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Find out what goes into a Piper Van
What is a Piper Van?
You’ve seen the pictures and the Instagram Reels, but what is a Piper Van, really?
A Piper Van is a plumbing service van that has been built out with a very specific set of considerations, the Piper way. Every element of the buildout is designed to minimize chaos and streamline operations. This depends on pillars of the Piper way such as Accessible Tools, Organized Parts, Engineered Storage, Uninterrupted Power, Digital Inventory, and Purposeful Placement.
Through years of testing and iterating, we’ve developed a system that allows plumbers to be on and off the job with maximal efficiency, leaving customers wowed.
Buildout Components
The buildout components can be divided into a few main buckets.
- The physical structures - This includes everything from the noise free wooden shelving to the cab partition, scuff plates, fittings rack, dashboard phone mount, and flooring.
- The electrical system - To keep you always on, the electrical system includes a secondary battery, smart charger, and inverter that keep your ahem Milwaukee ahem batteries consistently charged and ready to go without you having to think about them, and the inventory system online.
- The inventory management - One of the key elements of a Piper Van, this system is designed to help you very easily scan out one of your hundreds of parts (no taps or clicks required) and restock your van. We created the inventory app from scratch and we’re convinced it is the only inventory system you’ll actually want to use on the job.
- The inventory - A non-trivial component of every buildout! With the space, organization, and inventory system, hundreds of parts can be easily stocked. But… ordering and getting them all on there to begin with is a challenge! We’ve hand selected the right parts and quantities for many types of plumbing service, and you can refine it to suit your unique regional requirements.
- The tool management - Through a combination of hooks, magnets, drawers, and tool bags (and a lot of testing) each tool is positioned in a way that is visible, accessible, and noise-free.
- The tools - Quality tools make every job better, so getting all the right tools on the van is a priority. We’ve hand selected ideal tools, from Milwaukee power tools to the Rigid drain machine to Pica Pencils. Of course, you can always swap in or out some of them for your personal preferences.
These summaries only scratch the surface of what each involves, which you’ll learn as you go through this guide!
(Even custom 3D printed mounts are created when it’s the best solution!)
Impact Beyond the Van
As an indirect consequence of creating a better tool for the job, Piper Vans have become a talent magnet in the companies that employ them — showing their investment in the great talent they want to keep, and attracting candidates that are looking for an employer that values them and their time.