SUPALITE IS EXPANDING ITS
NETWORK OF FABRICATORS
Join the SupaLite Revolution THE INTERNATIONAL CENTRE, TELFORD 12 - 14 APRIL 2016
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Come and see the NEW Orangery and MonoRoof
Wegoma advances under new name – “Avantek is now an official Urban dealer and stockist of Urban spares.” Avantek Machinery Ltd will still be supplying the trusted Wegoma brand of machinery, but the decision to change the name has been taken to herald another step forward in the company’s development. As well as offering the full range of Wegoma machinery and the highly successful Supercut range of custom built machining centres, Avantek
is now an official Urban dealer and stockist of Urban spares – many available off the shelf. Offering a wider choice of brands allows Avantek to provide an even better service to window fabricators all over the UK. With Quanex Building Products’ resources behind the company, Avantek Machinery is able to provide a different approach to other machinery providers by offering much reduced lead times and often immediate availability of machinery from stock. Continued on page 4...
IS !! TH NTH MO
Named 2015 NFA Machinery Company of the Year, Wegoma Machinery Sales has changed its name to Avantek Machinery Ltd with effect from February 2016 – reflecting the growth and expansion of the company.
Issue 59 February 2016
The Right People Read Glass News IS !! TH NTH MO
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FEBRUARY 2016
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
Bits & pieces...
It’s February and it’s that sort of month. Bits and pieces. Reaction from editorials past, industry events on the horizon and a Voice of the Industry question that has taken me by surprise.
So let’s start with that surprise. As many of you will know, we pose a question each month in the Voice of the Industry and invite response to that question from a variety of people in the industry. Some questions realise as many as 30 responses and some much fewer – until this month when we only attracted a couple of replies. Perhaps naivety on my part has something to do with it. With no wish to bring politics into any discussion, I sought opinion on the UK’s membership of the European Union and the upcoming referendum. And this is where my naivety comes in. I failed to see that people may view this much as if I had asked them how they voted in the general election. To me, the referendum on our membership has nothing to do with politics and everything to do with what is right for our country – from law making and finance to immigration and defence of our shores. So what was the question that brought an almost nil response? It was, I thought, innocuous enough: I don’t want to drag people into politics but, as one of the really ‘don’t knows’ over the question of Europe, I would like to understand the advantages and disadvantages of being a member of the European Union. It seems that we could be looking at a referendum as early as June this year….on the other hand it may not be until 2017, and all inveigled in the machinations of when the time looks right to get the answer the PM hopes for! “We can all look at the questions such as our sovereignty and interference from Brussels; the vast sums paid into the EU coffers; the wasted money and dodgy expenses claimed by politicians and, of course, the whole question of immigration and should we have an open door policy. But putting all of that on one side, what does EU membership mean to our industry and our individual companies? Indeed, is there even a definitive answer? The question I want to ask is this:
‘TIME OUT’Winners – DECEMBER! Crossword: Rachel Tomlinson, Nottingham Eye Spy: Gillian Shields, Leeds
On now to another bit of controversy. In December’s edition of Glass News I wrote a piece concerning the proposed new PAS24:2016 regulation and, specifically, the cutting test for doors. I received a ‘Letter to the Editor’ from Gareth Mobley, CEO of Solidor, saying that “your December leader is inaccurate and out of date in a number of respects” and, in the spirit of fair play, his letter is published on Page 78. Rather than reply to Gareth’s letter in the next edition of Glass News I have added my ‘Editor’s Comments’ against the points he has made in an effort to bring both clarity and accuracy to what appears to be a highly emotive subject.
Spot The Difference: Martin Horton, Evans Building & Plant Hire, Bridport, Dorset
And now to a couple of months, March and April, when we have an opportunity to mix it with our peers in the industry. The next opportunity for industry networking is on Thursday 3 March when PIGS descends on Manchester. It’s being held at The Castlefield Rooms, 18-20 Castle Street, Manchester M3 4LZ and it’s a really good venue. The last time PIGS was held here it was really well attended and I’m sure we all hope for a similar turnout this time. Oh! And the time? As ever, 17.00 hours until late!
Congratulations to all our winners! Good Luck in this months Time Out pages!
Finally, April sees The FIT Show open its doors at Telford. What really excites me is that I believe it is around 20% bigger in floor space and there will be as many as 35 new faces appearing in 2016. Some who have waited to see how successful the show has been before investing themselves and some simply new to the industry. It seems there will be a number of product launches, a good example being Epwin who will unveil a range of new products in what may be the industry’s worst kept secret! Another example is Lumi with their range of customisable, matching frameless windows, bi-folds and doors from Apeer – the first time these products have been shown at a trade show. And there are many more. Roll on April!
Sudoku: C. Sidebottom, Wiltshire
‘TIME OUT’Winners – JANUARY! Crossword: Sue Edwards, Stockport Eye Spy: L. Dixon, Carlisle Spot The Difference: Becky Stenton, Float Glass, Manchester Sudoku: David McCabe, Scarva
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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
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I would really appreciate a response on this question as the thoughts of the business community greatly outweigh the nonsense presented to us by the politicians!”
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4 Front Cover Story 4 Trade News 35 FIT Show 2016 Preview 30 Installer Focus 42 Windows 48 Doors & Hardware 62 Glass News Interview: DOORCO 64 Sky Lights & Roof Lantern 65 Conservatories 68 Glass News Interview: Everest 70 Colour 72 Aluminium 73 The Year Of Improvement 75 Glass News Interview: Universal Arches 76 Machinery 78 Letters 80 Glass 86 Careers 92 Face To Face 94 Time Out! 95 Legal Eagle 95 Find A Supplier
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‘With a referendum in the offing that could mean the UK remains in the European Union, or leaves it, which option do you feel would be most advantageous to our industry, as a whole, and your own company, in particular? And why?’
I really wish that I could have received enough answers to help me understand the issues better and guide me towards the right decision and, in the hope that some volunteers may come out of the woodwork and answer the question in 160 words, we’ll hold this European question over until March. Answers to chris@glassnews.co.uk
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FRONT COVER Continued from page 1... Together with an in-house, fully trained service team, software and mechanical telephone support and direct trouble-shooting access via remote connection over the internet, the Avantek team delivers unparalleled standards of service to the UK window fabricator for both installation and after-care.
TRADE NEWS OBITUARY
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Solidor invests significantly in continuing fast growth
Supplying a full and comprehensive product range from hand tools, up to and including fully CNC controlled production lines, the team’s comprehensive industry experience has been gained over decades to address the various challenges of window manufacture. “We felt it was the ideal time for a change of name to reflect the growing diversity of the company,” explained Flamstead CEO Roger Hartshorn. “Now that we’re an official Urban dealer and stockist, as well as supplying various other quality brands, we needed a name to signify that. Avantek was chosen as it’s made up of the Italian word ‘avanti’, meaning ‘to move forward’, combined with the cutting edge technology used in our machinery range. “We are obviously delighted to continue to supply Wegoma machinery, as well as our own high-end Supercut machining centres, but the new name and branding will help us move forward with other exciting plans during 2016 and beyond.” In addition to the name change, the Avantek team is being strengthened with the appointment of Dave Phillips to Technical Director. Dave has been instrumental in the development of the Supercut machining centre and reports to Managing Director Dave Watts. Gary Mayer completes the senior management team as Sales Director and new roles are also planned in readiness for the Urban dealership. Avantek Machinery will be exhibiting at the FIT Show in April – stand 330 in Hall 3 – pay the team a visit to find out what else is new for 2016. For more information go to www.avantekmachinery.co.uk or call 01332 883 910.
READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0004
4
Morley Glass & Glazing has launched a new range of exclusive colours for its pleated blinds fitted within its Uni-Blind® sealed units.
A message from VBH MD, Peter Rowlands
Obituary:
Andy Gibbons
It is with great sadness that I have to announce that Andy Gibbons, one of our longest serving team members, has passed away. Andy, who was only 44, suffered a severe heart attack in April and had been undergoing treatment towards his recovery at hospitals in Birmingham and Leamington. With constant support from his family, he battled bravely for eight months but finally succumbed on 12th December. A true hardware man, Andy worked for Laidlaw Thomson and City Fix before joining VBH (then known as Wagner) in 1993 in the role of Sales Office Liaison. He was an expert in hardware for aluminium windows and doors and worked his way up to the position of Aluminium Product Manager, which allowed him to shape the company’s product range for the aluminium sector. The bulk of Andy’s work involved dealing with the aluminium systems houses and fabricators throughout the UK and Ireland and he was well liked by all who knew him, as he brought his down to earth, friendly style to his work. The directors and staff of VBH send our heartfelt sympathies to Andy’s family and friends, in particular to his wife, Jo, and their three young sons. We will miss our colleague and friend dearly. READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0005
MORLEY GLASS & GLAZING LAUNCHES NEW COLOUR RANGE FOR INTEGRAL PLEATED BLINDS
Solidor Group Operations Director Mike Price & CEO Gareth Mobley.
Solidor is making significant investments to increase efficiency, productivity and capacity. The leading composite door manufacturer in design, quality, and security is paving the way for continuing fast growth in 2016–2018.
The range of stylish pleated blinds are manufactured from woven polyester fabric and are now available in a choice of 18 colour options, so they’re able to perfectly complement any interior. Allowing a soft diffusion of light, integral pleated blinds are an attractive, elegant blind solution with a number of practical benefits including their ability to fold neatly away to provide you with clear views - perfect for any window or conservatory. Two-sided sample cards are available from Morley Glass & Glazing. Call 0113 277 8722 or visit www.morleyglass.co.uk.
Part of DW3 Products Group, Solidor has invested in a new Super 6 Saw Centre, a new 9th SCM flatbed CNC and new vehicles. It’s doubled the size of its sales team, and added a further 28,000ft2 unit in the past 3 months. Group Operations Director Mike Price says: “Enthusiastic support from DW3 has enabled us to embrace the growth Solidor has achieved this year and run with it. Our new Saw Centre and CNC have increased our manufacturing capacity, and the additional site means we have room to grow. Ensuring efficiencies are high is important, and we’re constantly improving our processes to ensure demand is met without issue. “We’ve invested a lot in colour, style and security plus state of the art marketing so our customers can grow fast. This investment means customers can continue to grow their sales with confidence knowing they’ll get what they order on time and in full,” adds Mike. “And we’ve doubled the size of our sales team so customers get all the attention and support they need. With all this and more investment planned, 2016 is shaping up to be a very exciting year!” To find out what selling Solidor can do for your business visit www.solidor.co.uk, call 01782 950 941 or follow @SolidorLtd. READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0006
“The range of stylish pleated blinds are manufactured from woven polyester fabric and are now available in a choice of 18 colour options, so they’re able to perfectly complement any interior.” READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0007
February 2016 | www.glassnews.co.uk
0216/0000
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It’s estimated that, nationwide, one in four commercial windows comes from The VEKA UK Group. Specifiers know they can count on quality from The VEKA UK Group. Style, strength, security and sustainability come together with a host of accreditations. 01282 725390 | salesenquiry@veka.com
The VEKA UK Group 0216/0008
tTheFacts #JustTheFACTS www.vekauk.com
www.glassnews.co.uk | February 2016
The VEKA UK Group
5
TRADE NEWS
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Great partnerships occur when all parties have the opportunity to contribute It is a fact that if you look through any aspect of life great ‘partnerships’ are always remembered – and business is no different. But it is only when all parties have the opportunity to contribute that those great partnerships come to fruition. Our industry has been awash with ‘partnerships’ throughout its history, but there are not too many which would jump out if we were asked to name them. Our approach to
partnership was to develop something which was going to sustain in the long term, and the foundation for that was to develop it in such a way that the installers we work with would have a genuine opportunity to play a part in it. We didn’t want to be just another supplier talking about ‘installer partners’; we wanted to be different, and we wanted to be able to talk about genuine two way relationships with the people we work with. This has been a part of the IG Doors ethos for as long as anyone can remember and for our Truedor customers the time was absolutely right to develop our own dedicated ‘Partnership Programme’. Our ‘programme’ is not just about what we can offer our customers to help them sell more of our products, it is also about how
they can contribute to the whole programme by committing their time and expertise so that we all benefit. Tangible two support underpinned by a culture of true partnership is what we set out to achieve and the results are already there for people to see. FIT show in April will give us the opportunity to showcase our ‘Partnership Programme’ and we look forward to having the opportunity to talk to you all about it at that time. Richard Kirman is Sales and Marketing Manager for IG Doors Trade Division. For more information, visit www.truedor.co.uk or call 01633
READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0009
Double R Invests in the Quickest Vertical Super Spacer, Automatic Hot Melt IGU line in the World With a 15 year heritage and a reputation as one of the industry’s pioneering fabricators, Double R Glass & Roofing Systems has once again raised the bar with the announcement of its investment in the world’s fastest vertical Super Spacer Automatic Hot Melt IGU line. This significant deal with the Promac Group will give extra capacity to support Double R’s future strategic growth, as well as providing the manufacturer with previously unavailable productivity gains and efficiency benefits. Ian Sims, Managing Director of Double R, comments: “Double R celebrated
6
15 years in business last October and in that time we have grown because of our complete focus on offering the very best solutions to our customers. The latest investment in our IGU manufacturing facility is testament to this approach and means we can guarantee not only consistent quality, but can also maintain our value for money promise.
“We approached Promac about this unique machine because we felt that Forel/ Promac had the right mix of skills, experience and resources to produce a truly fast sealed unit line. From the first contact with Joe (Hague – Group Managing Director of Promac) and through visits to Forel, we have come to realise that our original belief in the two companies as the
right partners for us was absolutely the right one. Forel’s facility in Roncade Nr Venice is testament to the quality of products they produce and it is clear to see how important they view the relationship with Joe and his team. Promac has supported us throughout the entire process, from the initial contact and the first meeting with Forel, through advice and support during
the manufacturing process, further visits in Italy and, last but definitely not least, through the installation. Promac’s Engineers, led by Paz DiLello, are incredibly knowledgeable about Forel equipment and, whilst this is the first of its kind, their expertise has made the installation and commissioning as painless as possible. “This line consists of some of the best engineering I’ve ever seen. It’s superbly built and its emphasis on proactive fault diagnosis is impressive. Its speed is driven by the mass of IT technology built in, with computers talking to one another to maximise the space on the line to ensure that the next unit is always ready to progress. The IT informs you what and where the problem is and displays images of faulty parts to assist Engineers in making the necessary repairs. Whilst we all hope that we don’t have issues with machines, we know that things can go wrong and the work that Forel have put into the diagnostic areas is impressive. “Collectively, we have been able to improve the
line’s performance by optimising each component part. Putting each process and element under the microscope, we’ve been able to drive in even more efficiencies and productivity gains throughout the entire process from the vertical washing machine, Super Spacer applicator, tape applicator, automatic argon gas coupling press and sealing robot, and of course, the shape recognition and quality scanner. The line does everything it used to do, but it does it much faster now. So much so, that a double glazed unit can be processed in 20 seconds, and a triple every 33 seconds. “Double R has always tried to be leaders, whether in conservatory roofs as the first Fabricator of Guardian roofs, or in glass as the first installer of TruShield. Throughout our history there have been ‘firsts’ and I am proud that the future of automatic sealed unit lines has been shaped by Double R.” For more information visit www.glassandroofs.co.uk or call 01933 443658. READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0010
February 2016 | www.glassnews.co.uk
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LUMI GROWS WITH £200k
QUALITY STANDARDS BRING POSITIVE RESULTS FOR TUFFX
Apeer, creator of the Lumi seamless window system, has invested a further £200,000 in specialised machinery to keep pace with growing demand for its radical innovation.
“Now that it has earned such acclaim from trade and homeowners alike, we are more than happy to invest in it even further.
The quality standards of the Ambience range from TuffX has once again inspired consumer investment. In one specific extension project the Ambi Neutral product option was selected due to the thermal properties it offered as well as the striking aesthetic which heightened the overall finished look.
“Lumi is our first venture into window manufacture but it is already shaping up to be a significant part of our output. With this additional investment, we are confident we are fully ready to meet the demand that we expect from this exciting project.”
With consumers continuing to invest to add value and year round living space, the Ambience range of thermally efficient, easy maintenance, solar controlled products are generating increased sales and referral business for the company’s customers.
The Lumi system is the latest range from Apeer, which also includes its Traditional, Contemporary and the ultra-contemporary Modo composite door collections.
customer, including optimum use of light and varying temperature changes that would occur both internally and externally. For this reason the Ambi Neutral product made the ideal choice.
Large orangery style extensions still remain popular and as shown in one particular project, it was to be an integral part of the home that would be used as the kitchen. A number of aspects therefore needed careful consideration by the TuffX
For many customers the broad selection available in the Ambience range greatly improves business opportunities as the end user can make informed decisions about the varying performances of the glass, which have all been
MACHINERY BOOST
Lumi was an instant show-stopper when it was launched in May at Grand Designs Live, London, after two years in development and an investment of £500,000. Now, with orders flowing in and a UK-wide installer network almost
complete, Apeer is adding a further major investment to strengthen and speed up production. The Lumi manufacturing process is carried out in a separate production plant at the Ballymena location with a new factory already in the pipeline. The company says the new equipment will enhance the main manufacturing processes and increase efficiency and quality control as well as ensuring the capacity to meet future demand. Linda Tomb, Marketing Manager for Apeer said
“We put a great deal of money into developing Lumi based on our initial market research and we have been delighted with the reaction since the launch.
READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0011
developed to overcome restrictions caused by weather extremes. Andy Hayes, Sales Manager for Ambience comments, “It is rewarding to see that we are providing the right solutions for our customers. This project is testament to the skills and diligence of the entire team, as we have developed a range that is technically advanced and that is clearly inspiring investment.” He concludes, “The homeowner is delighted with the finished project and this has led to referral business for our customer.” For more information on the Ambience range please visit the website www. ambiglass.co.uk or call 0845 3 400 200 to discuss project requirements. Tel: 0845 3400 200 www.tuffxglass.co.uk READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0012
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MRA Marketing wins top award with Deceuninck in prestigious CMAs Full service agency MRA Marketing has won the coveted 2015 Construction Marketing Award (CMA) for Strategic Planning & Management for its work with Deceuninck. The award was presented by Guest of Honour and Chief Executive of The Chartered Institute of Marketing Chris Daly.
mentions in Deceuninck’s annual and quarterly reports. It has been rewarded with £2m investment in innovative new products such as the new top-performing patio Slider24 and market beating Fully Reversible Window, a new warehouse to house all its 26 colours from stock, and a new target, to get to No.1 in the UK.
“We’re delighted to have our success with Deceuninck recognised with the top award in this year’s CMAs. Our strategic thinking, creative insight and strong implementation are helping Deceuninck deliver exceptional results,” says Director of MRA Marketing, Lucia Di Stazio.
Deceuninck is one of the world’s leading PVC-U systems companies and top three in all major PVC-U markets apart from the UK. Roy Frost, Managing Director Deceuninck UK says “MRA is helping put Deceuninck at the heart of the market and on the road to No.1. We’re thrilled this prestigious award recognises what we have achieved.”
The judges said it was a: “Well thought through strategy, a well-constructed plan aggressively executed. A good entry with great results!” Deceuninck UK’s strong growth and overall performance has been recognised by repeated
To find out how MRA can help you achieve exceptional results visit www.mra-marketing. com or email lucia@mra-marketing.com.
