AUTUMN EDITION OUT NOW!
BOOK FOR SPRING 2022 See page 51 for details
THE UK’S LEADING TRADE NEWSPAPER FOR WINDOWS, DOORS AND CONSERVATORIES
THE RIGHT PEOPLE READ GLASS NEWS Issue 129 | December 2021
Insight Data, the glazing industry research and data company, recently carried out an industry survey, telephoning 2,500 installers to gauge the ‘temperature’ of the industry. The survey asked 12 questions to understand how installers were faring compared to pre-pandemic levels and the results highlight some major alarm bells – as well as new opportunities ahead. The Survey was unveiled at the Glazing Summit by Insight Data’s CEO Andrew Scott, who shared the data with 420 delegates. Andrew commented: “This survey goes straight to the heart of the industry, asking front-line installers about the key metrics in their business – enquiry levels, conversion rates, pricing levels, margins and consumer sentiment. It is essential that the whole supply-chain take notice, from fabricator through to component suppliers as it presents some potential risks – and opportunities.”
IS !! TH NTH MO
IS !! TH NTH MO
INSTALLER SURVEY REVEALS TEMPERATURE OF THE INDUSTRY
SEE PAGE 15
ENQUIRY LEVELS
HARDWARE
We wanted to know how enquiry levels compared with pre-pandemic levels, and 63% of installers reported a consistent increase, with 37% saying they had a much higher level of sales leads.
"The Survey was unveiled at the Glazing Summit."
PRODUCT REVIEW 2021
ROOF LANTERN
This is good news for the industry and is set to continue as demand for home offices, gyms and more living space remains strong following the shift in working patterns and increase in ‘work from home’. Continued on page 4...
SEE PAGE 28
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The best trade lantern
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PRODUCT SEARCH
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
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DECEMBER 2021
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
AND IT’S A HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO YOU… Unbelievable. Another year goes by and here we are with yet another December edition of Glass News. Christmas and the New Year: a time to relax and enjoy, that is unless you have children, grandchildren, and you’ve been nominated to cook the turkey - the whole Christmas feast with all the trimmings. In that case, as we all know, this time of year is both busy and expensive! However, we should all be congratulating ourselves on making it through 2021. No one can pretend it has been easy but there are positive signs that the supply chain is improving which must give us some encouragement to embrace the New Year and look forward to 2022. The ever-increasing costs of raw materials, transport and people is not something that is going to go away and it is imperative that a fair proportion of those costs get passed on to the customers. In fact, as the restrictions have eased and more and more face-to-face conversations have taken place the chat inevitably turns towards that thorny question “When will the bubble burst?” Although a difficult year in so many ways it has certainly been boom time for home improvements, but can it continue? The consensus seems to be that retail demand will remain high for some time to come and at a recent Editors’ Day at fabricator, Sternfenster, everyone agreed. And also agreed that when things return to normal, whatever normal is, professionalism and customer service will be the differentiator while good marketing to generate leads will be essential, as will be building margin into pricing models. I was pleased to meet Gary Hyem from FRP Advisory at the Glazing Summit last month and I’m even more pleased that he has agreed to involve his colleagues and write a series of articles for Glass News. FRP is one of the UK’s largest independent business advisory firms specialising in corporate restructuring, corporate finance, forensic services, pensions advisory and debt advisory. The first of these articles appears this month, penned by Tony Barrell, and looks at the issue of cashflow pressure during what
he believes will be a challenging winter ahead. I hope these articles that will look at mergers and acquisitions, management buyouts and buy ins, securing financing and selling businesses will prove to be of interest and, indeed, help those looking to acquire, expand or exit their business. We’ve all talked about ‘pandemic’, ad infinitum, but what I hadn’t realised is the effect the ‘pingdemic’ has had on businesses. I guess being shut away in my ivory tower (I wish!) I hadn’t appreciated what happens when the dreaded ping comes in to say someone has been in contact with another who has tested positive for Covid-19. Talking within the trade about the difficulty in attracting people to fill vacancies it has been said that that isn’t the biggest problem…it’s the pingdemic that suddenly leaves big holes in the workforce as they are forced to isolate. If that ‘ping’ effects the transport and delivery side of the business suddenly the drivers, that many say are hard to find anyway, are locked away in isolation. Not easy. So will inflation, an increase in the rate for mortgages, fuel well up over the £1.50 mark and price increases for almost everything, from food to secondhand cars, play its part in depressing business for our industry in 2022? Funnily enough, I’m not convinced it will. There seems to be an inexhaustible hunger for home improvements of every kind. Of course, there are tax increases to come that will wash through the system in the next six months but, nevertheless, I can’t help feeling the future is buoyant and we have to keep on keeping on! Looking back on 2021 I’ve been trying to identify the aspects that most stand out, for me. The pandemic has largely become a way of life that we have to live with, I suspect, for ever more, so doesn’t really register on my ‘remembrance scale’. What does, however, is the mess that is politics today: our borders that are meant to be secure, the lying and sleaze that seems to pervade all those at Westminster, and I don’t think anyone voted for Carrie Johnson to be Prime Minister. And a wish for 2022? Never to hear another word from Meghan and Harry Markle! I know it’s a bit early but, being the December edition of Glass News, Christina, Justin, Emma, Kate and me, all wish our industry colleagues and friends a Very Happy Christmas. I think we all deserve a break and the opportunity to bond with friends and family after an, how shall I put it, an interesting year!
November 2021 crossword solution:
CONTENTS 4 Front Cover Story 4 Glass 6 Software & IT
CONTACT DETAILS
8 BMBI 9 Colour
Christina Shaw Managing Director / Advertising Enquiries M: 07805 051322 E: christina@glassnews.co.uk
10 What Door? 12 Letters 13 Garden Rooms
‘TIME OUT’WINNERS – NOVEMBER!
13 Windows 15 Hardware 20 Glass News Interview: Solar Group
Sudoku: Mr P Heyes, Corby, Northants
22 Trade News
Eye Spy: Carol Hearn, Deceuninck, Calne, Wiltshire
24 Glass News Interview: Rapide Frame Supplies
Spot the Difference: Claire Cooke, Nailsworth, Gloucestershire
28 Product Review 2021
Crossword: Toby Herbert, Middlesborough
61 Cold Calling
Congratulations to all our winners! Good luck in this months Time Out pages!
64 Careers & Qualifications in Fenestration
Emma Champion Advertising Manager M: 07508 263262 E: emma@glassnews.co.uk
22 Machinery
26 Roofing
Justin Lazenby Finance Director / Press Release Enquiries M: 07711 828710 E: justin@glassnews.co.uk
32 Trade News 56 Industry Awards 62 Software & IT
Chris Champion Editor / Editorial Enquiries M: 07850 267223 E: chris@glassnews.co.uk
69 Marketing 70 Voice Of The Industry 86 Time Out! 87 Find A Supplier
@GlassnewsMag
Kate Carnall Graphic Design E: kate@glassnews.co.uk
glassnews™ is a registered Trademark. The views contained herein are not necessarily those of glassnews™ and whilst every effort is made to ensure information throughout is correct, glassnews™ does not accept liability for errors. The views expressed by contributors and the content of letters, are not necessarily those of glassnews™ and therefore cannot take responsibility.
Christina Shaw
/GlassNews
Deadline for copy: 16th of each month Please recycle this newspaper so we can continue to use recycling in our effort to help the environment.
The paper we use is 100% recycled.
ROOF LANTERN
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QUOTE CODE GN-K01
FASTER
Average installation under 30 mins
STRONGER
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WARMER
Premium seals, class leading thermals
SLIMMER
UninterruptedSLIMMER Sight Lines
Seamless joints and cappings
SUPPORT
Chris GOT SOMETHING TO SAY? Email Chris at: chris@glassnews.co.uk
www.glassnews.co.uk | December 2021
The best trade lantern
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3
GLASS
FRONT COVER STORY Continued from page 1...
CONVERSION RATES Of course, more sales leads are meaningless unless they convert into orders. And the Installer Survey showed that installers had seen an increase in conversion, too. Indeed, 53% of installers reported slightly higher or much higher improvement in conversion demonstrating that homeowners were investing in their homes. While there are signs of the market stabilising, a new demand for home-offices, home-gyms and more space is likely to be maintained following the shift in working patterns and ‘work from home’.
“Jobs sold 4 or 5 months ago (or longer) were based on material costs at that time, but when these jobs are actually fitted, costs may have risen sharply – both materials and labour. There is a risk many jobs will be fitted at breakeven or worse and it is near impossible to ask homeowners to pay more just as the job is due to be fitted."
TAKING CARE OF GLASS LIFTING WITH CRL
SELLING PRICES Next, we asked installers whether they had increased their selling prices this year. An overwhelming number (88%) reported they had increased prices slightly or significantly. Given that sales conversion rates were not affected – indeed 53% of installers said conversion rates were better, it appears consumers are happy to pay more.
"While there are signs of the market stabilising, a new demand for home-offices, home-gyms and more space is likely to be maintained following the shift in working patterns and ‘work from home’." PRICE SENSITIVITY We wanted to know how pricesensitive consumers are now compared to pre-pandemic and while installers reported 27% of homeowners were more price conscious, 39% were less price conscious – meaning 39% were happy to pay more. The two primary reasons were product quality (18%) and lead-times (21%).
MARGINS On the question of margins, the results are less promising. 49% of installers say their margins have been eroded despite the fact that 88% have increased their selling prices. Andrew Scott reflects on the findings: “There are lots of positives. Enquiry levels, conversion rates and even selling prices are up. But despite this installer margins are being eroded. “One of the major problems is that installers have secured more orders without the resources to fit them (due to supply-chain and labour issues). While on paper this looks healthy with bulging forward order books, the long lead-times will have a detrimental impact on margins. “Jobs sold 4 or 5 months ago (or longer) were based on material costs at that time, but when these jobs are actually fitted, costs may have risen sharply – both materials and labour. There is a risk many jobs will be fitted at breakeven or worse and it is near impossible to ask homeowners to pay more just as the job is due to be fitted. “However, this is a short-term situation and as supplier prices eventually stabilise and installers can base selling prices on more reliable costs, there is a real opportunity for installation firms to capitalise on higher order values, better margins and higher consumer demand.” The Insight Installer Survey was carried out over 4 weeks between September and October 2021 via telephone interviews with the Insight Data research team.
Handle with care is always a requirement of lifting such a fragile material as glass, and with CRL it can be carried out with ease, thanks to a comprehensive range of products and solutions. Highlights of the range include the CRL S338 Sure-Grip Vacuum Lifter, boasting the greatest lifting capacity of any 203mm pump-activated lifter. Featuring a superior ‘press and pump’ attachment feature, the lifter gives a secure grip even when used one-handed and has an unrivalled lifting capacity of 68kg. CRL Wood’s Power-Grip® Vacuum Cup is similarly as effective at making glass lifting simple and safe. The 203mm diameter pad has a 57 kg lifting capacity, while the check valve allows re-pumping without any loss of remaining vacuum, maximising efficiency when working with glass. Making the manoeuvre of large glass panels simple too, the CRL Glasstrax Glass Dolly has a clever self-clamping action that locks loads up to 50.8 mm thick. It means that one person can load and move glass, with safe and stable transportation of capacities up to 275kg.
"We wanted to know how price-sensitive consumers are now compared to pre-pandemic." 4
The survey consisted of 12 questions and full details can be found as part of the wider Insight Report 2021. To register to receive a copy, visit www.insightdata.co.uk/reports/
Finally, the CRL All Terrain Dolly goes where other glass dollies won’t, making it ideal for moving heavy glass panels around the job site. The built-In 203 mm Wood’s™ Power-Grip® Vacuum Cup and set of CRL RB200 Roller Blocks make it easy to transport up to 181kg loads with ease. For further information call 01706 863600, email crl@crlaurence.co.uk, or visit www.crlaurence.co.uk.
December 2021 | www.glassnews.co.uk
NEW
Regulations? Colours & Finishes
SAME TRICKLEVENTS 5000, 4000, 2500 & 2000 EQA LESS TIME NEEDED FOR ROUTING AND INSTALLATION
L1B F A 1 L New building regulation requirements for England and Wales, Part F (Ventilation), Part L (Conservation of Fuel and Power)
For more information or to find your local stockist visit: glazpart.com or call 01295 264533 to speak with one of the team.
SOFTWARE & IT
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
THE KEYS TO QUICKER QUOTING In a buoyant market the key to making hay while the sun shines is a fast and efficient quoting process. But what does it take to be efficient? And just how fast is fast? We challenged founder and CEO of Tommy Trinder, Chris Brunsdon, to quote a houseful of windows on Framepoint®. And we put the stopwatch on… With demand in the window and door industry reaching record levels in recent months, managing the quoting backlog has been a significant challenge, with many installers working evenings and weekends just to keep up. In the process of developing the Framepoint® app, founder Chris Brunsdon and the team at Tommy Trinder have had conversations with hundreds of windows installers about the trials and tribulations of getting quotes out of the door quickly. The learning, says Chris, is clear; “Being efficient is not just about banging out the quote,” says Chris. “It’s the total time it takes to generate every document you need to complete the sale and pass the products into manufacture that matters. That’s the time that you need to measure and speed up if you're looking to unlock real time savings.”
EVONET HELPS RAMAGE WINDOWS INCREASE OUTPUT EFFICIENTLY
“First and foremost, installers need a super quick and easy way to enter product information. Next up, it needs to be really fast to send jobs off for pricing if needs be. The ensuing paperwork flow needs to happen without the need for re-keying information and should include the quote itself, a contract for the homeowner to sign, paperwork for surveyors, and finally clean purchase orders ready to send off for manufacture.” Increasingly, says Chris, homeowners are also expecting a visualisation as part of the quote showing how their new windows and doors will look in situ; “When you consider the ease with which consumers are able to model other significant purchases like cars or kitchens, it feels inevitable that offering the client a visual of windows and doors will become the norm. This is another element that can add time to the quoting process.” So, up against the clock, how long did it take Chris to generate this end-to-end document suite using Framepoint®? The Answer: 18 minutes – 2 seconds. “Call it 20 minutes,” says Chris. “That’s to generate every document required to complete a typical sale, including sending off pricing requests, doing the quote plus an accompanying makeover, printing off a contract ready for the homeowner to sign, generating a full set of documents for surveyors, and finally processing the order and sending to manufacturer.” An added complication when it comes to getting quotes out quickly, says Chris, is that Installers are frequently faced with having to juggle multiple suppliers on one project; “An aluminium bi-fold, some sash windows and a handful of casements, for instance. All sourced from different manufacturers, each with a unique pricing regime. The process of splitting orders and sending some or all parts off for pricing is very time hungry. Framepoint® helps with this; allowing installers to easily combine products in multiple materials, from multiple suppliers in one professionally presented document.” The document suite created by Chris Brunsdon as part of this time challenge, which includes both PVC and aluminium products, can be downloaded from: https://www.tommytrinder.com/lp-time-challeng
When lead times on PVC-U frames were at their peak in 2020, one of the responses from fabricators who were buying in even a portion of their output was to increase their own manufacturing volumes. For Newcastle upon Tyne based Ramage Trade Windows, which doubled its output from 130 to 270 windows per week during the pandemic, that process was made considerably easier thanks to its investment in Business Micros EvoNET software. Ramage Trade Windows had previously bought in around half of its volumes but when it started to suffer significant supply shortages, took the decision to invest in new machinery and new software so that it could reduce its reliance on other fabricators and deliver increased certainty to its trade, retail and new build customers. The company, which supplies Eurocell windows throughout the north east of England, had been a Business Micros Evolution software user for many years. While it was only manufacturing a hundred or so windows per week, it was easy to manage things like production batching and despatch manually, but when volumes started to increase, the Ramage team wanted to ensure that they stayed as efficient as possible.
In fact, the integration of EvoNET into the business has helped to make Ramage more efficient than ever and given the team much more control of their operation. Director Andrew Ramage Jnr explained: “The payback on the software was almost instant. A year after it was installed, we are producing double the number of frames, but with no increase in the amount of time we spend on admin. “We now have barcode scanning stations throughout the factory which gives us total visibility of what is being produced and we can see the status of every job via the inbuilt dashboard. We can batch production using EvoNET to optimise material and labour efficiency and generate reports instantly on everything from output per fabricator to quantities of remakes.” Ramage Trade Windows has included the EvoAssist module within its EvoNET set up so that it can automatically send order confirmations and invoices to customers via text or email. Andrew Ramage Jr added: “We have streamlined our entire operation while also reducing our reliance on outside suppliers. The addition of EvoNET means we can confidently grow our volumes still further and know that we won’t have to compromise on efficiency or customer service. “We’ve been really grateful for Business Micros’ support throughout the entire project. The team have always been available to help – whether that’s in person or online and have more than justified our decision to choose the number one software supplier in the market.” More info at: https://ramagewindows.com/ and https://www.businessmicros.co.uk/evonet/
PUT YOUR BUSINESS IN CONTROL WITH ONSITE 7 JOB MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE As the industry boom continues, it’s never been more important for installers to operate as efficiently as possible. Rhys Hoddinott, CEO at Onsite 7, says: “Job management software is an effective tool in helping installers stay in control of their businesses. We know from customer feedback that Onsite 7 is smart working for busy companies managing multiple jobs with multiple teams and back-end processes.” The Onsite 7 system includes a team calendar where installers can schedule their jobs. It helps ensure a smoothrunning schedule and helps them manage their teams’ time efficiently, preventing
6
clashes and gaps in workflows. Installers can allocate actions to a particular team member and track progress so there’s less risk of something being forgotten. Installers can also check every stage of each job from sales and survey to install and service. It provides an at-a-glance way to see where a job has got to and whether action is needed. The information contained in Onsite 7 helps installers get valuable insight into their business too. There is end-to-end supply chain accountability to help installers keep track of their orders. There are reports, including job costing and profit reports and the software integrates with Xero and
QuickBooks accountancy packages to help speed up financial admin processes. Onsite 7 customer Karl Symmonds, Director of Truplas, sums up the difference
it makes when he says: “With multiple software systems, paper-based practices and time consuming tasks we were certainly in the market for that ‘one software package’ to help streamline our activities and also provide us with a link to site activities. Key admin staff and management can now login into the Onsite 7 console from any location to review customers, jobs, active jobs, completed jobs… it is very much a software for all… and so easy to use.” Onsite 7 costs £20 + VAT per month per licence, which means it offers exceptional value for money for installers of any size, large or small. Tel: 0800 0029748 – www.onsite7.co.uk
December 2021 | www.glassnews.co.uk
”I save 30 hours a month on quoting with Framepoint” Liam Best, Kalico Home Improvements
...and it’s as simple as sketching on a pad. book a demo - www.tommytrinder.com
BMBI
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
BUILDERS MERCHANT BUILDING INDEX
SECOND BEST QUARTER ON RECORD BUT SIGNS OF A SLOWDOWN IN SIGHT The latest figures from the Builders Merchants Building Index (BMBI), published in November, show a continuation of the strong growth seen throughout 2021, as Q3 recorded the secondhighest quarterly BMBI sales ever. However, there are signs of a slowdown as volume growth gives way to value growth, driven by price increases. QUARTERLY SALES, YEAR-ON-YEAR Total value sales in Q3 2021 were 17.2% higher than Q3 2020, with one less trading day this year. Eleven out of the 12 product categories sold more over the period. Timber & Joinery Products led the field (+43.9%) with its highest-ever quarterly BMBI sales, contributing significantly to overall growth. Excluding Timber, total merchant sales still grew by 9.6%. Like-for-
like-sales increased by 19.1%. Comparing Q3 2021 with Q3 2019, a more normal pre-Covid year, overall value sales were up 18.4% with one less trading day this year. Six categories sold more, led by Timber & Joinery Products (+48.9%) and Landscaping (+30.2%). Like-for-like sales were up 20.2%.
QUARTER-ON-QUARTER Total value sales were down 2.4% in Q3 2021 compared to Q2 2021, despite the three extra trading days in Q3. Five of the 12 product categories sold more in Q3. Kitchens & Bathrooms
“Timber & Joinery Products led the field (+43.9%) with its highest-ever quarterly BMBI sales.”
Joinery Products (+38.7%) did best as it continues to outperform other categories. Total value sales in September 2021 were also 24.5% higher than the same month two years ago, with one more trading day this year.
(+7.4%) and Timber & Joinery (+4.8%) performed best, while Landscaping was weakest (-22.5%). Like-for-like sales were 7.0% lower than in Q2.
SEPTEMBER SALES, MONTH-ON-MONTH
SEPTEMBER SALES, YEAR-ON-YEAR Total sales were up 14.9% in September 2021 compared to September 2020. Timber &
Total merchant sales in September were 6.2% higher than August, with one more trading day, contributing to Q3’s overall performance. All bar one category sold more.
YEAR-TO-DATE Year-to-date sales for January to September 2021 are up by 36.2% in value against 2020. Compared to 2019, a more accurate benchmark, year-to-date growth is up by 15.1%.
INDEX The Q3 BMBI index was 146.1, with nine of the 12 product categories exceeding 100. Timber & Joinery Products (191.9) and Landscaping (184.0) continue to outperform other categories by some margin.
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GfK’s Builders Merchant Panel GfK’s Merchant Panel includes national, multi-regional and regional merchants such as Buildbase, Jewson, Travis Perkins, EH Smith, Gibbs & Dandy, MKM and Bradfords. GfK’s Builders’ Merchant Point of Sale Tracking Data represents more than 80% of the value of the builders’ merchant market. GfK insights can trace product group performance and track relevant features. GfK can also produce robust like-for-like market comparability, tailored to the requirements of an individual business. The Builders Merchant Building Index The BMBI is published every month, in print and online. A full quarterly report is available every three months. The BMBI is a brand of the Builders Merchants Federation. Launched and produced by MRA Research, it uses sales-out data from GfK’s Builders Merchant Panel. BMBI includes a panel of leading industry Experts, who speak exclusively for their markets.
For the full report, Expert comments and Round Table Debates, visit www.bmbi.co.uk.
December 2021 | www.glassnews.co.uk
COLOUR
KOLORSEAL LAUNCHES PINTEREST
AS CUSTOMER SUPPORT Kolorseal has launched a new corporate Pinterest page with a view to supporting customers. The idea is to help companies and customers to promote their work, by highlighting completed projects that have been ‘Kolorsealed’. Deborah Hendry, Managing Director considers now is the perfect time to thank people for their loyalty to Kolorseal over the years. The Pinterest page will not only post the photos on the Kolorseal page, but will name the companies who have completed the project, with contact details for those who are inspired by what they see. Deborah comments, “We always want to offer our customers as much support as possible. In today’s digital world, being able to demonstrate the quality of finished
“With so many ongoing projects it makes sense to highlight colourful applications - which could be anything from doors and windows, to composite doors that make a striking difference to property or even the matching of rainwater products to finish off an installation perfectly.”
NEW DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO COMPOSITE DOOR GLASS U P D A T E D
F O R
2 0 2 1 / 2 0 2 2
products has never been easier, and this will also better help consumers to understand the possibilities now available with colour.” The company is fully aware that time is very precious to installers and fabricators, but as a means to thank customers, each month a favourite project will be selected to win a prize. This could be anything from an Amazon voucher, to an Echo Dot or even one of Geri’s gift boxes. Deborah continues: “We are very much looking forward to seeing the photographic skills of our customers and those they supply to - it will be an excellent way to promote not just the products but the overall service that we all achieve together.” To be profiled on the new Pinterest page, please ensure that homeowners have approved taking photographs of their home.
AVAILABLE TO DOWNLOAD
NOW!
Also, the projects can only be pictures of coloured products from Kolorseal Ltd. To be a part of the Kolorseal profiling on Pinterest, please send copies of all photos to Geri@kolorseal.co.uk. together with accurate business and contact details. Debbie concludes, “With so many ongoing projects it makes sense to highlight colourful applications - which could be anything from doors and windows, to composite doors that make a striking difference to property or even the matching of rainwater products to finish off an installation perfectly.” For information on the colours available from Kolorseal or to learn more about the colour spraying process for buildings or architectural projects, please visit www.kolorseal.co.uk.
All designs are Document L & Q compliant Available in any thickness up to 52mm Call 0161 946 1164 to request your hard copy RegaLead Limited | Columbus House | Altrincham Road Sharston | Manchester | M22 9AF
Telephone: 0161 946 1164 Email: sales@regalead.co.uk | Web: www.regalead.co.uk
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
MODPLAN REPORTS SIGNIFICANT GROWTH IN PATIO DOOR SALES
NEW SITE OPENS DOORS FOR NEXT STAGE OF VIRTUOSO DOORS BOUNCEBACK An intensive programme of factory upgrades following a site move is putting Gateshead-based composite door manufacturer Virtuoso Doors back on the path to renewed growth. The company is now producing up to 200 doors per day, despite the backdrop of the pandemic, materials shortages and escalating customer demand. Virtuoso Doors manufactures high quality composite doors and PVCu door panels through a mix of precision engineering and workshop finishing supplying doors with stunning detail and unrivalled quality. The company moved from its original Chester-le-Street manufacturing site to the new purpose-built site at Follingsby Park, Gateshead at the start of 2021. The site, formerly the clothing warehouse for Barbour, has a 120,00 sq. ft. footprint and will double the capacity and manufacturing capability of Virtuoso Doors. Over the course of the year the site has had a power upgrade to meet manufacturing requirements, a new compressed air system, and state of the art extraction system installed. In addition, a new automated paint line has come online allowing for a greater choice of custom colours to be chosen by customers. New lift assist systems allow the factory technicians and craftsmen to work on the door units quickly and safely, without compromising on the crafted precision ethos of Virtuoso Doors. Furthermore the move to a more modern building is allowing for a number of improvements to staff facilities from the catering and break areas to the office space. As most manufacturing businesses are experiencing 2021 has not been without its
challenges, as ongoing supply chain issues and the need to carefully manage the needs of employees returning to more normal working patterns as COVID-19 restrictions ease, have been met with incredible consumer demand for home improvement products. However Virtuoso Doors has been able to adapt to the circumstances, has managed to secure a firm supply of the all-important door slabs needed for production and is well positioned to finish 2021 strongly. Virtuoso is now able to produce at a capacity of 200 doors per day. Tony Craggs, Managing Director, Virtuoso Doors: “With our teams having to adapt to changing conditions on a daily and weekly basis, it is important we don’t lose sight on how much has been achieved this year to put Virtuoso Doors on the front footing. We’ve moved from a cramped site to a state of the art location with significantly more space and ability to grow further, which will help us create new jobs over time. Every purchase has been made with a view to improving the quality and precision of our manufacturing processes, and the doors that we deliver to customers at the end of each day. “There is never a good time to move home, but for our team to have done this during the pandemic under the COVID-related restrictions, and then continued to apply their talent and skills to bring the machinery on site up to speed, while others have adapted to the new supply chain realities to secure a source of necessary components, it is a very proud achievement for us.”
Trade fabricator Modplan has reported considerable growth in its patio door sales. Heidi Sachs, Managing Director of Modplan, commented: “Our customers tell us that retail sales of patio doors remain very strong at the moment as homeowners look to upgrade and improve their spaces. The quality, turnaround and versatility of our sliding door offer ticks all the boxes for our customers.” Modplan manufactures the VEKA PVC-U patio door system and its versatility is a strong selling point. The system is available in two, three and four pane options. The maximum size for a four-pane door is 5,400mm x 2,200mm, which delivers the huge expanse of glass that is so popular with homeowners. The doors are available in sculptured or chamfered options and are compatible with all Modplan’s VEKA manufactured products. There are 29 colour combinations, giving installers confidence to promote a wealth of choice when it comes to colour. There are handle choices too, including high-quality stainless-steel options if required.
As you would expect from a Modplan manufactured product, security is exceptional and the doors have a stainless steel, multi point, Yale locking system as standard. A secured by Design option is also available. Heidi commented: “We’ve partnered with VEKA for 25 years because they are consistently at the forefront of window and door system design and allow us to manufacture the value-added products our customers need to grow their businesses. The patio door system is the perfect example.” As Modplan’s customers know, impressive products are just the starting point. Modplan manufactures its patio doors in their dedicated door factory to ensure outstanding quality
and competitive lead times. To drive customer service, their internal Control Hub gives at-aglance information on the status of every order across their multi-site fabrication centres, giving customers a greater level of transparency to help them plan their jobs with accuracy. Customers also benefit from the company’s partnership approach that delivers marketing, technical and training support that adds value to an installer’s business. Overall, it’s an offer that explains why Modplan is approaching 50 years in business and why so many installers choose the Newport-based company to support their growth in a strong market. Tel: 01495 246844 www.modplan.co.uk
SUCCESS BREEDS SUCCESS FOR APEER AND WINDOW & DOOR CENTRE NORTH EAST A new front door for a residential refurbishment in Bishops Auckland, Co. Durham resulted in added insulation, security and aesthetic appeal for one happy homeowner – plus increased sales for the Apeer trade partner after photos of the project were shared on social media. Window & Door Centre North East Ltd undertook the eight week project after a customer came into their showroom and went straight to the anthracite grey Silka Wilton door on display. A survey was booked, further products were also ordered, following which work on the house began. The resulting installation not only updated the building’s exterior, the fitting of the 70mm insulated door also helped improve the home’s insulation and security. Photos from the finished project were then shared on the company’s social media, which generated interest from other potential customers as well as resulting in follow on sales. Window & Door Centre North East has been an Apeer customer for more than eight years, supplying Apeer composite doors, in particular from the Apeer 70 and Silka ranges.
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“Our customers like the style and designs of Apeer’s doors, especially the smooth texture of the Silka doors,” said Managing Director Eddie Wood. “The quality of the products speak for themselves: Apeer has a wide and varied range of doors and styles. Their glazing design options and colour matching services are also a great selling point for us.” As an Apeer trade partner, Window & Door Centre North East benefits not just from the quality products but from Apeer’s support throughout the sales process: “Apeer’s after sales and customer service are always supportive and on hand to assist us,” added Eddie. Apeer’s Managing Director Asa McGillian said: “We know customers love our products, but we also rely on the excellent installations from our trade partners, such as Window & Door Centre North East. This is why we always make it a priority to give them any additional support that they may need to deliver successful projects, such as this one.” www.apeer.co.uk
December 2021 | www.glassnews.co.uk
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
A REVOLUTION IN CUSTOMER CARE FROM ENDURANCE The quest for an ever-better customer experience continues at Endurance Doors with the introduction of Amicus, a new automated ticketing system which improves the flow of information to and from Installer Partners.
It’s also part of a programme to build a worldclass customer care programme as Kayleigh Startup, Customer Relationships Manager of Endurance Doors explains: ‘The Amicus ticketing system is part of a wider investment programme that’s been partly driven by
customer demand, through important feedback that we’ve taken on board. We’ve got a thirst to be the very best at what we do not just in terms of producing an outstanding composite door, but in every other way that we engage with our Installer Partners.’
This investment in Amicus, which is part of a wider programme of new IT infrastructure, has been implemented to help streamline the whole customer query process and the ticketing system will ensure that all communications are fully traceable and trackable. It’s also the same sort of platform that’s used by some of the most trusted and respected consumer brands in the UK. Any customer query that’s raised online will be followed by the receipt of a formal acknowledgement within minutes and subsequently a member of the customer care team appointed to that ticket within Amicus. Early beta testing of this software has shown that it speeds up communications between Endurance and their Installer Partners significantly and without the issues of staff absences and holidays which can hamper the traditional operations of a customer care team.
Stephen Nadin, managing director of Endurance Doors added: ‘After much testing I’m delighted to introduce our latest service initiative so that our Installer Partners can access the Amicus ticketing system 24 hours a day and 7 days a week, whilst also helping us to improve in other ways across the business. Data is now very much part of the way in which this business will evolve, yet without ignoring the human touch which helps makes this business so special.’ For further information on the Endurance Solid and Secure composite door range, including the latest colours and finishes, please call the sales office on 01652 659259, visit https://endurancedoors.co.uk, or e-mail marketing@endurancedoors.co.uk. You can also add to the Twitter following @EnduranceDoors.
"The Amicus ticketing system is part of a wider investment programme that’s been partly driven by customer demand."
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SUPER NEW DOORS
FROM DOOR SUPERSTORE Online builders’ merchants Door Superstore, part of the CMO Group, has expanded its already extensive product offering with the launch of its new own-brand doors that are affordable, stylish and super easy to install. The new range of hollow core and solid fire doors comprises a choice of two popular styles – The Millbridge, an elegant five-panel Cottage door and The Burrington, a classic Victorian style four-panel door. Both styles are available as white, primed doors, ready to be painted to suit individual design schemes. Cost-effective and responsibly sourced, the new door options are fully FSC Certified. They also available as fire-rated internal doors for extra peace of mind, and are compatible with Door Superstore’s full range of fire door furniture and hardware. The lightweight interior doors are also supplied with full installation instructions and are competitively priced to offer a cost-effective choice for both DIY customers and professional trades alike. By investing in its own core range of internal doors and increasing stock capacity to meet demand, Door Superstore is confident that it will be able to continue to exceed its customers’ expectation for high-quality products and fast, reliable deliveries. Door Superstore is currently offering free deliveries on all orders over £150 including VAT, and next day delivery on a range of door lining sets, locks, handles and both internal and fire rated doors. Further discounts are currently available, with 5% off all orders over £500 and 10% on orders over £1000. Whether you need inspiration or help with installation, the Door Superstore website also features a variety of how to guides and technical articles, with the team’s customer service advisors on hand to provide support from start to finish. Door Superstore also stocks a wide variety of doors, hardware and accessories from leading manufacturers such as Deanta, JB Kind, Jeld Weld, XL Joinery, Atlantic and Stormguard. Ideally suited for jobs that require high-quality doors and a quick turnaround, Door Superstore can supply internal doors in a range of designs, including modern glazed styles and traditional cottage doors. The external door range includes composite, oak and hardwood doors, and a number of options to meet the required fire safety standards and Part L of Building Regulations.
