). The goal was to monitor network quality in order to correlate IT disruptions and production risks with events occurring in the power grid.

IT Issues as an Indicator of Fluctuating Voltage Quality

At the company headquarters, technical disruptions occurred repeatedly, including sporadic and unexplained printer failures. These outages caused delays in daily work and raised questions about their cause. In discussions with the experienced sales engineers from KBR, the focus soon shifted to the quality of the power supply. Fluctuating voltages, harmonics, or grid feedback can significantly affect electronic components found in every IT system. The goal of the project was therefore to carry out a detailed and continuous analysis of the power network to identify possible connections between the disruptions and the quality of the electrical supply.

Impact of Voltage Quality: What’s Behind It?

Modern production, communication, and IT systems are becoming increasingly sensitive to voltage dips or distortions caused by harmonics. Not only due to the use of energy-efficient technologies but also through digitalization, the number of sensitive power electronic components is rising, along with the demands for a stable power supply.

Many companies still underestimate how significantly disturbances in the power grid can affect their processes. The consequences range from temporary IT outages to permanent damage and high follow-up costs for electronic components.

Poor network quality can cause unplanned downtime, increase maintenance costs, and shorten the lifespan of expensive equipment. Therefore, optimizing network quality is not just a technical issue but also an economically important one. Without targeted measures to secure network quality, the risk of inefficient operations, unplanned downtimes, and increased maintenance expenses rises considerably.

In Use: Power Quality Monitoring by KBR

It quickly became clear that a detailed and continuous analysis of voltage quality was a central part of the solution.

To analyze the network quality, KBR’s Power Quality Monitoring system was deployed. First, a state-of-the-art network analyzer was installed in the low-voltage main distribution board (NSHV). This Class A KBR measuring device provides precise data for monitoring voltage quality and the reliability of the power supply.

The measured data is automatically integrated into the existing energy management system. Additionally, Simba Dickie’s users received training on how to use and interpret the analyses — conveniently online, without any loss of time.

Prevention Instead of Reaction: Continuous Network Monitoring

Thanks to Power Quality Monitoring, the Simba Dickie Group now benefits from continuous monitoring of power quality. Disturbances are detected early, thoroughly analyzed, and documented. This enables proactive action before problems arise—resulting in greater planning reliability, efficiency, and peace of mind in daily operations.

This data-driven approach also provides a solid foundation for strategic investment decisions in energy and IT infrastructure. It ensures that resources are used optimally and operational risks are minimized.

Proven Partnership: Long-standing Collaboration Between Simba Dickie and KBR

The team at Simba Dickie expressed great satisfaction with the swift and professional execution of the project. In addition to the technical expertise, the close personal coordination and quick responsiveness of the KBR team were particularly appreciated.

In previous projects, KBR’s energy management system had already been successfully implemented at multiple locations within the company group — from measuring devices to the energy data management software, visual energy.

To specifically save energy and reduce emissions, Simba Dickie uses an energy management system certified to ISO 50001. With visual energy, an automatic energy data collection system was established, enabling the company to monitor its energy flows in real-time for years. Based on the collected data, optimization measures can be identified and implemented.

The trusted partnership, personal communication, and technical know-how were key reasons why Simba Dickie chose to collaborate with KBR once again — this time focusing on network quality.

Conclusion: Sustainable Optimization and Strong Partnership

The project clearly demonstrates the importance of a reliable power supply for modern companies—especially in a digitalized and automated production environment. With KBR, the Simba Dickie Group gained an experienced partner who not only provides cutting-edge technology but also thinks and supports with a long-term perspective. Based on these positive experiences, the Simba Dickie Group wholeheartedly recommends KBR’s products and services.

We thank them for their trust, look forward to continued collaboration, and wish the Simba Dickie Group all the best for the future!

About the Simba Dickie Group

The Simba Dickie Group is an internationally operating corporate group headquartered in Fürth, Bavaria. Since its founding in 1982, this family-run group has stood for high-quality toys crafted with heart and mind.

With over 20 strong brands—including well-known names like BIG, Eichhorn, Smoby, and Schuco—the Simba Dickie Group offers a broad portfolio of toys for children of all ages.

Around 3,000 employees worldwide bring innovation, quality, and passion to ensure that today’s play ideas become tomorrow’s classics. Sustainability and responsible business practices are firmly embedded in the company’s mission.

Whether dolls, model cars, wooden toys, or outdoor products—the Simba Dickie Group combines tradition with innovation and is now among Europe’s top toy manufacturers.