History
The ARFITEC Group is the leader in humidification technologies and liquid diffusion solutions through its fogging and nebulization systems.
All the products and services we design allow for improving consumer health by encouraging the consumption of fresh, unprocessed products and improving living and workspaces.
KEY FIGURES
1998:
CREATION OF THE ARECO COMPANY
ARECO started working in nebulization, in France, by exploiting a patent developed by IMRA Europe SAS, the Toyota Group’s research centre. This technology, nebulization, consists in breaking up all types of liquid (water, biocide, perfume) using a piezoelectric solution in the aim of obtaining a very fine mist (95% of droplets have a diameter less than 5 µm).
After studying several potential applications, Michel GSCHWIND came up with the idea of using this discovery to replace the classic humidification systems used in the food processing industry.
2000:
LAUNCH OF NEBULIZATION IN FOOD STORES
For ARECO, this was the first year trialling, with the PROSOL Group, the nebulization of fruit and vegetables in food stores, with the aim of better conserving these extremely fragile foodstuffs.
2002:
CREATION OF THE COMPANY AGEFI
AGEFI was launched to provide the installation, after-sales services and maintenance of ARECO’s nebulization solutions.
ARECO began developing its activities internationally with installations in the food processing sector in Chile.
2003:
CREATION OF THE AURANOV SUBSIDIARY
2003 saw the creation of AURANOV, the subsidiary dedicated to the manufacture of mechanical parts.
2004:
CREATION OF THE PARENT COMPANY, ARFITEC
With the arrival of Benoît Rey, 2004 was the creation of the parent company, ARFITEC, which unites, supports and develops the activities of its subsidiaries.
ARECO continues to develop the uses for its nebulization application by performing laboratory tests on seafood products. The results on the impact of nebulization on the microbiological, chemical and physical properties of the seafood products were conclusive. The nebulization application was therefore launched for fish counters in food stores and for tradespeople.
2006:
DEVELOPMENT OF NEBULIZATION IN EUROPE
ARECO exports its solutions to Germany and then to Belgium.
2008:
LAUNCH INTO BIODECONTAMINATION
ARECO steps into the industrial field by developing an application for the airborne biodecontamination of surfaces in pharmaceutical laboratories, airlocks and glove boxes. In the same year, the company widened its fresh produce humidification application to products on the traditional butchery, cold-cut and delicatessen counters.
2010:
DEVELOPMENT OF STRUCTURES IN NEW EUROPEAN COUNTRIES
ARECO establishes itself in Portugal and Spain.
2011:
CREATION OF THE ADDACOM SUBSIDIARY AND LAUNCH OF DIGITAL APPLICATIONS
In 2011, THE ADDACOM subsidiary was created as a contract and service provider. Thanks to ADDACOM, retailers wishing to equip their fresh food departments with one of ARFITEC’s solutions, without having to buy the equipment, can do so by subscribing to a monthly “subscription” offer.
In 2011, ARECO moved into developing several digital applications for points of sale, ADDACHEF and SIMULFEL, firstly to communicate with consumers and encourage them to use more fresh raw foodstuffs, and secondly to help food stores boost sales of fresh produce, while reducing food waste.
2011 was also the year in which ARECO began a CSR approach.
2012:
EXPORT TO THE USA
2012 was the year ARECO made its first sales in the United States and Canada.
2014:
ECO-DESIGN
The Group’s R&D service sought to reduce our impact on the environment by developing a completely new range of ego-design nebulization machines: NEBULECO.
2014 was the year when the ARFITEC Group became a member of BPI Excellence, an entrepreneurial social network of which it is still a member today.
2016:
CREATION OF THE ARECO NORTH AMERICA SUBSIDIARY
The ARECO NORTH AMERICA subsidiary is launched to speed up the development of ARECO products in the USA, Canada and Mexico.
2018:
CREATION OF THE ARECO PACIFIC SUBSIDIARY
On 3 December 2018, the ARECO PACIFIC subsidiary launched to distribute the Group’s products in Australia and New Zealand in particular, and more generally throughout the Pacific zone.
2019:
CREATION OF THE LIDIT BRAND
The ARFITEC Group launches the LIDIT, LIquid DIffusion Technology, brand.
The LIDIT product range includes fogging and nebulization solutions to improve space performance: nebulization in the food processing sector, high-pressure fogging for industries and collectivities and biodecontamination of surfaces.
Areco, involved in the fight against food waste and access to healthy food since its creation in 1998, joins the great Food cause started by Make.org, “How can we allow everyone to eat better?”, alongside Système U, Danone, Fleury Michon and Bonduelle in order to set up actions in civilian society in favour of eating better.
With this partnership, ARECO, the reference brand for fresh counter performance serving better eating and protecting the environment, continues its approach as an innovative French SME to promote the consumption of fresh produce and combat food waste.
2021:
CREATION OF THE ARECO DEUTSCHLAND GMBH SUBSIDIARY
The ARECO DEUTSCHLAND subsidiary was launched in March 2021 to distribute ARECO products in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria.