The UK has long been a country that celebrates the benefits of having multiple sources for its industrial products. We recognise the service limitations of a central manufacturer and the beneficial support of specialist suppliers where a distributor of this type can offer a central point of service for major brands and related products, with a geographical and logistical rational – on a local basis or at least in the same country.
A good example is the FDB Online store, which is proving a valuable resource to panel builders and installers now that UK manufacturing industry is in a growth phase once again. The FDB Online store features an extensive range of locks, swinghandles, hinges, handles, sealing gaskets, rod locks, door stays and other enclosure/cabinet accessories. These are held in stock for urgent delivery and come together with their Rocfast lock assembly and logistics service.
Further underlining their position in the industrial market, the FDB Panel Fittings Online store shares coverage with FDB Electrical who have been specialists in the field of electrical protection for more than half a century, and have an enviable reputation throughout the world for quality, innovation and service. Consequently, the store makes available RCDs for personnel or plant protection, Earth Continuity Monitors and a wide range of ancillary devices, all providing the optimum in design and reliability.
This long-established distributor is proud to provide probably the UK’s largest range of locks, hinges, handles and accessories for virtually all industrial applications. Their supply process continuously focuses on an ability to provide a friendly personal service based on detailed product knowledge and experience with an extensive product range. The portfolio encompasses everything from cable management support systems to cabinet hinges, enclosure gasketing and locking systems, which include many stainless steel variants and anti-vandal handle designs – with extensive stock holding they expect to deliver most items direct from their warehouse.
Often distributors are smaller, frequently family businesses, operating as a specialist supplier who offers a high degree of willingness, keenness, continuity/low staff turnover, experience and focus, as their business depends on adding value – the service they offer, the package, flexible pricing, the support package – and of course the major benefit of physical stock with rapid delivery.
Under the banner of their Rocfast brand FDB are frequently able to achieve significant reductions in purchasing/admin time and effort, with this well proven “Just in time” service for all those low-value but critical components. This means that with just one order, one invoice, one payment the components can be on the production line when needed.
Traditionally, this has comprised providing a service to small probably local/regional accounts, but a dedicated distributor can provide customers with so much more than that – for example expertise across the market, technical expertise in an area of application not just of products They can advise on what can be done and how, with credibility derived from a measure of impartiality. Providing reactivity and urgency sometimes lacking in large national organisations, coupled with stockholding that supports local relationships with a detailed knowledge of the customer’s business. This is integrated in a package sourced from different suppliers – a one-stop-shop, including collation and provision of technical information.
A dedicated distributor can offer complementary brands and products – building on the principal brands, so developing a portfolio which reflects the customer position in the market place integrating other brands and managing the sometime delicate balance of running them alongside each other to serve your business overall.
Ultimately, such a specialist will often have developed their own complimentary brand ranges which enable them to fill gaps in the market or address areas that are not presently served, or otherwise to serve a particular niche requirement that the international brands cannot or do not wish to serve.
A really active stocking distributor can offer additional services such as component assembly, technical consultancy, commissioning, systems specification and set up, workstation packs, on-site delivery, pre-delivery testing, also silk screen or pad printing.
Support comes in many forms and can include information on their website and the educational value of a media presence, plus perhaps a dedicated blog and the creation of specific sales/technical support material e.g. datasheets and manuals. They can also offer compliance with appropriate standards and a specialist sales/support channel.
