At Lawton Tubes, we recognise the significance of ACR products in maintaining our environment, which motivates our focus towards longevity, sustainability, and reliability in the products we offer. Take, for instance, our straight length copper tubes seamlessly integrated into a supermarket’s infrastructure. Unseen but pivotal, these tubes facilitate refrigerant flow, ensuring the efficient operation of freezer cases and cabinets that preserve the quality of daily essentials.

With two decades of delivering highest-quality products and meeting the evolving needs of the sector, Lawton Tubes has emerged as the foremost supplier of ACR pipes in the UK.

Our ACR copper pipes go global

With a goal to transform the air conditioning and refrigeration sector globally, we introduced Chris White as our Head of Air Conditioning and Refrigeration back in 2007. Having previously served in an international copper mill, Chris brings a wealth of expertise and insight to his role. 

“We had zero customers at the time, and my role was to develop that side of the business,” explains Chris. His strategic vision and dedication played a pivotal role in not only establishing Lawton Tubes as a key player in the ACR market but also fostering significant growth.

Our team’s profound understanding of the industry, coupled with our hands-on approach, has been instrumental in steering Lawton Tubes toward success in the dynamic and ever-evolving field of air conditioning and refrigeration.

In the initial stages of our venture into the ACR copper pipe market, our primary focus revolved around serving the needs of national wholesalers and establishing Lawton Tubes as a trusted and dependable supplier within the UK.

Since our expansion into international sales and the launch of fittings and accessories for ACR, our exports have increased significantly. The most significant exported product, which has garnered acclaim in worldwide markets, is our unique K65 120 bar pressure CO2 copper pipe system. Why is it in such high demand? Its robust build and ability to withstand high-pressure environments make it an indispensable component in various critical installations.

Aside from this, other products in our range have also grown in popularity, as Chris states, “Our most popular products would be our straight length copper tube along with coils, so that is the main part of our business, and probably represents 80% to 90% of our total sales.”

Throughout the years, our product range has expanded into accessories, encompassing fittings, brazing rods, and various associated products, showcasing steady and promising growth.

Copper’s sustainable edge

Diving into the ACR market marked a pivotal strategic move for Lawton Tubes. This decision was propelled by the widespread need for effective cooling and refrigeration, whether in residential, commercial, or industrial settings.

Our high-quality copper pipes and fittings for ACR have positioned us as a key contributor to fostering sustainable solutions within the industry.

Copper is an ideal material for ACR applications due to its exceptional thermal conductivity, ease of handling, durability, and resistance to corrosion. These properties make copper the perfect choice for transferring heat efficiently, ensuring optimal performance in the intricate systems of air conditioning and refrigeration. Its resistance to corrosion is crucial in environments where exposure to moisture and various chemicals is common. Moreover, copper’s malleability allows for easy shaping and installation, contributing to the versatility and reliability required in ACR applications.

On top of that, our pursuit of achieving net-zero status resonates with our broader dedication to environmental stewardship, and we have set ambitious targets to reduce our carbon footprint, integrating new practices across our production operations, distribution networks, and overall business endeavours.

Customer service initiatives

As the demand for sustainable materials and comprehensive, holistic services continues to surge within the ACR industry, we’ve expanded our customer support to better meet our clients’ needs.

Our dedicated consultation service, staffed by a knowledgeable and approachable team, is designed to offer guidance on orders and provide tailored advice for various projects. We aim to simplify the process for our customers and ensure that they receive the best possible support for their specific requirements. To achieve this, we have introduced separate supply chain departments, and specialist customer service departments to match our customer and business needs.

To support this initiative, our swift and reliable customer delivery services, facilitated by our own fleet of lorries, guarantee the timely and complete delivery of products. We also distribute copper tubes in wooden cases, not only for export orders, but also for the UK market to ensure product safety. This process ensures that wholesalers will be able to store our product similarly to how it is stored on our premises; safely and conveniently.

Continuing the winning streak

Despite our growth in the sector, there are ongoing objectives we aim to meet. With a keen eye on expansion and continuous improvement, we envision a future where Lawton Tubes remains at the forefront of sustainable solutions, providing unparalleled customer service.

Our collective drive to explore new horizons enables us to embrace emerging technologies and provide cutting-edge products and holistic support on a global scale.

With our fantastic copper products, and dedicated team, we look forward to excelling in the ACR/HVAC sector.

Click here to view our unbeatable ACR product range. 

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World Refrigeration Day 2023

Launched in 2019 by refrigeration consultant and former president of the Institute of Refrigeration, Stephen Gill, World Refrigeration Day is now celebrated in over 153 countries.

At Lawton Tubes, we’ve been avid supporters of World Refrigeration Day since its inauguration. This year’s WRD is taking place on 26 June with a focus is on Next Generation Cooling, and alongside supporting the event, we have exciting plans set in motion to expand our role within the industry, as Marketing and International Sales Director, Robert Lawton, explains:

“Not only are we active supporters of WRD, we also support new talent coming through the ranks all the year round,” says Roberts.

