HARDWARE
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WINDOW WARE-RAPIERSTAR PARTNERSHIP CONTINUES TO GIVE CUSTOMERS THE EDGE Rapierstar’s 20-year partnership with leading distributor Window Ware has proved invaluable in ensuring fastener supplies to its fabricator customers have continued reliably, and consistently, throughout the exceptionally busy home improvement boom of the past 12 months.
Hardware specialist Mila has spent lots of time and money since the start of the first lockdown making sure that its web presence does exactly what busy customers need it to do. Updated navigation using user-friendly drop-down menus helps customers find the products they need, a simple click to book service lets them arrange a sales call, video meet or socially distanced visit, and there’s a dedicated download section for them to access test certificates, declarations of performance and literature.
Reflecting the value both companies place on long term supply partnerships, Window Ware and Rapierstar have worked together for over two decades to develop a deep understanding of each other’s businesses for the ultimate benefit of fabricators and installers. Thanks to Window Ware’s extensive experience of supplying its loyal customer base and Rapierstar’s ability to increase supply to accommodate peaks in demand, the partnership has been able to accurately forecast customer requirements and maintain a high level of service. This has provided customers with much-needed supply dependability and peace of mind – just what busy firms need to help them meet increased levels of manufacturing and installation. Ever since the company was established in 1987, Window Ware has chosen to invest in partnering with major brands across the window and door industry, to strengthen the last link in the supply chain for customers and ensure those brands are properly represented with passion and knowledge. Today the company stocks more than 5,000 lines, including Rapierstar branded fasteners such as the complete range of StarPVCU® screws for window and door manufacturing, StarFix® frame fixings and StarTurn® decking screws. Window Ware serves customers across the UK with a clear ‘right products, right place, right time’ focus. This is reflected by its On Time In Full (OTIF) delivery rate which achieved 94.7% in February despite the challenges the pandemic created over the last year. Thanks to the company’s fabricator roots and over three decades in the industry, plus a strong sales team made up of ex-fitters and ex-fabricators, Window Ware understands the issues and pressures customers face and can offer a high level of technical competency as a result. Window Ware’s Managing Director, Sam Nuckey said: “The home improvement boom of the past 12 months has tested building product supply chains across the board, but we’ve been able to protect our customers from major issues by having the right supply partners in place – like Rapierstar – who we can rely on to deliver. “They also support us with specialist technical and product training, and provide guidance on all kinds of key topics including how the right fastener can
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THE MILA HARDWARE EDIT
(L-R) Rapierstar’s technical consultant Mark Calpin with Richard Bryant, Commercial Director of Window Ware
support PAS24 testing. With Rapierstar’s help, our teams are always sharpening their knowledge and delivering sound advice so customers can be sure they’re using the right screw for the application every time. “Over the past few years, we’ve seen a noticeable growth in the number of customers manufacturing premium systems and products, such as mechanically jointed PVCu windows, or upgrading the spec of their handles and other hardware. Rapierstar’s support has been invaluable here too, giving our customers confidence in selecting the correct fasteners for these innovative products so they deliver a superior quality finished window or door.” Mark Calpin, Technical Consultant at Rapierstar added: “Window Ware shares our goal of ensuring manufacturers and installers have access to the technical information, resources and products they need to make the right decisions about the fasteners they use. It is important to realise that even though fasteners make up only a tiny proportion of the cost of a finished window, they can make a huge difference to the long-term performance of the product. That is why it is imperative to get these components right from the very outset.” As the UK and Ireland’s leading specialist fastener supplier to the door and window sector, Rapierstar offers the industry’s widest range of products to fabricators of all the major PVCu and aluminium profile systems. Operating from its HQ and 100,000 sq. ft. warehouse and distribution centre in Cheshire, the company has stock of more than one billion items, including a wide range of consumables plus fasteners for timber joinery, decking and roofline. Find out more at www.rapierstar.com.
The latest innovation is what Mila is calling its ‘curated collections’ – simple, online Edits which bring together into one section of the website all the information on families of products which customers regularly buy together. There are already three live Edits at www. mila.co.uk – the Value Edit, which is all of Mila’s HERO hardware essentials range including its ProLinea BreakSafe™ cylinders, the Stainless Steel Edit, which is all the products in the Supa stainless steel range, and the latest to be added – the Emergency
Exit Edit, which includes panic bars, panic locks, easy egress window handles and hinges, and Approved Document B compliant products. Customers can view the collections online, download a PDF for easy reference or click to request a quote – it’s as easy as that. Marketing Director Sarah Gyde commented: “We’re very much focused on the customer experience at Mila – all the way from how we deliver content online to how we package and deliver our products in person. Attention to detail is everything, which is why we’re constantly refining what we do and developing clever new solutions like The Edit which we know make our customers’ lives just that little bit easier. We’ll be adding more curated collections to our Edit portfolio in the coming weeks so it’s always worth customers checking back to see what’s new.” More info is at: www.mila.co.uk.
VBH RECEIVE KITEMARK RECOGNITION Hardware specialist VBH has been awarded the new BSI Kitemark in respect of Building Hardware used in Windows and Doorsets. VBH is among the very first companies to have achieved this certification. To achieve the hardware Kitemark VBH submitted various window and door samples to BSI for testing to all the relevant UK quality standards. The hardware covered includes products for the manufacture of outward opening, and tilt & turn windows, residential doors, bi-fold doors, lift slide doors, inline sliding patio doors and the greenteQ Invisifold slide & fold door system. As well as the company’s own greenteQ hardware, the Kitemark hardware schedule also covers products from many of VBH’s partner brands including AGB, Yale and Roto.
VBH Business Development Manager Rob Norman says “Naturally, it takes a lot to achieve this Kitemark but the benefits to us and our customers are many. Not only is the Kitemark a badge of quality for our products but it also gives added credence to our Q-secure consumer guarantee, as all the hardware on our Kitemark schedule is also on our Q-secure Approved Hardware list. “Lastly, it also gives the possibility of us helping VBH customers to more easily achieve their own accreditation. Depending on what steps they take, this can lead to gaining additional business from the new build and commercial sectors.” Further information on the products covered by the Kitemark and how VBH can help in achieving accreditation can be requested by emailing VBH direct at sales@vbhgb.com, via the website at www.vbhgb.com or by calling 01634 263263.
June 2021 | www.glassnews.co.uk
