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SEPTEMBER 2009
ACO MERCHANT_LINK THE NEWS CHANNEL FOR ACO BUILD STOCKISTS†
ACO MERCHANT LINK FOCUS SHARPEN YOUR FOCUS ON SUSTAINABILITY WITH OUR SPECIAL REPORT
PICTURE TAKEN AT IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM, DUXFORD. FEATURED – REPLICA MARK IX SPITFIRE (AND ACO DRAINAGE CHANNEL!)
ACO MERCHANT_LINK | SEPTEMBER 2009
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IN THIS ISSUE… DIFFICULT TIMES - BUT WE’RE BACK! ACO MERCHANT_LINK RETURNS,WITH MORE PRODUCT AND INDUSTRY NEWS!
NEWS 4-5 INDUSTRY & ACO NEWS The new HexDrain Pro range and the ACO Academy trailer.
The UK recession has begun to take its toll on the construction industry with a profound effect on suppliers and merchants alike. However, to help create profitable commercial opportunities, we’re back with more product and industry related information - instead of adding to the doom and gloom! This issue includes a feature on our landscaping range and a special report on sustainability – ACO Merchant_Link Focus. The report highlights the key issues surrounding Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS), for example, the new legislation for paved driveways and gardens. We hope you enjoy reading this issue of ACO Merchant_Link and remember, we would love to hear your comments and feedback. Ed the Editor, edtheeditor@aco.co.uk
SECTOR FOCUS 6-7 MERCHANT STOCK PACKS Optimise your yard space with the new Merchant Stock Packs.
OTHER FEATURES Many thanks to all of you who took time to comment on our first issue of Merchant_Link; it is greatly appreciated. Without exception your feedback has been extremely positive – you like the style, the clear way that information is presented and the focus on areas that are relevant to you and your business today. I know Ed has sort to bring you a communication that keeps you up to date with all the latest developments in our industry and gives you the leading edge when it comes to making the most of existing markets and on the new opportunities that continue to emerge. As you may know, this year marks ACO’s 25th anniversary in the UK – a significant landmark reached through the strength of the relationships we have established across the industry and in particular with our stockists. I would just like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has shared in the challenges and successes of the last 25 years – I’m confident the future will prove to be equally exciting! Steve Durdant-Hollamby, Commercial Director
8 DRAIN SPOTTER The exclusive Drain Spotter club is open! Start sending your ACO drain photos!
9 ACO MERCHANT SUPPORT Special pallet deal, training tips and the e-Xact online product directory.
10 PRESS RE-RELEASE More ACO Projects.
11 PRODUCT MERCHANDISERS, ACO LITERATURE AND GIVEAWAYS ACO’s latest offerings for you and your branch
ACO MERCHANT_LINK FOCUS The Sustainable Urban Drainage System (SUDS) report from ACO
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NEWS
PRICELIST UPDATE
ACO HEXDRAIN PRO – A WIDER RANGE
ACO WILL NOT BE ISSUING A NEW PRICELIST IN SEPTEMBER TO REPLACE THE CURRENT PRICELIST, ACO BUILD PRICELIST 9.
The ACO HexDrain® Pro 100 (100mm wide) system was launched in 2008. The high strength polypropylene channel is now available in two additional widths: 150mm and 200mm. The ACO HexDrain® Pro 100 (100mm) channel comes complete with a black composite grating and the ACO HexDrain® Pro 150 (150mm) and 200 (200mm) channels are supplied with ductile iron gratings.
NEW! 150MM & 200MM CHANNEL WIDTHS NOW AVAILABLE!
TYPICAL APPLICATIONS: -
Commercial developments Light industrial units Pedestrian precincts Private and public parking Residential developments Schools
To order stock of ACO HexDrain® Pro, please contact Chris or Suellyn on 01462 816666. For ACO HexDrain® Pro literature, please complete the reply card and put it in the post.
