Actis, which recently launched its “revolutionary two-in-one insulation product” Eolis HC, has expanded its merchant and distributor training offer as part of its wider support package designed to increase sales.
Eolis HC is described as a two-in-one reflective insulation with an integrated vapour barrier which will enable builders and roofers to “reduce the number of steps required to achieve an impressive U-value as well as airtightness in roofs, transforming the loft and barn conversion sectors.”
The company has been running training sessions for many years to help merchants understand how, why and where its existing range can be used, and these have been popular among national, regional and local brands alike, with Jewson, IBMG, Parkers, Fairalls, Stamco, Alsford Timber, Travis Perkins and Elliotts among the beneficiaries.
And as well as creating written and video installation guidelines, which are mainly targeted at the end users, Actis is also offering additional face-to-face and tailored training to all its merchant customers.
The training is designed to demonstrate “how super-speedy and clean the products are to install” – addressing two of the key niggles for those ‘on the ground’ – and show how they help builders comply with Part L of the building regulations.
The sessions, which also look at the range of scenarios in which the products are used, are tailored to suit the depth into which each branch wants to go. For those interested in the nitty gritty, details of build-ups and the varying levels of U-values achieved through a range of alternatives are available. Not all merchants want such minute detail – but the flexibility of the sessions means branches have options. There is no ‘one size fits all’ approach.
View from the floor
Domi Scrivener, Manager at Jewson’s Woking branch, said one of its plus points of the training approach was that it was more like a stand-up comedy routine than a po-faced training session! He continued: “The guys in the branch thoroughly enjoyed the session, especially with it being face-to-face where the guys could speak to you and ask you questions in “real” time.
“The understanding is much clearer and I think the regular visits you provide will keep the momentum going and prompt the guys to ask questions or pass the customers your way, which I know you are great at doing.”
In addition to providing training in branches, the Actis team can offer hands-on installation coaching on site. The sales team are always on hand to answer follow up questions – something the firm says that merchants find incredibly useful.
Special merchant days are also among the offerings, with those wanting very detailed technical content given the chance to join Actis’ four CPD training modules – two of which are RIBA-approved – which are mainly geared towards builders, specifiers and building control officers.
The training also looks at target markets and tools which can help merchants advise on the most effective combination of products, including the U-value simulator which enables users to play around with different combinations of products in a range of scenarios.
Actis South East and London Area Sales Manager Liane Bayliss commented: “The training gives merchants more confidence to talk to customers about an alternative to rigid board or mineral wool in timber frame structures. I always get good feedback as we have a little quiz at the end to confirm they understand what the products do and where they go in the build. And it definitely helps increase sales.”
Joe Glaze, Actis South Central ASM, added: “I have positive feedback from the merchants, as it gives them more confidence to explain the range to the customers and highlight key USPs of the products. They find the sessions give them a broader knowledge of the products and they are reassured knowing they have me on the phone to help too.”
Actis says that Eolis HC will be especially transformative for loft and barn converters dealing with shallow rafters where headroom is at a premium. It removes the need to cut insulation between each rafter, with all the tricky and dusty cutting that entails if using PIR board, thanks to the fact that while it is thin enough to be used in low headspace zones it also offers excellent thermal performance.
Instead, they can just lay the product, like a blanket, across the rafters on the inside (warm side) of the building, sealing each section to the next with the self-adhesive lap feature of the product.
The Triplex technology on which Eolis HC is based is created from a number of layers of reflective films, each separated by a thin layer of fibre, trapping air between each section, thus boosting thermal performance.
Time trials show that when insulating a roof, installation time using Eolis HC is “at least twice as quick as insulating between rafters with PIR board.” The time difference is said to be even more dramatically in favour of Eolis HC when taking into account how long it takes to handle materials on site and clearing up afterwards.
You can watch step by step how to videos here. And view the Actis timed installation video demonstrating how quick and easy it is to install Eolis HC here.
