Narrow Aisle has been a pioneer of very narrow aisle (VNA) warehouse truck design and development since 1976. Our Flexi® range is available worldwide through a fully supported distributor network. With manufacturing hubs in the UK, USA, and Taiwan we have delivered Flexi’s in over 70 countries worldwide.
Managing Director at Narrow Aisle Ltd
Over 15,000 Flexi® units have been built and shipped throughout the UK and the rest of the world, with many intralogistics customers in the UK, North America, Asia and Europe recognising the space-saving and efficiency benefits. The exceptional cost savings that can be achieved are now recognised globally.
Although Narrow Aisle Limited customers are involved in the storage and handling of many different products including, but not limited to, FMCG, retail and automotive. They all share at least one common aim: the need to maximise storage density and operational efficiency within their warehousing operations by increasing throughput and maximising the space that is available.
Over 35 years, the Flexi® Range has been developed with the help of our customers; there are now five models covering a wide range of logistics and warehouse operational requirements.
Donald Houston, Managing Director of Narrow Aisle Ltd spoke to Warehouse & Logistics News.
What are your best-known products/solutions/services?
Since 1990 we’ve led the way in articulated truck design with our iconic Flexi range, delivering space-saving solutions and more efficient load handling for our customers. We offer market leading after-sales support, short-term rentals and comprehensive warranties. Our five-model range allows us to cater for all articulated truck applications, whether new, ECO or used, we have a tailored product solution to suit all needs and budgets.
How do you think your industry sector is performing at the moment?
I would echo the findings of the UKHMA Outlook Report and say modestly better than normal. That’s not bad at all considering tough trading conditions, with interest rates, and a change in government, alongside other outside factors such as variable exchange rates and inflation levels.
How many markets are you in and what is your biggest market?
We sell Flexi’s in over 70 countries worldwide. The UK is the most mature market for articulated truck operations with international markets continuing to grow. We have seen an increased awareness of our product and the benefits it delivers in international markets this year, with sales recorded in several new regions.
In what ways does your company stand out from its competitors?
We’ve been around for a very long time, almost 50 years and we are very good at what we do. We are a one truck, road to rack solution. Flexi can do the combined job of a Counterbalance and Reach Truck for one price. Our TrueRadius™ unique curved chassis is designed to minimise rack and product damage. Our worldwide aftersales support is unrivalled and often a key contributor in the decision to switch to a Flexi. It also helps that we have market leading lead times!
What are your most recent product innovations?
We invest a significant portion of our turnover each year in product innovation, research and development and ergonomics, to keep Flexi at the forefront of our marketplace. In 2024 alone, we’ve introduced Halo bars, hill start functionality and a telematics interface. 2025 will be an exciting year for product development, which will include a new AC controller (with significantly improved safety features) due for release in the first quarter.
What are the major trends and developments affecting your category and your customers, and how are you responding?
Increased interest in energy developments is being seen across the market. We are working with our supply chain to be at the cutting edge of energy efficiency. We have already seen considerable improvement in our energy savings, moving more pallets per charge than previous Flexi models.
Can you tell us about any recent customer contract wins or projects and how you helped the customer meet their challenges?
Customer feedback means everything to us. Here’s some we received recently:
“In my previous role I was using Narrow Aisle’s Flexi trucks. These were a brilliant piece of kit as we had a lot of space constraints and found that using these were speeding up our process with picking and put away. The service I got from Narrow Aisle was 1st class. I then moved to a new company where their old trucks were coming to the point where we were constantly spending money on repairs, so I contacted Joe at Narrow Aisle. He was out at our site in the same week to look at solutions he could offer us. We now have 3 Flexi’s on site which are very reliable and a service package that was too good not to take.”
How do your business levels in 2024 compare to previous years?
2024 will be comparable to previous years. This will be an exceptional performance given the reduction in overall market size during 2023/24.
What is your strategy for growth and success in 2025?
We’ve had a strong marketing presence in Q4 2024 which has set the groundwork for a fresh look and feel in all aspects of our digital footprint. We plan to increase our brand awareness using modern technologies and social media to meet the ever-changing demands and needs of our customers.
Can you tell us about any areas where you’re currently making technical advances?
We can’t give it all away but 2025 is going to be an exciting year for the Flexi product.
Are you investing in staff training and skills development and can you give examples?
We have introduced a skills-based pay structure for our manufacturing workforce to enhance personal development. We have invested in a mental health first aider programme.
What work are you doing in the area of sustainability?
Our range of Flexi’s are fully electric. The investment in our site in 2024 has allowed us to increase storage capacity which has led to a significant decrease in the amount of transport used which has huge environmental benefits. We continue to provide our ECO range which allows a second life from our Flexi range.
What sets your company apart from others?
We are dedicated specialists in articulated fork trucks. All aspects of our business are invested and focused on delivering the best products, with the best support in our market. Our brand is truly recognised as a genuine world leader in our niche articulated forklift market and we employ the best workforce in the industry.
Will you be investing in your premises over the next 12 months?
During 2024 we’ve made significant investment in our site, including a new concrete base pad installed to enable undercover storage of our rental fleet and additional buildings to increase our onsite storage capacity. 2025 will see us continue to invest in site upgrades.
How future-proof and flexible are your solutions?
Extremely. The future will always be about efficiency and maximising space utilisation which our product is designed for. We are ideally positioned to meet these challenges head on.
What exhibitions can we expect to see your company exhibiting at in 2025?
We are already hard at work in preparation for 2025’s exhibition calendar. We have stands booked for Promat in Chicago in March and IMHX at the NEC in September, alongside several others that we frequently support.
How would you sum up your company in three words?
Quality, Reliability and Safety.
NARROW AISLE
0121 557 6242
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