Energy-efficient equipment sales key to Air Kraft winning Atlas Copco Distributor of the Year award
March 13, 2017
Coventry-based Air Kraft has repeated its outstanding performance of previous years by winning the 2016 Atlas Copco Compressors Distributor of the Year award. As Air Kraft’s managing director, Craig May-Russell observes: “Our primary approach to meeting the needs of customers is to provide energy-saving installations. In some cases, we’ve been able to help companies achieve annual reductions in compressed air power consumption of as much as £60,000.”
Craig May-Russell points out that this approach applies equally to rough vacuum pump equipment, citing reports that by replacing its original installation with an Atlas Copco GHS VSD+ vacuum system, an industry leader in plastics thermoforming saved an estimated £70,000 per annum.
Air Kraft’s extensive experience within the Midlands compressed air market, knowledge of the needs of local manufacturers, and dynamic approach to equipment sales is the main driver for their success. We’re delighted to once again bestow this award onto Craig May-Russell and his team. Their commitment to help customers boost productivity and reduce energy consumption matches our own.
On the question of what factors made 2016 such a great year for business, Craig May-Russell feels that despite the effect of some exchange rate-led pre-Brexit price increases from suppliers, local industry was more active with new builds and factory extensions requiring pipework and new plant. What’s more, cost-conscious buyers were looking at the whole picture − the total cost of ownership, starting with air audits and leak detection, before seeking the latest technology to provide the optimum solution. Air Kraft’s outlook for 2017 is very positive. Optimism is high for a performance similar to 2016. The company has enjoyed consistent growth, doubling its sales target in the last two years, and has recently expanded into adjacent premises for extra storage.
In the pursuit of business opportunities from some of the Midlands major players in the aerospace and transport sectors, the provision of energy-saving solutions continues to be the company’s prime objective and the principal contribution to its continuing success. Air Kraft has been providing compressed air and fluid power solutions since 1993. Operating as a Premier Distributor since 2012, the company offers the supply and installation of a full range of energy-saving stationary oil-lubricated and oil-free air compressors, nitrogen generators and vacuum pumps. With major emphasis on Atlas Copco’s GA 5kW–90kW rotary screw compressors, together with air quality equipment and pipework installations, Air Kraft provides essential customer services such as preventative maintenance, repairs and reconditioning, air audits, leak detection and air quality testing. Atlas Copco’s Distributor of the Year award is a significant achievement within its nationwide network because it is not based solely on local sales target criteria. It is assessed on key performance indicators for the distributor’s whole business and the spread of growth versus that of the previous year.
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Editor's Notes:
Atlas Copco Compressors is the GB sales and service operation of the Atlas Copco Group providing oil-free and oil-injected stationary air compressors, gas and process compressors, vacuum pumps, turbo expanders, nitrogen generators, air treatment equipment (such as compressed air dryers, coolers, and filters) air management systems, and custom designed engineered packages.
Atlas Copco Compressors’ sales and distribution network means that specialist compressed air advice and service is always within easy reach. A team of over 80 service engineers operates across the country, to ensure maximum running efficiency and minimum downtime at its customers' sites.
In the United Kingdom, Atlas Copco also handles the sales and marketing of construction and mining equipment, portable compressors and electric power generators, industrial power tools and assembly systems – all backed up by a nationwide sales, distribution, service and maintenance network.
Atlas Copco is a world-leading provider of sustainable productivity solutions. The Group serves customers with innovative compressors, vacuum solutions and air treatment systems, construction and mining equipment, power tools and assembly systems. Atlas Copco develops products and service focused on productivity, energy efficiency, safety and ergonomics. The company was founded in 1873, is based in Stockholm, Sweden, and has a global reach spanning more than 180 countries. In 2016, Atlas Copco had revenues of BSEK 101 (BEUR 11) and about 45 000 employees. Learn more at www.atlascopco.co.uk/compressorsuk.
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- For further editorial information contact Chris Butcher on 01582 390980.
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