PanelView 800. Component Level Human Machine Interface Solutions.

When you want to add value and reduce the cost of your operator interface for your standalone machine, look to the all-new Allen-Bradley® PanelView 800 family from Rockwell Automation. Leverage on the high-speed processor, high-resolution display with LED backlight and internal memory, to help improve productivity and maintenance. 

Preferred integration with Allen-Bradley micro controllers offers you an ideal control and visualization solution for a wide variety of applications. PanelView 800 offers the fundamental features that you need on a full line of displays ranging from 4 in. to 10 in., and supports Ethernet and serial communications. PanelView 800 graphic terminals are part of the Connected Components solution which uses single software, Connected Components WorkbenchTM that provides a common environment for configuring Allen-Bradley HMI, PowerFlex® component-class drives, Guardmaster® configurable safety relays, SMCTM soft starters, Kinetix® 3 servo drive and Micro800 controllers in your standalone machine.

Features and Benefits:

>   Optimized for compatibility with Micro800® and MicroLogix™ controllers

>   Includes high-resolution display with LED backlight supporting 65K colors

>  Offers flexible application modes in landscape and portrait

>   Includes high performance 800MHz CPU processor with 128MB/256MB memory

>   Includes USB host port and microSD™ support file transfer or updating firmware

>    Alerts operators with alarm messages that include embedded variables

>    Provides ability to upload and download groups of data or parameter settings with 

           recipe capability

For more information email info@routeco.com or to buy online Click Here 

Certified GRP Enclosures

Our CEP range of ATEX GRP enclosures are designed to meet the highest standards of protection demanded by electrical and electronics designers for a wide range of industrial applications. 

Overview and Key Features: 

•  Highly resistant to corrosion
•  IP66 and IP67
•  Atex Component Certified (Black only)
• Inc. Certified with terminals   Ex e, Ex nA, Ex i Ex t-40°C to +80°C standard, 
  50°C to +120°
• Fire resistant versions
• Colours Black RAL RAL9005
• Stainless Steel fasteners

With a high resistance to corrosion, petrochemical products and fats, and combining strength with a light weight, these GRP enclosures are designed to meet the highest standards of protection.

Certification Includes: 

• SIRA 08 ATEX 3213 & IECEx SIR 13.0039X
• Ex II 1 GD, Ex ia IIC T5 and T6,
• Ex ta IIIC T85°C and T100°C,
• Ex II 1 2 GD, Ex e IIC T5 and T6,
• Ex tb IIIC T85°C and T100°C

Click Here for pricing information and to buy online. 

Glasgow Connected Components Tech Workshop

Our events this year have got off to a great start with a connected components tech workshop in Cardiff, a safety seminar in Derby and Integrated Architecture Tech Workshop in Bristol.

We would like to invite you to our next Connected Components Tech Workshop in Glasgow. These workshops give you the opportunity to talk to one of our specialists and learn how you can use technology as a competitive advantage. 

Where: 25 Fairfield place, College Milton Industrial Estate, East Kilbride, Glasgow, G74 5LP

When: Wednesday 4th March 2015

Agenda for the day: 

• Presentations and Hands-On Training
• Understand Machine SolutionsA brief introduction to the Rockwell Automation range, providing an understanding of our architecture and essential offering
• Discover Low-Cost AutomationGain knowledge of the latest developments in small controllers & compact, networkable AC drives and how they could offer you a commercial advantage
• Explore Connected Components WorkbenchHands-on workshop for the easy-to-use IEC1131-3 programming package from Rockwell Automation
• Review of Control ApplicationsOpen forum to discuss your issues, applications or requirements in the small machine arena
• Programmable Safety with the CR30

For more information click here & to register for the event please email info@routeco.com 

