Meeting the needs of key markets
As we focused on offering more products and services to more customers, we have continued to fine-tune our operating model to key customer segments. We now have specialists focusing on key markets, such as healthcare, life sciences, utilities, chemical and process industries, construction, food and beverage. These new marketing groups, which combine the strength of operating companies and national and regional sales associates, are now engineering the right solutions that meet the unique needs of customers.
Our construction group is a good example of this new targeted approach. More than two years ago, we began our construction strategy by broadening our product offering and focusing our service to meet the needs of infrastructure construction customers. Now we are ready for stage two, by combining into a single group our rental company, Red-D-Arc, and our national construction sales and marketing teams, which work closely with regional specialists and associates at our 25 construction stores nationwide. We just announced plans to add another operating company, with the acquisition of Oilind Safety, a leader in safety equipment rental and safety services to this market. In addition, Red-D-Arc has acquired A&N Plant, a European company renting positioning equipment and welders throughout Europe, Asia and the Middle East, opening international markets.
Our initial strategy has paid off with construction sales growing 35% in fiscal 2008, mostly to contractors involved in energy and infrastructure construction. Construction now accounts for 13% of our total revenue. With our new group and added offerings, we expect even more.