Uncategorised Archives - Lawton Tubes Mon, 04 Nov 2024 17:41:19 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.2 https://lawtontubes.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/cropped-favicon-32x32.png Uncategorised Archives - Lawton Tubes 32 32 Teaming Up for a Greener Future: Our Copper Sustainability Partnership https://lawtontubes.co.uk/copper_sustainability_partnership/ Mon, 04 Nov 2024 17:41:18 +0000 https://lawtontubes.co.uk/?p=53753 In today’s world, promoting sustainability is more than just a good business practice, it’s an urgent responsibility. At Lawton Tubes, we’re passionate about doing our part for a greener planet, and our mission centres around a product with remarkable sustainability credentials: copper. With our newly launched Copper Sustainability Partnership, Cusp, we’re taking a stand against […]

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In today’s world, promoting sustainability is more than just a good business practice, it’s an urgent responsibility. At Lawton Tubes, we’re passionate about doing our part for a greener planet, and our mission centres around a product with remarkable sustainability credentials: copper. With our newly launched Copper Sustainability Partnership, Cusp, we’re taking a stand against plastic greenwashing in the construction and plumbing sectors, and we couldn’t be more excited to share this journey with you.

Why Copper?

Copper is a powerhouse when it comes to sustainability. Not only is it durable and highly efficient in a variety of applications, but it is also 100% recyclable. Unlike some materials that degrade after each recycling process, copper retains its quality and performance over countless cycles, making it an ideal material for sustainable construction and plumbing solutions. By prioritising copper, we’re supporting an approach that reduces waste and promotes the long-term reuse of resources.

The Mission Against Greenwashing

In recent years, there has been an increase in “greenwashing,” especially in sectors like construction and plumbing. Plastic-based products are often marketed as “sustainable,” despite being challenging to recycle, and harmful in the long term. Cusp aims to educate, inspire, and drive the industry to recognize copper as a true sustainable alternative that aligns with authentic environmental practices.

A Collaborative Approach to Change

Sometimes, the most impactful messages need more than one voice to truly resonate. That’s why we’re teaming up with passionate ambassadors and industry experts, including our competitor, to amplify the conversation around sustainability. Our goal is to break through the noise, confront misconceptions, and highlight the role copper can play in sustainable development.

Watch the video to hear from one of our Directors and our Copper Ambassador, PB Plumber, talk about the new project.

Join Us on the Journey

Sustainability is a shared journey, and we believe everyone can play a role in making a difference. Whether you’re a business leader, a contractor, or a homeowner, your choices matter. Join us in embracing sustainable practices and in supporting materials that align with a greener future. At Lawton Tubes, we’re proud to champion copper and to lead by example in the construction and plumbing industries.

Together, we’re #ProperInCopper.

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The King’s Award for Enterprise: A Mark of Prestige and Excellence https://lawtontubes.co.uk/kings-award-2024-ceremony/ Thu, 05 Sep 2024 10:57:31 +0000 https://lawtontubes.co.uk/?p=52315 The King’s Award for Enterprise and International Trade 2024 is the highest official accolade for UK businesses, recognising outstanding achievement across categories like Innovation, International Trade, Sustainable Development, and Promoting Opportunity through Social Mobility. Since its inception in 1965, the award (formerly The Queen’s Award for Enterprise) has served as a hallmark of quality and […]

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The King’s Award for Enterprise and International Trade 2024 is the highest official accolade for UK businesses, recognising outstanding achievement across categories like Innovation, International Trade, Sustainable Development, and Promoting Opportunity through Social Mobility. Since its inception in 1965, the award (formerly The Queen’s Award for Enterprise) has served as a hallmark of quality and excellence, celebrating businesses that make significant contributions to the UK economy. Companies that receive this prestigious award enjoy enhanced credibility, global recognition, and opportunities for growth.

The Ceremony

King's Award for Enterprise

Pictured: (left – right), Anne Tasker, Caroline Gregory, Simon Waldron, Shannon Stevenson, Cadet Flight Sergeant Thomas Cartwright, The Lord Lieutenant, Dr Derrick Anderson CBE, David Rebeiro, Giles Lawton, Robert Lawton, Rolf Herold, Patrick Lawton.

This week has been a defining moment for our business as we celebrate receiving the UK’s most prestigious award. This achievement builds on our rich history of excellence, having previously received the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in 2019. The continued recognition speaks volumes about our unwavering dedication to international trade and quality.