Fuel Card Services boosts staff benefits with Perkbox
(L-R) The evening’s host Mick Brown, drive time DJ on London’s Radio Jackie; Deceuninck Sales Director Rob McGlennon; Director of MRA Marketing Lucia Di Stazio; CIM Chief Executive Chris Daly; Managing Director of MRA Marketing Mike Rigby. READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0014
The VEKA UK Group impresses
at Annual Energy Management Meeting
The VEKA UK Group's Burnley HQ has played host to a number of international guests for the global VEKA Group's second annual Energy Management Meeting. VEKA colleagues from sites around the world gathered to attend this meeting, in order to set targets for improved energy consumption and to share best practice suggestions with each other. Attendees included representatives from Germany, Russia, Poland, France, Spain, USA and GEALAN (which was acquired by the Worldwide VEKA Group in 2014).
Russ Kenyon, head of group sales, said, “Our continuing year-on-year success is largely due to finding and keeping excellent people. Naturally, rewarding them has always been hugely important to us. Everyone likes to receive extra treats and Perkbox offers an efficient way of delivering the sort of worthwhile goodies our people deserve.”
Discussing innovative ideas and gaining insights from companies that have the same goals can be incredibly valuable when you consider that The VEKA UK Group foots energy bills of £1.4m! The main focus of this year's meeting was how to work towards the requirements of EN5001. Sales and Marketing Director of The VEKA UK Group, Colin Torley, explains: “The EN5001 legislation was introduced to encourage large energy users to make steps to reduce energy usage by 2019. We aim to be compliant by 2018, a full year before it becomes compulsory. “Here at The VEKA UK Group, we are incredibly proud of our energy efficiency measures and the many ways in which we've led the industry in this area.
“We were the first PVC-U manufacturer to create a window system able to achieve an 'A' rating for energy efficiency, but we don't simply focus our attention on our products. Our own working practices and services are under constant scrutiny to see if they can be made more efficient. “We've halved the amount of electricity we use since 2002 and, since 2008, we've also halved the amount of gas consumed. “With a view to reducing energy use, we have already installed heat reclamation systems on our air compressors. This means that we are able to use the hot oil that has been warmed by the compressors to heat a whole block of offices at our Burnley base! “We've gone from two boilers down to one energy-efficient boiler which is used simply as a 'back up' during the Christmas period when oil from the compressors is not being heated. “We are phasing all our lights over to LED lighting which uses 32 watts, rather than the 54 watts used by tube lights.
8
Fuel Card Services has enhanced its attractive employee benefits by adding the Perkbox programme. Its people already enjoy rest area televisions, fresh fruit baskets, massage chairs and an extra ‘birthday’ day off. The new engagement programme brings further rewards and incentives to 300 personnel across all five Fuel Card Services offices.
“We monitor the compressed air and water used across the factory, as well as measuring the energy usage on each individual extrusion line. In this way, we are able to tweak the machinery used in the extrusion process to save energy. Our engineers regularly change the pumps on the lines to optimise performance by reducing the vacuum created during the extrusion process. “The next project in the pipeline is to refurbish the crane in the high bay warehouse to further increase its energy efficiency. “So... all in all, I think it's fair to say we're doing our bit! “The visitors from our worldwide VEKA sites were very impressed when they were given a tour of the plant, and I think we have all shared some great ideas to put into practice across the Group.” Tel: 01282 716611 www.vekauk.com
READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0015
The benefits include discounts at supermarkets, 50 high street chains and 20,000 shops nationally. Other offers cover restaurants, coffee shops, theatres, tourist attractions, gyms, technology, travel and insurance. There are thousands of rewards altogether, all easily redeemed via a smartphone app or through the Perkbox web site. Fuel Card Services is currently recruiting account management staff. They will be responsible for bringing in new customers and then looking after their business needs. No previous experience is necessary, with full NVQ training provided in sales and account management. Applicants will need to be excellent communicators with a confident telephone manner, selfmotivated, energetic and positive. They can expect a competitive salary with uncapped performance bonus, life assurance, pension, discounts on private healthcare and more – including the Perkbox programme. People wanting to find out more about joining Fuel Card Services in Burnley, Glasgow, Leeds, Oxford or Whitstable should email careers@ fuelcardservices.com. READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0016
February 2016 | www.glassnews.co.uk
br NE oc Pe f hu ar or W l re C ! C om 20 all p 1 fo os 6 r y ite ! ou D r F oo RE r Ec op y.
0216/0017
Do you get all this from your supplier? Perfect Finish!
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• A+ rated. Lower cost window with higher thermal benefits than timber – in addition to being fully secure. • Available in sculptured profile with the flush finish on external faces, 28mm double or triple glazing, internally beaded, with a wide choice of opening configurations, colours, finishes, hardware and glazing.
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FREE electronic ordering software via Business Micros Evo Satellite. Enables you to process orders and obtain instant quotes with real time ordering and glass sizes! NO MORE WAITING. In addition, this is now complimented with our new Portal software for ordering and pricing bespoke items such as Bi-fold Doors, Composite Doors and Patio Doors, in full colour. You can use this software on your desktop, iPad or smartphone.
Ground Breaking Industry First! • Online Warranty Registration Scheme – Direct to the Manufacturer – Reducing Remedials! • 25 Years Anti-corrosion Warranty on Trojan stainless steel, chrome and gold door handles and stainless steel letter plates.
ROSION OR I-C
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State-of-the-art Factory! Liniar’s largest fabricator!
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Our Flush Sash Windows offer the realism of a traditional pre-1932 timber window combined with 21st century thermal benefits. Many property owners require a traditional timber window frame, sometimes due to planning or environmental restrictions.
YEARS
• Personalise your Liniar bi-fold – available in a huge variety of colours
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Liniar Modlok Patio from £255 +VAT
– colour matched, lead free, PVCu trims and matching silicone sealants – now available from Pearl!
• 10 Years Door Warranty on Fullex door locks, Trojan flag hinges and Kenrick door cylinders. • 10 Years Casement Warranty on Total Hardware friction stays, Trojan window handles and Kenrick shootbolts and espags.
• The most competitively priced composite doors available • Stunning selection of glass options
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0030 - NOV15 - PEARL FULL PAGE AD_V5.indd 1 www.glassnews.co.uk | February 2016
www.pearlwindows.co.uk Tel: 0800 014 2769 | Email: sales@pearlwindows.co.uk
21/01/2016 19:04
9
TRADE NEWS
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper Conservatory Outlet Focus Boards.
A customercentric display
at Conservatory Outlet Living up to its reputation as an “Investors in People” company, and one to “inspire Britain”, according to the London Stock Exchange Group, Conservatory Outlet has launched a new scheme aimed at strengthening the relationship between its employees and retail partners. “Enabling staff to feel responsible for what they manufacture is both a way to encourage them to develop, and to make sure we provide the best possible products,” said joint managing director, Michael Giscombe. This is why the management team have decided to install 100 “customer-focus” boards in the offices, warehouses and manufacturing facility, each featuring information about the company’s retail partners, including their logo, photos of past installations and key people, as well as value statements. The initiative aims to foster a more personal connection between the company and its exclusive customers - giving employees a greater awareness of their importance in the supply chain, as well as the satisfaction of seeing their work turned into a finished installation. “We want our staff to know and appreciate our retail partners by more than just an account number or job reference”, said Michael. “At the same time, it’s a great morale booster for them to realise just how many people rely on them, and the fantastic work they do. “To encourage this sense of ownership and belonging, it’s paramount that the operational staff sees the end-result of their efforts - a high-end installation on a family home,
10
“To encourage this sense of ownership and belonging, it’s paramount that the operational staff sees the endresult of their efforts - a high-end installation on a family home, luxury property or grand design.” luxury property or grand design, rather than just a wrapped frame with corner protectors on, ready for dispatch.” This comes as the latest in a series of measures aimed at increasing employee engagement and satisfaction at Conservatory Outlet. To mark two separate record months, last year, the company produced a series of T-shirts depicting the number of projects involving Conservatory Outlet products, as well as the name of every member of staff. “At Conservatory Outlet, we know that maximising employee wellbeing and providing the best possible service to our customers are ‘mutually inclusive’ – in fact, they’re both crucial to a fabricator’s success. With these measures, we’re demonstrating our continued commitment to exceptional, industry-leading customer service, and to making Conservatory Outlet the best possible place to work,” concluded Michael. For more information email: webenquiries@conservatoryoutlet.co.uk READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0018
GLAZERITE’S PAUL SHREDS SOME SERIOUS POUNDS FOR WEDDING DAY There’s always an excuse when it comes to getting up off the couch and doing something active in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle, and Glazerite Windows Limited Purchasing Manager Paul Maddern knows this - and that’s precisely why he decided to make a change. With a wedding fast approaching, Paul and his now wife Abi – who was also recovering from invasive back surgery to correct lifelong scoliosis - decided that they were sick of being overweight and unfit. Adamant that they wanted to kick themselves into shape ready for the big day they worked with a personal trainer and the results were epic. “Both of us wanted to get in shape for the wedding to look our best,” explained Paul. “Abi’s operation for scoliosis meant she wasn't able to exercise for months. I'd put on three stone as well and just wanted to be trim, so we thought we'd give it a chance. “We wanted to improve our self-confidence and do our own rehab. I wouldn't say we were let down but Abi wasn't offered much in the way of physiotherapy. She wanted to strengthen her core after the operation.”
“It really was amazing seeing Paul’s transformation.”
Through a combination of exercise and eating better – cutting out junk food, chocolate and alcohol – Paul went from nearly 17 stone down to 14st 11lb, while also gaining a stone in muscle, while Abi went down to 9st 9lb from just over 11 stone. Achieved in just 16 weeks, personal trainer and nutritionist Simon Hall said of the transformation: “It was really quite emotional at the wedding as when I first met them they were really down, so it was great to see two energised, happy and lean people for their big day.” Healthy, happy and married, Paul’s colleague were amazed by the transformation. Glazerite Director Jason Thompson said: “It really was amazing seeing Paul’s transformation. In just four months he looked like a completely different person and we couldn’t be happier for him and Abi.” Following the transformation, both Paul and Abi were asked to appear on That’s Manchester, Freeview television channel 8, with trainer Simon to tell their story. Glazerite is VEKA’s largest trade fabricator in the UK as well as a prominent and long-standing Network VEKA member. It offers a fully nationwide service based on manufacturing units in Northants and Greater Manchester as well as a distribution hub in Bristol serving South Wales and The West of England. www.glazeritewindows.co.uk READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0019
February 2016 | www.glassnews.co.uk
0216/0020
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This product is in demand So all you need is a good, reliable supplier who can give you all the help and support you need to maximise the potential. Look no further than
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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. Registration No. RD320
www.glassnews.co.uk | February 2016
Local Authority Building Standards Scotland
11
TRADE NEWS
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
Sternfenster unfolds plans for next wave of growth
Force 8 adds Halo’s Rustique to an everexpanding product range
After a phenomenally successful 2015, Sternfenster is gearing up for further growth in the coming year with more machinery investment, and a new highprofile appointment. Sternfenster’s projected growth rate for 2016 has seen the appointment of industry-renowned Mike Wolstenholme as manufacturing director, tasked with overseeing operations and increasing both efficiency and production output in the year ahead. He brings with him an impressive industry track record spanning over twenty years, including time spent as operations director for EPWIN Group, and general manager in charge of manufacturing processes at Everest.
Stockport-based Network VEKA member, Force 8 has added the coveted Rustique profile system to its extensive offering. Force 8 specialises in providing arched frames bent from one continuous length of profile. The company has attracted customers from far and wide, who want a seamless finish for their arched windows and doors, without the need for unsightly joints. MD Dennis Sumner explains: “As a company, we're proud to offer our customers a host of specialist products and services that they wouldn't find elsewhere.
From our double rebate stable doors, to our arched composites - we strive to provide the perfect solution for unique projects. “Currently, we lead the industry in the arched frame market and, to expand our product offering even further, we've taken on the Halo Rustique profile. We've always used high quality
VEKA PVC-U systems and Rustique is another profile that comes with all the accreditations you would expect from a top supplier like The VEKA UK Group. “We actually stock lengths of profile, so that customers can order their arched frames from the appropriate profile system and benefit from minimal lead times. We're looking forward to welcoming Halo customers who want arches that don't involve cutting, welding or sanding! Our arched frames offer a seamless finish as they are manufactured from full lengths of profile meaning they look better, but they also perform flawlessly as each one has full steel reinforcement. “The Force 8 team will be exhibiting at the FIT Show this year, and we're looking forward to greeting customers, old and new, on our stand. We'll be showcasing arches using Halo's Rustique profile as well as a host of other products, such as our fire doors, stable doors and arched composite doors. We're also excited to unveil our unique, new French Door at the show.” Tel: 01282 716611 www.vekauk.com READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0021
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“I’m hugely excited to be joining Sternfenster”, Mike commented. “I’ve always admired their commitment to innovation and investment in new technologies, both of which are benefitting their customers and the end consumer, as well as their internal operations. The company had an amazing growth rate in 2015, and, with StyleLine, has created a highly marketable range supported by a very attractive brand.” “Now, our biggest priority is increasing productivity, so we can continue to meet the demands of a market hungry for highend products that appeal to today’s modern consumer.” To this end, Sternfenster has also invested considerably in new machinery, such as the recent acquisition of a £450,000 cutting and preparation machine, which the fabricator expects to see translated into greatly improved productivity and increased sales in the year ahead. After an exceptional first quarter in 2015, in which the company saw a 64% yearon-year increase in invoice sales, January 2016 is expected to be especially lucrative.
Mike Wolstenholme is Sternfenster’s new manufacturing director.
“We’ve had a great 2015, but we’re not resting on our laurels”, said Sternfenster managing director, Mike Parczuk. “Our growth strategy is built around offering our installer clients the very best products, and giving them a strong competitive edge in the marketplace, and I believe the appointment of Mike Wolstenholme, as well as the recent machinery investment, are instrumental to achieving our goals for the next 12 months. “In 2015 we have seen many installers turning to us, looking for a supplier that can offer the full product spectrum, and live up to the promises it makes regarding lead times, ordering processes, marketing support, and general assistance – and we’re investing extensively to ensure that we are constantly pushing to further improve the quality of the services we provide,” concluded Mike Parczuk. For more information contact Sternfenster on 01522 512525, or visit www.sternfenster.com. READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0022
Residence 9 installers
get more (and more!) leads Residence 9’s successful consumer marketing strategy is taking off, and generating 10% more leads every month on average compared to each previous month. R9 installers are benefitting from homeowners that know what they want, and where to get it. Part of DW3 Products Group, Residence 9 makes beautiful and authentic windows the way they’re meant to be. Active social media accounts and eye-catching installation images are spreading the word among homeowners, who find their local Residence 9 installer by visiting the website and typing in their postcode (www.residence9.co.uk). Managing Director Dan Gill says: “Residence 9 installations are stunning so they attract the attention of homeowners with similar homes. The ‘Find an installer’ section of our website is easy to use, so homeowners are using it, and installers are getting leads through quickly and stress-free.
Residence 9 makes beautiful windows the way they’re meant to be.
“Residence 9 is designed to exude the elegance of traditional windows,” adds Dan. “The dimensions are authentic so they look beautiful. They look like old style windows but performance matches today’s highest standards. That’s why Residence 9 is perfect for conservation projects or modern homes that want incredibly beautiful windows inside and out.” To find out more about Residence 9 visit www.residence9.co.uk, email innovation@ residence9.co.uk, or follow @residence9. READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0023
February 2016 | www.glassnews.co.uk
0216/0024
manager
www.glassnews.co.uk | February 2016
13
TRADE NEWS
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
CELEBRATIONS CONTINUE FOR WINNER EMPLAS
Green grants show questionable priorities
Having picked up a flurry of key awards towards the end of 2015 the celebrations are likely to continue well into the New Year for Wellingborough based trade fabricator Emplas. And as the company’s primary supplier it was only fitting that Profile 22’s Wolfgang Gorner should drop in with a bottle of cheer to help the celebrations continue. Emplas won the prestigious and much coveted Fabricator of the Year trophy at the G15 Awards, also being listed as one of the UK’s top manufacturing leaders by a specialist magazine in the same month. Emplas MD Ryan Johnson says they will be enjoying the accolades for some time to come: “We wanted the G15 trophy badly and we are delighted to have won it. We have made many advances within the business and this was the perfect way to celebrate the hard work and commitment that these have involved for a great team of people.
“The Manufacturer Top 100 Listing is meaningful for the recognition of our business as a leading manufacturer per se and says a great deal of how the window, door and conservatory industry is being taken seriously these days.” The G15 award follows the launch of the Emplas Installer Partnership last year, with significant growth and investment in its state-of-the-art, Northamptonshire manufacturing facility. It is hot on the heels of winning two categories in the 2014 G Awards - the Customer Care Initiative
Award and also the Conservatory Installer of the Year through Emplas’ retail business T&K Home Improvements. Handing over a bottle of champagne Wolfgang Gorner said that Profile 22’s pride in Emplas runs deep: “We have worked closely with Emplas over many years through a great partnership and so we are delighted that Emplas has been recognised with these important awards.” READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0025
Introducing DORMA MUNDUS patch fittings,
The government says that its commitment to green transport has seen £2 billion worth of measures during the last five years. It will invest another £600 million in low-emission technology by 2020. Steve Clarke said, “As a leader in sustainability ourselves, we know that EU and other pressures on the UK to meet emissions targets should not be ignored. Some van users will think, however, that this should be a lesser spending priority for an economy still recovering from recession.”
uniqUE & revloutionary DORMA, the trusted global partner for premium access solutions and services, has launched its new range of MUNDUS patch fittings. Providing multi-dimensional adjustment of the door even whilst mounted, the patches offer ease of installation for retrofit or new build projects. In addition MUNDUS Premium fittings offer a unique solution for Laminated Safety Glass using Clamp & Glue Technology – MUNDUS patches are designed and manufactured for reliable and long-term performance. Installation is simple and flexible. The MUNDUS patch fitting is mounted directly
onto the glass, with the cover cap simply clipped over the base fitting. When using LSG, DORMA’s Clamp & Glue Technology, the base fitting is secured with an adhesive, injected through inlet holes to ensure a permanent fit. The adhesive cures in a few minutes – leaving the glass held firmly in place. The new generation of MUNDUS patch fittings is suitable for glass thicknesses of 8-22mm, and is capable of accommodating door weights of up to 200kg, with the flexibility to provide door pivot points between 52 and 73mm.
The range of fittings is designed to suit all 24 standard types of toughened-glass door assembly as well as room structures with 90° angled fittings. MUNDUS patch fittings are available in a range of colours and materials to adapt to a variety of architectural finishes and interior design schemes. This is complemented by upgraded trims, which create a shadowing effect to ensure no visible fixings – a key requirement for many customers. Archie Teagle, Product Marketing Manager at DORMA said: “Our new MUNDUS patch fittings offer installers a high quality product with multi-dimensional adjustability that is easy to fit, giving installers flexibility for a wide range of applications and glass thickness. The reliability offered by the MUNDUS range is absolutely crucial as it is imperative patch fittings can cope with the weight of the glass.” For further information on DORMA’s range of access control solutions, please visit: www. dorma.com or follow @DORMAUK. READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0026
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Van users may not be too impressed by the latest government grants targeting greener transport, according to The Fuelcard People. Steve Clarke, group marketing manager, was commenting on the announcement of £7 million in government grants for retro-fitting 439 buses with NO2 reduction technology. He said, “Anything that improves vehicle sustainability has to be good, but van and other LCV users might question the government’s priorities.”
