Consumers drive a shift towards digital heating controls

(15/07/2007)

TFC Group is reporting that Grasslin and Tower products like the Famoso RF controls are becoming increasingly sought after by heating engineers, plumbers, installers and electricians across the UK, and merchants and electrical wholesalers are seeing these quality products asked for by name.

The Famoso 1000 RF (radio frequency) thermostat has found wide acceptance amongst original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in the UK marketplace and the recently released Famoso 601 RF mechanical RF timer/ thermostat is following in its footsteps having just been selected by a major UK OEM as a control option ‘companion’ for its latest condensing boiler. Experience shows that specifiers and installers follow the lead of OEMs and the new 601 RF looks set to follow its slightly older brother in the months ahead.

Grasslin’s John Todd says: “In an age of ever more complex PCs, mobile phones, Sky + and pda’s, the UK heating market is remarkably conservative! However easy digital controls are to operate, there is still a ‘safety first’ feeling with mechanical heating control devices retaining their popularity. With the digital age in full swing in other areas of life, you’d possibly expect there to be a shift towards the digital heating controls, but at the moment OEMs and other purchasers seem pretty well entrenched in the mechanical fold."

"You can understand housing associations and locals authorities having a preference for what are on the face of it ‘simpler controls’, to keep down the ‘call out’ rate from perhaps more vulnerable tenants who feel less able to grapple with the digital options. But with the increasing desire for flexible programming particularly from younger people with different lifestyle needs, those consumers are likely to drive a shift towards digital controls in the future. We’ll just have to wait and see and respond to changing demands if and when they happen.”

Related categories:  Boilers - Domestic   Heating controls   Residential applications 

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