Under current plans, the sale of new petrol and diesel cars will be banned from 2030. As a result, Voltimum Plus manufacturer partner, LINIAN, reports significant uptake in its SuperClip and Earth Rod Pro products. Here, Ian Arbuckle, Managing Director at LINIAN, discusses the increasing interest in EV charging, as well as the Internet of Things and smart technology, and explains why the company has joined the Voltimum Plus rewards programme.
What trends have you witnessed in the electrical industry over the last year or two in terms of the work contractors are doing and the products they’re seeking?
Definitely electric vehicles (EV). With the government’s 2030 targets for getting rid of petrol and diesel cars coming up, EV charging is massive. We’ve noticed a huge uptake in enquiries from EV installers and more dedicated EV installers coming into the marketplace, and we’ve also ourselves moved further into the market with products like the Earth Rod Pro and some other products that we’re bringing out.
What evolution of technology in the electrical sector do you expect to see over the next 1/5/10 years and why?
Again, EV. I think we’ll see the development of technology in terms of the charging, the vehicles themselves and the installation methods.
The Internet of Things and smart technology, too. People’s homes are becoming smarter and the technology is becoming more accessible across the marketplace, so I definitely think over the next 10 years we’ll start to see solutions for the integration of smart technology into people’s homes and businesses.
Thinking about the last two questions, have you seen a particular uptake in any of your product ranges recently that reflect these trends and contractors’ buying habits?
We’ve seen a massive uptake in sales of the LINIAN SuperClip range due to EV charging, particularly our 12-14mm Clip because it’s suited to the cable that supplies the chargers themselves. Again, SuperClips, including the larger sizes, in terms of smart homes as the technologies are using bunches of cables which are being retained with SuperClips.
Our Earth Rod Pro product, which we launched at the start of lockdown, has also been very successful, again largely due to EV charging and the installation of earth rods, as well as things like 5G and data centres where there are large earth installations.
LINIAN’s range of faster, safer and simpler products are available to purchase from selected wholesalers in return for Voltimum Plus loyalty points. Visit the website for more information and/or to register for your free account.
Training and development plays an important role for all those in the industry, but the landscape has shifted somewhat from traditional face-to-face classroom-based training to more digital options. What importance do you place on the likes of webinars, e-learning and virtual events?
Absolutely huge importance. Even pre-pandemic these things were important because people aren’t having to leave the office to go and learn about new industry solutions or to upskill themselves technically. Being able to do that from the convenience of your office or from home with your laptop is huge and cuts out the logistics in between. People can focus on being more strategic with what they’re learning and also focus on their personal lives as well, which is important.
Voltimum Plus members can watch a selection of informative on-demand webinars from LINIAN in exchange for 100 Voltimum Plus points each. Click the ‘Learning’ tab on the Voltimum Plus website to find out more.
You are now a partner of the Voltimum Plus rewards programme – welcome! Why did you join this initiative and what benefits does it offer contactors? What makes it stand out from other loyalty schemes?
We joined as a manufacturer partner due to the benefits it offers the end users buying the products. It’s free to sign up, really simple to use and users don’t have to submit any paperwork; it’s all automatic. After accruing points for buying LINIAN products, users can then go and exchange them for prizes, cool things, holidays, or they can donate them to the Electrical Industries Charity. For us, it was a bit of a no-brainer – we want to be part of something like that within our industry, and we are!
For more information about the Voltimum Plus rewards programme, as well as details of eligible products, rewards and learning opportunities, please visit the website.