He pointed out that UK businesses continue to pay the world’s most crippling duties on fuel, as well as high road and other taxes. “If the government is going to spend billions on transport issues,” said Steve Clarke, “it could start by using some of the investment to help UK business. Falling oil prices help our international competitors, but over half of British refuelling costs come from fuel duty, at 57.95 per pence per litre. Cutting that cost is just one way to boost our economy and most van users could suggest others.” He said, “We must address sustainability, now and into the future. Nobody should question that. We should be questioning whether, here and now, there could be more immediately important ways to invest our taxes.” Steve Clarke’s long experience in the sector makes him perfectly positioned to comment. The Fuelcard People, which itself has industry-leading sustainability certification, works with many thousands of van users every day. It remains the only organisation from the automotive sector to become an Official Partner of Cool Earth, the globally renowned environmental charity. READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0027
February 2016 | www.glassnews.co.uk
0216/0028
we’Re setting
new RULes See WHY oN 12:04:16 www.profile22.co.uk
the best windows are made from
www.glassnews.co.uk | February 2016
15
TRADE NEWS
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
Industry & staff TuffX Processed pay tribute to Glass invests to much loved MD improve stock efficiency Specialist toughened glass manufacturer TuffX Processed Glass already has a reputation for being one of the most customer-oriented companies in the window industry. That reputation is set to be further enhanced with the installation of a new automated concertina racking system that will improve stock efficiency and extend storage space. Glazing industry leaders and staff at Caldwell Hardware UK and Cotswold Architectural Products have paid tribute to John Reeder, who sadly passed away in December 2015. Caldwell UK Ltd, which is the parent company of Cotswold Architectural Products, is a global leader in specialist hardware, with its headquarters in the USA. Its CEO Eric Mertz released a message to staff and the industry about John Reeder’s career as managing director of Caldwell UK.
Graham Price, TuffX’s Managing Director, said, “The new Hegla concertina racking system will have huge benefits for our business and our customers. It has been tailor made for our 55,000 square foot factory and its efficient use of space means it gives us more storage capacity than ever before, helping us to stock a wider and bigger range of products to supply our growing customer base.”
Eric comments: “John worked for us for four years, having joined the company on May 21st 2012 as operations director. He became managing director on November 10 2014 and played a pivotal role in the group’s acquisition of Cotswold Architectural Products.
TuffX’s new Hegla concertina racking system will store both 3m x 2m and 6m x 3m glass packs. It also caters for glass from between 4mm and 19mm thick, so can handle all of TuffX’s impressive range of glass thicknesses. It has up to 110 different storage combinations and concertinas automatically to maximise storage space and improve efficiency and health and safety.
“As was John’s way, he threw himself into the acquisition and worked tirelessly to ensure it was a smooth transition for staff of both businesses. He understood perfectly the importance of culture in a business; and how collaboration and sharing the values of the company is vital.”
TuffX Processed Glass manufactures high performance toughened safety glass in a wide range of thicknesses and styles in its Merseyside factory. Its product range includes toughened laminated glass, conservatory glass, balustrading, stairs, glass canopies, curtain walling and screen printed glass.
Eric continues: “Whether you were the cleaner or the CEO at Caldwell, everybody genuinely loved John. He was an out and out people person – lively, fun and engaging, nothing was ever too much trouble and he had time for everybody. And beneath the smile and larger than life personality was a sharp mind, an eye for business and an ability to spot opportunities and make the most of them. He was a true leader.
Its customer base has been growing rapidly in both trade and commercial sectors in recent years thanks to the impressive product range and commitment to customer service, which includes a standard delivery turnaround time of just four to five working days, with a fast track service available on request.
“Prior to joining Caldwell, John spent over seven years – two as managing director working at Compton Buildings, which is a trading division of Marshalls PLC. Raised in Kenilworth, he was a passionate Coventry City FC supporter and had a season ticket together with his wife Rachel and son Daniel. He was also a keen golfer and would tour the Greek islands two or three times a year. John loved life.”
The investment in the new Hegla automated concertina racking system looks set to help the company build on its reputation for quality and efficiency and help it to grow still further. Tel: 0845 3400 200 - www.tuffxglass.co.uk
16
Halo fabricator Masterframe was delighted to provide the replacement windows for a challenging refurbishment contract at The Royal Troon Golf Club on the Ayrshire coast. The Club has a rich history, having been founded in 1878, and will be proudly hosting the Open Championship again in 2016. In order to welcome the world's top golfers for the event, refurbishment was needed to bring the building back to its best. Club members had been experiencing problems with heating and noisy air-conditioning and it was felt that new windows would make the Club more thermally efficient. MD of Masterframe Windows Alan Burgess explains: “The decision was made to replace the majority of the windows throughout the building; a number were not even operational. New window systems were required in the restaurant, the club bar, smoking room, gentlemen's changing rooms, and three impressive windows in the Captain's locker room. “It was somewhat of a tricky project as the windows were fitted behind the original stone mullions. One of the Club's members actually recommended us to the architect and the contractor, thanks to our reputation as the UK's leading provider of sash windows. “As a company, sash windows is all we do and we are proud to produce the most authentic, true-to-original timber alternative sash windows in the UK. The Royal Troon Golf Club’s ethos mirrors our traditional values and dedication to excellence, so we were very pleased to work with the Club. “From a personal perspective, being a passionate golfer, I was determined to ensure that this project was a massive success by providing windows worthy of this prestigious establishment. Our aim was to recommend the very best solution to match the architecture of the club building, with
the most up-to-date features that we could manufacture. “The architect initially specified the windows using information from the our website. We were able to develop the project further by working together to create the ideal, bespoke solution, incorporating parts of the original specification and some of our own recommendations such as butt jointing and dual foils. “A high quality PVC-U window, created using Halo profile, was chosen to match the existing windows. These alternatives to timber offered the traditional aesthetics the Club wanted to maintain, along with a host of modern benefits. They were fitted behind rebates, without changing the visible sightlines, just like the originals. “The final specification was a Vintage Traditional window with fully butt jointed frames and sashes, complete with laminated Glass. “The windows would be complemented by Antique Brass claw cam catches and bar handles. Dual foiling was used in different combinations to suit the character of the various rooms, with white woodgrain externally. Interiors featured bright White Woodgrain, Irish Oak and rich Rosewood foils from The VEKA UK Group's Variations collection. “Upstairs, there are two unusual London style sash windows that are square on the inside with a full arch on the outside, which gave us the opportunity to demonstrate our technical skill. “The new, high quality PVC-U windows are more serviceable than the original timber windows, improving ventilation - especially in the changing rooms - and not requiring annual maintenance, despite being within 200 yards of the sea.” Chris Moran, House Governor of the club commented “The windows are universally acknowledged as being first class and a number of advocates of wood have stated they were wrong and have indicated that the quality of the windows and the fitting has been an outstanding success.”
Eric concludes by saying: “John was a loving husband to Rachel and a loving father to both Daniel and Faye. His family will miss him greatly, as will his extended family at Caldwell and Cotswold who saw first-hand every day how passionate and talented he was. He’ll be greatly missed by all.” READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0029
Prestigious golf club project brings Masterframe sashes to the FORE!
Tel: 01282 716611 - www.vekauk.com READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0030
READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0031
February 2016 | www.glassnews.co.uk
0216/0032
WE REVOLUTIONISED THE WINDOW INDUSTRY IN 2009 WE DID IT AGAIN IN 2012
S.T.E.M. 14.04.2016 THIS WILL CHANGE EVERYTHING. AGAIN www.glassnews.co.uk | February 2016
17
TRADE NEWS
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
THE ULTIMATE
TAKEAWAY
Glazerite Directors l to r Jason Thompson, John Hewitt and Mike Johnson.
Glazerite Windows Limited Director Jason Thompson believes he can make frames quicker and more cost effectively than most small fabricators. Well he would, wouldn’t he…
There is no denying the success of Glazerite since John Hewitt and Jason Thompson founded the company 15 years ago. Unfaltering year-on-year growth averaging 20% per annum peaking at just over £24 million in 2015 is quite a record and an enviable one for most other frame manufacturers. Glazerite’s success is based upon the simple premise that if you are going to do something then you should do it properly. Systems and procedures therefore apply throughout Glazerite and only after everything has been carefully thought through, tested and tested again is it put to work, the attention to detail is obsessive. Simple analysis of the performance of the market – 4.5% growth in 2014 according to Palmer – against Glazerite’s 22.2% - shows that Glazerite is taking business from other fabricators at a significant rate, and from a wide cross section of companies, large and small. Jason maintains there are a number of reasons for their continued success: “It’s a lot of things,” he insists, “with price being
a surprisingly long way down the list. Most of the time it’s security and dependability of supply and product quality that are the key deal breakers, the reasons why installers decide to move. And those are our key strengths,” added Jason. Of course most of Glazerite’s business gains are from installers. But increasingly Glazerite welcomes new customers that have been manufacturing their own frames for years, but for one reason or another decide that they no longer want to do so. “We attract around 8-10 companies a year that have decided that they no longer want to produce their own frames, explained Jason. “Most of them are looking to withdraw from manufacturing for similar reasons and usually it’s because it simply becomes uneconomical for them to continue. What is the point of manufacturing windows, doors and conservatories if you can make better margins by buying them in?” he asks.
But Jason believes that for every fabricator that decides through cold calculation that it will be more profitable to buy in frames and concentrate on marketing and driving up sales there are probably half a dozen more that cling on to their manufacturing operations when everything suggests they should buy in. “So many fabricators cling to production based upon nothing more than sentiment,” says Jason. “I do understand that; if a company has been producing its own frames for many years it is very difficult to make such a fundamental change as closing a factory, especially if the company is still in the black. It may not be making much money but whilst it does the difficult decision to let staff go and everything else that goes with closing an operation can be sidestepped. “Of course it is difficult to provide answers for that as such decisions are by definition very personal. But we can make an unequivocal case in every other respect and especially financially: if we can manufacturer a frame cheaper whilst offering consistently high – and often improved – quality, with reliable, planned deliveries, fast order-to-delivery turnaround – then it’s a no-brainer!” Jason admits that the pressures facing all window and door manufacturing operations are greater than ever: “Costs are increasing in every respect of manufacturing: labour, both production and management, factory maintenance and support, materials and components, quality control and capital investment…all of these issues and many more are part of the balancing act that is window and door manufacture, as every factory owner knows too well.
“If we can manufacturer a frame cheaper whilst offering consistently high – and often improved – quality, with reliable, planned deliveries, fast order-todelivery turnaround – then it’s a no-brainer!” 18
“Further pressures are added with market fluctuations: at present the market is reasonably stable though far from booming and that affects confidence. Investment
decisions are difficult if margins are being swallowed up by factory overheads that are becoming difficult to contain. “Many fabricators continue to make good profits despite these pressures. But many others are struggling and it is those that we have a solution for: to give up manufacturing to focus on marketing and selling products, literally to change the focus of the company from the problems of trying to squeeze a profit from a struggling manufacturing operation to what the goal should be: to sell as many windows and doors as possible, and at a good margin.” But as Jason acknowledges, it only becomes a simple case of economics when a company is facing failure: “It is rare that business owners can dispassionately decide to give up a large part – the largest usually – of its operations, its factory, even if it is clear that the company could make more money by buying products in. Such a decision is usually forced upon them. “There is a middle ground,” says Jason. “Many companies faced with difficulties in their manufacturing operations come to us to source some of their product range, to run products side-by-side to put outsourcing to the test and if it works, to move operations over gradually. That way they can keep the parts of their production that make good money, and outsource products that are more demanding and intensive to produce; or actually, those for which competition is toughest and for which margin erosion has taken its greatest toll. “What is crucial is to do something! Because if you manufacture frames and have found your profits slipping, doing nothing at all will certainly end in failure.”
READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0033
February 2016 | www.glassnews.co.uk
0216/0034
www.glassnews.co.uk | February 2016
19
TRADE NEWS
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
Swish customer wins awards Sumo Yuki hits the window industry for growth and excellence in order to keep trouble at bay The home improvement industry’s leading insurance backed guarantee and deposit protection provider has launched a campaign, which it says will become to the window industry what the famous meerkat from ‘compare the market’ is to consumer insurance.
“Our customers return to us because we have this specialist knowledge.” Swish fabricator Building Product Solutions (BPS) celebrated the end of 2015 by winning two major awards – one regional, and one national. Both awards were presented to recognise the 50% growth in turnover that the company had enjoyed over the previous 12 months.
The campaign is called #TOGETHERSTRONGER and fronting up the campaign is sumo Yuki – a wrestler from Japan who will work tirelessly to protect the industry from unscrupulous tradespeople - protect the majority of good home improvement companies - and promote best practice across the industry.
At the end of October, BPS won the Business Growth Award at the Barnsley and Rotherham Business Awards organised by Barnsley and Rotherham Chamber of Commerce. The company, which was presented the award in front of 500 distinguished guests, was also highly commended in two other categories: Apprentice of the Year, and Manufacturing Excellence. “The judges recognised that we have increased our turnover by 50% in 12 months, and increased our staff from 24 to 65 over the same period,” explained Lynne Darwin, BPS sales director, who was also shortlisted for the Business Person of the Year in the Sheffield Chamber of Commerce Business Awards. On top of that, Lynne was also named in The Manufacturer’s Top 100, and even singled out as an exemplar. “I am a big believer that if you get the right people you can do a lot of good things,” she said, “and it’s nice to get some recognition.” Lynne explained that BPS specialises in the new-build sector, with its expertise winning a client base that includes the top 10 house builders. The company currently supplies
The CPA has been providing IBGs and Deposit Protection for over 20 years and is widely recognised by consumers as a trusted resource for finding accredited and vetted installers. In addition to helping installers win more business, members can also take advantage of powerful sales and marketing literature, training seminars and a sales training guide. 1,000 windows a week, using the Swish 24/7 system, to 164 sites within a two-hour drive of its base in Rotherham.
CPA members also get access to the sought after quarterly assessment reports. Every time an installer registers an IBG, once the job is
“We offer a one-stop shop for all our clients’ needs, so they don’t need to go anywhere else, and we control the manufacture of everything,” she said. “Some fabricators fail in the new build sector because you have to manage those projects differently from a simple refurbishment project. Our software helps us to track projects from initial drawings right through to completion, and our customers return to us because we have this specialist knowledge.” READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0035
completed the consumer is sent a questionnaire to fill out, asking a series of questions about the installer’s work and approach.
This data is then collated by the CPA and sent to the installer in the form of a quarterly report, helping them to identify areas of service for improvement and increase best practice. Together with Yuki, the CPA is reinforcing the message that as a member, installers have these tools to help them to engage with consumers and win more sales in the home improvement market. Jeremy Brett, Managing Director of the CPA, comments: “A recent survey showed that 70% of consumers believe that CPA members provide the most protection and Yuki is here to further drill home this message and work to raise standards in the industry.” Yuki comments: “It’s good to be here and I am looking forward to working hard to help installers not only win more business but also raise standards in the industry. The Consumer Protections Association is a name that the public trusts and relies on – and 2016 is set to be a big year for us all.” In 2015 the CPA ran a campaign to reduce VAT on new-builds and met with Nadine Dorries MP to air concerns from their members and discuss issues affecting the construction industry. The CPA will also be running a competition on its website to rename Yuki the sumo. You can keep up to date with all the latest on Twitter with the hashtag #TOGETHERSTRONGER To get involved and become a CPA member call 01462 850064 or visit www.thecpa.co.uk. READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0036
Aluprof Listens to Specifiers In all forms of new and refurbished building construction, Specifiers today are seeking to reduce window frame sight lines to increase light transmittance. Aluprof, one of Europe's leading systems companies, have designed a system with the slimmest of sight lines, the new 'MB Slimline' system. With a fixed light and opening light aluminium face width of just 32.5mm Aluprof ’s new ‘MB Slimline’ window offers both good looks and high thermal performance - something steel window systems cannot offer. U values of below 1.00 are achievable, as the new system will accept both double and triple glazing options coupled with aluminium profiles which use wide polyamide thermal break. With a wide range of profiles available, the ‘MB Slimline’ system can offer high inertia ratings and slim, deep profiles, offering the specifier the ability to use the system in any large, or small, window spaces.
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Ideally suited to both new and replacement projects, in both residential and commercial environments, where slim lines are crucial to the aesthetic appearance of the building, the ‘MB Slimline’ system offers a complete solution. ‘MB Slimline’ is further proof of Aluprof ’s innovative approach to fenestration solutions, establishing itself as one of Europe's leading systems companies. The new system joins a wide portfolio of aluminium systems which includes curtain wall systems, doors windows and high performance aluminium fire rated systems. Aluprof UK head office and extensive distribution centre is located in Altrincham, Cheshire. Aluprof systems increasingly being specified on a wide range of residential and commercial projects across the UK. Systems are designed, fabricated and installed by selected, specially trained companies, to ensure each fabricated product meets Aluprof exacting standards. Further information is available on our company’s website at www.aluprof.eu and specialist advice is available directly from Aluprof on 0161 941 4005. READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0037
February 2016 | www.glassnews.co.uk
0216/0038
Be like Liniar... Many window systems companies also sell readymade windows, competing with their fabricator customers. Liniar knows the best way to run a business is to find other ways to help its customers grow. Don’t make it a competition.
Be like Liniar.
Some companies don’t test full size versions of their bi-fold doors, as they are more likely to pass. Liniar thinks this is cheating the consumer and only tests actual doors. Don’t cheat.
Be like Liniar.
Some people think they’re too busy to go to this year’s FIT Show. But Liniar recommends a day out of the business – it could be just what you need to get new ideas and a fresh perspective. Book your ticket now www.fitshow.co.uk/liniar/reg
Be like Liniar.
www.liniar.co.uk Untitled-7 1 www.glassnews.co.uk | February 2016
01332 883900
sales@liniar.co.uk 25/01/2016 14:08
21
TRADE NEWS
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
The potential downside of
falling fuel prices
Sealco secures ISO stamp of approval to underline quality Sealco, a leading UK independent window and door hardware distributor, has achieved accreditation across three major ISO standards, reflecting the company’s commitment to quality, health and safety and environmental practice. The standards achieved are ISO 9001 in Quality Management, ISO 14001 in Environmental Management and ISO 18001 in Occupational Health and Safety. By successfully securing all three accreditations at the same time, Sealco has reinforced its reputation as a customer-focussed, servicedriven supplier. Alan Malcolm, Sales Director at Sealco, comments: “We’ve always delivered an exceptional class of service, but securing the ISO accreditations means we have solid, independent proof of that. “That gives customers peace of mind when choosing Sealco. Amongst other things, we can show that our delivery systems are dependable and fully health and safety compliant, our product sourcing has minimal
environmental impact, and that you’ll always get the same high standards when dealing with Sealco. “The quality of the supply chain is often a key factor for manufacturers looking to secure local authority or other public sector contracts. We’ve done all of the work, so we can provide customers with the documents they need. Sealco adds that working with ISO-accredited suppliers makes things easier for customers.” Achieving the standards required that Sealco pass a rigorous certification procedure to confirm the robustness of its quality, environmental and health & safety systems. “It’s been a big job but worth it – and a real testament to the hard work and commitment of our team here,” Alan adds. “With top-class, ISO-approved systems in place across our entire business, we have a solid foundation for continual improvement.” Tel: 01324 610710 www.sealco-scotland.co.uk READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0039
Installers | Fabricators | Glass People | Also stocked in Trade Counters
THE INTERNATIONAL CENTRE, TELFORD 12 - 14 APRIL 2016
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Visit us ON stand 126 FITSHOW 2016
Van users should remember that falling fuel prices can bring problems, according to The Fuelcard People. Steve Clarke, group marketing manager, was commenting as the price for Brent crude fell below $40 per barrel for the first time in six years. He said: “We expect continuing global price drops to be reflected at the pumps, with the RAC predicting a sub-£1 litre by Christmas. Any saving soon disappears, though, when drivers go off-route to hunt for bargains. Meanwhile, most of the price is accounted for by taxes and, if you have the wrong fuel card, transaction charges.” He pointed out that a driver going three miles and back to a ‘cheaper’ forecourt, saving 1p per litre, could need to pump 60 litres just to recoup the fuel used for the diversion. “It can become a game between colleagues,” he said, “with drivers competing to boast of how little they pay to refuel. As they are not responsible for the bills, it does not bother them how far off-route the ‘winning’ can take them. With the right fuel card, they should not need to divert at all to save on pump prices.” He added that fuel cards offering fixed weekly pricing can generally beat pump prices no matter where a van refuels. “Some users may not realise that most ‘pump price’ fuel cards are nothing of the kind. It is common for a transaction charge, £2 or more, to be added regardless of the quantity bought,” he said. “If a ‘pump price’ forecourt is 1p per litre cheaper than
neighbouring fixed-price alternatives, you could need to buy at least 200 litres just to break even.” Fuel cards are not all the same and van users all have differing refuelling needs. Steve Clarke said, “This is the perfect time for anyone with vans to reassess their needs and compare the whole fuel card market. Ideally, they should talk to a supplier that can offer both fixed-price and pump price options, to avoid costly compromises.” Steve Clarke’s long experience in the sector makes him perfectly positioned to comment. The Fuelcard People reduces refuelling costs for many thousands of van users every day, typically by up to 4p per litre for both diesel and petrol. It offers commercial rate, fixed-price and pump price fuel cards, covering the whole of the UK with more than 7,600 forecourts. READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0040
AWARD WINNING INSTALLER LAUNCHES ITS OWN AWARDS SCHEME Specialist commercial installer The Window Company (Contracts) is launching its very own awards scheme in 2016 to say Thank You to all of those suppliers who are making such a big contribution towards its ongoing success.
to recognise the outstanding service we get from our suppliers. We know from experience how much it means to everyone within a business to receive an award, so we thought it would be a great way of showing just how much we appreciate them.
