Supplier newsletter – October 2022

In our last issue we told you about our rebrand to RS Group plc, in a drive to create a more aligned business, organisation and culture, where we can showcase the full breadth of our offer as one joined-up global business. In line with this, all of the businesses within the Group* will transition to RS branding over the coming months.

On Monday 12th September, we unveiled the first company in the Group to undergo a rebrand: RS Integrated Supply. The new brand brings together our integrated supply businesses – IESA (based in Europe) and Synovos (based in the USA) – to form a single company capable of serving customers on a global scale. RS Integrated Supply works with industrial customers as a global provider of outsourced stores management and procurement services that drive sustainable productivity and reliability for MRO supply chains.

What does the rebrand mean for you?

RS Integrated Supply will continue to strengthen our partnership with key strategic suppliers. We now have an exciting opportunity to consolidate our relationship on a global scale while continuing to satisfy our clients’ needs, such as security of supply, quality, commercial competitiveness, and responsible sourcing.

If you already work with RS Integrated Supply, you’ll have noticed some changes including a new logo and brand colours, cosmetic changes to our website and systems, and to documents like purchase orders.

*Except OKdo, a consumer-facing business, which will retain its existing branding

Get ready to face the future, because Electronica is back in Munich from 15 – 18 November and as the world’s leading trade fair for electronics, it’s going to be out of this world!

As a global brand for designers, builders and maintainers we’ll be there to take you on a journey of discovery, showcasing the ingenious technology and solutions that are changing our world for the better!

To find out more about Electronica and what we will be doing there, click here.

We would love for you to come along and meet the team. Find us in Hall C2, Stand 179.

In August 2022 we were delighted to announce that we had reached an agreement to acquire Risoul y Cia S.A. DE C.V. a family-owned distributor of industrial and automation product and service solutions.

The acquisition of Risoul delivers on the Group’s strategy to accelerate organic growth through high-quality inorganic opportunities that expand our geographic reach, extend targeted product adjacencies, and develop our product and service solutions offer. We are excited about deepening our presence in Mexico and having a strong platform to expand into Latin America, a region we can see benefiting from nearshoring owing to de-globalisation and a greater focus on improving sustainability through reducing distances products travel.

Risoul is a leading distributor of industrial and automation product and service solutions in Mexico, a highly fragmented market, with almost 50 years of operational knowledge and automation expertise. Risoul sells a range of branded products and is the largest authorised Rockwell Automation distributor in Latin America, the tenth globally, with rights to distribute Rockwell’s products in the main industrial areas of Mexico and has recently launched into Spain. Risoul also provides several service solutions including onsite product training, control board and panel assembly, air conditioning maintenance, specialist tool repair and a smart network infrastructure service.

As we expand our geographic reach, extended our breadth of offer and further accelerated our product and services solutions offer, we are excited to bring both our customers and suppliers on this growth journey.

The expansion of our German distribution centre in Bad Hersfeld has been ongoing with the aim of future-proofing our business and ensuring products are positioned closer to our customers to increase speed and improve reliability.

The €65 million expansion has been designed to include cutting edge technologies, with a best-in-class warehouse management system and stock processing capabilities to help minimise turn-around time and improve efficiencies.

Bad Hersfeld is now our largest distribution centre across the globe, having almost doubled its size following the expansion.

Environmental considerations have been a priority in this expansion project, and the facility is equipped with a 6000 m² solar powered system and a green (grass seeded) roof. Furthermore, the number of products held in closer proximity to customers in Continental Europe has almost tripled to circa 500,000. This will not only contribute to a substantial reduction in the company’s carbon footprint but will also ensure that service levels are of the highest standard, with delivery reliability to match EU and global demands.

The development of the site in Germany supports our business ambition to become first choice supply chain, delivering excellence across the globe for our supplier, customers and our people.

We’re on a mission to promote sustainability. Which is why, with our commitment to ‘making amazing happen for a better world’, we’re looking to develop innovative sustainable products and service solutions to help lead the way.

Introducing a brand-new initiative, Better world products to help us on this journey.

Why are we doing this?

Well, we’re not alone in our concerns for a better world – research has shown that our customers list sustainability among their top 3 priorities and are actively seeking partners to help support their ESG agendas and goals. They want to work with suppliers that can educate and help with the benefits of using more sustainable products or solutions.

What have we done?

Well, we’re working with leading experts to create a framework policy for sustainable products. This will help define what makes a product more sustainable, based on key criteria such as energy efficiency standards, certifications and product lifecycle assessments – to name a few.

All of this will highlight the evidence and data required to verify that a product meets sustainability criteria. We’re excited to publish this framework and share it with you soon.

What part can you play?

As always, our supplier partnerships will be invaluable in helping to make this happen. We need your support in identifying your more sustainable products to take them to market. This information will help to guide and add value for our customers when making their sustainable choices.

The information you provide us will give them the confidence, understanding and evidence that your products and services meet with sustainability criteria – and in turn help them with their ESG goals.

All of this will be showcased through our new campaign – Better world products.

What’s next?

Look out for more information on our framework policy and Better world products initiative in the next few months.

If you have products that would be suitable to be included in our sustainability offer or have any questions around Better world products, just contact your Supplier Manager.

Let’s start the journey together and help build a better world.