Reduce the Effects of EMI/RFI in your control panels

One of the core issues affecting the performance and reliability of industrial control systems is electrical noise emitted from devices. This electrical noise can create voltage spikes in victim wiring, affecting component performance. Proper noise mitigation and panel layout practices help to ensure system productivity, quality, and safety. Panel designers have historically used air spacing between components and wire pathways for noise mitigation, per IEEE recommendations. With Panduit® PanelMax™ Shielded Wiring Duct and Noise Shield, panel designers can provide noise mitigation with reduced air spacing requirements allowing for a space optimized control panel layout. These products route, separate, and shield sensitive wiring from noise emission. This allows pathways to be placed in closer proximity, saving valuable space within industrial control panels. The shielding provides up to 20dB reduction in noise (EMI/RFI), or 90% noise voltage reduction (NVR), which is equivalent to 6 inches of air spacing between sensitive and noise-emitting wiring. Several wire routing and segregation configurations are possible with the innovative Shielded Wiring Duct and Noise Shield, delivering greater design flexibility to satisfy a wide range of applications. These products are part of the broad range of reliable product systems offered by the Panduit Industrial Automation Solution. These product systems aid in reducing design and assembly time, create valuable panel space savings, and provide easier installation and maintenance.

For further technical information on this new innovative product please click here  and for pricing information and to buy online from Routeco please click here

Managing Industrial Networks with Cisco Networking Technologies

Managing Industrial Networks with Cisco® Networking Technologies (IMINS) Version 1.0 is a hands-on lab-based training course, which helps students with the foundational skills needed for the management and administration of networked industrial control systems. The IMINS course, developed in conjunction with

Rockwell Automation, helps plant administrators, control system engineers and traditional network engineers understand networking technologies that are needed in today’s connected plants and enterprises.

This course also helps you prepare for the Cisco Industrial Networking Specialist Certification exam

(exam ID 600-601) and qualify for the Cisco Industrial Networking Specialist certification.

The goal of this course is to enable you to achieve competency and skills to install, configure, maintain, and troubleshoot industrial network systems while helping to ensure network availability, reliability, and Internet security throughout your company.

For full course details and course prerequisites please download the training profile here and to check available training dates and prices or to book your place please contact us by email at info@routeco.com

Maximise your panel space with DIN Rail mounted Wiring Duct from Panduit

PanelMax™ DIN Rail Wiring Duct is an innovative wire management solution from Panduit that maximizes space utilisation within industrial enclosures for flexibility in panel layout and reduced material and installation costs.

The unique design raises components from the panel surface for easier access and faster terminations. DIN rail wiring duct is compatible with common DIN rail and DIN mount components1 to satisfy a wide range of applications.

The Industrial Automation Solution from Panduit meets the most demanding requirements and applications with a broad range of product systems that aid in reducing design and assembly time, creating valuable panel space savings, providing easier installation and maintenance, and improving reliability.

For further technical information on this new innovative product please click here and for pricing information and to buy online from Routeco please click here 

Global markets with global demands need global support

With today’s economic climate, the ability to work with global customers and expanding global markets is even more important than ever. As some country markets shrink, others grow, and as a result machine builders must offer a wider geographical ‘shop window’ in order to exploit these growth markets.

It is not a quick process, but it can be made far simpler by leveraging the capabilities of suppliers that are already in place in your target countries and offering technologies and services to the markets you wish to access. This support is not just limited to higher level automation solutions in large manufacturing plants throughout the world. For example, the midrange automation control solutions is ideal for machines and equipment that require integration and flexibility but sized correctly, enjoy the same level of coverage across the globe.

Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) need to export to survive and, as a result, they must develop machines that easily integrate into applications and are supported across the globe. This has two advantages. Not only can you integrate with large multinationals that rely on in-house global standards, but you can also serve smaller customers in developing markets who are looking to expand.

No matter what local standards and legislation are in place, you don’t want to have to redesign your equipment for each market. Just as importantly, you need to consider what sort of support you can offer a customer on the other side of the world.

So if it is emerging markets, or simply larger customers looking to develop global standards, the support of a global ally is paramount towards the success of market penetration.

