World-class solutions APS

WORLD-CLASS SOLUTIONS

Polish company AUTOMATYKA-POMIARY-STEROWANIE S.A. (APS S.A.) offers comprehensive services in the field of industrial automation and power engineering. It is one of the most resilient medium-sized enterprises within its sector in Poland. Based in Białystok and employing just over 70 staff, in 2015 it created a capital group together with ELREM Ltd. Piotr Sadowski reports.

Established in 1993, APS S.A. has been operating on the market for 23 years. In just over two decades, APS has become one of Poland’s leaders in its field of operation. From the very beginning of its existence, the company has been placing a particular emphasis on quality, confirmed by the ISO 9001 certificate. Beginning with providing services to Elektrociepłownia Białystok S.A., which remains its biggest client today, every year the company has been able to conquer new markets and offer an increasingly wider range of services. Since its establishment the company has established its new headquarters, expanded its production hall and design office which, in turn, has enabled it to enter new and exciting areas.

Today, APS S.A. offers a complete service based on the most modern design, software and technological solution tools. “We are a partner and distributor for many renowned Polish and foreign companies, offering retail and wholesale sales of subcomponents and components for industrial automation and power engineering,” says Bogusław Łącki, president of the board of APS S.A. “We were the first company from the Podlasie region of Poland to debut on the alternative trading floor of the Warsaw Stock Exchange, called ‘NewConnect’, focusing on dynamic, innovative companies. I can say with all certainty that today APS S.A. is a company which works according to global standards in terms of production technology, software and working conditions.”

Wealth of services and products

The company offers a wide range of solutions and services in order to respond rapidly and flexibly to the needs of its customers. It is engaged in the design of electrical and electro-energy installations, industrial automation, networks and electro-energy appliances, construction automation, as well as a wide range of construction-related projects. Furthermore, APS S.A. offers complete services in terms of software solutions, such as the programming of PLC controllers, designing SCADA visualisation systems and other cutting-edge solutions.

Its wide-ranging services are related to the assembly and premanufacturing of power systems, electric installations, microprocessor-based control and monitoring systems, and other solutions. The company also starts up and launches post-assembly controls tests, calibration and checking, as well as taking electrical readings in many technological solutions. “We produce different types of switchgears, as well as test appliances in our own, specialised laboratories for measuring pressure, temperature, flow and physical-chemical properties, to mention just a few,” says Mr Łącki. “We sell appliances such as frequency converters, soft-starters, engines, gears, PLC controllers, operating panels, regulators, indicators, gauges and temperature converters convertors, as well as proximity sensors, impulse meters, software tools and lots more.”

While the majority of APS’s products are sold on the Polish market, its clients do include many global companies operating in this market. Furthermore, around 5 per cent of its services and solutions are now sold abroad. Within the EU, the key export destinations last year were Lithuania, Latvia, Belgium, Denmark and Slovakia; outside of the EU, the main markets were Belarus, Ukraine and Russia.

“Our export clients are usually provided with services such as pre-manufacturing of automation solutions, control and measuring appliances for pressure, flow, temperature, proximity sensors and accessories, PLC controllers and HMI panels for Siemens, low-voltage appliances and engines for ABB, and many different elements and products which are otherwise very difficult for clients to find,” explains the president of the board. “What makes us a partner of choice for foreign trading partners is the fact that we can offer expert help in

selecting appropriate solutions and products. We take care of the most difficult and challenging aspects of any project, provide help with any customs-related formalities, are able to adjust the price to the needs of a client, and also offer realistic, yet very competitive, delivery times.”

Working closely with clients

The company’s organic growth is always well-planned and utilises the most favourable forms of financing; co-financing from European Union sources and funds is often an option that is considered and in the past APS S.A. already utilised this avenue of securing the necessary capital. Using the Regional Operational Programme, the company received co-financing for expanding its headquarters and production site in 2009–2010; the same fund enabled it to participate in important trade fairs in 2010 and 2011. Furthermore, using the Human Capital Operational Programme, APS S.A. secured co-financing in 2014 and 2015 for implementing a complex programme of training and consultancy. Last but not least, the company has benefited from cofinancing from the Innovative Economy Operational Programme in the implementation of its excellent B2B IT system.

As Mr Łącki points out, the success of any company is not just made on the basis of its own activities, but those with whom it works can play a very important role in helping to achieve great results. Thus, APS S.A. cooperates with business partners who are included on the list of approved suppliers and subcontractors of APS S.A. Amongst some of the business partners that can be mentioned – thought the list is longer – are: ABB, Siemens, Phoenix Contact, Aplisens, APAR, Lumel, Simex, Limatherm, SMC, Inductronic, Endress+Hauser, Turck and Sels.

The direction for further growth

There is no stagnation in the operations of APS S.A.: there is always something new and interesting happening. In 2015 the company was joined by a young, dynamic, general director, who is implementing organisational changes to take advantage of the new opportunities resulting from the capital group created with ELREM Ltd.

“The company’s board is very much counting on making the most of the synergy effect from the operations of two excellent companies,” concludes Mr Łącki. “In our area of operations – industrial automation – new products and new investments are driven by technological advances. Our aim is to offer potential investors, who are looking to secure competitive market advantages, the ability to achieve the edge over their competitors by efficiently providing them with effective industrial automation solutions.” n

ABB Sp. z o. o.

ABB provides effective and high performance drive solutions for APS S.A – an authorized value provider partner, who represents the defined ABB products and services. With its in-depth knowledge of local markets and expertise in selected products and services, APS S.A. can ensure speed, efficiency and consistency in daily operations. Technology is the core of our business. We developed the very first high-power AC drive in the 1970s, and today we offer the most advanced range of variable speed drives in the world. Still, the cutting edge technology is not the only thing that makes us the global leader in AC and DC drives. You can expect more from us. The ABB low voltage AC drives product range, from 0.18 to 5600 kW, is the widest selection available from any manufacturer. These drives establish the global benchmark signifying reliability, simplicity, flexibility and ingenuity throughout the entire life cycle of the drive. A drive is only a part of the solution Our attention to service matches the technological pursuits of our R&D department. This means a globally local presence, customer service, support, expertise, various tools and a technical partnership to give you added value as a customer, designer or end user.