King's Award for Enterprise

Pictured: (left – right), Dave Dunlop, Patrick Lawton, Elisabeth Lewis-Jones, James Webber, Cadet Flight Sergeant Thomas Cartwright, The Lord Lieutenant, Dr Derrick Anderson CBE, Ajay Desai, David Rebeiro, Chris Robinson, Robert Lawton, Sean Rose, Simon Waldron, Anne Tasker, Giles Lawton, Rolf Harold, Caroline Gregory.

This week has been a defining moment for our business as we celebrate receiving the UK’s most prestigious award. This achievement builds on our rich history of excellence, having previously received the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in 2019. The continued recognition speaks volumes about our unwavering dedication to international trade and quality.

It was an absolute honour to welcome His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant, Dr Derrick Anderson CBE of the West Midlands Lieutenancy, to our Coventry site this week. His visit underscores the significance of our achievement, recognising our company’s relentless hard work and commitment to expanding our global presence over the last few years.

This celebration was the icing on the cake. Time to crack on and work on our recipe of success.
Robert Lawton, Director of Marketing and Exports

Team Acknowledgements

King's Award for Enterprise - Chris White and Jon Brealey.

Pictured: (left – right), Chris White, Jon Brealey.

This achievement wouldn’t have been possible without the hard work of our dedicated team and trusted partners. We would like to individually acknowledge Robert Lawton, Director of Marketing and Exports, and David Rebeiro, Medical and International Sales Manager, Chris White, Head of Air conditioning and Refrigeration, Jon Brealey, Operations Manager, Madalin Drugea, Operations Supervisor, and our Operations team whose leadership, hard work and vision have been crucial to our international success.

David Rebeiro and Shannon Stevenson.

Pictured: (left – right), David Rebeiro, Shannon Stevenson.

We’re extremely proud to have won and achieved the prestigious King’s Award for International Trade and Enterprise. Our overseas partners trust us to meet the demands of their clients for both quick delivery and quality.
David Rebeiro, Medical and International Sales Manager

Looking Ahead

King's and Queen's award

As we reflect on this incredible milestone, we’re filled with excitement for what lies ahead. The King’s Award for Enterprise not only celebrates our past successes but also energizes us to continue growing, innovating, and building new international partnerships. We are committed to strengthening our global reach, and this award will undoubtedly fuel our ongoing pursuit of excellence.

To our Lawton team, partners, and the distinguished guests who celebrated with us, we thank you. You have all been instrumental in our journey. We look forward to the future as we continue to thrive in the international market.

Cake for the ceremony at the awards!

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Meet Rich Thomas: Head of People and Culture https://lawtontubes.co.uk/meet-rich-thomas/ Wed, 31 Jul 2024 15:44:46 +0000 https://lawtontubes.co.uk/?p=49295 Introduce yourself and your role! “Hi I’m Rich Thomas, Head of People and Culture, and I’ve been here at Lawton Tubes now for four months.” Why Lawton Tubes? What are you enjoying most about working for the company?“So I’m really excited to be joining Lawton Tubes because I think the organisation has got to a […]

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Introduce yourself and your role!
Hi I’m Rich Thomas, Head of People and Culture, and I’ve been here at Lawton Tubes now for four months.”

Why Lawton Tubes? What are you enjoying most about working for the company?
“So I’m really excited to be joining Lawton Tubes because I think the organisation has got to a stage now that it’s big enough to be really exciting, but it’s small enough to actually get your arms around it and make a real difference; that’s key for me at this stage in my career because I want to be working for an organisation where I can make a difference, to help the organisation to grow and become more successful as it moves forward.”

Where did you work before joining us? Can you tell us a little bit about your experience?
“Before joining Lawton’s, I worked in several organisations, some of which you’ll have heard of and others you won’t. So I’ve worked for companies like Shell and Royal Mail. I’ve worked in public service, Warwickshire Council, but also the Crown Prosecution Service. And I’ve worked in chemical manufacturing for a company called Scott Barber, which was an international chemical manufacturer, based in Northamptonshire.”

So what do you do in your role?
“As I say, I’ve been here for four months now. My role is essentially in two parts. So the people and culture which is exactly that. It’s about how we get the best for the organisation and grow the organisation for the future, by demonstrating care for our people, and how we develop our people and approaches within the organisation. The second part of the role is probably a little bit more functional, and it’s some of the stuff that you would expect in any traditional organisation around the human resources part of the business and how we improve that. So we call these things around terms and conditions and employment, contracts, employee relations, and all of those things that need to be done to get an organisation functioning, you know, basically and, well.”

