HEATING & PLUMBING
PIPE DREAMS: WHAT’S IN-STORE FOR THE FUTURE?
As the construction industry is full steam ahead in developing the next generation of homes, it’s important that distributors are ready for the future.
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t needs no mention that the past year has been a challenging time, with installers and distributors all hit hard. However, as we come out the other side of the pandemic, there is a renewed focus on delivering for the built environment.
On the domestic side, the government has a clear ambition to increase the levels of housebuilding, with the aim of delivering 300,000 new homes a year on average. Meanwhile, construction of key infrastructure such as schools and buildings will be developed faster than ever, with reforms being planned and targets such as 40 new hospitals set for 2030. So, to meet these objectives distributors must now look forward to the future by ensuring a complete portfolio of pipes, valves and fittings are stocked and ready for increased demand. That’s according to Tim Sykes, Divisional Sales Manager (North) at RWC, who says It is important to make sure what is made available to installers and contractors covers a diverse spectrum of project types – from new build to repair, maintenance and improvement (RMI).
“Last year, during lockdown, commercial activity all but stopped. However, RMI work accelerated as homeowners used money saved from not being able to go on holiday for home improvement projects,” he says.
With lockdown lifted, the hope is that there are no more setbacks – however, the future is unpredictable. So, Sykes says that distributors need to continue to adapt and be flexible, with diversification often the best way to prevent sudden stops in revenue.
“This is why RWC is here to support with a complete portfolio of pipes, valves and fittings for domestic and commercial applications. From our market-leading push-fit technology in JG Speedfit and SharkBite, through to our JG Underfloor heating solutions and specialist water control valves from Reliance Valves, our RWC family of brands ensure that distributors have everything they need to serve their customers - all from a single trusted manufacturer.”
Supporting through change As well as having a complete portfolio of pipes, valves and fittings, Sykes adds that it is also important that support is available to help
30 Evolve and innovate
Whether it’s government-driven directives such as the phase out of gas boilers in new builds by 2025, through to developers wanting to move towards carbon-friendly and water efficient systems, Sykes says that the drive toward sustainable solutions is everywhere. As a result, both commercial and domestic sectors will see an increased move toward products that can reduce water consumption, with some in need of accreditation by third party sustainability assessment methods such as BREEAM, he says.
“In terms of pipes, valves and fittings, there are many direct and indirect ways that long term water and energy savings can be achieved. For instance – underfloor heating (UFH) naturally works better with new heat pump technologies in comparison to radiators, and distributors must collaborate with manufacturers to ensure that systems are quoted and installed correctly.
distributors through this period of change and adaptation.
“To that end, the digitalisation of plumbing and heating will continue to grow and alter the way trades interact with distributors. With contractors and installers heavily reliant on real- time information and data on orders during the pandemic, distributors with a strong eCommerce and digital offering capitalised on the increased dependency,” he says.
“The challenge though has always been about knowing where products are in the supply chain to be able to accurately forecast delivery dates. And having acknowledged areas for improvement within our own processes, at RWC we have recently implemented an enterprise resource planning system, which further improvement relies on the continuous and honest feedback from our customers. “Additionally, our marketing teams are well versed into supporting distributors with literature, point of sale, promotions and joint campaigns. With one of the biggest sales and technical teams in the UK, RWC can safely visit installers onsite or engage with them through virtual meetings to better understand their challenges.”
“Our RWC technical teams are uniquely positioned to support here, from helping to quote and provide the complete range of products needed for the project, through to supporting with planning and technical assistance with commissioning and pairing with smart heating control systems.” He adds that a more direct way for distributors to support sustainability is by stocking and recommending products that comply with new sustainability guidelines and come with the relevant accreditations, such as RWC’s BREEAM-rated push-fit valves. “A final way to ensure sustainability is to develop homes and systems that are built to last, and here, push-fit can play a vital role. Solutions with enhanced internal sealing features such as those within the JG Speedfit and SharkBite push-fit ranges, ensure that connections are secure and water-tight, creating leak-proof buildings that last.
Anticipation and preparedness “As we move forward in this ‘new normal’, more than ever, it pays for distributors to continue to be prepared, and be able to anticipate how the market may well move. Sticking to the status quo is no longer possible,” BMJ
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net September 2021
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