Roto has announced it will be closing its UK hardware warehouse and office in Rugby, Warwickshire at the end of 2012 as it begins to supply all orders from its enhanced Western Europe Logistics Centre.
This move is the latest in a process of centralisation for the German manufacturer's Western Europe region, which serves the markets of Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg and the UK as well as the Scandinavian countries.
“In reality, we haven't really needed the warehouse in the UK for the last couple of years,” explains Mike Piqeur, Managing Director of Roto UK and head of the Western Europe region.
“As early as 2010, we implemented the consolidation of stock in our logistics centre in Belgium. Since that time, most of our core products for the UK, including the NT tilt and turn hardware and DoorSafe range of locks, have been supplied directly from Belgium to our UK distribution partners.”
Nivelles, around 40 minutes drive south of Brussels, is the site of Roto's Western Europe Logistics Centre. Its warehouse holds stock supplied from the group production plants in Germany, Austria and Hungary.
“The improvements we've been making to our logistics operation mean we can now supply on a next-day basis to any of of our distribution partners in the region,” Mike continues.
"Naturally, we didn't want to finally close the UK warehouse until we were absolutely sure the processes are working and free of flaws. We're now at the stage where the operation in Belgium is so efficient, it offers a better delivery service to the UK than ever before.”
The stocks currently supplied from the UK warehouse will be delivered directly from Belgium by the end of the year. With logistics centralised, the next step is to centralise the internal sales operation.
Roto have added a new team member, Laurent Wirtel, an experienced logistics and internal sales manager, to oversee developments and lead the newly-enhanced department.
“Laurent has a proven track record in process improvement,” says Mike Piqeur. “With the help of his expertise, we're going into 2013 with the aim of providing an even more streamlined and responsive service.”
Roto will continue to be represented in the UK by its existing sales team, with areas and representatives remaining the same.
The entire Roto product range is available from its UK distribution partners: DGS Group, VBH GB and Westward Building Supplies.