YOUR LETTERS
LETTERS
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
WHY NO ONE CARES ABOUT REGULATION Dear Editor, The window and door industry doesn’t care about regulation. At least most of it doesn’t. Regulation is seen as a ‘burden’ not an opportunity. Regulatory change is, however, coming and those companies that are simply waiting on either their systems company or their fabricator to deliver a solution, could find that their facing a new supply crisis from next year. There are some big changes ahead in the coming year to Part L, Part F, Part Q and others, which will place new regulatory requirements on the construction sector and those who supply it. Are installers and fabricators taking any notice? Some - but the industry is not as forward looking as it needs to be. We and a handful of others have flagged the implications of changes to Part L to the sector. The ramifications of what at time of writing remain draft guidance but what should this month [December], become a new requirement under Building Regulations, are enormous. If as is expected we see an uplift in performance in new build to a uniform 1.2W/m2K for windows and doors and 1.4W/m2K (or WER B rating) for home improvement, then fabricators of some of the systems of the biggest names in aluminium are going to discover that part of their offer at least, will fall short. That’s new build but also replacement markets. Fabricators and installers need to be planning for change. Are they? Again, the progressive ones will be - they can smell an opportunity. But many more still have their head in the sand, waiting to be presented with a solution that on this occasion isn’t coming. A lot of systems companies have been asleep at the wheel. They’ve been caught out by supply chain disruption but also regulatory change.
To find out more about Door Superstore’s product range and latest special offers, please visit www.doorsuperstore.co.uk.
The product developmental cycle is long. You can’t just tweak an older aluminium
door system and suddenly expect it to be more energy efficient or go from being limited to a 28mm unit to accommodate a triple-glazed one - and let’s face it no installer wants to fit triple-glazed IGU’s and handle increased weights anyway. If they don’t have a solution now, your aluminium systems provider or your fabricator is unlikely to have a solution in time for summer 2022. The flipside of this coin, is for fabricators and installers making and fitting next generation products, including Decalu and a handful of others, the opportunities going into 2022 are enormous. Our product ranges can go as low as 0.6W/ m2K. Our bi-folds, inline-sliding-doors, windows, will comfortably meet the current round of changes to Part L with only double-glazed units. With that level of thermal performance, they will also meet the minimum 0.8W/m2K u-value requirement being suggested under the Future Homes Standard, in 2025. It’s not too late for anyone (although a number of systems companies may have a rough ride over the coming months). That assumes they adopt a proactive approach now and get to grips with the biggest regulatory change in a decade. It’s about being ready for and seeing regulatory change, as an opportunity not ‘a burden’. To build in increased margin and evidence the value proposition in our product and service offer. Deceuninck Aluminium and fabricators of Decalu are ready. Is your systems company? Nigel Headford Director, Deceuninck Aluminium
WHAT’S YOUR OPINION? Feel free to get in touch with your views on the industry, legislation, government, or even the newspaper. Contact Chris: chris@glassnews.co.uk
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December 2021 | www.glassnews.co.uk
GARDEN ROOMS
WINDOWS
MAKING YOUR STYLISH IN GARDEN ROOM SUBURBIA WITH SPACE ONLINE THE RESIDENCE
Making Your Space have just launched the ultimate garden room portal for the trade at makingyourspace.co.uk, a site that’s packed with useful information and featuring a unique, cutting-edge 3D design platform.
With homeowners across the UK seeking additional living space for home offices, gyms or places to relax, the garden room market is set to explode in 2022 and beyond. Making Your Space is a trade only business supporting this emerging home improvement sector and their new website is proving a fundamental part of their marketing programme, thanks to the garden room builder and other useful content. There are dedicated homeowner and trade sections on the site, while a gallery and several example builds are there to help inspire visitors. There is a full list of options for windows, doors, cladding and flooring carefully laid out, along with the finishing touches of lighting, heating and power detailed on the website and additionally, a news section and list of FAQ’s. But the 3D garden room designer is the main feature on the site, allowing visitors to quickly build their prospective buildings and this platform is also available for their Design Partners, as part of a comprehensive support programme of marketing and training. Backend margins, costings and selling prices can be quickly added and adapted on this software platform too. Ryan Crossley, director of Making Your Space commented: ‘We’ve taken considerable time to put together our marketing programme and that includes the website, home to all of our digital assets including the garden room designer. But the fact that we can offer our Design Partners an embedded option of this software development is a major plus for them, so they can actively market and promote the considerable sales opportunities for this new revenue stream.’ For further information on Making Your Space and their trade only range of premium garden rooms, please call 01422 385613, visit makingyourspace.co.uk, or e-mail hello@makingyourspace.co.uk. You can also follow them on social media channels @MakingYourSpace.
COLLECTION
In a new case study from The Residence Collection, R9 windows in Silvered Oak featured on a large home renovation project in Essex, which involved twostorey building works to the front and rear elevation of property. Installed by Belgrave Windows & Doors, the windows featured both top and side openers and a large, fixed light in Silvered Oak to the outside and Grained White internally, complete with authentic Georgian bars and black monkey tail handles. Multi-point locking and a night vent option feature on all the opening windows, which achieved a U-value of 1.2 (W/m2K) throughout the property for impressive energy efficiency credentials, but also offering strong sound reduction properties too, thanks to the 9-chambered design of the R9 profile. With a combination of brick and render, the dual colour option was chosen to make a stand-out feature to the property, which has undergone a complete transformation as the images @the_balresidence on Instagram perfectly show. Homeowner Lauren has been equally impressed with the result and commented: ‘Our installer knew I wanted something different and to stay away from the obvious anthracite grey. The Residence Collection speaks for itself. I would 100% recommend them, we have had so many people ask us what windows we have installed and how stunning the colour choice is.’ Jo Trotman, marketing manager for The Residence Collection added: ‘This is yet another strong consumer case study who are proud with the installed product and the unique design features that’s part of The Residence Collection. It’s also one of the reasons why so many consumers are highly active on social media platforms sharing their prized window choice to the masses.’ For further information please visit www.residencecollectiontrade.co.uk. You can request a free marketing pack including the stylish and inspirational My Residence Magazine via e-mail at trade@residencecollection.co.uk or by calling 01452 345848.
www.glassnews.co.uk | December 2021
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WINDOWS
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
LET THERE BE OPTIMA WINDOWS AND DOORS EFFORTLESSLY LIGHT, WITH TRANSFORM AN AWARD-WINNING BARN CONVERSION TUFFX When a homeowner in Ruislip wanted to maximise daylight in a property with a flat-roofed ground-floor extension, TuffX’s Infinity fixed rooflight provided installers HomeWorks Windows with the obvious – and easy-to-fit – solution. The 1000 x 25000mm standard stock clear glass Infinity fixed rooflight required much less space than a roof lantern, while ensuring the benefits of natural light flooded into the footprint of the building, giving the whole area a well lit, welcoming feel throughout of day. TuffX’s Infinity flat fixed rooflights not only help increase the amount of natural daylight in indoor spaces, they also provide excellent thermal insulation. The aluminium frame features a thermal break, which creates an insulated barrier and minimises the transference of heat and cold, reducing condensation and further enhancing the rooflight’s energy efficiency. All Infinity rooflight units come ready to fit ‘straight from the box’ – quick and easy with no additional assembly required on site. And with standard sizes being delivered within three to seven working days nationwide, the rooflight is as quick to arrive as it is to install. “Available in five standard sizes, in our popular contemporary anthracite grey powder-coated aluminium frame, Infinity rooflights are easy to fit, low maintenance for homeowners and guaranteed for five years,” said Graham Price, TuffX’s Managing Director. “We also offer solar and privacy glass options, double or triple glazed, and of course we make bespoke sizes too – all delivered directly to site, ready to drop straight in to place.” www.tuffxglass.co.uk
Profile 22 installer Oswestry Windows and Doors has recently completed an impressive installation of Optima windows and French doors in an awardwinning barn conversion situated on the outskirts of Maesbrook near Oswestry, Shropshire. The exclusive five-bedroom gated property involved the installation of 16 Optima Flush Casement windows and two sets of Optima French Doors.
As you would expect on a high-quality property, the brief from the homeowner was exacting. Matthew Dunne-Smith, Owner of Oswestry Windows and Doors, explains: “Because the property was one of two exclusive barn conversions, aesthetically the new windows and doors needed to perfectly complement the adjacent property which were fitted with original wooden windows. Due to the superior aesthetics of the Optima system, the new windows and doors replicated the original window design and blended perfectly with the adjacent property.”
a huge range of ancillaries and add-ons to enable windows in every style and to suit every property type to be manufactured. But while its looks are diverse, at its heart it is a system designed for the modern home with optimal thermal performance and rigidity thanks to its six-chamber outer frame and five chamber sash construction. It surpasses the UK and EU Building Regulations’ requirements, achieves PAS24:2016 on all options and is accredited by the British Standards Institute.
The windows and doors were manufactured by longstanding Profile 22 fabricator Emplas
and fitted by the expert Oswestry Window and Door team in just one week. The end results are stunning. Matthew concluded: “We are delighted with the results, as are the homeowners. The property was originally renovated to an extremely high standard with exposed timbers and vaulted ceilings delivering traditional charm to the converted barn. The windows and doors were the final sophisticated touch needed for the property and once again demonstrates the impressive qualities of the Optima system." Tel: 01952 290910 – www.profile22.co.uk
In order to deliver the seamless finish required, the Optima Flush Casement windows were manufactured in the popular heritage hue of Agate Grey and the two sets of French doors in Anthracite Grey. Optima is an incredibly versatile system and its Flush Casement window is based on a traditional British timber cottage window design. As you would expect from the award-winning Optima system, it offers market-leading thermal efficiency and has
VICTORIAN SLIDERS SHOWCASES BRAND NEW TRADE WEBSITE A new website is the latest investment from sash window specialists Victorian Sliders. The new site has been designed to clearly communicate the benefits of the company’s market-leading ECOSlide window, and provide a one-stop shop for new clients, queries and product information. Victorian Sliders Marketing Manager Geoff Bishop comments: “The new website has been a real labour of love for us, and we’ve put in a huge amount of work to ensure it offers visitors the best experience possible.
find it easy to use, and we’ll be continuing to update it regularly in the months ahead.” The company has also focused on revamping its physical marketing material by updating their ECOSlide brochure including an interactive digital version, as Geoff explains. “In 2021, having a digital presence is more important than ever, which is why our digital brochure can be viewed and shared
online, but that doesn’t mean companies should neglect more traditional forms of marketing. “I believe that there will always be a demand for printed brochures, that can inspire endusers and encourage them to invest in your products, and that’s why Victorian Sliders is committed to providing them.” You can access the updated brochure by visiting www.victoriansliders.co.uk.
“Now, customers can get everything they need all in one place – they can apply for a trade account, download quote forms, request brochures and other marketing materials, access a wealth of information about ECOSlide, and gain more insight into our manufacturing process than ever before. “Since the pandemic, people are more ‘online’ than ever, and our industry is no exception. We hope our valued trade customers around the UK like the site and
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December 2021 | www.glassnews.co.uk
HARDWARE
QUALITY YOU CAN TRUST In the current trading climate, where levels of demand are sky high and limitations on supply are putting a huge strain on the industry, excellent quality control goes a long way. That’s why leading aluminium bi-fold hardware supplier AT Precision has put stringent measures into place to ensure all its products are manufactured to the highest standard, while all deliveries are carried out seamlessly. Sales Director Michael Hewitt comments: “Maintaining excellent quality control is paramount to us, and we’ve put strict measures into place at all levels of the production process to ensure this. “During the manufacturing process, one in every 10 products is manually checked by a dedicated quality control member of staff. In addition, we photograph every palette of products before they are sent out, making certain that everything in the order is accounted for, and ensuring our customers receive exactly what they order without delay. “We’ve never had any complaints about product
quality or delivery, but at the same time, we’re always more than happy to carry out service calls. If a customer has an issue or is having trouble with one of our products, we’ll gladly travel anywhere in the UK to provide assistance.” Working from an 18,000 square foot manufacturing facility, AT Precision manufactures the Everglide range of bi-fold hardware, which includes rollers, top guides, pull handles, hinges, cleats and shootbolt handles, all of which are made from cast aluminium and are compatible with major systems. All bi-fold hardware is manufactured in-house and supplied directly to fabricators, meaning customers can access highquality products at a very affordable rate. The company also recently installed two new extrusion lines dedicated to the production of its Everseal range of gaskets, also compatible with major systems. Michael continues: “It’s been an extremely challenging past two
years for the industry, and fabricators are having to deal with supply chain issues, material shortages, and price increases on an almost daily basis. The last thing they need is to receive poor quality products, and at AT Precision, we’ve ensured that this is never the case. “In addition to high quality products, thanks to strong relationships with our key suppliers combined with a recent factory expansion, we’re able to keep at least three months’ worth of stock on our premises, while keeping our price increases to a minimum, meaning our customers never fall short. “If you’re looking for high quality products at an affordable rate from a reliable supplier, then give AT Precision a call today.” Call AT Precision on 0191 581 6508, email sales@ atprecision.co.uk, or visit www.atprecision.co.uk.
AT PRECISION: THE ONE-STOP SHOP FOR YOUR BI-FOLD NEEDS Leading hardware supplier AT Precision has added a range of plastic ancillaries to its product portfolio, meaning aluminium fabricators can now get everything they need to manufacture a bi-fold door from the Durhambased company. The range includes injection-moulded cill end caps and adapter caps both available in black and anthracite grey. Working from an 18,000 square foot manufacturing facility, AT Precision manufactures the Everglide range of bi-fold hardware, which includes rollers, top guides, pull handles, hinges, cleats and shootbolt handles, all of which are made from cast aluminium
AT Precision Sales Director Michael Hewitt comments: “By adding a range of plastic ancillaries to our wide offering, we’re giving aluminium fabricators an entire Everglide system – everything they need to manufacture a bi-fold door, bar the actual profile and glass. We’re also offering our cill end caps and adaptor caps in anthracite grey, an option not available to fabricators from most systems companies.”
www.glassnews.co.uk | December 2021
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Pre-gasketed profiles, No system-specific machinery is required to manufacture so you can get up and running quickly, Serving to over 100 fabricators across the country, AT Precision also manufactures the Everseal range of gaskets, and supplies espagnolette window handles as well as the Ingenious MPL from Ingenious Locks. The company also offers free delivery on all orders over £250, and next day delivery on all orders made before 1pm. For more information, call AT Precision on 0191 581 6508, email sales@ atprecision.co.uk, or visit www.atprecision.co.uk.
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HARDWARE
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
SECURING THE SUPPLY CHAIN HARDWARE SOLUTION FROM VBH WITH TOTAL HARDWARE FOR NEW SHEERLINE BI-FOLD DOOR With the boom in replacement door and window sales across the industry, it has never been more important to work with companies who can offer a robust and secure supply chain. This is the view of Chris Pell, General Manager at Total Hardware, who commented: “The measures we’ve taken to protect our customers from the supply chain disruption that’s affecting the entire industry are making us an appealing choice of hardware supplier.” He continued: “As a result, we’ve seen astonishing sales growth in recent months, with some of our product lines increasing by over 100% year-on-year as we continue to support our customers with the rapid rise in window and door hardware demand.” As Chris says, Total Hardware has taken a number of steps to support its customers during this unprecedented surge in demand. For example, it has extended its Leeds headquarters by 20%. This has allowed the company to increase stock levels
Hardware specialist VBH has announced that it has been working with aluminium systems house Garnalex to develop the hardware solution for the new Sheerline bi-fold door.
considerably to keep pace with demand. It has also recruited new staff and purchased new operational machinery to ensure quick and accurate order despatch. The company has also benefited from its robust business model. It has built strong relationships with some of the leading worldwide hardware manufacturers, which have been invaluable in keeping communication channels open. It provides a quick quotation turnaround and its investment in the business means it has been able to maintain its ability to offer reliable next day deliveries nationwide. Above all, Total Hardware offers a comprehensive range of products across all
price points, including its own ranges. Its Quantum range of premium hardware for windows and doors is aimed at fabricators who want to differentiate their own product range, while for customers working in the premium end of the domestic market the Superior 25 door hardware is a popular choice. Chris concludes: “There are huge opportunities in the market at the moment. There are also huge challenges. To succeed, you need to partner with suppliers who can mitigate the challenges so you can rise to the opportunities. That’s exactly what we’re doing for our customers at Total Hardware.”
The new bi-fold allows up to a seven pane configuration, the choice of fitting it as an outward or inward opening door, and offers four different threshold combinations. With doors measuring up to 6.5m wide x 2.6m high and possibly triple glazed, Garnalex’s choice of hardware had to be sufficiently strong and hard wearing to cope with large, heavy sashes. VBH’s greenteQ design team worked closely with their counterparts
at Garnalex, with the result being the greenteQ Clearspan hardware system for Sheerline with a weight capacity of 120Kg per sash. greenteQ’s bi-fold hardware for other systems is tried and tested and is favoured by fabricators and installers. Clearspan for Sheerline is designed with everyone in the supply chain in mind; it is quick and easy to put together and there is ample adjustment for installers. Clearspan is available in a standard version and in a PAS24:2016 tested security spec that features the greenteQ Orion TS007 3 star profile cylinder. Being a 3 star cylinder, this enables the fabricator to fit either the greenteQ Alpha Slim lever handle set, or the standard Alpha lever handle which is available in
10 colours of the greenteQ Suite of matching window door and patio furniture. As the Suite covers patio doors it enables installers to tie together a Full House installation, giving them an edge over their competition. Companies offering Sheerline doors built to VBH’s PAS24 hardware spec can join the Q-secure approved partner network. The Q-secure consumer security guarantee will pay the end user up to £8000 in compensation in the unlikely event that a break in is achieved due to hardware failure. Simon Monks, MD of VBH says “I’m personally delighted to be working with Garnalex, and am very pleased at the way that the two technical teams have worked together as one to bring this project to fruition; it’s been seamless.” To find out more about VBH’s range of hardware visit www.vbhgb.com, call 01634 263 263 or email info@vbhgb.com. If you would like further information on the Sheerline range call Garnalex on 01332 978000, email info@sheerline.com or visit www.sheerline.com.
Tel: 0113 243 2255 www.totalhardwareltd.co.uk
HARDWARE DISTRIBUTOR CARL F GROUPCO LAUNCHES NEW WEBSITE Leading distributor of window and door hardware, Carl F Groupco, is proud to announce the launch of their new website. Carl F Groupco, based in Peterborough with depots in Cumbernauld, provides premium window and door fittings to fabricators across the UK, and a new fully responsive and bespoke website will allow for enhanced customer support for wellknown hardware brands, such as FUHR, Roto, and Yale.
Clare White, Marketing Manager for Carl F Groupco, commented: “It’s been important for us to bring together our three brands to provide our customers with a dedicated resource for all of their hardware and trade tool requirements. Aligning our brands will allow us to improve communication with our fabricator partners and concisely display our product offering, simplifying purchase decisions, access to product information and technical support.”
The new website combines all three of Carl F Groupco’s brands into one easyto-access database, making the entire product portfolio available at the simple touch of a button. In addition to the core Carl F Groupco hardware range, access to both Carl F direct, a direct mail and e-commerce tool business, and SmartSecure, leaders in electronic
The new site supports improved communication and transparency between Carl F Groupco and customers, to ensure their needs are always met, no matter the challenge. Users can get in touch through the straightforward contact form for quotes and support, or they can contact the team of experts at Carl F Groupco via email or phone, prominently displayed on
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Carl F Groupco launches new, fully responsive website
multipoint door locking systems, means that finding your perfect hardware solution is hassle- and stress-free, from enquiry right through to completion.
the site. The new website helps to nurture the valued relationship between customer and Carl F Groupco. This bespoke website is also completely mobile responsive, ensuring customers are always able to view, browse, and buy leading hardware brands from any device. The innovative quote builder enables users to collate all their requirements into one easy basket, making planning purchases simple and straightforward. The next phase in the Carl F Groupco launch will encompass myCFG. A bespoke customer portal, myCFG will allow users to manage their account and orders, making ordering with Carl F Groupco easier than ever. Carl F Groupco: www.carlfgroupco.co.uk SmartSecure: www.smartsecure.co.uk Carl F direct: www.carlfdirect.co.uk.
December 2021 | www.glassnews.co.uk
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HARDWARE
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
FINBOLT TRIPLE DOOR LOCK SET WINS
SBID INTERNATIONAL DESIGN AWARD 2021
Discover why FinBolt, an elegant, high-security door locking solution with automatic deadbolts has won the prestigious SBID International Design award 2021. The SBID International Design Awards winners for 2021 were revealed at the Nobu Hotel Portman Square in London on Friday 22 October. Finfort is pleased to announce that it is among the impressive global design talent to have become a SBID product design award winner for its entry, FinBolt Triple Door Lock Set in the Interior Fittings category. The FinBolt Triple Door Set is the ultimate combination of ultra-security, convenience and beautiful craftsmanship. It is an innovative set of three compact, sleek, recessed door locks equally suited to period or modern wooden doors. The set includes two FinBolts, one at the top of the door and one at the bottom, simultaneously automatically deadbolting with a sophisticated soft closing action and
a third insurance-compliant manual deadbolt which you choose when to use. The FinBolt lock is a major innovation in door security. FinBolt makes it possible to secure a door at multiple points with individual locks operating independently, that automatically deadbolt every time the door is closed so doors are always secure, without turning a key. It combines elegant design with award-winning engineering to secure doors
“We are delighted to partner with ABS Avocet whose high-security cylinders complement our vision to deliver elegant, convenient, highsecurity door locking solutions. The thumbturn design was so unique and fitted with our ethos of bringing security and style together.” Hilary Duggan, Finfort Co-founder
automatically. The thumbturn mechanism ensures you can always get out fast when you need to so you can enjoy safer, automated door security that never compromises on style. To compliment the elegant design, Finfort has partnered with Avocet ABS who supply its high-security 3 star kitemarked cylinders with registered keys which can be copied by ABS authorised key cutting centres. Steve Ross, Commercial Director for Avocet ABS commented, “When we were approached by Finfort to work with them on their innovative FinBolt product, we were particularly excited by their vision of a security product that lends itself to the design conscious person. We are already looking at new bespoke finishes for our cylinder to work alongside Finfort’s future plans for an architecturally designed high security product offering.” Considered one of the most prestigious accolades in the interior design industry, success in the GOLD-standard Awards programme which amassed over 3,000 entries from 85 countries demonstrates the highest level of design excellence across the commercial and residential sectors. To win, FinBolt went through a two stage technical judging process that considered the innovativeness, functionality, user-benefits and sustainability of the FinBolt Triple Door Lock which accounted for 70% of the decision. The public vote accounted for the remaining 30%. The full range of FinBolt products are available for purchase from https://finfort.co.uk/ or from leading architectural ironmongers and locksmiths. Visit https://finfort.co.uk/ to find out more about the FinBolt product range. Visit https://www.avocet-hardware.co.uk for more details on the ABS range of cylinders
“Winning a prestigious SBID award validates the long design journey from a concept of a recessed automatic deadbolt through to creating the FinBolt Triple Door Lock set – a unique, convenient, safer door locking solution that honours the British front door aesthetic.” Timothy Finn, Finfort Co-Founder
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December 2021 | www.glassnews.co.uk
Our knowledge & experience of hardware for aluminium windows & doors is unrivalled
ALWAYS EVOLVING - ALWAYS HERE Find out more at: titon.com/aluminium alum@titon.com
GLASS NEWS INTERVIEW: SOLAR GROUP
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
NEW MANAGING DIRECTOR OF SOLAR GROUP’S HUTHWAITE OPERATION, GARETH JONES, TALKS TO GLASS NEWS Glass News’ Editor, Chris Champion, talks with Gareth Jones who recently took up his appointment as Managing Director of the Solar Group’s Huthwaite based operations, taking the opportunity to congratulate him after his summer of gardening. Actually, in Gareth’s case, an opportunity to improve his golf handicap! Solar’s Huthwaite operation includes three businesses: Solar Calibre Doors, Solar Norvik and Taylor Manufacturing. Bearing in mind Gareth’s previous position with
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profine and their acquisition of the Aperture business in May 2020, it seems ironic that Gareth’s new charge is Huthwaite based, too. It’s worth listening to his explanation as to how this new appointment came about and how, in recent years, Gareth has been involved in various ways with the Solar Group’s businesses.
fire doors, too. The new build operation of Solar Norvik sells to the public and private sector including Local Authorities, Housing Associations and New Build Developers, while Taylor Manufacturing, a window and door fabricator, produces a wide range of fenestration products for the wider group as well as selected business partners.
With over 22 years’ experience in the industry earning him a number of high profile positions, it’s not surprising that Solar has taken the opportunity to entice Gareth to their brand. His knowledge fits well with the Solar Calibre Door business with its mix of both composite doors and engineered timber doors that are available in both 44mm and 54mm with double rebate and triple seals in over 80 styles, plus
Ahead of joining Solar on 3rd November Gareth was at the Glazing Summit and shares his views on a number of topics that were discussed in Birmingham including the issues over finding and keeping experienced people, how the pandemic has changed business life and some of the opportunities it affords, plus the supply chain. He talks about it being an extremely exciting time for the Solar Group with
“2022 is, says Gareth, a time to develop their offering. Importantly, they have both the capacity and the capability to do just that, and he is looking forward to a very active and engaging year ahead.”
huge potential for its businesses, all of which have maintained quality and supply throughout a very challenging period for the industry. The committed supply chain, the reliable manufacturing route and the efficient service Solar offers to its customers are all key in the current market conditions. And what of the future? New products? Expansion? 2022 is, says Gareth, a time to develop their offering. Importantly, they have both the capacity and the capability to do just that, and he is looking forward to a very active and engaging year ahead. Gareth is also looking forward to The FIT Show and the opportunity to present his companies, their products and their people to the industry… the timing couldn’t be better! It’s very much a case of welcoming Gareth Jones back to an important position within our industry and wishing him well for the future.
December 2021 | www.glassnews.co.uk
s g n i t ! e s e mer r G o t s s ’ u n c o s r a ou e S all iar to eLin v o L #
TRADE NEWS
MACHINERY
IRISH CLADDING SPECIALIST DEPLOYS DOWSIL™ TECHNOLOGY FOR LANDMARK DUBLIN PROJECT
ROSEVIEW WINDOWS INVESTS IN SECOND SBA-4 VS PVC-U PROFILE MACHINING CENTRE FROM HAFFNER
As famous for its wet weather as its history and culture, Dublin is a location that would challenge the longevity of any cladding system. That is why DOWSIL™ and Geocel high performance construction sealant products were selected for use on the cladding of a highly prestigious new project in the heart of the city’s financial district. The Exchange Building is one of the most significant commercial development in the Irish capital’s financial centre since 2003. Cosgrove Properties led the project as developer for IPUT Real Estate, Ireland’s leading property company and the largest owner of offices in Dublin, with Sisk as main contractor and KMD Architecture heading up the design team. As part of the development, a comprehensive curtain wall and stone cladding package was designed, manufactured and installed by Alucraft. This package made use of a range of high-performance sealant products, such as DOWSIL™ 791 Weatherproofing Sealant and 993 Structural Glazing Sealant, all supplied by The Sherwin Williams Company, with Alucraft’s installation sub-contractor supplying natural stone elements for part of the façade where Geocel 925 NS features. The DOWSIL™ and Geocel products were specifically selected, not only due to their proven track record on other projects, but also because of the quality control measures that the Sherwin Williams Company maintains, both in its factory and on site. Along with routine logistical support for the contractors, Sherwin Williams’ Technical Sales Manager for Ireland, Adrian Flynn, provided data on existing
Photo: Tomasz Juszczak, ImageWorks. Photography for all images supplied, courtesy of KMD Architecture.
accreditations and also data from testing carried out specific to the project’s unique requirements. This included stone compatibility testing to establish that the sealants would not cause any staining to the stone cladding chosen. The Exchange Building’s exterior envelope is visually striking, with complex combination of stone cladding, sloped atrium glazing and stick-build, as well as unitised curtain walling. All weatherproofed using DOWSIL™ 791. DOWSIL™ 791 is a specially developed weatherproofing sealant available in clear, as well as white, grey, black brown, bronze, stone, buff limestone and anthracite. It is most commonly used to seal glass to glass joints in commercial glass buildings where the IGU comprises of a DOWSIL™ secondary sealant such as DOWSIL™ 3363. DOWSIL™ 3363 Insulating Glass Sealant is specifically formulated for modern architectural designs that feature larger glass areas, and particularly on tall buildings where wind and other loads are generally higher. The two-part neutral curing, high modulus silicone sealant is twice as strong as conventional products while facilitating faster unit assembly and greater durability. In addition, Geocel 925 NonStaining Façade Joint Sealant was also used on the development, to fix the Silver White Pedras Salgas Stone cladding, with Geocel 925 used to seal the open joints in-situ. Geocel 925 is a one part high performance polymer based sealant developed for use on prestige properties exposed to extreme weather conditions and UV light, as well as aggressive atmospheric conditions. The Exchange Building has been built to a Grade A standard, with an A3 energy rating, as well as a LEED Gold environmental standard. Work commenced on the 107,500 sq ft six-storey office building in 2016 and was completed in 2017. The lead tenants include Walkers Global, A&L Goodbody, Partner Reinsurance Europe SE, and The Food Safety Authority of Ireland. There is also a 1,200 sq ft retail unit fronting onto George’s Dock and a smaller (500 sq ft) shop on Common Street.
For more information on DOWSIL™ and Geocel high performance construction solutions used on this project, please visit https://specification.sherwin-williams.co.uk/.
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Roseview Windows, the UK’s leading vertical slider manufacturer, has just invested in a second SBA-4 VS PVC-U Profile Machining Centre from Haffner to support continued growth in its manufacturing. Roseview has grown year-on-year since it was established over 40 years ago and has witnessed a sharp upturn in demand in the past 18 months as a result of the continued popularity of featurerich sash windows. To help meet the growth in demand, Roseview ordered their first SBA-4 VS PVC-U Profile Machining Centre earlier this year to replace an ageing machine and drive greater efficiencies across the shop floor. Having been impressed with the machine’s manufacturing efficiency and automated capabilities, they recently took the decision to invest in a second machine to further support their growth strategy. Mike Bygrave, Sales & Marketing Director at Roseview Windows, commented: “As a business, we are renowned for the quality of our sash windows and the efficiency of our operations. The SBA-4 VS PVC-U Profile Machining Centres will help us maintain and enhance this reputation, even as we
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
SENATOR WINDOWS CHOOSES LATEST EMMEGI COMET CNC
continue to grow.” Bryan Dando, Regional Sales Manager at Haffner, commented: “Roseview were finding that many of their previous machining centres were unable to cope with the complexities of sash window manufacture, which meant a lot of processes were done manually. With the technical innovation and high-performance accuracy that sits behind the SBA-4 VS PVC-U Machining Centre, it is more than capable of supporting complex vertical slider manufacture, including both standard and mechanically jointed versions. We’re delighted to see Roseview seeing so much value from their investment.” Roseview Windows was established in 1977 and serves the retail and trade markets. In 1985 it was one of the first companies in the UK to start manufacturing PVC-U vertical sliders. Based in Buckinghamshire, the company has three manufacturing units and currently manufactures around 700 windows a week, with plans in place to increase their output to 1,000 windows per week. And with the investment in two SBA4 VS PVC-U Profile Machining Centres, it is well equipped to achieve this. Tel: 01785 222421 www.haffnermurat.com
Emmegi (UK) continues to set the pace in the Irish aluminium fabrication market with the supply of a new Comet X6HP CNC machine to Senator Windows. Senator Windows, a member of the Gowan Group, has been crafting windows and doors since 1985 at a stateof-the-art manufacturing facility in Wexford. This well-known and loved national brand prides itself on giving its customers peace of mind by delivering the highest standards in sales, quality and service – a commitment to excellence that has seen Senator sell over 1 million windows and doors to date. With an Irish based sales, installation and servicing team, Emmegi (UK) provides a dedicated service to customers right across Ireland, with fast and efficient deliveries coming via Emmegi (UK)’s head office in Coventry and direct from Emmegi in Italy Jim O’Connell, Emmegi’s Sales Manager for Ireland, advised the Senator team on the purchase of the Comet X6HP. It has been added to an existing Comet EP machining centre, which has been the workhorse of Senator’s aluminium fabrication for more than 20 years. The durability and reliability of that Comet EP meant Senator were keen to buy another similar machine from Emmegi and the X6HP is the very latest model in the range. It is a large scale 4-axis CNC designed to maximise volumes and optimise efficiency. It has a pendular mode which allows for profile to be machined in two independent work areas and two supplementary axes to position the vices and reference stops. This means Senator can potentially work on up to four separate pieces at the same time, maximising throughput. For Senator, the investment in the Comet X6HP is part of the company’s ongoing expansion in aluminium, with sales of its Sensations range of windows, bi-folds, sliders and front and rear doors all seeing sustained growth. From the outset, Senator Windows brought a new approach, new technology and a commitment to raising standards, and this latest investment is a continuation of that. For Owen Power, Managing Director of Senator, the investment is more than justified by the efficiencies and payback it promises. He said: “With the market for our aluminium products increasing all the time, particularly in our residential market, the timing of this investment couldn’t be better. We’re delighted to be amongst the very first fabricators in Europe to take delivery of our new Comet X6HP, and we have certainly been impressed by the service and efficiency of the Emmegi team who have supported us every step of the way.” Jim O’Connell added: “The X6HP is obviously a giant leap from the EP but it will give Senator all the capacity they need to really make the most of the opportunities which now exist in aluminium. It’s a cutting-edge machine which is perfectly at home in Senator’s impressive Wexford Town factory.” More details at: https://www.emmegi.com/en/home and https://www.senatorwindows.ie/
December 2021 | www.glassnews.co.uk
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GLASS NEWS INTERVIEW: RAPIDE FRAME SUPPLIES
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
EVERYONE MUST BE DOING SOMETHING RIGHT IF YOU’RE STILL WORKING TOGETHER AFTER 30 YEARS Talking to the Humberston, Grimsby, based Rapide Frame Supplies’ owner, Tim Cattell, is Chris Champion, Editor of Glass News. Loyalty to a supplier, with an equivalent loyalty shown by the supplier to the customer over more than 30 years is not unique but is certainly unusual. Rapide Frame Supplies is very much a family business which boasts three installer teams and has an ever-growing order book. Why this long-standing relationship with one supplier when there are so many tempting offers out there? Tim Cattell’s reply is worth listening to. It’s not just a case of Tim being someone who relies on
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relationships but hearing who made his first frames is, at the very, least interesting! The answer sheds light on Tim’s respect for Jeff Walsh, Chairman of Pearl Window Systems. Sticking with a fabricator when they change profiles can produce problems for an installer – was that the case with Rapide when Pearl Window Systems changed to Liniar? Or does it mean other opportunities arise? Again, it must be a case of having a relationship with the supplier and, more than that, absolute trust. While we all know that there has been a boom for our industry following lockdown, that isn’t the only reason for the increase in business that Rapide Trade Supplies is enjoying. Tim talks about the growth in new build and how certain areas of the country are faring better in that regard, than others.