NAMES AND FACES ACO EMPLOYEE PROFILE Name: Chri s Hollis Position: ACO Build - Account Advisor Developmen t Chris join ed ACO Bu il member of d in July the Accoun 2007. As a t Developm is respon sible for ent Team, Sales enqu Chris Merchant iries made and end us ers. by the
The ACO Build Pricelist 9 will remain in circulation until 28th February 2010, with a hold on all current list prices. However, there have been a few new developments and a supplement pricelist featuring new products will be sent to you early September. The new products include ACO Eyeleds Lighting Systems, ACO Stabilisation Fabric and priced merchandiser stands.
4 | ACO MERCHANT_LINK
main responsibility is Responsibilities: Chris’ to Merchants, and to supply price quotations Chris proactively process subsequent orders. to inform them of ist, phones ACO Build stock offer them our our current price deals and ial. latest merchandising mater des general In his role, Chris also provi details and list price product advice, stockist information to the end user. phone 01462 816666 or To contact Chris, please co.co.uk. email accountdevelopment@a
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NEWS
ACO HAS TAKEN ITS TRAINING FACILITIES MOBILE WITH THE NEW ACADEMY TRAILER!
HEAVYSIDE
The ACO Academy already offers a wide range of training courses for merchants. Now, with the addition of the trailer, we can demonstrate our product ranges and capabilities using a more hands on approach.
ACO StormTank offers the latest technology in storm water infiltration and attenuation. The lightweight modular cell system is designed for use in a variety of applications including distribution parks, car parks, commercial and residential developments. ACO StormTank has been tested in accordance with CIRIA guidelines and is suitable for use in landscaped and vehicular trafficked areas.
The trailer is available for: • Trade days • Exhibitions • Merchant events • Bespoke training courses
ACO STORMTANK
BSI KITEMARK™ You can now offer BSI Kitemark approved highway products to your customers! The Kitemark is an independently certified test that assures the product meets the most rigorous standards set for national highways and transport agencies (UK) and National Roads Authority (ROI), and has been manufactured to a consistent high quality level. This means your customers can buy in confidence and with minimal risk. ACO RoadDrain® and ACO KerbDrain® products carry the Kitemark and are the first products of their type to do so.
VIENITE® Sustainable construction is also very important to customers. It is a key issue in any new construction project with many contractors looking to specify sustainable products.
“The trailer provides a great opportunity for customers to get hands-on experience with our products. Merchants have already received orders at trade events, where the trailer was present.” Neil Higgins, Product Training Manager, ACO Academy
To meet the requirements of your customers, ACO has created a new form of recycled high strength polymer concrete - Vienite®. Vienite® is a polymeric based material with performance characteristics equal to polymer concrete. Our Vienite® ingredient is now available in all our polymer based Drain and Build products (see ACO Merchant_Link FOCUS for more details).
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SECTOR FOCUS
TRIO PRODUCT CODE 44884
NEW!
DESIGNED TO HELP MERCHANTS REDUCE STOCK HOLDINGS, INCREASE CUSTOMER CHOICE, IMPROVE SPACE EFFICIENCY IN THE YARD AND WORKING CAPITAL USE. THE NEW, ACO MERCHANT STOCK PACKS ARE AVAILABLE NOW! ACO Merchant Stock Packs allow you to broaden your stock ranges to cover a wider range of applications without having to increase the amount of yard space you use. With merchandiser header boards available, these packs offer product combinations designed to meet the requirements of your broad customer base.
Contents: 36 x 1m ACO HexDrain® channels 36 x 1m ACO HexDrain® Brickslot channels 24 x 1m ACO RainDrain® channels
ACO HEXDRAIN High quality domestic drainage channel. Load Class A 15. Typical Applications: Driveways, paths, patios, pedestrian precincts.
There are four ACO Merchant Stock Packs available, including: • ACO Merchant Stock Pack – Trio • ACO Merchant Stock Pack – Landscape • ACO Merchant Stock Pack – Plastic • ACO Merchant Stock Pack – Polymer
DEFINITIONS
ACO RAINDRAIN Polymer concrete domestic drainage channel. Load Class A 15 (with galvanised steel grating) and B 125 (with cast iron grating). Typical Applications: Block-paved driveways, pedestrian precincts, small private car parks.
