RAINWATER
HEATING & PLUMBING
COLLABORATION IMPROVES THE PIPELINE
Davies, the Dublin based plumbing and drainage specialist, stocks products from across the Sanbra group portfolio. BMJ explores how merchants and suppliers can work together to the benefit of all.
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ounded in 1933 and acquired by Grafton Group in 2005, Davies Ltd is a specialist company operating from a 40,000 sq ft facility in Raheny, on the north side of Dublin. The business is structured into divisions catering as a plumbers’ merchant, a civil and drainage specialist, design and supply for residential and commercial applications, and also comprises of bathroom showrooms.
Partnership with Instantor Davies has a long-lasting partnership with the Sanbra Group, stocking products from multiple brands within the Sanbra portfolio including Instantor, a leading manufacturer of high-quality plumbing and heating products, and one of Davies’ top-selling brands. Davies commercial manager, Darren Yourell, explains: “Martin Murphy, managing director of the Sanbra Group, was the first supplier I was introduced to when I started at Davies. “He visited our premises to personally welcome me to the business, and it was one of the most genuine and pleasant meetings I’ve ever experienced. Every interaction since has been just as positive, and that ethos truly shines through across the entire Sanbra Group.”
Known for its press solutions that prioritise ease of installation, Instantor has been operating in Ireland since 1926 and launched into the UK market in 2024.
Instantor Press System The Instantor Press System is designed to be a quick install solution for plumbing projects on any scale, combining press fittings and multilayer Pex-Al-Pex pipe. It removes the need for installers to use heat-based methods such as brazing and soldering. Using a press tool, the installer crimps the fitting securely on to the pipe in three easy steps: cut, calibrate and press.
Pex-Al-Pex is a multilayer pipe for use in potable water, underfloor heating and all general heating and plumbing applications. Available in sizes up to 63 mm in straight lengths and up to 32 mm in coils, and butt- welded for a 100% oxygen and water vapour tight finish.
The Instantor press fittings are manufactured 30
recently secured Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for their Instantor Press Pipe and Fittings, a major milestone that puts them among a select few manufacturers in the EU with this certification. It shows their commitment to transparency and sustainability, and the fact that they’re willing to share this information really helps our credibility as a merchant.”
Extra support
using high-grade CW617N brass and 304 stainless steel, corrosion-resistant materials, are built to be long-lasting and reduce the risk of leaks or contamination.
Instantor has gained WRAS, KIWA and NSAI Approval on its press fittings and Pex-Al-Pex pipe, testing products both in-house, at the Instantor Works Design & Testing Lab, and in the field, before any launches to ensure unrivalled performance and reliability. “Instantor prides itself on quality and reassurance, and its team know their products inside out.” says Yourell. “It’s factors like these that make the Instantor Press System such a hit with our customers.”
“Sustainability is a huge consideration for builders and contractors, with matters such as EcoVadis scores and life cycle assessments to contend with, now, you have to go beyond providing a technical specification of a product — you must supply information on how it’s packed, including how much waste is attributed; to help contractors ensure they are keeping their carbon footprint to a minimum. “That’s why it’s so valuable to work with suppliers like Instantor. They have
Instantor also supports its merchant partners on occasions where problems do arise. For example, according to Davies, when working with a customer who installed an incorrect fitting into 600 radiators, within two hours, they had received 600 new fittings from Instantor delivered to the site. “We have a huge amount of faith in Instantor’s abilities and its times like these where their strong stock levels and utmost professionalism truly come into their own”, adds Yourell. “Instantor is very good at forecasting and staying ahead of what is going on in the world. For example, in situations like Covid and the Suez Canal blocking, Instantor worked with us to forecast and oversee any potential supply issues. There is always a high level of communication between us and the Instantor team, they always help us to plan ahead and we’re very much in it together.
The Instantor Works Design & Testing Lab in Santry, Dublin is also a useful asset for Davies. If a customer is looking for further details and guidance on a product, Davies can arrange for them to visit Instantor’s test lab for hands-on training and in-depth information. Instantor now also has a Mobile Training Academy to bring its expertise to the doorsteps of trade counters across the UK and Ireland, making its training more accessible.
Yourell says: “A lot of our business is done on site, not just over our trade counter, and Neil Gaffney (managing director, Instantor) and Alan Hogan (divisional managing director, Sanbra Group Heating, Plumbing and Kitchens Division) often visit construction sites with myself and our Residential Manager, Stephen Kelly to help assess what will be needed. They are very much involved in our partnership and its incredibly helpful. Instantor excels at getting people in front of its products.” BMJ
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net September 2025
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