60 seconds with…Dean White, Managing Director, A&A Electrical Distributors Ltd

Tell us about your business, when was it formed and what do you do?

Established in 1983, A&A Electrical is a leading supplier of high-quality, regulatory-compliant electrical components and lighting equipment for the lift industry. From our headquarters in South Woodford, we stock over 30,000 product lines and are committed to delivering reliable and cost-effective solutions to meet the evolving needs of our clients.

Who are your customers? Which markets do you serve?

We aim to support the lift industry across all stakeholders, from consultant and building specifiers through to installation and service providers, aiming to provide expert service and to ensure you receive products as and when you need them. In addition, we support all customers that engage with maintenance of lifts, from technicians to engineers, either via our industry-leading e-commerce platform, trade counter that is open from 7am – 6pm daily or via our internal sales engineers on phone.

How many times have you been to LIFTEX?

Personally this will be my third time at LIFTEX, however A&A has been a stable exhibitor and member of LEIA for many more years. We always have a wonderful time engaging with so many of our customers in a short space of time.

What are the main issues that your customers deal with and how do you help them?

The nature of the lift industry and its need for stock, same or next day available components, we are able to be the supplier of choice, as we invest in £2.3M of stock held available for dispatch. Our product portfolio is carefully compiled to support clients with regulatory compliant components and assemblies, reducing the need for in-house design reliance and stock. Our competences ensure that the wider market in monitored, stock profiles held, even at customers premises to enable compliance.

Are there any issues that specifiers, contractors / owners should be aware of in the next 12 months?

With legislative and regulatory changes from the Building Safety Act, especially in HRB’s, we see a challenge embedding new practices to satisfy the Golden Thread at an earlier stage of planning consent. We also have the digital switch which will expedite in urgency as the deadline approaches. With a considerable proportion of lifts still with PTSN lines, early intervention in avoiding product demand issues is crucial. Our range of GSM gateways & SIM packages are a great solution to this change.

How can we, as an industry, help designers and building owners to become more energy efficient and meet Net Zero targets?

Sustainability is at the heart of everything that we do at A&A and we work with suppliers that manufacture products that align to our sustainability goals. Internally, we ensure that we re-use and recycle as much as practicable, from re-using cardboard packaging and ensuring all possible materials are recycled, avoiding landfill disposal. For the last four years we have been growing our fleet of electric vehicles to support our industry leading delivery process, reducing our CO2 emissions daily.

What will you be promoting / what can visitors expect to see on your stand?

Our stand at LIFTEX will be promoting our industry-leading range of lift and electrical component solutions tailored for the lift industry. By visiting our stand, attendees will gain valuable insights into how A&A Electrical Distributors Ltd can support the demands of the lift industry with leading products and unmatched expertise. We will showcase how we differentiate from the marketplace; from continually improving sustainable practices, through to our industry-leading technologies.

What advice would you give to anyone visiting the show? What should they look for and how can they get the most from their visit?

LIFTEX is a fantastic opportunity for industry professionals to meet multiple key suppliers, providing essential networking interactions normally not possible on a large scale. I would urge everyone to engage with all exhibitors, clearly defining their need, challenges, and feedback, enabling manufacturers and distributors to tailor their products and services to meet the end line client’s needs. This essential learning drives the future of our industry, generating a fast track growth for all.