ACO HEXDRAIN BRICKSLOT
Load Class A 15 Pedestrian, cycleways and domestic drives.
Load Class B 125 Pedestrian precincts, light vehicles, private car parks.
High quality slot drainage channel. Load Class A 15.
Load Class C 250 Parking areas, service stations (cars) and slow-moving light commercial vehicles.
Recycled material
Typical Applications: Building threshold, driveways, garage thresholds, pathways.
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(19310) (19555) (47000)
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LANDSCAPE
PLASTIC
POLYMER
PRODUCT CODE 44883
PLASTIC PRODUCT CODE 44881
POLYMER PRODUCT CODE 44882
Contents: 48 x 1m ACO HexDrain® channels 48 x 1m ACO HexDrain® Brickslot channels
Contents: (19310) (19555)
65 x 1m ACO HexDrain® channels 28 x 1m ACO HexDrain® Pro channels
ACO HEXDRAIN
ACO HEXDRAIN
High quality domestic drainage channel. Load Class A 15.
High quality domestic drainage channel. Load Class A 15.
Typical Applications: Driveways, paths, patios, pedestrian precincts.
Typical Applications: Driveways, paths, patios, pedestrian precincts.
ACO HEXDRAIN BRICKSLOT
ACO HEXDRAIN PRO
Contents: (19310) (11025)
40 x 1m ACO RainDrain® channels (47000) 25 x 1m ACO RainDrain® Pro No. 1 channels (25000)
ACO RAINDRAIN Polymer concrete domestic drainage channel. Load Class A 15 (with galvanised steel grating) and B 125 (with cast iron grating). Typical Applications: Block-paved driveways, pedestrian precincts, small private car parks.
ACO RAINDRAIN PRO
High quality slot drainage channel. Load Class A 15.
High quality general purpose channel. Load Class B 125 and C 250.
Polymer concrete general purpose channel. Load Class B 125 and C 250.
Typical Applications: Building threshold, driveways, garage thresholds, pathways.
Typical Applications: Commercial developments, light industrial units, pedestrian precincts, private and public parking, residential developments, schools.
Typical Applications: Commercial developments, light industrial units, pedestrian precincts, private and public parking, residential developments, schools.
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NEW! ACO DRAIN SPOTTER
ACO DRAIN SPOTTER YOUR EYE ON THE GROUND
THE MOMENT YOU’VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR… THE LAUNCH OF ACO DRAIN SPOTTER! Yes, it’s time to start walking about with your eyes fixed to the ground and a camera at the ready – The ACO Drain Spotter competition has begun!
How to enter? We want you to send interesting photos of ACO drainage products, for example the photo taken at The Imperial War Museum Duxford (right). To enter the ACO Drain Spotter competition, send your best shot as a Jpeg e-mail attachment along with your name, branch address and telephone number to drainspotter@aco.co.uk*
What happens to your entry?
What do you win?
All entries will be judged by our Spotter-inChief (a professional photographer). Remember, we’re looking for exciting high quality photos of ACO products shown in interesting construction projects or locations. The best snaps will be displayed in the Drain Spotter gallery, featured in a future issue of ACO Merchant_Link - You’ll receive a £20 High Street Voucher if your photo features! The top three entries will receive a prize…
All entries receive membership to the ACO Drain Spotter Club which includes a membership pack and Spotter Updates. The winner of the competition will receive a fantastic compact digital camera! The runner up gets a family portrait gift experience worth £80 and third place wins a £20 booklet of developing and printing vouchers – to bring all your Drain Spotter photos to life!
ACO DRAIN SPOTTER GET YOUR KIDS INVOLVED!
WIN!
