The Baxi Commercial Heating Training Academy at the Erdington premises in the West Midlands is now officially open for business and follows the recent move by the Andrews business unit to these premises where Potterton Commercial is based.
“In my view, there has been inadequate training provision in the commercial heating and hot water industry for too long now” declared Yan Evans, Technical Director of Baxi Commercial Heating and Chair of ICOM’s Commercial Heating Training & Competence Group. “This situation should change for the better once proposed measures by ICOM to redress the shortfall are in place. However, as a leader in the field of both traditional, condensing and renewable/sustainable technologies with probably the broadest product portfolio in the UK, we believe we should do more than simply display the product options in a showroom”.
Baxi Commercial Heating has therefore made a significant investment in a new Training Academy at the heart of which is a spacious purpose designed appliance demonstration room. This is fitted out with all the current Andrews and Potterton Commercial products, all of which are ‘live’ for hands-on training on installation, commissioning, servicing and fault finding. Yan emphasises: “Customers, specificers and installers of both brands can not only find out about our integrated solutions but can also enjoy the benefits of integrated training on boilers and water heaters as well”
This new facility has floor-standing and wall-hung direct fired water heaters from Andrews together with a range of Potterton Commercial boilers In addition, there is a live SOLARflo solar-thermal system utilising an evacuated tube solar collector mounted on the façade of the building. This system is linked to a MAXXflo water heater to demonstrate the fuel efficiency benefits of solar preheat.
In the past close links have been maintained with local colleges and co-operation will continue on mutually beneficial industry training activities such as G3 Unvented Hot Water Courses and may soon include the Water Regulations Course.
“This stunning training facility and the integrated technical support provision will prove an invaluable knowledge hub for customers, specifiers and installers of both brands”, concludes Yan. “This will be of benefit when the Andrews and Potterton brands are utilised independently and to an even greater extent for totally integrated boiler house solutions, especially where renewable and sustainable technologies are involved”.