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King Charles III Awards Lawton Tubes with Top Enterprise Award https://lawtontubes.co.uk/kings-award-2024/ Thu, 25 Jul 2024 16:27:28 +0000 https://lawtontubes.co.uk/?p=49168 We’re thrilled to announce that Lawton Tubes has been awarded the prestigious King’s Award for Enterprise and International Trade. This honour, one of the most prestigious business awards in the UK, celebrates our outstanding achievements in exports and our status as a reliable and successful global supplier. Meeting the King On Tuesday 9th July 2024, […]

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We’re thrilled to announce that Lawton Tubes has been awarded the prestigious King’s Award for Enterprise and International Trade. This honour, one of the most prestigious business awards in the UK, celebrates our outstanding achievements in exports and our status as a reliable and successful global supplier.

Meeting the King

On Tuesday 9th July 2024, our very own Copper King, Robert Lawton, Director of Marketing and Exports, had the honour of meeting His Majesty King Charles III at Windsor Castle. This exclusive event marks a significant milestone in our company’s history, underscoring our excellence in the global market.

At Lawton Tubes, we export copper tubes, pipes, and fittings to the ACR (Air Conditioning and Refrigeration), Plumbing, Medical, and Engineering sectors across more than 35 countries. Our products, manufactured to ISO and BSI standards, have played a crucial role in numerous significant overseas developments, including hospitals, hotels, and leisure resorts.

I loved representing the business and the team behind our exporting success, whether it’s sales, marketing, logistics, quality, health and safety, those selling and using our products in over 40 countries, it was a proud day. It’s a huge achievement all around and I was so excited, if not a little nervous, to be the one that shook the hand of King Charles. Having gained the King’s Award for export means we can proudly display His Majesty’s Crown and Award logo for five years on all our products – the only copper pipe and fittings supplier in the world to be able to do so! It was a great networking event. Everyone there was equally passionate about the businesses they were representing, and we all had an awesome time!
Robert Lawton, Director of Marketing and Exports

The Award

We’re one of only 252 organisations nationwide to receive a King’s Award for Enterprise this year and one of just 161 companies honoured for excellence in international trade. Having previously been awarded the Queen’s Award for International Trade and Enterprise from 2016 to 2019, we decided to reapply for the King’s Award due to significant growth in exports in recent years.

We’re extremely proud to have won and achieved the prestigious King’s Award for International Trade and Enterprise. Our overseas partners trust us to meet the demands of their clients for both quick delivery and quality.
David Rebeiro, International Sales Manager

About Us

Founded in 1920 in the heart of Coventry, we are now a fifth-generation business employing over 103 people across three facilities. We not only manufacture, and supply copper tubes and pipes worldwide but also operate Wardtec, a sub-contract machining site primarily supplying fittings to the water industry. We pride ourselves on fast turnaround times and exceptional customer service, achieved through our own distribution network and a vast range of high-quality copper products.

In addition to our business achievements, we are committed to sustainability. Copper is a highly sustainable material, known for its recyclability and energy efficiency. By promoting the use of copper in various industries, we contribute to environmental conservation and sustainable development.

We’re also excited to announce that there will soon be an upcoming ceremony at our Coventry site, where we will be presented with the award in person! This event will be a momentous occasion for all of us at Lawton Tubes, celebrating our hard work and dedication.

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Installer Show success for Lawton Tubes 2024! https://lawtontubes.co.uk/installer-show-2024/ Mon, 22 Jul 2024 09:21:59 +0000 https://lawtontubes.co.uk/?p=48979 The Installer Show 2024 has wrapped up, and it was an event to remember! Our stand has never been busier, thanks to our special guests and the exciting challenges that brought crowds together from all over the country and overseas. This year, we also featured the Office Lookalikes to keep our visitors entertained and a […]

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The Installer Show 2024 has wrapped up, and it was an event to remember! Our stand has never been busier, thanks to our special guests and the exciting challenges that brought crowds together from all over the country and overseas. This year, we also featured the Office Lookalikes to keep our visitors entertained and a copperchino machine, adding a fun twist to the event.

Highlights from the Installer Show 2024

Press-Fitting Wall Challenge with MB Plumber

One of the major attractions was the Press-Fitting Wall Challenge, hosted by MB Plumber. Visitors had the opportunity to press copper tube fittings onto a wall to create one of two iconic pictures: the Union Jack and London’s Tower Bridge. This interactive activity was a hit, engaging both professionals and enthusiasts in a fun and skill-testing competition.

Mr Bruno Friedmann, technician, Nample, and Mr Uwe Murmann CEO, Murmann Umwelttechnik GMBH.


