Arico carries on legacy of innovation for continued success

Arico will continue its pioneering legacy to grow further

Asia Refrigeration Industry JSC (Arico) is one of the leading contractors and integrated services providers in the field of industrial refrigeration and cold storage in Vietnam. Formerly the industrial refrigeration department (IRD) of Seaprodex Refrigeration Industry Corporation (Searefico), Arico has inherited more than 31 years of experience in engineering and research, and continue to apply modern technologies to become a one-stop service provider with diverse products and services fitting any clients’ needs.

Arico’s refrigeration products and services are seeing wide use in diverse industries from food processing and the exportation of aquacultural products, meat and poultry, as well as fruits and vegetables to cold storage solutions for merchandise and medicine.

In 1999, Arico (still as IRD) successfully produced the first individual quick freezing (IQF) net in Vietnam. This marked an important milestone for the Vietnamese aquaculture processing industry as local companies no longer needed to import expensive equipment from Japan, the United States, or Europe with a new and more efficient locally-produced IQF solution available to reduce investment costs, thus greatly improving the competitiveness of Vietnamese aquaculture exports.

The company made another breakthrough in 2000 during the bloom of the domestic food and aquaculture processing industry by becoming the first company to successfully manufacture Spiral IQF. Continuing its long line-up of domestic industry firsts, in 2003 it started to export IQF and air blast freezers to the ASEAN market, receiving warm welcomes from international clients.

In 2006, still as a Searefico subsidiary, the company was once again the first in Vietnam to introduce stainless steel flake ice machines with a production capacity of up to 30 tonnes of ice per day. In 2010, Arico was officially established and inherited the human resources, facilities, production lines, and equipment of Searefico IRD.

Since then, Arico products have not only been meeting domestic standards but also passed the bar for Asian markets like Indonesia, the Phillippines, and India. Arico continues focusing on applying cutting-edge technologies, including the latest design methods on CAD, CAM, Flat Panel 3D, and Finite Element Analysis (FEA) with systems of modern cutting and press-brake machines, including laser cutting machines, CNC press-brake, and surface treatment devices meeting ISO 9001:2015 requirements for quality management and ISO 45001:2018 for occupational health and safety management.

Arico’s headquarters and factory are located in Ho Chi Minh City’s Tan Tao Industrial Zone on an area of 25,000 square metres and comprised of a team of more than 200 well trained, knowledgeable, and experienced employees contributing to Arico’s reputation as a leading refrigeration company with annual revenue of VND400 billion ($17.4 million) and regular high dividends for investors and shareholders.

Emphasising the mission of Arico at the annual general shareholders' meeting in 2021 – Breaking through obstacles, moving towards the future – Arico focuses on building and solidifying its position in the domestic market, concentrating on manufacturing and assembling industrial refrigeration systems, and leveraging its position as the leading solutions provider in the Vietnamese food processing industry.

In addition, Arico will bring its complete package of solutions for food processing to other Asian markets, offering high-tech solutions for meat and poultry, aquatic products, as well as fruit and vegetable processors.

Additionally, Arico will sharpen the competitive edge of clients and partners through tailored solutions, state-of-the-art technologies, and highly efficient, trustworthy working processes.

Arico will continue investing heavily in research and development to tap into the opportunities presented by the Fourth Industrial Revolution and automate its services, thus increasing the efficiency of the food processing industry and ensuring food safety.

According to company CEO Huynh Khoi Binh, the company has recorded outstanding sales performance in the first four months of 2021, meeting almost 50 per cent of the annual sales target. Industrial refrigeration projects and food processing equipment made up 65 per cent of total sales, consolidating the strong position of Arico on the market.