Where Tim Cattell is really effusive about working with Pearl Window Systems is when he explains what the Signature Collection Installer Scheme has done for his family business. They have taken every advantage there is within the scheme even down to adopting the app that allows the installer to immediately register the job, both with Building Control Certificates and Extended Warranty Certificates, and all within 48 hours. The extended warranty through CORGI comes in for special mention and is obviously appreciated by the homeowner, especially as it is part of the scheme and is cost free to them. The branding, and being part of a nationwide scheme, has had its effect. Rapide Frame Supplies has adopted the Signature Collection branding across the board, from website and stationery to vehicles and uniforms. However, Tim is
fully expecting further enhancements from Jeff Walsh and his team at Pearl Window Systems and he comments that Jeff is always thinking ahead and adding additional benefits for both the customer and the installer. Has the scheme actually made selling easier? Listening to Tim explain how the homeowners immediately see the advantages offered by the Scheme, gives a clear answer to that question. The Signature Collection Installer Scheme benefits everyone in so many ways and has even made the office administration more efficient, such that Tim Cattell and his team at Rapide Frame Supplies appear to be very happy to continue the 30 year relationship with Pearl Window Systems. To be fair, if the boss of your fabricator was the one who made your first window all those years ago, it must be a relationship that will stand the test of time!
December 2021 | www.glassnews.co.uk
Only the sky’s the limit •
Minimalist design in aluminium with ultra-low sight lines
•
You can have a range of lanterns, flat rooflights, skyrooms, conservatories, verandas or lean-tos
•
Lanterns available in a number of options, including our new square version
•
19 stock items
•
Stronger aluminium construction
•
Available in all RAL colours
•
Quality technical support
To see more, talk to our Technical Team at atlasroofsolutions.co.uk/sky
Lantern
Flat Rooflight
Skyroom
Conservatories
Verandas
Lean-tos
ROOFING
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
THREE-WEEK LEAD TIMES FOR ATLAS SYSTEMS Roof lantern manufacturer, Atlas Glazed Roof Solutions is offering to provide installers with products in lead times of less than four weeks for any orders made before the end of 2021. The announcement should provide relief for installers who have faced testing times during the year as a number of factors have led to supply shortages and lengthening lead times for delivery throughout the fenestration sector. Atlas specialises in the manufacture of roof lantern systems and rooflights, a feature on a home which has grown in popularity over the past decade and remains in high demand as homeowners look to maximise space in their homes with more time spent living and working at a place of residence in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. With more than 10 years’ experience in the production and delivery of elegant roof light systems, Atlas was one of the pioneers of the contemporary roof lantern, and continues to offer one of the slimmest lanterns available in the UK which include a thermally broken structure; improved secure pressure-plated system and fitterfriendly fixings. The company also offers slim ringbeams as standard; a 40mm wide rafter and slim lowline rafter caps creates visible elegance while maximising the use of external light combined with industry leading thermal efficiency and solar control.
Atlas manufactures all its lanterns and rooflights in the UK and has excellent relationships with suppliers which has allowed the company to maintain a competitive lead time. Winston Osborne, Technical Director of Atlas Glazed Roof Solutions, said: “We would like to thank our ever-reliable suppliers and our hard-working teams for continuing to manufacture such highquality products. “To be able to offer three-or-four-week lead times on glazing products to our loyal customers, in the current climate, is a great achievement and it allows installers to offer reliability and consistency to their customers.” To find out more about Atlas roofs see https://atlasroofsolutions.co.uk.
ICOTHERM DEVELOPMENTS
In a turn of events that was no more predictable than the last 18 months’ events, and as announced last month, Icotherm has once more increased its manufacturing space, in a bid to further improve production capacity and productivity. “Despite our best efforts” comments AnneMarie Busch, Commercial Manager, “and with the order book surge that has kept up, it became a commitment that made the most sense to ensure manageable growth. The new factory has now been up and running since September and marks the start of some key developments for the company” The last few months have seen record breaking numbers throughout the business, from turnover, roofs supplied and ( as we all know) supply cost increases. It has kept the whole Icotherm team busy, but we are also working hard in the background to ensure the business respond to changing or developing product demands.
NEW PRODUCTS ON THE HORIZON With the home of Icotherm’s core roof production taken care of, for the foreseeable future, thanks to its additional 17500 sq feet of space, the company can now focus on bringing to market some new products. • Icotherm’s own R&D efforts will be focusing on developing a range of modular garden rooms for the trade. We are still in the development stages, but we will be looking to offer a product that will be just as simple and fast to install than the Icotherm roofs range. The rooms will feature our current roof
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system, which by now has more than proven it’s performance and efficiencies, whilst the walls solution will be made up of internally designed and fabricated SIP panels. • In addition to the garden rooms, and to be made available from November, we are pleased to announce that we will be offering Sheerline’s new lantern. Described by the company as the UK’s most secure roof lantern, it can span up to 3.2 x 6m and features Thermolock multi-chamber thermal technology. It will be available as standard in white and anthracite to start with
MARKETING DEVELOPMENTS We are finally ready with a new roof installation animation, which we believe will be a great tool to show our customers how straight forward the installation is. Look out for it via our marketing communication, social media or website. Likewise we are launching a brand new website, to match the branding exercise we carried out over the last couple of years. With a clean appearance, showcasing our roofs range, easy to use, it will be a perfect tool for both the trade and the homeowner to visit. We will soon be asking our customers if they wish to join our soon to arrive Registered Installer Scheme. If you wish to discuss introducing the Icotherm range of roofs to your product offering, contact info@icotherm.co.uk.
December 2021 | www.glassnews.co.uk
ROOFING
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
ATLAS SECURES TOP SECURITY LISTING Roof lantern manufacturer, Atlas Glazed Roof Solutions has become the first company in the UK to have aluminium rooflights listed by Secured by Design (SBD).
successfully passed this security standard and that we have the backing of Secured by Design.
“We work hard to ensure that our products are of the very highest quality in design, efficiency and security and we are very
Winston Osborne
Secured by Design is the only way for products and services to achieve police recognition in the UK and as such shows a guaranteed level of security not found anywhere else.
pleased that this flagship police initiative has recognised our efforts by naming us as the first ever aluminium roof lanterns to be Secured by Design.”
The secured pressure plated system used by Atlas offers a higher level of security than a snap on cap, favoured by some manufacturers, which can be more easily removed by intruders.
To find out more about Atlas roofs see https://atlasroofsolutions.co.uk. For more information about Secured by Design visit www.securedbydesign.com.
Atlas Lantern 2.0 product was successfully tested to STS 222 which is a security test approved by SBD. This accreditation details the requirements for burglary resistance for construction products including windows, curtain walling, security grilles, garage doors and roller shutters Winston Osborne, Technical Director of Atlas Glazed Roof Solutions, said: “We are delighted that our Lantern 2.0 has
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PRODUCT REVIEW 2021
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
PRODUCT REVIEW
THE GLASS NEWS ROUND UP OF
PRODUCTS TO ADD
TO YOUR PORTFOLIO
GREENTEQ SECURITAS SECURITY WINDOW LOCK VBH launched the greenteQ Securitas Security Window Espagnolette in September and take-up has been exceptional. Securitas sits alongside the popular PAS24 tested Invicta Window Shootbolt to provide two lock options for manufacturers of high security outward opening windows. Securitas features pairs of mushroom headed cams that lock into both sides of a
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night vent striker plate. These double cam locking points are extremely strong as they spread the load if the window is attacked rather than allowing all the force to be concentrated on one point. Most Securitas locks have 8 mushroom cams in pairs, with even the smallest sizes boasting 4.
Securitas is available with industry standard 20 and 22mm backsets and with a choice of two mushroom cam heights to ensure compatibility with most popular window systems.
HELPING YOU GAIN MORE SALES IN 2022
OUTSTANDING PRODUCT IN THE STUGA MACHINERY RANGE
Securitas is very quick to fit as all fixings are applied in the same direction and there are no extensions.
The outstanding product in the Stuga machinery range during 2021 has been the ZX5-S automatic sawing and machining centre designed to fully cut and prep 800 or more internally glazed windows per week in a single shift.
drive notching feature which guarantees the accuracy of both ‘V’ and ‘Y’ notches.
This year’s design includes the superb ‘Truloc’ non-slip gripper system and the ‘Y’-
The ZX5-S is accurate, fast and reliable with many reference sites able to confirm this.
The notching accuracy is so good that fabricators who have invested in a double head ‘Y’ welder can certainly be confident that the ZX5-S will give them spot-on accuracy every time allowing the welder to produce a perfect ‘H’ with double reverse butt welds. This allows five window sections to be welded in one welding cycle with total accuracy creating a significant saving in production time.
December 2021 | www.glassnews.co.uk
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
PRODUCT REVIEW 2021
STREAMLINE, SYNCHRONISE AND SIMPLIFY YOUR BUSINESS WITH ADMINBASE Whether you’re a small company with one installation team or part of a large national, webbased management system AdminBase can help you revolutionise the way you do business.
errors. Generating legally binding documents and invoices is also possible direct from AdminBase. Available with dedicated sales, survey, fitting and service apps, everyone can easily see what needs doing when. Other parts of your admin can be automated entirely – such as setting up email and SMS messaging reminders for installation dates for customers, for example.
From handling initial enquiries and managing appointments through to organising installations, AdminBase streamlines the whole process with every stage logged and recorded, doing away with paper and reducing opportunity for
SMOOTH AS SILKA
With its smooth matt finish, Apeer’s popular Silka door gives homeowners the contemporary appearance of a sleek aluminium-skinned residential door, but with enhanced performance and smaller price tag.
As Apeer’s Managing Director Asa McGillian explains: “Silka is a smooth matt finish door which looks like aluminium but which has all the benefits of a virtually airtight double sealed rebate, triple glazed 70mm composite and which is inherently more robust than aluminium-skinned doors – all at a more competitive price point.”
“AdminBase is an integrated mobile solution that is totally bespoke to your business, so it works with you to help improve efficiencies and eliminate errors,” says Managing Director Rhonda Ridge. “The software also spots patterns in your business, so you can do more of what works and address what doesn’t.”
What a lovely team to work with – in fact, it often doesn’t feel like work! Print, PR, social and digital offerings from Glass News all deliver great results for my clients. Sarah Coupe Director Dialogue PR Ltd
• Interviews, Face to Face Articles and Editorial Features • PR, Video, Weekly E-Newsletter and Website • Print Advertising, Digital Advertising and Find A Supplier • Yearly Packages with Full Service Multi-Marketing Channels Full Service Marketing & All General Enquiries: christina@glassnews.co.uk
Available in black and anthracite grey with a modern stainless steel bar handle, Silka doors come with the option of including five super-sleek horizontal lines spaced top to bottom and running the full width of the door slab. Silka doors are also available with a sleek all-glass glazing trim, completing the aesthetic with a stand-out flush finish which also complements Apeer’s award-winning Lumi frameless windows system.
www.glassnews.co.uk | December 2021
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PRODUCT REVIEW 2021
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
Q-SMART ELECTRONIC DOOR HANDLE VBH added the Q-Smart electronic smart handle to its range of innovatuive hardware and furniture in March. The keyless product provides 3 methods of gaining access. The first is a simple proximity fob; the second is a phone app that allows the user to use their mobile phone as a key, and the third is fingerprint recognition. The large reader pad is
concealed under a hinged tab to keep it clean and dry. The app enables the main user to send permanent or temporary timed keys to people’s phones for better control over security. The app keeps a log of entries, providing visitor management records. No mains wiring is required as Q-Smart is battery powered. The handle warns when the batteries start to run low, and back-up power can be applied if the batteries are allowed to run flat. VBH supply a micro USB power pack with each unit.
EXPECT MORE OF THE SAME ENGINEERING EXCELLENCE FROM THE NEW KORNICHE ALUMINIUM BI-FOLDING DOOR BY MADE FOR TRADE With one success story under their belt, Made For Trade are looking to take the engineering expertise displayed with the Korniche roof lantern and raise the bar again with the launch of their highly anticipated and innovative aluminium Korniche bi-folding door. Brimming with innovate features, the new doors glide off the state-of-the-art CNC production line in the north-east of England boasting a plethora of USP’s as STANDARD, helping and speeding up the installation process whilst also creating some very attractive features for the consumer. Some of these innovations include: Patented pre gasketed aluminium clip bead with a quick release deglazing tool supplied with each kit as STANDARD First of its kind, Made for Trade have developed what they believe to be the best clip bead on the market. The patented mechanism utilises an outer part of traditional powder coated aluminium to match the surrounding sash perfectly, but they have invented a way of harnessing the high tolerance and reliable snap characteristics seen in thermal break polyamide material to work as the clip element. With the high precision materials and equally high manufacturing tolerances, the result is stunning and MFT claim that it
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reduces beading time to a matter of seconds per sash! That’s not all though. On those occasions that glass needs to be removed, a special deglazing tool that engages down the glass line to remove the bead quickly and easily in a couple of seconds has been included in each kit. This means the glass can be removed without risk of damaging the powder coating finish of the bead or sash! PAS24:2016 as STANDARD YALE 3 star locking barrel as STANDARD High quality FUHR main door lock as STANDARD
Self-adjusting, floating roller hardware with sealed bearings for a true glide feel as STANDARD Ergonomic anti back-drive shoot-bolt handle with integrated key lock as STANDARD Rolled in thermal breaks on selected profiles to eliminate overspray onto the polyamide ensuring a high-quality finish as STANDARD Bespoke designed and suited traffic and shoot-bolt handles with matching finishes as STANDARD
Made For Trade consider service and reliability to be equally important to building strong, long-lasting partnerships with their loyal customers. Therefore, each door is delivered comprehensively wrapped in cardboard protective packaging with an integrated placement for the parts box including the same high end and easy to follow installation guide as first seen with the lantern. Creating customer confidence in the brand is a key focus at MFT and so all this is backed up with a 10-year warranty as STANDARD.
December 2021 | www.glassnews.co.uk
PRODUCT REVIEW 2021
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
GREENTEQ ORION 3 STAR PROFILE CYLINDER greenteQ’s Orion profile cylinder was introduced in March as the premium cylinder option from VBH.
Orion is supplied with a 10 year performance guarantee, and is backed by the proteQ10 snap guarantee that will pay the home owner £2000 if the cylinder snaps and allows a break in. When the consumer registers Orion for its warranties they can register a personal password. This adds another security layer as additional keys cannot be cut unless the password is quoted in the future.
Orion is a TS007 3 star lock, offering protection against drilling, picking, bumping and snapping. Orion is supplied with 5 dimple keys and is available in key/key and thumb turn variants. An interlocking mechanism, which activates during a cylinder attack, can be overridden from inside ensuring that the occupants can exit the building.
VBH advise that proteQ10 registrations have exceeded expectations and they are yet to receive a claim.
SOLid
disruption and inconvenience for customers. Homeowners can have the ultimate choice when choosing the final look of their brand new solid roof conservatory or conservatory roof replacement, with a variety of tile colours available in both slate and shingle – plus a soffit assembly allowing for external lighting.
Designed to work with new build conservatories and roof replacement projects alike, SOLid features a lightweight aluminium ring beam that seamlessly fits over window frames, over-soffit ventilation for increased air flow and 150mm insulation for thermal efficiency.
Also a brand new addition to the SOL product range, SOLsirius features the same innovative solid roof technology as SOLid, but with full height glazing panels, to give consumers the best of both worlds.
Fitter friendly features include prepositioned nuts and pre-installed laths meaning less time on site, with less
For more information visit www.solroofs.co.uk
LEGACY VS: A MODERN HERITAGE
With the Legacy PVCu sliding sash window, Quickslide has successfully married the character and charm of traditional heritage windows with the high quality performance of modern fenestration.
www.glassnews.co.uk | December 2021
Period detailing such as timber look mechanical joints, seamless external corner welds, elegant run-through sash horns and an authentic curvy ovolo frame make the Legacy almost indistinguishable from the traditional timber designs on which it is designed. A deep bottom rail and astragal bars can be added for a characterful look that’s even closer to the original. Meanwhile enhanced security and outstanding energy efficiency, along with
weather bar and colour matched wool pile seals, make it the most advanced warm and secure sash window on the market. “Our Legacy VS is where style meets substance,” says Quickslide Chairman Adrian Barraclough. “With its traditional details and superior quality and performance it’s no wonder more and more homeowners and traditionally styled new build projects are choosing Legacy.”
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TRADE NEWS
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
MADE FOR TRADE FURTHER EXPANSION LEADS TO COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR ACQUISITION Made for Trade are looking forward to big steps forward in 2022 as they continue to build on the success of the multi award winning Korniche Lantern with the ramping up in production of their new Korniche Aluminium Bifolding Doors. Another bumper growth year has led to the appointment of Industry stalwart Andy Jones as Commercial Director at Made for Trade, a move which adds some new perspective on the business’s strategy as it continues rapidly expanding out of the SME arena and becomes a larger enterprise. Andy’s industry knowledge and established business relationships will be a fantastic asset to MFT’s growing sales department and his broad experience of glazing products gives some new insight into product development strategy.
MFT have managed to keep delivering on promise dates and increased their manufacturing resource by 15% creating and filling around 35 new jobs. Managing Director, Bradley Gaunt: “We are pleased to announce Andy has joined the team at Made for Trade, his industry knowledge is second to none and he’s been bringing some great new ideas and opportunities to the table. His experience will help to support the current Directors in areas such as market research, evaluation of areas for strategic growth or diversification and of course we are keen to capitalise on his network of industry contacts to acquire new customers.” Andy Jones commented on his appointment: “I am really looking forward to working alongside Brad, Chris and the wider MFT team. I have known MFT and its directors for many years and have
Andy joins Made for Trade following an exceptional 18 months for the business and during a period where market demands have created challenges for many in the industry. Despite some bumps in the labour and supply chain MFT have so far managed to negotiate the issues effectively and despite some increased lead times and associated customer service workload, despite this
always admired their attention to detail in product design and engineering. Their award-winning products have placed them in a unique position moving forward, they are already the UK’s largest manufacturer of aluminium Lantern roofs and Bi-folding doors and I look forward to increasing this position over the coming months and years and taking the Korniche brand to the next level. Under Brad and Chris’s management MFT have established themselves as the number one trade supplier for these products and I intend to use my knowledge and industry contacts gained over the last 35 years to enhance this position further as MFT seeks to move to the next stage of their already impressive growth plans. The market has changed hugely over the past 35 years especially in the past 18 months and its no longer the survival of the fittest but more the survival of the most agile and MFT have agility in abundance, I have visited 100’s if not 1000’s of manufacturing companies all over the world in my previous roles and I can honestly say that I have rarely come across a business which invests so much in research and development, process control, training and continuous improvement as MFT do.”
business that has experienced the kind of stratospheric growth MFT are maintaining. Sufri Weithers has also joined the team as Sales Manager. Sufri brings with him many years of service and account management experience to support MFT’s ever expanding customer base. For more information on Made for Trade’s innovative products and best in class price and services see www.madefortrade.co. For support with our Korniche products contact our marketing team at marketing@madefortrade.co take a look at the new Korniche website to see how the Korniche brand now delivers product and brand impact to homeowners, assisting in sales support and potential leads for our trade customers: www.korniche.co.uk.
IN GOOD COMPANY Alongside Andy, Made for Trade has recently made some other senior position appointments with experienced Head of Finance David Jones joining Made for Trade from a family run manufacturing
GARDEN ROOM OPPORTUNITIES FROM MAKING YOUR SPACE Backed by former Polyframe director Martyn Buckley, Making Your Space is the garden room partner for the trade thanks to a dedicated manufacturing facility and product range that’s been designed with the adoption of the latest off-site construction techniques. The UK market for garden rooms is expected to explode in 2022 and beyond as an increasing number of consumers look to work from home, while the others look for a gym, reading or music room, cinema pod, space for the kids or as a place to entertain. There’s no planning permission required and all that’s needed is a suitable flat base and a low voltage electricity feed, with the
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preparation already made in the factory for ease of installation and typically delivered on 2-3 pallets. These modular garden rooms have been designed with quick-fix SIPS construction wall cassettes that simply slot into place and clip together. Estimated build times are around 2-3 days from start to completion,
prior to any additional works e.g. plastering and there are a wide range of aluminium and PVCu windows and doors incorporated within the design options, along with an EPDM roof. There’s a strong brand behind this trade only product proposition with brochures, installation and product specification guides
and a unique garden room builder on the website at makingyourspace.co.uk, where everything can be built in 3D and priced directly with the consumer with predetermined profit margins. This software module can also be placed on the websites of Design Partners too, which is based on the Business Micros new TOUCH platform. Ryan Crossley, director of Making Your Space commented: ‘We believe that this is the perfect garden room proposition for the trade, and we’ve spent the last 12 months getting everything right from marketing, product design and business operations with a 4-week delivery. We’re already putting on training days for installers and are actively looking for Design Partners from across the UK.’ For further information on becoming a Design Partner with Making Your Space and their trade only range of premium garden rooms, please call 01422 385613, visit makingyourspace.co.uk, or e-mail hello@makingyourspace.co.uk.
December 2021 | www.glassnews.co.uk
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TRADE NEWS
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
AS THE SKILLS CRISIS WORSENS, AUTOMATION’S TIME IS NOW Edgetech Managing Director Chris Alderson argues that, for IGU manufacturers, automation is the only longterm solution to the ongoing skills crisis. It’s been looming for decades – but it looks like it’s the painful combination of Brexit and coronavirus that will finally tip Britain’s skills shortage into a full-blown crisis. Back in January 2019, the British Chambers of Commerce released a report claiming manufacturing was facing the worst skills shortage in 30 years. Having conducted a wide-ranging survey of UK manufacturers, they’d found that an alarming 81% were struggling to recruit and retain experienced staff.
Really, that should’ve been a wake-up call for everyone in the sector – a sign that, without urgent action, the skills shortage wouldn’t just severely hamper its prospects for growth, but seriously affect its ability to operate at even the most basic level. But it was something we’d all heard a thousand times before. We all knew it was a problem – but it was one we’d learned we could repeatedly kick into the long grass without much consequence. The sector would muddle through, because it always had.
A CRISIS WAITING TO HAPPEN But this was of course before what will almost certainly be looked back on as the two defining events of the decade – Brexit, and the arrival of COVID-19. The scale of the challenge was already enormous. A third of the British workforce is aged 50 or over, meaning that millions of the country’s most experienced workers will retire in the coming decade.
Edgetech Managing Director Chris Alderson
But since Britain officially left the EU in January 2020, an estimated 1.2m foreign workers have left the country. Around 90,000 Bulgarian and Romanian workers have returned home, and, according to jobs site Indeed, there are 36% fewer EU citizens looking for work in Britain than there were pre-Brexit. The impact has been enormous, and felt in virtually every sector. The lack of qualified HGV drivers has been especially damaging – the Managing Director of supermarket chain Iceland recently revealed it was seeing between thirty and forty deliveries cancelled every day for that reason. And given that the government is rejecting calls to relax its post-Brexit immigration rules to try and ease the skills crisis,
the Confederation of British Industry is predicting the current severe labour shortage could go on for two years. Against that backdrop, I think it’s time that our sector, and many others, started to take a very serious look at automation.
FUTUREPROOFING THE IGU INDUSTRY In glass and glazing, the arguments for automation were already extremely strong. By far, it’s the best long-term strategy for boosting productivity and improving quality in IGU production. Switching to a high-speed automated Super Spacer line can yield savings of up to £180,000, and increase output by 18%, all while requiring less than half the number of operators. But in the years to come, those gains will become even greater. The severe labour shortage we’re experiencing at the moment will inevitably lead to wage inflation – with more vacancies than there are qualified workers, the price tag for finding and keeping quality personnel is bound to significantly increase. In five years’ time, your wage bill for the same number of employees could be 20% higher – let alone if you want to grow. At Edgetech, we’ve seen interest in embracing automation soar over the last year. Prospects and customers who previously saw it as a ‘nice to have’ are reassessing their priorities, and making investing in automated lines a key part of their expansion plans for the years ahead. For greater quality, efficiency, productivity and a long-term solution to a skills shortage that’s going to get much worse before it gets any better, we encourage you to do the same.
Edgetech IGU Line
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Take the first step to futureproofing your business – For more information, please call 02476 639931 or visit www.edgetechig.co.uk.
December 2021 | www.glassnews.co.uk
EASY TO SELL! EASY TO INSTALL! Make more profit, the easy way! Become a member of Team Guardian today!
This product is both easy to sell and install. Here are some of the many advantages of joining Team Guardian™: Increased sales opportunities with sustainable all-year-round profits Full marketing support package available
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We supply our Team Guardian™ members with retail leads from our dedicated Guardian™ website Full technical support and in house training Add this brilliant new roof system to your portfolio by becoming an approved and registered Guardian™ roof installer and member of Team Guardian™ and watch your profits soar.
Find out exactly how we can help! Call either Ritchie, David or Debbie on:
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The Guardian™ Warm Roof carries both LABC & LABSS approval throughout Great Britain which will give you an excellent sales advantage and extra peace of mind for your customers.
Visit our dedicated Guardian™ website for more info www.guardianconservatoryroofuk.co.uk
Local Authority Building Standards Scotland
TRADE NEWS
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
SOL CONSERVATORY ROOFS IS ‘APPROVED’ FOR 2022 GROWTH SOL Conservatory Roofs is gearing up to raise the roof in 2022 with an Approved Installer Scheme, new recruits to the team, a brand new website and marketing support.
Head of Marketing, Kirsten Bolton, says: “Our installer scheme not only includes on-demand installation and technical assistance, but also a marketing support package provided by a team with in-house and agency experience within the glazing industry. From digital marketing support to graphic design and lead generation, we are best placed to offer installers the help they need, when they need it.”
Following on from the launch of the SOLid roof back in May, SOL Conservatory Roofs has seen a huge uptake in their brand-new roof system throughout 2021, leading the way for big growth plans for the year ahead.
Joining the SOL team is Lee Marson, who brings 20 years of industry experience to take the helm at the windows and doors factory, to maintain a slick operation and facilitate the next stage of growth into a third manufacturing site dedicated to window production.
2022 will see the launch of a brand a new website to showcase the full range of products, which will become the shop front for installers looking for a one-stop supplier for windows, doors and conservatories. As part of the website, there will be an installer portal, featuring a comprehensive literature library.
Finally, looking to get his teeth into his new role is Mark Hawkes, formerly of Britmet Lightweight Roofing, who joined in November. Teaming up with Jason Boyd on the sales function, he says: “I am delighted to become part of the SOL family, and look forward to focusing on growing the business. The historic experience within the business is of a very high calibre, and the focus on high quality production, service and delivery are operational practises, I am proud to be part of.”
With a growing network of installers, 2022 will also see the launch of the SOL Approved Installer Scheme, meaning fitters can be confident that choosing SOL not only means quality products, but provides the marketing and technical support to continue to grow their business, generate leads and perform quality installations every time.
www.solroofs.co.uk | 01226 890 890
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Made for Trade complete investment in enhanced safety delivery fleet
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December 2021 | www.glassnews.co.uk
Oh so BEAUTIFUL It’s beautiful just to behold the precision and detail that goes into every Virtuoso composite door. Each one is painstakingly designed to represent the authentic look of natural timber or the contemporary finish of powder-coated aluminium. The finished result is Virtuoso beautiful.
There’s oh so much more to discover at virtuoso-doors.co.uk/oh-so-beautiful
TRADE NEWS
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
WHY WE NEED TO PUT ALL OUR ENERGY INTO MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT PRODUCTS Energy efficient windows are not nice to have. They’re essential in reducing the energy we use to make our homes greener and more economical to run, says Roger Hartshorn, Garnalex’ CEO. The COP26 summit in Glasgow puts energy efficiency top of the agenda – and rightly so. The built environment contributes around 40% of the UK’s total carbon footprint, with almost half of these emissions coming from the energy we use in buildings for heating, cooling, lighting, and running our appliances. And that’s before mass home charging kicks in so millions of us can switch to electric vehicles to reduce our carbon emissions. While much of the onus has been on cutting emissions in new and future buildings, 80% of the buildings which will be standing in 2050 have already been built. And they’re generally not very energy efficient! Consequently, reducing emissions in existing homes must be a priority.
C, which is the current standard. Standards for doors, including bi-fold and patios, are also set to be tightened to a similar level – a real step change for the industry, one that few suppliers are ready for. These updated changes to Part L look likely to come into force by June 2022, and will act as an important stepping-stone to the Future Homes Standard which will raise the bar even further on energy efficiencies. Consultations for that will begin in 2023 with a view to tighter Regulations by 2025.
Roger Hartshorn
Energy efficient windows are no longer a luxury for eco-conscious homeowners because all of us will have to become more eco-conscious or the world, and our wallets, will be in trouble. Highly energy efficient windows are essential to reducing energy waste and carbon emissions in new and existing homes, and to keeping heating bills affordable for all.
PART L – TOUGHER RULES COMING SOON To help meet Government targets to reduce carbon emissions by 78% by 2035, new legislation is set to come in over the next few years to improve the energy performance of windows in new builds and older, less efficient homes. The first legislative changes likely to come into force will be amendments to Part L of the Building Regulations. The exact changes are yet to be confirmed, but it is understood the amendments are likely to include a tightening of the minimum efficiency for new windows in existing dwellings from 1.6 W/(m²K) to 1.4 W/ (m²K). That means new windows will need to achieve a minimum of band B, not band
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With such a big push on energy performance over the coming years, it’s important installers and fabricators get up to speed now with what is required, and to make sure the products they’re selling meet these requirements.
efficiency and already meet the proposed changes to building regulations. The latest addition to the Sheerline range – a stylish bi-fold door - has also been designed to meet more stringent building regulation requirements. With U-Values of 1.4 W/m²K double glazed and 1.0 W/m²K tripled glazed, the same as our standard Prestige doors, it’s one of the most thermally efficient aluminium bi-folds on the market, and ensures our customers are ready for the rumoured new Part L standards.
GROWING A GREENER SUPPLY CHAIN
FUTUREPROOF SOLUTIONS
Energy efficiency doesn’t start and end with the installation of high-performance windows or doors. I believe it’s also the responsibility of the manufacturer to lead by reducing it’s own carbon footprint.
We know how important energy efficiency is for homeowners, compliance, and the world. So, we have built our patented Thermlock® technology into every Sheerline window, door, and roof lantern. Thermlock is a unique closed-cell, insulating chamber which acts as a thermal break, with energy performance that is far better than traditional polyamide thermal breaks. Combined with high performance glazing, it gives our complete range class leading thermal performance.
For example, at Garnalex, all our profiles are Made in Britain and extruded in the UK using locally sourced aluminium from Wales. This massively reduces our products’ carbon miles, as they aren’t transported in carbon-guzzling ships from the other side of the world. Our modern, state-of-the-art factory is exceptionally energy efficient, and our windows can be recycled at the end of their life, closing the materials loop. Aluminium, we’re proud to say, continues to lead the way in recycling.
For example, Sheerline Prestige - our most versatile and thermally-efficient system – can achieve window U-Values as low as 0.9 W/ (m²K) with triple glazing and 1.3 W/(m²K) with double glazing. Prestige products are therefore future-proof, as you can fit them today or next year with the confidence they will still be Part L compliant.
The UK is facing an unprecedented energy crisis, and we are fighting battles on many different fronts - yet the solution is the same for all. Choose energy efficient products now for the future health and wellbeing of the environment and customers.
Sheerline Classic windows (U-Value of 1.4 W/m2K double glazed) and Sheerline Roof Lanterns (centre pane U-Value as low as 1.0 W/m2K) also achieve excellent energy
Call 01332 978000, email info@sheerline.com or visit www.sheerline.com for more information. Follow @SheerlineSystem and @GarnalexSystems for the latest news and updates.
December 2021 | www.glassnews.co.uk
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TRADE NEWS
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
INCREASE IN FABRICATOR START-UPS PREDICTED Andrew Scott, industry consultant and CEO of Insight Data, predicts an increase in fabricator start-ups as capacity problems plague existing fabricators.
Blairs Windows & Doors, a KÖMMERLING manufacturing partner and part of the Saveheat Group, is pleased to announce that they have joined Secured by Design, which is the official police security initiative that works to improve the security of buildings and their immediate surroundings to provide safe places to live, work, shop and visit.
