W.S. Laidlaw Products
Bill Laidlaw of Victoria, British Columbia was employed with BC Hydro for 25 years in power line construction and maintenance. He noticed an economical and environmental problem his company was experiencing and invented "Replugs" to solve it. This product has proven its worth to BC Hydro and the novelty of Replugs is spreading to other industries.
The wooden poles used by Hydro companies require maintenance on a regular basis to control rot and insect infestation. Holes are drilled in the poles and preservatives or fumigants are poured into the holes, increasing the life of the pole. The holes then need to be sealed and traditionally, wooden plugs have been used. Wooden plugs are difficult to pull out and new holes have to be drilled each time maintenance is required. Replugs are removable, reusable plastic plugs and have flexible tapered threads that allow the plug to be pounded into the hole without damaging the hole. The plugs may be removed for maintenance and may be reused.
The result of using Replugs is an increase in the life of the poles - reducing costs. An effective maintenance program combined with the use of Replugs can result in average savings in excess of $5/pole/year for each wood pole subjected to the maintenance program. When the number of poles owned by a utility company is considered, dollar savings enter into the thousands (or even millions for large utilities.) There are an estimated 105 to 110 million wood poles in the United States!
After coming to the Canadian Innovation Centre in March of 1993, Laidlaw had a Critical Factor Assessment done. This assessment told him his product was feasible and recommended that he continue with the commercialization of Replugs.
Laidlaw took early leave from BC Hydro and established W.S. Laidlaw Products to market and manufacture his product. He subcontracted the manufacturing to Scott Plastics in BC and production began in 1990. A Renton, Washington distributor, Materials Procurement sells Replugs to the United States market. He markets them himself in Canada, saying, "it's really just in the starting phases." His market consists mostly of electrical utilities, but that is spreading as he recently filled an order for a jetty maintenance project at the Esquimalt Naval Base. Bill's company has now sold over 4 million Replugs across North America.
Replugs have been tested and approved by BC Hydro. Cost analysis indicates that over the life of a wood pole, removable/reusable Replugs can save about $0.23/installed plug when compared to the wood plug alternative.
Laidlaw has experienced steady growth in sales. In 1992, Replug sales reached $37,000. In 1997, sales were an impressive $350,000. To date, 75% of Laidlaw's sales are in the US, with only 25% in Canada.
Bill Laidlaw has not begun to penetrate middle and eastern Canada, and this is only due to the fact that there has not been a substantial marketing effort yet. As such, the opportunity to expand his market exists.
Laidlaw has the business foresight to see that organizations might not place considerable importance on replacing plugs. As a result, Laidlaw has published a paper which examines the method for evaluating the cost/benefits of wood pole maintenance. This paper serves to highlight the substantial savings a utility can realize.
A simple business idea, simply successful!
Bill Laidlaw may be reached at: (250)-479-9141.