Legendary Pipe Bending Challenge with PB Plumber

Our ambassador, PB Plumber, returned to the stand with his legendary Pipe Bending Challenge. This competition saw participants go head-to-head to achieve the perfect copper pipe bend. The challenge was not only a test of skill but also a crowd favourite, drawing in spectators and participants eager to show off their abilities.

We had some outstanding performances throughout the three days of the event. Congratulations to our talented winners:

Day 1 Winner: Andrew Allison
Day 2 and Overall Winner: Cody McDonald
Day 3 Head-to-Head Winner: Sefolli Klodjan

@PlumbingJess learning how to do the #PipeBendingChallenge with @PBPlumber.

The overall winner of the Pipe Bending Challenge, Cody McDonald, was awarded the prestigious Copper Champion 2024 trophy. In addition, all day winners received a brand new Velocity kit bag.

“It was my first time participating at the Installer Show 2024, and it was a great opportunity to meet lots of amazing people and discover new products. My experience with Lawton Tubes was superb and totally unexpected. I was given the chance to compete head-to-head on stage and take part in Robert Lawton’s and PB Plumber’s very own Pipe Bending Challenge. Competing against SRV was an amazing experience. Winning on stage in front of an audience was an added bonus!”
Sefolli Klodjan, from Corona Plumbing Ltd


LPB Awards 2024

Thank you to everyone who got their nominations in for this year’s LPB Awards. Congratulations to our four finalists, selected by our independent judge, who noted that these plumbers really stood out from over 100 nominations. Congratulations to @JonestheGas, @bb_the_engineer, @GlisterServices, and @BoilerstooBathrooms.

The winner is Todd Glister from Glister Services. Congratulations, Todd! The LPB Awards are all about recognizing plumbers in the community who make a difference, whether it’s sharing knowledge with others, making a positive impact, or providing professional advice, including mental health support.

Commitment to Sustainability

At Lawton Tubes, sustainability is a core value, and it was reflected in our activities at the show. All participants in the Pipe Bending Challenge received our exclusive 100 Lawton Tubes hats, made in collaboration with PB Plumber. These hats symbolise our commitment to sustainability, as copper is 100% recyclable. This initiative demonstrates the importance of environmentally friendly practices in our industry and our dedication to promoting sustainable solutions.

Apprentices and Education

Our stand was buzzing with activity and welcomed numerous industry professionals, including TV presenter Rachel Riley, who eagerly learned the art of traditional pipe bending. This hands-on experience showcased the skills involved and highlighted plumbing as a promising career path for apprentices who visited our stand on Day 3.

We were honoured to host students from various colleges, including Birmingham Metropolitan College looking to introduce new opportunities and career paths for their students. Many students participated in our pipe bending challenge, using these tools and techniques for the first time.

“We brought a number of students down here to the Lawton Tubes stand from our engineering, plumbing, electrical, multi-skills level 1 and 2 courses, to talk to potential employers about apprenticeships, discover the latest technology, and explore new innovations. A lot of our plumbers were so excited to try the pipe bending challenge as they have never done anything like it before and it was great to see them get stuck in.”
Violet Williams, Work Experience Manager, BMet College

This event not only showcased top plumbing talent but also emphasized our commitment to nurturing the next generation of skilled professionals.

Join Us Next Year at the Installer Show!

If you missed out this year, make sure to mark your calendars for the next Installer Show. With even more exciting activities, special guests, and opportunities, our stand is definitely not one to miss! Follow us on our social media channels for the latest updates and announcements.

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Stainless steel vs copper for domestic hot water cylinder design and production – which material is most suited for which purpose and why? https://lawtontubes.co.uk/stainless-steel-vs-copper-for-domestic-hot-water-cylinder-design-and-production-which-material-is-most-suited-for-which-purpose-and-why/ Wed, 22 May 2024 14:00:00 +0000 https://lawtontubes.co.uk/?p=47975 The UK domestic market has always had a unique perspective for hot water and central heating systems. Up until around 40 years ago, UK central heating and hot water supply usually consisted of a copper hot water cylinder that was heated by a gas or oil-fired boiler. An alternative method was to heat the water […]

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The UK domestic market has always had a unique perspective for hot water and central heating systems.

Up until around 40 years ago, UK central heating and hot water supply usually consisted of a copper hot water cylinder that was heated by a gas or oil-fired boiler. An alternative method was to heat the water in the cylinder by way of an immersion-type electric heater.

