SAMSUNG's first UK training centre has been opened in Mansfield by ac sales and marketing specialist Gallant Air Conditioning.
Senior management from the Korea-based manufacturer, including European White Goods manager Brian Kim, attended the opening with Gallant's managing director Ted Berry.

Kim said 'This training centre is an essential part of our strategy to become a market leader in the UK air conditioning industry.

He added: 'To be successful, you must provide good technical service and comprehensive training. Our technology can produce some of the best energy efficiency results available in the global air conditioning field, however, it must be installed properly to deliver those results and avoid shortened operating lifecycles”.

Samsung has set up distribution agreements with a number of wholesalers while entering into a sales, technical and CRM support partnership with Gallant.

There is already a waiting list of contractors looking to use the Mansfield facilities and Gallant has plans to grow the training centre to include delivery of the City & Guilds 2079 refrigerant handling qualification that all members of the industry must achieve by 2011.

“The centre is a great resource for us”, said Samsung national sales manager Jon Pettitt. “We have a special relationship with Gallant and they offer us something that other companies in the industry cannot, such as excellent technical and CRM support”, he added.

Samsung described the Mansfield site as ideal as it is close to the centre of the country and within easy distance of the motorway and rail network.