A FLOTEC STORY
Updated: Mar 23, 2022
INTRODUCTION.
Established in 1995, Loughborough based Flotec is a trusted and leading supplier of hydraulic, pneumatic and pipeline products to a wide variety of industries, including agriculture, pharmaceutical, water treatment, plant, and manufacturing, to name just a few.
Flotec also supplies the rail market with hydrostatic and coolant hoses, clamps, and couplings as well as variable pitch fan modifications and train fleet battery charging units.
Rail clients include passenger and freight operators, fleet leasing organisations, OEM new builds and track maintenance companies.
CORE VALUES.
At the beginning of 2021 Flotec wrote, introduced, and published some exciting core values:
Innovation:
To continuously investigate and find new ways of doing things for the better.
To develop, create and invent unique solutions relevant to the task in hand.
Where appropriate, to apply existing ways of doing things to a new market.
Where appropriate, to modify existing assets to perform better.
Where appropriate, to radically transform and disrupt markets for the better.
Belonging, Empowerment, Ownership and Accountability:
To be a culture of diversity, inclusivity, creativity, innovation, teamwork, and family.
For each person to feel valued, appreciated and belonging to the Flotec culture, its shared mission, and values.
Each person to feel empowered to take ownership and accountability of their work.
To acknowledge, celebrate and reward successes and achievements.
Ethics and Trust
To be trusted by all stakeholders for operating and behaving in an ethical, honest, and trustworthy manner.
To ensure that all stakeholders conduct themselves in compliance and accordance with Flotec’s core values.
To encourage excellence with all stakeholders and throughout the multiple supply chains within which Flotec operates.
Customer Service:
To offer a solutions-based approach for all customers.
To provide a polite, courteous, professional, and knowledgeable experience.
To focus on service, solutions, and delivery.
To give such an exceptional service that customers keep coming back.
Combining all these values together aligns strategic direction and encourages a shared vision.
AWARD WINNING.
2021 witnessed precisely how Flotec meets the promises of its core values whereby in September, the organisation scooped an Award for Innovation in Manufacturing and Engineering through the Leicestershire Innovation Awards.
This win was in recognition of the variable pitch fan which was designed, developed, engineered, and tested specifically for DMU train fleets.
As the Awarding judges said at the time:
“We were impressed by Flotec’s preventative approach – as opposed to a reactive one – because the variable pitch fan and associated system technology pre-empts delays and works to eliminate them before they occur, benefitting the rail network and those who rely on it.”
EMPLOYEE OWNED.
In the first quarter of 2021, Flotec became an employee-owned trust (EOT) which is testament to its core value of belonging, empowerment, ownership, and accountability
SUPPORTING MENTAL WELLBEING.
2021 saw Chloe Lofthouse and Sophie Wright take it upon themselves to become officially trained through St John Ambulance as Mental Health Workplace Responders.
This incredible accolade demonstrates Flotec’s core value of ethics and trust.
DUTY OF CARE.
Flotec takes the care of its stakeholders, environment and communities incredibly seriously and has published a dedicated CSR Duty of Care document, available to view online.
Not only does Flotec firmly believe in this publication, but also understands that CSR remains massively significant and important to all organisations, supply chains and stakeholders.
NET PROMOTER SCORE.
Flotec engineered, designed, and created an NPS customer satisfaction survey which was distributed in the final quarter of 2021 and returned an impressive score of 85.7%.
ON A ROLL WITH THE RAIL SECTOR.
When it comes to the rail facet of the business, the Flotec objective is to grow market share with a ‘push’ strategy.
This is to say, to design, engineer and install truly unique, original, and bespoke solutions to the rail sector which enhances asset performance, reduces downtime, and delivers cost savings in use.
The strategic approach is not to simply provide what has been done before but more, to develop something new and different.
It is this honest belief in creating unique solutions to any given project which has deservedly given the company a positive reputation within the rail sector.
As such, Flotec enjoys the enviable kudos of being an official innovation partner with Angel Trains.
SERVICING INDUSTRY SINCE 1995.
The Flotec Industrial team work incredibly hard to provide swift availability of product and service to ensure an exceptional level of care to its diverse client portfolio.