These ‘vented’ cylinders were open to the atmosphere. The water was gravity fed into the base of the cylinder from a cold-water storage tank, which was typically housed in the loft space. This arrangement provided the necessary pressure to push the cold water into the bottom of the cylinder, which in turn pushed the hot water out of the top of the cylinder to the various hot water taps around the house.

In a vented system, the cylinder is considered low pressure. The pressure available at the hot tap is directly related to how high the cold-water tank is positioned above the cylinder. Vented designs are a naturally ‘safe’ system. They allow the water to expand and boil if a thermostat fails to control the max temperature. This would otherwise cause a build-up of steam and pose a risk of the system exploding if it could not be vented.

Vented systems have two main drawbacks:

  1. It is often difficult to get good flow and pressure from the hot taps.
  2. Installations can be difficult to achieve if there is insufficient space for the cold water ‘header’ tank; the tank’s location can also make maintenance awkward.

In answer to these issues, the unvented mains pressure system was developed in the 1980s. It allowed the incoming cold water to feed directly off the mains and in turn push the hot water out at the same rate. This greatly increased the pressure of hot water taps and enabled high-powered thermostatic showers to run much more effectively.

Another key benefit was that the boiler and the cylinder could now be installed side by side on a ground floor, negating the need for a cold feed header tank in the loft.

By their nature, the operating pressure of an unvented system is far greater than a vented system, and as such, the cylinder is subject to far greater forces. This means the cylinders used for unvented systems have to be of a stronger design with additional safety features to prevent pressures becoming dangerously high within the sealed tank.

Copper vs Stainless Steel

While copper has many excellent properties that make it ideal for use in plumbing and heating, including its ductility, corrosion resistance, and malleability, it does not possess great tensile strength. This means a thicker gauge material is required when manufacturing copper cylinders for use in unvented systems – and this of course increases production and retail costs.

Stainless steel presented a natural, more affordable option than copper as by comparison it has very high tensile strength and is considerably more cost-effective as it can be used in a thinner gauge.

The result has been a typical split where copper is used for vented cylinders and stainless steel is used for unvented mains pressure systems, although cylinder manufacturers are now producing vented cylinders in stainless steel.

To meet our customers’ broad range of requirements, Wardtec manufactures and supplies specialist water fittings for both stainless-steel and copper hot water cylinders in very short lead times. In fact, we’re the UK’s only copper cylinder fittings manufacturer. All our fittings are produced using the latest CNC technology and in accordance with the relevant BS & ISO standards.

When it comes to choosing a hot water storage cylinder, however, there are a number of considerations that set copper and stainless-steel apart. Knowing these will help you decide which material is best suited for your application. Let’s look at them now:

PROPERTYCOPPERSTAINLESS STEEL
EfficiencyOne of the most efficient materials in the world for conducting heat, with a thermal conductivity of 401 W/mK, making it ideal for use in energy-efficient hot water storage applications such as Solar Thermal Panels and Heat Pumps.Thermal conductivity of just 14W/mK. It is much less efficient at storing and conducting heat than copper. Stainless steel cylinders require more energy input to keep water warm – can be more costly to run.
MalleabilityRelatively easy metal to work with. Can be bent and shaped to serve various purposes without compromising its integrity. Its uniform heat-transfer properties make it easy to solder and form sound joins for use in plumbing.Harder to work with than copper. Is less flexible and cannot be soldered. Instead, it is TIG welded or laser welded.
FabricationCan be fabricated in a low-tech way with minimal capital investment; it copes well with wide tolerances during fabrication.Large capital investment required for tooling and fabrication equipment means it’s awkward to make single ‘specials’ out of stainless steel. Machining it causes high tool wear. Its greater elasticity when compared to copper (especially Duplex grades) is also a consideration.
DurabilityAbility to withstand environmental changes, fluctuating temperatures, and surface damage without compromising integrity makes it inherently durable.Harder metal than copper. Its robustness makes it better suited to withstanding external damage and high pressures.
Corrosion resistanceCan withstand long-term exposure to water without the need for additional processes. Best suited for use in soft water areas to prolong its lifespan.Offers slightly better levels of corrosion resistance than copper. It is ideal for use in hard water areas where the mineral content of the water is high.
LongevityA domestic copper hot water cylinder should last around 20 years, though it is not unheard of for them to last up to 50 years, particularly if they’ve been installed correctly using the right high-quality fixtures and fittings and are well maintained.Stainless steel hot water cylinders can be expected to last between 20-40 years depending on how well they are maintained. The use of specialist stainless-steel fittings can help to extend the lifespan of stainless-steel cylinders and prevent leaks developing in these potential weak spots over time.   
Resistance to pressureLess able to withstand high pressures when compared to stainless steel. This can be overcome in heating and hot water systems by using a thicker grade material, although this greatly increases production and retail costs.Stainless steel, particularly Duplex grade, is remarkably strong – around 2.5 times stronger than copper. Even thin material can withstand consistently high pressure – ideally suited for mains pressure systems.
AffordabilityMore expensive commodity than stainless steel, making copper hot water cylinders a more substantial upfront investment.More affordable option than copper, but greater processing and manufacturing costs.
The cylinder needs to be chemically treated with acid solution to prevent ‘crevice corrosion’.
SafetyHas inherent antimicrobial properties. Contact with copper will eradicate 99% of bacteria within five hours. It also prevents the spread of waterborne diseases including E-Coli and Legionella making it perfectly suited for use in homes with babies, older people, or immunocompromised residents.Stainless steel is perfectly safe for use in bathrooms and kitchens, although it takes longer for bacteria to leave stainless steel surfaces.  
RecyclabilityCopper is 100% recyclable. It can be used and reused again and again without compromising its integrity. Scrap material also retains its value. Wardtec is the UK’s only copper cylinder fittings manufacturer, and all our fittings are made using 100% recyclable copper.Possible to recycle stainless steel; this involves separating the alloy into its key elements, which is a lengthy and less cost-effective process. It has significantly lower scrap return value as a percentage compared to copper.  

