"It's time to recover" Israel today

Veteran real estate man Shlomo Grofman is at the forefront of the struggle in Corona, as chairman of the Israel Company for the Supply of Medicines and Medical Equipment

• Groupman.

  "A man of work and vision has no age"

  Photography: 

  Coastal spring

Produced by the Department of Special Supplements

Dealing with the corona plague has turned Israel, which is the main supply arm of the State of Israel into the purchase of medicines and medical equipment in the world, into a kind of commando unit that must take care of the supply of medicines, and in the future probably also vaccines.

At the beginning of the crisis, when China was still closed, the company struggled almost alone to purchase additional masks and protective equipment for medical staff.

Chairman Sharel Shlomo Grofman, CEO of the company, Lt. Col. (Res.) Avi Buskila, and the entire team worked night and day to bring the necessary protective measures to the State of Israel. Since then, they have been partners in the fight against the virus.

Shlomo Grofman refuses to disclose his age.

"What does it matter," he smiles, "a man of work and vision has no age."

He was a member of the board of directors of Bank Leumi, the almighty CEO of Africa Israel, which invented the science complexes, the brand of the Savyonim neighborhoods and even the Ramat Aviv mall.

It took over Africa Israel on the verge of collapse, worth $ 11.2 million.

Fifteen years later, the company was sold for $ 1.18 billion.

A thousand times.

He founded the Pierre Foundation, which built more than 1,500 apartments, along with former Israeli ambassador to Washington Businessman and former MK Zalman Shoval.

Shlomo Grofman is a key figure in many industries in the Israeli business community.

Only recently did he finish another position as chairman of Ayalon Holdings Ltd., the parent company of Ayalon Insurance, which also led to impressive financial successes.

It is recognized as one of the most prominent and innovative entrepreneurs in the market, always leading and innovating and not resting for a moment.

Today he is at the heart of the fight against the corona virus as chairman of the Israel company, which supplies medicines and medical equipment to government hospitals.

The global exposure that the company received due to the activity led to a leap forward not only in Israel.

According to publications not approved by the company, it has begun preliminary steps of examining the possibility of an IPO.

From a small company, Israel under Group Groffman, the CEO, and Buskila, the CEO, became a company that is kissing a volume of activity of about NIS 2 billion in 2020, with the profits going back into the pockets of government hospitals and from them to the patient population of Israel.

"Always come up with a crazy idea"

We went through

Gal

"Absolutely. As someone who has led significant moves in the economic, real estate, insurance and medical worlds, I believe in the residents of the State of Israel, that we will also get out of this predicament. We may not emerge strengthened, but we will stand with our heads held high, even if it takes time to recover. The public and the government. "

 The new marlog. One of the most advanced in the world // Photo: Courtesy of Israel

how

"I just do not rest, and it has nothing to do with age. That's how I am built. There are those who do not want to work even at a young age, and maybe they are right. I see a vocation in life to give from the experience I have gained and the management skills I have. Business, out of love of doing and ability to move from vision to action.

"I always come up with a crazy idea, whether it's to establish the first science campus in Rehovot or the Ramat Aviv mall. I serve as the active chairman of the Israel Group, and Real Estate is thinking of establishing another foundation for residential construction.

"Here is the place to note that the CEO of Israel, Avi Buskila, who did not rest for a moment, accepted the company about 13 years ago and under him it grew, tripled the scope of its activities, and even more.

Today, Israel is a leading, reliable and well-known brand in the field of medical procurement and logistics in Israel, and even in various countries overseas.

I am full of appreciation for the joint work with the CEO and the management team. Sharing and joining forces is the secret of success. "

there is

"As chairman of the company responsible for supplying special medical equipment to Corona and other medical equipment, I think we were held as far as possible, also in front of many other countries that were in the same race."

equipment

(Groupman laughs)

"This is not the main problem. The problem is that there is not enough equipment and medicine, manpower is also needed. The main problem I have seen, and I still see, is the lack of hospitalization in the face of increasing wards, the proliferation of corona cases and the shortage of medical staff. Sufficient. Expanded mainly Sheba and Ichilov. They did not establish new hospitals, except perhaps a small hospital in Ashdod.

"Another problem is that the Ministry of Health is perceived as a stepson in front of the other government ministries. On the issue of the corona, we have come to the point of depreciation with high and very worrying numbers of infected and dead. The State of Israel should not have rolled into this situation.

"This is the time for the leadership and the people to recover, to act responsibly and to prevent as much infection and harm to human life as possible. I have just now read that all those who died were living without the virus for another five years on average. I hope we at least learn the lesson every day."

These

"The corona is indeed a global blow, but it must not be caught. In the least developed places, such as Thailand, the corona was almost wiped out because of people's discipline and the right direction. The writing was on the wall. As the numbers began to grow and we passed 1,000 and 2,000 more patients a day "The experts warned of 3,000 and 5,000, but nothing was done. If we had taken the appropriate steps in time, we would not have had to close today, we would have prevented an economic collapse for many businesses and saved a lot of heartache and sorrow."

"Do not be satisfied"

are you

"In Israel, you can never be satisfied. I can not relish the existing. I always think there is something to fix. Israel is an orderly, properly managed company that meets the goals for which it was established and the tasks set by the board for the benefit of government hospitals and the Ministry of Health."

What changes are expected in Israel in the future

"The board has been presented with a renewed strategy for three years, which may change the face of Israel. At its center is Marlog (logistics center) that will open in the Poleg industrial area in Netanya next year with an investment of about NIS 250 million.

The center was built quickly and will be one of the most sophisticated in the world for the supply of medicines and medical equipment at record speeds.

