GENAVCO

Bonds of endearment: Partnership for mutual good

Genavco and Godrej Storage Solutions have great synergy going for them

In 2020 GENAVCO acquired the landmark representation in the UAE of Godrej Storage Solutions (GSS), a strategic business unit of Godrej & Boyce Mfg. Co. Ltd., part of the long-established Godrej Group, one of India’s highly diversified and the country’s largest engineering and consumer product groups. The partnership has grown from strength to strength and there has been no looking back since.

GENAVCO was founded as a wholly owned subsidiary in 1967 by visionary entrepreneur and leading UAE businessman HE Juma Al Majid, following the establishment of the Juma Al Majid Group in 1950.

GENAVCO has since operated in the UAE for 55 years and is one of the leading and most-diversified companies in the UAE with interests in multiple industrial verticals including commercial vehicles, road construction equipment, quarry and mining equipment, material handling equipment, lubricants, and other industrial / construction equipment, representing the world’s leading brands from USA, Japan,

Storage System Installed for UAE’s Leading Pharmaceutical Company

Germany, UK, and France.

Godrej Storage Solutions is a pioneer, futuristic and market leader for over six decades in the field of racking and shelving storage systems in India. The company’s state-of-the art warehousing solutions are implemented and harnessed in over 40000+ warehouses and distribution centres in multiple geographies across the world, including 2500+ Installation in the Middle East Region.

Growing product portfolio

Godrej help companies to function smoother with its product & service portfolio which includes Pallet Racking Solutions & Shelving Solutions for warehouse excellence, Software Enabled Solutions for intelligent warehousing, Work Centre Solutions for enhancing shop floor productivity and value adding warehouse consulting.

The company also prides in its expertise in the field of Storage & Material Handling with world-class design, precision manufacturing, robust project management, distribution & after sales support to service all your warehousing needs

Asif Sayeed Khan, General Manager, Heavy Equipment, GENAVCO and Varun Vishwanath, Sales Manager, in a joint exclusive interview with Global Supply Chain, spoke at length about the growth of the company, its prospects for the future and how new partnerships are bringing fresh momentum to the financial performance.

GSC: How vital is the Warehousing-Storage-Shelving Solutions sector in the regional logistics and supply chain industry?

Asif Sayeed Khan (ASK): The UAE in general and Dubai in particular is a major hub for logistical, supply and distribution activities for a vast geographical hinterland that comprises the GCC, the wider Middle East, the African Continent, even the CIS and South Asia.

The Warehousing-Storage-Shelving sector is a very significant and an integral and indispensable component of the region’s wider logistics and supply chain ecosystem.

As major stakeholders and with its vast active expertise and experience spanning almost three decades since it first debuted in the logistics, distribution,

Asif Sayeed Khan, General Manager, Heavy Equipment Sales, GENAVCO

and warehousing industry in 1993, GENAVCO is in pole position in this sector in terms of representation and products availability.

Meanwhile, the industry continues to grow by leaps and bounds and as a fall out that has also implied our own progress as a major stakeholder. This also meant that our product range was also expanding and growing.

Project completed for a leading Heavy Truck Spare Parts Distribution company in Dubai Industrial City

Earlier we only had Crown warehousing equipment from the USA and then added racking to our product offering and portfolio. We subsequently also added the Flexi range manufactured by UK’s Narrow Aisle Ltd. and China’s Shantui construction machinery to our mix.

The big breakthrough came when we partnered with Godrej Storage Systems in 2020 and there is now no turning back. Today, we are synonymous with the Godrej brand in this country.

GSC: Briefly describe the origins and growth of GENAVCO’s partnership with Godrej Storage Systems?

ASK: The emergence and partnership with Godrej has had far reaching and tremendous impact on both our profile, image, and bottom line. With Godrej’s induction to our fold, we have synergy and a partnership that was founded on a near perfect goodness of fit. Our performance since has been remarkable and clearly boosted our bottomline.

Apart from such parameters such as the long-established companies we both are and privately owned, we also have similar ethos and corporate philosophies and objectives. Both companies enjoy excellent reputation and products that are well regarded and have premium value.

GSC: Briefly, how would you characterize your partnership with Godrej?

ASK: As explained earlier, both GENAVCO and Godrej are strong, recognized, well-established household brand names. Both companies enjoy an excellent working equation with one another. The partnership is working for mutual good.

One key component is the philanthropy and charity endeavours of both companies. They are deeply involved and committed to giving back to their communities. There is the element of reciprocity.

Godrej’s product range is also very good and quality incontestable. We did our due diligence spanning over one year before we took Godrej as a partner. During our visit to their Mumbai offices and Chennai facilities, we saw first-hand the quality

Varun Viswanath, Sales Manager, GENAVCO

Mega facility for a Leading Retailer and E-Commerce giant in Sharjah

and craftsmanship of their work and adherence to quality and professionalism.

It met all of our expectations, aspirations and standards of performance and durability

GSC: What are GENAVCO’s strengths, capabilities, and portfolio of service offerings in this area?

Varun Vishwanath (VV): Beyond physical products we are offering solutions and capabilities. We pride in presenting end-to-end and value-added solutions and take this mantle seriously. Warehousing and racking in particular is our forte.

One of the largest drive-in installations in the UAE for a food Storage unit in Dubai Industrial city to accommodate 20,000 Pallets

GSC: What prospects do you foresee for GENAVCO going forward?

VV: The market is clearly adopting automated and semi-automated equipment and therein lies the future. Furthermore, we foresee the advent and emergence of automation as e-commerce gains momentum.

Our own stakes and fortunes are closely intertwined with the rapid growth of e-commerce.

Godrej, Crown and Flexi Solution for UAE’s Number 1 Stationery Wholesale Business Unit

As a long-established company, our credentials lie in our steadfastness, and we continue to grow organically. We are among the top five companies in this genre in the UAE and one of the fastest growing.

GSC: How important is sustainability as part of your CSR and as a corporate motto?

ASK: At GENAVCO we value sustainability, adopt it as our core

Project Bustanica Brief

GENAVCO – Godrej has had a strategic role in developing the world’s largest vertical hydroponic farm in Dubai

Bustanica has opened the doors to the world’s largest hydroponic farm, backed by an investment of US$ 40mn.

The facility is the first vertical farm for Emirates Crop One, the joint venture between Emirates Flight Catering (EKFC), one of the world’s largest catering operations serving more than 100 airlines, and Crop One, an industry leader in technologydriven indoor vertical farming.

This is a joint venture between Emirates Flight Catering (EKFC) and Crop One Holding (California), project is for Construction of World’s largest Vertical Farming Facility on an area of 330,000 square foot in Dubai South near Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC).

GENAVCO has provided fully customized storage system, meeting all the design criteria to support the farm. The company has installed High Quality Powder Coated Heavy Duty Shelving System with wire mesh decking and Stainless-Steel Anchor Bolts provided. strategy and accord it high priority. This is also reflected in the brands and companies we represent.

I would like to make specific mention of Godrej, a company that keeps sustainability at the heart of its business. As a case in point consider the paint the company uses for its products finishing— these are lead-free that contribute to a cleaner environment as part of its responsible business strategy.

We believe and recognize that our operations can greatly contribute to a sustainable world through the way we conduct our businesses and in turn influence others.

GSC: What is the GENAVCO vision for the future?

ASK: In the course of the next three years, we anticipate Godrej to become among the top two performers and key brand in the region. Godrej is a player and a force to reckon with here and there is considerable interest in the company and its product suite. Godrej has indeed been a game changer in the region as elsewhere and we are proud to be associated with it!