Plumbers know that they get their plumbing supplies from stores that sell them. But what happens behind the scenes. Where do suppliers get their stock from and where do importers and distributors fit into the picture? In this episode I chat with Malcolm Harris of Harscan Distributors, about Harscan having recently been awarded IOPSA’s Importer of the Year Award, and the fact that and that speaks books of Harscan’s prominent position and involvement in the plumbing industry. But that it also says a lot about the quality of products it imports and the excellent service it offers. Man in the Van ..read more

Isn’t it lekker to walk into your local community plumbing store, and chat to those familiar faces who are knowledgeable and experienced to provide you with technical and theoretical support on all the products you buy from them? We’re all familiar with the larger franchise and group retail supply stores, but we can never forget our independent stores and what they bring to our local communities. But how do they survive, and how do they compete so that they can still add value to technicians, installers and other customers? In this episode, I chat with Marius Riekert and Alwyn Kotze, of LJR Pl ..read more

It’s a brand that has been around for an extensive time and a brand that many an installer may already be familiar with. And, as a result of their above-floor plumbing solutions and constant innovation, this brand had become a market leader and major role player in the plumbing industry. In this episode I chat with my guest, Craig Miller, the technical manager of Saniflo SA. to delve into Saniflo’s history, its role and impact within the plumbing sector, its range of products and where they’re manufactured, and quite a bit of other interesting information about Saniflo. Man in the Van Website ..read more

In this episode I have a conversation with Trevor Cloete, of Seaqual, a Specialist Plumbing Product Manufacturer, to learn about their innovative products and the value it adds not only to the installer and the consumer, but also to the environment. Man in the Van Website ..read more

In this episode we will have a conversation with Brendan Reynolds and Nick Joubert, of IOPSA, about IOPSA’s Solar Water Heater Installer Program. Solar water heaters are becoming more popular, and the demand for qualified installers greater. Man in the Van Website ..read more

Many skilled trades are linked to each other and, in some form or way they impact and supplement each other. In many instances, they are actually interdependent of each other. And so, I am excited to welcome back a couple of representatives of PRAWA (the Professional Roof Repair and Waterproofing Association), and of The Roofing Academy respectively, to chat about new and exciting developments within these organisations and the roofing industry. Man in the Van Website ..read more

In this episode I welcome back representatives from Advanced Valves, the largest hot water ancillary product manufacturing business in South Africa, for another conversation about their products and their company, to inform both consumer and installer alike about the positive impact it has on the plumbing industry in our country. Man in the Van Website ..read more

The average consumer is not quite familiar with the complexities and intricacies of plumbing, or the extend of technology that is used in plumbing. Plumbers have to keep abreast with ever-evolving technology to remain relevant within their industry. Lagging behind can cost them dearly. In this episode, I have a conversation with Ingo Hamann, from Stiebel-Eltron, one of the world’s market leading suppliers of technology products for building services and green technology. Man in the Van Website ..read more

If you're a plumber, you may have experienced a problem with supply and demand of plumbing products and materials. This may have resulted in delayed projects and payments, as well as compromised relationships between service providers and their customers. But is this current crisis experienced here in SA only, what is the root cause of it, and are there ways in which it can be resolved? Listen to industry experts discuss this issue. Man in the Van Website ..read more

This is our last episode of 2021, and in this episode we will reflect back on the past 12 to 24 months. We'll end this year off with a word of motivation. Have a happy festive season. We'll chat again in 2022. Man in the Van Website ..read more