CopriSystems is a market leader in the design, innovation, manufacture and installation of bespoke structures for industry and sport. They work with a broad range of businesses to create unique, flexible spaces that meet the customers’ specific requirements and allow for future progression. They understand there is no one-size-fits-all model and their buildings are all individually designed to lead a dynamic life to suit a business’s ever-changing needs. They offer a full turnkey service and guarantee high quality with a strong customer focus from start to finish.
Rafe Colenso, Director at CopriSystems speaks to Warehouse & Logistics News.
Director
What does your role involve on a day-to-day basis?
No two days are ever the same and I spend a lot of time on the road, visiting our teams at different site locations or meeting with customers. I also take a keen interest in the life of our buildings long after they have been installed so will always pop in if I’m passing. Having time in the office is quite a novelty but after a day I’m ready to get out and about again.
How would you explain the CopriSystems culture?
We’re a family business built on loyalty and commitment. We invest heavily in building relationships with the people we work with and work for and take every project personally, so we are hands on, fully transparent and prefer to pick up the phone or meet face to face rather than hide behind emails. I’m lucky to be surrounded by people who share the same values, vision and are motivated to perform at the highest level.
How does this culture assist your clients’ requirements?
We’re able to offer a more bespoke, personal service. We know there is no one-size-fits-all solution so we take time to get to know the business, the site, the customer and tailor the structural designs to their needs.
Do you have direct contact with customers and get involved developing solutions?
Absolutely, it’s the best part of my job! I make sure I get to know the customers personally and am always available for them to speak to throughout the project. I love a challenge and the opportunity to use our creativity to develop something unique but would never turn down the chance to get my hands dirty on a simple small-scale construction. I regularly visit each site and love having the opportunity to get back on the tools.
Tell us how CopriSystems are growing in the UK
As for many, the last few years have been extraordinary and in the industrial sector, we have noticed significant growth in demand for temporary warehouse structures. Having spent years telling customers that our structures are built to last and are a cost-effective alternative to bricks and mortar as part of a long-term strategy, everyone now wants to talk about dynamic, short-term solutions that can adapt and relocate. We haven’t compromised on quality or durability, our structures are still built to last, but most of our customers don’t want to or simply cannot look that far ahead. Such is the uncertainty of business at the moment.
In the sports sector, our main area of growth is in tennis, multi-sport facilities that are more inclusive and accessible to a broader community and, in particular, there’s the boom in padel. The rate at which this sport is growing is amazing and it’s very exciting to be part of it. Our padel side of the business is growing so much so that we have set up a dedicated team of enthusiasts as well as a sister company, www.padelsystems.co.uk
What makes CopriSystems unique in your industry?
We’re solutions-driven and take a bespoke approach to each brief so are not easily fazed. What motivates us is being pushed to create a design that fits irregular dimensions, creates more space out of very little, increases efficiency and productivity and puts the individual business’s needs at the forefront of the development. We want to build structures that can grow or adapt as a business evolves.
We are also unique in the fact that we offer a full turnkey service from the initial groundworks to the manufacturing, installation and final fit-out. Having just one point of contact throughout the project seems to be a great selling point to customers who don’t want to manage the communication or diaries of multiple contractors.
What solutions do you offer customers?
Our industrial buildings can be adapted to suit any business operation from distribution, loading, manufacturing, storing goods and housing large machinery. Our structures include commercial canopies and tunnels, mounted to existing buildings or freestanding, as well as large-scale domes (fixed or telescopic), rigid-clad and steel portal frame structures.
What sectors do these clients work in?
We have built warehouse structures for a wide range of businesses from major supermarket chains to high street brands, automotive companies, ship manufacturers, military and agricultural outfits as well as builders’ merchants.
How can your solutions help?
We have been designing warehouse buildings for industrial use for over 35 years and they are still as relevant today as they have ever been because they are versatile and can adapt with a business. We’re hearing a lot about elastic warehousing as well as collaborative warehousing as being big trends for 2024. Our structures are ideal for this as they offer a flexible solution to the ever-changing demands of this sector. They’re also a cost-effective answer to the need for more efficient last-mile delivery solutions in the world of e-commerce. 30 years ago, we had no idea that online retail was going to be such a dominant force in the demand for warehousing space but the flexibility of our structures makes them future-proof so they’re as relevant now as they were when they were primarily used for sheltering goods from the elements.
What new services/solutions are you offering for 2024?
While we have not developed anything specifically new for this year, we are always looking for ways in which we can advance the quality and sustainability of our products. We are conscious of our carbon footprint and have put strategies in place to reduce this, which we will continue to evaluate. Our customers are also asking for greener warehousing and each project is driven by an ambition to be as energy-efficient as possible.
What do you see as the biggest opportunities in the coming year for CopriSystems?
The lack of available traditional warehouse space along with increasing rent has certainly gone in our favour as businesses are having to consider other options. There is a misconception that fabric covered structures are the poor man’s solution but that is simply not the case. They are strong enough to withstand our unpredictable weather conditions and all of ours are perfectly intact after the recent deluge of ferocious storms, even the ones that are standing on the edge of the marina in East Cowes. They are durable enough to last decades and versatile enough to move with the times so they are the ideal alternative to bricks and mortar if you need more space. They will also stand for as long as you need them to so are extremely cost-effective!
What are the biggest challenges facing CopriSystems and your industry?
The rising cost of materials and widespread uncertainty, which is as much of a challenge as it is an opportunity. Customers are understandably more hesitant about committing to a project.
Do you cover the whole of the UK?
Yes, we are happy to travel anywhere in the UK and have teams available locally so we are able to reduce our travel expenses and carbon emissions. We have buildings in the Isle of Wight as well as the North East of Scotland, so we cover a lot of ground but we also work in mainland Europe from time to time.
CopriSystems Ltd
01380 830 697
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