His prediction follows data revealed at the recent Glazing Summit conference, where he highlighted a decline in PVC-U fabricators – from 1,860 manufacturers ten years ago to 1,195 today. “In the last few of years, we’ve seen the number of PVC-U fabricators dwindle. Some have pulled out of fabrication to focus on installation, others, such as Sash UK and Indigo Products have collapsed.” While many fabricators have expanded production capacity in recent years the current increase in consumer demand, coupled with supply-chain problems means many installers are struggling to source products, with lead times extending and prices increasing. Some fabricators have even turned away customers. Andrew continues; “Faced with ever decreasing options, some installers are now seriously considering manufacturing. The main driver appears to be better control over their supply chain. Indeed one systems company reported that only 40% of new customers this year are swap-overs, 60% are either companies wishing to fabricate for the first time or are returning to manufacturing after pulling out in the past.” “Of course, manufacturing brings its own set of problems and requires specialist skills – as well as availability of machinery, materials and labour. However, it appears to
BLAIRS BECOME SBD ACCREDITED
be an increasingly attractive – or necessary – option for some firms.” Make UK, the body that represents 20,000 British manufacturers, upgraded its forecast in June and expects manufacturing growth to double. “Our industry is facing a unique set of circumstances with a reduction in manufacturers and increased consumer demand, as well as the supply-chain issues and rising costs that other sectors are facing. It’s no surprise then that we may see some firms turn to manufacturing themselves.” Insight Data is the research and data company tracking the activities of over 15,000 companies across the fenestration sector. This data is an extract from the full Insight Data Report 2021, which will be available shortly. Interested parties can register to receive a copy at www.insightdata.co.uk/reports/
Founded in 1913, Blairs Windows & Doors have developed a long-standing reputation for quality windows, conservatories, and door sets. With over 100 years industry experience, they produce superior timber, aluminium and PVCu products that are unrivalled in quality and design. Blairs supply to contractors, general builders, and individuals, and have a wealth of knowledge to help guide clients and specifiers through design, planning, procurement and fabrication stages, alongside their Blairs approved installers. With state-of-the-art equipment and expert craftsmanship, Blairs can provide the highest quality service and products, delivered on time and in full. All products are produced at manufacturing facilities located in Greenock, Inverclyde and Hillington near Glasgow to the highest certified industry standards and come with a 10-year guarantee.
certification also matches that of sister business within the group, Merlin Network, who are based in Dalgety Bay, Fife. Alex Gray, Managing Director of Blairs commented: ‘Security is one of the key elements that we know is very important to all our customers in relation to our product range. Since 1913, Blairs have continued to build on its reputation for high quality products that are secure as well as long lasting. Our investment to become Secured by Design accredited further strengthens our reputation and prominence in the Scottish window and door industry. For information on Blairs Windows and Doors please visit blairswindows.co.uk. For further information please visit www.profine-uk.com, e-mail enquiries@profine-uk.com or phone 01623 579200. There’s also a dedicated site for KÖMMERLING at www.kommerling.co.uk. You can also follow them on social media platforms including Twitter @profineuk and @kommerling_uk.
Being recognised as having Secured by Design accreditation means that Blairs Windows and Doors products have been successfully tested and certificated to BS 7412/PAS24:2016. This important new
EDGETECH HELPS HOMEOWNERS FIND ENERGY SAVING GLAZING WITH NEW LEAD-GEN WEBSITE Edgetech has launched a consumer-facing lead-generation website, the latest result of the company’s long-standing commitment to investing to support its customers. The Energy Saving Glazing site seeks to educate consumers about energy efficiency, warm-edge spacer bar technology, and how it can help them cut both their electricity bills and carbon footprints. In an unprecedented step for a UK spacer manufacturer, the site will then help visitors find nearby window installers whose products incorporate Edgetech spacer technology. In doing so, the company will support the IGU manufacturers it directly serves, their fabricator customers, and the installers who buy from those fabricators.
“With the Energy Saving Glazing site, we’re giving them the opportunity to choose windows that offer outstanding performance, thanks to Edgetech spacer technology. A large proportion of the leads we received from our previous website were from homeowners looking for suppliers who could install our energy saving products in their home. “Through our Dealership scheme, we would cascade these leads through the supply chain, but by developing the website in this way we’re able to offer visitors quicker and easier access to this information, while also notifying the suggested installers automatically so that they can follow up themselves too.”
Edgetech Head of Marketing Charlotte Hawkes comments: “We know that consumers are increasingly concerned about energy efficiency and looking for ways to live more sustainably.
“While we’re aware the industry is currently experiencing huge demand, we’ve invested in this area to ensure when things return to previous levels of interest we’re ready to help IGU manufacturers, fabricators and installers make the most of this opportunity.”
“Research from GlobalData suggests that four in ten consumers now bear the environment in mind when purchasing items, and in the years ahead, that’s only going to increase.
You can visit the Energy Saving Glazing website at www.energysavingglazing.co.uk/. Edgetech has also invested in a new trade-focused website, which you can find at www. edgetechig.co.uk/.
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“This new website has been developed around our different audiences with the aim to improve our visitor experience by making navigation to appropriate content clearer,” Charlotte continues. “With the rise in online research and product evaluation, this is an important step in ensuring the content on our website is both relevant and easily accessible to people searching for information.” If you’d like your company details added as a recommended supplier on the website, contact Edgetech today on 02476 639931 or email ukenquiries@edgetechig.com.
December 2021 | www.glassnews.co.uk
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TRADE NEWS
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
FENTRADE REFLECTS ON REASONS FOR GROWTH It’s been an impressive year of growth for aluminium trade fabricator Fentrade. Overall, turnover is up 40% year-onyear, with several areas of the business seeing triple figure growth. Chris Reeks, Director of Fentrade, commented: “We are delighted to be seeing this growth, which is partly due to existing customers placing bigger order volumes with us and new customers joining us.” Reflecting on why customers choose Fentrade, Chris comments: “We’re always keen to deliver above and beyond for our customers. When we ask them what they value about our service, they tell us it’s our hands on approach and attention to detail that makes the difference.” The company also prides itself on its customer communication. “We all know about the supply chain challenges at the
moment,” says Chris. “We believe in keeping an open dialogue with our customers so they know exactly when their orders will arrive and can plan accordingly. We know they find this transparency very useful.” As well as the strength of the service, Fentrade customers also benefit from an impressive product range across all sectors. It partners with renowned industry brands such as AluK and VBH Greenteq and manufactures a full range of aluminium windows, doors, bifolds, inline sliders, GFT commercial screens, shopfronts and curtain walling products.
KÖMMERLING DOUBLES UP FOR FIT KÖMMERLING have doubled their floor space for next year’s FIT Show as a major statement of intent of their ambitions as a global brand in the UK, with the promise of new products, several exciting business initiatives and a special announcement that’s being kept under wraps until the show opening. The newly expanded floor space will result in KOMMERLING exhibiting with a 156m2 floor area and enough to ensure a major presence at the show, which will be held on 10-12th May at The NEC, Birmingham. With pre-registrations the best yet, this could be one of the most influential shows
Tel: 01633 547787 fentradealuminium.co.uk
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A UNIVERSAL APPROACH TO ALUMINIUM ANCILLARIES Throughout their portfolio, Window Widgets brings a holistic view to product development and that includes their range of dedicated ancillaries and accessories for the aluminium window and door systems sector. These proven ancillary products include 16, 20 and 24mm couplers, the latter a thermally broken design as is one of the fixed 90o corner post solutions for 58-76mm frame depths, along with other bay and corner solutions. Many of these solutions can also facilitate load bearing and can accommodate a fully CE Marked and compliant Window Widgets jacks which are load tested to 9 tonnes, but capped at 2 tonnes from a certification and warranty perspective.
The aluminium window and door systems ancillary Name: Tel: product range is detailed on their website at Address: windowwidgets.co.uk and shown in detail within an expansive 158-page product Postcode: catalogue and there’s also direct technical support Email: through Tom Edwards and Adrian Clare.
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Kevin Warner, sales and marketing director of profine UK and KÖMMERLING commented: ‘We’ve a lot to show at next year’s event including our new 6-chambered flush sash which has a class-leading U-value of 1.2W/ (m2K), while other products on show will also demonstrate our strong product engineering philosophy. It’s also the first opportunity for us as a business to present the new face of this business following the acquisition process back in 2020 and a new technically-led sales team too.’ For further information please visit www.profine-uk.com, e-mail enquiries@profine-uk.com or phone 01623 579200 or visit stand D21 at next year’s FIT Show. There’s also a dedicated site for KÖMMERLING at www.kommerling.co.uk. You can also follow them on social media platforms including Twitter @profineuk and @kommerling_uk.
Fentrade is based in Newport, Wales, and works with trade and retail customers throughout Wales, the West and along the M4 and M5 corridors. As an indication of its commitment to quality within the industry, the company is an active member of the Council for Aluminium in Building. The entire industry has seen impressive growth in the past year, but, as Chris concludes, customers still have a choice where they place their business. “Customers vote with their feet. We’re proud that so many customers old and new are placing their trust in us.”
in the history of the FIT Show and a must for installers and fabricators eager to seek what’s new industry wide.
With an increasing number of companies now manufacturing more than one aluminium system, harnessing a range of universal ancillaries makes perfect sense as Adrian Clare, technical sales executive of Window Widgets points out. He said: ’Throughout our entire product range we’ve looked to design products that can be used in many different brand systems and additionally we’re providing a matched white and foiled range to support this. He added: ‘The aluminium sector is now different and if anything shows that manufacturers often have two, three or even four systems as part of a
standard offering and so our universal range helps reduce stockholding from a cost and space point of view. When combined with other universal ancillaries for window and door manufacturers it can make a notable and positive commercial impact on businesses.’ For further information on Window Widgets please visit windowwidgets.co.uk or request a copy of the product catalogue at sales@windowwidgets.co.uk or by calling 01452 345848. Look out for the social media handle of #widgetscomedy and please be a part of their 21-year business anniversary in aid of two industry charities.
December 2021 | www.glassnews.co.uk
Over the last 12 months we’ve been working hard behind the scenes. Making big improvements to our business on both an operational and digital level. All with you in mind. Now enabling you to order bigger volumes on the same industry leading turn around time, as well as a suite of digital tools that put the power in your hands, helping you to quote quicker and install faster, any colour, any time, anywhere. So, enable your business to grow today with Alufold Direct.
ALUFOLDDIRECT.CO.UK
TRADE NEWS
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
COMMUNICATION THE KEY FOR WINDOW WARE’S AREA SALES MANAGERS Teamwork, talking, and flexibility underpin this leading hardware distributor’s success despite a challenging 18 months. It’s not just the home improvement boom that has brought Window Ware record sales since the turn of the year! The solid efforts of the company’s Area Sales Managers
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played a vital role in that upturn too. With travel and site visits off the agenda during the first lockdown, and customer calls coming in thick and fast, Window Ware’s area sales team were taken off furlough very early on and drafted in as an extra resource to effectively double the size of the sales office team. Working remotely and drawing on their extensive product knowledge and practical
know-how gained out in the field, they helped to provide a fast, informed response to up to 100 calls a day. Crucially, the ASMs helped to keep the lines of communication open even in the depths of lockdown and give customers a dependable point of contact during uncertain times. And for a company whose reputation has been built on superior service, expertise and strong customer relationships, the team’s fast-thinking agility and resilience has helped to maintain Window Ware’s renowned high standards, while keeping the hardware and the advice coming for fabricators and installers in spite of the challenges created by the pandemic.
Glass News speaks to all seven members of the Window Ware area sales team about their experiences over the last 18 months.
HOW DID THE ROLE OF THE SALES TEAM CHANGE? Demi Whitbread: Before COVID, we were out in the field 80% of the time, visiting as many as six customers a day. When we came back from furlough, things were very different. We had to be prepared to channel our efforts wherever they were needed most, whether that meant assisting other departments, manning the phonelines or helping to source alternatives so our customers still had a reliable source of hardware to keep their production lines
December 2021 | www.glassnews.co.uk
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The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper moving. It was tough at times and we had to really stay on our toes, but great teamwork helped us pull together and rise to the challenge. Richard Adams: The focus of my role changed massively, and it was all about the day-to-day servicing of customers’ needs, fulfilling orders and looking for alternatives. Everybody in the industry is busy, so with the increased demand and ongoing supply disruptions, people had started to panic buy. This all helped to make our job that much harder. Nevertheless, we managed to keep on top of the situation.
WHAT CHALLENGES DID YOU FACE? Karl Williamson: In my case, most of my customers are trade counters. At first, we had ample stock of the Xpert range on our shelves, so we didn’t struggle to cope with the initial surge in demand. It wasn’t until the latter part of 2020 that we started to experience challenges in the supply chain. By the 3rd lockdown, we were having to work really hard to cushion our customers from these ongoing supply shortages.
Demi Whitbread: Now more than ever, time is of the essence for our customers. With increased demand and growing lead times, they simply can’t afford to wait around to get the answers they need. That puts pressure on us to not just maintain our usual quick response times, but rather speed them up! George Esler: Getting grounded was tough for me because I was so used to being out on the road and seeing customers face to face. But everyone was in the same boat and you just had to adjust and use different methods of communication.
WHAT POSITIVES CAN YOU TAKE FROM THE EXPERIENCE? Tim Plant: I’ve certainly realised I don’t need to be knocking on doors all the time to still be successful in my sales role. I’ve helped to grow the business, not just because things are busier in general, but because I’ve won new customers and I haven’t needed to visit them to do it. Dan Gilson: My technical knowledge has increased tenfold in the last 18 months. Every time
I answered a customer query or solved a technical issue, I got to learn even more about our hardware and their best usage. I could never have gained this extra knowledge while driving between customer visits. Richard Adams: The pandemic has given us the opportunity to work closer than ever with our customers in order to still meet their deadlines and fulfil their hardware needs even when the odds were against us. I think this has helped to build greater trust and strengthen relationships with our customers further.
HOW HAS CUSTOMER BEHAVIOUR CHANGED? Richard Adams: The pattern of ordering is still the same, but the order size has increased, as there has undoubtedly been an element of panic buying and stock hoarding. Customers also expect a quick delivery which sometimes, depending on stock availability, just hasn’t always been possible. However, being upfront about any delays and constantly having a range of alternatives to hand really helped us to keep everyone happy. Tim Plant: Customers have relied on us a lot more during the lockdowns and got used to almost instant responses to their queries while our team were desk-bound. Being back out on the road means we’re not able to get back to them straight away, so it’s been a challenge for everyone to readjust.
George Esler: During our busiest periods, we had to focus on looking after our existing customers rather than actively finding new business. And if a product was in high demand or proving difficult to get hold of, we managed our inventory carefully so that no customer had to go without supply.
DO YOU THINK YOUR ROLE WILL HAVE CHANGED FOR GOOD? Richard Adams: People in this industry are pretty resilient. Traditionally, they’re used to operating face-to-face and, if you need to gain a proper understanding of a technical process or issue, there really is no substitute for a factory visit. Dan Gilson: I can’t see a return to being on the road full time. Over the last 18 months, we’ve learnt how to make a success of hybrid working and I can see us fulfilling roles that have evolved to combine both the sales and technical aspects of the job.
HOW LONG DO YOU SEE THE INDUSTRY BOOM LASTING FOR?
HOW HAVE YOU MANAGED TO CONTINUE YOUR CUSTOMER SERVICE LEVELS?
Richard Fraser: There are still restrictions on travel, so realistically, it probably won’t be till next summer that consumers resume their usual spending habits and begin booking holidays and activities again rather than investing in new windows or doors for their homes. We could well see a drop in demand then, but we’ll have to watch this space!
Demi Whitbread: The key was to keep communicating with our customers and being transparent with them. That way, there’s no uncertainty and no misunderstandings. We have always done that of course, but the last 18 months have shown just how important this is.
Karl Williamson: I agree. I think trading volumes could revert back to 2019 levels if it turns out the current boom has effectively brought 2022’s business forwards a year. The general feeling amongst my customers is that foreign holidays will take over next year.
Karl Williamson: Being open and honest whenever products are out of stock or deliveries are delayed has definitely helped us to successfully navigate this period. We made sure we set realistic expectations and offered workable solutions rather than break promises.
WHAT MAKES THE WINDOW WARE AREA SALES MANAGEMENT TEAM THE BEST OF ANY HARDWARE DISTRIBUTOR?
There were some difficult conversations at the start, but customers slowly became more open to accepting alternatives. They’ve realised that this is the
www.glassnews.co.uk | December 2021
best way to get the hardware they need within their allotted timeframe.
Demi Whitbread: We really believe we are all in it together! We all want the best result for our customers and for Window Ware, and we’re all willing to work hard to achieve that success all round.
With this shared purpose, and our extensive collective knowledge and experiences, there isn’t a hardware requirement we can’t meet. Karl Williamson: Every member of the area sales team brings their own unique set of strengths, skills and experience to the table. And when you add up all that practical insight and know-how, you’ve got one expansive knowledge base to call on the moment our customers reach out for help.
WHY DO YOU THINK WINDOW WARE HAS BEEN ABLE TO HAVE SUCH A SUCCESSFUL LAST 18 MONTHS? Richard Fraser: Simply put, Window Ware is very good at what it does! The technical expertise of our team is second to none, so people can always get the answers they need from us. Despite ongoing supply challenges, we’ve managed to deliver over 94% of order lines on time and in full, and warehouse and purchasing teams are working all the time to maintain healthy stock levels for our customers. Our large and varied product range means we have solutions for almost every sector of the industry. The staged reopening of Window Ware post-lockdown was perfectly timed and executed to ensure our customers’ needs were meet, while a continual focus on communication helped to minimise any stress or uncertainty over supply. It’s been a massive effort from everyone. Tim Plant: We offer a wide range of products; we have knowledgeable staff across the board with a comprehensive understanding of all things fenestration; and we understand what the customer is trying to achieve, so we’ve always got their end goal in mind. Our service and delivery KPIs are consistently high, and by working closely with our leading brand partners, we can usually find the right hardware solution to suit almost any application. That makes us a convenient one-stop-shop. When you add it all together, Window Ware is THE place to come for any door and window hardware requirement. For more information on Window Ware, call 01234 242 724, email sales@windowware.co.uk, or visit www.windowware.co.uk.
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TRADE NEWS
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
GRANADA SECONDARY GLAZING ENJOYS RECORD-BREAKING OCTOBER Leading UK manufacturer, Granada Secondary Glazing, posted record-breaking trade sales figures in October 2021, marking the most successful October in the company’s 38year history.
Lewis Hartley, Marketing Manager at Granada Secondary Glazing, added: “The additional digital marketing presence we introduced following the launch of our new website has allowed us to capitalise on an incredibly buoyant marketplace. “We’re seeing no decline whatsoever in the appetite for our products amongst homeowners, and our continued marketing
endeavours are ensuring we’re front and centre when customers come to research secondary glazing.” For more information about adding the Granada Secondary Glazing range to your business, please call 01909 499899, visit www.gsecg.com or email info@granadaglazing.com.
The Sheffield-based organisation, which provides industry-leading secondary glazing products to its UK-wide base of trade and commercial partners, smashed the previous October record which had stood since 2016. During the same period, Granada has enjoyed a staggering year-onyear trade sales increase of over 50% when compared to 2020.
Zoe Grafton, Trade Sales Manager at Granada Secondary Glazing, said: “The response we’ve had to the new range has been fantastic, and it’s great to see this now fully reflected in our sales figures. “We worked incredibly hard to put together a revitalised suite of products that offered our customers a sleek and stylish secondary glazing solution. We look forward to many more record-breaking months in the near future.”
Use of The Framepoint® app from Tommy Trinder continues to grow; the firm reports passing the threshold of 1000 active users for the first time in October. “It’s the need for speed that’s driving growth,” says founder and CEO Chris Brunsdon. “Installers want to be able to bang out quotes quickly and efficiently, in order to make every penny they can from the current market boom. Framepoint® is built to help installers get quotes out the door fast – it's the tool for the job.” The value of work quoted by installers on Framepoint® is on the rise too; £64 million of supply and fit work was quoted via the platform in the month of October, a new monthly high. Rising average quote values are also a feature with quote values averaging £5300 over the last three months, compared to £4700 in the same period last year, says Chris;
The record-breaking achievement has been largely attributed to the launch of Granada’s cutting-edge new product range, which was officially unveiled in August. The new range, which features ultra-slim sightlines, additional product variations and an expanded glazing selection, has received rave reviews from Granada’s trade and commercial clients alike. In addition to the launch of the new range, Granada took the decision to embark on an aggressive digital marketing strategy following the introduction of a new website in June, designed to proactively generate homeowner sales enquiries throughout the UK. Proving to be a huge success, the combination of pay-per-click advertising, email marketing and further search engine optimisation resulted in a 27% increase in sales leads from October 2020 to October 2021.
‘NEED FOR SPEED’ DRIVES GROWTH FOR TOMMY TRINDER... FRAMEPOINT® HITS 1000 ACTIVE USERS
WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT STEEL WINDOWS, DOORS AND SCREENS? THE NEW SWA WEBSITE TELLS ALL The Steel Window Association has long been the leading authority on steel windows and doors, alongside associated ironmongery and ancillary products and services. Designed to help the homeowner, architect, specifier, and heritage and conservation industry when considering steel, the SWA members are certified manufacturers and refurbishment specialists from around the UK. A new website has been launched to reflect the Association today - modern communication channels, up-to-date technical advice and information around
building standards and regulations, image galleries, and "Find a member" pages. There is a members-only section and downloadable drawings and specifications which detail the different options when specifying steel windows and doors. Kris Bennell, SWA' s President comments "The website, we hope, will be an easy-tonavigate tool for our wide-ranging customer and member bases. With the pandemic changing the way we do business and how we communicate, our online presence and social media outlets are more important than ever before. Enjoy!”
“Framepoint® subscribers have always been able get a bit more on every job because it’s so easy to show off premium features such as foils, dual colours, dummy vents, mechanical joints, flush casements, surface mounted bars in a very visual way. But the ongoing rise in average quote values also points to supply chain price rises filtering through, together with installers taking improved margins on lengthening order books.” Tommy Trinder report that more than 11,500 homeowners have received a quote generated by Framepoint® in the last three month and, notably, more than half of them were provided with visualisations to accompany their quote; “The makeover tool, where installers provide a mockup to the homeowner of their new windows in situ, is definitely becoming a staple part of the quoting process,” Says Chris. “58% of homeowners receive them, currently. When you consider the ease with which consumers are able to model other significant purchases like cars or kitchens, it feels inevitable that offering the client a visual of windows and doors will become the norm.” Installers can find out more about Framepoint® and book a free demo at www.tommytrinder.com.
“We worked incredibly hard to put together a revitalised suite of products that offered our customers a sleek and stylish secondary glazing solution. We look forward to many more record-breaking months in the near future.” 46
December 2021 | www.glassnews.co.uk
TRADE NEWS
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
EMPLOYEES AT FORCE 8 STAY 100% AHEAD OF THE CURVE Over the years Force 8 has grown and adapted to the current market trends with their profile bending and unique range of composite doors. They are now taking a giant leap forward by radically changing the company structure into an employeeowned company. Force 8 has always been a family business and is extremely successful under the guidance of Dennis Sumner the managing director. After receiving many attractive offers to buy the company Dennis decided that the EOT (employee-owned trust) was the best way forward for Force 8. “Some of our staff from shopfloor to office have been with us for over 20 years”, comments Dennis. “I wanted to make sure that the future of the company was secure, and most of all that the staff felt secure. Buy-outs and take-overs, although very generous did not offer the security I was looking for, I wanted to make sure that the workforce was looked after, as they are the main asset for the company” continues Dennis.
employees. Alongside this, a Forum is made up from staff and directors with the aim of improving the company and discussing new ideas. Companies with employee ownership often see greater productivity, reduced absenteeism, increased revenue, and higher profitability. These successes also tend to continue over time, as the motivation of employees continues to build. In the case of Force 8 100% of the shares will be within the trust. Each qualifying member of staff (who has worked for Force 8 for over 12 months) will also receive a tax-free bonus each year based on the company profits. Part of the company restructure has meant that Carol Swindles has been promoted to production manager and Lisa Mottershead
is now on the board of directors. The EOT format is prevalent in the scientific and research sectors, but is rarely seen in manufacturing, which means Force 8 is breaking new ground within the market. “As far as we are aware, we are the first within our industry to take this step”, comments Lisa Mottershead. “This has energised and inspired the work force and created a lot of new opportunities, as well as increased productivity and customer care. Who would not want to deal with a company where every employee is totally committed to providing the best quality products and services? Dennis will be staying with the company during the transition and into the future to help guide the company to future success” continues Lisa.
At the heart of the new company format along with the workforce, will be the customers. This new structure will ensure the continuity of the company and give customers peace of mind over the long term, with the company building on its previous success. “It’s already created a multitude of quality control experts, and a host of new ideas to help improve productivity “, comments Carol Swindles. “I could never have imagined how well an EOT would work for Force 8, and I’m looking forward to being part of this exciting new venture” comments Dennis. Leading law firm JMW Solicitors LLP and Clarke Nicklin accountants advised Force 8 on the deal. They are both specialists in company transitions to employee ownership and were on hand throughout the process to help and advise. Sara Bluston, Senior Associate at JMW Solicitors, said: “Force 8 is a successful, ambitious business and we are pleased to have been able to guide the team as it enters its next chapter as an employee-owned company.”
An Employee-Owned company is one where over 51% of the shares are held in a trust for the benefit of all employees The trust which oversees the management of the company includes shop floor representatives and one non-working independent person. The trustee board must meet certain legal requirements and ensure that the company is always acting in the best interest of all the
In an industry where staff and skill shortages are starting to bite, Force 8 have found a unique and long-lasting solution to the problem and are once again well ahead of the curve. www.force8.uk
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TRADE NEWS
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
TUFFX CONTINUES LONG-TERM INVESTMENT WITH 30,000FT2 EXPANSION PLAN AND NEW MACHINERY Glass manufacturer, TuffX, has applied for planning permission to increase its Knowsley premises by a further 30,000ft2 in the latest stage of its extensive, long-term expansion plans. Combined with its existing 80,000ft2 facility, the proposed addition will bring the total factory area to a substantial 110,000ft2.
cutting line, as part of TuffX’s ongoing commitment to increase both throughput and efficiency.
The move, made in response to continuing high demand for TuffX’s products, follows the addition of an extra 10,000ft2 of factory space earlier this year, allowing the company to ramp-up production of its increasingly popular Infinity range of rooflights and walk-on glass units.
Managing director, Graham Price, said: “We’re making this latest investment in our premises, which we hope will be completed by Autumn 2022, to keep up with the continuing demand for both our processed glass products and our popular Infinity range. This, combined with our further investment in machinery, will allow us to continue offering TuffX customers the efficient, high-quality and reliable service they know, expect and deserve, despite the challenging market conditions the industry is currently facing.” With a consistent track-record of investment in recent years, the new developments form the latest part of the leading toughened glass specialist’s long-term plan for growth. As well as factory expansion and machinery purchases, this has included the recruitment of more staff and the addition of three new 13-tonne Mercedes trucks to the TuffX fleet, bringing the total number of TuffX vehicles on the road to 34.
Further investment to ‘future-proof ’ the business comes in the form of new machinery including a third cutting line, a fourth glass furnace, a second screen printing machine and a third insulated glass (IG) line. This comes after the purchase of a new Bovone SLE machine, made earlier this year, as well as recent investment in a state-of-the-art Glaston RC Series furnace and Bottero
www.tuffxglass.co.uk
ASWS SHINES IN SPECIALIST GLAZING RAVENSBY GLASS INVESTS IN THE FUTURE Associated Steel Window Services (www.asws.co.uk) has a 60-year heritage in steel window refurbishment and replacement and is now a leading figure in the steel window industry. Established in 1960, the original company concentrated on the servicing of steel windows, general glazing and repairs to fire escapes. Today, the company is one of the leading figures in the industry concentrating on the replacement, refurbishment and redecoration of steel windows; encompassing a complete site package which has been employed on some of the UK’s most prestigious projects. A specific area of growth in recent years is traditional, specialist glazing. Projects comprise stained glass leaded lights, traditional leaded lights, copper light glazing and large, flat and curved glazing. Kris Bennell, ASWS’s Contracts Director, explains further, “We are rightly proud of our proven capability and expertise in specialist glazing. We operate a team of
employed, skilled glaziers which is the key to our success. Some of our most noteworthy (or memorable) projects have included the composite stained-glass panel refurbishment for The Passage Charity in Victoria (pictured). The beautiful 3.5m by 1m stained glass external steel windows were, in fact, beyond refurbishment and were being reused and moved internally to the other end of the building as part of the refurbishment. ASWS was employed to remanufacture the windows as well as refurbish and rebuild the original stainedglass panels, which was all undertaken in one of our workshops by a specialist glazier with over 40 years of experience and expertise.” He continues, “At the other end of the spectrum of our works was the reglazing works at the new ASOS headquarters. This project involved the logistical mapping of utilising a specialist 90m HGV Mounted Bronco (access platform), one of the largest Broncos in the country, as well the use of a glazing mini-crane with a glass vacuum lifter attachment. This equipment was all needed to reglaze two 5m long by 2m high triple glazed units into an externally glazed curtain walling system. I think this is what is so interesting and what I love about what we do as a business; one day to be working on the detailed intricate refurbishment of 100-year-old panes of glass and then to switch to the ultra-modern systems utilising all available modern technology to facilitate our works. Working, training and learning about new techniques as well as valuing the trades or the past helps us keep our heritage industry at the forefront of construction.” Associated Steel Window Services is a member of The Steel Window Association (www.steel-window-association.co.uk).
The Passage Charity in Victoria
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For further information on Associated Steel Window Services, please visit www.asws.co.uk or call 020 8665 5335.
WITH NEW SUPER SPACER® TRISEAL ™ LINE
One of the UK’s leading IGU manufacturers has made a substantial investment in state-ofthe-art manufacturing technology. Dundee-based Ravensby Glass has responded to growing demand for highperforming commercial IGUs by installing a new automated Forel line for applying Edgetech’s outstanding Super Spacer® TriSeal™. For over thirty years, Ravensby has been providing quality IGUs to businesses throughout the commercial, residential, public and medical sectors, and today processes and toughens its own glass at two high-tech facilities in Dundee. With the installation of the new TriSeal line, the firm has significantly increased its ability to provide high-performing IGUs for demanding commercial clients. Managing Director Gordon Dickson comments: “We use TriSeal because we know it guarantees the kind of long-lasting, top quality IGUs that commercial projects require. “In recent years, we’ve experienced growing demand from the commercial sector, and so
investing in an automated TriSeal application line was the natural next step. “It’s now fully up and running, and we’re delighted with the speed, efficiency and consistent quality it’s able to offer.” Edgetech Managing Director Chris Alderson comments: “It’s hugely gratifying to see longstanding customers like Ravensby succeeding and investing in the future. “With their new TriSeal line, they’re excellently positioned to reach new heights in the months and years ahead.” Ravensby will also be installing another new TriSeal line this year, this time to benefit the domestic side of its business.
Super Spacer TriSeal is the premium choice warm-edge spacer bar for demanding commercial glazing projects, able to offer world-leading performance thanks to its unique triple-seal design. Its inner acrylic adhesive allows for immediate unit handling, its polyisobutylene primary seal provides enhanced gas retention and low moisture vapour transmission, while the outer backing sealant delivers structural strength and unit durability. It’s for these reasons that TriSeal has been incorporated in iconic structures all around the world. For more information please visit www.edgetechig.co.uk.
December 2021 | www.glassnews.co.uk
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TRADE NEWS
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
CASHFLOW PRESSURE:
A CHALLENGING WINTER AHEAD Like many areas of the economy, the glass and glazing sector faces both a challenging and frustrating winter ahead. Challenging in that there are a number of COVID-related financial pressures coming into effect and frustrating because supply chain issues are limiting their ability to capitalise on high demand. What we are seeing now is the fallout of two of the most turbulent years in recent times, in which businesses received significant financial support from the government but are now moving from a cash positive position into one in which they face significant cashflow pressure. This may in part explain why, after a low period, we have seen corporate insolvencies rise by almost a third over the past three months.
TAPERED SUPPORT, UNRESOLVED DEBT The pandemic has of course created issues for a great many businesses – with some facing a perfect storm of challenges that they may sadly not recover from. Perhaps most common among these obstacles is the increased level of debt which businesses are now required to start servicing. A total of £80 billion was provided to businesses through the various government backed loan schemes which ended in March. Indeed, the Bank of England estimates that a third of the UK’s small businesses are now classed as highly indebted – more than double that of before the pandemic. In addition, some businesses now have higher levels of liabilities due to forbearance by HMRC, landlords and other creditors. Many businesses deferred the March 2020 VAT quarter payment and may have agreed further time to pay arrangements since then too. Along with this increased debt burden, the government’s remaining support measures are in the process of being wound down. Various schemes were introduced in response to periods of lockdown and social restrictions, including reduced VAT rates, business rates reductions and other local grants to support the hospitality and
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leisure sector, but the key support measure for all businesses was the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (“CJRS”), otherwise known as Furlough. The CJRS scheme ended in September having supported 1.3 million businesses and 11.7 million employees at a cost of £70 billion. The scheme essentially subsidised businesses and their employees and, although it does not need to be repaid, businesses are now having to manage the full payroll cost of their employees again. The Corporate and Insolvency and Governance Act 2020 also came to an end in September, calling time on temporary restrictions, subject to certain conditions, on winding up petitions being issued where a firm’s ability to pay has been impacted by COVID. As a result, we are beginning to see the level of winding up petitions increase, albeit the numbers are quite small given it remains only a couple of months since the temporary restrictions ended. High among the list of businesses’ creditors are landlords, who have also been hit hard by the pandemic. It is estimated that businesses have accrued £7 billion in unpaid rent during this period, leading the Government to publish a recommended arbitration process for rent arrears disputes between landlords and their tenants. It will be interesting to see how this plays out, particularly in the new tax year, as our experience so far suggests businesses aren’t engaging with the recommendations.
MARKET HEADWINDS Like others, the glass and glazing sector hasn’t been immune to the labour and supply chain issues that have manifested due to both the pandemic and Brexit. These include rising wage costs (linked to staff shortages and upcoming increases in national insurance and the living wage), increased material costs, supplier disruption and increased shipping costs that could quickly result in losses if not passed onto customers. In some circumstances, businesses are beginning to provide quotes that are only valid for the week, perhaps even shorter in some cases, to reduce the risk of loss-making contracts. A further issue impacting cashflow with the sector is the reverse charge VAT. Since March, suppliers have been able to receive payments net of VAT and, as a result, haven’t benefitted from the additional cashflow until it is accounted for in their quarterly return.
