Spring 2013
Pioneers of energy efficient heating solutions
Team players – two brands unite
As part of our ongoing commitment
to the Social Housing Sector, we
will be exhibiting at the following
Exhibitions over the forthcoming
months:-
Welcome to our latest issue of ‘ignite’ and
the dawn of another new era for two of
our best-loved heating brands - Valor and
Robinson Willey. Following their acquisition
by the GDC Group Ltd - the UK heating
division of Glen Dimplex - they now rub
shoulders to offer an unrivalled range of
gas and electric fires that meet the needs
of both trade and contract sectors.
CIH South East
Conference & Exhibition
5 – 7th March 2013
Hilton Brighton Metrople Hotel
Stand DG21
Over 160 years manufacturing expertise across
both Valor and Robinson Willey brands means
experience comes in spades. Indeed, because
creating efficient heating solutions is all we ever
think about, we are always one step ahead and
able to produce fires that meet the needs of
everyone, including social housing and some of
the most vulnerable people in our society.
Over the years, both brands have tirelessly
campaigned to promote energy efficiency and
gas fire safety and this has resulted in the design
and manufacture of an exemplary range of
British products that provide superior comfort
and energy efficient heating solutions.
Whilst preserving the identity of each brand, we
are delighted to offer a new and streamlined
portfolio of gas and electric fires that is both
brand and channel specific. Plus, as well
as providing added choice for both trade
Exhibition Calendar
CIH South East
Conference & Exhibition
12 – 14th March 2013
SECC, Glasgow
Stand C59
and contract sectors, we can breathe much
needed fire into the gas fire industry as a whole.
There will be exciting developments ahead and
we look forward to working closely with you all
in the future.
Richard Beaman
Commercial Director
Social Housing
Procurement Exhibition
North - 19th March 2013
Midland Hotel, Manchester
Stand 19
Social Housing
Procurement Exhibition
South – 25th April 2013
Hampden Park, Glasgow
Stand 22
CIH Housing 2013
Conference & Exhibition
25 – 27th June 2013
Manchester Central
Stand D8
Following the acquisition of Valor and Robinson Willey by the GDC Group Ltd, our two companies now sit amongst
some of the best-known brands in the heating industry. These include Dimplex, Creda NOBO, and Faber.
Based in Southampton and employing approximately 250 staff, the GDC Group is the UK heating division and subsidiary of the privately-owned
Glen Dimplex Group which operates from Southern Ireland. The Glen Dimplex Group is one of the world’s largest electrical appliance businesses and,
with over 40 companies worldwide and employing over 10,000 staff, the company has an impressive annual turnover of €2 billion.
Being part of this establishment not only enables Valor and Robinson Willey to take advantage of valuable group resources, ongoing and significant
investment in product innovation will help continue building our much-loved brands.
Long live Brazilia!
Due to the overwhelming popularity of the
Brazilia wall heater, we have now incorporated
this model under the Valor brand. As well
as being an economical way of heating the
home without central heating or providing
additional heat in cold spot areas such as
halls, landings, conservatories and bathrooms,
Brazilia provides clean and economical heat
with no draughts and can operate independent
of a central heating system or boiler, boasting
an impressive heat efficiency of 86%.
Brazilia is available in models – F5, F5S, F8S and
F8ST – and offers a choice of colours and sizes,
as well as manual control with three settings,
or thermostatic comfort control with variable
heat output, if preferred. All models are suitable
for both natural and LP gas, courtesy of an
LPG kit. All that’s required to install Brazilia is an
outside wall. Nothing could be simpler!
Turning the heat up on electric
As well as gas, Robinson Willey and Valor
are also the undisputed Kings of electric
fires and suites. With a wide choice of
models specifically designed to suit social
housing needs, our brands are also the
number one choice amongst tenants
and landlords for providing low-cost,
energy efficient heating solutions.
As well as offering an extensive range of fires
and suites – we even offer a range of hearths
sizes to suit tenants’ bespoke requirements
- all models deliver 100% heat efficiency and
offer flexibility of control. Both brands also offer a
top-positioned side switch control. Plus, a onepiece fixed fuel bed, thermostatic controls and
LED lights with 50,000 hours life, are just some
of the other features that make our products
stand out from the crowd. All are fully BEAB
approved, of course.
When it comes to installation, a one-box
solution helps simplify the process. Indeed,
the majority of our suites now come ready
assembled for installation in one box and these
just need the packaging removing, fixing back
to the wall, plugging in and simply switching on.
Nothing could be easier!
The number one
choice in gas
for social housing
Having supplied heating products to the
social housing sector for decades, it’s no
surprise to find that both Robinson Willey
and Valor are today’s number one choice
amongst landlords and tenants for their
unrivalled energy efficient gas heating
solutions and specialist features that assist
the elderly and disabled.
