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CDL terminates Panasonic distribution

UK: Cool Designs (CDL) has terminated its UK air conditioning distribution agreement with Panasonic as it moves ahead with growth plans with Toshiba and Ciat.

The distribution agreement with Panasonic, which has been in place since 2015, will terminate at the end of this year. Sunderland-based CDL says the move follows a record year of sales, focused mainly on Toshiba and Ciat equipment.

Alongside the streamlined product line-up, the company is moving to a new head office in Gateshead in January. The new facility will provide an additional 10,000ft² of warehouse space and a further 3,000ft² of office space. It also includes a trade counter and an enlarged air conditioning training centre.

Darrel Birkett, CDL’s founder and managing director, said: “It has been an outstanding year and we have continued to increase sales, driven mainly by the new technology roll-outs by Toshiba and the recent addition of Ciat to our range.”

CDL reports a big swing towards R32 this year, while the VRF market has remained strong. Sales of applied equipment  has been a big area of expansion following the addition of Ciat equipment.

The ability to offer DX and airside equipment has helped the company win some major projects over the past year that previously would have been out of reach. On the chillers side, CDL landed a large project in Newcastle for a major national airline which opted for a Ciat solution.

CDL sales were particularly strong in London and the south of England this year and the company is planning new hubs for training and stockholding to ensure service levels are maintained as the business expands.

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