Tony Barrell
POSITIVE ACTION In light of the challenges ahead, now is the time for management teams to ensure they are keeping a rolling 13-week cashflow forecast which will identify their key receipts and payments, and any shortfalls that need to be managed. If the business does not have the skills to prepare a forecast, interim cash managers and external accountants will be well-placed to support them. Once a business has proper visibility of its future cashflow, it can then consider if any shortfalls can be managed by self-help, debt or equity. Self-help initiatives might include accelerating debt collection, settling a disputed debt which is holding up a payment, selling surplus assets or agreeing a time to pay arrangement with HMRC. For example, we have seen HMRC agree to twoyear payment plans in some cases. If required, businesses can also look at restructuring existing or raising new debt. In some cases, assets such as property will have risen in value which may provide additional equity. It may be worth considering invoice finance on trade debtors, that said, trade debtors in this sector can be contractual in nature so it is worth considering whether the cost of doing so will be proportionate to the funds raised. Consequently, it is worth seeking advice on what debt options are available and the best option for your business. Depending on the business owners’ own financial position and view on the viability of their business, they may be willing to inject new funds or provide personal guarantees to existing or new funders. Whatever approach taken, business owners need to be mindful of their own position too.
If restructuring or raising new debt or equity isn’t possible then a sale of the business and its assets might be a more appropriate route to a more secure future. We’re seeing lots of consolidation across various sectors, with large trade buyers active alongside those deploying ‘buy and build’ capital with the support of private backers. Preparing a business for sale is a complex process in itself, but advisers can help firms to market themselves and identify appropriate suitors.
WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD? As we start to cautiously emerge from the pandemic, the challenge now is to navigate the various headwinds that could knock them off course. With the support of a robust cash flow forecast and by seeking advice on the position and options before the cracks begin to show, there’s no reason to suggest glass and glazing firms can’t post a full recovery and start seeking new growth opportunities in the future. www.frpadvisory.com
“Self-help initiatives might include accelerating debt collection, settling a disputed debt which is holding up a payment, selling surplus assets or agreeing a time to pay arrangement with HMRC. For example, we have seen HMRC agree to two-year payment plans in some cases.” December 2021 | www.glassnews.co.uk
R E G I O N A L I N STA L L E R , N AT I O N W I D E B R A N D I N G O R L E A D G E N E R AT I O N ? S O C I A L M E D I A & H O M E O W N E R M A R K E T I N G PA C K A G E - o n l y w i t h I m p ro v e ! I m p ro v e M a g a z i n e t a rg e t s h o m e o w n e r s a c ro s s t h e U K a n d i s d e d i c a t e d t o o u r i n d u s t r y.
Ta k e a l o o k a t t h e p a c k a g e w e a re o ff e r i n g :
We promote companies who sell windows, doors, conservatories and garden rooms to homeowners and we do this via our lifestyle magazine through email and social media.
• I m p ro v e M a g a z i n e - f u l l p a g e a d w i t h e d i t o r i a l f e a t u re
W i t h a F a c e b o o k re a c h o f o v e r 3 0 0 , 0 0 0 h o m e o w n e r s , w i t h i n t e re s t s i n h o m e s , D I Y a n d g a rd e n i n g , I m p ro v e i s t h e p e r f e c t p l a t f o r m t o a d v e r t i s e y o u r p ro d u c t s a n d s e r v i c e s . We a l s o u s e a t a rg e t e d e m a i l d a t a b a s e o f A B C 1 h o m e o w n e r s , t o g e t y o u r p ro d u c t s i n f ro n t o f p o t e n t i a l c u s t o m e r s . W h a t ’s m o re , w e d o a l l o f t h e w o r k f o r y o u , f ro m a d c o n c e p t to design, Facebook ads and social media posts.
• E d i t o r i a l f e a t u re c o n v e r t e d t o a Facebook ad and advertised w i t h i n y o u r p o s t a l re g i o n • F a c e b o o k a d s l i n k b a c k t o y o u r a r t i c l e o n o u r l a n d i n g p a g e , w h e re c u s t o m e r s c a n e n q u i re • We b a d d re s s a n d y o u r c o n t a c t details also included on the l a n d i n g p a g e f o r d i re c t w e b t r a ff i c • We e k l y p o s t s o n s o c i a l m e d i a p l a t f o r m s : Tw i t t e r, I n s t a g r a m a n d P i n t e re s t • P ro m o t i o n l a s t s f o r a t h re e m o n t h period • A l l t h i s f o r j u s t £ 3 9 5 + VAT ( o n e invoice to cover a three month period)
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TRADE NEWS
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
WANT TO BE LOVED?
THEN KNOW YOUR CUSTOMER It’s certainly worth trying to build a loved brand. After all, the research for our Brand Love report suggested there’s a clear link between a brand’s lovability and the loyalty it enjoys. We found that people who love a brand are three times more likely to recommend it and are twice as tolerant of its mistakes. For instance, on average people will give brands they love 2.44 more chances to mess up before they take their custom elsewhere. In a world where recommendations matter, and even the best of us makes mistakes, having customers who love you sufficiently that they rave about your business and forgive you when you slip up, is powerful stuff.
WHAT MATTERS So how does a company go about establishing that love? We spoke to over 100 leading marketers, people responsible for the success of top brands. They told us that while innovation may set a company apart from the pack, loved brands aren’t
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necessarily the most innovative. Just one in 10 marketers we interviewed thinks innovation counts. Nor is love determined by price or customer support. Only 33% think value for money is important, and 34% believe love is driven by customer service. Instead they said that genuinely loved brands have values which align with the customer’s values (55%) and become part of someone’s life (42%). In short, loved brands really know their customer’s identity.
HOW TO KNOW YOUR CUSTOMER So how can you understand your customer with this level of intimacy? Customer data is a good place to start. Thanks to ‘big data’, companies – both those selling to consumers or to other businesses - can now develop clear ideas of customer preferences, buying behaviours, and decision patterns. Big data doesn’t just provide access to classic identifiable demographics such as age, marital status, ethnicity, income level, and employment status but also non-identifiable parameters. These are the
“Genuinely loved brands have values which align with the customer’s values (55%) and become part of someone’s life (42%). In short, loved brands really know their customer’s identity. “
things which make us tick - our preferences, lifestyle, personal objectives, influences, and interests. Properly analysed, this data will help ensure a business, its approach and communications are in step with the customer. For instance on the marketing front, the content shared, the products/services offered and the form and timing of all interactions, when informed by data, will fit with the customer and their life. The customer will not feel like just another name on a list, but someone properly understood. And that’s powerful stuff.
STAND FOR SOMETHING It’s not just marketing that’s shaped by this customer knowledge. By truly knowing the customer, a company can modify its decisions, so that its values and approach end up in sync with the customer – further binding them in. Ikea is a classic retail brand which does this brilliantly. Indeed, it gets an honourable mention in our Brand Love report as does Timpson, the shoe repair firm. Both have absolute clarity about what they stand for and know this chimes with their customers. Their values are in-step and this translates into everything they do. For example, conscious that their customers are increasingly expecting a better environmental performance from them, IKEA has created disassembly guides for its biggest sellers. The idea is that consumers are encouraged to take their Ikea furniture with them when they move. The easy-to-use guides also mean people can more easily give or sell their old furniture on to others, as the furniture can be taken apart without
Louise Findlay-Wilson
damaging it. This development is based on a real understanding of the customer, their values, lifestyle and what they therefore want from IKEA products. Timpson has different but equally strong values. The company’s management approach is based on a culture of trust and kindness. For instance when an employee gets married, Timpson gives them a £100 bonus, an extra week off work for their honeymoon and use of the company limousine and driver for their wedding car! Staff can also take a paid day’s holiday to take a child to school on their first day. One customer said of all this: "I love the work life balance and the general empathy from your company. Will make it a mission to find a Timpson before going anywhere else.” This comment perfectly illustrates the power when a company truly understands its customers identity, values and lifestyle - and acts accordingly, allowing the knowledge to shape business and marketing decisions. Brand love and loyalty follow. Get your free copy of Brand Love here: https://bit.ly/2Z9ltPA Louise Findlay-Wilson, Founder and Managing Director at Energy PR
December 2021 | www.glassnews.co.uk
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TRADE NEWS
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
DANCE & SNOUT
NEW BIRMINGHAM VENUE HOSTS PIGS PARTY
Paul James, Adam Whitehouse, Chris Byers, Extrudaseal, Mark Walker, Selecta Systems, Brian Smith, BAJ S Consulting
More than 200 people gathered for PiGs in Birmingham. Photo by Nathan Bushell
‘I Got You Babe’, ‘Pork This Way’ and ‘Sweet Carol-swine’ – just three of the classic songs with which the BirmingHAM PiGs band enticed people to trot up and hog the dance floor in what proved to be the biggest and best event to date. After outgrowing the previous venue, more than 200 people from the glazing industry gathered at Revolution De Cuba on Thursday 4 November to enjoy a real party atmosphere at the second PiGs event of 2021. “The new venue was perfect for PiGs and the whole place was buzzing with conversation,” says Sarah Ball, PiGs Organiser. “Drinks were flowing and the band, Ellie Jones & The Giants, were fantastic. It was great to see so many people singing along and dancing – what an awesome night!
Sponsor John Whalley, Managing Director at Nationwide Windows & Doors, agrees: “I had a great time and thank you to all at Balls2 Marketing for putting on a great event.” As ever, Sarah says a huge thank you for the support to all the wonderful PiGs sponsors who make these events possible.
Gwain Paterson, Sam Hill, Thermoseal
The 27 sponsors for Birmingham were: 23 Doors, Alutech Systems, APS, Avocet Group, Business Pilot, Edgetech, Emplas, Extrudaseal, Frame Fast, The Georgian Bar Company, Glass Times, GlassParts, Glazerite, Glazpart, Nationwide Windows & Doors, QANW, Quickslide, RegaLead, Rotox Winmac, Selecta Systems, Supalite, Thermoseal Group, UK Doors Online, Unique Window Systems, Vertik-Al, Vita Hardware and Yale Door & Window Solutions.
“It just goes to show that demand for PiGs is higher than ever and everyone I spoke to had some lovely things to say.”
PiGs events for 2022 will be announced soon. To keep up with all the latest PiGs news, follow them on social media or sign up to the email list here: www.peopleinglazing.co.uk/contact-us/. If you’re interested in becoming a sponsor, call Sarah on 07540 049655 or email sty@peopleinglazing.co.uk.
Andy Ball, Balls2 Marketing and Daryl Cashmore, Nationwide Windows and Doors
John Whalley, Nationwide Windows and Doors, Kevin Noray, Winmac UK Ltd
Ian Duckworth, Thermoseal, and Dave Gomersall, Nationwide Windows and Doors
Andrew Glover, UK Doors Online & Mark Hickox, Thermoseal Group
Lauren Doyle, Balls2 Marketing, Andy Green, Selecta Systems, Chris Byers, Extrudaseal, Simon Owen, Balls2 Marketing
Mark Brown, AluK, Steve Kendrick, Senior Architectural Structures, Greg Impey AluK
Kush Patel, Emplas & Daryl Cashmore, Nationwide Windows and Doors
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December 2021 | www.glassnews.co.uk
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
TRADE NEWS
Bradley Beazant, Regency Glass, Carla Hewitt, Glasscraft, Natalie Beazant, Regency Glass
Simon Owen, Balls2 Marketing, Mike Moulds, AluTech Systems
Tim Johnson, Hegla UK, Bradley Beazant, Regency Glass, Steve Goble Hegla UK
Matt Thomas, Bryan Dand, Chris Curran, Paul Yeo, Haffner Murat
Daniel Harrendence, Kevin Chambers, Mark Priestley, Mark Lay, Steven Payne, Euroview Architectural Glass
Alan Lacey, Sherwin Williams - DBE Building Envelope, Steven Payne and Kevin Chambers, Euroview Architectural Glass
Ian Hannis, John Ward, Phil Guy, Guy Olsen, Senior Architectural Systems
Sarah Ball, Balls2 Marketing
Phil Turner, Liniar, Simon Owen, Balls2 Marketing, Nigel Bishop, Liniar
Lauren Doyle, Balls2 Marketing & Adrian Hicks, Improveasy
Matt Gaskin, Ryan Schofield, Ryan Breslin, Business Pilot, Bradley Beazant, Regency Glass
Simon Owen, Balls2 Marketing & Malcolm Searle, Clear Thinking Software
Greg Impey, Mark Brown, Mark Stephenson, Russ Cusworth, AluK
Andy Jones, Made for Trade & Kush Patel, Emplas
Tony Mallick and Kieran Costello GlassParts, Guy Hubble, Patrick McGrory and Paul Edwards, RegaLead
www.glassnews.co.uk | December 2021
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INDUSTRY AWARDS
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
HIGH FIVE FOR NFA AWARD WINNING MORLEY GLASS Uni-Blinds® integral blind manufacturer Morley Glass has triumphed at the 2021 National Fenestration Awards (NFAs) by picking up awards in five categories. The company was once again crowned the industry’s best ‘Integral Blind Company’ and named the winner in the ‘New Product’ category for its latest exclusive integrated blind innovations, the symmetrical SV+ sliding venetian blind system and the pleated blackout blind. Like all Uni-Blinds, these new products are manufactured using only ScreenLine® blind systems to offer high quality, great visual appeal and reliable long term performance in carefully tailored shading and privacy solutions. Morley Glass was also recognised by the industry for the way it has used video over the last 12 months, both in its own marketing and to support window and door installers large and small by helping them create virtual showroom tours. These videos proved invaluable during the pandemic lockdown periods, and they continue to be an incredibly useful asset to installers as homeowners and developers research new products and services online at the early stage of their search.
In addition to these three corporate awards, one member of the Morley Glass team was a double award winner too, reflecting the outstanding contribution she has made to the company’s success. Sales adviser and marketing coordinator Charlotte Gilbert, who has become an integral part of the team since joining just 15 months ago, was presented with awards for ‘Social Networker’ and ‘Young Person’.
“In what has been another pandemicaffected year, Lee Clarke and the NFA team deserve a lot of credit for successfully delivering the NFA awards programme. It is really important for the industry to get the chance to get together in person to celebrate the very best in our sector and we are already looking forward to the 2022 programme!”
Ian Short, MD of Morley Glass (centre) and the Morley Glass team celebrating at the 2021 National Fenestration Awards presentation event
NFA SUCCESS FOR VBH Hardware specialist VBH has been successful in 2 categories and finished as runner up in 3 more at the prestigious National Fenestration Awards. The company won Best Digital Marketing Campaign for their
promotion of the Q-secure consumer hardware guarantee which will pay out up to £8000 in the event of a break in, and Regional Sales Manager Tyler Shutts shared the Young Person of the Year award to follow up her outright win in 2020.
Marketing Manager Gary Gleeson said, “It’s great to be recognised in this way by the industry and we really appreciate every vote cast our way. We see all awards success, regardless of category, as a giant pat on the back for the whole team and everyone at VBH is thrilled to bits. “Having said that, for Tyler to get the nod two years in a row in her individual category shows just how highly rated she is by her customers in the north and is testament to the great service that she and her Customer Service Coordinators provide.” A team from VBH travelled to Doncaster races for the awards ceremony and a great time was had by all. To find out more about VBH and their extensive range of hardware visit www.vbhgb.com, call 01634 263 263 or email info@vbhgb.com.
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Ian Short, MD of Morley Glass said: “I’m absolutely thrilled that we’ve won three 2021 NFA awards for the company, and over the moon for Charlotte for her welldeserved individual awards. A big thank you to everyone who voted for Morley Glass and who took time to get involved with the NFAs in whatever capacity they chose to – as a sponsor, nominee, voter or attendee.
Morley Glass is the leading manufacturer of integral blinds in the UK door and window industry through its Uni-Blinds branded range. Its 50,000 sq. ft state-of-theart factory in Leeds is the world’s largest production facility of its kind for Screenline blind systems, from which it serves installers across the UK with the most competitive lead times and complimentary delivery. Find out more at www.morleyglass.co.uk.
VICTORIAN SLIDERS
CELEBRATES THIRD NFA WIN Sash window specialists Victorian Sliders are celebrating after winning a much sought-after National Fenestration Award for the third year running. Companies from across the industry attended the presentation event held at Doncaster Racecourse, where the Welsh company was announced as the winner of the Fabricator/ Manufacturer award, one of the NFA’s most competitive categories.
This latest win marks the third year running that Victorian Sliders have walked away with an NFA. “What a fantastic way to round off a challenging and successful year”, comments Marketing Manager Geoff Bishop. “It’s a huge honour for us, and we’re blown away by the level of support we’ve received from across the country. “We want to take this opportunity to thank
everyone who voted for us, and all our hardworking staff and fantastic customers. Without them, none of what we’ve achieved would’ve been possible. “Now, we’re focused on making 2022 the best year in our history, and bringing outstanding sash window products to even more glazing businesses across Britain.” For more information visit www.victoriansliders.co.uk or call 01269 846200.
It also collected the award for Vertical Sliding Window Company from the 2020 NFAs, which were held virtually last year because of COVID restrictions. Held annually since 2013, the NFAs have won respect throughout the industry as the only glass and glazing awards event decided by a public vote rather than a panel of judges.
December 2021 | www.glassnews.co.uk
INDUSTRY AWARDS
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
SPACER BAR MANUFACTURER OF THE YEAR FOR THE 2ND YEAR IN A ROW! Thermoseal Group, the UK’s leading manufacturer of warm edge spacer systems and distributor of over 2,500 insulated glass (IG) components, has been named ‘Spacer Bar Manufacturer of the Year’ in the 2021 National Fenestration Awards for the second year in a row. The Group also won the award in 2020 and back in 2017. The National Fenestration Awards are the industry’s fastest growing independent awards which are run and decided completely by the participation of the industry. At the start of each year, there is a nominations phase where anyone can put forward the names of people and companies in over two dozen categories who they believe deserve to be recognised. The industry then votes on a shortlist in each category based on the nominations submitted.
Thermoseal Group won the award with the highest percentage of the open-platform votes and were announced winners at the NFA Awards event on 6th November 2021. Head of Marketing and Communications at Thermoseal Group, Samantha Hill, tells us: “We are delighted and extremely grateful to win an award which is voted for by those directly related to Thermoseal Group’s business – our customers, suppliers and industry contacts. It’s good to see that our UK-manufactured Thermobar and Thermoflex Warm Edge Spacers, as well as our service promises are meeting expectations to the point that people take the steps to vote. “I’d like to thank all those who took the time to vote for Thermoseal Group. Your votes are much appreciated, and our teams will
all continue to strive to offer top quality UK-manufactured products whilst aiming to always achieve an excellent service. “With this in mind, thanks must go to all of the Thermoseal Group team who have worked extremely hard throughout the Covid-19 pandemic and in the face of all the issues caused by BREXIT. “Also, a big thank you to Jason and Lee for running the awards, which are now in their 9th year. It’s been an unparalleled couple of years for us all in which good news has been sparce, so recognition such as this carries extra mileage with our teams.”
Thermoseal Group supplies over 2,500 IG Components and a wide range of IG manufacturing machinery. Contact 0845 331 3950 or Intl: +44 (0) 121 331 3950.
For further information about the National Fenestration Awards, visit https://www.fenestrationawards.co.uk/.
Alternatively, visit www.thermosealgroup.com or e-mail sales@thermosealgroup.com.
KOLORSEAL WINS NFA FOR THIRD YEAR RUNNING
Kolorseal Ltd is celebrating another victory as NFA Colour Specialist 2021. The company was awarded the accolade in recognition of its colour coating services to the fenestration sector in the #NFA20 and #NFA21 Independent Industry Awards.
makes us all very proud and grateful indeed. We really appreciate every single vote that has been given to us, particularly in such a tough couple of years.” The company is recognised by customers for helping to support their business with quality colour coated products. Advice is offered on the Kolorseal website to give ideas and colour trends that can help fabricators and installers to grow their businesses. Equally, for commercial contracts where architects and specifiers look to create a
striking appearance to both contemporary and traditional building projects, the Kolorseal colour palettes offer a complete choice in both UPVC and aluminium products. For Deborah Hendry, the NFA Colour Specialist of the Year Award has been a morale booster for the whole team. She comments, “In a tough market this is a wonderful achievement. No doubt our success story can be attributed not just to the quality standards we provide but also the drive and commitment of the whole
team. It is a great reflection on everyone at Kolorseal and a job very well done!” For more information on Kolorseal Ltd please visit www.kolorseal.co.uk or to discuss a project, please call 01924 454826.
The gala event held at Doncaster races on Saturday 6th December, was the first of its kind this year with trophy presentations for last year’s winners as well the announcement and presentation of the #NFA21 awards. Deborah Hendry, Managing Director, takes great pride in celebrating this achievement which she considers is very much a team effort. With the awards requiring both nomination and voting for by peers in the industry, she believes that there is evidently great belief in the services, products and the customer support. With the National Fenestration Awards being industry led, this win reflects the high standards and the reputation of Kolorseal, in a fair and open way. Deborah comments, “As awards go, for us, this is the best - we are nominated by our customers and suppliers for the dedication given by everyone at Kolorseal. This award
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December 2021 | www.glassnews.co.uk
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INDUSTRY AWARDS
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
KOLORSEAL HAFFNER WINS MACHINERY COMPANY GAINS NFA AT THE NFA AWARDS 2021 NOMINATION Leading machinery experts Haffner are celebrating a back-to-back win at the NFA Awards 2021. The company, which took the title in the Machinery Company category at the 2020 awards, was again confirmed the winner of the 2021 award. The Haffner team collected their awards at the gala event held at Doncaster racecourse on Saturday 6th November. The event was the first of its kind, with award presentations being made to the 2020 winners and live announcements and presentations of the NFA 2021 awards. Dave Thomas, Managing Director of Haffner, said: “We are delighted to win this award for the second year, particularly as it’s voted for by our industry peers, so it’s a real vote of confidence. I’d like to thank everyone who voted for Haffner as it means so much to the whole team.” The win rounds off another successful year for the Staffordshire-based business. Dave says: “2021 has been an extremely busy and somewhat challenging year for the industry but we have continued to invest in our business to
keep pace with the demand for our automated machines. This has included several largescale investments being made across the business and an increase in staff to support our growth. The investments have kept us ahead of the curve and allowed us to deliver the muchneeded automated machines to our customers as quickly as possible.” The National Fenestration Awards recognises all areas of the UK fenestration industry. As Dave says, there is no judging panel and voting is purely down to individuals across the industry to vote and decide their overall winner. This year saw the highest number of votes across all categories, reflecting the growing popularity of the awards. Haffner is a team of industry and technical machine experts who really understand the fabrication industry and the company offers the largest and most comprehensive PVC-U and aluminium fabrication machinery portfolio in the industry. It has an exclusive supply partnership with Italian-machine innovators, Graf Synergy, which is wellknown for its world class seamless welding technology and patented welding techniques. Haffner is also the sole UK agent of Haffner Machinery, which designs innovative and high-quality engineered products at competitive industry prices and supplies a range of aluminium fabrication machines from worldwide machine-giants, Fom Industries. Italy’s Fom Industrie is part of the worldwide FomGroup and has an outstanding product range offering the widest choice of quality machines with competitive lead times. The company works closely with fabricators of all sizes to offer the best in machinery quality and reliability – something that’s just been proved with this second industry award win.
Bryan Dando, Regional Sales Manager at Haffner
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Tel: 01785 222421 www.haffnermurat.com
MODPLAN WINS CONSERVATORY ROOF FABRICATOR AT NFA FOR COLOUR AWARDS 2021 SPECIALIST 2021
Kolorseal has once again been nominated for Colour Specialist in the National Fenestration Awards (NFAs). Kolorseal can proudly boast about the recognition both nomination and winning bring to a business, with two awards now received from the industry. While never complacent about nominations, the Kolorseal team are delighted to have been recognised by the sector for the colour coating and spraying services they offer. Deborah Hendry, Managing Director, Kolorseal Ltd comments, “Everyone at Kolorseal cannot emphasise enough how very grateful we all are for the support, loyalty and recognition our customers have given to us over the years.” The NFAs reflect quality and service throughout the industry and to be acknowledged by those who work so hard in the industry themselves, makes this award very special indeed. Deborah continues, “Every nomination has been important and has reinforced our company values. The NFAs have been such a positive development for the fenestration industry, as it is the industry speaking out and recognising all they consider good in the sector.” Kolorseal aims to provide not just the best colour coating service to the domestic, commercial and architectural sectors, but also provides new and interesting ways to give excellent customer support, which is the foundation of the company’s success. Deborah concludes, “We have been very grateful for every vote given to us so far and we hope that we can once again reflect our high standards with another NFA accolade. If anyone feels they would like to offer the Kolorseal team their support then please do follow the link below. Very many thanks in advance.” https://www.fenestrationawards.co.uk/nfa21/ For more information on Kolorseal Ltd please visit: www.kolorseal.co.uk
Pictured from left to right: Rob Hicks, Modplan and Gareth Mason, Modplan
Leading trade fabricator Modplan has been announced as the joint winner of the Conservatory Roof Fabricator category at the National Fenestration Awards 2021. Speaking of the win, Heidi Sachs, Managing Director of Modplan, said: “We are thrilled to have won this award. It’s particularly relevant as it was voted for solely by the industry and I would like to thank everyone who took the time to vote for Modplan. It has been an extremely busy year for everyone in the industry, so taking time out of busy schedules to vote for us, is a true vote of support. Congratulations also goes to our fellow winner, Premier Roof Systems.” The award concludes a successful year for Newport-based Modplan which has seen a sharp rise in demand for products, particularly in conservatory roofs, in response to consumer demand. Heidi said: “The huge spike in demand for conservatory roofs is not totally surprising as consumers are now scrutinising their living spaces more than ever before. As a result, the number of solid retrofit roofs and new build conservatory extensions has risen dramatically as witnessed by our record sales.” As a result of the increase in demand, Modplan has made several strategic investments throughout 2021, which has opened up new opportunities and provided additional capacity to support its long-term growth efforts. Heidi said: “Our recent investments in our infrastructure, including our dedicated roof plant, have given us outstanding product quality and further improved our manufacturing efficiencies. We now operate from a total manufacturing space of 165,000 sqft which ensures that we can continue to offer the best in product quality with exceptional manufacturing efficiencies for our customers.” Modplan manufactures a complete range of conservatory roofs, so installers can maintain a diverse product portfolio. Products include the popular Leka Solid roof, Leka orangery roof and Leka Xi modular system. Also available is the Vertex roof which offers a one-piece peripheral main beam with integral gutter and can be supplied with a choice of polycarbonate or glass options. And the Wendland range and LivinRoof by Ultraframe completes an impressive conservatory roof offering. Heidi concludes: “We are obviously delighted to have picked up this award. It is clear recognition of the commitment and hard work we have put into our conservatory roof offer to deliver the best for our customers. As a business, we are never complacent and that has ensured we have remained a strong and reliable partner for nearly five decades. It’s why this win means so much to the team.” Tel: 01495 246844 –www.modplan.co.uk
December 2021 | www.glassnews.co.uk
COLD CALLING
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
DANNY WILLIAMS
‘COLD CALLING’
Each month our special correspondent Danny Williams* replies to a reader’s letter...
“I always try to keep in touch with the industry by flicking through some of the magazines and social media, such as Twitter and Linked In. Just lately there’s a lot of fuss about a thing called ‘Glazing Summit’ and the FIT Show, which I have been to previously. As an installer I always seem to be too busy to go to things like these but I want to grow the business and wonder if I should attend such things. Or is I just a bunch of talking heads that enjoy the sound of their own voices?” WB Worcestershire Yes and Yes. You should reach out further than your own patch as the world is a lot bigger even than the ambitions for your business that you detailed in your note to me. And yes, sometimes the people at these events are full of hot air (I can hear the howls of derision from around the industry at that comment – ‘rich coming from you Dan!’). But often there is a lot to be learned. At the last minute I attended the Glazing Summit, that took place in October in Birmingham. Bearing in mind that according to my missus I know it all anyway, I justified it on the basis that I had a few new one-liners that I’d stored up over the past couple of years and, coupled with the desire to go and re-connect with the world, I decided to make the trip. And I am pleased that I did. It was very well attended, especially for a conference, which suggests to me that many others also had some dodgy jokes they had collected during lockdown. And that they, too, also felt the need to break out into the world again. The claims by the organisers of 400 attending won’t be far off the mark and there were lots of well-known faces from some of the industry’s top brands. The programme itself was decent with some interesting discussions and if it was many of the usual suspects filling the panels, most of the chat was interesting if not exactly ground-breaking. It was certainly a big improvement on the two previous events in the series. An outstanding speaker, and one that left everyone wanting more, was an elegant chap by the name of Gregory Perdon, whose card says he’s the ‘Co-Chief Investment Officer’, at a private bank (Arbuthnot Latham) that’s too posh for me to ever have heard of, despite it being around since 1833. He had a way of talking about the issues of our times that created a silence usually reserved for Armistice Day. Greg and I are now NBFs and he will be the person I turn to when I bring Pioneer Trading to the stock market.
“The FIT Show is all about suppliers wanting to connect to installers and fabricators. But whilst installers do turn up in proportionately higher numbers than at the ‘Summit, even at an exhibition that should be dominated by installers looking for the ‘Next Big Thing’ the numbers have previously been disproportionately low considering how many are fitting windows.” There was an ‘Installer Panel’ discussion that you would have been nodding your head to as four quite individual, independent installers basically agreed that they could cope with product shortages and delays a hell of a lot better if their suppliers could only tell them what the hell was going on at any one time, in decent time for them to communicate to their customers. Point taken on board chaps. And thereby hangs the tale as far as you are concerned WB. The gents on stage were part of just a handful of installers that had made their way to the event and even those were obviously formally invited to join the panel: not enough installers visit such events which means that they tend to be a supplier’s bun fight. Now whilst we on the supply-side do genuinely share news and views, how much better would it be to have more balance in the room? We have the FIT Show coming up in May ’22 and that will also be interesting. I genuinely believe that it will be packed, so much so that I have actually booked a stand, my first since I exhibited at the inaugural show in 2013. The FIT Show is all about suppliers wanting to connect to installers and fabricators. But whilst installers do turn up in proportionately higher numbers than at the ‘Summit, even at an exhibition that should be dominated by installers looking for the ‘Next Big Thing’ the numbers have previously been disproportionately low considering how many are fitting windows.
You ask if it’s worth your while taking time out to go to events like Glazing Summit and the FIT Show and the answer is unquestionably ‘Yes’! That relatively few installers turn up to anything does however tend to fall in line with my favourite ‘Pareto Principle’, one that becomes more valid the longer I spend on this planet. The 80/20 rule (sorry, just in case) proves itself over and over and in the context of installers, I have a clear 20% of my customers that operate professionally, make the most of the marketing and product opportunities that we provide for them and generally grow the fastest and cause us the least grief. And I would lay a pound to a euro that Pareto could be applied reasonably accurately to the numbers of installers that attend FIT…a couple of thousand maybe? Even at that sort of number (and no, I have not checked) I will be quite happy if a few dozen come and see the wonderful stuff that we will have for them. And I hope that includes you too WB, to whom an invitation will be winging its way a little nearer the time. Installers, just as everyone else, need to get out into the world to see what it has to offer. There are thousands of new products out there that will give you the edge over your competitors. And how will you ever know if you are getting the best deal if you don’t get out there to find out? If you wait for it all to come to you the chances are you will miss all of the serious stuff, until everyone else has it too. Don’t go there to have a look at the newest power tools or van racking and come away saying the show was rubbish; spend the time looking at all the products even if they’re not directly relevant to your immediate requirements. It will broaden your knowledge of the industry and give you a more informed insight and understanding of other sectors. It might also help you to agree with me that most manufacturers are nothing short of miraculous in what they achieve and offer at the price point and time scale. I look forward to seeing you at FIT, WB and also at the next Glazing Summit if there is one. And bring some of your mates too. We’d all love to see you. And in the meantime, Seasons Greetings to all! See you next year.
* Danny Williams is managing director of Chelmsford based Pioneer Trading and has been involved with all aspects of the windows and doors industry for 35 years. His activities include manufacturing a full range of windows and doors in PVC-U and aluminium, an IGU facility, retailing and commercial contracting.
www.glassnews.co.uk | December 2021
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SOFTWARE & IT
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
BUILD A SOLID SOFTWARE FOUNDATION FOR SUCCESS IN 2022 If you only change one thing in your installation business in 2022, it should be your software, says Rhonda Ridge of AdminBase. Or risk being left behind by a country mile. As an industry we almost haven’t had a chance to catch our breath in the last two years, with lockdowns, product shortages, price increases and peaking demand. Navigating these challenges have taken all our efforts without many opportunities to stop and take stock. Next year needs to be different. As 2021 draws to a close we must think about the changes we need to make to ensure we can hit the ground running in the New Year. Software that gives us access to the information we need and allows us to communicate with customers more easily, should be top of the list. Businesses need a robust infrastructure and installers that don’t have the most up to date software, could really start lagging behind.
INFORMATION AT YOUR FINGERTIPS For information to be meaningful, companies need the ability to manage data in a way that is easy and doesn’t impact on their day-to-day operations. It’s all very well having the right software in place to collect relevant information, but if nobody uses it because it’s too time consuming or not user friendly, there’s no point having it. Data should be easy to extract from relevant systems with simple reports built in or easy to create yourself. If you can access these reports at the click of a button at any time, to suit your busy schedule, it’s far easier to proactively use them to make informed business decisions.
Rhonda Ridge, Ab Initio
GIVE CONSUMERS WHAT THEY WANT Having the right information at your fingertips is only half the battle though. Installers also need to be able to communicate the fast-paced changes to their homeowner customers in a timely fashion. This year seems to have been a never-ending stream of apologies and adjustments to scheduled projects as a direct result of issues further up the supply chain. As is often the case, problems are acceptable if they’re dealt with in the right way and communication here is key. Seventy-four per cent of consumers have a favourable impression of companies that communicate via text and 64% believe companies should be using text messages to reach their customers (Forbes).
THE INDUSTRY EXPERTS According to Rhonda Ridge of AdminBase, investing in the right software could make all the difference to installers in 2022: “The key is working with a software developer
that truly understands your business, but with the right all-encompassing installer management system, fitters can transform the way they do business. AdminBase offers built in reporting options for all users so if the data is in AdminBase, you can run a report on it, without the need to export the data to another programme. This ease of use allows installers to quickly access an overview of different aspects of the business at any time of the day or night. “Working alongside this reporting system we have designed an SMS function that can be fully integrated into the system that allows installers to purchase credits and use text updates. From booking sales appointments to confirming installation dates, and from payment reminders to remedial appointments, installers can use texting as a means of reaching the homeowner faster, and more easily. SMS messages sent through AdminBase can be viewed by the entire team and are all stored with each contract on the system. This allows installers to look back and double check any text exchange if they need to.
