AKO received the “Innovation” Award
April 27, 2018. AKO, a company specialized in temperature control and regulation for the industrial and commercial refrigeration sector, received the “Innovation” award from the Director General of the Ministry of Industry, Àngels Chacón, and the President of the FEGP (Gran Penedès Enterprise Foundation) Martí Sistané, during the Nit d’Empresa 2018 ceremony which was held at the iconic renaissance style 19th-century town house, Finca Mas Solers, in St. Pere de Ribes, Barcelona.
The judges evaluated the degree of excellence achieved by companies whose product and service initiatives have involved novel approaches to the value chain, both in terms of processes and the implementation of new technologies. AKO is honoured to have been nominated along with other recognized firms.
With AKO celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, and over 300 companies relying on their solutions, this award is the culmination of the whole life of the company, and more especially, a reward for the enormous effort put into an unprecedented innovation project that the company started in 2016.
A project dedicated to specialization in design, manufacture and sale of smart control solutions for cold room stores, refrigerant gas leak detection systems, and a redesign of its product catalogue aimed at improving client experience in different applications and increasing energy efficiency, as well as securing the cold chain and the protection of goods and persons in the field of food safety.
This project is not only aimed at improving the range of solutions on the market, but also at transforming development, production, marketing and business model processes.
The General Manager of AKO, José Luis Bescós, has taken this opportunity to address his organization, as well as all its partners: “Innovation for us is the process of converting ideas into tangible products which sell and allow us to achieve our goals. It is a recognition not only of a product or family of products but the entire company and its partners, which is why I would like to thank all of you for your participation at various stages of this process. This award belongs to everyone.”
AKO opened its doors in 1978, four decades ago, and continued evolving ever since to become the company it is today. Its strength is based on four fundamental corner-stones: people, international expansion, long-term relationships with clients and partners, and creating innovative products. These principles have been the foundation during the 40 years of preserving the cold chain.
The company also currently holds the official distinction of “Innovative SME”, awarded by the Spanish Government and holds 3 product patents.