João Paulo Ajami, Managing Director at Global Fire Equipment (GFE), reveals insights into GSS Group’s acquisition of NIBBLE and the significant strides toward sustainability in GFE’s operations

How significant is the UK market to Global Fire Equipment’s overall business strategy?

The UK market is crucial to our strategy and always been a key focus due to its potential.

In the early stages, it comprised about 47% of our turnover.

The presence of dominant domestic players who hold a substantial market share has been challenging, but our business levels in the UK have remained steady for a long time.

We now have a really secure presence in the UK thanks to our partnership with Global Fire Equipment UK which is headed up by Matt Ketley.

Since January 2021, GFE UK has been the sole importer of all our products into the UK, and Matt and his team are doing a great job of representing the brand in the UK and growing our sales steadily.

Can you tell me about the acquisition of NIBBLE and the strategic decision behind this move?

The acquisition of NIBBLE was a strategic decision, driven by a longstanding relationship.

I’ve known the team behind NIBBLE for decades.

They were previously partners at a specialist emergency lighting company, CREATECH, which we acquired in 2018.

We maintained close contact with NIBBLE following the acquisition and have continued to be impressed by their innovative product range which very much complements our own range of panels.

But the strategy behind the acquisition is also very much aligned with our continued focus on R&D activities.

NIBBLE’s strengths lie in R&D, and they excel in creating innovative fire and security systems, including wired and wireless addressable systems, as well as a range of conventional products.

The biggest consideration was integrating their team into our structure, and I’m pleased so say that this process has gone very smoothly so far.

What steps is GFE taking to integrate sustainable practices into its products and overall business model?

GFE is fully committed to sustainability.

While others in the industry are aiming to become carbon neutral in 10 or 15 years, we’re determined to achieve this goal within the next five years.

We’ve already transitioned to exclusively electric vehicles for our company fleet, and we have recently installed 330 kilowatts of photovoltaic panels that generate more power than we need at any given time.

Building a sustainable and energy-efficient manufacturing facility was one of our key pre-requisites, and our on-site solar energy generation has jumped an impressive 600% compared to our former manufacturing plant.

There’s also a strong culture here of being mindful about not wasting resources.

It’s not just about being environmentally responsible; it makes sound commercial and financial sense, too.

Sometimes there’s inertia in the industry – a reluctance to change quickly while others don’t.

But at GFE, we’re proactive and fully committed to this fast-paced shift towards sustainability.

How do you see GFE’s acquisition of NIBBLE and its focus on sustainability influencing the company’s growth?

We need to think far beyond the immediate future.

The NIBBLE team aligns perfectly with our vision; they are as committed to sustainable practices as we are.

NIBBLE, being primarily an R&D company and not involved in production, brings an edge to our innovation efforts.

This synergy will be central to our growth and advancement in the coming years.

Integrating NIBBLE into GFE’s structure was a strategic move that provided NIBBLE with a manufacturing base.

This integration significantly boosts their capacity to innovate and develop solutions tailored to our market.

The potential for growth is substantial, more so than we’ve experienced before.

A key factor is their previous limited exposure; like CREATECH, NIBBLE was only really known within Portugal.

Now, with GFE, they have access to more than 90 countries.

This expanded reach allows us to leverage global contacts, enhancing the visibility and growth of their products, including NURIA, NIBBLE’s technologically advanced 1 – 4 loop analogue addressable fire alarm panel.

It’s an exciting time, as we open up new markets and opportunities for NIBBLE’s innovative solutions.

Currently, our primary focus is on enhancing our production capability.

My main priority at this juncture is ensuring that we grow at a sustainable pace.

We are very mindful of not overextending the business – rather we need to make sure every step we take is measured and within our capabilities.

Maintaining this balance is key to our ongoing success and growth.

This article was originally published in the April 2024 issue of International Fire & Safety Journal. To read your FREE digital copy, click here.