To read the full article click here.

We're hiring!

We currently have a number of exciting vacancies across our branches. Here is an overview of our current opportunities:

Branch Supervisor (Coventry)

Branch Supervisor (Leeds)

External Sales Engineer (Leeds)

Internal Sales (Dartford)

Internal Technical Sales (Leeds)

Manufacturing Solutions and Services Consultant (South West)

Technical Support Engineer (Milton Keynes)

Apprenticeships at Routeco (Various)

For more information, or if you would like to apply, please click on the job role.

Safety challenges of processes and machines

Safety in industrial processes and machinery has been always an important issue to help ensure personal safety, meet the appropriate standards and laws and brand reputation.

The concept of machinery safety had been negatively linked to productivity: improved safety meant less productivity. However, this trend is changing because new safety technologies and standards enable safer machines while improving production rates. Safety is no longer a problem for production.

The revolution of integrated safety within control industrial networks is changing the safety landscape. Ethernet/IP with CIP Safety allows modules with safe I/Os to be integrated into a control network where I/Os, servomotors, frequency converters and safety devices can share the same physical media.

Safety along with its programming logic and cabling were until recently independent from the rest of the machine control. Currently, by means of new technologies, control and safety converge on the same physical media reducing complexity and time to design, develop, and deliver a safety solution.

Another trend showing the advantages of integrated safety is the intelligent safety of servo drives and frequency converters, such as the safe torque-off features included in many of these devices. With machines and processes more and more based in motion systems, the availability of intelligent safety in these devices helps to create a safer machine with a high production capacity.

This kind of integrated safety in control networks such as Ethernet/IP is not only reserved for larger facilities with lots of safety I/Os. Other machinery of smaller sizes, which have been traditionally using safety relays and safety independent PLCs, are going to gradually integrate these solutions due to their higher performance and increasing affordability.

Sonepar enters UK with Routeco

Sonepar, the global leader in Electrical Distribution with operations in 40 countries and total turnover of + € 16 B, announces that it has entered into an agreement to purchase the shares of Routeco Group Holdings Ltd.

The transaction, which is subject to approval from competition authorities in Austria, is expected to close during the fourth quarter of 2014.

Founded in 1978 in Milton Keynes, Routeco has become one of the leading distributors of industrial control and automation products and services in the UK and reached €135 m sales in FY 2014.

Routeco has been a Rockwell Automation authorized distributor since 1992 and serves its customers via 13 branches across the UK. Routeco also has operations in Austria and in the Netherlands.

This acquisition underlines the ongoing efforts of Sonepar to strengthen its position with entries into new countries as well as into the immense market of Industrial Automation.

Routeco will continue to operate as a separate Business Unit within Sonepar Northern Europe. Ian Stewart (CEO) and the existing management team that has driven the development over the last 25 years will remain in charge.

Routeco will continue to work closely together with Rockwell Automation and will be supported by Sonepar to improve the value proposition to its very loyal customers base, through providing support in offering more complementary lines, supply chain services and e-commerce capabilities.

Rittal's Guide Book: Enclosure and Process Cooling

This book provides information on a variety of topics including the basic principles of climate control, energy saving opportunities and project planning, installation and operation.

The book offers product specific guidance on a range of subjects, this includes: the removal of heat using air circulation, air/air heat exchanges, fan and filter units and cooling units. The accurate selection of climate control equipment using software tools is also covered within this helpful guide.

Offering practical and useful tips on the installation and maintenance of cooling equipment, the guide book also incorporates years of experience of climate control solutions in industrial environments to pinpoint typical errors and how working solutions may differ from these originally planned. 

To read the Enclosure and Process Cooling Guide Book click here. 

To find out the temperature of your products we have a great easy to use thermal label to help. By sticking the small label to an internal surface of your enclosure, you will be able to see how hot or cold it is from the temperature gauge, and the results will appear straight away. The thermal label is quick to use and is suitable for all types of equipment.

