RediRack’s extensive portfolio of adjustable frame and beam racking solutions has been one of the UK’s most popular storage systems for almost 40 years. It is a central part of the newly created RediGroup, which today comprises five different operating businesses: RediRack, the racking and storage business; RediFloor, the mezzanine and structural floor operation; RediBuild, the principal contracting division; RediFit, the fit-out division; and RediTechniX, the automated storage and retrieval business.
RediGroup will have a major presence at IMHX 2013, where it will have two separate stands, one for the main RediGroup in Hall 20, showcasing their range of turnkey and stand-alone handling and storage solutions and the other in Hall 19 for RediTechniX, their award winning automated pallet storage, retrieval and sequencing solution business.
But it definitely won’t be all work and no play for RediGroup at IMHX. As well as learning how the range of storage solutions available from the various divisions within the RediGroup can enhance almost any project, visitors to the show will be able to enjoy some first class entertainment on the RediGroup stand with live music and drinks served every evening between 4 and 7pm. So make a date in your diary to rock up to the RediGroup stand during your visit to the NEC!
Andrew Forsythe, Managing Director of RediGroup, spoke to Warehouse & Logistics News.
Warehouse & Logistics News – First of all, Andrew, as Managing Director of RediGroup, what is your role in the company day to day? Are you directly involved in developing solutions for customers?
I’m involved in all aspects of the company, overseeing and co-ordinating the divisions as we create bespoke storage solutions for our customers as well as looking at new business solutions and innovation in the industry. Keeps me busy!
WLN – Can you talk us through the different companies in the RediGroup and the different products and services they provide?
We have five distinct divisions that function as stand-alone businesses, or come together as needed to offer a comprehensive logistics solution for a specific project. Our divisions are cohesive, and as such offer a myriad of benefits to our customers including convenience, cost effectiveness and a name customers’ know and can trust. Of course, our first and most well-known division is RediRack which, as you know, offers an extensive range of bolt free adjustable pallet racking along with a host of accessories designed to maximise storage efficiency and utilise warehouse space to the optimum effect. RediRack’s system delivers minimal on-site assembly time, reduced maintenance, increased rack structure stability and is used in some of the largest warehouses in Europe today. We also have RediFloor which specialises in the manufacture, supply and installation of mezzanines and steel structures, ideal for creating additional storage or work space. Mezzanine floors allow storage capacity to be doubled, trebled or more without having to move, which as you can imagine in today’s financial climate, is a very attractive option for a lot of companies, it’s much more cost effective to add vertical space than to move. RediFit is our fit-out and furnishing division; they’re a leading provider of interior design and fit-out services across a broad range of environments, from industrial facilities to offices, educational and retail outlets. RediBuild is our principal contracting division; it’s a really great part of our company that can manage all aspects of commercial or industrial builds. Basically RediBuild can either manage or support a build project through to offering a full design and build service that will deliver your operational building in the timeframe you need. Lastly would be our newest division, RediTechniX. RediTechniX covers the growing area of automated process, storage and retrieval. I’m really proud of the work we’ve done in the automated environment and our hard work was rewarded when the RediTechnix automated solution won the UKWA award for innovation and technology.
WLN – When was the RediRack business founded?
RediRack was founded almost 40 years ago. We are proud to be independently owned and run our business from a wholly owned site in Yorkshire with sub-offices in Manchester and Leicester. It’s very convenient for us to be so close to Sheffield which, as you know, is the heart of the British steel industry. All our racking is British made and manufactured, sadly a statement that not everyone in the industry can say today.
WLN – How do you service your customers in the UK? Do you have different sales teams for each business?
We have a sales team on the road that effectively covers the UK for RediRack, RediFit and RediFloor. Our sales staff are all extremely knowledgeable about the full range of products and services we offer and act as a convenient single point of contact. This really makes life easy for our customers; they can deal with one person who, in some instances, they have known for decades and no matter what their needs are that person will manage their project. We also have in-house sales support and in-house marketing across the Group. RediTechniX is slightly different, as a specialised aspect of the industry we have a dedicated sales team who are experts in the automated industry. I’ve found that this mix of face-to-face and phone support allows us to deliver the best service every time. Our overseas work is handled by appointed distributors with direct involvement where necessary.