The company, which was named Installer of the Year at both the G-15 and G-14 Awards and the Best Growing Business at the 2015 Essex Business Excellence Awards, is calling its own awards the ‘Big Thank Yous’.
“The Big Thank Yous are open to all of the companies we work with, but crucially we’re not asking them to do anything extra to enter – instead our team will be selecting the business which performs the best each quarter and then there will be an overall winner at the end of the year.”
Managing Director David Thornton said: “We wanted to do something
The Window Company (Contracts) is determined that its awards should be scrupulously transparent and fair so is publishing a list of the criteria in advance against which all suppliers’ performances will be equally judged. This includes: service, delivery, efficiency and communication. Each supplier will be scored by The Window Company’s projects team against the relevant criteria every month, and the company with the highest score at the end of the quarter will receive a Big Thank You award. The one with the highest overall score at the end of the year will win the Biggest Thank You of all. David Thornton added: “This is not just about suppliers being efficient and supplying good quality products, although that’s clearly important – it’s also about lots of the other less obvious things which make us value them, such as the friendly delivery driver who phones us if he’s running late or the IT support guy who fixes a problem late at night. “The Big Thank You award scheme went live on 1 January and we’ll be announcing our first ever quarterly winner at the beginning of April.” Further information is available on the new website at www.thewinco.co.uk.
DEFINING THE INDUSTRY
READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0041
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February 2016 | www.glassnews.co.uk
0216/0042
www.glassnews.co.uk | February 2016
23
TRADE NEWS
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
The best fleet for the Rolls Royce of windows
National Plastics’ annual conference celebrates company’s achievements National Plastics’ annual company conference at Celtic Manor Resort on 9 January 2016 was a mixture of fun and business with an overall message of celebration following another successful year for the UK’s largest independent trade counter network. Over 100 representatives from National Plastics’ depots attended the day’s events and many of them were joined by partners for the gala dinner in the evening, when the numbers swelled to nearly 200. The gala dinner was the culmination of the day’s events and it celebrated the highest achieving depots in the network. The highest growth depot was awarded to the Cheltenham depot. The award for the highest sales went to the Swansea depot. The highest profit contribution was by the Pyle depot. The highest average sales were in the depots from Wales. The prestigious Depot of the Year was awarded to the Portsmouth depot with the runner up being Swansea. The biggest prize of the day was the draw to win a brand new Ford Fiesta 1.2 car. This was a national competition where any depot or regional manager who achieved a sales target got a single raffle ticket and entered into the draw. The lucky winner was Gareth Edwards from the Merthyr Tydfil’s depot who was handed the keys to his new car. Earlier in the day there had been a key supplier exhibition, which gave people the
chance to meet representatives from some of National Plastics’ suppliers. Delegates had then attended the conference itself, where Geoff Foster, National Plastics’ Managing Director, and his team presented a review of 2015 and unveiled plans for 2016. Throughout the day, there were plenty of opportunities to relax and celebrate. There was a Scalextric competition and a golf competition. One key supplier, Floplast, ran a competition to win a 40” television, which was won by Craig Bailey from National Plastics’ Tamworth store. National Plastics’ company conference is an opportunity for the company to thank its staff and suppliers – and there has been plenty to thank them for in recent years. The company has added £9 million to its turnover in the past few years. 2015 was another bumper year for the company and with plans to take the total number of stores to 50 by the end of 2017, 2016 looks set to be a good year too! Tel: 0800 011 3503 - www.nationalplastics.co.uk READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0043
The number one team in Manchester BW Hardware Ltd., Irelands leading distributor for the supply of architectural ironmongery & associated products, recently visited the No.1 team in the Manchester area. We are of course, taking about Rapierstar Ltd., the UKs leading supplier of
fasteners and fixings to the window industry. BW sales staff were shown around the impressive facilities at Rapierstar, near Manchester, with its unique research, test and development centre. They we given insight into the proven quality assurance service and delivery
capabilities that Rapierstar provide to customers and they also had the chance to see what a billion screws looked like in Rapierstar’s extensive warehouse.
Making industry-leading sliding sash windows as efficiently as possible is only part of the equation – ensuring a smooth transit to site is also vital, which is why Brighouse-based Quickslide has upgraded its fleet with five brand new DAF CF 280 18-tonne HGVs, and invested in a new dispatch area, including a new crane. “We are proud of our 98% ‘on time, in full’ statistic, but we know we can improve on it,” explained Michael Connor, Quickslide’s Managing Director, “Our target is naturally 100% OTIF. “No matter how good our products are, if it all falls apart during delivery, then it makes no difference how much we invest in machinery, stock, training and software; if we don’t get it out of the factory in a timely fashion, and transported to site in one piece, then we will – quite rightly – compromise our customer base.” Quickslide has a reputation for looking after the needs of its staff, which extends to its drivers, who were heavily involved in choosing the new fleet. “It makes sense that our drivers have a comfortable working environment with the best facilities to keep them as fresh and positive as possible. Ultimately, our drivers are, in a lot of cases the ambassadors for the business and the first Quickslide face that the customer will see, so it is critical that we do everything we can to keep the drivers helpful and customer focused,” Michael said.
“Because of this we have also rebranded the vehicles, and it’s good to know that they’ll make an impact when they reach their destination.” Quickslide went to DAF directly for the vehicles. “The service was second to none,” Michael said. “They really have delivered an excellent product, and they have been a great partner all the way through the process.” The fleet also offers better fuel efficiency than the company’s previous vehicles, and the new wagons come with glass racks for ease of storage, along with pallet trucks to move products on and off the vehicle with relative ease. The dispatch area and process have been totally overhauled to ensure the best transition between factory and customer. A new dispatch supervisor – Richard Beattie – has been appointed who has been given a specific goal of getting each vehicle loaded and away within 90 minutes which isn’t as easy as it sounds. The new 4,000ft2 area is now the dispatch point for all three factories. All products will be prepared so all the driver has to do is help put the windows on the vehicles, ensure they are secured, and concentrate on delivering them safely. To do this as quickly and safely as possible, Quickslide has invested in a £3,500 Demag crane, with a weight limit of 125kg, which offers a conveyor system that ensures the windows suffer no damage through nonmanual handling. Furthermore, the process takes half the time as the original manual method. “Lean manufacturing doesn’t stop at the factory gate,” Michael said. “We invest in all areas of the business so that our customers are guaranteed the best possible service from us.” READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0045
“Rapierstar’s supply and service is certainly impressive and is of the highest quality”, stated Colm Martin, purchasing manager at BW Hardware, during the visit. Then it was off to see another great team, Manchester City at the Ethiad Stadium, with a good home win finishing off what was an eventful day. David Furness, Managing director Rapierstar, is pictured along with Colm Martin, Gareth Martin, David McGuinness, Vincent Molloy and Paul McAuley, Rapierstar’s Ireland sales manager. www.rapierstar.com READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0044
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February 2016 | www.glassnews.co.uk
0216/0046
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Selecta
#bepartofthefamily Sales and Marketing Director, Mark Richmond, talks to us about Selecta Systems new campaign and why 2016 is the time to ‘be part of the family’.
“Occasionally, fabricators have left Selecta in the past with promises of grandeur and fields full of ripe green grass only to return later, appreciating that what Selecta provides is not only a first class range of quality products but also the added value of a fantastic service and flexible approach to accommodate their specific requirements, which is worth so much more to their business..”
Having had many brain storming sessions and meetings to discuss marketing strategies and plans, one message has always seemed to come to the forefront of discussions - ‘The Selecta Family’. The message is simple and symbolic of what the company is all about and has been since the birth of Selecta in the early 1980’s.
approachable and caring company whom are far more flexible and accommodating than the competition. This ‘family’ ethos remains within the business, with longstanding, knowledgeable and experienced staff looking after the ever growing customer base whom have joined the ‘Selecta family’.
In an age within the industry where large investors and investment groups have taken control of system houses, Selecta remain as the only UK window and door system supplier that are still operating today under the management of the same family whom started the business some 30+ years ago! What this means is that Selecta has never lost its original ethos and values that has made the company what they are today. The friendly,
What we have realised at Selecta is that what we have and offer is different and unique to everyone else and that only by being part of it do you then realise the real strengths of the business. Occasionally, fabricators have left Selecta in the past with promises of grandeur and fields full of ripe green grass only to return later, appreciating that what Selecta provides is not only a first class range of quality products but also the added value of a fantastic service and flexible approach
to accommodate their specific requirements, which is worth so much more to their business. Predominantly over the years, Selecta haven’t been the kind of company to shout from the roof tops about ourselves and so it’s about time people got to know what Select is all about! Customers have been very supportive and vocal when we mentioned our campaign and were willing to provide testimonials to support the message we are portraying within industry. This has led to a vast number of compliments from customers new and old centred on our service, products and flexible approach to working with them. We believe we do go above and beyond what any other
system house supplier will do and the positive feedback which we have received goes a long way to proving that. One of our objectives is to highlight the hidden gems within Selecta through the campaign, the staff – whom make things happen and are an asset to the business. Selecta recognises the importance of having a strong team, from the bottom up, of which will be acknowledged throughout the campaign. The retention of staff is of major importance to any organisation and this is duly the case at Selecta with many longstanding and experienced employees within the key areas of the business. This has given Selecta continuity and customer’s confidence that they are working with employees whom have a great understanding of the business its services and products. We will also focus on the ‘family’ of products with our excellent Advance 70 window and door system proving to be as popular as ever with customers, new and old. Emphasis on our newly named Vantage Holiday Home System will be featured alongside the brand new MASTERfold Bi-fold Door System and established MASTERslide Patio Door System giving you insight in to the full range of products which Selecta provides. All-in-all, Selecta has remained true to its roots over the years and that’s what makes Selecta unique in the industry, providing that personal touch as we care about you and your business. This is why we are still going strong some 30+ years later and with further plans afoot for 2016 we are looking forward to the next 30 years or so. One thing we have always said is that with Selecta you’re not just a customer, you’re one of the family... Why not come and meet the family at The FIT Show 2016 – Hall 1 Stand 156 in April, where a warm friendly welcome is guaranteed. Follow us on Twitter @SelectaSystems #bepartofthefamily READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0047
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February 2016 | www.glassnews.co.uk
0216/0048
www.glassnews.co.uk | February 2016
27
TRADE NEWS
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
Total Hardware
client Emplas named best fabricator
Nationwide supplier for the trade, Total Hardware, has congratulated its customer, Emplas Windows Systems, for winning the highly sought-after Fabricator of the Year title at the G15 Awards. Emplas has dazzled the judges with its uncompromising commitment to quality products and exceptional customer service. “We were delighted to hear about our client Emplas’ G15 success, and we’d like to officially congratulate them for a well-deserved victory. Their customer-focused culture and market-leading products were undoubtedly key in the judges’ decision making process,” said Chris Pell, Total Hardware general manager. Emplas’ extensive range of casement and sash windows, doors and conservatories come equipped with the premium Quantum hardware range from Total Hardware. Stylish but robust, Quantum was introduced in 2014, marking the supplier’s tenth anniversary, and comprises a vast selection of handles, espag rods, friction stays and door restrictors, as well as handles, letter plates, numerals and knockers, all available in a choice of seven finishes – white, black, chrome, flint, gold, satin silver and antique black. In April, Total Hardware launched a stainless steel upgrade for the Quantum range available in flint, chrome, gold, brushed stainless and powdercoated black and white. “It goes without saying – we’re overjoyed to have been named best fabricator,” said Emplas sales and marketing director, Mike Crewdson. “It’s a stamp of approval respected right across the industry – and it’s obviously paramount that we recognize the role our suppliers played in helping us achieve it. “Total Hardware are not just providing us with a great range of products through Quantum, they’re also our trusted
This means we can focus on providing an excellent service to our own clients, and that we don’t need to keep capital blocked in high stock value levels, enabling us to confidently invest in new equipment, developing our products, and constantly improving our operations to become the best fabricator we can be.” production partner thanks to the reliable, flexible service they offer. The quality of the service is equally as important as that of the products’ from a fabricator’s perspective, and we know we can rely on Total Hardware to guarantee the necessary levels of stock to meet our manufacturing needs,” said Mike. He added: “This means we can focus on providing an excellent service to our own clients, and that we don’t need to keep capital blocked in high stock value levels, enabling us to confidently invest in new equipment, developing our products, and constantly improving our operations to become the best fabricator we can be.” “With Quantum, Total Hardware provided us with exactly the top-notch hardware solution we were looking for,” continued Mike. “There are huge opportunities at the higher end of the market at the moment, but that kind of affluent and discerning end-user won’t settle for just any window and door furniture. The array of colour options available within the Quantum range, and the 10-year mechanical guarantee, are key USPs, helping our installer-customers really stand out at the sharp end.” Chris concluded: “This is what Total Hardware is all about – helping our valued fabricator-clients succeed. As their latest success proves, Emplas have an exceptional product offering and this has been again reverberated throughout the industry at the G15 Awards.” For more information call Total Hardware on 01132432255, or visit www.totalhardwareltd.co.uk. READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0049
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February 2016 | www.glassnews.co.uk
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Above Psi values based on BF Data Sheet Nr.29 www.bundesverband-flachglas.de
Conservatory Roofs
ND
0.029
TO DISCOVER MORE ABOUT THERMOBAR OR THERMOFLEX WARM
Is your supplier letting you down ?
0216/0051
Wood window frame
@madefortrade1
www.madefortrade.co
26/01/2016 09:47
29
TRADE NEWS
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
Fabricator launches campaign to help small installers grow their business “Grow with Sternfenster” is a new initiative from the Lincoln-based fabricator aimed at helping small installers scale up their business and become a recognisable local brand. We talked to national sales manager, Steve Lane, to find out more about how Sternfenster is enabling white van fitters to turn the tables. “Many of our larger accounts today are installers who have started working out of the back of a van, and have grown to open their own premises and even showrooms,” said Steve. “This comes to show that with the right support from your supplier, and competitive trade prices that will allow you to make enough margin to be able to reinvest in your own business, ambitious installers can become the ‘go-to’ double glazing name in their area. “Our customers’ success has fuelled our own results over the past couple of years, and we became determined to build on this type of organic growth. This is why we’re now extending our support offer to all small businesses wanting to achieve more, and we’ve rolled out a series of new measures to help them do so.”
Buy direct for better margins One of the biggest challenges for a fitter doing anywhere in between 1-25 frames/week is to actually source their windows and doors from a major manufacturer. Steve said: “Either due to their own inefficient processes, insufficient resources, or simply because they tend to prioritise bigger orders, some fabricators generally take longer to come back with a quote on small enquiries, pushing installers to buy frames from the ‘middleman’, and make smaller profits as a result. “Our campaign is meant to let installers know that, regardless of size, they will get the same quick response and great customer service from Sternfenster. As our clients, they can benefit from online quoting and ordering through our Easy Admin feature, which also enables installers to manage their entire business more effectively. Our weekly deliveries can be tracked online in real time, and installers can even choose a
30
A true one-stop shop for customers of all sizes Sternfenster offers a very comprehensive range of products, all of which are manufactured in-house: Deceuninck 2500 & 2800, as well as the popular Slide & Swing door, Smart Aluminium frames, including bi-folds and shop fronts, Residence 9, Spectus vertical sliders, DoorCo and Solidor composites, IGUs, and the exclusive range of timber-look windows and doors, StyleLine.
two-hour slot to receive their products, meaning they won’t have to wait around the whole day for their delivery.” The Easy Admin facility is part of the fabricator’s online resource for customers, Sternfenster Plus, which is also packed full with free marketing support available to download and utilise, such as adverts, brochures, drop cards, unique imagery and more. Installers can create their own customised retail quotes and email the client straight from the system. Sternfenster Plus also allows them to generate reports that help identify areas for improvement within their business.
“Whether you need white PVC-u, or high-end frames, we can supply a vast array of products in any size, configuration and colour - we have our own paint spray booth and glass toughening plant, meaning we’re highly flexible in terms of meeting virtually any requirements,” said Steve. He added: “As for the quality of our products, we regularly invest in new machinery and training for our staff, and we have an excellent quality control check in place to ensure every frame that leaves the factory is first-rate. In addition, as one of the largest and longest established fabricators in the UK, we also have the volumes to maintain our trade prices at a very competitive level.”
A personal touch Changing suppliers it’s often easier said than done, so how is Sternfenster going to ensure a seamless transition for new customers? Steve explains: “We provide personal customer service managers that will guide new clients through the whole process of buying from Sternfenster. Small installers turning to us also benefit from dedicated business development managers who take the time to learn everything about our customers’ businesses, and offer advice and guidance when needed. These are very experienced people, who have an impressive track record of helping retail businesses succeed, and will pro-actively look at the new accounts and offer their expertise,” said Steve. “Ultimately, by helping our customers grow, we make sure we have the necessary volumes to achieve our own targets. We focus on building long term relationships with our customers, which is why we constantly look at new ways to add value to our products and services,” concluded Steve. For more information contact Sternfenster on 01522 512525, or visit www.sternfenster.com. READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0052
February 2016 | www.glassnews.co.uk
0216/0053
Do you want to be a little acorn,
or a GREAT Oak tree? If you think your business is too small to be taken seriously by a major trade fabricator, then it’s time to get in touch with Sternfenster. We have helped many installers working from vans scale up their business and open their own showroom thanks to our competitive trade prices and comprehensive support. Here’s how we can help you: Get all your frames from one supplier
Buy directly from Sternfenster and capitalise on market opportunities with top quality products at very competitive prices: PVC-u and aluminium windows and doors, Smart bi-folds, Residence 9 and StyleLine timber look frames, vertical sliders and composite doors.