It was built in not-so-easy periods, in addition to unplanned corona chores.

Israel's offices in Poleg.

Challenging period for office marketing // Photo: Courtesy of Israel

"The 21st century requires us to move to full automation and robotics in everything related to dispensing and distributing drugs and getting trucks in the right refrigeration and arriving on time. We must know where each truck is and what the temperature is at any given moment. This is a dramatic change in logistics center. Need for manpower.

"We have chosen a world-leading Austrian company for automation and information systems, with which we will equip the Marlog for the coming years.

The change will mainly make it easier for hospitals to meet their requirements and provide fast delivery, which in the future will also be assisted by drones.

It is a faster solution to the need for an efficient supply of drugs for life-threatening diseases and strengthening the strength of Israel, which is entering a modern, technological and sophisticated era. "

You're dealing with today

"I would not say that, but with the increase in morbidity in the Corona era, there is no doubt that we need to work for another era and much faster and more efficient delivery capability. Today we do not save labor hours and manpower to make sure all equipment arrives on time and delivered as needed."

"Marlog" one of the most advanced in the world "

Book

The Marlog, which will go into operation in a few months, covers an area of ​​about 20,000 square meters, and next to it an autonomous 10-story building with an area of ​​17,000 square meters. There are 6 floors left for sale and rent.

"The latest robotic systems are being built and installed by the Austrian international company Knapp, which specializes in advanced automated collection and storage systems. The establishment of the logistics center is part of Israel's overall vision to improve the medical system's supply chain."

"In a large number of cases, the orders will be transmitted digitally using cabinets and smart shelving directly from the inpatient wards to Israel. The warehouses will be able to collect efficiently, accurately and quickly at a rate of about 600 collections per medicine and medical equipment without the storekeeper having to access the shelf.

"The items are stored in special containers, which are part of an advanced shelving system, which will allow maximum utilization of storage space and quickly provide the required inventory in hospitals. Medical equipment and medicines will automatically reach the pick-up station on conveyors. And the cardboard will continue to move on the conveyors towards the sorter, from where the warehousekeepers will collect the cartons directly to the shipping plaza.

At the same time, Israel has developed and implemented in the hospitals computerized inventory management systems, combining cabinets and smart scales, so that every item used is immediately updated in the system. Ordering a new item of the same type is done automatically, without the medical staff having to deal with bureaucracy and without being bothered by equipment. Medical is available or there is a shortage of medicines. "

Precisely in the age

"Israel is in an exceptional position thanks to its expertise in biomedical issues. This is a great advantage for companies in the field, who can use our Marlog for storage, at least in the first years.

This is an autonomous building.

Part for rent, part for sale and part will be used by the offices of Israel.

The accessibility is amazing, also due to the need to get to all the hospitals quickly.

"The offices are in one of the most beautiful locations in the heart of the high-tech area, with sea views, large balconies and a decorative roof that allow employees to take a break and breathe air. Today we build towers, but we preferred a 10-story building managed by Israel, especially for medical and technological innovation and medical management companies. "Medical logistics and pharmaceuticals. The price is not high compared to Tel Aviv, around NIS 9,000 per square meter. The autonomous building is part of the science, medicine and logistics complex in the area."

"Not a light blow on the wing"

You asked

"As a businessman who has devoted many years of his life to the business world, I am very concerned. I anticipate many financial problems if we are in a one-month or more closure. A large part of the business and small and medium-sized industry is expected to close. People who have run wonderful businesses here are injured. .

"We are talking about 900,000 unemployed, but each number is an individual or a family. I do not see grants or solutions that address the problem. Many foreign companies that wanted to be in Israel and saw it as an excellent human capital model are experiencing a significant slowdown and are worried about leaving."

Street market

"Keep the real estate market out of the way, and it's good that it is, but a distinction must be made between residential and residential real estate.

Office and commercial buildings will get a not easy blow on the wing.

I am very worried that some of the many buildings that were built and were supposed to be inhabited will remain unoccupied, and rental real estate prices will fall, especially in the Tel Aviv and central area.

"With regard to housing, I estimate that in the face of the postponement of mortgage repayments, banks will think about approving new mortgages and tighten the conditions. I also expect a decline in residential real estate prices and a significant reduction in sales during the corona period.

At the same time, it is not right to talk about Israel as one area, and there will be differences in the effect of the closure on different areas in the country. "

Bottom line,

"I do not see the government doing anything in the real estate field.

There were Litzman plans to move to the periphery and grants, but I do not see it progressing.

"The real estate world, which is a source of investment for many, may take a big hit. There are many who disagree with me, but I am true to my perception. There is difficulty in selling first- and second-hand apartments on the psychological side. There is no joy in creation and purchase."

are you

"I definitely see entrepreneurs getting into trouble due to a slowdown in sales for a long time. The bureaucracy also continues to make it difficult to complete the projects. Unfortunately, I do not foresee a rosy future for the near term."

Then

"There is no one to offer. I think there is no choice but to focus on the long-term rental market, to make it easier for young couples in the Corona period. To lower taxes on apartments and free up land. We need to stop with purchasing groups. Enter the infrastructure issue now and fight between the periphery and the center."

Finally,

"Everyone and his hypotheses, including regarding the development of a vaccine at the Biological Institute in Ness Ziona. Although I am not a scientist, I have been to countless meetings around the subject and there are dates from different dates. Each such date is meaningless. I do not see it happening in the coming months. To focus in the coming year on planning and implementing effective measures, in order to maintain the health and livelihood of the citizens of Israel, while waiting for the vaccine to come. "

Produced by the Department of Special Supplements