ABOVE AND BEYOND Rhonda concludes: “Industry consensus is that for now, the increased demand is here to stay. So, in 2022 installers will need to go above and beyond to win new business and keep customers happy, despite continued supply chain challenges. AdminBase offers installers the chance to build a solid infrastructure to capitalise on the abundance of opportunities available in the New Year.”
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December 2021 | www.glassnews.co.uk
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CAREERS & QUALIFICATIONS IN FENESTRATION
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
SPONSORED BY GQA AND BUILDING OUR SKILLS GQA Qualifications is the only issuer of CSCS cards for the Glass and Fenestration industries. Building Our Skills is a strategic campaign designed to help bridge the growing skills gap in the Fenestration Industry
CAREERS
KENRICK TACKLES ONGOING SKILLS GAP Kenrick is doing its bit to address the continuing skills shortage and inspire more people into the industry. The West Bromwich-based hardware supplier has already supported the training and development of three youngsters, with one recently celebrating completing the first year of his apprenticeship with Kenrick.
at Kenrick. It’s been a great learning experience for me and I’ve had the opportunity to develop lots of new skills, from carrying out machine and facilities repairs to electrical and lighting work and day to day maintenance. I’m really enjoying the challenge of finding and fixing issues and learning along the way.”
Alex Chester combines theoretical learning for his Level 3 Engineering Technician Mechatronics Pathway course with practical training at Kenrick. Working closely alongside Kenrick’s maintenance manager Barry Faulkner, the 25-year old is hoping to become a maintenance engineer when he completes his three and a half year apprenticeship at the Lean Engineering and Manufacturing Academy (LEMA) in Dudley.
Andy White, operations manager at Kenrick, added: “The skills shortage is still a pressing industry issue, particularly in the current climate where many skilled European migrants have returned to their home countries during the pandemic. Like many businesses, Kenrick has a very experienced workforce, but we want to do what we can to encourage youngsters into an industry that can give them good long-term prospects.
Alex says: “I’m delighted to have completed the first year of my apprenticeship
“The best way to develop is to shadow and learn from someone who is highly skilled
and willing to share their knowledge and this is exactly what Alex has been doing with us. We see great potential in Alex and we’re very pleased to help him establish a worthwhile career at Kenrick, learning those all-important engineering and maintenance skills. We’re proud to be bridging the gap in the skills shortage and attracting the next generation of people, like Alex, to enter the sector.” Kenrick is a progressive company and is always on the lookout for capable people to join its team. Find out more by emailing sales@kenricks.co.uk. Kenrick is a leading supplier of hardware solutions for PVCu, aluminium and timber window and door systems. The company has a proud heritage spanning more than 200 years, having been established by
Alex Chester and Andy White
Archibald Kenrick who manufactured buckles and livery fittings. Kenrick’s range of top-quality products includes the market leading Excalibur multi-point locking system, the four-point Centurion system and the Easifit and Espagnolette locking systems. Tel: 0121 553 2741 www.kenricks.co.uk
NEW APPOINTMENTS
VISTA APPOINT NEW BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Leading composite door manufacturer Vista Panels has strengthened its sales team with the appointment of a new Business Development Manager for the South. Ian James Smith joins the Wirral-based company with more than 27 years of experience in the fenestration industry, having held previous positions with some of the leading systems houses and composite door manufacturers. Joining his name’s sake Ian Carl Smith, Vista’s current Business Development and Marketing Manager, Ian will be responsible
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for enhancing service to their Southern based customers. “Vista Panels is a leader in both the composite door and PVCu panel markets, and I’m delighted to have joined such a well-established and successful company,” Ian says. “I have been really impressed by their professional set up and by how customer focused they are,” he continued. “It’s been a tough two years for the industry as a whole, but Vista has come out the other end in a very strong position, and I’m excited to help take the company even further.” Vista’s current Business Development and Marketing Manager Ian Carl Smith comments: “We took our time with this appointment, as we wanted the right mix of
experience and technical knowledge. Ian’s background in sales, fabrication and PVCu systems really ticked all of those boxes. “He is a very welcome addition, and we are really looking forward to seeing what he can bring to the team.” Established in 1995, Vista Panels is a specialist uPVC and composite door supplier for trade customers across the UK. Working from a 50,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Merseyside, the company supplies thermally efficient and secure uPVC panels as well as the XtremeDoor, an exceptionally secure composite door that comes in a wide range of customisable options to suit any kind of home. For more information call 0151 608 1423 or visit www.vistapanels.co.uk.
Ian James Smith, Vista’s New Business Development Manager (right) and current Business Development Manager Ian Carl Smith
December 2021 | www.glassnews.co.uk
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
CAREERS & QUALIFICATIONS IN FENESTRATION
CAREERS
PLATINUM ANNIVERSARIES FOR CARL F GROUPCO’S JULIE AND PAMELA Leading hardware distributor Carl F Groupco has recently celebrated the platinum work anniversaries of two key team members. Julie Warner, Roto Product Manager and Pamela Wilson, Regional Sales Manager for Scotland and Ireland have each achieved 20 years’ service for Carl F Groupco. Joining the company in 2001, both Julie and Pamela have been prominent figures at Carl F Groupco and key drivers of one of the most successful product ranges for the company, Roto FRH UNI reversible window hardware. Julie has provided technical customer support for the range, managing stock and orders, while Pamela has worked directly with fabricators to increase sales
and provide dedicated hardware support across her region. The market for reversible window hardware is traditionally dominated by Northern Ireland and Scotland, comprising primarily of commercial and domestic high-rise buildings, for which the Roto FRH UNI system had been designed. Over the last decade, demand for reversible hardware become more widespread within Scotland in particular, with many new build developers, housing associations and local authorities opting for the solution in their low-rise domestic applications, too. Commenting on the career milestones, Managing Director John Crittenden said, “It is no small feat to achieve twenty years’ service
in any organisation, but to have achieved the success that both Julie and Pamela have during their time at Carl F Groupco, is something to be commended. “Over the last two decades, we have been subject to the financial crisis in 2008, merged companies in 2010 and more recently faced the impacts of Brexit and Covid-19. They have built and sustained the business throughout these challenges and developed solid customer relationships.” Julie and Pamela join a number of other Carl F Groupco colleagues who have achieved long service accolades, with two thirds of the company’s workforce reaching the ten-year milestone. The knowledge and expertise gained by the teams’ experience
Julie Warner, Roto Product Manager (left), Pamela Wilson, Regional Sales Manager (right)
allows Carl F Groupco to provide outstanding technical support and continue the unwavering commitment to OTIF delivery service. www.carlfgroupco.co.uk
CAREERS
EPWIN WINDOW SYSTEMS SUPPORTING SKILLS BOOST ACROSS THE INDUSTRY The shortage of skilled staff coming up through the ranks is widely recognised in the industry. It’s something that Epwin Window Systems is keen to tackle via its Connect digital platform. Gerald Allen, Marketing Manager at Epwin Window Systems, commented: “We have partnered with specialist industry training provider T3 Training & Development to provide a wide range of qualifications, including the new standards, to help our customers upskill their staff and add value to their businesses.” He added: “We know the appetite for training is huge and we are in conversation with many customers that are keen to move forward with training.” One of the companies already taking advantage of the training offering is New Trade Windows of Bristol. The company has committed to nine Apprenticeships across Fabrication, Management, Team Leading and Customer Services. Dan Stone, Director at New Trade, said: “Being able to access training via Epwin
Window Systems’ Connect platform is huge for us. It removes many of the barriers to getting high quality training and is helping us build a skilled, motivated workforce for the future.” Gerald commented: “As well as offering long-term benefits, it’s also important to point out there are numerous initiatives to fund the cost of training so it really is a win-win situation. For example, if you are an SME who doesn’t pay into the Apprenticeship Levy system then the government will fund 95% of course costs and other government initiatives are also available subject to eligibility too.” T3 Training & Development’s tutors have over 20 years’ experience in training and development in the industry. Companies benefit from a Skill Scan analysis to identify the most effective qualifications for their workforce. The offering includes high quality, flexible, blended learning, comprehensive support resources, the exclusive T3
e-portfolio support resource and additional personal development. Epwin Window Systems is committed to apprenticeship programmes throughout the business and Investment in People practices. In providing their customers with access to a high quality training offering, it’s showing its commitment to the future of the industry too. Tel: 0845 340 3968 – www.epwinwindowsystems.co.uk
NEW APPOINTMENTS
KEVIN’S BACK TO KÖMMERLING After a 2-year absence working in the aluminium systems sector, Kevin Warner has come back to profine UK and the KOMMERLING brand as sales and marketing director, working as he had done previously with Robert Thiroff, managing director. The introduction of Kevin has been a welcome one not just in the UK but at group level too, yet this time part of a significantly larger business and one that’s looking to build upon its position in the UK with significant planned investment.
www.glassnews.co.uk | December 2021
With the recent launch of the super energyefficient flush sash and with a sizeable stand at next year’s FIT Show there’s much to be buoyant about as Kevin explains. He said: ‘I’m excited to be back with KÖMMERLING and at the start of what I’m hoping will be an exciting journey for us all and our valued customers. With major investment plans, product launches and the FIT Show on the horizon I’m relishing the opportunity to meet fellow staff and importantly re-introducing myself to the customer base over the coming weeks and months.’
Robert Thiroff, managing director of profine UK added: ‘I’m delighted that Kevin has decided to return to the profine and KÖMMERLING family. We worked together in the past for over 8 successful years and are already putting a new and expanded sales team together, news of which will be announced in the next few weeks and months. For further information please visit www. profine-uk.com, e-mail enquiries@profineuk.com or phone 01623 579200. There’s also a dedicated site for KÖMMERLING at
www.kommerling.co.uk. You can also follow them on social media platforms including Twitter @profineuk and @kommerling_uk.
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CAREERS & QUALIFICATIONS IN FENESTRATION
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
NEW APPOINTMENTS
DEKKO COMMITS TO FOUR NEW APPRENTICESHIPS Leading uPVC and aluminium fabricator Dekko Window Systems has taken on four new apprentices, strengthening its commitment to upskilling young people and tackling the industry’s skills shortage. Sales Director Kurt Greatrex comments: “The skills gap is a huge issue facing the industry at the moment, and I predict for a long time to come. While we’ve all
been stretched due to increased demand, at the same time, an ageing workforce is retiring, and we’re just not getting enough skilled workers in to replace them. At Dekko, it’s our goal to limit the impact of the skills gap on our customers as much as possible, and one proven way to do this is with an apprenticeship programme. “We’ve started with four, but we will soon be looking into
recruiting more apprentices and upskilling young workers, with the long-term goal of growing and developing a motivated, skilled and qualified workforce to add to our already talented team.” Dekko’s four new apprentices have taken on roles in HR, manufacturing and engineering, while a fifth apprentice is soon due to take on a marketing role, where they will be in charge of
NEW APPOINTMENTS
internal marketing, tracking leads and opportunities for regular business, as well as looking after social media accounts for the company’s trade counters. Kurt continues: “As a business, we are committed to doing what we can to mitigate the industry’s skills shortage, as well as helping the regeneration of the economy following the pandemic by creating opportunities for young people. By
taking them on, we’re giving them a chance to learn on the job, and developing valuable skillsets that will contribute to the industry.” Contact Dekko Window Systems on 0161 406 0055 or visit www.dekkowindows.com.
CAREERS
FABRICATOR GLAZERITE WELCOMES NEW FACES
BUILDING OUR SKILLS REPORTS HIGH BOOKING LEVELS FROM FENESTRATION INDUSTRY MEMBER ORGANISATIONS AND EMPLOYERS FOR ITS PRACTICAL TRAINING COURSE
The Glazerite UK Group has welcomed several new faces in support of its ambitious growth plans. New additions to the management team include Paul Jagger, who has recently joined Glazerite as Group Head of IT, and Luke Hatfield, who has been appointed as Group Procurement Director.
Building Our Skills has completed its commitment to train sixty new-to-thefenestration-industry installers using funding provided by the Midlands Energy Hub and BEIS.
Paul says: “Having worked in the industry for 25 years, I’m looking forward to being part of one of the most respected trade fabricators in the industry. The IT systems and team in place already are impressive, and I’m looking forward to further enhancing the output and efficiencies across the Group.” Glazerite Group MD, Rob Brearley, says: “We’re delighted to welcome Paul and Luke to the team. Both will play an important role in aligning our IT, infrastructure, and procurement needs with our operational capability and plans for growth. While Paul will look to further optimise IT, Luke has taken on the challenge of navigating the current supply chain issues the industry is facing, while futureproofing Glazerite for the longer term.”
Glazerite has also welcomed the return of Mitch Gooch, who has been appointed Group Technical Manager. Rob says: “The Group Technical Manager role is critical to our product offering as it allows us to create a product specification that meets the needs of our customers in line with our current and future capabilities. We’re delighted to welcome Mitch back to Glazerite.” The fabricator has also recruited some fresh blood into the industry, with the appointment of two new apprentices. Marc Hookings joins the IT team as an IT Systems Administrator apprentice, while the Marketing team has welcomed Joshua Mann as Marketing Apprentice. Rob concludes: “Whatever stage you are at in your career, it’s an exciting time to join Glazerite. We have some terrific people in the business committed to supporting our apprentices, with great mentoring and training programmes to help them achieve the best start.” www.glazerite.co.uk
Back L-R Mitch Gooch Luke Hatfield Paul Jagger Front L-R Joshua Mann Marc Hookings
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Among others who benefitted from the training was North Yorkshire-based home improvement company, NYG, who sent their young and trainee installers onto the course. Speaking about their involvement, Lisa Pullan, NYG’s Office Manager said: “Our fitters found the course useful and enjoyable. The course has been great for enhancing basic knowledge, and has given the staff a good level of training on windows installation, which I know has really boosted their confidence. In addition, they really liked the course leaders, finding them down to earth and great to work with. I found it all easy to organise since the course leaders kept us well informed. This initiative is going to benefit our company, and I’d have no hesitation in recommending it to other fenestration industry employers.” The Building Our Skills’ practical training course is 3 days of tuition about window and door installation, building regulations and industry knowledge, incorporating one day online and two days of practical, handson activity. The training is pitched at young installers with limited experience, fitters’ mates getting ready to take the next step up, and others with no experience who have a desire for skills training. It is also perfect for employees who work in an in-house technical role and who might benefit from first-hand exposure to product installation.
Our Skills, it is fully accredited by GQA. Rather than simply certifying attendance, it is an accredited training course that leads to a GQA Q Card, and can count towards the knowledge element for those who might want to go further and take an NVQ in the future.” Training was provided at the Building Our Skills Centre in Sheffield, which is fully Covid-compliant, including lateral flow testing on arrival. Building Our Skills practical training is now being made available to a wider demographic, including the unemployed, career changers, ex military service personnel and former prisoners as a way of trying to attract new people to the industry to bridge the skills gap. For those wanting to access the Building Our Skills training programme, contact sayhello@buildingourskills.co.uk www.buildingourskills.co.uk
John Ogilvie, Director of Building Our Skills commented: “We were delighted to have been appointed as a training provider under this scheme at the outset, and to have delivered so much value to employers in the industry. It is also important to note that whilst the course is delivered by Building
December 2021 | www.glassnews.co.uk
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
CAREERS & QUALIFICATIONS IN FENESTRATION
CAREERS
GQA HELPS SCHÜCO DEVELOP BESPOKE QUALIFICATION SOLUTION Demonstrating perfectly the way that GQA’s ‘Bespoke Qualification’ service operates is work done recently with Schüco UK Ltd, one of the leading suppliers of high-quality system solutions for windows, doors façades, sliding systems, security technology and sun shading. When Schüco wished to create a curtain wall theory Level 2 award, tailored to the needs of its curtain wall installers to back up its existing practical training course, the company turned to this specialist service from the fenestration industry’s leading awarding and qualifications-writing organisation. GQA’s Bespoke Qualification service is aimed at employers who wish to be able to offer those staff and customers undertaking very specific roles the opportunity to work towards gaining a qualification where one does not already exist. The service is perfect for niche specialist areas, which do not lend themselves to meeting the required content of a standard regulated qualification. Grenville Bramley, Training and Development Manager at Schüco UK Ltd explains: “We knew that if we got this right the award would act as an excellent means of CPD for our curtain wall installers, thereby helping to raise and maintain standards. It is wonderful to help to develop the skills and expertise of our installers in this way. It’s good for the installers, and in turn helps us to differentiate ourselves from competitors. At the end of the process, installers qualifying for the award receive a certificate carrying the GQA logo alongside our own, which we find candidates prefer. “The whole process of putting together the bespoke qualification was straightforward, and resulted in the development of a close partnership with GQA. Initially, we sketched out our course material and then worked with GQA to ensure its suitability. Then we created the exam and went through it with them to check it was pitched at the right level. Having been audited carefully by GQA we have the confidence that the new, tailored qualification is fit for purpose. “Having the bespoke qualification that is audited by GQA stands us apart from other companies who simply offer their staff their own training. In the future, I believe Schüco could develop more of them so that candidates can cherry pick what they need and put them together to create something very special. In the short-term the company will develop at least two more.” Commenting on its Bespoke Qualification the service, GQA’s EQA/Technical Officer,
www.glassnews.co.uk | December 2021
From the get-go, Glass News have taken the time to understand our business and ambitions, working closely with us to help craft our message and broadcast it far and wide throughout the trade. Martin Sadler says: “It is disappointing when people in specific, specialist job functions are not able to develop their careers by working towards achieving a qualification because a relevant regulated option is not available. This is where our Bespoke Qualification service can help. Developing a qualification tailored specifically to them, which carries the approval of GQA, means that employees can fully prove their competency, and employers can put into place for them a career progression route. Once developed, the qualification is exclusive to the employers concerned.” In addition to its Bespoke Qualification service GQA also offers one in ‘Accredited Training’. Together, the two specialist services are helping the fenestration industry to develop training solutions tailored to the specific needs of employers and their staff. The two initiatives mean that employers can create and accredit in house developed training courses and learning programmes in addition of course to utilising existing qualifications. GQA’s Accredited Training service is aimed at employers in the industry who want to have their in-house training endorsed by GQA Qualifications and gives them the opportunity to deliver training that focuses on candidates’ particular needs specific to their role with the employer. GQA has close to 200 qualifications covering a broad variety of sectors. The fenestration industry, just like any other, needs training solutions tailored to its specific needs. The organisation’s services are helping to facilitate this, and are contributing to raising standards and assisting in shaping careers.
From video interviews and click through banners, to stand-out advertising and on point features about our product, people and performance, Glass News has become an indispensable voice for our brand. Communication is clear, pricing is no nonsense and service comes with a smile. Highly recommended.
Chris Brunsdon Founder & CEO Tommy Trinder.Com
• Interviews, Face to Face Articles and Editorial Features • PR, Video, Weekly E-Newsletter and Website • Print Advertising, Digital Advertising and Find A Supplier • Yearly Packages with Full Service Multi-Marketing Channels Full Service Marketing & All General Enquiries: christina@glassnews.co.uk
More information on GQA is available at www.gqaqualifications.com.
“Having the bespoke qualification that is audited by GQA stands us apart from other companies who simply offer their staff their own training.”
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CAREERS & QUALIFICATIONS IN FENESTRATION CAREERS
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
CAREERS
BUILDING OUR SKILLS ANNOUNCES FOUR MEMBERS OF THE HURST PARTNERSHIP WITH PRO-FITTER DOORS TEAM CELEBRATE 80 YEARS OF JOINT SERVICE AS THE BUSINESS TURNS 25 YEARS OLD
Building Our Skills - Making Fenestration a Career of Choice is significantly increasing the range of practical training courses it offers thanks to a new a partnership with Pro-Fitter, the specialist fenestration training provider, and by opening two new practical training centres.
This latest initiative from Building Our Skills is in line with its twin aims of bringing more new people into the fenestration industry and upskilling existing industry employees to promote personal and professional development, encourage employee loyalty, and to raise standards. The collaboration will see Building Our Skills acquire the digital assets of Pro-Fitter to enable courses to be delivered across its increased practical training centre network. The Pro-Fitter team will work alongside Building Our Skills, promoting the courses to their existing customer base and to new installers interested in developing their skills. Courses range from beginner to advanced levels and include areas such as surveying, the installation of composite, bifold and patio doors, vertical sliding windows, aluminium doors and windows, bay windows, conservatory frames and roofs plus solid roofs. Commenting on the new development, John Ogilvie, Director of Building Our Skills said: “Here at Building Our Skills we strongly believe that practical training is the way forward for the industry. Bringing the Pro-Fitter courses alongside our existing
offering, and at the same time increasing the number of practical training centres where they can be delivered is therefore a great step forward for the industry and demonstrates our commitment to raising standards in fenestration. It’s gratifying that we are able to offer training to support industry employees to do their jobs to the highest standards.”
Adding to this, Lou Leka, Head of Training at Pro-Fitter said: “We’re delighted to be working with Building Our Skills. We can see that the organisation is expanding, particularly with regards to its network of training centres, and we’re pleased to be part of this relationship.” In addition to the first of its practical training academies in Sheffield, the organisation now has training sites in the South West of the country plus another close to Heathrow airport. Further centres will be added nationwide. Learning content will be accredited by GQA Qualifications. Installers wanting to book onto Pro-Fitter courses should visit www.profitter.org.uk More information on Building Our Skills Making Fenestration a Career of Choice - is available at www.buildingourskills.co.uk.
As Hurst Doors turns 25 in December, four members of the team are being honoured for their hard work and dedication to the business and will receive their 20 year service awards. The long service awards will be presented to the recipients at their headquarters in Hull by Gary Hurst, Managing Director of the Hurst Group in December. Ruth Medhurst, Steve Orr, Alan Salter and Mark Griffiths will receive engraved commemorative crystal tankards and wine glasses, along with an extra week’s holiday entitlement as thanks for their hard work. These latest achievements mean that 34 people (20% of the workforce) have delivered 850 years of service between them, with over 40% of the workforce having been with the business for over ten years. Mark Atkinson, Sales Director at Hurst Doors said: “Hurst is a family-owned business, and that sense of family runs through every aspect of who we are and what we do. We have a loyal, dedicated, and established work force, who we are very proud of. It is always our aim to ensure our team see Hurst as a notable place to work, with strong values and a supportive approach to overcoming challenges as one, united team. “It’s been an immensely challenging 18 months for our whole industry, and we
“I started at Hurst in my twenties and, whilst a lot may have changed since then, for me it’s the people that work here that make it such a happy environment to work in. Whatever challenges come our way, we all support each other to be the best we can be.” 68
are certainly no exception. As such, we’re delighted to be able to share some good news and to congratulate Ruth, Steve, Alan and Mark on their, very impressive, eighty years of service between them.” Alan Salter, Composite Factory Operative, at Hurst Doors, said: “Twenty years certainly feels like a very special milestone but in many ways the time has flown by. Whilst I have seen lots of big changes since 2001, the family feel and shared passion for delivering the best for our customers have always been a constant. It’s a great way to round off the year and I look forward to the next twenty!” Ruth Medhurst, Aftersales Administrator at Hurst Doors, said: “Hurst really is one big family, especially for me, as my Mum works here, and it is also where I met my husband! I started at Hurst in my twenties and, whilst a lot may have changed since then, for me it’s the people that work here that make it such a happy environment to work in. Whatever challenges come our way, we all support each other to be the best we can be.” Despite recent challenges, the Hurst team has continued to grow throughout the pandemic to accommodate the increase in demand, with vacancies still to be filled in transport, production and customer services. The team is currently preparing to celebrate Hurst Doors’ 25th birthday in the run up to Christmas, with a range of staff activities planned, including a Hurst Bake Off, raffle and fancy dress competition and Christmas Jumper Day. Proceeds from all these events will be donated to local charities. For more information on Hurst, please visit www.hurstdoors.co.uk.
December 2021 | www.glassnews.co.uk
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26/02/2018 19:15
VOICE OF THE INDUSTRY
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
VOICE OF THE INDUSTRY
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
How has 2021 been for you and, more importantly, what are your hopes and wishes for 2022? Have you new products or services on the stocks and anything special to offer your customers, or prospective customers, in the New Year? Will you be seeing everyone at the FIT Show or do you have other plans to promote your company in 2022? Or perhaps you would just like to thank your customers for their loyalty and wish them a Happy Christmas and a great New Year….
Simon Monks Managing Director, VBH (GB) Ltd
Mike Bygrave Roseview Windows, Director
Michael Hewitt Sales Director, AT Precision
2021 was a record breaking year for VBH. Happily, although VBH benefitted from the inflated market, as we all did, our successful 2021 wasn’t all down to boom.
Global supply chain issues, labour shortages and extraordinary demand have combined to make this a challenging year – for everyone.
During a time when the industry has suffered huge issues across the supply chain, AT Precision managed to sustain a ‘business as usual’ service, maintaining a steady 99.9% OTIF score throughout 2021, along with a minimal 6% price increase on our products.
The introduction of a host of new greenteQ products and new strategies have resulted in us serving more customers with more products. Crucially, new processes led us to achieve high efficiency levels with an average OTIF in the high 90s, despite the general issues of product supply. We go into our 40th anniversary year confident that when the bubble deflates we have put ourselves in a position to be able to thrive and continue to offer the best products and the best service. By concentrating on lifestyle, security and smart products we capitalise on the desire for big ticket items such as bi-fold and lift/slide doors, smart access and the peace of mind that security guarantees such as our Q-secure consumer security guarantee and £2000 proteQ10 anti-snap cylinder guarantee can bring. Choose your 2022 products, suppliers and customers wisely. Happy New Year.
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However, as the year draws to a close there have been plenty of positives to reflect on. For Roseview, 2021 has been a year of investment and change. We doubled our factory space, invested heavily in new technology and software – including two new purpose-built machine centres – and started our journey towards closing the skills gap by taking on our first group of apprentices. We launched a completely new version of our top-end Ultimate Rose sash window, and even joined up with industry legend Leon Day to launch Team Roseview Kawasaki! These changes will take time to truly pay off, but they’re coming, and they will make a difference. Roseview will emerge from the current situation fitter and stronger than ever before. So with more to come in 2022 and the FIT Show fast approaching, there’s plenty for us to look forward to. On that note I’d like to wish everyone a very merry Christmas and happy – and healthy – new year.
It’s all thanks to a combination of strong relationships with suppliers, a factory expansion, and the capacity to hold at least three months’ worth of stock at all times – all of which has contributed to an impressive 342% sales increase. We’re expecting the industry’s boom in demand to continue into 2022, and with our highquality Everglide range of aluminium bi-fold hardware and our Everseal range of gaskets, we’re well equipped to keep our customers happy. We’ve recently added a range of plastic ancillaries to our product range, enabling our customers to source everything they need to manufacture a bi-fold directly from AT Precision. We’d like to take this opportunity to thank our customers for their loyalty throughout the year. We wish them all a happy Christmas, and we look forward to seeing them at the FIT Show in May.
Andrew Swift Head of Operations, UK and Ireland, ISO Chemie 2021 has been the best ever trading year for foam sealant tape specialist ISO Chemie - sales are up 45% - and Andy Swift, sales and operations manager, says the modular construction market will be a key target for growth next year. He sees the UK market staying buoyant over the next 12 months as the economy continues to recover from the pandemic and building and construction activity remains busy, particular in the face of a chronic national housing shortage and the need to build more affordable housing. This will see construction projects ‘surge’ and in the modular sector, house designers will increasingly look at new ways to deliver low carbon structures, which use sustainable technologies to deliver measurable airtight, acoustic and thermal sealing benefits. “Our ISO BLOCO range of sealant tapes and the WINFRAMER thermal insulating and load bearing bracket support system can add real value during the initial and post construction phases, so I expect to see more interest in these and other products in 2022 and beyond,” Andy Swift said.
Phil Slinger CEO, CAB Members of the Council for Aluminium in Building (CAB) went through the ‘Great Reset’ in 2021. The aluminium in building supply chain continues to rebuild, despite many challenges. In 2022 the sector will see significant opportunities for growth, but it will be different, it has to be different. I too, undertook a “reset” in 2021, joining CAB in March. During 2021 the CAB team has been evolving and developing further how we keep abreast of key trends, developments and growth areas to inform our members. The drivers of change in 2022 will consider macro-economic, sociodemographic, technological factors, changing customer behaviours and the proposed UK Government regulations and targets. We will focus on explaining why aluminium in building matters, why the construction sector needs to change and how to approach the radical targets proposed. The reset has happened, UK government targets are far-reaching, status-quo is not an option. 2022 is for people in the industry to up the level of desire to change and drive through implementation of the required changes.
December 2021 | www.glassnews.co.uk
VOICE OF THE INDUSTRY
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
Martin Thurley Group Managing Director, Liniar
Heidi Sachs Managing Director, Modplan
At the start of this year, I think most of us were relieved to have 2020 behind us and looking forward to a much more steady and consistent year. How wrong we were!
2021 has been an astonishing year. We’ve seen incredible growth in the business and we’re delighted to be supporting a booming industry. Winning Conservatory Roof Manufacturer at the NFA Awards 2021 was a proud moment for us too.
If nothing else, the last couple of years have made us more grateful – not only to be in an industry where demand has remained high, but also grateful for the people and communities around us. We continue to survive and thrive despite some of the most challenging times many of us have ever experienced. Liniar has many exciting plans in the pipeline for 2022, including new product launches, an additional new mixing plant and further large-scale site expansion plans that could see us increase our footprint by approximately 70%, taking us to almost 1 Million ft². Top of the list as always is customer service – our OTIF service levels have reduced from 99% to 96% due to global supply chain constraints beyond our control. We plan to increase stock by £2million by Jan 2022 which will help us return to our normal very high standards. We’d like to thank all Liniar fabricators and installers for their continued support, patience and understanding as we’ve navigated these stormy seas together. Make the most of the Christmas break and let’s all look forward to a more stable and successful 2022.
At the same time, like everyone, we’re facing incredible pressures from multiple directions. We constantly review our processes to ensure we are doing everything we can to mitigate the challenges and support our customers so they can capitalise on the market opportunities. This year we’ve invested in new machinery to keep pace with the upturn. We’ve also opened a Customer Hub to maintain a transparent line of communication that keeps customers informed so they can manage their own businesses as effectively as possible and expanded our manufacturing facilities. Above all, we wouldn’t be where we are without the hard work and efforts of our staff. As we look forward to 2022, we’re continuing to build. We’d like to thank our customers for their ongoing support and send our best Christmas wishes to all.
www.glassnews.co.uk | December 2021
Ben Brocklesby MD, Origin I would like to thank all of our Partners for their continued support throughout 2021. It has certainly been a challenging year, trying to navigate a global pandemic and the resulting economic uncertainties, as well as overcoming supply chain difficulties. Throughout this tricky time, we are proud to say that we have continued to innovate and invest in our operations to ensure that our Partners never miss an install date, demonstrating our commitment to their businesses. We have done this by investing in a new 55,000sqft warehouse facility, the Ark, and £11m worth of stock to fill it, which has increased our capacity by over 80 percent. This has made our operations more efficient than ever before and means that we have continued to provide to our Partners, on time, in full, whilst others have struggled around us. Despite the challenges, we are excited by the possibilities that 2022 will bring. We know demand is rising at unprecedented levels and we have some exciting products in the pipeline that people won’t want to miss out on.
Dave Thomas Managing Director, Haffner As the industry bounced back, we’ve been working hard to support our customers with rapid lead times on automated machinery. Our new purpose-built factory in Istanbul, Turkey allowed us to rapidly increase our manufacturing output and hold higher levels of stock than ever before, while new staff across the UK business helped us keep pace with demand. We launched an exclusive supply partnership with Graf Synergy, which means we now offer the most comprehensive machine portfolio in the industry. The partnership has proved popular, with customers keen to offer the stateof-the-art in high end seamless welded products. We were proud to win Best Machinery Company at the NFA Awards 2021, an award that means a lot because it’s voted for by the industry. It was back-toback wins for us and we’ll be doing our best to make it three in a row next year! Looking forward, we can’t wait to see colleagues and customers in person again at the 2022 FIT Show – and unveil what will be the largest stand in the event’s history!
Tracey Jackson Howells Patent Glazing, Business Development Manager 2021 has been an interesting year and it has certainly not been boring! Stock issues, price increases, utility crisis and a pandemic are but a few of the pressing issues that have been covered, but we have not only got through it but come out with new processes and a stronger focus. Resilience is the name of the game here and this is what we wish to take into the new year. Never ones to stand still, we have been busy innovating this past year and are looking to launch some new profiles in 2022. We are not exhibiting at The FIT Show but are hoping to be on a panel or two discussing this exciting and dynamic industry. This year, we have been extremely lucky to be surrounded by a great supply chain and customers and we would like to take this opportunity to wish them a very merry Christmas and a happy new year.
Barry Halpin National Sales Director, UAP Limited 2021 has been a momentous year for UAP because we have celebrated 25 years in business and continued to grow, supporting our customers, our team and the communities in which we operate. Our focus has been on reliability of supply and product innovation for our customers, with continued investment in stockholding, new product development and product testing. During 2021, we have launched a number of industry-leading products, including the Fullex Kinetica+ K4 3* cylinder and Bio+ Key, which is impregnated with a biocide to provide protection against viruses and bacteria. We have also unveiled the TS 008 Soterian Slim, the most compact TS 008 letterplate available, with an internal projection of just 14mm; and the Milos 100 range of cylinders from Locking Systems. We wish all our customers in the glass and glazing sector a very prosperous year in 2022.
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VOICE OF THE INDUSTRY
Jamie Munday Sales Director, Avantek 2021 has certainly been the year of automation in our industry! Social distancing, illness and more recently recruitment issues (combined with the availability of Government grants) have led to more companies than ever before investing in machinery to automate their manufacturing processes – and Avantek Machinery has had a record year as a result. We’ve had to deal with similar challenges to everyone else in the industry, the biggest of which has been shipping delays. We’re grateful to all our customers who have been patient and understanding when installation dates have been affected. As we head into 2022, we already have a waiting list for our Supercut machining centres. We’re also speaking to more potential customers than ever, offering advice about factory layouts and machinery options to optimise capacity. The whole team at Avantek Machinery would like to wish everyone a restful Christmas break and a Happy New Year for 2022.
