Home: Issue 4 2009 › Keeping its cool
Keeping its cool
03/11/2009 | Channel: Distribution, Business
Having improved stock levels and availability of goods, Combi Cool AB’s warehouses are now optimised for increasing sales
Based in Finland, Combi Cool AB acts as a technical wholesaler for refrigeration components, which it imports and then sells to customers throughout the country. It operates as part of Beijer Ref, a Scandinavian group that is Europe’s largest wholesaler of components and systems for air conditioning and both commercial and industrial refrigeration equipment. The group’s origins date back to the 1970s, when a Swedish listed company called Skrinet acquired Sweden’s leading refrigeration wholesaler, Kylmateriel AB.
The group grew significantly during the summer of 2004 with the acquisition of Elsmark Holding ApS, a former subsidiary of Danfoss, and in the beginning of 2009, with the acquisition of Carrier’s refrigeration wholesale distribution operations in Europe and South Africa. These new additions have extended Beijer Ref’s European market coverage, so Beijer Ref currently operates in 22 markets. The total number of employees within the group is in excess of 1700 and annual turnover is approximately 540 million euros.
Klaus Nystrom, managing director of Combi Cool AB discusses some of the strengths of being part of such a prominent group: “There are many benefits that come with being a subsidiary of Beijer Ref, due to the fact that it is such an established brand. Next year will be our 25th year of being under its control, so we are thoroughly integrated into the group. It puts us in an ideal situation, whereby we have strong support, a wealth of experience and a great deal of purchasing power built on a stellar reputation.”
The group itself is divided into three main divisions, with the core business unit being commercial refrigeration. This segment involves a strong focus on durability and hygiene, as much of the equipment is used within either the food or pharmaceutical sectors. Beijer Ref is also a strong campaigner in the elimination of ozone-depleting refrigerants, and it delivers both complete refrigeration systems and components.
Another key area of the group’s operations is the engineering and manufacturing of complete functional solutions for refrigeration equipment with both direct and indirect cooling systems. This is undertaken in close collaboration with wholesalers and means the co-ordination and development of sales is improved. The company is also able to supply more environmentally friendly refrigerants where hydrocarbons, propanes, ammonia and carbon dioxide are playing an increasingly important role.
More recently, the Beijer Ref group has been involved in providing comfort cooling, mainly air conditioning components. Now considered a necessity in most buildings and cars, these products can guarantee that environments meet the needs and requirements of those who use them. Klaus elaborates on how this new division of the business has grown: “Right from the start, Combi Cool has been very strong when it comes to providing refrigeration needs. In the last couple of years we have seen potential in the air conditioning market and, after lots of development within this area, we now represent Mitsubishi Heavy Industries throughout Scandinavia.”
The Beijer Ref group also represents a number of prominent manufacturers of heat exchangers, a key component in refrigeration. One of these companies is TTC Norge AS, which is Norway’s leading provider of heath exchangers and electrical heating coils. As an ISO 9001 approved company, it produces its own bespoke, specially designed heat exchangers and dry coolers, which are available in aluminium, stainless steel and titanium. Another major company that Beijer Ref represents is Sweden-based Asarums Industri AB (AIA), which is Europe’s leading heat exchanger manufacturer. Its product range encompasses dry coolers, air cooled condensers, unit coolers, gravity coolers, plate heat exchangers and fan-coils.
In addition to the support of the Beijer Ref group, Combi Cool benefits from the technical expertise of its staff. Klaus explains: “I believe the fact that we have very skilled people is one of our biggest advantages as far as our competitors are concerned and it is through this experienced staff that we’re able to give a lot more to our customers than the standard wholesaler or importer. We have the knowledge to advise our customers, which is vital to our success and one of the main reasons behind our ability to represent such major brands in the field. With 25 years of experience under our belts, we understand our customers needs and the supplier relationships to procure the appropriate materials.”
The continued success of the Beijer Ref group has allowed Combi Cool to invest towards the relocation of its premises in order to improve both capacity and efficiency. Now, Combi Cool operates from three of Finland’s major hubs – the country’s capital, Helsinki, and the cities of Tampere and Turku. Klaus highlights some of the benefits: “These bigger facilities have enabled us to ensure that we have the right material at the right time for our customers in our warehouses, and we have also managed to push through with a large-scale logistical improvement project as a result.”
Combi Cool’s green agenda is another very important factor in its business operations and a responsibility for protecting the environment is key to Beijer Ref’s philosophy. The group pledges to safeguard the future environment, working proactively towards the development of eco-friendly refrigerants. It also executes safe handling of recovered refrigerants that are returned to the packaging plants. Within the company’s extensive product range, there are many ‘green’ and eco-designed articles that uphold this ideology, free from substances considered hazardous to the environment. Klaus shares his opinion on how this has grown to play such a vital part in the company’s strategy, both at group and a local level: “I believe an attitude exists that is part of Nordic culture towards protecting the environment. Quite simply, we are lovers of nature and we want to preserve it for our children.”