Benefit from our Easy Admin software
Our online platform allows you to quote and order quick and hassle-free. It’s also packed with useful free marketing support, including brochures and lead generation tools such as drop cards and press adverts. Generate reports to help you run your business more effectively, download data sheets and so much more!
Have your own personal Business Development Manager
You will be assigned your own Business Development Manager with many years’ experience in helping installers like you grow to become a recognised name in your area. You’ll also have a designated Customer Service Manager to help you understand how we work, and guide you through all stages, from order to delivery and beyond.
Contact Sternfenster today and start growing your business - 01522 512 525 www.sternfenster.co.uk
windowsystems
www.glassnews.co.uk | February 2016
Follow us: @SternFenster
No 5 Works | Waterside South | Lincoln | LN5 7JD E: sales@sternfenster.co.uk
31
TRADE NEWS
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
MANAGE RAINWATER THE FREE WINDOW & DOOR ENERGY RATINGS ANTHRACITE GREY WAY FROM FENSA Freefoam Building Products are delighted to announce the launch of a new range of rainwater products in the contemporary colour Anthracite Grey.
From January 2016 FENSA Certified installers will be able to use free window and door energy ratings (WERs and DSERs) as part of their registration package. It is totally voluntary. All they have to do is Opt In, agree to the rules and be supplied by a BFRC registered fabricator. These new window and door energy ratings are operated and independently verified by BFRC. It is exactly the same as the existing BFRC scheme in terms of ratings, ratings bands, license scopes and windows and doors covered. Labels provided will cover windows and doors rated ‘A++’ to ‘G’. The only difference is these new labels are branded FENSA and will have their own marketing support. These ratings will be marketed heavily at consumers in the second half of 2016 to raise awareness and drive consumer demand. Existing BFRC Authorised Retailers can quickly and easily switch to be a FENSA Authorised Installer – by Opting In by emailing BFRC.
“This is the most exciting and radical promotion of energy rated windows and doors since the launch of BFRC 10 years ago,” explains FENSA managing director Chris Mayne. “This brings energy ratings to UK homeowners under the name of one of the most well-known brands in windows and doors. We predict that it will vastly boost the numbers of installers using windows and door energy ratings to comply with Buildings Regulations and put the labels in front of many more consumers than before.” The benefits of Opting In to FENSA energy rated windows and doors for installers are: an easier product to sell because homeowners understand and recognize energy rated labels; installers get their own labels; it is the easiest route to Part L compliance; a listing on BFRC website (the first port of call for homeowners searching for energy rated product); consumer publicity support and recognition; installers can source glass and frames separately; opportunities to upsell; technical and marketing support and advice. Currently just over 53% of Part L compliant notifications are through window and door energy ratings. The rest are by declaration of U-values. “We expect to be reporting a big rise in WER based compliance by this time next year because of the launch of FENSA WERs and DSERs” concludes Mayne. The Opt In process for FENSA certified installers is to email the Operations Team on EnergyRatings@fensa.org.uk with their company name, registration number and name of their fabricator supplier. FENSA will do the rest.
With a 45% increase in sales of Anthracite Grey fascia and soffit in 2015 and a growing overall market trend towards grey window frames, doors, fascia and soffit adding an Anthracite Grey Deep gutter range was the next logical step. Freefoam has created a product that allows customers to create a truly co-ordinated roofline with the new rainwater range offering an exact match (Ral No.7016) to the already popular fascia and soffit products.
With a 77mm depth and a 116mm width the Deep gutter is designed to manage the increasing levels of rainfall that are being experienced throughout the UK. Available with the full range of matching fittings including Union Bracket, Running Outlet and Hopper and manufactured using co-extruded PVC-U the Freefoam Freeflow range offers a long lasting, leak free, no fade, low maintenance solution all with a ten year guarantee.
“The launch of a new colour in our rainwater range offers architects, specifiers, builders and developers the opportunity to create a perfectly coordinated roofline.”
Co-extruded to reduce leaks Like the existing Freeflow rainwater system Freefoam manufacture the new Anthracite Grey products using the co-extrusion method to create a white interior and darker exterior colours. This is Freefoam’s innovative solution to the problems associated with rapid heat absorption and expansion of dark coloured gutters, which can cause leaks and noise when they cool down. A white interior reduces heat absorption and subsequent expansion along the width and length dramatically decreasing the probability of leaks.
Colour stability built in Freefoam is the colour specialist. The new Anthracite Grey rainwater range is manufactured using Freefoam’s patented ColormaxTM technology an advanced master-batching process with a blend of natural PVC and pigments that are simultaneously coextruded to produce built in colourfastness, colour variety, and reliable colour matching, all with a ten year guarantee.
Visit us ON stand 126
Colin St John, UK General Manager commented “The launch of a new colour in our rainwater range offers architects, specifiers, builders and developers the opportunity to create a perfectly coordinated roofline. We have established ourselves as leaders in the manufacture of colour PVC building products and adding an Anthracite Grey rainwater system to match our fascia and soffit products allows customers to meet the growing market place demands for colour.”
FITSHOW 2016
All products are listed online at www.freefoam.com.
READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0054
Installers | Fabricators | Glass People | Also stocked in Trade Counters
DEFINING THE INDUSTRY
READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0055
32
February 2016 | www.glassnews.co.uk
0216/0056
FITSHOW 2016 PRODUCTS THAT DEFINE THE INDUSTRY
REGISTER ONLINE TODAY AT FITSHOW.CO.UK FABRICATOR INSTALLER TRADE SHOW
WHEN BRADLEY SCOTT WINDOWS MET TRUEDOR Andy Farrington, Bradly Scott Windows on meeting Truedor at The FIT Show: “I now have the display that was on the Truedor FIT Show stand in my showroom,” explained Andy. “I wanted something special for my new site, something that offered the ‘wow’ factor, and their Truedor gallery display was superb. I got the whole Truedor concept the minute I saw it and had to have the display too. I signed immediately.” Form your perfect partnership at The FIT Show.
FITSHOW 2016
M A S T ER F I T T E R CH A L LENGE
FITSHOW 2016
I N A S S O C I AT I O N W I T H
www.glassnews.co.uk | February 2016
TELFORD INTERNATIONAL CENTRE 12 - 14 APRIL 2016 | FREE ENTRY 33
TRADE NEWS
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
SWISH ENHANCES NEW MARKETING SUITE WITH ONLINE MARKETING PORTAL Following on from the launch of a comprehensive range of updated marketing materials, Swish Window & Door Systems has now introduced a new online Marketing Portal which is designed to underpin the brand’s position as the UK’s foremost consumer facing brand in the industry. Swish Windows & Doors’ Marketing Manager, Gerald Allen, said: “Swish has always had a great reputation for its market leading support, and while the latest marketing package ensures that our customers have the very best tools at their disposal to promote their business and generate demand, the new Marketing Portal makes it even easier and more convenient to access those tools. “Our customers can now order brochures, samples, mailers, point of sale and
even clothing online,” explained Gerald. “The portal is available to our fabricator partners initially, with an introductory credit on their account to get them started, and we will be making it available to our Authorised Installers in the coming months, complete with a range of customisable features such as logos and company details.” According to Swish, the new marketing materials and online portal have already proven to be a big hit. Matthew Spooner, Managing Director of Carlisle based fabricator, World Group, said: “The system is head and
shoulders above what has historically been available. I’m really excited about the new marketing set-up that has been introduced, it’s given us a great deal of optimism heading into 2016 and beyond.” In addition to the online Marketing Portal, Swish has also developed a further initiative, the Swish Business Rescue Kit. Gerald added: “We have a unique and unrivalled understanding of the trade market, and have conducted extensive consumer research into what attracts professional installers and what doesn’t. With this experience and
knowledge, we have created a Swish Business Rescue Kit that’s designed to help our Authorised Fabricators to reach out and attract new installers by promoting the power of the Swish brand and the wealth of support available.” The Business Rescue Kit and Online Marketing Portal follow the recent launch by Swish Windows and Doors of a comprehensive package of retail focused marketing materials designed to help installers grow. These include a 28-page retail brochure, an expert’s guide to buying windows and doors, a maintenance guide, showroom posters and banners, retail advertising templates, sample bags, drop cards, stickers and much more besides. READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0057
GLAZERITE WINDOWS ARE TOP OF THE CLASS Bellerive FCJ Catholic College in Sefton, Liverpool, has been given a new lease of life thanks to the addition of 94 bespoke PVC-U vertical sliders, manufactured by Glazerite’s dedicated Specials Production Facility in Wellingborough and expertly installed by Network VEKA member, K2 Aluminium, in Birkenhead. The substantial project, which was managed by
Cunliffes Construction Consultants, posed a number of demanding challenges, not least of which was the fact that the 170-year old school is situated in a conservation area. As such, a key part of the extensive renovation was to convince the local planning authorities that it would be possible to produce a modern, energy efficient PVC-U window that could successfully mimic the appearance and style of the school’s existing timber
items – many of which had become so dilapidated, that they could no longer be opened. After an initial technical consultation to provide feasibility, specification and wind load calculations for the proposed frames with system supplier, VEKA, Glazerite Window’s North West Division, based in Bolton, submitted a sample window featuring knifed corner joints, a deep bottom rail and run through horns that was duly approved by the planning department overseeing the scheme. The installation at Bellerive was made all the more complicated due to the sheer size of some of the windows, which also included a variety of twin sash, triple sash and arch designs, as well as the time constraints put in place in order to minimise disruption for staff and pupils at the school itself. According to K2 Aluminium’s Liam Bird, the installation at Bellerive might have presented a number of unique hurdles, but the end result was well worth the effort: “The planning officer not only wanted the replacement
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windows to replicate the original timber appearance they had to reproduce the period features as well. The support we had from Glazerite was fantastic though. They always produce a great window and always on time, which is why we have such a great working relationship with them. “It was a difficult project for a number of reasons, such as ensuring that we protected all the original internal timber works, but the end result has not only helped to improve the appearance of such an established school, but provided a much better environment for its pupils to learn in as well.” Glazerite is an established Network VEKA member and is the system company’s largest trade fabricator in the UK. Offering a fully nationwide service, Glazerite has manufacturing hubs in Northants and Greater Manchester, as well as a South West distribution centre in Bristol that serves South Wales and The West of England.
A window of opportunity:
Arkay Windows expands its business to deliver quality products and services to its customers
Continuing its exciting business growth, Arkay Windows has expanded its aluminium fabrication division to meet customer demand, following a move to bigger premises in Watford. It has enabled Arkay to stock more products, add machinery and employ more staff, resulting in increased production. The company has also upgraded its software system to streamline its entire operations. Raju Radia, owner of Arkay Windows, comments: “The popularity of aluminium - with its slim profiles - is rising, which has seen many of our uPVC customers diversify their product range. Manufacturing highquality aluminium systems with the latest design features has allowed us to cater to market needs. Our recent investment in the business will enable us to offer faster delivery times, reduce waste and provide a comprehensive and personalised service, meeting customer and project specific requirements.” The move to larger premises from 25,000 sq ft to 40,000 sq ft, reflects a growing order book for the company. Aiming to further improve its quality and service provision, Arkay has boosted its workforce by 25 percent, creating a design team and recruiting more production and administration staff. The new team is in place to support its high-end
aluminium offering, satisfying customers who demand a comprehensive service, from design through to project completion. Raju Radia adds: “We have also invested in and developed a unique and tailor-made CRM software system that helps our production team to accurately account for every job and process. The end-to-end system logs and calibrates all processes from estimation, stock take and replenishment to delivery times. We are now able to deliver an even better service to customers as we can respond to queries within 24 hours.” The new software provides Arkay’s customers with an accurate and up to date report on the status of their orders. It is able identify potential pitfalls that could delay product delivery such as low stock, enabling staff to take the required steps at the earliest stage. Investment in the new facility, its staff and advanced technology will see fabrication rise by 40 percent, achieved through increased stock holding and a streamlined production line. In addition, the team at Arkay has been given in-house training to ensure that they are up to speed with the new systems and procedures. As a result, customers can expect a consistent, quality controlled product and an enhanced service throughout.
www.glazeritewindows.co.uk READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0058
READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0059
February 2016 | www.glassnews.co.uk
FIT SHOW 2016 PREVIEW
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
AluWood Windows Ltd Seeks Fabricators AluWood Windows Ltd, a new British aluminium clad timber window and door system has been launched by AluWood Ltd, a subsidiary of Scottish joinery company Norscot. Based on the former A M Profiles system for which Norscot acquired the design rights in 2012, the AluWood system incorporates a number of value added refinements and offers even better value for money. AluWood is now seeking joinery manufacturers interested in adding aluminium clad timber windows and doors to their product range, without the need to reinvent the wheel. The aim being to build a nationwide network of AluWood fabricators. Being manufactured in the UK the carbon footprint of AluWood products is already lower than similar imported products. Having a network of manufacturers throughout the UK will further reduce carbon emissions, adding to AluWood’s eco credentials. Manufacturers who initially just wish to test the water may purchase ready-made unglazed products direct from AluWood.
Those who commit to manufacturing the products themselves will purchase the aluminium profiles in bar length and receive comprehensive training and support from AluWood.
unduly expensive but also prone to high maintenance costs. The AluWood window and door system is fully integrated so combining products is straightforward. In Mr Body’s opinion large expanses of glass are generally ill advised in the British climate. And, as building regulations demand ever greater levels of thermal efficiency, will become increasingly difficult to justify. This said, where such features can be justified, a combination of simple doors and fixed pane windows offers the best solution in terms of cost and performance.
Managing director Peter Body said, “AluWood has made a significant investment in developing the system and it offers fabricators an affordable entry into this niche but growing premium product market”. AluWood windows and doors combine the warmth and visual appeal of natural timber inside with the strength, resilience and low maintenance of aluminium outside. Manufactured in engineered laminated timber, AluWood products can be double or triple glazed. Depending on glass specification, U-values as low as 0.9 W/m2k can be achieved. Mr Body added, “We know there are products on the market which may offer better ‘headline’ performance but a judgement should be made between cost and benefit. Better U-values offer little additional savings in energy costs but can cost significantly more to achieve”. Traditionally regarded as a commercial product aluminium clad timber windows and doors are increasingly being specified for modern housing, particularly in the self-build sector. Although more expensive
0216/0061
For further information and contact details, interested parties should go to the Aluwood website at www.aluwoodwindows.co.uk. than PVCu and timber, when whole life costs are considered they become a cost effective option. AluWood products include casement and top-swing reversible windows, single and French doors and a curtain walling system for feature glazing applications. Some may consider this to be a somewhat limited range. However, as Mr Body says, “Keep it simple and make it better”. He believes patio and bi-fold doors offer limited practical benefit in the British climate. Moreover, being relatively complex in construction, they are not only
ALUMINIUM CLAD TIMBER COMPOSITE WINDOWS & DOORS
READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0060
MADE IN THE UK
COME & SEE US AT THE FIT SHOW! STAND NO 249
JOIN OUR NETWORK OF FABRICATORS
Visit: aluwoodwindows.co.uk for details Head Office Bower Workshops, Bower, WICK KW1 4TL Tel: 01955 641303 Fax: 01955 641207
Branch Office 20 Carsegate Road Carse Ind. Est. INVERNESS IV3 8EX Tel: 01463 224040 Fax: 01463 715755
www.glassnews.co.uk | February 2016
• • • • • • •
Any RAL Coloured Aluminium Engineered Timber Sections Double or Triple Glazed Casement & Reversible Windows Entrance & French Doors Lift & Slide Patio Doors Feature Curtain Walling 35
FIT SHOW 2016 PREVIEW
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
SELL MORE WINDOWS, SELL YOUR BUSINESS, PAY LESS TAX Only the FIT for Business Seminar programme features these key issues and many more… The FIT for Business seminar programme has been announced and once again sessions have been included that strike right at the heart of the key issues facing Britain’s window and door fabricators, installers, specifiers and other professionals. For glass and glazing business owners such issues as ‘Exit Planning’ are covered, a subject facing hundreds of business owners looking to sell or hand on their businesses; and of course, another session looks at the resultant issues regarding taxation. Broader topics relating to legislation are also covered by The FIT for Business seminars which look closely at important factors in the planning and specification fields, with presentations covering Glazing in Conservation Areas for example; and BIM – Building Information Modelling – a key subject for any companies involved in public works. And an issue that simply cannot be ignored are MTCs…every installer should understand how MTCs are affected by the Building Regulations. A FIT Show regular is sales guru Paul Clifton, who breaks from his UK tour with his Window Installer Sales Lab to tell delegates ‘How to transform your business from Average to Fortune’. Sales Superstar Paul’s
previous presentations have filled the theatre and demand is bound to be high for his next daily show. Another highlight is the UK debut of SageGlass, the amazing glass that tints on demand. A live demonstration will be possible following a full installation of the product in the exhibition hall itself. Divided into four groups of presentations: Industry; Public Sector & industry; Business; and Specification & Design the 2016 FIT for Business Seminars are up-to-the-minute and topical, presenting 22 sessions over three days on key subjects delivered by the foremost experts in their fields. Many presentations are followed by Advice Clinics in which oneto-one sessions with the presenters will be possible, on a first-come, first served basis. Attendance to all sessions is free of charge to FIT Show visitors. The full programme can be seen at www.fitshow.co.uk/seminars where visitors may also register online to receive regular updates about The FIT Show and for when they visit, smooth their way into the halls and seminars. The Fabricator Installer Trade (FIT) Show takes place at The International Centre Telford on 12th, 13th 14th April 2016. Visitors can reserve their free tickets now by visiting: http://www.fitshow.co.uk/reserve-yourtickets. General information on The FIT Show can be found at: www.fitshow.co.uk. READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0062
FIT FOR BUSINESS SEMINAR
PROGRAMME 2016
DAY 1 Time
| 12 APRIL 2016 | SHOW TIMES 10:00 - 17:00 Session
Speaker
Dave Mechem, FENSA 11:05 - 12:05 Transform Your Double Glazing Business from average to Furtune Paul Clifton, Business Mentor 12:10 - 12:40 SESSION TO BE CONFIRMED... 12:45 - 13:15 Exit Planning John Daly, Partner, RSM 13:15 - 13:30 Exit Planning Advice Clinic Making Social Media work for your Business Sarah Ball, 13:30 - 14:00 Every person at the seminar will receive a “Make social media work Balls2Marketing for your business” FREE guide 14:05 - 14:35 So you’ve planned your Exit... what about the Tax James Morris, Partner, RSM 14:35 - 14:45 Taxation Advice Clinic Alan Burgess, Chairman, 14:45 - 15:15 Glazing in Conservation Areas GGF Traditional Window Group Brian Smith, Director, 15:15 - 15:45 Consumer Issues GGF Home Improvement Alan McLenaghan, CEO, 15:50 - 16:30 Windows that Tint Themselves... No BS! (Blinds & Shades) SageGlass 10:30 - 11:00
FENSA demystifies MTCs and the Building Regulations
DAY 2 | 13 APRIL 2016 | SHOW TIMES 10:00 - 17:00 Time
Session
Speaker
Peter Maddern, FENSA 11:05 - 12:05 Transform Your Double Glazing Business from average to Fortune Paul Clifton, Business Mentor Brian Smith, Director, 12:10 - 12:40 Consumer Issues GGF Home Improvement 12:45 - 13:15 Exit Planning John Daly, Partner, RSM 13:15 - 13:30 Exit Planning Advice Clinic Alex McCulloch, Head of Business 13:30 - 14:00 If homeowners can’t buy, then you can’t sell... Development, CCS 14:05 - 14:35 So you’ve planned your Exit... what about the Tax James Morris, Partner, RSM 14:35 - 14:45 Taxation Advice Clinic Russell Day, GGF Techincal Officer 15:00 - 15:30 The NEW GGF Conservatory Guide for Installers Mark Hanson, GGF Conservatory Association Chairman Alan McLenaghan, CEO, 15:35 - 16:15 Windows that Tint Themselves... No BS! (Blinds & Shades) SageGlass 10:30 - 11:00
A simple guide to FENSA PAYG for infrequent installers
DAY 3 | 14 APRIL 2016 | SHOW TIMES 10:00 - 16:00 Time
Session
10:30 - 11:00
Consumer Issues
11:05 - 12:05 12:10 - 12:40 12:45 - 13:15 13:20 - 14:50
Speaker
Brian Smith, Director, GGF Home Improvement Transform Your Double Glazing Business from average to Fortune Paul Clifton, Business Mentor Giles Wilson, Managing Director, The NEW GGF Window Energy Ratings Calculator GGF Here’s how simple it is to get Energy Rated Windows & Doors in Dr Gary Morgan, BFRC your own name! Alan McLenaghan, CEO, Windows that Tint Themselves ... No BS! (Blinds & Shades) SageGlass
Industry Sessions
Public Sector & Industry Sessions
Business Sessions
Secification & Design
Window Ware signs up
to exhibit at FIT Show!
