Q&A for the magazine “Mundo del Agrónomo” to Cristóbal Cerquella, CEO at AC Ingenieros

What is AC Ingenieros? What are its roles in consulting?

AC Ingenieros is an engineering, architecture, and consulting company specializing in projects in the food and beverage industries, as well as other sectors like logistics, chemical, and pharmaceutical, with both national and international presence.

My role within the company is as a managing partner, primarily focusing on leading the company alongside my partner, an industrial engineer. We oversee daily management, maintain client relationships from the commercial phase through design, project development, supplier selection, licensing, construction supervision, and final certification, ensuring all legalizations are completed.

For some clients, our service never truly ends, as we continue to work within the industry as an external engineering department even after project completion. We’ve been working with some clients for over 14 years, which distinguishes us from others in the sector. We integrate into the management structures of top-tier food companies, both national and multinational, operating in Spain, providing continuous technical and legal advice.

How would you describe the current state of the engineering and consulting sector in the food industry?

We are in a phase of great opportunities, facing significant needs from industry players, not just for new investment projects or modifications but also due to constant new regulations and the integration of new technologies that enhance efficiency, sustainability, and cost reduction. Examples include photovoltaic solar panels for energy generation, thermal energy generation, Industry 4.0, new products, and evolving market demands for different and ecological packaging. Additionally, insurance companies are pressuring our clients to improve fire protection systems, requiring us to provide very specific advice to avoid inflating their insurance costs. We strive to keep our team up-to-date both technically and technologically, ensuring we provide guaranteed service that adds value and builds client trust to achieve success and meet their goals.

What are the main challenges your company faces in the current context?

AC Ingenieros’ main challenges include sustainable growth over the past 14 years and expanding into new sectors. We’re experiencing significant growth in the industrial sector, logistics, and packaging, which are highly dynamic sectors with substantial annual investments.

The chemical and pharmaceutical sectors present substantial projects, and we aim to establish ourselves further in these areas. Our partners and team members bring 25 years of experience in the food sector, where we have loyal and demanding clients, allowing us to grow and access these new sectors.

How has AC Ingenieros evolved since its founding?

We are proud of the company’s evolution. We started in 2008 with two partners, an industrial engineer and myself, an agronomist, during a severe economic crisis in Spain and internationally.

Coming from large engineering firms where there was no personalized service for the industry and the service ended once the project concluded, we created a distinctive and high-quality work system that other engineering companies did not offer, allowing us to seize opportunities in a closed market with limited investment. We offered monthly external engineering outsourcing services to leading companies in the sector with sustained costs.

Gradually, we expanded our team and services, particularly in engineering support for the agri-food industries, subsidies, financing searches, and entering markets that initially seemed challenging for a Madrid-based company. We’ve successfully executed numerous projects, mainly in the Basque Country and Castilla-La Mancha, actively participating in the Food Clusters of the Basque Country and Madrid.

Currently, we have a team of 14 experienced and professional multidisciplinary workers.

What factors do you consider key to standing out in a competitive market?

Firstly, a strategy of continuous service to clients. Secondly, stable and competitive pricing policies, reliability, professionalism, and commitment. Clients seek a reliable partner who is technically proficient and committed to their investments, not just in construction but also in land and facilities.

Our clients highly value our contract assistance service, where we help save significant amounts during the purchasing phase.

What are the most in-demand services from your clients currently?

In addition to everyday engineering services, our company increasingly receives requests to assist in finding land for new investments or existing facilities that can be adapted for new businesses. While this was traditionally handled by real estate agencies, it requires the expertise of an engineering firm that can assess the suitability of a site for industrial activities, involving significant investments with numerous implications, including job creation. This service is critical and conducted before the land or facility purchase, enabling proper evaluation of purchase prices and conditions.

Furthermore, there is increasing demand for project financing, including grants, financial aid, and both public and private credit lines. We recently established a dedicated department for these services, which are often crucial in tipping the balance toward investment.

How has the demand for services changed in recent years?

Service demand now requires maximum specialization in specific professional areas, such as food processing, installations, and layouts. This necessitates staying up-to-date with equipment, technology, and regulations to deliver technically and economically sustainable projects that are viable and operational for many years, as we deal with long amortization periods requiring investment security. This is crucial, and clients want a partner who fully understands these aspects and can anticipate potential issues.

Our value is enhanced by working “behind the scenes” as an engineering company embedded in our clients’ daily processes, enabling us to see what should and shouldn’t be implemented.

Additionally, it necessitates comprehensive knowledge of the latest technologies, equipment, and suppliers.

How is the team structured? What professional profiles are essential in your company and why?

The company is led by two partners, one focusing on Technical Management and the other on General and Commercial Management.

We have a multidisciplinary team of engineers, architects, quantity surveyors, economists, draftsmen, and administrative staff.

Our engineers include agronomists, industrial engineers, civil engineers, and telecommunications specialists. This diversity allows us to be highly versatile and handle projects across various sectors beyond food and beverages.

What skills and qualities do you look for in candidates to join your team?

While it may not be politically correct to say, we increasingly seek experienced individuals who can quickly integrate into projects and add value. We have had experiences with young professionals who, despite their motivation, struggle with the demanding work pace and intensity required in this exciting and intensive job, which involves strict deadlines and frequent travel to industries and sites.

Candidates need a formation period where, in addition to daily work, they must study applicable regulations and existing technologies to competently perform their job. This level of dedication isn’t for everyone. Nevertheless, I am hopeful that young people interested in this sector will join.

Increasingly, agronomists are becoming key players in industrial activities, designing, planning, and directly participating in the food industry infrastructure.

Humans need to eat and drink daily, so the food sector remains a stable and secure industry.

I always like to say, “to produce everything that is eaten or drunk, an agronomist is needed.”