To request your free thermal label email info@routeco.com and one of our sales engineers will come and help select the best product for you.

If you require more information email info@routeco.com or call 0370 607 1000.

The Future of Food and Beverage Manufacturing: Plantwide Optimisation

As demand increases and consumers are becoming more sophisticated in their buying habits, there is a need to invest in manufacturing facilities that can match these changing demands.

Manufacturers are looking to optimise their assets as they take on the challenges of demand for a wider range of products. These manufacturers are faced with global competition and sustainability in difficult economic times, and are looking for solutions that can overlay existing infrastructure, delivering immediate short-term benefits, while still providing a transition path to a single platform in the longer-term.

These challenges are drawing the focus of food and beverage manufacturers towards optimisation. But what does this really mean in terms of changes in the operation?

There are three areas in which food and beverage manufacturers typically address when thinking about optimisation:

- How do I enhance performance?
A few ideas could be integrating process control and packaging without replacing equipment; or implementing new safety solutions to meet legislation requirements without increasing costs and reducing output; or improving quality and consistency without huge capital outlay.

- How can I reduce costs?
It’s sometimes as simple as standing back and looking at where the costs are highest and thinking about ways to reduce them. If manufacturers are spending time and money managing and maintaining control Platforms, then outsourcing asset management contracts could help significantly reduce invested capital. If a manufacturer is constantly having to modify recipes to meet ever changing and diverse customer demands, then an integrated plantwide quality assurance could help deliver significant savings.

- How can I improve energy consumption?
Manufacturers know how much their monthly electricity bill is but often have no idea where the costs are coming from. With energy costs increasing, consumers demanding more sustainable production, and legislation driving businesses to reduce energy consumption, there are many reasons to manage energy consumption more effectively. With intelligent energy management advances, it is possible to identify where energy is being wasted and help reduce that waste.

Food and beverage manufacturing can now deploy one control platform using a common control engine with a common development environment, expressly designed to help deliver more optimised manufacturing. 

It’s Not Hard with Hardy

Glendinning is the largest independent supplier of quarry and concrete products both to the trade and direct to the end user in Devon and Cornwall. The company was established in 1958 by two brothers Ernest and Jack Glendinning, and today is owned by the founders’ families and is still very much a family business.

One of the most important factors in this business is being able to successfully move the products on the trucks from one place to another, carrying the right amount of product. However, this was an issue Glendinning faced.

Each of Glendinning’s trucks are supposed to carry 25 tons of product and the trucks are

measured on a weigh scale before leaving the quarry. It was found that they were not always carrying the prescribed amount of product, varying between extremes of 22 to 36 tons.

As it takes additional time to load and unload the product and travel around the site, the company saw an increase in time, running costs, fuel consumption and more.

There were also unseen costs of increased health and safety risks. Even though tipping product from a truck is not an exact science, there could sometimes be occasions which involve several ‘tuning trips’. Furthermore there is an axel loading limit on the trucks that should not be exceeded.

The weight readings being misread may have been due to the resonant vibration from the sorting screens, which runs through the steel work and affects traditional load cell readings. Ambient temperature variations change the properties of the belt which can further affect the weight readings.

Glendinning had previously attempted to resolve the issue. Initially the conveyor was fitted with a Ramsey International Belt Weigher. This had unreliable Modbus communications so the instrument was replaced by an Applied Weighing load cell amplifier. This only provided a 4-20mA output and required lots of PLC programming to give weight readings. It proved to be effective for static loads only, not offering enough updates/second to be used dynamically.

On hearing of the weight fluctuations, well-meaning operators attempted to ‘trim’ the dispensed amount. Unfortunately due to the random nature of the error this could sometimes exacerbate the problem.

Glendinning then got in touch with Routeco to help. Routeco proposed a Hardy Process

Solutions HI4050 instrument to be used with the same load cells and mechanics in place. The Hardy unit offers many advanced features including the ‘WaverSaver’ algorithm which is designed to mitigate the effects of vibration.

