Samsung has stepped up its drive to capture a significant slice of the UK air conditioning market by forging a strategic alliance with nationwide specialist wholesaler HRP Ltd. 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.
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.”
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.