Keeping the future in mind is an aspect apparent in all areas of Combi Cool’s operations, and the coming years look to be full of opportunity for the company, regardless of the current financial situation. Klaus concludes: “Our main targets are to retain our excellent workforce and focus even more on our logistics operations. The refrigeration market has remained relatively stable throughout the downturn, and whilst we have seen the larger projects decline, we’ve managed to gain many smaller contracts. As long as we stick to our business strategy, we have a very successful future ahead.”
The group grew significantly during the summer of 2004 with the acquisition of Elsmark Holding ApS, a former subsidiary of Danfoss, and in the beginning of 2009, with the acquisition of Carrier’s refrigeration wholesale distribution operations in Europe and South Africa. These new additions have extended Beijer Ref’s European market coverage, so Beijer Ref currently operates in 22 markets. The total number of employees within the group is in excess of 1700 and annual turnover is approximately 540 million euros.
Klaus Nystrom, managing director of Combi Cool AB discusses some of the strengths of being part of such a prominent group: “There are many benefits that come with being a subsidiary of Beijer Ref, due to the fact that it is such an established brand. Next year will be our 25th year of being under its control, so we are thoroughly integrated into the group. It puts us in an ideal situation, whereby we have strong support, a wealth of experience and a great deal of purchasing power built on a stellar reputation.”
The group itself is divided into three main divisions, with the core business unit being commercial refrigeration. This segment involves a strong focus on durability and hygiene, as much of the equipment is used within either the food or pharmaceutical sectors. Beijer Ref is also a strong campaigner in the elimination of ozone-depleting refrigerants, and it delivers both complete refrigeration systems and components.
Another key area of the group’s operations is the engineering and manufacturing of complete functional solutions for refrigeration equipment with both direct and indirect cooling systems. This is undertaken in close collaboration with wholesalers and means the co-ordination and development of sales is improved. The company is also able to supply more environmentally friendly refrigerants where hydrocarbons, propanes, ammonia and carbon dioxide are playing an increasingly important role.
More recently, the Beijer Ref group has been involved in providing comfort cooling, mainly air conditioning components. Now considered a necessity in most buildings and cars, these products can guarantee that environments meet the needs and requirements of those who use them. Klaus elaborates on how this new division of the business has grown: “Right from the start, Combi Cool has been very strong when it comes to providing refrigeration needs. In the last couple of years we have seen potential in the air conditioning market and, after lots of development within this area, we now represent Mitsubishi Heavy Industries throughout Scandinavia.”
The Beijer Ref group also represents a number of prominent manufacturers of heat exchangers, a key component in refrigeration. One of these companies is TTC Norge AS, which is Norway’s leading provider of heath exchangers and electrical heating coils. As an ISO 9001 approved company, it produces its own bespoke, specially designed heat exchangers and dry coolers, which are available in aluminium, stainless steel and titanium. Another major company that Beijer Ref represents is Sweden-based Asarums Industri AB (AIA), which is Europe’s leading heat exchanger manufacturer. Its product range encompasses dry coolers, air cooled condensers, unit coolers, gravity coolers, plate heat exchangers and fan-coils.
In addition to the support of the Beijer Ref group, Combi Cool benefits from the technical expertise of its staff. Klaus explains: “I believe the fact that we have very skilled people is one of our biggest advantages as far as our competitors are concerned and it is through this experienced staff that we’re able to give a lot more to our customers than the standard wholesaler or importer. We have the knowledge to advise our customers, which is vital to our success and one of the main reasons behind our ability to represent such major brands in the field. With 25 years of experience under our belts, we understand our customers needs and the supplier relationships to procure the appropriate materials.”
The continued success of the Beijer Ref group has allowed Combi Cool to invest towards the relocation of its premises in order to improve both capacity and efficiency. Now, Combi Cool operates from three of Finland’s major hubs – the country’s capital, Helsinki, and the cities of Tampere and Turku. Klaus highlights some of the benefits: “These bigger facilities have enabled us to ensure that we have the right material at the right time for our customers in our warehouses, and we have also managed to push through with a large-scale logistical improvement project as a result.”
Combi Cool’s green agenda is another very important factor in its business operations and a responsibility for protecting the environment is key to Beijer Ref’s philosophy. The group pledges to safeguard the future environment, working proactively towards the development of eco-friendly refrigerants. It also executes safe handling of recovered refrigerants that are returned to the packaging plants. Within the company’s extensive product range, there are many ‘green’ and eco-designed articles that uphold this ideology, free from substances considered hazardous to the environment. Klaus shares his opinion on how this has grown to play such a vital part in the company’s strategy, both at group and a local level: “I believe an attitude exists that is part of Nordic culture towards protecting the environment. Quite simply, we are lovers of nature and we want to preserve it for our children.”
Keeping the future in mind is an aspect apparent in all areas of Combi Cool’s operations, and the coming years look to be full of opportunity for the company, regardless of the current financial situation. Klaus concludes: “Our main targets are to retain our excellent workforce and focus even more on our logistics operations. The refrigeration market has remained relatively stable throughout the downturn, and whilst we have seen the larger projects decline, we’ve managed to gain many smaller contracts. As long as we stick to our business strategy, we have a very successful future ahead.”
