After noticing a wide range of shortcomings in the supply of armoured mesh fencing, often included in industrial concrete construction projects, Anfra decided in 2023 to open a fence gate and start a completely new business, Anfra-Fence Manufacturing, Installation and Maintenance. The cornerstone of the business is to meet the customer's fencing needs in exactly the comprehensive way that the customer needs - just as the whole Anfra business is used to doing.
”As Anfra's concrete construction has become increasingly focused on industrial sites, our own need for armoured mesh has grown significantly. For example, for substations, logistics centres, factories or ports, the implementation of sustainable and functional perimeter protection is very often part of the overall Anfra concrete construction project. Unfortunately, too often we encountered either delivery problems or a drop in the price-quality ratio in external fencing supplies”, Anfra's CEO Tomi Puoskari and continues:
”For Anfra, we wanted a fence supplier that could provide highly customised fence solutions in an efficient, high-quality and reasonable way. We couldn't find one on the market, so we created it ourselves. Anfra-Fences has been built to meet our own exacting criteria, and so we are proud to offer the same service to anyone who needs fencing solutions.”
In early 2023, the groundwork was laid for the launch of Anfra-Aitoa. Experts with over 30 years' experience in the fencing sector have been actively involved in the development work. The first fence deliveries were already made during the summer of 2023. The actual sales activities started in the autumn, after the recruitment of the sellers.
In spring 2024, Anfra-Aita's own factory in Liminga will be producing both aluminium and steel armoured track nets at a rapid pace. The in-house gate design has also been completed and the aluminium pole profiles of the company's own design will be supplied by a reliable domestic partner, Purso Oy. The gates are also assembled in our own factory. In-house production ensures that every fence and gate meets stringent quality standards and offers durability and security.
Agility and versatility as competitive assets
Anfra-Aitoa, which started agile, wants agility to be visible throughout its business. Aita suppliers are largely traditional and, often to the detriment of the customer, adhere to strict constraints. Anfra-Aidat therefore sees great potential in developing the sector as a whole.
”In our experience, the fence offer we received was often not what we had asked for, but rather a standard fence that the supplier had in good stock. And if a customised solution was offered as requested, there were many constraints on that too,” says Anfra-Aitoa's Business Manager Aki Puoskari.
”We genuinely want to be a new player in the sector. We always start with how we can help the customer, not what we want to sell. We also want to modernise the sector with more efficient working methods, for example by bringing the latest technology into our gates. We see that the holistic approach we offer is also new, but quite welcome in the industry.”
Working as a project salesman for Anfra-Aitao Jami Tihinen has quickly realised the clear need in the market for a full-service provider of fencing services:
”We have not started to reinvent the wheel in terms of the product itself, i.e. the fence or the gates. Of course, we make sure that we offer the customer the highest quality and most reasonable product with good delivery reliability. Rather, we have been able to surprise the customer positively with the way in which we have been able to deliver the ”wheel” to him, ready assembled, tailored to his needs and equipped.”
”I've encouraged clients to be bold and ask us to get involved from the early stages of the fence design. When we are involved from the start, we can get a more detailed understanding of the client's actual fencing and usage needs. As experts, we are able to give our views on changes that would benefit the customer, for example, and together we can design the best solution to meet their needs, which is always feasible and deliverable.”
Versatility, in addition to agility, is Anfra-Aita's differentiating factor in the industry. The background is a large and solid company focused on infrastructure construction. This enables us to offer a comprehensive construction service, which includes not only the fence solution but also the necessary earthworks and concrete construction as a whole. This gives Anfra-Aidoa the courage to take on more complex fencing projects that other players in the industry may not be willing to provide.
”Our versatility is also illustrated by the fact that we can meet all kinds of fencing needs around our main product, armoured mesh fencing. A customer's project may require a more vandal-resistant prefabricated fence than an armoured mesh fence, or even a wooden fence as part of the overall solution. We can also provide game fences. For us, the customer's fencing needs are the thing, and we respond to them comprehensively with our service,” sums up Aki Puoskari.
Anfra-Aido has the expertise and experience to implement highly regulated track-side works. Naturally, the product range also includes various types of gates. The company's own gate range includes leaf gates with armoured mesh and walkway gates, which are manufactured and assembled at the Liminga factory. In addition, sliding gates, gates suitable for prefabricated gates and swing gates for access gates are available for projects. Reliable access control systems and cameras from a domestic partner complete the supply package.
”For example, our sliding gates open on demand with camera-based recognition of the number plate. Our delivery speed is also worth mentioning. Thanks to our in-house production, the installation of the network gates can be completed within a short timeframe and we always have the gates ready in stock,” says Jami Tihinen, Project Sales Manager.
An evolving innovator for the customer
At Anfra-Aid, it all starts with the customer. Sector development is not an end in itself, but the result of innovation, driven by customer needs.
”A good single example is the idea, refined based on the customer's needs, to productise a dog park as a complete package that includes everything needed to set up a safe and comfortable enclosure. We can also supply a custom-made dog park that meets the Kennel Club's minimum requirements and the customer's wishes, ensuring that the park serves both dogs and their owners in the best possible way,” says Aki Puoskari, Business Manager, and continues:
”There is always something new on the drawing board for the benefit of our customers. Some ideas end up as finished products and services, while others don't. However, we are driven by a constant desire to improve.”
Anfra-Aita's solutions are mainly used for various industrial needs, such as industrial sites, substations, logistics centres, warehouses and pick-up yards. Office environments, ports and airports are also examples of applications. On a smaller scale, Anfra-Aitao is used for example in dog parks and for fencing needs in sports facilities, nursing homes and day-care centres.
”We have got production off to a good start and have already completed many successful fencing projects in a short time. We have challenged ourselves and seen that it works. Our aim is to grow into a major and well-known fence supplier in both the domestic and Nordic fence markets, while remaining agile and service-oriented. These are qualities we do not want to give up,” says Aki Puoskari.
”For example, fencing for solar parks will increase its share of the Finnish fencing market. For these types of projects, we are looking for reliable players like Anfra-Fences, who are able to meet the demand for larger projects through their own production, where the requirements and specific features of the sites may vary greatly from one project to another. Through these projects, we will be able to demonstrate our reliability and security of supply even in really large deliveries,” says Jami Tihinen.
The Anfra Fences fence and gate system also needs maintenance to withstand the Nordic weather conditions. A fence and gate maintained with the right methods and spare parts will stay neat and tidy for years to come. The fence maintenance contract, which extends the warranty period, is another factor that sets us apart from many others in the industry.
”The service contract is not a new innovation. Yet not many in the industry offer a maintenance contract as part of their overall service to the customer, whereby the fence supplier takes responsibility for the maintenance of the fence. For us, it is an obvious way to show our customers that we are interested in the long-term maintenance of the solution we supply,” says Aki Puoskari, defining the importance of offering a service contract.
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