Spotlight
A challenger brand emerges
Who is Albion Valves?
Over 25 years ago Albion was set up with the sole purpose of supplying quality products at an affordable price to independent pipework distributors and engineering merchants throughout the UK. Today, our network of distributors is more important than ever and maintaining excellent distributor relations is still a focal point in our strategic approach, and one that continues to contribute to our ongoing growth. In recent years Albion has become recognized as an established brand, providing customers with an alternative to premium priced products. This position as a ‘challenger’ brand has found favour with our distributor network, resulting in Albion increasingly gaining ground in the marketplace. We pride ourselves on providing our customers with a trusted alternative to premium-priced products and a margin opportunity that is one of the most attractive in the market. As a business, quality is part of our culture – not just a marketing claim. It’s something we take very seriously and why our own product development team search far and wide for products that meet our standards.
Describe your product range?
Albion is a full line supplier of valves and controls to a broad range of industries, including utilities, building services, industrial processing, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, food and drink, services and offshore. From a single brass ball valve, our product
range has grown to include everything from butterfly valves to balancing valves, diaphragm valves to solenoid valves and a range of materials including brass, bronze, stainless steel, carbon steel, cast iron and plastics. The launch of our new range of commissioning valves means we can now supply a complete building services valve solution making it easier for our customers to get everything they need for construction related projects all under one roof. Our portfolio is fully accredited with the mandatory industry approvals including EN331 for gas and WRAS for potable water; ISO 9001 for
10 November 2017
Les Littlewood
Sales and marketing director of Albion Valves, Les Littlewood talks to HVR and offers some insight into a business that has become one of the HVAC industry’s most successful challenger brands
Albion Valves head office in Barnsley, South Yorkshire
Quality Management and ISO 14001 for Environmental Management. In addition, products have been developed hand-in-hand with customers, ensuring they get exactly what they need, and much of our product range has emerged as a direct response to customer requirements.
What’s in high demand?
Product demand is directly impacted by whatever is happening in the industry. The HVAC market is ever- changing. Today, M&E projects are continually put under pressure in all manner of ways – from driving down costs and delivery time to limited space and looming deadlines. Products we find to be continually sought after
range from the most basic ball and solenoid valves to the more complex PICV, DPCV and safety valves. Choice is a key Albion USP. We offer over 5,000
product lines from butterfly valves to balancing valves, diaphragm valves to solenoid valves and a
range of materials including brass, bronze, stainless, carbon steel, cast iron and plastics. We ensure that the customer is always supported and advised to ensure their product is the best for the purpose intended.
What are your key challenges?
Maintaining comfort conditions in the modern commercial buildings where we all work, rest and play is imperative whilst reducing energy wastage. Strategies that prioritise energy efficiency are the only way forward in building services at Albion we try to stay ahead of the game and ensure our product offering and expertise is in line with contractor requirements. There are many manufacturers who can offer very similar products. However, what differentiates us at Albion is total customer empathy and the ability to understand individual customer needs. Market conditions are challenging and so stock availability plays a huge part. Albion maintains high
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