Rigel Medical joined Seaward Group in 1997 and its U.S. headquarters in Tampa, Florida, were established in 2008.
“Our number one priority is keeping people safe, and we’ve been doing that across the world for more than three decades as a global leader in electrical test and maintenance solutions, including PAT, high voltage, solar and biomedical testing equipment. When Rigel joined Seaward, it was a case of the best becoming even better. The parent company’s history of electrical safety testing proved synergistic with the Rigel brand,” said Jack Barrett, National Business Development Manager, Rigel Medical (part of the Seaward Group). “We believe that while our products have their own individual competitive strengths, our people are the foundation for our success.”
Barrett shared more about the company via a Q&A session earlier.
Q: What are some advantages Rigel has over the competition?
Barrett: Our level of service is second to none. We offer help and support before, during and after the purchase process. Our deliveries are fast and efficient with the vast majority of customers receiving their equipment within a week. The combination of performance, support and training gives us a competitive advantage. This is our value proposition to our customers.
Q: What are some challenges that your company faced last year? How were you able to overcome them?
Barrett: The Tampa facility has enjoyed a tremendous growth curve over the past few years. In 2016, we doubled our company’s premises to cope with the inventory demands and we wanted to be able to maintain the high level of support to our growing customer base. In order to assist in customer pre- and post-sales support, we installed a state-of-the-art video studio for conducting training webinars. Our customers can view real-time product operation and follow along using equipment at their site. The feedback has been fantastic and our customers love this capability. It is fast and efficient, plus being able to record the session gives them an ongoing training tool for refresher or new employees. With any double digit growth comes the challenge of ensuring you can maintain the pace so that standards never dip. To answer that challenge, we have grown our team and welcomed new personnel.
Q: Can you explain the core competencies and unique selling points?
Barrett: Seaward’s core competency is electrical test equipment and Rigel’s is the biomedical segment of testing equipment. Technological advantages in one product segment often provide advantages in other product platforms too. Test data availability, storage and traceability are among the features most appreciated by our customers.
Another strength of Rigel is the educational information we provide. Along with technical guides, we often conduct webinars and seminars for biomedical associations and colleges. These presentations have minimal sales influence but are truly educational in nature.
Q: What product are you most excited about right now?
Barrett: It’s pretty hard to select just one. The SafeTest safety analyzers are becoming increasingly popular due to their simplicity and look and feel. Our ESU analyzer, the Uni-Therm, has been a best seller for some time and continues to win over customers with its performance capabilities and test automation.
Q: What is on the horizon for the company?
Barrett: Continued product development and innovation. The world is becoming more demanding and our equipment will be designed with that in mind, to keep pace with those changes and lead the field in terms of innovation in electrical testing equipment. We will have new products and product capability ready for market next year. And, as the business continues on its growth trajectory, there will be continued opportunities for both current and new personnel.
Q: Can you share some company success stories?
Barrett: A new customer had just taken delivery of several new ESU generators and it was paramount they have them tested and operational immediately. In parallel, they had also purchased our Uni-Therm for testing the new generators. On the day it arrived, we provided them with test sequences, conducted an online training webinar for them and got them comfortable and confident with the test process. We work in a very dynamic environment and this level of customer care is what makes Rigel such a great company. In this case, our speed, flexibility and capability saved the day and allowed the generators to be placed into service in the OR.
Q: Can describe the company’s facility?
Barrett: Our Tampa satellite office houses product specific technical support personnel, a calibration lab and repair shop, inventory and sales staff. All of our products are manufactured in our main UK facility in the northeast of England.
Q: Can you highlight any recent changes?
Barrett: Probably our biggest achievement recently was the addition of our video studio and the corresponding impact on customer support. Even though we knew the studio would be well-received, the feedback has been tremendous.
Q: Please tell me about your employees.
Barrett: In particular I’d like to mention two recent additions to the team who are already making an impact: Brittany and Amber. They joined the Rigel Medical team to assist and accelerate our North American expansion. Brittany Schmidke has spent 15 years in consultative sales positions serving the medical market and she is now a vital part of the team based at our Tampa headquarters. Amber Spangenberg works remotely from a home office and joins us after a successful career with Spectrum
Technologies – Transcat, where she was responsible for technical customer support and their calibration needs. She now brings that superb customer service to us at Rigel.
Q: What is most important to you about the way you do business?
Barrett: Our company values are to ensure we have “delighted customers, engaged staff and that we operate within a dynamic environment.” We believe that if our employees have these values in their minds we will succeed. It seems to be working – as we provide outstanding products and superb service which we believe helps us to deliver premium value to our customers.
Q: Is there anything else you want readers to know about your company?
Barrett: Even though it seems obvious for a technology-based company, Rigel’s ability to be forward-thinking and to continually innovate is vital. This along with our approach of really listening to and understanding what our customers want, and need, is helping us to grow and succeed.
