AR Racking supplies industrial storage solutions at international level and is growing rapidly, with major projects completed all over the world, and a commercial presence in more than 60 countries, and head office in Bizkaia (Spain). AR service provides comprehensive assistance to clients regarding industrial storage materials, including technical and logistics consultancy, installation planning, completion times, product quality and the quality of structures installation.
Ander Iturralde, UK & Ireland Sales Manager at AR Racking, speaks to Warehouse & Logistics News.
What are your best-known products/solutions/services?
AR Racking has been making a name for itself in the world of industrial racking for years.
It is well known that we offer a wide range of storage solutions for both heavy loads and medium loads stored in boxes; and that we work closely with the best integrators in the world to install the metal structures of automated warehouses.
However, I believe that in recent years we have differentiated ourselves by being a company that takes on the integral management of projects, whatever the company and the size of the company and the warehouse, by its commitment to the deadlines committed to and by the quality of our racking.
Which industry sectors are your customers in and which ones are growing fastest?
Many SMEs and startups in the growth phase dedicated to the food industry, packaging, construction materials, logistics operators and ecommerce are the most interested in making changes and growing from a more competitive intralogistics. The electronics, textile and automotive sectors are also betting on adapting to such a volatile world.
What are your most recent product innovations?
We have recently presented to the public the AR Shuttle by Autosat, the motorised satellite trolley, which the European leader in semi-automated solutions Automha has designed for AR Racking. It is a solution that offers high-density, modular storage and operational agility.
What are the major trends and developments affecting your category and your customers, and how are you responding?
The most obvious is the increase in costs, both in terms of energy consumption, raw materials, transport, etc. Added to this is the degree of automation, digitisation of processes, professionalisation of workers, etc. However, not all companies have the same product needs, nor do they have the same deadlines or the same investment potential. At AR Racking we are very transparent with our customers and we offer them the solutions that best fit all these variables.
One customer, one warehouse. We offer agile solutions that offer a margin of adaptation to changing storage needs.
Can you tell us about any recent customer contracts and how you helped the customer meet their challenges?
It is not about talking about specific companies or cases. In the end, success is that customers are satisfied, that they see that we have helped them to be more competitive through intralogistics and that they continue to trust us. What is clear is that we carry out projects for all types of industries with storage systems adapted to each case.
How does business in 2022 compare to previous years? What’s your strategy for succeeding in the current climate?
We have continued to grow despite the turbulent times we have been living through since 2020. We now have almost 300 employees and at the business level we have not only continued to be solid in the markets we were already in, but we have also opened a branch office in the United States, which is a huge challenge. Maintaining flexible organisational planning but ensuring internal control is essential for consistent growth. On the other hand, we have noticed that what our customers value most is the specialised service we offer, which covers all phases of the project, from consultancy, warehouse layout, racking manufacture to final installation. In addition, we pay special attention to the after-sales service, so that the client feels supported at all times. It should also be noted that in times of enormous uncertainty in supply chains, we have always met the agreed deadlines.
What’s the latest news from your company?
The appointments in the technical management, the management of the US office in North Carolina, my appointament as UK Sales Manager, our new EMEA Director… all these changes have been made with the aim of strengthening internal cohesion, giving more space to innovation and maintaining the closeness that characterises us with the customer.
Can you tell us about any areas where you’re currently making technical advances eg safety, sustainability, environment?
This year we received the ECOVADIS certificate. To obtain the certificate, we took into account the measures carried out in our production centre and offices to reduce and optimise the consumption of plastic, cardboard, water and gas among other resources, as well as the commitment to human rights, ethics and sustainable purchasing. This certifies AR Racking’s commitment to growth that ensures sustainability both in the company’s internal ecosystem and with the environment and the environment around us.
In addition, we are in the middle of a project to implement solar panels in the production centre, which we hope will materialise soon.
Are you investing in staff training and skills development?
Always, because product development and innovation is very important to us. proof of this is the testing laboratory and the research centre we have in a couple of universities in northern Spain, in addition to everything we do in our head office at the R&D+i level.
Are you taking part in any major trade shows? Can you tell us what you’ll be exhibiting there?
So far we have confirmed our attendance at Logimat (Germany), SITL (France), Seafood (Barcelona, Spain) and Promat (Chicago, US). In the first two, we will emphasise the new shuttle and our track record in all kinds of projects and storage solutions. In the last two, the aim is to make ourselves known.
AR Racking
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