Both copper and stainless-steel hot water cylinders have their benefits; the choice of material will ultimately be down to environmental factors, customer requirements and system design.

Whichever material you choose to use, however, the importance of using appropriate, high-quality fixtures and fittings is paramount. A hot water cylinder represents a substantial investment for your customer; why compromise its lifespan, the system’s integrity, and yours with poor quality fittings? 

Wardtec specialises in manufacturing and supplying superior fixtures and fittings for the water storage market. With over 40 years partnering with the very best in the industry, our BS & ISO standard copper and stainless-steel hot water cylinder fittings are available as standard or custom orders on tight turnarounds. Our components provide easy-to-use connections between pipes and storage vessels that inspire confidence in your installation, whether you’re using a copper or stainless-steel cylinder.

Find out more about our specialist hot water cylinder products here.  

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The perks of being a Lawton Tubes stockist https://lawtontubes.co.uk/the-perks-of-being-a-lawton-tubes-stockist/ Fri, 21 Apr 2023 08:00:00 +0000 https://lawtontubes.co.uk/?p=29635 Selecting suppliers is no mean feat. In fact, it’s a big investment decision for your business. Who you choose to work with and the products you choose to stock have a direct impact on the overall reputation of your company within the industry. A poor supplier can affect your reputation for quality products; a disorganised […]

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Selecting suppliers is no mean feat. In fact, it’s a big investment decision for your business. Who you choose to work with and the products you choose to stock have a direct impact on the overall reputation of your company within the industry.

A poor supplier can affect your reputation for quality products; a disorganised supplier could affect your reputation for reliability. And both these situations will affect your customer business.  

This is especially true when the product you’re looking to source is copper tube. Copper is an excellent material for both plumbing and AC piping. When deciding where to source your copper tube, pipe, and fittings, you want assurance that you’re investing your resources – and trust – in a supplier that can deliver on both quality and quantity, as and when you need it.

At Lawton Tubes, we appreciate the tricky balance stockists need to strike when selecting a supplier for their copper products. That’s why we do everything we can to make the order and delivery process smooth and efficient for our customers. Here are some of the perks you could look forward to as a Lawton Tubes stockist:

Quality assurance

Lawton Tubes has been a manufacturer and distributor of copper tube, pipes, and fittings for over 100 years. All our products are tested at our facility in Coventry to the same exacting standards, so you can be sure all Lawton Tube orders will be of the same consistently high quality. 

Quick delivery

Our warehouse is 60,000 sqft and holds over 4,000 product lines in stock, including straight tube, coil pipes, endfeed/endbraze compression and solder ring fittings with loads of other accessories. With so many copper plumbing and AC parts available on demand, we’re able to keep delivery times to an absolute minimum. We aim to be ready for despatch within 1-3 days on all UK orders and 2-3 weeks on export orders.

Reliable delivery

 

As well as our huge range of stock, all Lawton Tubes UK mainland orders are despatched and delivered by our own fleet of drivers. In fact, we despatch around 120 customer orders each day. Our lorries travel direct to you from our convenient central location in Coventry, so you can be confident your order will reach you on time and in premium condition.

Convenient delivery

Having our own delivery fleet means we can also schedule orders to ensure they reach you as and when you need them at a time and day that’s convenient for you.

