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Rioned Wrap: A Look Back at 2023
It's been another high-powered year for Rioned UK, marked by the widespread distribution of new equipment across the country and the successful introduction of our latest zero-emission all-electric jetter. Explore the highlights of our year below, and feel free to reach out for assistance with sales inquiries, technical support, or any other needs.
Another Step Towards a Sustainable Drainage Sector
This year the development team in Tilburg has once again produced a ground-breaking jetting machine. The eFlowOne is a fully electric unit that builds on the success of 2019’s eCityJet. Merging cutting-edge technology with space-saving design, we are making further strides towards a more sustainable and cost-effective approach to drain cleaning.
By creating lightweight and affordable solutions we aim to expand access to our drain and sewer cleaning machinery for small to medium-sized contractors, opening out our innovative zero-emission machines to new markets.
It’s not only the size and cost that makes the eFlow One a breakthrough solution. By going fully electric, the cost to operate and maintain an electric machine is considerably lower than a fuel-driven machine - it is estimated that with average use contractors can make annual savings of well over €2,000!
This new machine will help maintain our global standing as market leaders in innovative drain cleaning equipment, with our commitment to sustainability very much at the forefront of product development.
Perhaps this was best summed up by Jan Pieters, our Managing Director, who said: “The eFlow One is a testament to our commitment to innovation and sustainability. Ultimately, it’s all about equipping the industry with the tools to operate more cleanly and efficiently.”
More New Products in 2023
At the bi-annual Ro-Ka-Tech trade fair in May, we unveiled the new specification UrbanCombi 3.2t jetvac combination unit. The enhanced version is again built on a 4WD Ford Ranger chassis and utilises PTO from the vehicle engine to deliver 4600psi @10gpm, high-pressure jetting and 1400gpm suction power. This new combi includes additional storage cabinets and a 1,200-litre water tank made of strong aluminium to keep the overall vehicle weight as low as possible.
Also released this year was the RioTrailer R2, a new iteration of our portable, lightweight suction trailer unit designed to access height-restricted locations. The new, lightweight unit includes enhanced storage and safety features, can be detached from its trailer and is powered by a 2-cylinder, 20 HP Honda Engine driving the powerful Jurop PNR 73 vacuum pump with a new canopy construction that ensures noise pollution is reduced.
Finally, from the world of inspection cameras, we introduced two new systems to the range this year - the X40 and the CompactCam. The X40 is a sewer inspection camera with a 40m cable and 8 hours of battery, an ideal solution for house connections and indoor sewers. The CompactCam is an innovative smaller solution for domestic use, with a highly flexible 15m push cable designed to navigate the twists and turns of kitchen and bathroom pipes.
A Global Gathering
Rioned’s Distributor Day and Open House took place in October. The three-day event began with the Distributor Day, a gathering of 16 Rioned dealerships and over 50+ colleagues from as far afield as Australia. The meeting took place at the spectacular Neo Hotel in Oisterwijk and offered the opportunity for Rioned to showcase products and services whilst gathering important feedback from partners. A highlight of the meeting was the first unveiling of the eFlow One electric jetter.
On Friday, the team in Tilburg opened their doors to over 400 guests. Despite uninterrupted rain, the weather failed to dampen spirits with a range of activities and events expertly staged by our colleagues in The Netherlands.
Throughout the morning, groups toured the factory for demonstrations by the Rioned NL team and a host of invited equipment partners. Due to the weather, the planned Riolympics competitive events were unable to go ahead. Still, guests were entertained with the launch of the eFlow One, a Formula One simulator, and enjoyed food and drinks in the hospitality marque, accompanied by live music!
Showtime
In November, we again made our mark at the National Drainage Show, immersing ourselves in two days of everything drainage. The National Drainage Show at the ExCel in London, stands as the UK’s biggest annual two-day gathering for professionals in the drainage sector. Rioned proudly showcased a RioCom jetvac, an eCityJet, and a CityJet van-pack at this year’s event, keeping Sales Director Mark Cox occupied with a steady flow of visitors.
Mark was also over the pond in Indianapolis for the WWETT Show in February. The largest annual tradeshow for wastewater and environmental service professionals features over 500 exhibitors and 13000 attendees from 46 countries. A regular visitor to the show over recent years, Mark has developed a close working relationship with the team at sister company Spartan Tools. This year he was there to help the Spartan team showcase the new Defender JetVac, which is based on Rioned’s suction trailer and available as a truck or trailer-mounted system.
In May, Rioned was once again at the bi-annual Ro-Ka-Tech trade fair in Germany, exhibiting alongside sister company Karo. The four-day event is a showcase for the latest innovations, techniques, and equipment in underground infrastructure and has been the venue for a number of important Rioned product launches over recent years. Alongside exhibiting a range of equipment, Rioned CEO Jan Pieters unveiled the new specification Urban Combi 4X4 vehicle.
We Couldn’t Do It Without You!
In the past year, our collaboration extended with established clients in the water sector, such as Anglian Water, Severn Trent, and Northumbrian Water. Additionally, we continued partnerships with various utility and drainage firms, including Grey Water Drainage, TW Drainage, Go Flow Drainage, Basement Pumps, and KwikJet.
Up in Scotland, our dedicated distributor, ScotJet, maintained their exceptional service, fulfilling numerous orders for jet vacs and van-packs to customers in their region. Meanwhile, on the southern coast, Kensway Engineering in Devon played a pivotal role in securing our largest-ever order for trailer jetters.
Our customers are an endless source of inspiration, actively sharing images, comments, and feedback on their social platforms. These insights serve as constant reminders of the pivotal role your feedback plays in shaping the continuous development of our products and services.
Rioned People
In July we were delighted to announce the appointment of Mathew Owen as UK Managing Director. With over 30 years of mechanical engineering experience, Mathew has joined RUK to oversee UK operations for Rioned and sister company Andy Guest Jetters. Mathew says he has been impressed with what has been achieved at Rioned and the excellent reputation the company has with customers.
In his first few months with the company, he’s been actively meeting customers and spending time with the team to help understand the opportunities to develop and grow the business.
In the month following Mathew’s appointment, the servicing department added another Mobile Servicing Technician to the team. Steve Dunn is a mechanic who has worked in the field throughout his long career, starting as a motor vehicle apprentice and working his way up to Formula One for Orange Arrows as a race engineer.
While his current role may lack the glamour of international race circuits, Steve is enthusiastic about the challenges presented by servicing the range of Rioned equipment and the camaraderie of the exceptional team at Thetford.
The transition to the new 365 ERP system across the Rioned group has been a major focus of 2023, and demanded a huge amount of commitment and extra work from colleagues across the organisation. The new system will bring more automation and integration across the brand, unifying operations and providing a single source of intelligence to help in-house teams work better together and deliver faster and more efficient services to our customers across our manufacturing, servicing and sales processes.
In January, we launched our #WORKSAFE campaign to serve as a comprehensive resource for promoting a culture of safety in the drainage sector. The campaign covered essential topics, offering valuable insights and guidelines to ensure the well-being of employees and the effective operation of equipment.
From general safety tips to specific advice on using drain jetting and inspection tools, the content emphasises Rioned's commitment to creating a secure working environment. Additionally, the inclusion of safety videos and downloadable resources enhanced the accessibility of this vital information.
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