Many top Toshiba contractors together with distributors attended Toshiba’s 2008 annual conference on 2nd April. Helen Muir, General Manager for Toshiba Carrier UK Ltd commented “The selection of the venue was key to supporting the strategic message that surrounds all of Toshiba’s services and product developments. The Williams Formula 1 Centre in Oxford was the perfect location and venue matching perfectly with Toshiba’s high performance message”.

David MacRae, Commercial Director commented “The first quarter has been a very difficult time for the entire industry, we felt the need to be proactive and provide loyal customers with new tools to give them a clear advantage in a very competitive market”.

Toshiba’s conference demonstrated new innovative and energy efficient products, their new industry leading Additions loyalty scheme and several new sales tools to help customers select the most energy efficient systems, with ease.

The Super Digital Inverter 4 series split system (SDI4), an energy efficient R410A system with 70% increase in efficiency over fixed speed systems was also displayed. The SDI4 is also an ideal replacement system for older, much less energy efficient R22 and R407C systems that incorporate older technology. The SDI4 enables the existing pipework to be re-used* which naturally offers several benefits; less time on-site, less material cost and less disruption to the buildings operation.

A range of enhanced control options were also on show together with the UK Controls Divisons bespoke controller designed specifically to meet the needs of an architect and designer. Design and production of bespoke controls is proving to be increasingly important to end user clients such as hoteliers.

Toshiba’s newly developed SEERs selection software was also demonstrated. This enables Contractors and Consultants to ensure they select the most efficient Toshiba systems with ease. Customers have found this to be a very useful tool and with SEERs of 6.57 achievable (with Toshiba’s 8HP SHRM VRF system) – it is another demonstration of Toshiba’s high performing products.

Delegates experienced a cinema viewing of some famous race incidents and history of F1 followed by a tour of the motor museum lead by guest speaker Richard West. Richard has a wealth of experience in the motorsport industry starting in 1979, when he joined Williams Grand Prix Engineering in 1984, his latter expertise and energy focussed on driving The F1 Team forward as Director of Sponsorship and Marketing.

Teams were created to take part in a true to life Pit-Stop-Challenge experience. The F1 team gave intense, timed training to the teams and the speed, adrenalin and competitive spirit quickly increased. The Winning Team, lead by David MacRae, Commercial Director for Toshiba performed to a high standard with the winning Pit-Stop-Challenge time of 8.7 seconds. Richard concluded the evening with several stories about the Formula 1 industry, the drivers characteristics and much more.

The Toshiba team used this opportunity to further cement relationships with top Toshiba customers who went away with some very clear business advantages together with a feeling of being closer to the manufacturer of their choice.