We’ve created an ACO Drain Spotter competition exclusively for kids. So, the next time you are on a day trip with the family and the kids are getting restless – let them know they could win a prize by taking photo of ACO products, like the Dalek shot from the National Space Centre, Leicester (right). The photos will be judged by our Spotter-in-Chief, based on how much fun the snap is. All entries will get a Talmu Safety Reflector and a Drain Spotter badge (right). The winner will receive a beginner’s digital camera and the runner up will get a children’s guide to photography and scrapbooks. To enter, send your photo as a Jpeg e-mail attachment along with your name, you child’s name and age, address and telephone number to drainspotterkids@aco.co.uk*
ACO Drain Dr Spotter *Competition closes 31st December ‘09. Winners to be announced in ACO Merchant_Link
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ACADEMY TRAINING TIP In each issue of ACO Merchant_Link our Product Training Manager, Neil Higgins, will offer a simple training tip to improve your knowledge of ACO Build products - to help you show off your knowledge and expertise to your customers! Neil’s first training tip is on:
INSTALLATION – WHERE TO BEGIN* Few would argue that the end of the channel is where the outlet is; making the other end the start of the channel. However, when it comes to installing our product the terms start and end can be the source of some confusion because we begin an installation at the end of the channel – the outlet! Confused? Don’t be, it’s easy!
Dig trench 318mm wide (218mm wide if against a structure) by 200mm deep for channel (400mm deep for sump). Mark finishing height with fixed line 3mm below final surface. Lay 100mm (min.) bed of concrete.
Knock out pre-formed outlet from the inside (marked with hammer symbol) or fit sump or outlet endcap. Position sump or outlet channel on concrete bed, fit U-PVC union/trap to drainage pipework.
If you think about it, wherever your outlet is, to a soakaway, a gully, a sewer etc, this point is fixed. So, you have little flexibility and therefore this is your starting point; normally with a sump.
Lay channels starting from outlet/sump, ensuring joints connect by lowering units horizontally. Fit end caps to end channel. For fully watertight joints, use a suitable sealant (contact ACO for further advice).
With gratings fitted, haunch around channels/sumps with concrete (or for Load Class A 15 only, haunch with suitable fill material). Final surface to be 3mm above grating. Bricks/paviours should be laid in mortar for lateral stability.
We then work backwards to what we earlier referred to as the start of the channel. This procedure will give you some degree of flexibility – you can extend or reduce the length of channel required.
*Example above shows installation of ACO RainDrain®. For information on other product installations, please contact our Design Services Department on 01462 816666.
SPECIAL OFFER
MERCHANT STOCK PACKS We would like to offer a discount on all initial orders for Merchant Stock Packs (see page 6-7). To find out more details or claim your discount, please phone Chris and Suellyn on 01462 816666 and quote ACO Merchant_Link.
e-XACT e-Xact is a construction industry product catalogue that lists over 200,000 products, including the ACO Build and Drain ranges. The e-Xact website is a great way to access commercial information on ACO products. e-Xact is also an image and document library providing content for websites and other product catalogues. Please visit www.e-xact.net for access to the following ACO product information: • List prices • Lead times • Product brochures and images • Product weights, dimensions and codes • Our contact details and latest press releases
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PRESS RE-RELEASE
ACO PRESS RELEASES – NOT JUST LANDSCAPING! ACO’s products are used for a number of different applications. We’ve included a couple of our press releases to show construction projects we’ve supplied. We’ve also included our latest product press release, on ACO MultiDrain™ MD, to keep you up to date!
ACO Drainage Systems – Ebbsfleet International al ACO A number of high performance extern at the drainage systems have been installed n at new Eurostar high speed rail link statio London Ebbsfleet. The site was developed by & Continental Stations and Properties on & (LCSP), the property subsidiary of Lond high Continental Railways, operators of the speed Channel Tunnel Rail Link. High volumes of vehicle and pedestrian traffic means that it is essential the drainage network removes surface water as quickly as possible and provides sufficient storage to cope with sudden downpours. ACO RoadDrain, ACO S Range, ACO N100K (MultiDrain MD) and the award winning ACO KerbDrain systems drainage are used together to make a suitable four car network for the site, which includes rms and parks with 9000 spaces, station platfo the perimeter of the main terminal.