The instrument was installed with the ‘WaverSaver’ on its weakest of 5 settings 0.25Hz. The conveyor system dispensed mixtures of 9 different products, and in the 6 months that the Hardy instrument has been in use, the dispensed amount has shown only 1% variation for all weathers and products.

“It’s a pretty good set up, Auto Zero is set to ignore weights below 4kg as being belt variations.” said Carlos Moya – Hardy International Sales Coordinator.

The Hardy range is both easy to use and powerful, the WaverSaver feature has made a real difference here and Ian was able to set it up from scratch with no training.

There are other features that could be useful here too, with the load cells being high up and inaccessible maintenance and fault finding could be difficult. The Hardy Integrated Technician Summing Box provides remote switching of individual load cells making it easy to spot any faulty cells without having to leave the office.

Hardy’s C2 Calibration feature also allows for weightless calibration when used with C2 Load Cells. This is very useful when calibration is difficult or requires heavy weights.

To purchase the Hardy Process Solutions HI4050 click here. 

For more information email info@routeco.com or call 0370 607 1000.

Robert Stebbings - Automation & Software Product Sales Specialist

The Implications of EN/ISO 14119 Safety of Machinery – Interlocking devices associated with guards

As with all new standards, there is the uncertainty of does EN/ISO 14119 affect me? When does it take effect? And do I need to do anything? I’m sure you have all read endless articles by various people highlighting minor points which can sometimes be taken out of context and can lead to potentially misinterpreting the content and may cause you to miss some of the principles that the standard is trying to bestow. No standards should ever be considered in isolation, which is why they cross-refer to other standards, to maintain as the name suggests, “a standard approach” rather than reinventing the wheel every time.

This standard highlights many new things to be considered regarding the classification of types of products and some positive reworking of the old EN1088 standard, which has been in place for many years. In my experience there are two main points regarding safety system design to be considered, which are detailed below;

1. Wiring of multiple dual channel door switches in a Category 3 wiring architecture. It has been recognised for a long time that it is possible to mask faults leading to a potential failure of the safety system under certain conditions. In your design you now have to account for this and the reduced diagnostic coverage will affect the validation of your design in ISO13849 and IEC62061. The publishing of ISO/TR24119 will offer some clarification on this, and this openly available leaked table will give you an idea of the implications. Key point to consider – are the doors opened more than once per hour?

2.Guard locking has always been a contentious area and this standard certainly clarifies all of the issues. My approach has always been ‘power to release’ for personnel protection unless the risk assessment deemed it to be unsafe as this presented addition risks, so using ‘power to lock’ was a better solution. If it was just to protect the process from uncontrolled intervention then either type could be used. There was also the unwritten law that if you were using a switch for personal protection it needed to have a holding force in excess of 1000 newton’s. This always prompted the question of how much force is 1000 newton’s when applied to the handle to open the door. The good news is, apart from the clarification of personal and process locking, this standard has a table showing all of the maximum forces that you could apply to a door. It is in Annex1, Table 1 (click here) and it is worth purchasing the standard for this information alone, as it will be a major benefit when you are completing your risk assessments and guard door design. It certainly highlights the fact that a number of safety switches on the market should only be sold for process protection, rather than personal protection as they have been in the past.

I am sure that the standard will affect you in some way and it is important to note that the full implementation date is February 2015. I would strongly suggest that you start to design your systems to comply with this standard now, as February is not far away and gives you chance to deal with the teething problems of the design changes that will no doubt ensue, before they become compulsory.

Watch a video on safety interlocking devices here or for more information on the EN/ISO 14119 click here.

Click here if you wish to purchase a Guard Locking Switch.

If you require any further information or wish to discuss your machinery safety systems with one of our specialists please contact your local Routeco branch. Alternatively email info@routeco.com or call 0370 607 1000.