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The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
Stuart Dantzic Managing Director, Caribbean Blinds
Steve Cross Director, Mercury Glazing
2021 has been the perfect storm – we have had increased demand for our outdoor living and solar shading products, experienced raw material shortages and everincreasing costs.
Our portfolio of specialist, feature-rich products and commitment to high quality and efficient service deliver what today’s customers want. This is reflected in our sales and the year has been marked by huge business growth for us as we continued to execute our strategic growth plans. As part of our plans, we opened a second manufacturing centre and welcomed new members of the team to ensure we can maintain our momentum and deliver excellence to our customers.
By keeping communication channels clear and open with our clients, we have managed expectations – we would like to thank all our clients from trade installers to the end user for their trust in us and understanding during these exceptional times. As a business we have invested heavily in our processes, including staffing, along with overstocking of raw materials to ensure that for the 2022 season, we can return to the normal short lead times our customers are used to, without affecting quality. Whilst there will inevitably be price increases next year, we hope our customers understand that these will be kept to a minimum and that we have, for the whole of 2021, been absorbing all cost increases to support our trade installers and help them grow their market share whilst also maintaining healthy margins.
Like everyone in the industry we faced challenges in managing supply issues. The fact we achieved our growth plans despite these difficulties is due to the hard work of our staff and the loyalty of our customers. We’d like to thank everyone for their continued support. 2022 is already shaping up well with a large pipeline of secured contracts as we help our customers capitalise on the busy market. We send best wishes to all in the industry for a happy, healthy Christmas and a prosperous 2022.
Ian Cowling Sales Director, Eco-Logic Roofing Systems This year has seen demand for our revolutionary all-timber Warm Roof Pro conservatory roof system continue to increase, and we have been consistently manufacturing 25-30 roofs a week to meet demand. Using highly insulated SIPS to make it more thermally efficient, installers have quickly got on board with the roof ’s simplicity, flexibility, and the ease and speed of installation. As our roofs are made of timber and SIPs, we have been fortunate not to be too affected by the supply chain issues many have. In 2022 we’re expecting our roof to come into its own even more due to it being able to achieve the new U-Value regulations and the fact that it doesn’t need an air vent. We are also excited by our new breath-taking fullheight glazed roof panel system FENESTRA, which we are expecting to take flight. I’d like to thank our customers for their loyalty during the last 12 months and wish them a happy Christmas and New Year.
John Park-Davies Managing Director, Vertik-Al
James Keeling-Heane Sales Director, Senior Architectural Systems
This year started with some notable events. Following the transition period, the UK finally left the EU after some 47 years and the third National lockdown was imposed on 6th January. Whatever your views or political colours, this was all rather unsettling, especially for the beginning of a new year.
Our mission has always been to give our customers what they want, when they want it and although it’s fair to say there have been a number of challenges to overcome this last year, we’ve worked hard to reduce the impact of the wider industry issues that we have all faced.
And yet, thanks to the scientists and some very clever people, the vaccine has made 2021 a truly remarkable and historic year. Our plans for 2022 and beyond are the most ambitious in the history of the business. Despite current labour and material shortages, we are investing heavily in our people, plant and equipment across the group. In mid-January we will be unveiling the biggest investment we have ever made. This will enable us to maintain our leading position in the sector and give our customers a clear qualitative and competitive advantage. I wish you all a merry Christmas and a safe and happy new year.
We’ve also been ahead of the game in our preparations for Part L and the new energyefficiency targets thanks to our patented low U-value PURe® aluminium window system that has already become a tried and trusted solution with both our fabricator and specifier customers. Looking ahead to 2022, we’re going to be working even closer with our customers to make sure they have the support, as well as the products, they need to be fully compliant and have a successful new year. We’re also getting set to unveil some exciting new improvements we’ve made to our showroom at our South Yorkshire HQ and we’re looking forward to inviting our customers to pay us a visit very soon.
December 2021 | www.glassnews.co.uk
VOICE OF THE INDUSTRY
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
Nick Cowley Managing Director, Euramax Solutions
Jeremy Phillips Chairman, CDW Systems’ Group
Much like 2020 before it, 2021 has been an incredible year for Euramax despite the huge challenges posed by COVID.
Supply chain problems for certain products have of course been tough this year but working with our suppliers to make sure we are at the front of the queue and setting realistic expectations for customers has certainly been the name of the game.
By far the biggest development of the last twelve months has been the fact we were acquired by Modular Group Investments, a fast-growing and increasingly major presence in the off-site market. Working closely with MGI CEO Michael Garratt, Euramax has made further inroads into Britain’s rapidly expanding modular construction market over the last year. We’ve also launched Euralite - a range of cladding and decking products that combines all the benefits of aluminium with the sought-after aesthetics of timber. Suitable for commercial, construction and residential applications, the corrosion, stain and scratch-resistant products come in a comprehensive array of authentic wood effect finishes. Euralite has already been used on a number of lucrative commercial projects, and we’re extremely optimistic about 2022!
Like many companies, the home improvement boom has seen us remain hugely busy and the new products we introduced in 2020 have really taken off this year, particularly Designer Doors. While our order books are full going into the New Year, it will be interesting to see what things will be like in 2022 as people start to go on holiday and the cost of living rises, which is bound to affect order volumes. With the government spending a lot on infrastructure we expect to benefit from that, so if domestic does fall back then commercial will hopefully pick up any shortfall. Having that flexibility between the two will stand us in good stead. I’d like to thank our customers for their loyalty during the last 12 months and wish them a Happy Christmas and New Year.
www.glassnews.co.uk | December 2021
Jon Palethorpe Joint Managing Director, A Plus Aluminium 2021 has been a positive year for A Plus Aluminium, with sales far exceeding our forecast and expectation. We have continued with planned strategic investments, increasing capacity and extending our reach. We’ve also invested in a new manufacturing facility which is enabling us to increase stock holding for the residential market and focus on reduced lead times for 2022. We are also ending the year with news of a UK sole distribution agreement which is incredibly exciting, it will bring something fresh to the fenestration market. We look forward to sharing news of our expansion and investment in the new year. There’s no denying that material shortages have been challenging but we have worked with our suppliers and customers to manage this. Fortunately, there’s an ‘all in this together’ mentality between A Plus and our customers, and I think we are stronger for it – in many ways the experience has cemented supplier/installer relations. With thanks to our customers and suppliers for their support and loyalty in 2021. Here’s to a rich and robust 2022. Merry Christmas everyone.
Angus Mackie Group Managing Director, Allumette Ltd
Howard Trotter Business Manager, Shelforce
What a year 2021 has turned out to be. With 200 people on our 3.5-acre site, our priority was to keep all our team safe and maintain service levels. All this had to be done with minimum disruption while maintaining a laser focus on monies in and cash out. Business principals are everything, especially when the world has a wobble.
Despite the challenges the industry has faced we have had a fantastic 2021, thanks in no small part to our Fireshel 30-minure fire resistant door. From a standing start, we are now manufacturing 70 fire doors a week to cope with demand.
Our experienced, balanced team and strong financial position has served us well during a unique period. We have very high hopes for 2022. Our business is dynamic and with strong plans, our customer centric approach and appetite for quality and service we are very excited for what lies ahead. Investment is key to any manufacturing business, and we have invested in every area of our organisation and plan to continue our program of asset enhancements. May 2022 bring you all the very best and we trust you have a very happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year.
We have also had a tremendous year in terms of exposure, having been chosen by the producers of ITV’s Made In Britain to demonstrate how sustainable windows are produced and tell our unique story. And we were the proud winners of 2021 Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce (GBCC) Business of the Year, the Chamber’s Excellence for People Development award, and the Equality Trailblazer for the West Midlands at this year’s British Chamber of Business Awards, thanks in no small part to our commitment to equality and inclusivity in the workplace. Already, projections for fire doors are through the roof for 2022 for local authority projects and I would like to thank the fantastic team here for all their hard work, without which none of our success would be possible.
John Crittenden Managing Director, Carl F Groupco Limited ‘Unprecedented’ has been the buzz word for 2021, and for good reason... We have overcome many challenges including raw material price hikes, huge rises in container shipping costs, delivery dilemmas within the UK carrier network and Brexit. Despite these challenges the industry continues to be buoyant and with reference to Carl F Groupco, orders remain higher than prepandemic levels. We have continued to invest during 2021 and will continue to do so next year to cement our position as one of the leading hardware distributors. We have just launched our biggest digital upgrade ever to our websites, bringing our three brands; Carl F Groupco, Carl F direct and SmartSecure under one umbrella website. Next year we will be releasing our next hardware catalogue edition, again set to be our largest product resource yet. I would like to thank our customers for their unwavering support over the past couple of years, we look forward to a positive and prosperous 2022 and wish all of your readers a very Merry Christmas.
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VOICE OF THE INDUSTRY
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
Pete Temprell, Managing Director, Schüco UK & Ireland
Ian Smith Business Development Manager, Vista Panels
Andy Jones Commercial Director, Made for Trade
John Ogilvie Director, Building Our Skills
Shaun MacAllister Director, GQA Qualifications
It’s been an extraordinary year – it began in the midst of a lockdown and great uncertainty. Subsequently there have been economic challenges and material shortages that we’ve all endured. Nonetheless, we have worked closely with our partners to face the challenges.
There’s no denying it – 2021 has been a very challenging year for the glazing industry.
Made for Trade like many companies has seen huge growth in 2021 against a backdrop of economic uncertainty, raw material price increases, labour shortages and supply chain challenges. No-one has been exempted from these issues, but true market leaders ensure that disruption to customers is limited to a minimum and we have managed through excellent management and communication to mitigate some of the pain from our valued customers. We will look back on 2021 as a year where under immense strain the key words will have been perseverance and agility both of which Made for Trade have in abundance.
Despite all the challenges of 2021 Building Our Skills has continued to make headway in raising awareness of ‘fenestration’ with key partners in the outside world as we continue to try to find ways of bridging the skills gap affecting the industry.
I recently did an interview where I was asked how important qualifications are? My response was ‘very important.’ They are better for the individual, better for the employer and better for the customer.
Furthermore, we’ve continued to develop new products to futureproof the nation’s buildings to reduce the impact on the environment and safeguard people’s health. Effective thermal insulation will be crucial in our climate fight, and as the government’s Heat and Buildings Strategy highlighted, glazing is vital for this. Ventilation is also under the microscope, due to the pandemic and the upcoming changes to Part F in the building regulations under the wider changes of the Future Homes Standard. We thank all our customers and partners through the value chain for their continued support and collaboration and look forward to a prosperous 2022.
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While it’s great that consumer demand for home improvement products has boomed since lockdown, the ‘perfect storm’ of material shortages, rising costs, a lack of labour and global shipping issues has made life very difficult for the whole supply chain. While many of the above factors are outside of our control, we have taken steps to minimise disruption as much as possible, including securing an additional 10,000 square foot unit to increase stockholding and better support our customers. While the new unit hasn’t solved all our problems, it has eased some difficulties and put the business in a better position for the future. We’re fighting daily to maintain service levels and I would just like to take this opportunity to thank our customers for their patience and support during this time. 2022 looks set to be another buoyant year for the industry and we will do everything in our power to ensure our customers maximise the opportunity.
In 2022 we will continue to invest heavily in our marketing at consumer level with our award winning Korniche lantern and look forward to fully launching our groundbreaking Korniche bi-fold door in early 2022 which we will be showcasing at the FIT Show in May We would like to thank our customers, suppliers and most of all our staff for their service and understanding over this past year and would like to wish everyone a happy holiday and look forward to welcoming in another fantastic year together for all concerned.
We have formed partnerships with key players working with the MOD, the Ministry of Justice, and the education sector. We are currently working with a number of major Local Authorities in the UK that have access to significant numbers of young people and what we want to do is introduce them to employers in their local areas. This is going to be a major initiative for us in 2022, so please watch out for further details. From the point of view of the industry, what we want now is for as many employers as possible to become supporters, and to actively participate in helping us to bring new talent to the industry. Let’s make a real difference in 2022.
Not only do they help to drive up standards in the fenestration industry generally, but they contribute to improvements in environmental impact, and health and safety. They also help to attract young people to the industry. We’ve got to be mindful how other industries attract young people through formalised training schemes and career paths carved out via qualifications. We’ve got to make the fenestration industry compete on this level. Young people need to be able to see the availability of clear career paths to perceive the fenestration industry as an attractive career proposition. This is the message we will continue to push in 2022 working with employers to develop bespoke training programmes and qualifications to support the drive to raise standards and to attract new young talent.
Mark Hickox Sales Director, Thermoseal Group Limited The past 2 years have been a roller coaster with closures, supply issues and increasing costs, but the Window Industry still seems to be thriving through the pandemic. In 2022, there are imminent changes to legislation which means that windows must achieve a minimum ‘B’ Window Energy Rating or a U-value of 1.4Wmk. With this in mind, we are anticipating greater demand for warm edge products. Therefore, we are planning to utilise more of the space in our new 2-acre Centre for Innovation and Manufacturing by further expanding our Thermobar and Thermoflex warm edge spacer production facilities. We are also looking forward to launching our new e-Commerce system so our customers will have 24/7 access to order our products online. If you’re going to the Glasstec exhibition in Dusseldorf, we will again host our ThermoBAR, so please give us a shout if you’d like us to add you to the guest list. Thanks to all those who have supported us. We wish you all the best for 2022 and beyond.
December 2021 | www.glassnews.co.uk
VOICE OF THE INDUSTRY
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
Andy Royle Co-Founder and Director, Leads 2 Trade It’s fair to say that leads have been much easier to come by for installers in 2021 due to the demand for home improvements being at an all-time high and we saw the number of double glazing enquiries received through our numerous comparison websites rise by 40% from May to September. While demand remains buoyant, some installers are reporting a definite shift to receiving fewer enquiries from their self-generated efforts, so we are expecting the demand for sales leads from installers to increase from the beginning of 2022. Many will have invested to meet the demand this year and will want to ensure that new business is there in the short to medium term so their current volumes can be maintained. We expect our pre-arranged appointment lead service, which gives the installers the peace of mind that they only pay for the lead if they sit and pitch it to be attractive to save time and deliver an acceptable cost of sale.
Chris Alderson Edgetech, Managing Director Like millions of other businesses around the world, we’ve faced many obstacles in the 18 months since the pandemic changed all of our lives. But I’m extremely proud that Edgetech’s commitment to outstanding customer service, technical excellence and constant innovation hasn’t wavered. The incredible hard work and dedication of our fantastic team saw us through the months of lockdown, and to an even greater extent as we adjusted our business to the unprecedented demand in the period that followed. While we and every other business in the sector continue to have to deal with ongoing supply chain disruption, 2022 is shaping up to be one of the most exciting years in our history. I’m especially proud that despite the challenges of the pandemic, we’ve continued to invest heavily in health and safety, spending over £160,000 in improving our Coventry facility, take steps to ensure that none of our waste goes to landfill, and supported a number of extremely worthy local causes.
David Thornton Chairman, The Window Company (Contracts) When I look back at the comments I posted in last December’s Voice of the Industry, what leaps out is my hope that the spirit of cooperation and togetherness that the industry had shown during the worst of the pandemic wouldn’t be lost. Overall, I don’t think it has, although I still don’t think there’s been enough acknowledgement of the fact that it is installers who have taken the biggest financial hit from stock shortages and ongoing price rises. That’s particularly acute in the commercial market of course, where prices are often fixed at the start of a contract. However, we’re still looking ahead to 2022 with plenty of optimism. We will be continuing to push into the new build sector and, with PAS2030 accreditation under our belts, we hope to be able to access some of the funding streams being made available for fitting windows and doors as part of energy efficient upgrades in existing housing stock. Of course, we’ll also be visiting the FIT Show in May – we’ve all been away for far too long!
Dean Bradley Sales and Marketing Manager, Glazpart Ltd
Bethaney Larkman Marketing Manager, Distinction Doors
The last few years have been extraordinary for everyone in almost every conceivable way and it has only been down to the exceptional team at Glazpart working with a fantastic set of customers that we have got through this far…
2022 is full of promise for Distinction Doors and our customers. We will start the year with one of several planned product launches, the introduction of a new nxtgen door style. Customer feedback during R&D was extremely positive so we’re excited to see and hear the reaction to this.
The challenges will only continue with volatile supplychains, pandemic impacts and significant regulatory change which will impact all areas of the construction market including the fenestration sector. These, as always we will all take on in the same professional way.
In support of our Lean manufacturing methods, we have invested in new machinery for our Barnsley site which is due for delivery next year. Once commissioned, we will be running one of the largest plants in the industry.
There will also be opportunities and we all need to focus on these as we hopefully head towards pre pandemic market levels and contribute towards the drive to achieve netzero by delivering the highest performing
It’s good to be able to look back at 2021 and see positives. Stock levels have been extremely healthy during this challenging year. Customers have also praised our business and service communications for its frequency and honesty.
So, I would like to thank everyone involved in the sector and look forward to even meeting up in person next year as events return such as the Fitshow where we will see the fruits of investment across Glazpart to meet the challenges of 2022 and beyond.
We wish to thank our customers for their continued loyalty and wish them, and readers of Glass News a very merry Christmas and a prosperous 2022!
Keith Rimmer CEO, Thermocill 2021 has been the year of carbon reduction, energy efficiency and Thermocill. Wigan Council were the first to install our energy-saving window device across 2000 homes, and other councils and organisations now want to get in on the act! This could be because of our scientific verification. Or it could be due to our educational app tech. Most likely though, it’s because Thermocill simply works – it cuts household energy use by 14% and fuel bills by 8%. No longer will windows be the single biggest source of heat loss in a home – together as a sector, we have the solution. And it comes in the form of an affordable, passive device underneath a window sill. Looking forward, 2022 will be the year for hemp – plans and testing are already underway for Thermocill to be made from it, and surely there’s huge potential for the sustainable material across the whole glazing and window profile sector.
Merry Christmas
We’d like to thank all our customers and employees for their support in 2021.
www.glassnews.co.uk | December 2021
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VOICE OF THE INDUSTRY
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
Mark Walker Marketing & Design Manager, Selecta
Andy Green Sales Director, Selecta
Gary Morton CEO, Central Window Systems
There are many things to be said of 2021, with most already expressed over the last 12 months or so! Unprecedented, exponential and challenging are just three of the industries most used words in 2021, during a year where many have been less fortunate than ourselves with a loss of health and wealth, we as an industry have worked together, stood firm and delivered – albeit at times on longer terms!
A year fraught by supply chain issues and rising costs, 2021 has certainly been a challenging, yet prosperous year for many involved in our industry. With consumer demand at levels not seen for many years, it has pushed many of a business to their limits and beyond.
With increased demand and a market plagued by supply chain issues, the past two years have been an interesting period for the glazing industry. At Central Window Systems, we’ve adapted the business to navigate the storm, and are looking forward to a promising new year.
Indeed, Selecta have been caught up in the torment of supply chain issues, but I believe we have come out of this far more quickly than the majority of the industry, in-turn making us stronger, more focused and determined to continue to provide not just a quality range of products, but also a first-class service and personal support package to our customers.
We started off 2021 by merging our PVCu and aluminium divisions, offering a full solution service to installers.
As we head in to 2022, positivity, optimism and confidence are the three key words that are being expressed amongst the team within Selecta. From a marketing support perspective, 2021 has seen Selecta broaden our focus on furthering our personal customer and marketing support package. Our flexible and engaging approach to providing a personalised marketing support package has been greeted with great positivity, with more customers than ever taking advantage of our free graphic design service for re-branding, logos, flyers and vehicle graphics. To support this even further, we have some very exciting plans well underway to stay ‘connected’ with our customers in 2022 and we are confident of taking our service and support package to a completely new level.
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At the same time, we have grasped this opportunity with both hands to bring forward our expansion and growth plans with new silo’s, extrusion machines, lamination machine and delivery vehicles, coupled with a staff recruitment drive. Winning PVC Company 2021 at the National Fenestration Awards has certainly put the icing on the cake, as we look back on a record year at Selecta, whilst looking forward to a positive 2022 and celebrating 40 years of helping fabricators grow their businesses.
The merger also allowed us to expand our manufacturing facility to 52,000 square feet, giving us the capacity to increase production, hold more stock, and cut our lead times to a minimum. 2021 was also the right time to branch out, which is why we decided to expand our aluminium division to better serve domestic installers, something we plan to take even further in the new year. There’s been a boom in the industry which we don’t see slowing down anytime soon, which is why we spent 2021 investing in the business, positioning Central as an expanding full-solution fabricator ready to face the challenges head on. We’d like to thank our loyal customers for their continued support, and we wish them all a very happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year.
Faisal Hussain Chief Executive, Double Glazing & Conservatory Ombudsman Service (DGCOS) There’s little doubt that following the turbulence of recent years, a new world has emerged, bringing with it more transparent ways of doing business. This new ‘service economy’ is based on trust and integrity, something that lies at the heart of DGCOS. There is no longer space – or patience – for businesses who use smoke and mirrors. In 2022, transparency will be king. While we can’t ignore the challenges we’re all facing, including supply chain issues, inflation, an ailing labour model and fenestration’s lack of priority on the government’s Decarbonisation agenda, 2022 offers us the chance to tackle these issues collaboratively. DGCOS has a new leadership that is heavily invested in creating a new proposition for window and door installers. 2022 will see the launch of our Installer Value Matrix, a powerful business support engine that will generate collaboration and create platforms for sustainable growth. DGCOS remains the industry’s consumer champion and we invite you to join us on the journey in 2022. Together we can move towards a more ethical, quality focused and inspired future.
Rob Brearley, Group MD, Glazerite UK Group
Gio Laporta Executive Director, Smart Ready
Like most industries, we continue to battle with gaps in the supply chain, lack of labour, and skill shortages whilst managing ever-increasing costs. These are beyond our control, and whether you are a manufacturer, an installer, or a fabricator, it’s a testing time. These conditions have challenged our business to change and look at what we do daily, allowing us the opportunity to focus on our planning, operations, service, and quality across the Group.
It’s important to acknowledge how frustrating this year has been for everyone. The ongoing supply chain issues have changed the landscape for all, forcing us to look deeply in how we operate. World shortage in chipsets has forced Smart Ready® technology partner Hug® to completely redesign smart window and door sensors, which in turn has caused delays across the board.
Over recent months, we’ve rolled out Lean Manufacturing, which is already resulting in some big benefits and improved performance. This approach will continue into 2022 and beyond. Communication has been a key part of the integration so that every employee understands the principles, what we are doing, and why. We’ve also recruited some fantastic new people to help us better support our customers and make us a stronger business going forward. We have some ambitious plans for the coming year, which will be driven by our strong, committed workforce and which will help us improve productivity, quality and fulfil the needs of our customers.
Despite this — or maybe even because of this as we all know innovation is born from need — Smart Ready® has had a positive 2021 for innovation. Deciding to pull out from Fit 2021 was undoubtable the most toughest decision. However, we are, as ever, really looking forward to being at FIT Show 2022 in May where we will be introducing something that will transform the way our industry functions, and bring it into the modern world. Have a great Christmas and we hope that the time you spend with your loved ones is amazing and restful. See you all FIT 2022.
December 2021 | www.glassnews.co.uk
VOICE OF THE INDUSTRY
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
John Cooper Commercial Director, SWISSPACER UK & Ireland
Phil Dewhurst Jr Commercial Director, Georgian Bar Company
I’d like to start off by wishing all SWISSPACER customers, colleagues and contacts a Merry Christmas and prosperous 2022.
Customer service is at the heart of The Georgian Bar Company’s success, and in amongst all the supply chain issues in the industry, we have given a top priority to our customers by doing our utmost to minimise the global supply backlog.
For most of us 2021 has been very busy, thanks to the surge in home improvement which is driving demand across the board. The premium market in particular is booming as homeowners look to make their homes more energy efficient, attractive and convenient. For example, sales of SWISSPACER’s Georgian bar have skyrocketed because it helps improve the look and thermal performance of hugely popular heritagestyle windows. Most experts predict demand will remain high in 2022. With rising energy prices and the impact of COP26 fresh in everyone’s minds, energy efficiency will continue to be a top priority for homeowners. In this post-pandemic world the way people use their homes has changed with growing demand for home offices, garden rooms and outdoor living areas. We’ve certainly noticed strong interest in our range of glass canopy and balustrade systems as a way of enhancing gardens and patio areas, and we’re confident this trend will continue.
While the industry has seen huge price rises in 2021, we were keen for them not to affect long term prices so we added only a fair surcharge. We hope when the market stabilises that this can be reviewed industrywide. The export market continues to grow with increasing volumes to India. We also took time to hone the design of the clip for the US market. In November, I made my first trip to California for more than a year, and we secured significant orders for the new product line. It’s all in the clip! Happy our US cousins see that. Back in Britain, 2022 will see the culmination of the development of a new and exciting product with a new launch partner due to be unveiled before FIT Show.
www.glassnews.co.uk | December 2021
Phil Boyland Operations Director, MRA Marketing
Andy Ball Managing Director, Balls2 Marketing
Chris Brunsdon Founder & CEO, Tommy Trinder
After a very busy 2021 for MRA and our customers, we’re confident next year will bring even more opportunities. The boom in home improvement, fuelled in part by consumers amassing significant savings over lockdown, shows little sign of slowing down in 2022, or at all. Forward-thinking companies who invested in marketing throughout the pandemic have enjoyed record sales. They’re still stretching their lead over competitors and doing very well.
What a year! England got to the final of the Euros, the latest Bond movie (finally) came out, Aldi found themselves in a caterpillar cake ‘war’, and William Shatner ‘boldly’ went where nobody his age had ever gone before.
Selling, remember that? It’s the process of keeping order books stocked by convincing prospective clients that we are better than the competition. And it’s not exactly been a priority for window installers in 2021
Not only are these examples of some of the year’s headlines, but they also illustrate different ways in which the power of marketing is used to spread a good story, and how it evolves with the times.
In 2022, as consumers celebrate new-found freedoms by spending on experiences over things, that will change. Pent-up demand for travel will un-wind with gusto as the public plot ‘revenge vacations’, same goes for leisure, events and generally having a good time. Spending on the home will be so last year.
The world is slowly settling into a new normal and it’s brilliant to get out and meet customers and prospects again. As a full-service agency, we’ve grown this year and have recruited a team of talent in website development, video, social media and digital marketing to enhance the services we offer and boost customers’ growth. MRA Marketing also has some exciting new products and lots of developments in the pipeline. Watch this space! MRA Marketing wishes everyone in glass and glazing a Happy Christmas and prosperous 2022.
Since Balls2 Marketing was launched in 2010, we’ve continually evolved, and that has never been more apparent than this year. We’ve moved to bigger, better premises and rebranded our business to reflect our customer service mission, which is delivering marketing to make your business fly. In 2022, we shall continue to do what we do best – put the business goals of our clients at the heart of our strategy, and as a fullservice agency, continue to incorporate the latest innovative marketing methods to help their brands grow.
They’ll be momentary sighs of relief as hard-pressed supply chains re-normalise. But then it will be back to business and doing what we in double-glazing do best: Sell. At Tommy Trinder we’re ready; ready to help our customers sell. In a tougher, more competitive postpandemic economy our mission will be to provide the technology installers need to stand out from the crowd, wow customers and win orders. Framepoint® is the tool for the job. And we’re really excited by the prospect.
Steve Haines Sales Director, Stuga 2021 has seen a contrast of fortunes for Stuga. With a fast growing order book and extending delivery times we moved to larger premises and recruited more staff. The move took two months to fully complete and then Covid hit hard followed by the ‘pingdemic’. We quickly learnt to work smarter with strict rules about distancing etc. Recruitment was successful although we still need more good quality engineering workers. Stuga now has an almost 100% vaccine protected workforce and regular Covid tests for all staff. Plenty of overtime has caught production back up and the improvements created by the move have enabled us to fit extra machines into production and the created delivery slots have been quickly snapped up. The Stuga ZX5-S is proving to be an absolute hit in terms of accuracy, reliability and output with over thirty sold and a proven capacity of at least eight hundred windows per week. The order book is full for 2023 but we are planning to create more capacity in coming months.
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VOICE OF THE INDUSTRY
Adrian Barraclough Chairman, Quickslide Windows
Soren Nellegaard Interim MD, RetrofitWorks
With the first months of COVID-19 being a test of financial resources, 2021 has been a year when every other resource has been tested - personnel, supply chain, logistics, costs…everything, despite (thankfully!) our balance sheet being restored.
We end 2020 and the much anticipated COP26 is now over. Depending on who you ask, it was a resounding success or a ‘cop’ out. Some believe limiting global warming to +1.5C might finally be within our grasp, while others believe the modest improvements don’t go far enough.
The role of a business during the pandemic changed significantly. Suddenly we had a quite different duty to our staff, suppliers, customers, and local community. And as our community has always been part of our identity at Quickslide it was relatively straightforward to together to ensure we stayed safe, financially secure and ready to trade fully, once we were able. We have spent this period constructively, regularly communicating with our people, customers and suppliers and working on innovations and strategies that would see us through the pandemic in a strong position. The pandemic strengthened good relationships and broke fragile ones and has often revealed the best and the worst of human behaviour. We have given and received huge support and the stronger bonds that we have forged with our community will last for many years to come.
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The reality is the outcome is nuanced. One thing however is certain: legislation to slow climate change will be put in place over coming years and combined with the Heat and Buildings Strategy, we will see sweeping changes within housing. This will impact how businesses operate, skillsets, materials, quality management systems etc. So for 2022, I urge businesses in the sector to get ahead, improve your understanding of the whole house approach, and how to market this effectively to consumers. RetrofitWorks’ membership can help with this by matchmaking your business with consumers looking to improve with the launch of our national retrofit service.
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Ralph Sutcliffe Business Development Director, MRA Research 2021 was another exceptional year, and many of our customers have seen unprecedented demand. But it’s not been without challenges. Since the initial restrictions were lifted, it’s clear that companies that were quick to adapt and didn’t stop spending on marketing did much better than those that did. Cutting back, closing down or postponing decisions inevitably weakens your relative competitive position, whatever the FD says. There’s no point waiting for the world to return to normal; it won’t. Changes now are shaping the industry’s future. It’s more important than ever to understand your customers - and how they are changing - and to keep up with new opportunities in the wake of the pandemic. Effective marketing depends on effective research to provide the facts and insight you need to direct your strategy. MRA Research looks forward to supporting both old and new customers with the insight and edge they need to make the right decisions and compete effectively in 2022.
Richard Jackson UK Sales Director, Freefoam
Paul Ford Managing Director, Abcell
Kurt Greatrex Sales Director, Dekko Window Systems
On of the biggest changes to emerge from the pandemic has been the way people use their homes. Hybrid working means we’re spending more time at home and people are improving their properties to make them more spacious, attractive and energy efficient.
Supply chain issues dominated the conversation in 2021 - not just in the glazing industry but across construction as a whole. However, at Abcell we have used this as an opportunity to expand our operations.
The past two years have certainly been a rollercoaster, but at Dekko, we remained committed to delivering the best service possible.
Last year we predicted cladding to grow fast in 2021, and we weren’t wrong. External cladding is an easy, low maintenance way to give homes an instant transforming facelift. But used with insulation, cladding can also make a big difference to a property’s energy performance. This is the big trend! Freefoam’s premium X-Wood, and Fortex cladding sales are growing strongly. So, in response to demand, we’re launching two new cladding solutions in 2022. Fortex Clic 180, with click-fit interlocking boards for easy installation on any external surface, is ideal for home improvement projects, extensions and garden rooms. We’re also launching an ‘open V’ cladding solution – more details soon! We wish you a happy and prosperous 2022.
As the Glazed Extension Merchants, we were already the UK’s largest trade manufacturer of Guardian Warm Roofs and WarmCore, as well as fabricating the Ultraframe roof range, Stratus lanterns, and AluK windows and doors. This year has seen us add Deceuninck uPVC windows and doors and Truedor composite doors to our range. Our customers already had access to a huge selection of roofing options for conservatories and extensions, as well as aluminium windows and doors. By diversifying into uPVC, with the option of Graf-welded products for seamless joins, and composites – they now really can get everything they need from us, whatever the project. As part of this expansion, we’ve also invested in new machinery and added key members to the Abcell team. There are even more plans in the pipeline for 2022 – watch this space!
18 months ago, we opened a new 25,000 square foot manufacturing facility dedicated to the production of Räum, our exclusive aluminium range. That, combined with key investments and strong partnerships with our suppliers, meant lead times of Räum, as well as the Residence Collection and Infinity, our two leading uPVC ranges, were kept as lean as possible. As a result, we’ve experienced our best-ever 12-month period, recording a 40% sales increase. Come the new year, we will be investing in a new CRM software which will allow us to streamline everything from customer enquiries and quotes to production and supply. We’re also planning on growing our apprenticeship programme and upskilling more young people. Our team is always grateful to our customers and suppliers for their continued support. We wish them all a Merry Christmas, and we very much look forward to continuing these relationships into the new year.
December 2021 | www.glassnews.co.uk
VOICE OF THE INDUSTRY
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
Nathan Barr Managing Director, ODL Europe
Mike Parczuk Managing Director, Sternfenster
Geoff Bishop – Marketing Manager, Victorian Sliders
Sam Nuckey, Managing Director, Window Ware
2021 has been a busy year for us and we’ve been working hard to help our customers maximise the opportunities that the booming market has delivered. At the same time, we continue to manage the challenges of escalating costs of freight and container restrictions due to peak trading conditions worldwide.
The home improvement boom will mean that most, if not all, installers will be starting 2022 with enough orders to keep them busy until at least the end of Q1.
What a year! After a hectic but extremely exciting period, we’re coming to the end of the most successful twelve months in Victorian Sliders’ history.
The big question is, how much longer can we expect the boom to continue? Leads are already starting to slow, a sign perhaps that consumer confidence is beginning to dwindle and that homeowners had finally had enough of splashing their lockdown cash.
