Craiova
Neal Brothers have been in Romania since 2007 when we were invited by one of our key customers to tender to supply a full package of services including handling and packing for their Romanian manufacturing facility in Craiova. Our client had difficulties in supplying their customer base direct and wanted an expert in packing related services to provide a solution for their logistical problems, so that they could concentrate on their core competency. We designed a fit for purpose solution at the end of their production line which included improved delivery times to market, reduction in handling and transit damages, and expanded use of economical shipping methods. There were some issues and limitations with our operation being positioned within our client's facility, their forecasts were growing and they required additional space for their production. Also business opportunities for us had been limited, being in our customer's premises meant that we were unable to market ourselves in the wider business community. At the end of the initial contract, we reviewed the processes and proposed a different model which offered mutual benefits for both our client and us. We successfully implemented a new business model which included the opening of our own manufacturing facility and delivering assembled products to the end of our clients production line on a just in time basis. Thereby freeing up space for them and also giving us our own facility where we could offer our services to other potential users. The transition was completed with minimum disruption and we have now been working from our own Craiova facility since May 2010. We have grown from our initial footprint of 1,000 sq. metres to a current foot print of 3,000 sq metres. Our efforts through local sourcing backed by a professional award winning purchasing system have made us more competitive. Our strategy of expansion in Romania continues and as part of our business plan we have introduced a development strategy which is concentrated on the wider areas of Romania such as Ploiesti, Bucharest, Cluj, Constanta, Timisoara, Arad and Bacau. What attracts businesses to us is that we understand that Romanian manufacturers are looking to partner with companies that can offer a full professional support in order that they can: focus on core competency, improve delivery times to market and ensure full compliance with international packing standards, to expand use of economical shipping methods, to reduce in transit damages, reduction of expenditure as a percentage of goods sold. We know from our experience that it is often difficult to win business in Romania and there are often delays in decision making, we are fortunate that we have secured some good local people that are helping us to break down the barriers and we have already had success in the areas mentionedAnd now, a new facility in Cluj...
We are now pleased to announce that we will open our 3rd Romanian export packing, inventory management and storage facility in Cluj Napoca. Once again partnering with a number of well established companies in that area and supported by many business organisations. Our newly built modern fit for purpose site, operated next to one of our leading customers adds to our base in Romania and also opens up part of the country with many links to Hungary and beyond in the West, with our other facilities in Romania we can also offer companies a range of services aiding their access to the East.