2022 has been some year, and it isn’t over yet. The UK economy is in turmoil, post covid recovery has been blighted by Russia’s aggression in Ukraine, causing energy prices to spiral, and the post-Brexit blues is still affecting the country’s ability to build back.

Supply chains across all industries have suffered with many of these coupled with industry-specific issues impacting the availability of materials needed to get projects complete, more significant lead times leading to stockouts, the days of being able to respond from site and order components and materials direct next day has more or less come to an end. 

Due to the pandemic, businesses often shut down or faced a shortage of workers. This fallout has impacted pipe production across Europe, and the energy price hike and raw material shortages have compounded availability.

Flexenergy has witnessed many contractors contacting them to supply pre-insulated pipe for projects where their supplier has let them down with unworkable lead times, with some pipe materials out at 20 weeks. Pre-insulated pipe is used in the UK to distribute hot and chilled water used in heating networks, ranging from connecting heat pumps to large-scale mixed urban distribution networks.

Flexenergy has tried to stay ahead of the curve by pre-empting these supply chain issues by taking in and holding a stock of 25mm – 110mm twin and single pipe in coil and 6m lengths (sizes dependent). The lead time is surprisingly short for bigger mains sizes at four weeks from order. Ask us.

This foresight has been a lifesaver for contractors, with next-day direct-to-site deliveries available from the team in Glenrothes if the order is placed before noon. These include consumables and fittings for changes of direction and building entry.

Sandy Fairley, Sales Director of Flexenergy commented

“When it gets to 5 pm, and the telephone starts to ring, we all know that it’s most likely someone let down on site, groundworks done and needing pipe.

Most of the time, we can help to provide a pipe solution that meets their needs and excuse the pun but get them out of a hole.”