LOCAL INDEPENDENT PIPEKIT HELPS KEEP COSTS DOWN FOR ASTON HALL POULTRY

Family run business Aston Hall Poultry in Shropshire has turned to local distributor Pipekit to supply its pipework requirements as it extends its fledgling poultry broiler business. Aston Hall Poultry was launched just over 18 months ago by JS Jones & Son, an established family farm near Westbury, Shropshire, who were looking to diversify its arable and sheep farm business. Set up in 2014, Aston Hall Poultry initially built two poultry sheds, with a view to adding a further two once the business developed. The additional two sheds were recently completed helping to meet the ever growing needs of the new business. During the original fit out, the biomass installers were contracted to implement the entire design specification. However, for phase two, Aston Hall Poultry looked at ways to reduce the budget whilst adhering to the blueprint of the original designs. Delwyn Jones, who heads up the poultry broiler business, believed sourcing products and services both direct and locally would lead to cost savings. However it was imperative that the final choice reflected the same leading brand products as the original brief, so as not to compromise the guarantee and performance levels of the biomass boiler. Having heard of Pipekit through local agricultural circles, the independent pipework distributor was selected because it was able to supply the exact product requirements at a more cost effective price. Pipekit, based in Shrewsbury, supplied and delivered 450 metres of Geberit Mapress Stainless Steel pipework in a range of sizes, as well as fittings and brackets, and a range of Albion valves to the Aston Hall Poultry site. Each shed measured 320ft long and 80ft wide and the pipework was used to create replica heating infrastructures in the new sheds, as well as connecting the original sheds to the new builds and linking the new extended system to the biomass boiler. Geberit Mapress Stainless Steel, which is designed specifically for closed water heating systems, offers optimum resistance to corrosion and in this case, was able to offer high levels of protection for the biomass boiler system, a prerequisite of the guarantees in place. Commenting on the project Delwyn Jones of Aston Hall Poultry said: “The customer support provided by Pipekit was second to none. As a local supplier, Pipekit was able to provide external site support at the start of the process, to ensure my order requirements were fit for purpose, and followed up by offering a single point of contact throughout. It made for a very positive and efficient customer experience in terms of product specification, ordering and delivery”. Based on the original specification and what was needed for the new project, Pipekit worked closely alongside the Aston Hall Poultry team to recommend the correct quantities and sizings and advise on where threaded or compression fittings were required. Delwyn Jones continues: “It was a nice personal touch because although I knew what I was supposed to be ordering, I am a farmer not a pipe specialist and when it came to the specifics I needed the technical advice that a specialist could offer”. JS Jones & Son has run a family farm near Westbury since 1968 when the current owners father/grandfather purchased the land for arable and sheep farming. The farm is 550 acres but today also extends to a further 540 contracted acres. The family business diversified into the poultry broiler business to grow the income, without the need to purchase additional land to do so. The Aston Hall Poultry business is located on the original farm space. Speaking about the project, Martyn Rowlands, M.D of Pipekit said: “It’s great to see a local enterprise thrive so quickly and be successful for an established family business. Our area sales manager, Jamie McQueen, took the initial brief on and helped Delwyn Jones ensure that both the original blueprint of the job and the criteria for the new installation was met. This in turn was delivered by our customer service team leader, Amy Griffiths, who project managed the whole job and ensured that we delivered a high level of customer satisfaction from start to finish. It’s great to be part of the development of a local business and I am delighted that JS Jones & Son diversification is proving successful”.