ADDRESSING THE PANDEMIC.
From the outset, Flotec made sure to be compliant with Government advice and regulations regarding COVID 19 and communicated this to its stakeholders.
Having already implemented a state-of-the-art cloud application, office staff were able to work from home where a secure online system was introduced to provide full visibility of work and the ability to collaborate on projects remotely.
Live streaming platforms were (and continue to be) used for business-critical meetings with an additional app being deployed to allow SMART phones to be used in the same manner as the original telephony system.
The Flotec online store proved ideal as an additional method to supply customers in a COVID safe manner.
The Trade Counter remained open with changes made to ensure safety and wellbeing. Perspex panels were installed and clearly defined social distancing markings put in place.
Deliveries were completed in a distanced way.
The manufacturing, engineering and stock holding facilities were also ergonomically re-designed to ensure government compliance.
On-site work continued whereby Flotec provided engineers with the appropriate PPE whilst ensuring on-site social distancing measures were adhered to.
Lateral flow test kits have been made available to all staff who are required to take regular testing, report the results, and react accordingly.
THE FUTURE.
COVID continues to have a presence which will need to be managed safely and effectively.
SME’s such as Flotec are incredibly resilient and possess the ability and flexibility to make swift changes to react to both macro and micro forces.
The pandemic has certainly changed the way Flotec operates as a business where the application of technology and new procedures are to the benefit for the organisation both in the present as well as moving forwards.
Flotec is keen to grow the business with a key focus on customer excellence and will never shy away from diversifying its product offering and expanding market reach.
With concrete objectives in place, 2022 looks set to be yet another exciting year for Flotec and its stakeholders.
.INNOVATION IN MOTION.
With a diverse product and service offering available to the rail sector, Flotec is in a prime position to continue expanding its rail client portfolio and will forever investigate and find new ways of doing things for the better.
Flotec is keen to position and align itself with OEMs, TOCs, FOCs, ROSCOs and track maintenance organisations to discuss how efficiency gains, reliability, cost, and asset performance can be improved.
BECAUSE INDUSTRY NEVER STOPS.
The industries which Flotec serve will continue to be provided with fit-for-purpose, robust and reliable products backed up by an exceptional customer service.
Flotec is well poised to continue growing, developing, and nurturing its industrial client list.
Because industry never stops, neither does Flotec.
P IS FOR PRODUCT.
Flotec is an official Gates distributor and provides a substantial mix of hydrostatic and coolant hosing and related PowerGrip clamps and coupling solutions. Accompanying the PowerGrip clamp range is an innovative PowerShrink solution, which assists with the application to reduce installation error.
Clients have access to a FREE on loan Gates crimper to make hose self-assembly a cost-effective solution safe in the knowledge that a reliable and trusted branded product is being used. Full training with official Gates approved certification can be provided.
Rail customers benefit from variable pitch fan technology for DMU train fleets with this product witnessing possibilities in other industrious uses. Train fleet battery charging units are also available.
The additional product portfolio consists of a diverse range of industrial hydraulic and pneumatic items and all associated components through to PPE, tools, and equipment.
Flotec’s purchasing and negotiating power empowers it to act as a one-stop-shop for any items its clients need for any given project or scenario.
C IS FOR CUSTOMER.
NPS surveys will continue to be distributed to ensure continuous improvement and a best-in-class service provision.
Flotec provides the following ways to buy:
1 - Online; https://www.floteconline.com
UK next working day is available if ordered before 10.00pm
2 - Telephone: +44 (0) 1509 230 100
3 - Email: sales@floteconline.com
4 - Site survey and one-to-one account management
5 – Trade Counter
KEEP UP TO SPEED!
With some intriguing projects in the mix and pipeline, get ready to keep hearing exciting news stories and developments from Flotec Industrial Limited and (if not done so already) be sure to subscribe to the Flotec mailing list.
FUTURE INDUSTRIES.
With much talk and development around industry 4.0 and further beyond to the fifth industrial revolution, Flotec (as an SME) is well prepared to continuously evolve, create, innovate, adapt, and transform.
Flotec will forever have exciting stories to tell, and the future looks incredibly positive.