As one of the industry’s leading hardware distributors, Window Ware are extremely proud to announce they’re exhibiting at FIT Show! With a 40sq ft stand in the brand new Innovation Zone, Window Ware will be joining other key names exhibiting in this area.
This newly created Innovation Zone was particularly appealing to the company, as it gives Window Ware the perfect opportunity to demonstrate its commitment to providing exceptional service. The company’s service offering is backed up by an impressive performance, with a consistent 98.5% of products delivered to customers the next day - on time, and in full. With a VIP feel, central bar, and lounge seating, a visit to the Window Ware stand within the Innovation Zone is set to be a great experience and the perfect opportunity to do business. Our area sales managers will be taking early bookings for appointments at the show, so do get in touch by calling 01234 242724. Order online: www.windowware.co.uk.
Installers | Fabricators | Glass People | Also stocked in Trade Counters
THE INTERNATIONAL CENTRE, TELFORD 12 - 14 APRIL 2016
www.glassnews.co.uk
Visit us ON stand 126 FITSHOW 2016 DEFINING THE INDUSTRY
READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0063
36
February 2016 | www.glassnews.co.uk
0216/0064
The Blind leading the Blinds 10 YE AR
The NEW Built in Blind by ODL Europe • Built in Blinds are available with Low-E glass and can be gas filled to improve u-values. • Standard or custom sizes available to suit bi-folding and French doors, conservatories and orangeries. • Glass units are compliant with EN1279 Parts 2/3/6.
• Manufactured by a UK company with a 10+ year history.
• No dusting/cleaning required or damage to blinds.
• The single operator lets you raise, lower or tilt the blinds in an easy, smooth movement.
• More privacy at night and increased sense of security.
• Completely cord free as recommended by child safety requirements of EN13120:2009+A1:2014.
EUROPE 0020 - DEC15 - BUILT IN BLINDS AD (265MM X 156MM)_V1.indd www.glassnews.co.uk | February 2016
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10 -DAY LE AD TIME FROM POIN T OF ORDER !
• Ergonomic design principles place fingertip control within easy reach.
To find out more about Built in Blinds by ODL Europe Call: 0151 933 0299 or email: sales@odleurope.com 1
0216/0065
VISIT US ON STAND AT2 fitshow.co.uk 18/12/2015 09:33
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FIT SHOW 2016 PREVIEW Swisspacer’s new Toolkit will feature at this year’s FiT Show.
Edgetech goes live at FIT
SWISSPACER’s new Toolkit at FiT Show Following the success of the first two FiT shows, SWISSPACER will be exhibiting for the third year in April. A main focus of SWISSPACER’s stand this year will be its new free Marketing Toolkit. It’s a unique suite of selling aids that makes it easy for fabricators and installers to sell the benefits of warm edge to their customers. The sales aids help them explain ‘Why SWISSPACER’ and the importance of high performing warm edge space bars to the energy efficiency of windows. Warm edge is not an everyday term. A spacer bar is a small component of a window that generally goes unnoticed by homeowners and they’re unaware of how much it contributes to energy savings in windows. It can be complicated and difficult to describe in simple terms so fabricators and installers avoid it. SWISSPACER’s new Toolkit gives fabricators and installers the sales aids and resources to sell warm
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
edge and windows with SWISSPACER inside easily and confidently. The Toolkit includes an already popular animated explainer video; a Caluwin app that calculates how much homeowners can save with their new energy efficient windows; brochures, sample cards, window labels, van and lorry transfer stickers, and data sheets. Many of the tools can be tailored with the customer’s own branding and details. “The FiT Show is the main exhibition in the industry for window fabricators and installers,” comments John Cooper, SWISSPACER’s Head of Sales and Marketing – UK and Ireland. “The previous two were very effective for SWISSPACER and we’re looking forward to the next one. It’s a great opportunity to demonstrate our new Toolkit.”
Edgetech UK, the leading voice for energy efficient windows, goes live at FIT Show. “It’s a busy stand,” says Marketing Manager Charlotte Davies, “with lots of action to make it really interesting and interactive for visitors.” At the centre of the action is TruTruck, Edgetech’s mobile demonstration van, where live demos of all the products will be performed every day. Visitors will see windows installed using TruFit® professional expanding foam installation tape and the glass protection system TruShield® being applied and tested. Manufacturing insulated glass units with Super Spacer® will be shown too demonstrating how easy and cost effective the flexible foam system is. “Edgetech’s tongue-incheek gun amnesty is on the stand. Here installers can swap their old silicone guns for a FREE roll of TruFit. It will be great to see how many pioneering installers will take the opportunity to give this alternative fitting method a try.”
Also on the stand will be Dealership Plus experts to go through the benefits of the award-winning scheme. It’s often easier to discuss things face to face, and the FIT Show is a perfect opportunity to do this. Visitors can discuss their individual requirements to see how much time and money they can save on crucial services from the most comprehensive support initiative the industry has ever seen. “We are really excited about this year’s exhibition. Edgetech has something to offer for every part of the supply chain from IGU manufacturers, to fabricators and installers. We want to show visitors the expanded range of value-adding products and services,” adds Charlotte. “And being able to demonstrate how everything works on the stand should make it an interesting and worthwhile part of their FIT Show experience.” You can find Edgetech in Hall 3 on Stand 336. Tel: 08700 566844
Visit SWISSPACER on Stand 324, near the entrance to Hall 3. Follow @Ultimate_ Spacer or email marketing@ swisspacer.com for a copy of its new Toolkit. READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0066
READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0067
EXTRAORDINARY FIT SHOW FIRST AS SAGEGLASS LAUNCHES IN UK WITH PERMANENT INSTALLATION IN TELFORD EXHIBITION HALLS In a dramatic move to provide a live-showcase for its product, USbased manufacturer of electronically tintable SageGlass® is introducing the product to the UK at a trade show for the glass and glazing industries by replacing an entire glass wall at the Telford exhibition centre home of the event. 132 conventional glass units with a total area of 314 metres2 will be replaced permanently with SageGlass® Lightzone™ in advance of the launch of the product at The Fabricator Installer Trade (FIT) Show, the trade event for the UK window, door, glass and conservatory industries. The installation will allow the real-world demonstration of SageGlass Lightzone, which allows the creation of up to three variable tint zones within a single pane of glass, throughout the three days of the event which takes place on 12th, 13th and 14th April 2016 at The International Centre, Telford. When installed the glass will be automatically controlled by four external light sensors which detect predetermined light levels at which the SageGlass will tint from the clear state of 60% light transmission, in four stages down to only 1% light transmission. All cable and controls are integrated in to the system and are easily installed in the existing curtain walling. Tinting and
therefore light levels may be also controlled through a special SageGlass Mobile App. SageGlass, a product of SaintGobain, the leading producer of flat glass in Europe and number two worldwide, chose the event and the dramatic decision to install its product ahead of the show due to the concentration of glazing industry professionals that will be attending The FIT Show. In addition, the company’s partner on the UK Conservatory market, County Durham based Clayton Glass, will be featuring SageGlass on its stand at the event. Further information on SageGlass at The FIT Show may be found at: http:// tinyurl.com/necsab3. The Fabricator Installer Trade (FIT) Show takes place at The International Centre Telford on 12th, 13th 14th April 2016. Register for FREE tickets at: www. fitshow.co.uk/register READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0068
Italian firm Cifin Holding acquires elumatec Group Under the umbrella of the Italian firm Cifin Holding, elumatec AG, an international leader inthe manufacturing of machines for processing aluminium, PVC and steel profiles, is joining the Emmegi Group to create a new heavyweight in the industry. Cifin Holding, which also owns Emmegi, announced today that it has acquired elumatec AG and its
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subsidiary companies. All parties involved in the deal have agreed not to disclose any details about the transaction. In an official announcement to its customers and industry partners, elumatec AG said: ‘Cifin Holding, which has now acquired elumatec AG and all its subsidiary companies, also owns the Emmegi Group, which, as you know, is active in the
same industry. Therefore, Cifin Holding already possesses an outstanding understanding of our market. ‘elumatec and Emmegi will remain autonomous companies that will operate independently of one another as competitors in the market. However, the new structure enables us to achieve solid growth and a much stronger presence in this economic
sector. You can continue to expect ingenuity, expertise, technology and competency from us. You, our customers, will also benefit from our new corporate organization. ‘Looking ahead at 2016 and 2017, we are already able to announce in-house product developments that will make it possible for us to offer innovations that will lead us forward and benefit our customers in the future. Of
course, our global sales and service network will continue to operate in this new configuration just as reliably as you have come to expect.’ Their official press announcement adds: “Britta Hübner, CEO of elumatec AG, said: ‘Our restructuring concept is a resounding success, making it possible for elumatec to continue operating in the global market at full capacity and
without the burdens of the past. Cifin possesses an outstanding understanding of our market. This industry solution comes at just the right time. It ensures continuity and growth for our company.’ Tel: 01908 580800
READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0069
February 2016 | www.glassnews.co.uk
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INSTALLER FOCUS
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
ATLAS BOLSTERS INSTALLER MARKETING SUPPORT PACKAGE Atlas Glazed Roof Solutions has bolstered its industry leading showroom and marketing support package with the launch of three brand new brochures, which have been created to help the company’s growing network of installers to win more business. The firm has added another perk to its package and is also treating installers who have fitted five or more Skyrooms to a free professional photo-shoot of their installations to help them showcase their work. The trio of professionally designed marketing materials includes a new trade and retail brochure, a new Skyroom product brochure and a selection of case studies from highprofile Atlas installers. The trade brochure and Skyroom brochure can be totally personalised with the installer’s logo and company details, and even their corporate colours, to create a bespoke suite of installer literature. The new 28-page trade and retail brochure introduces the Atlas range of rooflights, orangeries, lanterns, conservatories, verandas, Lean-Tos and the innovative new Skyroom. The range of fitter-friendly glazed Atlas roofs combines aesthetics, elegance and performance and uses Atlas’s trademark ultra-slim roof frame to maximise the amount of glazing and create supreme aerial views. The brochure is packed with stunning photos of real installations to demonstrate the architectural scope of the range. The 12-page Atlas Skyroom brochure showcases the new Skyroom – a remarkable development in aluminium orangery roof design. The slimmest and one of the strongest contemporary orangery roof systems in the industry, the Skyroom blends innovative design with the highest performing construction materials to deliver superior looks and supreme performance. With less visible profile and more glass, thanks to a 70% slimmer ridge and 30% slimmer rafter, its sleek contemporary appearance and intelligent detailing creates a sophisticated look that’s a real departure from a standard conservatory roof installation. Just like the trade and retail brochure, the Skyroom brochure features more magnificent photos of Skyroom installations to inspire installers and homeowners. For installers who have completed five Skyroom projects, Atlas is even offering a free professional photo-shoot of each installation. The photos can then be included in a personalised Skyroom brochure, which is totally exclusive to the installer. Well-known conservatory installers provide an objective account of their experiences of selling and fitting the Skyroom in a smart four-page case study brochure. The installers describe their top desires in conservatory
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roofing systems - exclusivity, fitter friendly products, aesthetics, performance, marketing support and technical advice - and how the launch of the Skyroom has helped them to attract new businesses. Gareth Thomas, Sales and Marketing Director at Atlas Glazed Roof Solutions, comments: “Sales of our range of conservatory roofs, lanterns and rooflights have gone through the roof in the last year and our customers clearly appreciate the unique features of the Atlas roof. It is however important for us to back up the product with a package that has real substance behind it, and to continue to enhance and refresh that package. We believe that this suite of materials is the most comprehensive in the industry and it is unique because it is very adaptable to the individual installer and can be personalised to them. It’s a strong, credible and very effective package, which will help installers to capture new customers and ultimately grow their businesses. ” The extensive suite of marketing materials features strong, identifiable Atlas branding and is fully personalised to Atlas customers. It includes brochures, pull up banners, showroom graphics, advert templates, retail leaflets, door drop literature and an in-store display lantern, all of which are produced for installers by the Atlas marketing team. As part of the package, installers are invited to enter the Atlas Installer of the Month scheme, which is approaching the end of a very successful first year. The scheme rewards the Atlas installer network and encourages members to showcase their best orangery, conservatory or rooflight installations. Entries have been flooding in throughout the year with monthly winners receiving top prizes and marketing support for their company. Atlas will announce the overall winners at a special gala event for installers in January.
Sarnafil Self Adhered roofing membrane benefits installers Roof Assured by Sarnafil installers can now benefit from the new, self adhered, single ply roofing membrane that has been added to the wide portfolio of premium products from the global Sika Sarnafil brand. The self adhered hot air weldable roof membrane combines all the high performance, traditional features of the Sarnafil membrane with fast and easy installation thanks to a strong self adhered attachment method. Not only does it mean that Installation times can be cut by up to 50%, saving time and money for installers and home owners, but the peel and stick application method of Sarnafil self adhered provides instant wind uplift resistance through the self adhesive backing. Installation could not be simpler. Just a case of align, peel, stick and seal. The membrane is rolled out and aligned, the release liner peeled off and using a brush or squeegee, to prevent blisters, the membrane is adhered to the substrate. During pre-launch trials registered contractors noted the easier application and the advantage of not having to open, stir and apply adhesives on site. Roof Assured installer Kevin Hodge, Managing Director of County Flat Roofing, Weston Super Mare, has over 20 years’ experience installing the Sarnafil membrane on commercial and domestic projects. He used Sarnafil Self Adhered for the
first time on a recent, complex roofing installation in Hereford. His feedback was very positive: “This has been an exciting project. It has allowed us to benefit from the versatility of the Sarnafil membrane to work closely with the homeowner to design and develop solutions throughout the membrane installation. This is one of our first installations using the new selfadhesive Sarnafil membrane, developed by Sika Sarnafil in Switzerland. The ease of application, flexibility and accessibility of the new membrane has allowed us scope to meet the complexities of this unusual roof design.” Roof aesthetics and curb appeal continues to be very important to homeowners; with its lacquer coated surface, Sarnafil Self Adhered maintains its top quality appearance for a long time. Guarantees are also high on the decision making list and like all Sarnafil membranes Sarnafil Self Adhered comes with the company’s industry leading guarantees. In addition the new membrane is BBA certified in excess of 40 years. The new membrane creates a strong usp for Roof Assured by Sarnafil installers selling to the domestic market. Feedback from events shows that homeowners value the credentials of the Sarnafil brand, so this is another opportunity to show that the global company is committed to innovation by bringing new products to market. This makes an exciting business proposition for home improvement companies looking to add to their business portfolio and existing Roof Assured by Sarnafil installers to widen their product portfolio. www.roofassured.co.uk
Atlas Glazed Roof Solutions is part of the £32 million turnover Customade Group. The group, which employs 250 people, also includes PVC-u and aluminium window and door fabricator Customade and Fineline Aluminium, which supplies designer architectural aluminium products with very slim sight lines, and Hourglass Seal, which manufactures glass and sealed units. For further information and to access the Atlas marketing resources, please contact Atlas on marketing@atlasroofsolutions.co.uk or phone 02838 327741. READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0071
READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0072
February 2016 | www.glassnews.co.uk
THE INSTALLER
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n Companies This Is Only Available To 20 Installation Companies ThisRegister Is Only Available To 20Interest Installation Companies w: Your Now: Register Your Interest Now: This Is Onlyemail: Available To 20 Installation Companies uk info@installerpartnership.co.uk email: info@installerpartnership.co.uk Register Your Interest Now: 0216/0073
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email: info@installerpartnership.co.uk
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WINDOWS
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
New Roseview brochure GLOBAL UPVC DELIVERS flies the flag for uPVC Sash window specialists Roseview Windows have released a new brochure aimed at helping their trade customers break into the heritage and conservation market. The brochure showcases the fabricator’s G Award-winning Ultimate Rose, the industry-renowned timber-alternative uPVC sash window accepted for use in numerous conservation areas. Incorporating run-through sash horns and timber-style mechanical joints on the frame and sash, the Ultimate Rose has been used to compliment historical buildings all around the country - including Parkwood Hall School in Kent, Brighton General Hospital and Ross on Wye’s Castle Lodge hotel. “Most people find it hard to tell the difference between Ultimate Rose and traditional timber,” said Roseview Managing Director, Willie Kerr. “The woodgrain finishes, slim-sightlines and putty-effect glass lines all combine to form the most authentic-looking uPVC sash currently on the market. But that doesn’t mean we’ve compromised on performance – they also come ‘A’ rated as standard and are Part Q compliant, achieving Secured by Design standard in sizes up to 1400 x 2400mm.”
Roseview’s brochure comes as just the latest initiative from a fabricator with a track record of flying the flag for sash windows. Accepted into the prestigious Glass and Glazing Federation earlier this year, Roseview is already heavily involved in the body’s Traditional Window Group – with MD Willie Kerr taking a lead in promoting uPVC sash windows to conservation officers and local authorities.
THE PERFECT REMEDY AT HISTORIC HOSPITAL SITE
“Our stylish new brochure has been specifically designed to help our trade customers capitalise on growing opportunities within the heritage sector,” Willie continued. “As old-style timber windows in conservation areas degrade, and property owners seek replacements for newer windows inappropriately installed in heritage properties, there’s a lot of business available for installers offering the right product. Rose Collection windows aren’t just for older properties, though – they’re an ideal fit for affluent customers looking for a luxurious, vintage aesthetic.” Founded in 1977, Roseview was the UK’s first manufacturer of uPVC sash windows. Today the fabricator operates from a 30,000 square foot facility in Olney, Buckinghamshire, recently extended to include a 2,500 square foot factory used to carry out intricate processes such as mechanically jointing frames and polishing welds. The company’s much-celebrated Rose Collection also includes the Heritage Rose, which like the Ultimate Rose is based on REHAU’s Heritage System, and the Charisma Rose, based on Eurocell’s Charisma system. For more information call Roseview on 01234 712 657 or visit www.roseview.co.uk.
