Stud detection devices enable trade users to save time on the job by eliminating what could be costly mistakes. For merchants, they can represent an ideal upselling opportunity at the trade counter. PBM speaks to Zircon UK Sales Director, Andy Vaughan to find out more.
“The unit cost of our devices is much less than having to remedy the damage caused by drilling through a metal pipe or a cable,” explains Zircon’s Andy Vaughan, neatly summarising the key advantage of the company’s range of electronic stud finder devices. In a competitive market, the firm — headquartered in ‘the heart of Silicon Valley’ in Northern California — commands a sizeable market share and sold over three million units worldwide last year.
The company has been engaged in the UK for over a decade and has an established customer base across the domestic tool, hardware and home improvement sectors. Listed with well-known companies in the electrical wholesale market such as CEF, the firm also has a presence in a number of merchants and is in discussions with nationals, independents and buying groups to expand its reach.
In March last year, having previously been sold through distribution, the US parent corporation established a UK ‘affiliate’ to increase its domestic footprint and a more active ‘local presence’. Headed up by the experienced Andy Vaughan, the company’s sales operation is based out of St. Ives, Cambridgeshire and supported by 3PL warehousing facilities in Nottinghamshire.
The move allows the company to have full control over its routes to market, and ensure its broad range of products is sold through the appropriate channels. As Andy explained at the UK operation’s launch: “The UK is a fast-growing and dynamic region within both the DIY and contractor trade marketplace. Zircon Corporation Ltd is committed to expanding international availability of Zircon products and providing UK customers with the correct products to complete their projects, whether DIY or professional in nature.”
The company’s L series of products are designed for the trade / merchant channel, with Andy describing the MultiScanner L550c OneStep model as the multipurpose ‘trade workhorse’ of the range. The unit ‘vibrantly’ locates studs, metal, and live AC electrical wiring behind walls, floors, and ceilings with the advanced ColorTrip display lighting green in stud scan, blue in metal, and red in live AC scan.
The screen flashes, or lights red, to alert the presence of live AC in Stud, DeepScan, and Metal Scan modes, while a 4-mode switch makes it easy to change modes. Stud Scan mode locates the centre, edges, and direction of wood or metal studs up to 19mm deep; Deep Scan mode doubles the scanning depth to 38mm deep; Metal Scan mode locates non-ferrous metal, such as copper pipe, up to 38mm deep, and ferrous metal such as rebar up to 76mm deep; and AC Scan mode locates live, unshielded AC electrical wiring up to 51 mm deep.
Display units, including options with working samples, are available to merchants to support sales whilst the product packaging features QR codes which link through to YouTube videos that explain the key features and benefits.