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WEATHERING THE STORM The first installation of the new ACO StormTank modular surface water attenuation and infiltration system has been completed at Perkins Engines’ manufacturing facility in Stafford. A key part of a sustainable drainage system (SUDS) designed by ACO Technologies, the 65m3 modular tank system attenuates and controls the discharge of surface water run-off from a new lorry park that has been created to ease vehicle movements across the site.
Installed beneath the new concrete hardstanding, the watertight tank receives run-off (via an oil interceptor) from a single 65m run of ACO S100 heavy duty surface drainage channel situated along one side of the park. From the tank, water is discharged to a nearby stream at a controlled maximum rate of 3 litres/second. During heavy rainfall, excess water held back by a vortex control in the outlet chamber accumulates within the tank, releasing over time as rainfall conditions ease. The ACO StormTank was installed by Stafford-based contractor F. Espley & Sons Ltd. As Contracts Manager Andrew Bramhall explains, the modular system delivered particular site benefits: “As the system has such a high void ratio, we were able to reduce the total volume of the excavation required to accommodate the tank – a significant time and cost saving. It was also extremely easy to handle; the lightweight, modular design meant that we were able to assemble the entire tank in under a day.” In combination with a suitable geotextile or geomembrane, ACO StormTank can be configured to either infiltrate or attenuate run-off depending on the specific requirements of the location. The tank installed at the Perkins Engines’ site is set up to attenuate all surface water. To achieve the watertight installation required, the tank is first wrapped in an impermeable geomembrane. It is then covered with a protective ACOTex Plus fleece to achieve a completely sealed and stable structure.
MULTI-TASKING DRAINAGE Capable of withstanding loads from Class A through to Load Class D, MultiDrain MD not only increases the sales potential for one system, it also provides maximum flexibility from a reduced number of components, simplifying sales processing, stock control and order scheduling. There are three sizes in MultiDrain MD range: M100D, M150D and M200D providing channel widths of 100mm, 150mm and 200mm respectfully. Available in 0.5 and 1.0 metre lengths, the end of each channel section is cast with a male/female connector that allows rapid installation and, with the use of an appropriate sealant, a watertight joint. MultiDrain MD is made from a lightweight polymer concrete channel profile that includes integrated UltraSTEEL™ edge rails. These work in combination with a range of gratings that are designed for specific Load Class applications. Ranging from cast iron, galvanised and stainless steel through to composite and brickslot, the gratings can be easily changed or removed for maintenance using ACO's new Drainlock™ bar-less locking system. Once in place, a new anti-shunt surface between the edge rails and grating prevents any lateral movement. It has a higher hydraulic capacity and is less prone to blockage due to the bar-less Drainlock system and its external profile improves stability and anchors the channel more securely into the concrete surround.
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PRODUCT MERCHANDISERS, ACO LITERATURE AND GIVEAWAYS To receive literature on any of the ACO Build products featured in this issue, an ACO Merchant_Link mug* or an ACO note pad*, please fill out the reply paid card and put it in the post.
PRODUCT MERCHANDISERS INTERNAL MERCHANDISERS ACO internal merchandisers are designed to display our latest products. They come complete with shelving for 5 linear drainage channels and a display header board. Product code: 04266. Price: £195 (including stand a product display header board. Products not included)
EXTERNAL MERCHANDISERS ACO external merchandisers are designed to reduce the amount of space normally taken by point of sale stands, and sit over the pallet of product only occupying a limited amount of space. The header boards are interchangeable so can be changed to promote different products. Stand and header board sold separately. Each stand - £75, each header board - £25 For product codes and delivery lead times please contact Chris or Suellyn on 01462 816666.
*whilst stocks last ACO MERCHANT_LINK | 11
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ACO Technologies plc
ACO Build A division of ACO Technologies plc ACO Business Park, Hitchin Road, Shefford, Bedfordshire SG17 5TE Tel: 01462 816666 Fax: 01462 815895 e-mail Sales: customersupport@aco.co.uk e-mail Technical: draintechnical@aco.co.uk website: www.aco.co.uk
The ACO Group: A strong family you can depend on.
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