“Plans are coming together to offer free talks at training colleges across the country to explain about why copper pipes are the preferred material for refrigeration and air-conditioning, as well some fun facts.”

“We won’t be going alone. Having embraced digital media, there are several professional installers who’ll be getting up in front of a young audience to pass on their knowledge too.”

More than a copper pipe dream

As well as raising the profile of the refrigeration, air-conditioning, and heat-pump sector and the 15m people it employs worldwide, funds generated by World Refrigeration Day sponsors such as Lawton Tubes help support development, training, and outreach programmes to inspire the next generation of industry professionals.

“Having a passionate interest in our company and the products we supply shines through when encouraging the next generation,” Robert explains. “We love sharing installs and tips on social media as well as engaging with any comments or DMs from viewers.”

Lawton Tubes is building a strong network of industry professionals who are passionate about assisting the next generation. Come see us live at Installer Show NEC 27-29^th June where the RACHP UK Skills finals are taking place. Good luck to those apprentice finalists.

Lawton Tubes is the UK’s leading supplier of copper pipes for air conditioning and refrigeration (ACR). You can see our vast range of ACR products here, many of which are available ex-stock through national and independent merchants

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Copper is even found in air conditioning units, but it has a contender there: aluminium.

How can copper be used in air conditioning?

Air conditioning (AC) units are made up of three different components: evaporating coils, a compressor and condenser coils.

To cool a room, firstly the air conditioner pulls in air that flows over the evaporating coils. These coils contain refrigerant that absorbs heat from the warm air. During this absorption, the refrigerant turns from a liquid into a gas – but it needs to convert back again. That’s where the compressor steps in; it puts the gas under high pressure to turn it back into a liquid. Any unwanted heat from this process is sent outside thanks to the condenser coils and cool air is pumped back into the room.

Either copper or aluminium can be used for the coils and piping in an AC unit. But the big question is, which is best?

At Lawton Tubes we may be a little biased but we champion copper as the superior choice. Take a look at a few of the advantages of using copper and we’re sure you’ll agree with us.

Advantages of using copper in air conditioning units

#1 Copper is an excellent thermal conductor

First and foremost, air conditioning units are designed to change and maintain the temperature of a room, so the piping needs to be made from metal that conducts heat well.

Compared to aluminium, copper is a superior thermal conductor as it has a higher heat transfer rate.

However, aluminium is often used in conjunction with copper to help keep costs lower. The coils in an AC unit are often made of finned tubes; the tube itself is made of copper with aluminium fins surrounding it. These transport refrigerant around the unit while the fins increase the air surface contact, which, in turn, helps the energy transfer happen quicker.

#2 Copper pipes and tubes are strong and easily maintained

Air conditioning units require pipes to be bent at sharp angles; this minimises the amount of space the unit takes and improves its efficiency. However, it means that the pipes must be made of strong and malleable material – anything too weak and the pipes would be likely to crack and cause leaks.

On the one hand, aluminium is very flexible, more so than copper. But, in terms of longevity, copper is far more durable.

Copper is an incredibly strong material that can also be bent without compromising the pipe’s integrity. It is also easier to solder, so if any cracks occur, they can be easily fixed without having to replace the whole unit. 

#3 Copper’s more economical in the long term

Although the initial outlay for copper might make aluminium seem more appealing, copper’s strength and durability makes it more cost-effective in the long term.

Where copper can be soldered if it cracks, aluminium becomes softer and weaker when exposed to high temperatures. Therefore, fixing or installing aluminium is more challenging and requires highly skilled labourers and precise tools – thus increasing the cost.

#4 Copper is corrosion resistant 

Another property of copper that increases its lifespan is its resistance to corrosion. In comparison to aluminium, copper reacts with far fewer chemicals and is far less likely to corrode thanks to a naturally occurring film across its surface.

In fact, copper is renowned for being incredibly corrosion resistant, hence why copper tubing is used in many underground and freshwater environments.

It’s simply the perfect metal to use in an air conditioning unit where it’s constantly exposed to air and water at various temperatures. Other metals can corrode quickly in these environments if they aren’t treated correctly, causing you to have to replace or fix the unit more often. 

Copper is the AC king

So, there we have it; there are plenty of reasons why copper is worth the investment.

It’s a superior conductor of heat, easily soldered, durable and corrosion resistant – everything you need for an air conditioning unit.

To learn more about how you can utilise copper in your applications, get in touch with our team at Lawton Tubes and we’ll be happy to help.

At Lawton Tubes, we provide a range of copper pipes, including 6mm copper pipe, 15mm copper pipe, 22mm copper pipe, 28mm copper pipe and 35mm copper pipe.

Browse our range of copper pipes.

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