The Achelis Group has been formed in 1826 in Bremen, Germany. Together with subsidiaries in Kenya and Tanzania, it was later established in 1961. Then In 2011 the subsidiary Achelis Rental LTD was established in Uganda to cater to equipment leasing and short-term rental business.
Over the years, Achelis’s product portfolio has grown from medical equipment and material handling solutions to serving a wide range of industries like; Road Works and Construction that include compaction, Asphalt, Earthmoving, and Concrete. Agriculture farm and processing equipment like Tractors, Implements, and Grain Processing, Commercial Printing Equipment that helps in Offset printing, and Digital printing Equipment. Special Purpose Equipment that handles Garbage Trucks, Cesspool Trucks, Airport Equipm. Material Handling with machines like Forklifts, Container Handlers, and Warehouse solutions. Health Care and Scientific handle all medical & laboratory equipment a hospital needs and Oil & Gas with Infrastructure development equipment.
Also, Achelis provides technical services and support for all equipment sold by the company or supplied to Uganda by its principals. That includes warranty services, maintenance, and repair as well as user or operator training. Achelis is recognized as the company that trained most equipment operators in the country.
Since 2010, the yearly turnover of Achelis Group in Uganda has increased considerably.
from a group turnover in the year 2009 of USD 1 million to about USD 15 million in the year 2019. While the Covid pandemic has left its mark in the years 2020 and 2021, the Achelis group is back on track for continuous growth.
The positive development and outlook for the Ugandan market has been recognized by Achelis Group management. IN 2015 a decision was made to invest in Uganda and land in the Kampala Industrial & Business Park here in Namanve was acquired. The investment in the new premises here today in Namanve exceeds USD 3 million or UGX 11 billion.
It should be noted that the employees of the company are its capital. The number of employees has increased since the year 2010 from 15 employees to currently 56 full-time staff. Except for the Managing Director, all employees are either Ugandan or East African Community citizens.
Achelis employs 35% female who are participating in all activities of the company. From Administration, Finance, and Sales to Technical Services and managerial positions.
More than half of all Achelis employees work in Technical Services.
Service, Maintenance, Repair, and Training are essential aspects of the company’s business model. Achelis provide service, maintenance, and repair for all the equipment it is selling. Furthermore, it is a key argument to sell equipment and provides a steady income to the company.
All Achelis employees are participating in the different training activities the company subjects them to. Technical Services staff and Sales staff participate in regular training, provided by the manufacturers of our products. Covering new developments and applications in both sales and services. The training is online as well as at manufacturers’ sites or in Uganda by trainers and technical personnel and specialists of the manufacturers.
Administration and finance staff also benefit from training, provided by service providers like banks, and insurance companies as well as our auditors and external professionals.
As part of the ISO certification process, Achelis has also introduced internal training for all employees, concerning health, safety, and environmental as well as quality aspects of our activities.
Achelis is employing preferably young professionals who are well educated, see a career opportunity in working with Achelis, and show commitment to the company and its values.
The experience has proven that this is a very successful and rewarding approach. For the young professionals to kick start their careers and the company has a motivated staff that is pushing boundaries. Achelis has at any given time several interns gathering experience in our organization while still studying.
During the years 2015 to 2019, Achelis turnover had a share of about 50% from business with the institutions of the Government of Uganda. This reduced to 30% since.
This is attributed partly to the impact of the Covid pandemic and most recently Ebola outbreak. While government business was low in recent years, the Oil & Gas Industry development had and has a positive impact. The infrastructure activities in the oil & gas sector are a driving force to our business. Diversifying its clientele towards the private sector is a welcome development.
The oil & gas sector is developed under Total E&P from France, CNOOC from China, and UNOC as the Ugandan Government entity. All contractors and sub-contractors are private companies and the local content requirements provide a platform from which companies like Achelis Uganda can participate and benefit. PAU, the Petroleum Authority of Uganda is regulating the industry and has a keen eye on the local content regulations and requirements to ensure Uganda and Ugandan business get their share in the business.
The development plan of the Government of Uganda provides for requirements for Achelis products and services. Together with the development of the oil & gas industry, there are opportunities to grow the Achelis business further.
Achelis products and services cut across 5 major industries of which each has its own merits and potential.
On Health Care, Achelis Group is for decades active in providing healthcare and scientific equipment. Projects, in which Achelis has been and is still involved, are Kiruddu and Kawempe regional referral hospitals as well as the Mulago Specialised Women hospital.
Achelis is representing major brands for health care and scientific equipment and as of the 1st of April 2023 will represent Philips Healthcare in Uganda.
In the agriculture sector, Achelis is doing business with the Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries for a long time. From laboratory equipment to heavy equipment and agriculture-specific solutions. In recent years there is a private agriculture sector developing with opportunities for products and services. Be it in soil preparation or more important agriculture processing and value addition.
Driven by the requirements of the oil & gas industry, a number of new logistics companies have been set up in Uganda and the requirements for the already established logistics providers have grown.
Achelis’s product portfolio in Material Handling and Logistics provides equipment and solutions to those companies. From Forklifts to container handling as well as warehouse and sophisticated logistic solutions.
Uganda is a fast-developing country and there is a need for new roads, maintenance, repair, and upgrading of the existing road network. This also applies to the road network required for developing the oil & gas industry. One of the larger upcoming road projects is certainly the Jinja Expressway.
Achelis is underrepresented in the energy sector of Uganda. While the Group is a strong partner for this industry in Rwanda, Burundi as well as Tanzania, and Kenya, the Ugandan market has proven to be more segregated. Nevertheless, Achelis has previously provided pre-paid electricity meters and built small hydropower plants. Reviving this business segment is high on Achelis agenda.
All our products require continuous maintenance and repair service. Achelis has in recent years heavily invested in its technical services capacities. In qualified staff, in the training of staff and in equipment which allows them to provide excellent and reliable services to its clientele. Technical Services are an important part of Achelis business with revenue implications and as an argument to sell equipment.
It should be recalled that Achelis is an ISO-certified company and a reliable partner with a long-term partnership approach.
