ARaymond Network* Invests in Modern HQ to Support Expansion in Global Automotive Market
Grenoble, France (PRWEB) October 06, 2014 -- The ARaymond Network, one of the worldwide leaders in fastening and assembly solutions, is reporting significant improvements in efficiency and customer service levels since relocating to its new headquarters in Grenoble.
The Network invested €6 million in the hi-tech offices after experiencing a period of spectacular growth that has seen the organization more than double its turnover in the last five years.
As a result it needed more modern, larger offices to provide better service and support to the growing number of its partner companies around the world as well to end users of its automotive fasteners, clips and quick connectors.
Around 200 people are now based at the four-storey, 3,000 sq m building, which opened in June 2014. It is the new home for Raygroup, which provides corporate functions such as finance, HR, procurement, logistics, and sales and marketing, and Raynet, which provides IT services.
CEO Antoine Raymond said: “We set the architects Patriarche & Co two objectives. The first was to design a building that made it easy for our colleagues to contact, communicate and collaborate with each other. The second was to create an atmosphere where everybody felt relaxed. Both objectives have been achieved."
“Previously our departments were based in different offices. Even teams in the same building were separated from each other by long corridors. All this made communication very difficult. Our new building is very open and transparent. With the large atrium people on different floors can see other. The whole layout of the offices encourages teamworking, which is very important because providing a service to a customer never depends on one person working alone. It is always a team effort."
“Colleagues tell me they are very happy to work here. If you provide people with good working conditions, they will be more engaged and motivated. They will deliver a better service to both internal and external customers. Since moving into our new offices, we have markedly improved our efficiency, achieved consistently higher customer service levels and created more value for the end users of our fastener systems.”
The headquarters was constructed on the site of the original ARaymond** factory which opened in 1865. It also stands between two of the company’s most historic buildings, one which is the former home of the founder Albert-Pierre Raymond. By 2016, this will be converted into a museum while the other building will become a training centre.
All employees were asked to vote on a new name for the headquarters and the most popular choice was ‘The Arch’.
“This is a very fitting name for our new headquarters,” added Mr Raymond, great-great-grandson of Albert-Pierre Raymond. “Just like an arch supporting a building, our headquarters is supporting the many different entities and enterprises that make up the ARaymond Network.”
To reduce its carbon footprint, The Arch incorporates a number of innovative eco-friendly features such as rainwater harvesting, an air circulation system (instead of conventional air conditioning) and low-energy lighting. It is currently being assessed for a gold certificate under the international Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building rating system.
About ARaymond Network
The ARaymond Network*** is a worldwide leader in fastening and assembly solutions for the automotive industry, and has over recent years transferred its expertise and skills to new markets: TRUCK, INDUSTRIAL, ENERGIES, AGRICULTURE, and LIFE. A family business established in 1865, innovation has always been at the core of the ARaymond Network DNA, with its press-stud, a small assembly, now used worldwide. Today the ARaymond Network comprises 37 companies across four continents, with 11 design offices and 22 production sites. Six per cent of turnover is invested in research and development every year.
*ARaymond Network refers, in this Article, to a network of independent companies (http://www.araymond.com)
**ARaymond means in this article A. RAYMOND SARL- RCS Grenoble 352 948 434 - 113 Cours Berriat - 38000 Grenoble.
Agnès LOPEZ, RAYGROUP SASU, http://www.araymond.com, +33 4 76 33 48 79, [email protected]
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