With more than six million UK homes currently
in a fuel poverty trap, energy efficiency is more
important than ever, but as Robinson Willey is
the only manufacturer to include a separated
heat exchanger with a duplex burner system to
give unrivalled heating performance and control
on its range of radiant/convector gas fires, social
housing institutions can rest assured that these
models are the most energy efficient on the
market and provide a powerful source of heat in
the event of a power cut. Plus, many of these
fires boast heat efficiencies of up to 89%,
together with impressive heat outputs of over
4.0kW, whilst flexible control systems help
reduce waste and facilitate low running costs.
Electronic ignition and slider control options,
together with a range of adaptors that attach
to the heat control to facilitate operation and
ignition, and numbered heat controls and raised
heat markings, are just some of the features
available on selected RW and Valor radiant/
convector and outset models that are specifically
designed to assist the elderly and disabled.
A flip-top lid can also conceal the heat control
and offers the facility to house operating
instructions and bespoke security and emergency
details for social housing, if required.
Coming soon...
a new range of Electric Fires & Suites from Valor
Tenant’s choice
just gets better
When it comes to tenants’ choice, there’s
no one cares more than RW and Valor.
We fully understand that the process of
choosing new heating products can be
complicated at times, due to the sheer
choice and variation of products on offer.
Hence, our job is to help make the
decision-making process as simple as
possible and that starts with ‘A Tenants
Choice’ brochure that we produce on
your behalf. Designed by our in-house
design team exactly to your requirements,
the brochure incorporates quality images
of your logo and selected products and
is not only easy to navigate, it helps
tenants make their all important choice.
New assembley line
dedicated to social housing
Our commitment to the social housing
sector continues with the unveiling of a new
and bespoke assembly line especially for
electric suites. Based at the site of our stateof-the-art 250,000 sq ft National Distribution
Centre in Burnley, the new assembly line
covers the whole of the UK and not only
considerably extends our production
capacity, it offers faster turnaround,
improved flexibility and customer service.
Along side a ‘mix and match’ option of
electric fires, hearths and surrounds, we are
New Valor suite
of literature
In line with its plans to focus on retail and
trade sectors, including social housing,
Valor has unveiled a new suite of literature
that is specifically dedicated to each of
these markets.
Once products have been selected and
logo’s supplied, sit back and wait for
them to be printed
and delivered.
able to produce a comprehensive range of
electric suites that come in a variety of sizes,
including petite and 20” versions to suit specific
installation requirements.
Whilst we supply the majority of our suites
ready assembled for installation in one box,
a two-box option of surround, back and hearth
in one box and a separately boxed fire is also
available to provide the customer with specific
requirements.
Meeting customer needs is what we do best.
this sector. Entitled ‘Heating Solutions for Social
Housing’, this 20 page guide encompasses
the company’s complete portfolio of Valor
branded products, including gas and electric
fires, and electric suites. A separate wall heater
brochure is also available.
A dedicated guide is also exclusively available
for our nationwide network of Valor Centres.
Service...
with a difference
Being part of the multi-national Glen Dimplex
Group, Robinson Willey and Valor brands
are backed by an award-winning customer
service network. Providing over 190 GAS
SAFE certified engineers on the road, this
support extends nationwide across the UK
with a regional fleet structure.
Not only does this unrivalled customer service
offering pride itself on achieving an impressive
85% first time fix on all field service repairs,
a total of 250,000 repairs are also carried out
per annum.
A new 64 page guide entitled ‘The Complete
Collection’ is now available for retailers and
homeowners. Perfectly illustrating the sheer
depth and diversity of Valor’s current product
offering, which is the largest in the UK, this 64
page brochure has already become a ‘must
have’ guide when choosing a Valor fire.
Scooping the Total Excellence and Quality
(TEQ) service award for the fourth time in 2012,
an independent annual survey of customers who
had an engineer’s visit in the previous 12 months,
confirmed that 95% rated their customer service
as excellent or good.
A new brochure exclusively for social housing
also reflects our continued commitment to
Naturally, as you would expect from such an elite
service, when it comes to help and information
covering service, spare parts, warranties and
technical issues, we also have it covered!
Spring 2013
Pioneers of energy efficient heating solutions
Trade sales team
Phil Wing
National Trade & Contracts Manager Tel: 07917 098299
Email: [email protected]
Ian Bowman Scotland
Tel: 07901 852174
Email: [email protected]
Simon Ferry North East
Tel: 07771 702784
Email: [email protected]
John Radford North West
Tel: 07721 637941
Email: [email protected]
Trevor Smith East Midlands
Tel: 07720 470528
Email: [email protected]
Alan Smith Midlands & South West
Tel: 07901 852178
Email: [email protected]
Darren Solomon South East
Tel: 07901 852179
Email: [email protected]
Contact us...
GDC Group Ltd
Millbrook House, Grange Drive,
Hedge End, Southampton S030 2DF
Tel: 0844 879 3587
Fax: 0844 879 3578
Email: [email protected]
www.valor.co.uk
www.robinsonwilley.co.uk
RV – 0001/0313