Present FORTAPS
Digitalisation and globalisation are driving the expansion of companies in all sectors beyond national borders. A strategy that is not without risk, but, it is well-planned, it has great growth potential. Internationalisation of FORTAPS started over a decade ago, and, we are currently continuing our expansion into new markets at this moment.
History of the company
Our doors opened in 1996 as a family-run business. However, we had a head start on our journey, FORTAPS was made up of two generations with a long history in the sector. In particular, in the design, manufacture and marketing of protective articles made of plastics and rubber. They were ribbed inserts, adjustable feet and end caps.
Over two decades later, our size as a company has changed considerably. Our facilities cover more than 7,000 m², with well-structured spaces to facilitate the different stages that make up our processes, relating to the production of orders that reach us as well as their storage and distribution.
Respect to the market, we are present in many different sectors in our country, due to our pieces are part of all types of finished products. These include the manufacture of furniture, structures and goods like wood or metal; hardware and industrial supplies, signs and street furniture; storage structures and catwalks, manufacture of commercial and agricultural vehicles, fences and enclosures, among others.
Thanks to more than 1,500 different items and 8,000 satisfied customers with our work, we can say with absolute certainty that we have established our success as a leading manufacturer of these parts.
Internationalisation of FORTAPS
Following our establishment as a company specialised in the manufacture of ribbed inserts in Spain, the time for internationalisation of the company has come. All opportunities and threats assessed, as well as our strengths and areas for improvement, a decade ago we started the process of expansion in France.
Our secret has been to be true to our principles and our way of working. We have adopted the quality management standards ISO 9001:2015, and we carry this into each of our designs, nationally and internationally. Moreover, we are always looking for excellence and we are constantly investing in innovation to keep improving and differentiating ourselves from the competition.
FORTAPS internationalisation strategy in France has worked and we have achieved the expected success. For this reason, we want to continue expanding into new markets offering similar or even greater potential.
Our current target is Benelux, exactly, Belgium and the Netherlands, in which we are progressively penetrating in order to compete with local and internationals producers who are looking to broaden their horizons. In addition to standardised products, we work on customised orders with parts that are adapted to the final needs of each client. Therefore, we enjoy a flexibility that allows us to adapt to any type of job, company or sector.
Thanks to internationalisation of FORTAPS, we expect to achieve the following goals:
– An adapted service: Thanks to our permanent stock and automated order processing; we have managed to offer the same service for the whole of Europe, orders are shipped within 24 hours and delivery takes 48/72 hours.
– Employment creation: Expansion into new markets, increases our volume of work, it means we need more professionals in each of our areas.
– Improve our competitiveness: The larger FORTAPS is, it will be easier to reach supplier agreements.
– Increase the value of our products: Having international recognition and clients in several countries generates trust and reliability in our brand.
– Higher profits: As a company, we want to increase our sales to continue our growth and expansion.
We seize this opportunity with enthusiasm, and we are delighted that you can follow our progress and internationalisation goals in FORTAPS.
Present FORTAPS
One of the frequent problems that some customers have told us about is that the ribbed inserts come off the tube, fall off or break quite easily.
Why use ribbed inserts at the end of tubes?
There are several reasons why you can use ribbed inserts instead of other solutions. From the large number of available sizes, up to the type of finish or protection provided, we can offer many options.
Facility of use
Most of ribbed inserts are designed to be press-fitted into an object or application. Most of ribbed inserts are designed to be installed to be press-fitted into an object or application, therefore, it is very difficult for them to come out of the tube. Some of them require screwing in for installation; moreover, there are ribbed inserts that do not come out of the tube. As an easily adjustable product, it avoids the need for costly fixings or adhesives to ensure a long-term option.
Size range
Ribbed inserts usually have a large number of standard sizes and styles for individual use. Most of styles we offer are either plastic or rubber, depending on your needs.
How to measure ribbed inserts
Ribbed inserts are easy products to fit. The most important measurements to take into account are the outer diameter and the inner diameter. Here is a quick review of how you can obtain that measures and you will see how ribbed inserts do not come out of the tube.
Outside Diameter (OD)
First of all, you must find out the outside diameter of the tube, calculating the distance between the two outer edges of the tube.
Inside Diameter (ID)
Secondly, once you have the correct outer diameter, you must compare it with the inside diameter (it is usually the size used for our ribbed inserts). Matching your outside diameter to the inside measurement will provide a firm and secure fit.
