NEW 'TOTAL CONTROL RANGE' FROM DOUGLAS

Premier brands re-launched under new banner

The Douglas Group, the specialist supplier of thermostatic control solutions and heating controls for the non-domestic market has re-launched its premier brands - Douglas Controls and ESSCO Controls under the new 'Total Control' banner.

Douglas Controls is fast emerging as a significant market leader in the commercial showering, washing and bathing sectors and is involved in many major PFI (Private Funding Initiatives) projects.

Sister brand ESSCO Controls focuses on the building services sector, supplying two, three and four port mixing valves (rotary, lift and lay), hydraulic balancing valves and newly introduced fan coil controls.

Established in 1983 by its chairman Doug Stammers, the Group has earned a strong reputation for innovation, quality products, service and technical support, but is now actively building its profile. The company's management team, headed by managing director Richard Stammers and supported by commercial director Bob Purdom, has extensive experience in the commercial market.

Richard Stammers says: "A strong new re-branding strategy and further product innovation will drive the firm forwards during 2005 - and beyond.

Our fresh, new corporate identity signifies the company's future direction and aim to increase its rapidly growing market share and sector influence."

Further initiatives reflect the company's commitment to developing its role in a competitive marketplace. These include a new-look web site, a ramped-up marketing campaign encompassing more audience-focused communication via advertising, PR work, fine-tuned sales literature and direct marketing tactics.

Commenting on the dynamics of the controls marketplace, Richard Stammers continues: "It's a complex, competitive marketplace, growing in sophistication. Our clients - consulting engineers, contractors and merchants, plus installers - have different, changing requirements.

"Meeting these needs is paramount. That's why we place so much emphasis on product innovation and technical ability. Made to the highest standards, they are reliable, easy and quick to install, and low-maintenance. Many of our products have unique features benefiting the end-user.

"With a Group-wide re-branding strategy being implemented, and a comprehensive product development programme in place, stand-by for more developments. We're here for the long term with our sights on increasing our sector presence, growing market share and making an even bigger impact with our Total Control Range!"

Total control

The company's Total Control Range (TCR) is designed for all commercial applications, meeting the needs of its clients operating in different roles.

For consulting engineers, contractors and merchants - and their customers - TCR provides innovative design solutions delivering enhanced/technical performance, time saving benefits, reliability, value.

Bob Purdom explains: "The Total Control Range isn't just about offering the widest available choice of product solutions. The range encompasses added value features where appropriate. For instance, integrated control solutions to simplify and speed up installation, flow regulators for cost-efficient water management, self-closing and non-touch controls delivering improved hygiene and reducing patient risk for the healthcare sector."

About the Douglas Group

Doug Stammers founded family-owned business, the Douglas Group, during the early 1980s. With its key brand entities - Douglas Controls and ESSCO Controls - the company is based in Wallingford, Oxfordshire.

The Douglas Controls team is headed by managing director Richard Stammers. He is supported by commercial director Bob Purdom who has wide experience of the commercial sector.

About Douglas Controls - innovative Total Control Range Solutions

Offering the most extensive choice of controls available with emphasis on evolving its high quality Total Control Range, Douglas Controls provides a comprehensive service to the sport/leisure business, the healthcare and security sectors and most types of industry/commercial venture (eg housing associations, care homes, schools, universities, hotels/boarding houses, commercial buildings).

The brand continuously aims to produce and supply innovative, high quality - safe and affordable - products, providing excellent value. It is committed to excellence in product design and function, plus unrivalled service support.

Service

Its highly skilled team offers in-house training support for its customers. In-depth knowledge of water systems enables provision of free, detailed training on all aspects of a complex marketplace.

Large warehouse facilities in Wallingford ensure high levels of stocks, ensuring delivery of every product when, and wherever, needed.

Douglas Controls often supplies its products to its clients anywhere in the UK, within 48 hours. Pre-despatch quality controls mean every item undergoes stringent inspection and testing procedures, ensuring the highest standards.

Products

The company's Total Control Range (TCR) is designed for all commercial applications, meeting the needs of its clients operating in different roles.

For consulting engineers, contractors and merchants - and their customers - the Total Control range provides innovative design solutions delivering enhanced/technical performance, time saving benefits, reliability, value.

The Douglas Controls product portfolio encompasses thermostatic mixing valves (TMVs) for baths and basins, plus a comprehensive fail-safe thermostatic shower valve range. Ancillary products include: time-flow controls, anti-vandal heads, electronic sensor taps/kits, pressure-reducing and isolating valves.

Delabie, a Douglas Controls' manufacturing partner, particularly specialises in automatic shut-off controls.

Delabie has achieved market leadership through innovation and durable product construction. The low maintenance products are easy to install.

Mechanical (non-concussive) and electronic controls and water saving devices eliminate waste by regulating the quantity of water delivered, offering improved hygiene to the healthcare and food industries.

Building designers too are increasingly searching for solutions to ecology/economy issues presented by the European Water Charter. This states that 'water is a common heritage and its value must be acknowledged by all of us. We must save it and use it carefully.' Douglas Controls meets this key consideration - specifiers of a Douglas Delabie control valve are contributing to conserving a precious natural resource and ensuring reductions in water and energy bills.

Douglas Controls branded products are manufactured to the European ISO9002 quality standard

Total Control Range: overview
Comprises:

• new product developments (eg sporting shower panel, thermostatic shower panel, Tempstop basin tap)
• flagship products include: TMVs (shower, wash basin, bath, bidet)
• Avance Elite thermostatic mixing valve, Thermomix dual control
• shower valve, Tempostop/Tempomix time flow controls, streamline flexible shower kit
• shower heads (vandal-resistant, fixed/flexible height kits)
• basin taps and mixers (mechanical, pneumatic, electronic non-touch)
• pressure-reducing valves
• new WC and urinal controls.

Safety, performance, hygiene

Douglas Controls has become the first choice for discerning specifiers and contractors when selecting commercial showering and washroom products.

Providing precise temperature regulation with anti-scald protection is essential for ensuring total safety in healthcare, care homes, housing association, sports/leisure applications. For example, Avance Elite and TMVs Hydromix and Economix are independently tested and certified to the NHS Estates TMV3 scheme.

For unrivalled performance without waste, Douglas Controls' time flow solutions (mechanical/electronic), eliminate waste by regulating the amount of water delivered, combined with easy installation and low maintenance.

With increasing concerns about MRSA and potential cross-contamination in the healthcare and food industries, the Total Control Range offers non-touch and self-closing solutions providing total hygiene in showering and washbasin applications, and for control of WCs/urinals.

Safe hot water and health issues are very much at the heart of the Douglas Controls ethos. Hence the company's commitment to TMV2 and TMV3 standards in reducing risk of scalding (nb young and elderly are most at risk) through correct installation of thermostatic mixing valves (TMVs) and health concerns associated with Legionella bacteria.

Douglas Controls takes an active role in BEAMAEnergy's Thermostatic Mixing Valve Manufacturers' Association (TMVA), which promotes and addresses issues concerned with safe provision of hot water at point-of-use.