Kevin Kirby – Routeco Safety Solutions Team Leader

Supply Chain Security for the Food and Beverage Sector

The shortage and the rising cost of raw materials, energy, transportation and labour in the very competitive consumer environment in the Food and Beverage (F&B) sector, has led to many high profile cases bringing attention to the supply chain security. The food manufacturing and retail industry is certainly under pressure. 

In the wake of the horse meat scandal, it’s easy to see how supply chain security failings have a direct effect on the reputation of the companies involved. On January 16th of this year, the Guardian newspaper reported that Tesco’s share price had slumped by £300 million after the negative coverage surrounding the horse meat scandal.

Competition on prices, which many consider a good thing for the consumer, lies at the heart of the issue and food producers walk a fine line between squeezing the most possible from the efficiency of the supply chain and maintaining product quality and staying within the regulations. As supermarkets have strong buying power, they are able to place great pressure on modern F&B manufacturers to find the right balance.

Modern automation and data management can go a long way towards addressing the concerns of food manufacturers, but is often seen as too expensive for the Small and Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs).

Regulations are increasingly requiring improved tracking and tracing through Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technologies and data management systems. Importantly though, it’s our experience with companies large and small, that the costs of a highly automated, highly integrated and information-rich processes in the factory and up and down the supply chain are very quickly offset by efficiency savings throughout the system. In fact, data from unique RFID tags containing information of products, palettes and batches throughout the supply chain can also offer the opportunity for optimisation of stock control levels and waste reduction that can give manufacturers the opportunity to be much leaner, as well as more efficient.

To read the full article click here.

Rockwell Automation TechConnect Support

Rockwell Automation TechConnect support offers dedicated, worldwide support, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Where ever you are in the world, you will be able to receive real-time support.

Every day you will be faced with new challenges that can make it difficult to meet your production goals. These challenges may range from your workforce aging, your staff or your budget may be getting leaner, or you might just need support in addressing a specific technical issue.

The benefits of using TechConnect support are:

• Obtain real-time telephone support
• Access comprehensive online support
• Maintain your software

For more information email info@routeco.com or call 0370 607 1000.

Lifecycle Management for Control Systems

The fast pace of technological evolution allows the use of high performance control systems. In most cases, these capabilities set the choice of a particular technology to accomplish the planned goals.

However, there are other factors that are not always considered, and in many cases these are crucial, such as indicating the number of years the system will be in good service and to define the maintenance costs involved.

The constant technological advances in the consumer market are determining the lifetime of hardware and software products. For example, consider mobile phones. A few years ago, about 2.5 years was considered the average lifetime of a mobile phone. This figure is currently estimated at about 18 months in the U.S., 15 months in Europe and just eight months in Japan.

This is the same for software, where systems are being fully updated every three to four years. For example, Windows Vista was introduced in 2006, Windows 7 in 2009, Windows 8 in 2012 and the availability of Windows 9 is scheduled to be released around the middle of 2014.

Control systems are built from technological products with their own lifecycles. When a control system is implemented within a facility it will include a validity period, which will affect the lifecycle of both the hardware and software.

Any control system can eventually need significant changes during its lifecycle. The better the strategy for longevity, the easier it can be to adapt to those changes. New investments in automation systems should consider the lifecycle strategy for the technologies implemented. 

A long life cycle can help save time when replacing new equipment and avoid investments in person hours for engineering automation migrations, which will generate costs in both value and time. 

To read the full article on Lifecycle Management for Control Systems click here.

How does Industry 4.0 affect business

Industry 4.0 is an initiative of the German government to promote computerisation in traditional industry sectors, such as production engineering. The goal of the project is the Smart Factory, to include fundamental technologies like cyber-physical systems and the internet of things.