One supplier for all your copper tube and fittings

Our vast fitting and tube range means you can source all the copper products you need under one roof. From straight lengths to pancake coils and medical grade tubes to pre-insulated coil, you can enjoy the benefits of fulfilling all your copper tube orders along with a full range of fittings with just one phone call. And with only one account to manage, invoicing is easy to keep track and take care of.

Expert treatment and handling of export orders

The same care and attention that goes into delivering our UK orders is carried through in our handling of export orders. We use our specialist, in-house overhead cranes to load export containers with tube that’s stored on cantilever racking. This ensures all orders are handled and packed with care and keeps overall export costs to a minimum.  

Exceptional customer service

Customer service is an essential part of what we do at Lawton Tubes. From our expertly crafted copper products to our handling and order fulfilment, we strive for excellence on every level. But don’t just take our word for it, recently we conducted an anonymous survey with over 400 customers. Here’s what some had to say:

“Lawton have always had superb attention to detail and customer service. All the team at Lawton are always helpful, pleasant to deal with, and professional. Like the sales team, the operations department are superb. Absolutely no need to improve!”

“Chris [White] is a credit to Lawton Tubes and represents the company well. He has always been fantastic and has a very good technical understanding of the products.”

“Lee Clayton is a diamond. You may want to look into cloning him?”

Lawton Tubes is the one-stop source of all copper piping and accessories, delivering outstanding service and quality copper products. If you’re a stockist who’s looking for a comprehensive range of exceptional copper products, reliably delivered direct to you, get in touch today to find out how Lawton Tubes can help.

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Arab Health Exhibition: Awards, Copper Catchups & Exciting New Markets https://lawtontubes.co.uk/arab-health-exhibition-awards-copper-catchups-exciting-new-markets/ Fri, 17 Feb 2023 14:31:13 +0000 https://lawtontubes.co.uk/?p=28961 It’s been yet another successful year for Lawton Tubes at the Arab Health Exhibition! Over the last fifteen years, we have proudly built a great international reputation for our supply of medical gas-grade copper tubes. With many global projects in the medical sector under our copper belt, we were thrilled to exhibit our achievements at […]

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It’s been yet another successful year for Lawton Tubes at the Arab Health Exhibition!

Over the last fifteen years, we have proudly built a great international reputation for our supply of medical gas-grade copper tubes. With many global projects in the medical sector under our copper belt, we were thrilled to exhibit our achievements at the Arab Health 2023 event and celebrate our 15th year in attendance!

Our 15th Year Exhibiting

It was a pleasure to be back in the UK Pavilion at the Dubai Convention and Exhibition Centre. There was an impressive number of visitors across the four days with more people able to travel to the event than in previous years during Covid restrictions.


We had the opportunity to catch up with our key distributors, partners, and customers from the healthcare sector who have helped to drive our global mission of sustainability by championing the excellence of our 100% recyclable, and antibacterial copper tube systems. 

To celebrate our international endeavours and 15-year milestone, we dedicated half of our stand to showcasing photos from past attendances, and had the opportunity to not only exhibit, but present awards to distinguished partner companies working in the sector.


The Future is Copper

We were also thrilled to discuss grand projects we are embarking on as an internationally operating business, with the goals to promote carbon neutrality and implement our expert copper practices throughout the medical industries. With increased investment in the Saudi Arabian healthcare sector, we’re excited to supply more of our high-quality copper installations to hospitals across the Middle East. We now run pages dedicated to the UAE and Dubai markets! Plus, we’re looking forward to expanding into new markets in Africa – so watch this space!


Our 15th year at the 2023 Arab Health Convention marked a significant milestone for us. We hope to expand and grow our business in our ongoing goal to provide long-lasting, positive changes in the medical sector with our excellent products. We would like to thank our long-term partners, customers, and distributors for their support. We cannot wait to see what advancements the future has in store for the medical sector, and we look forward to being a huge part of it.

Find out more about our medical-grade copper here.

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Lawton Tubes – The Sustainability and Benefits of Copper https://lawtontubes.co.uk/lawton-tubes-the-benefits-and-sustainability-of-copper/ Thu, 01 Dec 2022 12:55:45 +0000 https://lawtontubes.co.uk/?p=27551 Copper is thought to be the first metal used by humans. Over the centuries, we’ve found various uses for this versatile material, from health care to the plumbing in your house – the applications seem endless! So, what are the benefits of copper and how sustainable is it in the long term? Why should we […]

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Copper is thought to be the first metal used by humans. Over the centuries, we’ve found various uses for this versatile material, from health care to the plumbing in your house – the applications seem endless! So, what are the benefits of copper and how sustainable is it in the long term?

