[ Spotlight: Wiring accessories ]
FINISHING LINES
Far from simply being the originator of the humble ‘plug socket’ or ‘light switch’, the wiring accessories sector has been one of the most innovative areas of the entire electrical component industry in recent years. It continues to introduce products that enhance modern lifestyles and address changing consumer needs, as ROB SHEPHERD reports
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iring accessories are no longer just an afterthought when it comes to putting the finishing touches to a residential or commercial property – in fact, today they are more
likely to be specified at the outset of a project. While this rise is prominence is obviously good news for manufacturers, distributors and electrical contractors alike, the sector has to meet the increasing demands of end users while, at the same time, deal with a number of unique challenges.
State of play There’s no escaping the fact that the health of the wiring accessories market is closely tied to construction output. However, the green shoots of economic recovery finally seem to be poking through the ground and the Office for National Statistics (ONS) recently stated that British construction activity grew at its fastest pace for nearly six years during August this year. For many manufacturers, however, it’s a tale of
two markets. Richard Hayward, marketing manager for Legrand’s wiring devices business, explains: ‘At the commodity end of the spectrum, price pressure created by both manufacturers and specifiers is making things tough. However, in the mid-to-high end wiring accessories market, the negative impact of the economic climate has been much less – in fact, it may even have worked in our favour. Here, developers are keen to differentiate, and attention to detail counts more than ever.’
Bits and pieces The buzzword in the UK wiring accessories sector is undoubtedly modularity, something that our neighbours in mainland Europe and beyond might find strange. ‘Modular wiring devices have always enjoyed
widespread popularity in Europe, but rather less so in the UK,’ comments Jason Ng, marketing communications specialist at Honeywell. ‘The reason for this is largely cultural, with Europeans favouring the different style of aesthetic. Conversely, in this
36 ECA Today December 2013
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