M style anagement
The protection of a building’s electrical wiring and communications cabling can only be achieved by the specification and installation of an appropriate cable management solution. Rob Shepherd examines the latest developments in this industry sector and explains why quality, availability and technical support are just as important as price
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ike every other area of the electrical contracting industry, the cable management sector has had to adapt to the current economic climate, while at the same time continuing to innovate and offer
systems that meet the containment requirements of modern electrical and communications networks.
Under pressure Not surprisingly, the sector has contracted in the last three years, and while manufacturers have to account for the increasing costs of raw materials and production, contractors and end users are demanding highest quality at the best price. Jeremy Dodge, head of marketing and technical services at Marshall-Tufflex, comments: ‘The refurbishment market has not suffered as much as new build, and the public
ECA Today May 2012
sector has remained buoyant well into the recession, with education and the NHS in particular making considerable investment in new buildings. I would suggest the total cable management market has contracted by about seven per cent, to output levels similar to those of 2002.’ The cost of raw materials is affecting every manufacturer
– particularly those offering steel-based products – and this, along with increased production costs, has meant higher prices for customers. Needless to say, any price increase is a challenge to introduce to a cost conscious market.
Quality counts While some electrical contractors have been tempted to look towards the ‘budget’ end of the market in order to increase their margins, top tier manufacturers have used this situation as an opportunity to accentuate the additional benefits of
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