Vent-Axia’s Richard Paine Joins EDA Data Services Board

Leading British ventilation manufacturer Vent-Axia is delighted to announce that Richard Paine, its Product and Marketing Director has joined the Electrical Distributors’ Association (EDA) Data Services Board to lead the strategic development of the EDATA data pool. The Board comprises volunteer representatives from EDA wholesalers and manufacturers involved in the EDATA data pool. EDATA, which was launched by the EDA in 2020, offers EDA wholesalers free access to information on hundreds of thousands of products from 60+ leading manufacturing brands that have signed up to date, with the data pool expanding rapidly.

Richard’s election to the Board comes as Michael Wright, Product Development Manager at Aico Ltd, steps down after serving his term. Richard will take his place on the Board alongside:

1. Edgar Aponte, CEO at Rexel – Chair
2. Richard Baxter, Systems & Procedures Director, Edmundson Electrical Ltd
3. Ian Hunter, Head of Sales and Marketing, Electrium Sales Ltd (A Siemens Company)
4. Richard Moyes, Marketing, Intelligence & Development Manager, Prysmian Cables & Systems Ltd
5. Margaret Fitzsimons, CEO at the EDA
6. Richard Appleton, Head of Digitalisation, EDA

Speaking of his appointment, Richard said: “As a business, Vent-Axia has put considerable effort into harnessing the value of our product data and the extensive benefits this has, delivering Gold standard data has opened new conversations with our customers and is leading to new commercial opportunities. Like many we are on a journey and still have plenty of work to do, but I want to share our experience and collectively raise the standard in relation to digital transformation for the good of this sector.

“I am convinced of the huge potential that digitised product information offers the UK’s electrotechnical supply chain. As a Vice Chair of BEAMA’s Digital Transformation Strategy Forum, I can also help build knowledge and consensus along the supply chain. Everyone wants to run more efficient businesses, powered by consistent, coherent and dependable information about the products that are traded, but also because wholesalers and their customers and end users benefit from quick and easy access to up-to-the minute information and images which everyone needs during the sales process.”

Vent-Axia is dedicated to making it as easy as possible for its customers to find the product information they need. This is possible thanks to a continued digital transformation that includes the company’s Knowledge Hub app and a website upgrade with improved search functionality and downloadable BIM models. Vent-Axia was also delighted to be a Founder Member of EDATA and is now an EDATA sponsor. Vent-Axia’s data has also cleared EDATA quality benchmarks to achieve Gold Standard.

As a data pool, EDATA offers electrotechnical manufacturers the opportunity to share their product data with multiple wholesalers. EDATA currently holds information in three categories: Manufacturer Master Data, the core data needed to identify a product; Digital Assets such as images and data sheets; and Technical Attributes including dimensions, suitability and performance characteristics. The Technical Attributes held in EDATA are structured in accordance with ETIM, the international data model for the standardisation and classification of technical product data enabling wholesalers to enhance their web sites with powerful product searches and filters.

For further information on all products and services offered by Vent-Axia telephone 0844 856 0590 or visit www.vent-axia.com.

ABOUT VENT-AXIA

Boasting over 85 years’ experience, Vent-Axia is the ventilation sector’s clear leader, chief innovator and forerunner in energy-saving, lo-carbon products. Committed to helping improve indoor air quality and comfort in both homes and buildings, Vent-Axia provides the sector’s most comprehensive choice from any single manufacturer. Vent-Axia’s range covers not just air movement and ventilation technologies but heat recovery, electric heating, hand dryers, cooling and clean-air systems for residential, commercial, public sector and industrial applications.

About EDA Data Services

EDA Data Services is an independent not-for-profit business set up by the EDA to oversee the EDATA service. EDA Data Services’ independence means that manufacturers and wholesalers who are not members or affiliates of the EDA can use its services.

About the Electrical Distributors’ Association (EDA)

Serving and representing the UK’s electrical wholesale sector for over 100 years the Electrical Distributors’ Association (EDA) is a membership organisation for the UK’s electrical wholesale sector. Launched in 1914 as the Electrical Wholesalers’ Federation (EWF), the Association refocused and rebranded in 1998 as the EDA. Membership is available to wholesalers, whilst manufacturers can join as affiliated members.

The EDA currently has over 250 wholesaler members and over 100 affiliated members, who are suppliers of products or services to members. Membership includes the leading national wholesalers Edmundson Electrical Ltd, Rexel UK and CEF as well as hundreds of independent electrical wholesales businesses of all sizes, most of whom are members of the UK’s largest buying groups ANEW, AWEBB, Fegime UK and The IBA Buying Group.

The EDA has been a member of the European Union of Electrical Wholesalers (EUEW) since 1960.

The EDA represents an estimated 75-80% of the UK electrical wholesale industry.