The crucial role played by the thickness of the tube
In fact, this is often the case when it has not been observed that the inside diameter of the tube can vary depending on the thickness of the tube and thickness of the wall of the ribbed inserts coming out of the tube. This difference may lead to the ends of the ribbed insert are not capable of fulfilling their function of adapting to the inside diameter of the tube and providing a correct clamping.
What happens when these factors are not taken into account?
Buyers perceive that ribbed inserts have come off the tubes during transport (due to road vibrations), and it arrives at your customer without the plugs, creting a bad impression of the manufacturer, due to the finish is one of the most important aspects of a product.
In order to ensure that the ribbed inserts achieves the expected result and does not give rise to complaints which could delay deliveries, both the outside diameter of the tube and the inside diameter of the tube must be observed.
Solutions proposed by some mat manufacturers, we do not agree
On the market we can find mats that are called “multi-purpose ribbed inserts”, in relation to the thickness of the tube and are usually made of rubber.
We can find a ribbed insert that is presented as adapted for different thicknesses tube which can vary from several millimetres to several millimetres. They are elastic ribbed inserts that they don’t really fit well in the tube. For this reason we do not manufacture them.
FORTAPS does not believe in this type of solution. Our quality standards and customer service do not allow us to propose products that cannot offer the advertised functionality.
That is why our ribbed inserts are only suitable for tube thicknesses with tolerances of 1 to 2 mm.
Thus, our customers can find in our catalogue different references for the same tube dimension which you can download here.
– Easy to insert into the tube, making it easier for sellers.
– They do not fall off during transport.
– They do not break when furniture is dragged because they are securely fastened and do not move.
– Not protruding from the tube, this ensures that they cannot be easily removed. And the ferrules do not come out of the tube.
Suggesting a quality offer adapted to the needs and expectations of our clients is one of the key points in our decision-making processes.
FORTAPS aims to recommend the best solution, because our customers’ satisfaction is our responsibility.
Present FORTAPS
The new Fortaps website is designed and thought to improve the customer experience. In this sense, both its usability and functionality allow you to explore all the news on the web from the first moment. It is a page that has absolutely everything, but at the same time, it is simple and direct with a clear and diaphanous aesthetic. Therefore, it is really easy to find what you are looking for. The usability of the web page brings together all the techniques and protocols that make a web page a site to which one wishes to return.
This website has an automated system for placing orders. This system is intended to facilitate the user experience for customers. Non-customers, however, can also use this service, but can only request samples online. Customers can place orders online after contacting the company and having access permissions. It is a comfortable, fast and easy to use system.
News on the Fortaps website
Product. The readability of the website is accurate. The user who accesses it for the first time discovers in a second the types of rubber protectors that appear at the top of the page in a very clear and very visual way. Therefore, accessing the product is very simple. However, apart from this application, in order to choose the type of rubber protector that interests the user, there is a display on the home page that refers the visitor to the same menu.
Thus, it is not difficult to be able to search by type for the rubber protector you need. That is, square, round, oval, or rectangular. And within each category, it is very easy to find the ferrule that suits the customer’s needs based on size and thickness. Thus, the customer can find with ease exactly what he wants.
Social Media. The website has access to the company’s social networks as well as WhatsApp. Therefore, customers have the option of interacting on the site to learn more about the details of the products or get to know the offers from another point of view.
On the other hand, the videos on the website help the user not only to know what they can find, but also to be able to see the product in detail. In this way, clients get an exact idea of what a product is. In this sense, the interaction is perfect. The web meets all the requirements that make a user want to return because it is pleasant and, especially, finding what they are looking for is easy to find.
Virtual assistant
The virtual assistant on the home page guides the user with extreme clarity. Just by interacting with this element, a person who is looking for a specific rubber protector will find it easily. For example, if a customer is looking for a rubber protector to plug a hole, the assistant asks for the dimensions (in mm) of the hole.
Then, the wizard will refer the user to a page where there is a small explanatory video in 3D. In this way, the customer can see the product in a very precise way. Below the video, there is a detailed catalogue of rubber protectors that adapt to all needs. Clients interact with all the products in the catalogue in the same way. It couldn’t be easier to use the virtual assistant.
We hope that this content on the Fortaps website has helped you to get to know our company and that you can have a more active interaction with us through the new automation processes. We invite you to browse our products catalog.