Cyber-physical Systems

One of the Industry 4.0 technologies is cyber-physical systems, which combine computer and mechanical technologies and are also known as mechatronics. They are instrumental in the creation of systems that are as autonomous as possible. They include the initial steps towards driverless cars, such as the Google Car, as well as the Rover that is currently discovering Mars. Although the Mars Rover is managed from a control centre, it is still an autonomous device. Due to the time it takes to transmit a signal from Earth to Mars, the Rover cannot be piloted with “normal” remote control. The Rover’s local sensors observe its surroundings and its software analyses the resulting data, takes decisions and gives driving commands that are executed by the mechanical parts. These concepts have already been implemented in the parking assistance and collision prevention functions in certain cars. The major features of cyber-physical systems clearly include sensors that observe their surroundings and embedded software to autonomously monitor and drive the system.

The second technology inherent in Industry 4.0 is the internet of things. The idea behind this is that devices can be interconnected via the internet and communicate with each other. A blog post about the internet of things provides more information here.

The result

The result is more autonomy and smart production processes that can control and regulate themselves. The advantages include manufacturing process optimisation that goes beyond Lean Manufacturing, along with the avoidance of damage and accidents due to the timely detection of problems and risks. This is already a familiar concept in IT with self-healing systems, in which any errors that arise are detected and resolved by the system itself. The Industry 4.0 initiative is designed to carry this concept over to things like production processes on the meta level and products themselves on the instance level. An example would be the creation of a 3D replicator seen as a production process whose end product is the 3D replicator.

There is a long way to go before we achieve Industry 4.0. There are still difficulties in mastering security and managing the volume of communications and data. Security is clearly the top priority. It covers two main aspects: the reliability of the embedded software and protection from hacking. One only needs to imagine a system failure in a driverless car going at 130km/h on a motorway, or a cyber-attack on a production site in full operation! As for the management and analysis of very large data volumes, this is covered by the term “big data”, for which new technologies and processes are currently appearing on the market in very fast innovation cycles. These problems appear to be relatively easy to resolve.

For more information of the affect of Industry 4.0 click here. 

Routeco expands ‘product returns period’ to improve customer service

Europe’s leading specialist Industrial Control and Automation distributor announces its first customer improvement measure since conducting its recent annual customer survey. 

Routeco has followed up its commitment to listen to its customers by making it easier to return products purchased in error and offering a full refund. The previous returns period has now been extended from 3 days to 14 days. The only requirement is that the goods must be in resalable condition with seals intact and no markings on the packaging. Certain items are excluded and these include goods that are purchased specially for a customer. These are clearly identified on all paperwork and also the Routeco website

Routeco said that, after extensive customer feedback it would introduce several additional improvements in the coming months to improve customer service within the company. Other areas that are currently under review include delivery charges, despatch information and credit limits.

Routeco’s Operations Director, Tony Usher, said: “Great service and listening to our customers shows that we care about developing a long-term relationship that means more than just making a sale. We strive to become the partner of choice and we know this is only achievable if we constantly re-evaluate our current practices”.

He added that "As some of these policy changes will require alterations to our processes and staff retraining, we will be rolling them out over the next few months as we strive to further improve our position as the leading distributor for Industrial Control and Automation products throughout Europe".

Customer service is at the heart of everything Routeco do, but they also recognise that there is always room for them to improve. The recent customer survey highlighted a number of areas that customers would like to see changes and this feedback has now become part of the Routeco senior management discussions.

If customers should want to make other suggestions or give feedback on the changes then they should do so online at www.routeco.com or talk to their local branch or account manager.

Please Note: You will now see on the Routeco Ecommerce Platform www.routeco.com a notification to let you know if the product is non-returnable. The non-returnable products will be displayed as the example below:

AB2080LC2020AWB^

Our Google+ Page has launched!

We are pleased to announce the launch of our Google+ page which will run alongside our current social media channels. 

Just two years after its release Google+ has established itself as the second largest social media site in the world with a monthly user base of 235 million.

Google+ will be used to publish company and industry updates such as blog posts, photos, news stories and much more… It also allows you to join and build communities which connect industries together, and with the added integration of Google News this social media channel provides many benefits.

Take a look at our Google+ page here, and don’t forget to follow us!