Following a period of sustained growth and the expansion of its services, PBM charts the recent developments at EPD Insulation Group.
Founded by Chairman Steve Boon in 2011, EPD Insulation Group is an independent, family-run distributor of insulation, screeding, drylining and associated products. Growing “from humble roots with a few vans and drivers in Whittlesey, Cambridgeshire,” the company has expanded at a rapid rate and last year appointed its first full board of directors as the family team at the core of its operations — Steve, plus Director Jessica Brown and MD Tony Brown — sought to gather the core skillsets needed to take it forward to new levels of success.
Steve commented at the time: “As we see the business going through a record growth period, it was evident that we needed the right skills and personalities to take charge of their respective departments and manage that growth in the most effective way.”
Working with some of the “biggest and most established brands in the industry” including Rockwool, Ecotherm, Mannock, Superglass, Kingspan, Recticel and Jablite, the company also supplies other vital products such as plywood, timber and fixings, as well as being one of the largest independent importers of plasterboard to the UK.
Supplying the merchant sector and its customers through a substantial stockholding at its large, 85,000sq ft distribution hub in Peterborough, the business recently opened an additional depot in the Somerset town of Frome.
“With the new depot in Frome, we will be able to offer potential next-day deliveries to the South and reduce our mileage.”
Adding up to 30 delivery vehicles, this second site opened its doors in June and has enabled the distributor to expand its delivery service into the Southwest, encompassing the South of England through to Devon and the north of Cornwall in addition to serving South Wales.
Tony Brown commented: “Our operations will still be centric with sales, accounts, transport, logistics and marketing based at our Head Office in Peterborough. This will ensure a smooth process for both depots and will remain to provide the excellent service we give our customers.”
The latest step to underpin the company’s strapline of ‘Trust, Integrity, Service,’ the Frome facility followed the introduction of a new Electronic Proof of Delivery (EPOD) system in March. Transitioning to a more efficient and sustainable paperless system, instead of needing to sign and receive paper delivery notes, customers will acknowledge delivery on a handheld mobile tablet device which will automatically send proof of delivery via text and email.
Key details such as delivery location, images of the products on-site, along with the name/signature of the person who accepted the delivery, will all be instantly available. This has been billed as a significant step forward for the firm’s delivery operation, simplifying and streamlining the process for customers whilst aiding the business “to become even more sustainable.”
Indeed, EPD Insulation Group states that it is “passionate about environmental issues and actively driven to learn more, change our business to include sustainable ideas, and change perceptions within the industry and the wider surroundings.” As Steve explains: “Our product portfolio is already dedicated to retaining heat within buildings, thereby futureproofing them with a higher EPC rating.
“Insulating homes and commercial buildings with EPD products has a multitude of benefits, from reducing energy bills and carbon footprint, creating a warmer home or building in winter and a cooler one in hot summers, absorbing sound, reducing moisture and condensation, and providing greater fire protection.”
He continues: “We are also committed to driving down our carbon footprint here at EPD, and have invested in 14 charging points for company hybrid and electric vehicles at the head office. With the new depot in Frome, we will be able to offer potential next-day deliveries to the South and reduce our mileage.”
Tony added: “We strive for excellence across our company operations, as demonstrated by our FORS Gold (Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme) accreditation. This ensures driver excellence, fleet expertise and sustainability best practice at all times.”
Service standards
Overall, the company asserts that the elevated level of service it offers customers stems from its “highly skilled team members.” There is a company ethos to “promote from within” wherever possible — whilst also recruiting externally as it continues to expand — and its experienced sales, warehousing and logistics teams all work closely with one another to ensure orders can be agreed and scheduled straightaway, with cost-effective loads planned and despatched via a range delivery vehicles from articulated lorries to 3.5ton flatbed vans.
With its large stockholding and the sizeable delivery radius afforded by its Peterborough and Frome depots, EPD is able to supply stock items from its warehouses on a next-day basis if required. And buoyed by its consistent growth, the firm says that its “winning combination” of product range and availability matched by a diverse fleet of vehicles, strong supplier relationships plus its friendly, knowledgeable sales team allows it to “continue offering market-leading prices and services.”
For the final words, we return to MD Tony Brown: “From door fills, plasterboard, studs, fixings, screed and acoustic membrane to, of course, insulation, we are the industry’s chosen partner for all building supplies and premium B2B distributors to builders’ merchants, dry liners, screeders and the wider construction industry.”
Click here for more information on the products and services available from EPD Insulation Group.
Main image (top): The new EPD Insulation Group depot in Frome.
