Efficient cooling with a passion

A passionate and knowledgeable Managing Director of Rapid Cool, Dilip Roy, gives an account of his company's remarkable journey to success

Humble beginnings
The idea of our company Rapid Cool was conceived in the early nineties. My partner Dinesh Bhojwani and I were colleagues who became good friends. One afternoon in 1994, we were playing squash, and as we vented out our job frustrations by hitting the ball hard, the idea of starting our own company hit us just as hard.
We jumped into the fray without any concrete plans or solid financial backing, simply armed with our dynamic combination. I was the older partner with a vast experience of working with some of the top Middle East companies, whereas Dinesh was the younger one full of ideas, energy and enthusiasm, with a recent degree in engineering from the US.
We started out with a small investment from our own hard-earned savings. It was challenging to survive with no income for several months, but we were determined not to seek any external investment in order to avoid unwanted interference. We sold basic hardware products to take care of our overheads and day-to-day expenses. I recently read somewhere that Steve Jobs, the cofounder and CEO of Apple used to walk seven miles to get free meals. It took me back to our own struggling days, when Dinesh and I used to hunt around for the cheapest restaurants for our lunch. Fortunately, our hard work and patience paid off and we started getting representation rights from various renowned European and US companies. That was just the beginning of an exciting journey.
Today, Rapid Cool is a leading player in the HVAC industry. From a modest trading office in Deira in 1995, the company has evolved into Rapid Cool Group of Companies with nine branches across Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. Our main corporate office is located at Business Bay, the commercial hub of Dubai. We have 125 people in our workforce and have been part of several major projects in the UAE and Middle East. The company has three major divisions: Manufacturing, Trading and Services. We also have an office in the US headed by Dinesh Bhojwani. In addition, two years ago we acquired a Sharjah-based company that was running at a huge loss. We successfully turned it around into an independent self-sustaining unit. 
Industry Prowess
Our main expertise lies in the field of ventilation and air-conditioning. As an engineering trading company, we assist contractors by offering detailed techno-commercial proposals from the tendering stage.  We also assist clients and contractors in designing when their requirements are unclear. Our main clients are electromechanical (MEP) contractors. We work closely with the consultants attached to various projects. Once the job is done, our team ensures that the installed units are commissioned properly and are backed by professional after-sales services. 
Team and Success
Rapid Cool started with just three people - my partner, an engineer and me. Over the years, the team has expanded considerably. Our corporate office at Business Bay has 20 staff people comprising engineers, sales and marketing managers, business development managers, purchase and logistics personnel and finance specialists.
At Rapid Cool, everyone is a team player with the focus towards building warm, friendly and lasting relationships with our clients. For running a successful business, you need a team that is not just active, but proactive. Our sales teams don't wait for inquiries to come to their seats; they generate them.
Our manufacturing division is capable of producing kilometres of ducting and duct-related accessories with computer-controlled automatic CNC machines. We also fabricate sound attenuators and assemble ecology units. Additionally, we have fully trained engineers and technicians in charge of designing, commissioning and after-sales services.
We have a technical services division dedicated to providing solutions to the existing cooling towers. Our team is trained to carry out retrofit jobs ensuring efficient energy saving of cooling towers. With high energy prices and air-conditioning accounting for a large percentage of the UAE's electricity consumption, cooling commercial and residential buildings as efficiently as possible is a national priority. District Cooling authorities are working tirelessly to achieve this goal and Rapid Cool's efforts to save energy is just a baby step in this direction. Instead of just being reactive problem solvers, we aim to be proactive solution finders. 
Expo 2020 and Competition
The best part of running a business in a dynamic city like Dubai is that the market is constantly evolving, thereby creating new business opportunities. With emphasis on connecting minds through collaboration and creating the future through sustainability and mobility, Expo 2020 will have an impact on even a medium-sized business like ours. Nevertheless, we would like to walk cautiously by taking small steps instead of giant leaps.
We take our competitors seriously and have a healthy respect for them. Our edge lies in our dedication, sincerity, friendliness, approachability, and the willingness to go an extra mile. We believe in going all out to help our clients from the time the project is at the drawing board stage. Even after the warranty period is over, we service the installed units in case any unexpected problem occurs.
Our prices are extremely competitive, and we only deal with top-quality products from U.K., Europe and U.S. All our products are backed by internationally-recognised test reports. 
Looking Ahead
While our focus is firmly on our core business of HVAC, we are always striving hard to add products to complement our present range. Our vision is to become a full-fledged facilities management provider for entire buildings, with high quality service. We have recently ventured into energy saving, and also have plans to assemble air-handling units in the near future.
Every time I look at the Burj Khalifa from my office, standing so tall, I feel inspired to reach as high. The tower is a symbol of innovation, development and growth. But even as my eyes are fixed on the tall tower ahead, I make sure to keep my feet firmly on the ground by remembering my parents' lessons from my childhood. They always taught me: Honesty is the best policy, hard work pays, have patience, follow a straight path and maintain good relationships.
Today, my parents are no more, but their teachings remain with me as my business mantras.