We’ve seen soaring demand for the kind of authentic, low-maintenance, costeffective and sustainable sash window products we provide, not just from homeowners, but housebuilders too.
We certainly haven’t got bored of talking about record sales months this year, but unprecedented demand coupled with the pandemic and a straining global supply chain have really kept us on our toes!
We’ve made several large-scale investments to support our business growth and help us manage the supply chain challenges. This has included investment in a new state of the art injection moulding machine for our door cassette production, which has allowed us to take more control over our product inventory. It’s been an exciting year for our new products. Our game-changing 30-minute Guardsman fire door is revolutionising the sector while our Deco and Moderne door ranges have proven popular as they tap into today’s door design trends. We’ve got a lot to look forward to in 2022, not least the return of the FIT Show. We’re looking forward to face-to-face exhibiting and to welcoming customers old and new to our stand at the show.
Unlike other sectors, has been very fortunate but it’s now time to get back to basics and re-focus on lead gen and the sales process. Through the introduction of our new Proposal Builder system – a next generation online quotation package – we will continue to ensure that our customers have the tools they need to make the most of whatever 2022 has in store. We will also continue to invest in our most important asset, our workforce. We have already earned Silver Investors in People accreditation and I have every confidence that we will achieve our company vision of Gold IIP status in 2022.
www.glassnews.co.uk | December 2021
Throughout the year, we’ve continued to invest in every aspect of our business – bringing in dozens of new employees to help meet demand after a highly successful recruitment event, significantly expanding our transport fleet, and opening a major new depot in Harlow. Perhaps most notably of all, we’ve received a significant investment from Growth Fund, who’ve acquired a 31% stake in Victorian Sliders worth £14m to drive the business forward – and now, to top it all off, we’ve just been named winner in the Fabricator/ Manufacturer category at the National Fenestration Awards! With their support of BGF and our fantastic customers, we’ll be able to achieve even bigger and better things in 2022 and beyond.
Despite the challenges, our quick-thinking and resourceful team have done an amazing job of supporting our customers at every turn and meeting the constantly changing needs of the market. With high demand set to continue into next year, our team will be looking to maintain the same strong customer focus going forward and ensure the current volumes are sustainable for the duration. We know how much our customers depend on our products and services to keep their businesses moving and we’ll do our utmost to continue to be exactly the hardware supply partner they need in 2022. I’d like to thank all of our customers for their loyalty over the last 12 months and wish them a fantastic Christmas and New Year.
Nick Bailey Business Development Manager, Business Micros We gave the industry a glimpse of our new TOUCH software platform in 2021, with the launch of our TOUCH Vendor quoting and lead generation tool for installers. The response so far has been really excellent, but the real game changer is still to come in 2022. Next year, we’ll be rolling out the TOUCH Portal system for fabricators, which will enable installers out in the field to quote and price using datasets direct from their own supplier. Some of the biggest named fabricators in the UK are already well on their way to release. From that point, installers won’t need to manage their own product ranges, sizes or options in Vendor if they don’t want to. Instead, they’ll be able to link to their chosen fabricator’s Portal and use the data straight out of their Evolution manufacturing software. It’s been a long time in development, but we can promise the market that it will be worth the wait.
Martin Hitchin CEO, REHAU UK REHAU published its Sustainability Report 2020 in August 2021 and, although it was delayed due to COVID-19, it provides up-to-date figures on our sustainability efforts. These include CO2 savings of 97,000 tonnes through using recyclates from our polymer processing facilities. We’re extremely proud of the significant upscaling of PVCR processes and expansion of existing installer portfolios accomplished to date, achieving a recycling share of 54% in 2020, with 65% a target for 2025. Alongside our polymer recycling capabilities, REHAU is taking a digitalfirst approach into 2022 to encourage more efficient processes and further development existing REHAU initiatives. For example, our Window. ID solution uses a tag to provide installers and fabricators with data about the window’s assembly and whole lifetime even after it is recycled into another frame, further encouraging the circular economy. REHAU Connect allows installers and fabricators to send and receive documentation electronically, cutting down on unnecessary physical paperwork. We look forward to further advancing these initiatives, which will allow demand and supply come together faster, and more sustainably.
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VOICE OF THE INDUSTRY
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
Ian Cocken, Director of Sales and Marketing, aluplast
Jay Patel Director, Everglade Windows
Sioned Roberts Marketing Director, AluK
The last 18 months have been hugely challenging and while aluplast has not been immune from the problems that have affected the whole industry, the strength of our resources have allowed us to manage the situation better than most.
There are plenty of positives that Everglade Windows and our customers can take from 2021. It’s been a busy year and great to see our aïr, aïr MOD Series and One Collection products being used in some amazing home transformations as homeowners rushed to spend their hard-earned cash on improving their properties after spending so much more time at home.
At AluK, we’ve been leading the debate around the impact the new Building Regs are likely to have on the industry. As well as fast tracking the product enhancements we need to make, we’re also now gearing up to roll out a communications programme for 2022, which will keep our fabricators up to date; and hopefully help them educate installers and homeowners about how lower U-Values for windows and doors tie into the overall green agenda.
We have doubled our turnover for the last two years and we have grown our market share. We’ve achieved that by maintaining our lines of supply, including our standard foil options available from stock, through our level of service and our product offer. For 2022, I think we will see a drop in the high levels of demand that have been sustained since the mid2019, but I’m anticipating further growth for our market leading flush sash offer and for our Smart Slide patio door. 2022 will also mark the opening of our new £26m production facility which is due to come on line in the summer. With the potential to house up to 50 twin extrusion lines, it will crank up our already impressive capacity and further enhance our ability to service our growing customer base in the UK and Ireland.
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In the factory, we’ve marched on with our pre2020 plans. Over £1.5m has been invested in three new machines including a Schirmer uPVC cutting & machining centre, Rotox SVK 508 welder and Emmegi Comet aluminium CNC machine. As we move into 2022, we’re looking forward to continuing with our investment and having more time for product development, to improve our exclusive range even further. We’re also excited to get back to more face-to-face contact with customers and our industry peers too, and as we’ve missed two years of our legendary Everglade Trade Customer Conference, plans are already underway for a bigger and better event than ever before!
It won’t just be about education though. The marketing team have got lots of exciting plans for new digital and POS tools designed to help our customers grow their businesses with us. Stock availability and supply chain obviously dominated the industry narrative for much of 2021, and AluK has been impacted alongside everybody else. Obviously, none of us is entirely out of the woods yet and the coming weeks I’m sure will still be challenging, but I’m hopeful we’ll see an improvement in early 2022. I hope our customers have a relaxing and enjoyable Christmas and can look forward to a prosperous and successful New Year.
Huw Williams Commercial Director, ERA parent company Tyman UK and Ireland Every area of the industry has been significantly impacted by the repercussions of the pandemic, which have created supply chain issues on an unprecedented scale over the last 12 months. The uplift in home improvement spending far exceeded both our own demand forecasts and those of our customers, which, when combined with distribution delays and the increased cost of raw materials, created a strained trading environment for all of us. However, there are some positives that can be taken from 2021. The acceleration in demand has encouraged every stage of the supply chain to collaborate, fostering stronger relationships between manufacturers, suppliers and customers in many instances. Together, we have taken steps to build better and more robust supply chain processes to improve product availability, now and in the future. It’s fair to say we’ve also become more resilient – our teams have adapted to the challenges thrown at us and we’ve worked hard to help customers capitalise on the opportunities created by a buoyant housing market and the home improvement boom.
Danelle Kaukau Head of Member Services, Certass
Chris Beedel Director of Membership, FENSA
It’s not been the easiest of years, but it’s shown the true resilience of our sector. Certass members continued to be the ambassadors for our industry in front of homeowners, delivering some fantastic workmanship throughout the home improvement boom.
The FENSA community have performed incredibly all year. In the midst of a pandemic and facing staff shortages, they’ve dealt with a surging demand from homeowners for home improvements. All whilst battling extended lead times, staff shortages and now an energy crisis that will see prices being passed down the supply chain.
This year, Certass has focussed on delivering inclusive and practical support that members want. Our Certass TA members-only Facebook forum continues to be a lively engaging place to chat and get questions answered fast. This year, we also launched the Installer Protection Committee, which is helping to get installer’s issues heard at Government-level. Certifiedcompetent.co.uk also went live in 2021 – a website for consumers, powered by Certass, to help them find their local Certass installer and get in touch with them for a quote on their home improvement project. Every Certass member has their own profile, complete with genuine customer reviews, which so far tally 64,000! We’re looking forward to catching up with everyone in person, so be sure to stop by the Certass Installer Support Hub at Fit Show in May!
Sustainability and net zero will undoubtedly dominate conversations with homeowners next year and this summer saw the launch of FENSA Recycling, a free collection service that enables all FENSA Approved Installers to recycle their U-PVC frames for free and provide evidence of their green credentials to customers (47) 2020 brought previously unseen issues but in many ways this year has surpassed the challenges first brought about by COVID 19 and to see our community of FENSA Approved Installers continue to register huge volumes of work throughout the year is brilliant to see. I want to take this opportunity to thank every single FENSA Approved Installer for their work this year and wish them all a very merry Christmas.
December 2021 | www.glassnews.co.uk
VOICE OF THE INDUSTRY
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
Dave Mechem Director of Operations, RISA
Irene Akpojaro Operations Manager, Installsure
Lis Clarke Operations Director, BFRC
Chris Byers Managing Director, ExtrudaSeal
Mark Bromley CEO , Avantis Hardware and Kubu
A remarkable year in many ways and one in which RISA has completed over 11,000 assessments of FENSA Approved Installers. Their dedication to completing work of such a high standard during a pandemic is testament to their professionalism and the overall quality in the face of unprecedented demand is hugely impressive.
Installsure have seen a record number of applications to join us this year from installers across the UK both with FENSA and other competent person schemes and the number of policies issued this year has far exceeded expectations and the figures seen in 2020. We continue to be a leading IBG provider to the glazing industry.
Right now, BFRC energy ratings have never been more important. We have a generation of homeowners who are rightly aware of their carbon footprint and now there is heightened awareness of energy prices rising and just what new windows and doors can do to reduce a home’s monthly bills.
The glazing industry hasn’t seen a year like 2021 for quite some time. The supply chain challenges and consistently high demand has affected everyone. At ExtrudaSeal, we continued to innovate and 2021 saw the launch of PremaSeal, a seal which uses anti-stretch technology designed to help fabricators make better windows, doors and bifolds.
Like everyone in the hardware market it’s been a challenging year in terms of product supply, but thanks to our own manufacturing facility in Malaysia, we have fared better than most, given our local knowledge and resources.
The year has seen RISA’s Expert Witness service take off with homeowners and installers alike. Our independence and impartiality in providing expert reports for customers to help resolve differences and avoid litigation has proven hugely popular for the money it has saved all parties. It has exceeded everyone’s expectations. It will be very interesting to see how the proposed changes to Approved Documents F&L affect how installers view Trickle Vents in the face of homeowners not wanting them on their new windows and doors. But I’m confident they will adapt, continue to produce work of outstanding quality and contribute hugely to the new home working environments their customers desire.
Pleasingly we have seen a large drop in the number of claims made this year. This goes to prove that despite challenging trading conditions very few installers have gone out of business and consumer demand remains buoyant. We don’t expect to see any major changes to that demand for the first half of next year at the very least. We’ve also seen a big increase from our clients asking about Commercial IBGs and Performance Bonds over the past year suggesting that a lot of installers have diversified and taking on both domestic and commercial contracts and that Performance Bonds are becoming more commonplace in larger contracts. That’s something we expect to continue to grow over the next 12 months.
www.glassnews.co.uk | December 2021
We’ve seen an increasing number of installers using BFRC ratings as part of their sales pitch with homeowners this year and particularly from FENSA Approved Installers who get free BFRC ratings when they buy from a BFRC manufacturer. This trend is only going to increase over the next 12 months as the cost of living continues to increase for everyone and people look for ways to cut their bills. In addition, the trend towards home working and their new office environment signals a more rounded conversation will need to be had with consumers on noise reduction and how their windows can cut their energy bills. It’s been a challenging year in many ways but one that has shown how adaptable and skilled those working in glazing are.
It was also fantastic to see the return of meeting people face-to-face again and it’s been a pleasure to see lots of familiar faces at events like PiGs. It was a shame that FIT Show was postponed, but we look forward to its return next year, where we will be showing visitors how we can improve their products with our range of seals and gaskets. As we go into 2022, we hope things will be calmer, which will give fabricators and installers a chance to focus more on innovation and creating better performing windows and doors, and products like PremaSeal are the perfect way to do this.
Throughout the year much development work has been done with our Kubu smart-sensor platform and new range of multi-point locks which will be with us early in the New Year, as will the window and retro-fit sensors. This will take us and our business partners directly into the smart home market in 2022 and already many leading manufacturers are with us for the journey ahead as their smart partner of choice. Inevitably there will be others launching next year and no doubt they will have to go through 18 months of development work as we’ve done with Kubu. It could also make for the most exciting FIT Show for several years where will also be looking to share our vision for a smarter future. But before then we’d like to wish our customers, suppliers, and business partners the very best for the festive period.
Rhonda Ridge Managing Director, Ab Initio Systems Ltd/ AdminBase Even if the drivers are incredibly complex, the net result of combined Brexit/pandemic-related issues for the window and door industry is, for most, a boom in sales. This increase in sales in the residential sector has brought with it many challenges for installers. Who have in turn sought solutions to managing the additional complexities that this has presented, and which has brought them to our door. The outcome is that sales of AdminBase are running 40% higher than for 2020, itself an extraordinary period. And these companies will enjoy enhanced efficiencies within their businesses, efficiencies that will continue to provide daily benefits, not just during boom times. At the ‘coalface’ of our industry, AdminBase is a reliable measure of both how well the industry is performing and of how positively it has faced and adapted to the changes with which it has been presented. And in such a dynamic market, we are responding to provide AdminBase with the most dynamic development in its 23 year history. Lots to show at FIT Show in May.
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Stephen Nadin Managing Director, Endurance Doors
Robert Thiroff Managing Director, profine UK
2021 has been a year of business challenges for us all, exacerbated by a sustained level of accelerated consumer demand and so we’ve put in place systems and processes that have assisted us in dealing with these issues. The changes made have also been for the long-term and will serve us well as demand subsides and supply chains normalise next year.
This year has had its challenges, yet we leave 2021 in a better position than from when we started, thanks to the hard work by staff, investment from the group and in new personnel. We’re looking into 2022 with considerable optimism and with a new and expanded sales and marketing function led by Kevin Warner.
Communications have been key throughout the last 12 months and more recently our investment programme has realised Amicus, an IT led infrastructure that provides tickets for all customer enquiries, not only speeding up the process but providing considerably better lines of communication and transparency across the business. We’ve also invested heavily with a recruitment programme that has also brought in two further members to the marketing team, not to mention the launch of the eagerly anticipated, ultrapremium Avantal door.
Next year the industry will likely see the introduction to a change in the building regulations, with a U-value of 1.2 W/(m2K) widely mooted, something that our new flush sash window can achieve as standard. We’ve also doubled our FIT Show commitment with new product and service initiatives to launch, just a matter of weeks on from Fensterbau.
We’re looking for another strong year ahead for Endurance and will be looking to further invest in the overall customer experience for our Installer Partners, including furthering the intensive marketing programme. But for now, we wish everyone the very best over the festive season.
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We’ve also got another major announcement due to be unveiled at the show, but above all, we’ll be looking to ignite the KÖMMERLING name once again with the strong values that the brand has always been associated with. The team and I would like to wish customers, suppliers, business partners and the wider industry all the very best for the festive break.
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
Sarah Hitchings Sales and Marketing Director, The Residence Collection and Window Widgets This year our focus has been about product supply given the social, economic and political factors that have affected the economy as a whole. We’ve also recruited across all business disciplines, and are pleased to have taken on five apprentices in HR, Finance, Marketing, Customer Service and Operations via Gloucestershire College. In February we proudly achieved a zero-landfill mark and is the first part of our plan to be a carbonneutral site by 2025, well ahead of the guidelines laid down by The Climate Pledge. It’s also been a year in which we’ve celebrated our 21st year in business with Window Widgets, raising money for GM Fundraising and We Mind Kelly Matters with various ideas and events which will continue into 2022. A huge thank you to our customers for their loyalty and support this year, and a well done to the wider industry for all working tirelessly in what has been an exceptionally demanding year. I hope we all get to enjoy a wellearned rest over the festive break and come back in 2022 ready to go again, whatever the challenges!
Ryan Johnson, Managing Director, Emplas
Rob McGlennon Managing Director, Deceuninck
Nigel Headford Director, Deceuninck Aluminium
2021 was another challenging year, but we adapted and overcame those challenges giving us a solid foundation for 2022.
2022 has got to be about sustainability. The challenges that we’ve been hit by as an industry in the last year have been immense - but ultimately, they’re only a distraction from a far more fundamental change.
2021 has been a slightly ‘brutal’ but incredible year for Decalu. Brutal because of the hours that I’ve spent on the road, brilliant because of the number of fabricators that we’ve brought on.
This included the launch of our aluminium offer. A key growth area, our customers can buy PVC-U and aluminium from a single source, in addition to glass. We also invested in our service and support offer. Supply chain challenge meant that the last year wasn’t always easy (and we’d like to say thank you to our customers for their support - and sometimes patience!). We’ve learnt from that experience and used it to drive innovation in our systems and support offers, making them more agile and flexible long-term – we’ve adapted to change but not everyone has. Continuing supply chain disruption and energy price increases will place pressure on cashflow and manufacturers in the year ahead. This is something which will further impact installer security of supply. For good or bad, 2021 has made us better at what we do and investment led, we’re here for the future, our own but most importantly our customers’.
The UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) highlighted the acute impact that we are having globally on climate change. It also highlights the expectations that are now being placed upon us by consumers. We need to recycle more, we need to use less energy and lower our CO2 footprint, because it’s the right thing to do - but also because it will be fundamental to doing business in the future. Our recycling facility has the capacity to reprocess up to 45,000 tonnes of waste PVC-U a year. That’s the equivalent of preventing 3million windows from going to landfill, delivering a 90,000tonne reduction in CO2 emissions compared to virgin material. This story will win Deceuninck fabricators and installers business in the future and we’re committed to supporting them in telling it.
We have full coverage throughout the UK. That’s important because the demand that we’re seeing from installers continues to grow. Their buy-in has been incredible, which means that as we’ve brought new fabricators on, we’ve been able to offer them leads and orders on top of manufacturing efficiencies of up to 40%. We’re also now working with fabricators on some very exciting commercial applications, in part because of the energy performance of the system. Decalu will achieve u-values as low as 0.6W/ m2K, comfortably meeting the changes to Part L this year and beyond - even the 0.8W/m2K being suggested for 2025 under the Future Homes Standard. That’s because Decalu is a next generation aluminium system, combining thermal performance with fabrication and significant installation efficiencies. We’re committed to underpin that with service and support levels which redefine expectations in aluminium.
December 2021 | www.glassnews.co.uk
VOICE OF THE INDUSTRY
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
Andrew Scott Managing Director, Purplex
Alex Tremlett Operations Manager, Insight Data
Elton Boocock Managing Director, Business Pilot
The industry has certainly had another rollercoaster year with many companies achieving record orderbooks, but unfortunately material and labour shortages have clearly impacted lead-times and service levels.
2021 has seen the highest level of volatility since Insight Data first started recording trends in 2008. 709 firms have closed their doors since the pandemic started, and the number of fabricators and installers has dropped below 14,000 for the first time ever.
2021 zapped a lot of energy but some of the challenges that people faced, remote working, staying in control of their business and on top of their supply chain, worked for us, because it exposed gaps in their systems and prompted installers to look for solutions.
Looking forward, I predict demand will stabilise but remain strong. Unemployment levels are at record lows, interest rates remain low (despite an expected increase), and consumers are still sitting on large cash reserves following the pandemic. For those companies who have ambition and are able to push through the current challenges, there is huge opportunities ahead. The highlight for me was hosting the Glazing Summit in October, bringing together over 400 industry leaders and realising that this industry has some of the most resilient leaders in British business. It will be interesting to look back when we host the 2022 Glazing Summit. At Purplex, 2021 was a year of investment as we built a new HQ and recruited and trained dozens of new employees - ready to support our customers as we move forward into 2022 and beyond, in a world where marketing and customer behaviour is constantly changing.
However, it isn’t all bad news - in fact, there is significant opportunities ahead. The home improvement market remains strong with continued consumer demand and a buoyant housing market, while a drive towards more sustainable low-carbon homes will create future demand. At the recent Glazing Summit, we highlighted several key survey results among installers including a significant increase in average order values and sales conversion rates. And, with less competition in the marketplace, the industry has an opportunity to reverse the ‘race to the bottom’ on price. The supply chain issues have taken their toll on service levels and throttled growth for many companies. However, we expect firms to bounce-back strongly in 2022 by reviewing their supply chain partners and adapting their business model. This could lead, for example, to more companies moving back into manufacturing themselves, rather than relying on fabricators or IGU manufacturers.
www.glassnews.co.uk | December 2021
That is what Business Pilot is - it’s an out of the box solution for running every element of your business from lead generation, to supply chain and installations, to finances and reporting. You can optimize everything about your business because everything is visible. That visibility is going to be important in the year ahead. Leads won’t dry up overnight, everyone is far too busy, but it won’t be there for ever. Now is the time to fix the roof while the sun is still shining. Understand your business, what’s working what isn’t and put the systems in place which allow you to take back control and work more effectively. Business Pilot is designed by installers for installers. It’s everything that you need to run your retail operation.
Roger Hartshorn CEO, Sheerline Demand from commercial and homeowner projects for aluminium products continued to rise as we emerged from the blight of Covid. This, coupled with a market plagued by supply issues made 2021 an interesting year. However, our high level of vertical integration and the commitment to investment we’ve made as a market leading manufacturer – one of only a few in the UK – has enabled Sheerline to achieve fantastic growth against this challenging backdrop. Customers are beginning to reap the benefits of offering our truly integrated product range, and this success looks set to accelerate in 2022. Next year is going to be busy! 2022 will see us introduce more exceptional products based around Sheerline’s three fundamental principles; our patented corner construction, unique Thermlock technology® and our unbeatable service. Proactive fabricators who keep an ‘eye on the future’ can be confident that all our systems are ready for the new proposed tightening of Part L as we move towards the Future Homes Standard. We wish our customers and the market a Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year.
Chris Bailey, UK and Ireland Business Development Manager, Kall Kwik It’s been an incredibly busy year for us at Kall Kwik, but it’s also been a very exciting one. As with everyone in the industry, we’ve seen demand go through the roof and have been busier than ever, and there have been plenty more positives to come from 2021. This year has seen us launch our innovative new ACE partner scheme, which offers fabricators a comprehensive support package for their machinery. We’ve also expanded our team, adding experienced industry engineer Danny Jones as our Technical Director. With a 20-year career in the industry, his addition to the Kall Kwik team means we can now offer an unbeatable level of expertise. We’ve completed some big installations this year, which shows that people are still keen to invest in new machinery. We expect that to continue in 2022, with the past year showing just how important it is to have efficient machinery in place to help manufacturers cope with the pressure of increases in demand.
Dave Broxton Managing Director, Bohle Ltd. Given the trials of the last couple of years while like everyone else. I’m hoping for a return to normality in 2022, I’m not convinced things will. Business is moving into a new era, where the strength of a company is no longer measured simply by its financial stability, but also in its resilience and ability to overcome global and market challenges. Just in time delivery is exposed when supply chains are disrupted. Bohle and others will be investing in more inventory whilst simultaneously streamlining product offerings to mitigate the impact on working capital. The market is also moving ever more digital and Bohle has invested in the latest IT and comms technology with a brand new website offering due next year which will redefine and simplify how customers order online. The environment too will be a big driver in 2022. Businesses will be held accountable by Government and the market for the manner in which they use the planet’s resources. Customers will be seeking sustainable products and recycling raw materials.
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Christina Shaw Managing Director, Glass People Ltd I always think of the words from the Eagle song ‘Hotel California’ when it comes to the window industry, ‘’You can check-out any time you like, but you can never leave!“ And why would you want to? Our industry has proven itself resilient in the face of adversity, time and time again. I’m proud to be a part of you window lot and I’d like to congratulate us all for plowing through the last couple of years and facing the numerous obstacles in our way, head on. Thank you also to our customers, your support has been unwavering and we are looking forward to visiting you again, and of course, meeting up at The FIT Show for a long overdue catch up. Have a wonderful Christmas. Wishing you and your families health and success for 2022 and beyond.
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Mark Gore Sales and Marketing Manager, Pearl Windows Systems Ltd 2021 has been an incredibly busy year for reasons we all know, we feel at Pearl we have made the best of the situation for ourselves and our customers throughout 2021. Not to be relaxed in our approach we have In the background been busy preparing our own bespoke software developments ready to launch for 2022, we believe these will set us aside from our competitors, in turbulent times we will allow new transparency for customers who are desperate to see the progress and tracking of their order and much more. 2022 will see a reboot of our “Signature Collection” marketing which our customers already love, what we have achieved in these brochures will be a game changer and can only complement our Signature package once again. With Pearl Windows Systems offering “The Signature Collection” we have on offer a market-leading sales package for any business large or small that will make you stand out in a crowd. Innovative back up from caring talented people and unrivalled service to support, to enable you to stand out from the competition and capitalise on opportunities and challenges that 2022 will undoubtedly bring. We are here because we care about you!
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
Dan Sullivan MD, DOORCO 2021 has been a rollercoaster year for DoorCo. We’ve had highs with the successful launch of two significant products – GRiPCORE & FLiP – a full company rebrand (which involved a lot of soul searching for us as a business!), we’ve expanded our team and grown our customer base. But, for most of the year, we have been on code red as we’ve battled with the widely reported supply chain shortages. For the last 18 months, we have been firefighting and running at 100mph, whilst trying to make sure we don’t lose the spirit that built the business. We are emerging stronger and better from all the lessons learnt over this time and we look forward to starting 2022 on a slightly more even keel. We have the FIT Show to look forward to, where we will have a chance to share what DoorCo today looks like with the industry, and more innovations to showcase. We’d like to take this opportunity to thank all our customers for their continued loyalty and send our best wishes for the festive period.
Paul Godwin Managing Director, VAST PR & Director, FIT Show My background as cofounder of the FIT Show and also as publicist for many of the industry’s best brands, gives me insights from many perspectives. These leave me impressed by the resourcefulness, ingenuity, inventiveness, pragmatism and capacity for sheer hard work that seems to be available in spades in the UK window and door sector. I believe these instincts are nurtured by entrepreneurs who intuitively dig deeper, perhaps in lieu of academic qualifications, and who only know two speeds: full and stop. These qualities have carried the industry through the biggest test that most of us have been put to in our lifetimes, let alone careers. In March 2020 many wondered if it was the end of their businesses and livelihoods. Just over two years later we will be gathering at the FIT Show, which for me will be far more than a mere ‘tradeshow’, but more a celebration of having come through (so far) such trials, and to emerge stronger. I can’t wait to renew the acquaintance of so many friends and colleagues after an enforced absence. See you all there!
Deborah Hendry Managing Director, Kolorseal Ltd
Guy Hubble Joint Managing Director, Regalead
Despite the ups-anddowns of another tough year for everyone, we hope that 2021 has been successful …or that things are moving forward positively as we head into 2022.
After a year dominated by supply chain issues and exceptional levels of demand, I think the industry is ready for more normalised year in 2022. Although as the market ‘bubble’ is starting to deflate, I think we can expect a difficult first quarter, followed by a levelling out as we go into the summer.
With supply chain issues and lead times having affected just about everyone, I think light at the end of what seems a very long tunnel is nearing. We would like to thank our customers for working with us, and also for their patience when it was needed. Your loyalty is very much appreciated by everyone at Kolorseal. Having won the NFA Colour Specialist accolade in November, we hope it demonstrates our understanding and commitment to the sector, as well as to customers’ businesses. I personally am very grateful for our continuing partnerships, and we look forward to working together with you in the new year, when we will be launching some exciting new developments. Here’s to a happy and healthy 2022 for you and yours!
RegaLead is heading into the new year with exceptionally high stock levels, ready to deliver to customers, who should be taking advantage of the new era of the composite door market - ‘replacement of a replacement’. We’re looking forward to seeing many more customers face-to-face at FiT Show. We have lots of exciting product launches planned, include some major revisions to our door glass range, which have been put on hold throughout the pandemic whilst we focussed our efforts on maintaining supply of our existing products. I’d like to express my personal gratitude to every RegaLead customer for their patience and understanding through these times, with any luck, we can all enjoy a week on the beach next summer!
December 2021 | www.glassnews.co.uk
VOICE OF THE INDUSTRY
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
Gareth Jones Managing Director, Solar Group (Huthwaite) I attended the Glazing Summit, where there were some interesting debates and people were talking positively about order books into next year. But, even so, I was surprised by the economic outlook, which was remarkably upbeat. I’m a pragmatist and I can’t see how the industry can continue with the volumes it’s carrying. I think we’re in for a challenging 2022 – household disposable income will very likely shrink as a result of inflation, interest rates and taxation, and where there’s a drop in disposable income, there will be a drop in spending. This is bound to affect the home improvement sector…the question is when, by how much and for how long? While we have a very strong, efficient operation across Solar Group and will be putting a lot into marketing, introducing new concepts at the FIT Show, I will be mindful of the potential for a slowdown in the industry. We will be positioning the businesses to grow market share and to make sure a downturn won’t impact our group of companies.
Nigel Leivers Managing Director, Frame Fast
Asa McGillian MD, New World Developments
Nickie West Event Director, FIT Show
Ross Hartshorn Manufacturing Director, Garnalex
Simon Scholes MD, VEKA Recycling Ltd
There have been many highlights for Frame Fast in 2021 – not least, from a personal point of view, was my appointment as Managing Director after 18 years with the company – a position I was incredibly proud to accept.
Add what the world has been through in the past couple of years, to the residual problems that affect all of us in the UK and Ireland and, without wishing to bleat on about it too much, for us over here, the Irish Sea border… our year has been remarkably positive.
That’s a wrap on 2021. Another challenging year, but with many positive highlights and lots to look forward to in 2022. The event industry, like many, has been hit hard by the pandemic. It’s testament to the strength and resilience of our community, and its loyalty to the FIT Show brand, that we are entering 2022 with record visitor registrations, and with more than 80% of the floorplan allocated.
After, our initial investment of £15m in our state-of-the-art facility, it’s exhilarating to see our press in full flow during 2021, providing a responsive service to both our trade customers, as well as for our own Sheerline range. We’re proud to be a truly ‘Made in Britain’ manufacturer.
2021 saw the completion of a factory many years in the making. A strong team effort during the pandemic has written the latest chapter in the VEKA recycling story and year of refinement of a construction project that took 2 years to complete. I am proud of all we have achieved and honoured to lead such a fantastic group of people.
Our company is where it is today due to a combination of hard work, dedication, close customer relationships and a great team, and I’m looking forward to leading Frame Fast into the next step of its growth. We’ve also been working hard to launch our own apprenticeship scheme, enabling youngsters to get hands-on experience fabricating windows and doors in our state-of-the-art factory. We are expanding this with a training school for fabricator apprentices, creating a highly skilled workforce and supporting the professionalisation of the industry. We’ll be celebrating our 25th anniversary in 2022 – showing the continued success of the business and the ongoing commitment of our team - and we have lots of special plans to make sure we mark the occasion in the best way possible.
www.glassnews.co.uk | December 2021
Our installer customers have shown remarkable resilience and responded well to our intensive social media-based video campaigns that have produced impressive volumes of sales leads. And interestingly our more recent TV campaign has provided an intriguing insight and shift in how to reach homeowners. But all of our direct-to-consumer campaigns are receiving more funding for ’22. Product development is something that excites me and we have some terrific new developments for doors and windows under both brands planned for 2022…and with the addition of more good-oldfashioned field sales people, we are very optimistic for next year. For now, we would like to wish all of our colleagues in the window and door industry, a relaxing and enjoyable Festive Season.
I’d like to say a very BIG thank you to each and every one of our FIT Show Family. From their patience and understanding about postponing FIT Show 2021, through to attending our inaugural online learning event in their droves. The FIT Show community never ceases to amaze me. I am more excited than ever to finally be on the home stretch to FIT Show in May 2022 - a truly positive landmark in the industry calendar. I cannot wait to celebrate with everyone as we bring the market back together and showcase everything that has been accomplished over the last three years. See you all soon!
At the heart of our operation is our very own ‘Blue Whale’ a 220-tonne, 32MN force SMS HybrEx press, which consumes 55% less energy by using the latest hybrid drive technology to provide up to 4-tonnes an hour of aluminium extrusion. We have recently started a second shift to help ramp up ahead of next years increased demand forecast. It is great to see so many of our customers so busy. 2022 will see Garnalex continue to invest, ensuring we maintain our exceptional levels of service and provide customers with an honest and open approach to guarantee we exceed their expectations. Standing still is not an option at Garnalex, we aim to offer our customers the best, long-term solutions. Sheerline staff and I would like to wish our customers a very Merry Christmas.
We became a 24/7 business as we geared up to answer the significantly increased demand for high quality recycled material. And we are at the forefront of change as the PVC-U window and door industry accepts both the importance of recycling and inclusion of recycled material in new profiles, and the power that these bring to our messages as an industry. 2022 will see us celebrate 15 years since we were established in the UK and with this milestone achieved, we are looking forward to joining our sister company, VEKA Plc, at the FIT Show next year. A Merry Christmas to everyone and a prosperous 2022!
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The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
! IZE PR
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Fill in all the answers in the grid from the clues below, fill in your contact details below and send your competition entry to: FAO: Miss Christina Shaw, Glass News Competitions, 19 Heather Close, Tickhill, Doncaster, DN11 9UU or Email: christina@glassnews.co.uk. Entry deadline: 20/12/21. Across
Down
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Fill in your answer and your contact details below and send your competition entry to: FAO: Miss Christina Shaw, Glass News Competitions, 19 Heather Close, Tickhill, Doncaster, DN11 9UU or Email: christina@glassnews.co.uk.
Entry deadline: 20/12/21.
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