CABLES
YEARLY REVIEW
ELAND CABLES
ELAND CABLES REFLECTS ON 2018 AND TALKS
ABOUT THEIR APPROACH TO CABLE SUPPLY IN 2019
“Delivering quality, compliant cable solutions
you can rely on from a supplier you can trust
– that’s always our approach to working with
customers, and it’s been a core focus for us
in 2018” says Jean-Sébastien Pelland, Deputy
Managing Director of Eland Cables.
It’s been a busy year for the company. In
late Spring Eland Cables launched Veriflex®,
their own brand of industrial automation
cables that are BSI Kitemark tested, having
worked in conjunction with BSI to develop
this new third-party mark of quality. The BSI
Kitemark TM is recognised by over 82% of UK
adults as well as holding significant weight
around the world, and is a mark that has
long been associated with trust and quality.
It’s now a stamp of approval on certain
cables, tested rigorously under the BSI Cable
Testing Verification programme, and helping
cable buyers to identify verifiably high
performance, high quality products.
“In an industry with ever-growing
compliance regulations, and where that
responsibility reaches throughout the supply
chain, we knew offering BSI Kitemark tested
products was a real differentiator. Third-party
accredited products provide an independent
assessment of quality that can give clients
peace of mind, particularly where it connects
critical infrastructure and equipment.”
continued Jean-Sébastien.
BSI Kitemark testing on cables requires
testing on a very granular level, examining
each component layer of the cable in turn
from the conductor at the centre to the
sheathing material on the outside. These
constructional layers are measured against
relevant British and European standards in
a UKAS accredited laboratory. It’s only once
the cable has been proven to meet these
standards that the Kitemark is applied and
it’s released for sale.
In other areas, the company has also been
active in the UK, Ireland and internationally
supporting major projects with power, data
and control cables and accessories across
the breadth of industries. Most recently,
they’ve invested in their own fleet of delivery
vehicles to help ensure their customers
receive that end-to-end quality service.
So with a positive and profitable 2018 nearly
behind them, what challenges lie ahead in
2019?
The recent confirmation that the UK
will remain a member of CENELEC, the
European Committee for Electrotechnical
Standardisation, will be welcome news
to many. As a member, Britain (and BSI,
the British Standards Institution) are
obliged to adopt harmonised ‘European’
cable standards. With CENELEC working
increasingly in sync with IEC, the
international electrotechnical committee,
it continues to create a common language
for cable manufacture and simplifies
specification for multi-national organisations
commissioning projects.
Whilst there remains a wider political
uncertainty, the hope is that this news
provides a degree of assurance to those
commissioning new projects or currently
actively building new installations.
“We all know that project demands can be
fluid, and change rapidly” continued Jean-
Sébastien, “This has never been truer than
in these uncertain times. That’s why you
need to work with a team that can adapt
and accommodate even those last minute,
unprecedented requests.”
Eland Cables believes that in order to
succeed in this increasingly competitive
market a company must be agile, offering
exceptional customer service and highest
quality products. “Real quality comes in
having the expertise of a good technical
team and project management team in your
corner. Technical experts who provide advice
on cable selection, providing answers and
practical, compliant solutions to complex
requirements from the specification stage
through to completion” he explained. “You
want a supplier that does whatever it can
to take the pressure off you and keep the
timelines on track” he concludes.
We’ve all heard the term ‘marginal
gains’ – often used in the sporting world
but holding true in business too. Every
incremental benefit, every extra efficiency
and innovative solution helps underpin the
supplier-customer relationship, builds that
all-important trust, and creates a win-win
situation for both parties. Eland Cables
has invested heavily in this approach,
from expanding their site for increased
stockholding for a wider range of cables on
a UK next-day delivery basis, to increasing
the volume of Quality Assurance testing
in their UKAS accredited cable laboratory
and pre-shipment checks. It means that,
when combined with their willingness (and
ability) to offer the additional technical and
project support providing vital knowledge
and insight into the specific industry and
application of a customer, it combines to
deliver a compelling offering.
It’s this customer-centric, well-rounded
approach they believe will be key in
successfully and seamlessly weathering the
months ahead as we move into 2019. It’s an
approach that many of their customers will
agree with and welcome the benefits of.
Eland Cables
[email protected]
Sales: 020 7241 8787
Technical Hotline: 020 7241 8500
www.elandcables.com
Issue 36 PECM
59