Samsung signs HRP to boost UK aircon drive

Samsung has forged a strategic alliance with nationwide specialist wholesaler HRP to step up its drive to capture a significant slice of the UK air conditioning market.

The move makes Samsung's DVM Plus III (VRF) range available nationally through a newly formed specialist HRP subsidiary, Samsung Air Conditioning Centre (SACC), and Samsung split systems available through HRP's extensive branch network.

This announcement follows the recent UK launch of DVM Plus III and complements the appointment of three Specialist Distribution Partners.

Jonathan Pettitt, Samsung National Sales Manager, says the ground-breaking alliance with HRP is a major part of Samsung's UK growth strategy for air conditioning.

"The UK is an important market for air conditioning and the alliance with HRP will significantly extend our reach with the full range of DVM Plus III and split systems," he says.

Samsung Distribution Sales Manager Paul Wilkins says: "HRP will give us national capability to deal with immediate volume growth, while SACC will get us closer to specifiers through a team of people who are fully trained and dedicated to the Samsung brand".

"We already have a network of specialist distributors in place - now we can offer larger numbers of specifiers and installers easy access to Samsung products, technical support and training facilities".

Mandy Pilgrim, HRP Group Managing Director, says: "With Samsung we have developed a bold and different alliance which will enable us to grow the DVM Plus III business through our new wholly owned subsidiary, SACC.

It will give specifiers the advantage of dealing with 'manufacturer's representatives', while installers will enjoy the convenience of purchasing through a major wholesaler with a widespread branch network".

She says in addition to providing training on Samsung air conditioning systems at its Slough training centre, HRP will open a dedicated Samsung training centre elsewhere in its network of service centres.

The HRP group, based in Bury St Edmunds, has become one of the leading air conditioning and refrigeration wholesalers by giving customers a flexible service - and a depth that meets their needs.

In addition to service facilities at Bury St Edmunds, it has 15 other service centres strategically located round the country, offering trade counters and rapid delivery from stock.

The group's online ordering system enables customers to order products at any time of the day or night.

Samsung launched the DVM Plus III range in the UK as an alternative to conventional inverter-based VRF systems, introducing new standards of performance, efficiency and compactness, with new technology incorporating digital scroll compressors and vapour injection.

Samsung Electronics Co ., based in Seoul, Korea, is a global leader in semiconductor, telecommunication, digital media and digital convergence technologies.

Currently Samsung is ranked 21st in Interbrand's Top 100 Global Brands and is considered as one of the fastest growing brands of the past five years.

In 2007 Samsung reached a turnover of more than US$100 billion.

Samsung Electronics employs approximately 150,000 people in 134 offices in 62 countries around the globe.

In 2005 Samsung Electronics entered the European market for System Air Conditioning, and since then has achieved rapid growth in that business.

Samsung Electronics has also further developed high quality and innovative products such as the DVM Plus III system and the award-winning Mont Blanc (MB) wall-mounted unit.

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