More than 700 high quality windows and doors were supplied and installed by Global UPVC at a prestigious development on the historic Caerphilly Miners’ Hospital site. The Beeches Village – an award winning scheme – was delivered by an innovative partnership of housing association United Welsh, Caerphilly County Borough Council, housing developer Lovell, the Welsh Health Service and the Caerphilly Miners Community Group. Completed in January 2015, it has created 82 homes for sale and for rent on the site. All homes have Legend casement windows and French doors from long-standing local Synseal fabricator Global UPVC, whose Managing Director Jon Dowse credits much of the company’s ongoing success in the commercial market to the Legend system: “We use only Legend and have done for over ten years,” says Jon. “So many of our clients keep coming back and inviting us to bid for more work that we can hardly keep up with the tenders. To me, that is the best possible commendation I could hope for from any system. It’s a good looking window that performs well but also from our point of view, it is easy to manufacture. Our work is mainly in new-build but we do a bit of everything and Legend suits us whatever we are doing.”
READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0074
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“So many of our clients keep coming back and inviting us to bid for more work that we can hardly keep up with the tenders.”
Legend is one of three 70mm PVC-U window systems created by Synseal, along with the chamfered Shield and sculptured SynerJy with its innovative j-form curves. Legend was first introduced to help installers gain a greater presence in the commercial sector, but has since also become a favourite in the retrofit market with a choice of chamfered or ovolo profiles. Brian Walker, Synseal’s Fabrication & Development Manager, comments: “I visited this site on a number of occasions during the build process and there has been a consistent high quality of frame manufacture and installation in all the homes throughout this landmark new housing project.” Built in 1923, The Miners’ Hospital was paid for by the miners of the Rhymney Valley after they each put aside 6d out of their weekly wage of 12s 6d to raise the £30,000 needed. The Miners’ Hospital closed in 2011 with services transferred to the new Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr hospital in Ystrad Mynach. The redevelopment of the site has been shaped in close consultation with the local community. A key element of the scheme was the preservation of the original Miners’ Hospital building which has been retained and leased to the Caerphilly Miners Community Group for use as a community centre. Other community legacy benefits have included five apprenticeships created by the development. The Beeches Village was recently named Development of the Year in the Welsh Housing Awards; earlier in 2015 it also won the Residential category in the 2015 RICS (Royal Institution for Chartered Surveyors) Awards for Wales. For further information contact Mark Schlotel on 01623 446207 or 07764 229694; email mark.schlotel@synseal.com. READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0075
February 2016 | www.glassnews.co.uk
WINDOWS
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
Strong growth forecast for Passivhaus windows
Mercury Glazing adds VEKA FlushSash window to its range
Forecasts presented by Martin Langen MD of B+L Market Data (Window Innovations Europe 2020) at the SWISSPACER European Symposium 2015 in Potsdam show strong growth for windows with the Passivhaus standard in the UK. The forecasts, based on research with window manufacturers across Europe, including 50 UK manufacturers, says windows with U-values of 0.8 W/m2K or below are expected to have expanded to 10% of the market in the UK, 25% in Germany, 30% in Austria, and up to 35% in Switzerland by 2020.
Gloucester-based trade fabricator Mercury Glazing has just added VEKA’s FlushSash window to its range. Chris Reeks, Mercury’s Sales and Marketing Director, said, “We are delighted to be adding the FlushSash window to our portfolio. We are one of the UK’s biggest Spectus vertical slider manufacturer and VEKA’s FlushSash is the perfect complementary product.”
Passivhaus is the world’s leading ‘fabric first’ approach to low energy building, promoted by the Passivhaus Institute and the BRE in the UK. Passivhaus aims to dramatically reduce the need for space heating and cooling, and typically cuts energy use and CO2 emissions by a factor of 10. The standard requires a Passivhaus to have an excellent thermal performance, exceptional airtightness and mechanical ventilation. The heating requirement in a Passivhaus is reduced to the point where a traditional heating system is no longer considered essential. It’s the fastest growing energy performance standard in the world. There is a short animated video on their website that explains it simply: http:// passivehouse.com/.
SWISSPACER’s Ultimate warm edge spacer bar is Passivhaus certified, allowing it to be used on any Passivhaus project. But achieving the certification plays only a small part. It’s what you do with it that matters, because certification doesn’t necessarily mean your product will be specified. Experience, expertise and commitment to helping specifiers and developers achieve Passivhaus projects are what matter. SWISSPACER is the leading warm edge spacer in Passivhaus, specified in the majority of Passivhaus windows and curtain wall systems. The Passivhaus database of certified components (http://database.passivehouse. com/en/components/) lists SWISSPACER in 70% of windows, 86% of windows with fixed glazing and 97% of curtain wall systems. Low energy domestic and commercial buildings have a big future, and specifiers, developers and installers can rely on SWISSPACER’s experience to help them take advantage of it. For more information visit www.swisspacer. com. Follow @Ultimate_Spacer. READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0076
VEKA’s FlushSash offers everything you’d expect from the renowned systems house and provides a cost-effective solution to the problem of ageing timber windows in historic homes. It has all the heritage looks of a nineteenth century window that sits flush within its frame and is virtually indistinguishable from the timber equivalent. Yet its energy-efficient, five chamber PVC-U frame, which can be double or triple glazed, helps to make heritage properties more weatherproof and draughtproof. It will also prevent condensation forming and significantly reduce outside noise. The window has the look of traditional stained or painted timber and all the low maintenance benefits for which PVCu is known. The FlushSash will be manufactured by Mercury’s skilled and experienced operatives in its state of the art Gloucester factory, guaranteeing a quality result every time.
Customers will also have the reassurance of Mercury’s commitment to a level of customer service that aims to build a long term relationship that helps make running your business easier. As Chris says, the FlushSash is the perfect complement to the Spectus vertical slider which Mercury manufactures, making the company a one stop shop for heritage windows. Other products in the Mercury portfolio include timber vertical sliders and a complete range of commercial and residential aluminium products. Mercury Glazing was founded in 2002 and has grown substantially year on year thanks to its commitment to delivering high quality products backed up with a high quality service. With the addition of the VEKA FlushSash to the range, the company’s growth looks set to continue! Tel: 01452 383344 www.mercuryglazing.co.uk READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0077 0216/0078
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Don’t just fit it, TruFit it. www.glassnews.co.uk | February 2016
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WINDOWS
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
Mercury Glazing showcases its credentials as a specialist fabricator Established in 2002, Gloucester’s Mercury Glazing has a well-established reputation for being one of the industry’s most reliable specialist fabricators of niche PVCu and aluminium products. Mercury is perhaps best known for manufacturing Spectus PVCu vertical sliders. The company sees impressive year on year growth for this product and sales in 2015 were up 18% on 2014, which demonstrates how fast Mercury’s reputation is spreading. Chris Reeks, Mercury’s Sales and Marketing Director, comments, “We’re delighted to have seen sales growth for our Spectus vertical slider last year, not least because it means we have seen year on year growth every year we have been manufacturing it.” Mercury is one of Spectus’ largest vertical slider fabricators and one of the few to offer a Secured by Design option. It manufactures in a full range of colours, plus white and foil finishes so there is something to complement all homes. Alongside the Spectus vertical slider, Mercury has just added VEKA’s FlushSash window to its range. The product provides a costeffective solution to the problem of ageing timber windows in historic homes. It has all the heritage looks of a nineteenth century window that sits flush within its frame and is
Award winning Passivhaus building uses ISO-Bloco One window sealing tape High performance foam sealing tape has helped a specialist timber frame building achieve Passivhaus low energy standards. virtually indistinguishable from the timber equivalent. As well as its PVCu expertise, Mercury is also a well-established aluminium fabricator. Highlights in this area include an aluminium vertical slider, which uses Smart’s VS600 profile and is suitable for both domestic and commercial applications. Crucially, the product has the design details that make it acceptable for use in heritage and conservation areas. All products are manufactured by skilled and experienced operatives in Mercury’s state of the art Gloucester factory, guaranteeing a quality result every time. Customers also have the reassurance of Mercury’s commitment to a level of customer service that aims to build a long term relationship that helps make running a business easier.
Bespoke fenestration and composite windows company JLH Bros of Kenilworth used ISOCHEMIE BLOCO-ONE tape to seal doors and window installations in the awardwinning Whitwell House scheme on the north shore of Rutland Water. Constructed using a mix of traditional and modern building materials, JLH used high quality doors and windows from an Austrian supplier, with the excellent U values of the super insulated frames being matched by the innovative thermal, sound reducing and
Chris Reeks concludes, “Despite our growing reputation and year on year growth, we never become complacent. We’ve built our name on supplying quality products and being a good company to work with and we have no intention of letting that change.” Tel: 01452 383344 - www.mercuryglazing.co.uk READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0079
weatherproofing properties of ISO- Chemie Bloco-One. Iso-Chemie Bloco-One tape, which comes with a 10 year performance guarantee and provides up to 70% cost savings when compared to other three component systems, enables windows and doors to be quickly and easily sealed from inside the building. This avoids the need to use time consuming and costly external access systems like scaffolding and ladders, and provides guaranteed high performance sealing for the lifetime of the window. Quick and easy-to-apply, the self-adhesive ISO-Chemie Bloco-One provides a high performance seal for window and door joints up to 30mm wide and is impermeable to driving rain at a minimum of 1,000 Pa – 66% higher reliability than most conventional joint sealing tapes. JLH Bros continue to use ISO-Chemie tapes on all window installations to create a perfect, energy rated seal, even in uneven Cotswold stone constructions, for example. Passivhaus or ‘Passive House’ is the fastest growing energy performance standard in the world and is based on achieving excellent thermal performance, and exceptional airtightness with mechanical ventilation. The success of the Whitwell House project in achieving these aims was recognised when it was awarded the prestigious ProCon 2015 Sustainable Development Award. More at www.iso-chemie.co.uk. READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0080
Compatibility Counts
On every day on every construction site, a multitude of materials designed for all types of applications are being used. Hopefully they all work as intended and are all fit for purpose.
Potential problems can occur however when certain different products with conflicting properties are used in conjunction, particularly those which are chemically reactive. In the areas of roofing and flooring, many types of membranes are used, principally for ensuring a weathertight seal and these can be liquid applied and laid next to or in actual contact with other membranes used for similar purposes, perhaps as an interface between separate elements. Typically the requirement for these materials are identified at specification stage, whether by actual product name or generically. If sourced from the same manufacturer, the properties and formulation of any separate products will therefore be known and assurances can be provided that they are all compatible or options proposed in the event that they are not.
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An area of increasing concern is where products are specified and/or sourced from completely separate manufacturers and the compatibility of the different materials is not known and hasn’t been considered until one or more are about to be applied. As a supplier of a wide range of membranes and adhesives, tremco illbruck are frequently consulted, typically at a late stage in the site programming where our products are about to be used and asked whether for example, our adhesive used for bonding an EPDM or ‘intelligent’ membrane is compatible with a 3rd party membrane already applied. In such situations, an immediate confirmation of compatibility is usually difficult to achieve as we may not have encountered the 3rd party material previously and in order to offer a qualified response, we would in all likelihood have to carry out laboratory testing.
The incidences of these potential issues has greatly increased during the last year or so and we are compiling an on-going list of testing to enable potential confirmation of compatibility.
in the programming. This will avoid delays and the use of incompatible products and benefits all parties concerned.
Whilst as a responsible manufacturer, we are pleased to offer such evaluation as part of our technical service and in conjunction with site ‘tool box talks’, the need to consider the interaction between different products in such circumstances does need to be identified as soon as possible
By Steve Wild, Business Development Manager for Windows and Facades.
For further information on tremco illbruck, please visit www.tremco-illbruck.co.uk.
READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0081
February 2016 | www.glassnews.co.uk
0216/0082
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WINDOWS
QUICKSLIDE KICKS OFF 2016 WITH NEW 70MM SYSTEM FOR CASEMENTS
Quickslide has celebrated the start of 2016 in style by introducing a 70mm casement window system and new colour options as standard. This upgrade will ensure Quickslide’s customers can continue to enjoy the latest products, and will also provide a perfect match to the Yorkshire based fabricator’s market leading Vertical Slider. Quickslide’s sales and marketing director, Tom Swallow, said: “We pride ourselves not only on our products but our quality of service, part of which is listening to what our customers want. The introduction of the 70mm system is a response to feedback from our partners who told us that they love our Vertical Slider, but wanted a better looking, more suitable system for their casements. “To coincide with the launch of the new system, we’ve also introduced a range of new wood-grain finishes as standard across both the casement and Vertical Slider range,” continued Tom. “These will include popular options such as Chartwell green and anthracite grey, as well as a new version of our current Quickslide cream, which is lighter and more popular within the industry.” With its own in-house state-of-the-art painting facilities, the addition of the new finishes further enhances the appeal of Quickslide’s innovative Vertical Slider and enables customers to choose their VS or casement windows in any colour they want.
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
GRAF SYNERGY DRIVES UP OUTPUT And EFFICIENCY FOR STEDEK Walsall based Profile 22 fabricator Stedek has taken a major step forward in the company’s quest for growth through higher output, improved quality control and greater efficiency by installing a Graf Synergy cutting and machining centre. The first 12 weeks since the Promac supplied machine was installed at Stedek has proved the value of their choice, according to Stedek MD and founder Steve Page: “To allow us to move further into commercial markets with Profile 22 in addition to answering growing trade sales using both Profile 22 and Swish, we needed a dramatic solution. That appeared to be the Graf Synergy cutting and machining centre, a decision that has been proved now. “The Graf Synergy will produce in 2 days what 2 people could previously produce in a week,” said Steve, “and with superb accuracy and efficiency. It has reduced profile wastage by a 15% too - incredible! The investment will have tremendous benefits for our customers and, therefore for Stedek. We are now making more windows in a week than we were making in a month just a year ago.” With an excellent reputation amongst trade customers established over 21 years, Stedek has been growing its business in the public sector, which is where Steve Page learned the business of making and installing windows. “With the backing of Profile 22 we are growing our business in commercial and public sectors, in which contractual commitments and obligations call for a more robust supply chain and again, the Graf Synergy gives us that. “We have an obsession with quality that is now embedded with our trade customers; we are committed to growth through them and we now have an great platform upon which to build further. As we grow we will continue to invest to ensure that the core values of our business are maintained and even improved upon” added Steve. For more information: Profile 22 - www.profile22.co.uk; Stedek - www.stedek.co.uk
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Trade Windows Bristol has been a partner of Spectus Systems since the company realised the potential of PVC-U windows in 1985 – and hasn’t looked back since. The company celebrated the 30-year relationship by signing a supply agreement for a further three years. And as the firm’s managing directors, founder Mike Richardson and Paul Dibble said emphatically during the signing: “We’re not going to change now!” Loyalty and continuity thread through the company, which sells exclusively to the trade; some of its 70 staff has been with the firm for 30 years and a number of its customers have been trading with Trade Windows for more than 25 years. Business has never been better says Mike and Paul: ”We have a good reputation that continues to spread, largely I believe because of our focus on quality and service. We stick to what we know and make sure we do it well.” Continued expansion has led to the purchase of an additional factory nearby where Trade Windows will be relocating its expanding aluminium fabrication, opening up more space for PVC-U manufacturing. “We are doing well and have recently invested in production equipment to raise output from our average of around 700 frames a week, to a thousand,” explained Mike. A recent focus on marketing, including the appointment of marketing manager Joe Uppington, has so far brought the benefits of online quoting and a smartphone app for iPhone and Android, all of which are designed to make life easier for customers and help drive up sales. The company uses the Spectus Elite 63 and Elite 70 systems to produce a full range of windows and doors, as well as manufacturing fully reversible, vertical sliding sashes and patio doors. More than 25 colour foils and triple glazing across all Spectrum Elite styles ensures almost unlimited options. When asked if Trade Windows will be using Spectus for the next 30 years, Mike said: “I don’t see why not. We have been offered alternatives by competitors countless times but we won’t be changing whilst I’m still around. We promote from within and encourage our young people to make decisions and we have also appointed two new directors, Martin Rowe and Julian Brennan, who will take the company forward.”
Coming with a number of other impressive optional features such as run-through or plant-on sash horns, surface mounted astragal bars and Secured By Design accreditation, the introduction of the new 70mm system adds to its extensive range of other premium products that include aluminium bi-folds, sliding patio and Solidor composite doors, WarmCore bifolding doors and Residence 9 windows. READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0083
TRADE WINDOWS CELEBRATES 30 YEARS WITH SPECTUS – BY SIGNING FOR THREE MORE
Tel: 0845 0945 215 -www.spectussystems.co.uk READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0084
READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0085
SCHUECO’S CONCEALED WINDOW FITTINGS RANGE IS NOW EVEN MORE COMPREHENSIVE The AvanTec SimplySmart range of concealed window fittings from Schueco UK has been made more flexible and comprehensive than ever with the addition of a number of new parts designed to increase the system’s versatility. Among these is the Schueco SmartActive window handle which provides one answer to widespread concerns about the increasing numbers of germs that are becoming resistant to conventional antibiotics. The SmartActive handle has a specially developed anti-microbial surface finish, incorporating micro-silver particles, that kills germs on contact. Independent tests verify a 99.9% reduction in germ contamination within 24 hours. Available in a variety of finishes including stainless steel and powder colour coated, SmartActive is effective against multiresistant bacteria such as MRSA and MRSAE. Importantly, being free of nano particles, SmartActive is perfectly safe in use. In addition, an AvanTec anti-slam fitting has been introduced. Fully concealed within the window rebate, this employs various opening limiter stays to counter the problem of a sudden air-flow causing vents to slam shut. Effective in use and easy to retrofit, this is a very practical new addition to a range which already includes a concealed fitting that allows a vent to open a full 180O.The AvanTec range now also includes Comfort fittings: these have been developed in response to the architectural trend for specifying larger and heavier vents. They provide mechanical assistance to make vents easier to open and close by reducing operating forces. Schueco AvanTec SimplySmart fittings can be used on all inward-opening windows – specifically, tilt-turn, side-hung and bottomhung vents and top lights – and are suitable for standard vent weights up to 160 kg rising to 200 kg for tilt-turn and 250 kg for a side-hung system. Of course, the principal benefit of AvanTec SimplySmart fittings is that they make fabrication simple and faster. This is because the main components use secure clip-on technology, rendering drilling and separate screws unnecessary. Schueco AWS windows with AvanTec SimplySmart fittings have also now received certification from Exova BM Trada. www.schueco.co.uk READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0086
February 2016 | www.glassnews.co.uk
0216/0087
Traditional Genesis recreates the timeless beautiful styling of a traditional timber sliding sash window like no other. With its authentically jointed frame and sash it replicates the windows of yesteryear that are found in period cottages, older properties and conservation areas. Modern With its elegant styling and precision design, the Genesis vertical sliding sash will enhance any modern home as well as a traditional property. Designed for modern living, Genesis combines cutting-edge technology with the traditional character of a box sash window. Precision-engineered for smooth, simple operation, Genesis effortlessly complements your modern lifestyle.
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T40196 - NOV14 - BISON GENESIS VS AD_(265MM X 318MM)_V1.indd www.glassnews.co.uk | February 2016
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DOORS & HARDWARE
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
LUMI PRODUCTS STEAL THE MILA LAUNCHES NEW DUO FINISH SHOW AT ATHENA WINDOWS FOR COMPOSITE DOOR PULL HANDLES Mila is launching a new ‘Supa’ range of stainless steel pull handles with an innovative new ‘Duo’ finish which gives composite door manufacturers a great opportunity to differentiate their ranges.