WLN – How do you sum up the RediGroup proposition?
I think RediGroup’s mission statement sums us up perfectly: RediGroup is committed to providing exceptional products and services that enable our customers to achieve their ambitions. We continually strive for excellence whist maintaining integrity in all aspects of our business. We work as a team to combine our knowledge, expertise, manufacturing and project capability for the benefit of our customers and the improvement of the supply chain as a whole.
WLN – What sets RediGroup apart from the rest? Why buy a storage solution from you?
I might be biased but I truly believe RediGroup offers a unique blend of quality products and services from a team of experienced people who care about what they do and do it well. I believe we are the only company in the storage industry that can make that claim, the whole team here is dedicated to providing a best in class experience for everyone that deal with us – you can’t ask for more!
WLN – What size companies, in what industry sectors, are your customers?
We provide solutions across a broad customer size in a range of environments, from industrial facilities to offices, commercial building, education facilities and retail outlets.
WLN – Can you tell us who your customers are?
We have a huge range of customers of all sizes from small independent companies to multi-national 3PLs, therefore we can accommodate any size of project.
WLN – Do you publish case studies?
Yes, they’re available online. If you go to www.redigroup.co.uk you can be redirected to the division you’re most interested in.
WLN – What will you be showing at IMHX?
RediGroup has a major presence within both Halls 19 and 20 of the NEC during IMHX 2013. We have two stands, one for RediGroup and RediTechniX. The RediGroup stand in Hall 20 will showcase RediRack bolt free adjustable racking and feature a RediFloor mezzanine floor. Special emphasis will be placed on the RediRack Sacrificial Leg which allows damaged rack frames to be repaired safely and efficiently with minimal cost and downtime. As well as the range of RediRack racking and accessories, the Group stand will feature a RediFloor mezzanine structure and RediFit furniture. We will be having seminars daily on our booth and opportunities for interested parties to meet our industry experts and discover more about the different types of pallet racking and how we can deliver a complete end-to-end project entirely tailor made to individual specifications. The RediFit team also will be on hand to discuss how you can improve your working environment to increase productivity and reflect your company ethos and values.
WLN – What will be on the RediTechniX stand?
On the RediTechniX stand we will be demonstrating of our award winning automated pallet storage, retrieval and sequencing solution, RediLogX which is offered by our RediTechniX division. The RediLogX solution allows the storage density of an existing warehouse to be increased by up to 90% when compared to traditional very narrow aisle (VNA) racking and lift truck-based designs. It has the potential to radically change the way goods are stored in warehouses. Existing solutions just cannot compete with the ecological, productivity and cost benefits that the RediLogX solution offers. We won the UKWA award for Technology & Innovation for this system. We will also be looking to show our RediShuttle offering and our new Pallet Mono-rail system.
WLN – What have been the major trends in the business over the last two years? How have you responded to them in terms of your product and service offering? Will these developments be on show at IMHX?
The emphasis really has been on capacity efficiency. The majority of our customers have squeezed as much as they can out of their products and therefore the emphasis becomes supply chain and specifically the processes within. The logic is simple, reduce the number of steps in a process, use space to the greatest capacity and use as much automation as is economically viable. Don’t make the process fit the product, make a product to streamline the process!
WLN – How important are shows like IMHX to your company and its strategy?
Hugely important! We see IMHX and other shows/exhibitions as our route to showcase the excellent work we’re doing in the market place. Our ethos gets the opportunity to shine and our customers and prospective customers get to see what we’re all really about outside of an office, warehouse or building site!
WLN – The big question: why should a busy professional from the logistics industry take a day out of the office to visit your stand?
If everything I’ve already said above isn’t enough temptation, then the food and entertainment should do it!
WLN – Will you be at the show yourself?
Of course, who’d want to miss our entertainment?! We will be hosting a Blues Brothers Tribute night with food and drinks on our stand on Thursday 21st from 4pm. It’s VIP access only, so get in touch now to be there!
RediGroup
tel: 01709 584711
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