Why should we be using copper? 5 key benefits

Benefit #1 Copper is malleable and a great conductor

Some of the key benefits of copper stem from its basic properties. Copper is easy to manipulate and shape to suit the user’s needs, which makes it ideal for use in industry. Whether it’s for plumbing, air conditioning units, or gin and whiskey distillation stills, copper can be manipulated to fulfil the task in hand.

It’s also an excellent conductor of heat and electricity. Compared to other metals, copper is far more efficient during energy transfer. This s because the surface area of copper heats up evenly and it is also a slow radiator, allowing it to retain heat far longer than other common metals.

Copper’s energy efficiency is great news for businesses and the planet. Less energy used means lower costs and less of an impact on the environment.

One of the many benefits of copper is its malleability. It can be moulded into many forms, like this distillery

Benefit #2 Copper is antibacterial 

Copper has a unique quality of being antibacterial and antimicrobial, making it perfect for medical and hygiene purposes.

The earliest recorded instance of copper being used in such a way can be found in the ancient Egyptian text, the Smith Papyrus, detailing the use of copper vessels to decontaminate water. Copper is ideal for this as it can kill certain types of microbial lifeforms found in water such as Legionella (Legionnaire’s disease) and Escherichia Coli (E. Coli).

How does it do this? When bacteria come in contact with a copper sheet and, in some cases, copper alloys, they can be killed within two hours of contact. It comes as no surprise that copper was so readily adopted throughout the ancient world, where morbidity and mortality were far more prevalent than today.

Benefit #3 Copper can improve health 

The health benefits of copper are well documented, but did you know it’s also an essential nutrient in the human body? Copper helps to maintain bone health, nerves, blood vessels, the immune system, and the creation of red blood cells. As a result, having copper in your diet can help to prevent serious illnesses such as cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis.

It’s easy to enjoy the benefits of adding copper to your diet. Your body only needs small amounts of copper, so increasing your intake of vegetables such as peas, beans and greens, plus whole grains and sunflower seeds contain copper. It can also be found in shellfish, peanut butter and dark chocolate!

Another health benefit of copper is its antimicrobial properties that make it ideal for carrying water

Benefit #4 Copper can be combined with other metals 

As with other elements, copper can be mixed with different metals to make alloys used in specialist applications. One example is bronze (made primarily of copper and tin), which has anti-seizing properties, wear resistance and low friction, making it ideal for the bearings in machinery.

Another alloy example is copper-nickel, used to clad the hulls of ships which are constantly exposed to salt water. Bonding copper-nickel to their steel hulls protects them from corrosion, which in turn prevents them from polluting and damaging ocean environments as well as reducing the ship’s frictional drag. Less frictional drag equals reduced fuel consumption and faster sailing, protecting the environment even further.

Benefit #5 Copper is infinitely recyclable

One of the concerns when recycling is that the material being recycled can sometimes lose its properties. When paper is recycled, for example, the strength of its fibres is diminished.

However, one of the sustainable befits of copper is that it can be recycled and repurposed into other products time and time again without ever losing its unique properties. There is no difference in quality between copper that has been freshly mined compared to recycled copper. For this reason, it’s thought to be one of the most recycled metals on the planet!

One of the sustainability benefits of copper is that its infinitely recyclable

So, how sustainable are copper pipes? 

Very! To give you an idea: between 65% and 80% of all copper ever produced (dating back approximately 10,000 years) is believed to still be in circulation today. Copper is one of the most sustainable materials out there!

Because it can be recycled an unlimited number of times, we can use copper to help build a more sustainable future and allow subsequent generations to continue benefitting from its unique properties.

Get in touch with one of the team today to learn how copper can help your business. 

At Lawton Tubes, we provide a range of copper pipes, including 6mm copper pipe15mm copper pipe22mm copper pipe28mm copper pipe and 35mm copper pipe.

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Air Conditioning: Copper Pipes vs. Aluminium Pipes https://lawtontubes.co.uk/air-conditioning-copper-vs-aluminium-pipes/ Wed, 05 Oct 2022 08:00:00 +0000 https://lawtontubes.co.uk/?p=26617 Copper is one of the world’s most versatile materials, and as such, it can be found almost anywhere: jewellery, electronics, kitchen pots and so much more. 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 […]

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Copper is one of the world’s most versatile materials, and as such, it can be found almost anywhere: jewellery, electronics, kitchen pots and so much more.

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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