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Toshiba appoints Alpha Air

Steve-Shoubridge-and-David-Livingstone-of-Alpha---Air
Alpha Air’s Steve Shoubridge (right) and David Livingstone

UK: Toshiba has expanded its UK air conditioning distribution network with the appointment of Sussex-based Alpha Air Building Management Systems.

Alpha Air, which provides high level building management controls, will supply  Toshiba splits, heat pumps and VRF air conditioning on an exclusive basis.

Although known as a building controls company, Alpha Air is headed by Steve Shoubridge who has a track record in air conditioning distribution. At one time he owned the former Horsham-based Sanyo air conditioning distributor Oceanair Distribution (not to be confused with current Panasonic and Fujitsu distributor Oceanair (UK)).

Alpha Air is now looking to combine its proprietary controls technology with Toshiba air conditioning to create a unique offering. In particular, Toshiba’s SMMS-e VRF system, launched last month, is seen as a perfect fit with Alpha Air’s focus on end-user and specification sales.

Steve Shoubridge said: “The Toshiba product is outstanding in terms of efficiency and reliability. The company is also leading the industry in terms of warranty and support. We believe a combination of Toshiba air conditioning and Alpha Air building controls will provide end users with a complete solution that will be hard to beat.”

Alpha Air is working with a number of national chains, including food retailers, car manufacturers and financial services companies, on the roll-out of its new approach to managing and controlling HVAC plant in multi-branch estates.

“The key is energy efficiency and sustainability,” said Steve Shoubridge. “Nationals have a number of objectives – they want to reduce running costs for their estates and cut carbon emissions, while ensuring a productive and comfortable environment for staff and customers.

“Toshiba’s new SMMS-e, in particular, is a star product that delivers exceptional savings, while ensuring the resilience and reliability required for high quality buildings.”

Alpha Air’s new building control platform, Hyperion, is designed to be compatible and easy to integrate with air conditioning systems and related plant. Installers can use its drag-and-drop interface to quickly configure systems, opening up new opportunities for the trade.

Welcoming Alpha Air to the Toshiba network, David Dunn, director of Toshiba Air Conditioning UK and Ireland, said “The opportunities in the industry for fully integrated systems, that combine high level controls and state-of-the-art air conditioning, are huge.”

The appointment is said to be part of Toshiba’s ambitious growth strategy to double sales by 2020, announced earlier this year. Alpha Air joins existing Toshiba distributors AMP Air, Cool Designs, CSD, DYSK and Hushon in the UK, plus GT Phelan in Ireland, and nationwide wholesaler Climate Center.

Alpha Air can be contacted on 07899 900683, 01293 690000,

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