HAWCO Joins REFCOM Elite Supplier Scheme

Hawco UK becomes the latest firm to sign up to the REFCOM Elite Supplier scheme.

Registration as an Elite Supplier demonstrates that as a manufacturer, distributor or wholesaler, you have signed up to and been assessed against a voluntary code of conduct designed to level the playing field on the supply chain and better enforce the F-Gas Regulations.

Based in the UK, Hawco ships nationwide and around the world from their warehouse facility in Bolton, Greater Manchester with support from their headquarters in Surrey.

Hawco have been supporting the HVACR industry in the UK since 1973. They started out as an independent family company (H.A Wainwright & Co). Today, they are part of Diploma Plc, an international group of businesses supplying specialised technical products and services with combined revenues of around £540 million.

Mervin Chumun M.Inst.R, Senior Technical Engineer at HAWCO told us more about why they joined and their thoughts on the sector.

"We joined the Elite Supplier Scheme because we wanted to make sure the products we supply are installed safely and correctly, especially when these products are covered by industry standards or have an impact on the environment. It is part of our responsibility as a reputable HVACR supplier to advise our customers accurately and ensure compliance with industry standards.

Over the years, we have seen changes in the competency of HVACR companies and engineers. In our experience, there are more ‘unskilled’ engineers and installers in the industry today – and it is important to educate these people when they contact us.

We believe our industry standards need to be better enforced and that every reputable company has a part to play in this, including distributors. We have never been happy to make a sale to anyone without the appropriate checks. Being part of Refcom Elite Supplier Scheme demonstrates our commitment to improving industry best practice and how we should all aspire to the highest standards in our industry. As a Refcom Elite supplier, our customers will know that we only have their best interests at heart – and that they can work with us in the safe knowledge that we only want to provide the best level of technical and commercial support, now and into the future.

Becoming a Refcom Elite supplier should not require any discussion or hesitation. Everyone in our industry can see the changes that have been made in recent years – and we should all want to promote best practice, professionalism and the highest levels of knowledge and competency. The REFCOM Elite Supplier scheme is part of something we should all try to accomplish. "