Northern Ireland based installer, Athena Windows, is a company that has built an enviable reputation over the years for supplying only the highest quality windows and doors – and has now taken the decision to enhance its showroom and portfolio of premium products by introducing Apeer’s range of pioneering Lumi frameless windows and bi-folding patio and residential doors. Managing Director of Athena Windows, Colm O’Neill, says he was extremely impressed with the superior quality of Apeer’s composite, bi-fold and French doors when he visited the company’s stand at the SelfBuild & Improve Your Home Show in Belfast last year. It was an introduction that ultimately led to the discovery of Apeer’s cutting edge Lumi product range, which Colm says he was hugely excited about offering to his discerning customers. “When I first saw Lumi, it wasn’t just the aesthetics or the high standard of the frameless design that made such a huge impression, but the performance as well,” he said. “Elegance, performance and trust are the three main qualities that are central to the way we do business at Athena because they reflect what we want our customers to see, feel and experience after enhancing their homes with our products – and Lumi fits the bill perfectly.” After receiving a fantastic response from a number of Lumi door and window samples, Athena has recently become one of Apeer’s approved Lumi suppliers and has revamped its showroom in order to capitilise on demand for the ground breaking new system.
Designed in house by Mila to really stand out in the crowded door market, the new finish is a clever and stylish combination of polished and brushed stainless steel. It is available initially on the inline and offset versions of the new pull handles and has polished sections at the top and bottom and a brushed section in the middle – combining aspirational looks with practical performance. Mila’s new Supa range was developed following close consultation with some of the UK’s leading composite door manufacturers and comes with a 25 year guarantee on all the finishes and in a variety of sizes, styles and fixing options. Lumi is a new range of contemporary frameless windows and doors that combines unique ‘edge-to-edge’ glazing with the strength, security and internal styling of more traditional products. The state-of-the-art design features energy efficient triple glazing that is structurally bonded to a core of high strength, glass-fibre reinforced profiles. Apeer has announced that it will exhibiting at SelfBuild & Improve Your Home at the Titanic Exhibition Centre, Belfast in February 2016 and as well as displaying the full range of its Lumi products, including its windows and composite, French and bi-fold doors, it will also be setting up a Lumi dealer network in Northern Ireland. READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0088
Mila’s Managing Director Richard Gyde says: “This new finish is a really original innovation in the fast growing composite door sector and gives manufacturers the chance to offer something that little bit different to their customers. It gives the premium, contemporary style doors which are currently so popular a real boost, and also allows buyers to create their own distinctive looks by coordinating the pull handle with either a brushed or a polished finish on the rest of their door hardware.” The new Mila pull bar handle range includes three lengths of inline and offset handles in a choice of silver or gold stainless steel Duo finishes and eight lengths in all over brushed stainless steel. There are also C-shape, V-shape and bow shape handles in brushed stainless
steel, and all can be supplied in through fix, concealed fix or back to back fixing options. The new pull handles are the latest products to be added to Mila’s ‘Supa’ stainless steel hardware range. All of the hardware in this range comes in two grades of stainless steel – 304 with 18% chromium and 8% nickel for general applications, and 316 with 16% chromium, 10% nickel and an added 2% molybdenum for extra corrosion resistance in coastal regions and areas of high pollution. Mila is able to offer a 25 year guarantee on the finishes for both grades, when used in line with its geographical recommendations, because of the ongoing quality assurance work it carries out on the specification and testing of its steel at all stages of the manufacturing process. Further product information is available at www.mila.co.uk. READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0089
PROFILE 22 CELEBRATES A DECADE WITH DOORSMART When Wolverhampton door specialist Doorsmart celebrated 10 years as a loyal Profile 22 customer, it was no surprise when the Epwin Group, and Sales Director Wolfgang Gorner, visited the family firm to present them with a trophy to mark the anniversary.
“We don’t sell on price; we just offer the best door and the best furniture and that is what we get with Profile 22 and Safeware.” Wolfgang Gorner added: “It’s fantastic to see the heritage and experience within Doorsmart. We at the Epwin Group and Profile 22 are extremely proud of our partnership with the company and we are all looking forward to the next 10 years. He added: “I would never hesitate to recommend them to any of our fabricator and installer partners in the Epwin family.”
Doorsmart was one of the first companies to take the Profile 22 Composite Door and, as co-founder Craig Broadley explained, they have never had any reason to regret the decision:
Doorsmart, run by Craig, brother Darren and Craig’s fatherin-law Geoffrey Bates, produces about 40 doors a week, many for commercial customers around London and the Home Counties.
“We don’t sell on price; we just offer the best door and the best furniture and that is what we get with Profile 22 and Safeware. “We are a family firm with a good reputation and a lot of our business is by recommendation so we need a supplier and product that can help us keep that reputation. Profile 22 is a system that works and the people are always ready to help if we need them.”
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These are mainly from contacts Craig originally gained when he worked previously for a window fabricator, though the company is also very active with commercial and domestic customers around its Midlands base. Epwin Sales Director Wolfgang Gorner presents Doorsmart cofounder Craig Broadley with plaque for being a loyal Profile 22 customer for 10 years.
www.profile22.co.uk READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0090
February 2016 | www.glassnews.co.uk
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0019 - DEC15 - DOORCO FROM DOOR TO DOOR SINGLE DOOR ADVERT (265MM X 318MM)_V5.indd www.glassnews.co.uk | February 2016
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DOORS & HARDWARE
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
SYNSEAL WILL FOCUS
ON INNOVATION AT ECOBUILD 2016 Synseal will be exhibiting for a fourth year in succession at this year’s Ecobuild, which is taking place at the ExCeL exhibition centre in London’s Docklands on 8th-10th March.
New property investment
allows further growth for DOORCO
Building on the success of their focussed presence at previous Ecobuild shows, Synseal’s stand will seek to demonstrate the sheer diversity of Synseal group window and door product solutions with a focus on true innovation.
how this innovative “warm aluminium” technology will be extended during 2016 beyond the original quickfitting and highly engineered bi-fold door product offering.
durability and reduced maintenance, which are specification factors for both public sector housing specifiers and new housebuilding developers.
Stand E2006 will feature the new Celsius Solid Roof, a truly warm and quick fitting roofing solution for new build and retrofit projects, alongside the popular WarmCore "warm aluminium" folding sliding door which delivers low U-values of 1.4 W/m2K using 28mm double glass or 1.0 W/m2K using 44mm triple glass.
Celsius Solid Roof is attracting high levels of interest and visitors to Ecobuild will be able to inspect a cut-through of the roof ’s structural construction which employs timber componentry with no aluminium skeleton and uses 100% recycled Synseal Envirotiles to provide an impressive and modernlooking external decorative finish.
Bruce Manning (New Build Business Development Manager) and Brian Walker (Fabricator Development Manager) will lead Synseal’s Ecobuild exhibition team and be on hand to provide expert guidance on commercial specification issues and connect specifiers with capable and proven Synseal fabricator and installer partners operating nationwide.
Following a high impact launch in November 2014, WarmCore has delivered sales success for many companies across the window industry in 2015 and Synseal’s Ecobuild stand may indicate
Also on display will be a Masterdor Precision “wrapped timber” residential door featuring a tough yet aesthetically pleasing vacuum-bonded Permaskin finish for high levels of
For further information contact Mark Schlotel on 01623 446207 or 07764 229694; email mark. schlotel@synseal.com. READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0092
Having experienced a huge increase in sales year-on-year, fast growing composite door manufacturer, DOORCO has now moved into new and much larger premises to facilitate further growth in the future.
company in line with the rapid growth and influx of big industry names coming on board that we have experienced.
Renovation work completed on the 36,000 square foot facility, which is within a stone’s throw of the previous premises in Macclesfield, in early November, with machinery and equipment moved in, up and running in just 48 hours. This reinvestment in the business marks a major commitment to the UK market, and ensures that the company can continue to deliver what customers need to get ahead in this competitive sector.
“We were thrilled to receive so much support from our industry friends and partners – particular thanks to RegaLead, Biesse, BC transport, Baileys Electrics and Airtek, who were fantastic in helping out when we needed them. Most importantly, of course, our customers have been brilliant – they ‘got’ the reasoning behind what we were doing, understood that it can be difficult and were supportive throughout. Yes, it has been hard and more disruptive than people may imagine, but the tight deadlines we imposed upon ourselves served their purpose of minimising downtime for our customers, and we have taken another great step towards achieving our even more ambitious growth projections for next year.”
Jayne Sullivan, Operations Director at DOORCO explains: “We had searched for a long time to find a location which suited all of our requirements, and we’re delighted that the new facility in Macclesfield does just that. The new building provides a real opportunity for us to integrate our manufacturing and distribution divisions, which in turn provides greater flexibility for us as a business, as well as much needed space to future proof the
“As with everything we do, we put a great deal of detailed planning and hard work into the moving process to ensure it went as smoothly as possible in order to minimise any downtime for customers. We used a variety of local companies, all of whom worked together to very tight deadlines in order to get everything in and working as it should be.
www.door-co.com READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0093
Trojan Group becomes Network VEKA Affiliate Member The Trojan Group has just announced it has become a Network VEKA Affiliate Member. Tony Chadwick, Trojan Group’s Managing Director, said, “Like us, Network VEKA is dedicated to quality and service. It was founded to raise standards across the double glazing industry and we’re delighted to be joining the Network as an Affiliate Member.” Trojan is one of the UK’s leading hardware manufacturers with an unparalleled reputation for quality and innovation. Examples of the company’s recent innovations include products such as the Patriot Plus High Security Door Hinge, the Sparta 3 Window Handle and the Pegasus High Security Window Lock that bring practical features and benefits to help fabricators and installers save time and money. The company is also the home of the ground-breaking stainless steel hardware range, where each product comes with a 20 year guarantee against corrosion.
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Network VEKA’s Affiliate Members list is a prestigious portfolio of organisations that help Network VEKA members to use the best hardware, ancillaries and services that are available in the industry. Tony Chadwick commented, “We are looking forward to building stronger relationships with existing customers who are Network VEKA members as well as new customers who come to us because of our affiliation with the organisation.” John Ogilvie, Managing Director of Network VEKA concluded, “The partnership with Trojan comes at a time when we are re-launching our affiliations to the membership and we are delighted to be able to include Trojan as part of the wider range of quality support for our members.” Tel: 01922 713 933 - www.trojangroup.com READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0094
February 2016 | www.glassnews.co.uk
The
FOLDING SLIDING DOOR SYSTEM LE AVAILAB
NOW
ISON FROM B
True Innovation – Warm Aluminium
WarmCore signals the rebirth of aluminium doors and windows. At the heart of WarmCore products is a thermal core which significantly out-performs other aluminium systems. WarmCore is truly innovative and has raised the bar so high that it will set standards for many years to come. Available in any combination of 4 colours, white, grey, black and cream from stock, dual colours are not an issue with WarmCore and readily available on sensible, standard lead-times from BISON Aluminium.
0216/0095
Visit our website: www.bisonframes.co.uk Tel: 0800 321 7284 | Fax: 01226 707 947 Email: sales@bisonframes.co.uk T40236 - JAN16 - BISON HALF PAGE AD (265MM X 318MM)_V1.indd www.glassnews.co.uk | February 2016
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br NE oc Pe f hu ar or W re l C ! C om 20 a ll p 1 fo os 6 r y ite ! ou D r F oo RE r Ec op y.
Do you ge from your Bi-Fold Doors from £850 +VAT • Personalise your Liniar bi-fold – available in a huge variety of colours
Liniar Modlok Patio from £255 +VAT
Composite Doors from £295 +VAT
• 5 chamber system provides enhanced thermal performance • Meets 2013 building regulations with U value of 1.3wm2k • 80mm slimline sash • Fully sculptured glazing bead • Can accommodate triple glazing • Silver passivated locks and keeps • Smooth silent running action • 4 wheel bogey running system with adjustment
• Liniar designated outer frame – matches all Liniar products perfectly! • With over 20 door styles to choose from • 7 standard vibrant and popular colour choices to choose from as well as 100’s of other RAL colours • The most competitively priced composite doors available • Stunning selection of glass options • 5 day lead time
• ModLok modular hardware with integral reinforcing
• All of our frames are guaranteed to not warp, split or discolour for a minimum of 10 years • Energy Plus multichambered outer frame and sash offers maximum thermal efficiency • Liniar ModLok bi-fold is also triple glazing ready • Low threshold at just 24mm high, offering easy access for family living • Liniar standard and ModLok bi-fold doors
Winkhaus Ecoframe™ - The eco-friendly doorframe for composite doors Following extensive market research it has been established that a viable alternative to PVCu outer frames was required that could not only reduce material and labour costs but that was also a product that could be infinitely recycled in accordance with the EU landfill directive. • Landfill taxes to rise by £35 per tonne
• 6 point locking, 4 hooks and 2 shootbolts
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February 2016 | www.glassnews.co.uk
et all this r supplier? Perfect Finish!
Flush Sash Windows Our Flush Sash Windows offer the realism of a traditional pre-1932 timber window combined with 21st century thermal benefits. Many property owners require a traditional timber window frame, sometimes due to planning or environmental restrictions. • Sash fitted flush into the frame – foiled to look like traditional timber to offer a sleek, contemporary finish. • A+ rated. Lower cost window with higher thermal benefits than timber – in addition to being fully secure.
– colour matched, lead free, PVCu trims and matching silicone sealants – now available from Pearl! • Available in sculptured profile with the flush finish on external faces, 28mm double or triple glazing, internally beaded, with a wide choice of opening configurations, colours, finishes, hardware and glazing.
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FREE electronic ordering software via Business Micros Evo Satellite. Enables you to process orders and obtain instant quotes with real time ordering and glass sizes! NO MORE WAITING. In addition, this is now complimented with our new Portal software for ordering and pricing bespoke items such as Bi-fold Doors, Composite Doors and Patio Doors, in full colour. You can use this software on your desktop, iPad or smartphone.
www.pearlwindows.co.uk Tel: 0800 014 2769 | Email: sales@pearlwindows.co.uk
www.glassnews.co.uk | February 2016
21/01/2016 19:01
53
DOORS & HARDWARE
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
FOILS FOR A NEW COMPOSITE GENERATION The demand for the new generation of composite doors is growing rapidly and so to is their thirst for new and exciting foiled finishes as Mark Lofthouse, managing director of 3D Laminates and the pioneers of CoolSkin®, explains.
The composite door market is in a good place at present as the rapid growth of the likes of Endurance® Doors and Solidor has shown, with the expectation that this trend will continue for a good number of years, as the nation looks to replace the existing stock of first generation PVCu external doors.
“Over the last 12 months we’ve seen the increased adoption of the Walnut/ Nut Tree foil which offers a premium and alternative timber appearance, yet I believe the UK market for composite doors in particular, will look to new timber foils.”
These first generation PVCu doors have come to the end of their lifecycle and now we’re in an era where the composites are looking to dominate. When you consider how often we open and close our respective windows in
extends to 24 different finishes that can be bonded to either the internal or external faces of a solid composite door and with the new VEKA substrate, are designed to offer even better longevity as our accelerated long-term testing has shown.
comparison to a front door, then it sees a lot more traffic and obviously wear and tear. As a proud nation of our homeowners we want to make a more appealing and secure entrance to our homes. Indeed, we are experiencing cases where installation companies are replacing front doors for neighbour after neighbour in certain streets and roads around the country. While their respective windows may look the same to the untrained eye, their choice of hardware and finish differ vastly with neighbours eager to stamp their individuality. But that’s not to say that the market for panelled doors has completely died away, as they still offer a number of key selling propositions. The fact that our CoolSkin® product has re-ignited the confidence in the door panel market has been fundamental and our latest development with a VEKA substrate is also an important milestone for us, as we look to zero defect products for both the composite and panel door markets. With an exclusive trading relationship with Hornschuch for the UK and European market for the CoolSkin® door skins, we are also in a position to support and invest the unique nature of our branded product. Panel doors also perfectly match the door frames in which they are hung, something that the GRP based slabs from the Far East certainly don’t. However cleverly you stain or emboss a GRP slab, it will never come close in matching a foiled PVCu outer frame, after all you wouldn’t buy a car if the bonnet didn’t match the colour of the doors. This new generation of solid composite doors benefit from a foiled exterior that perfectly matches the frame into which they are installed, as they are made of the same basic material. Given their solid core they can also benefit from other hardware options and a better means of fixing for door numerals and drip bars. These new composite door manufacturers are now able to offer 16-17 different foiled finishes either inside or out and that’s a strong USP. Our own range of CoolSkin® sheets now
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While the big uptake has been in the 9 colours offered, the respective woodgrains have fallen behind the trends seen in mainland Europe from the likes of Rodenberg, who offer over 16 different timber-inspired finishes. Over the last 12 months we’ve seen the increased adoption of the Walnut/Nut Tree foil which offers a premium and alternative timber appearance, yet I believe the UK market for composite doors in particular, will look to new timber foils. The minimum order quantities have come down considerably and there’s also a Hornschuch window foil to match our CoolSkin® sheets for composite doors. The composite door market, clearly leads the industry in terms of the number of foiled finishes on offer and I believe they will continue to innovate and offer new options. The statistics from the extrusion companies now show that foiled sales now account for around 30% of the market and this trend looks set to continue as we follow the examples of our European counterparts. But while the systems companies have to invest in a number of frames, sashes, mullions and glazing beads for any new finish, the composite door sector doesn’t have such commercial and operational constraints. It’s now commercially viable to offer some of these new foils without the need for the large systems companies to build up and invest in considerable stock. The opportunity for someone to launch a limited edition collection or a colour/woodgrain for just a single year maybe just around the corner and an exciting consumer USP. The market for new and exciting foils is before us and we’re hoping to lead the composite door market into more individual finishes as we take inspiration from the European replacement door market. Competition between companies in the sector and a consumer desire for individuality will also combine to inspire the launch of new and exciting colours and woodgrains for 2016 and beyond. Tel: 0113 273 6281 READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0096
February 2016 | www.glassnews.co.uk
DOORS & HARDWARE
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
ENDURANCE LAUNCH THREE
NEW DOOR DESIGNS
As their product development programme intensifies Endurance® Doors have just launched three new door designs as part of their Classic Collection of solid and secure composite doors: the Cheviot, the Lingmell and the Scafell. With the market for solid timber core composite doors continuing to evolve and develop Endurance® Doors are constantly investing in new products, as their recent RocFoam innovations shows. But it has been a combination of listening to customer feedback and proactivity in the team that has spurned the latest three designs, launched a matter of months after the success of the Wentwood and the Walton.
Endurance® Doors is part of the Rocal Group which has in-house facilities for extrusion, profile / foil wrapping and tool making. This enables a far quicker product development process from concept to market than any other composite door manufacturer and these new designs have been no exception. The Cheviot, Lingmell and Scafell are all designed around a large glazed area, dropping below handle height to allow in as much light as possible. A wide range of glass designs which include the new triple glazed Riviera and the simple but stylish Harmony mean that warmth and privacy are retained despite the expansive glazing area. Never ones to rest on their laurels Endurance® Doors have a number of other new door launches planned in the coming months. Next up is a set of doors based around a simple top to bottom grooved pattern with a wide range of cassette and glass options as they look to expand their range towards 50 unique door designs alongside 16 internal and external colours. For further information, please log on to www.endurancedoors.co.uk, email sales@endurancedoors.co.uk or call the sales office on 01652 659259. READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0097
NEW VEKA SUBSTRATE ADVANCES COOLSKIN PERFORMANCE 3D Laminates have recently changed the formula of their revolutionary CoolSkin® product for the composite and panel door markets, with the introduction of a new VEKA substrate, which is designed to improve product consistency and longevity. Following a period of exhaustive testing in both hot and cold climates, the new formulation will offer their customers a product with a realistic life span in excess of 25 years, which will be great news for respected companies such as Camden Frames, Endurance Doors, Panels Direct, Safestyle and Solidor. With the market for composite doors quickly changing from the imported GRP slabs from the Far East to UK manufactured solid core composite doors, 3D Laminates will be able to continue to supply its customers with a next day service from the main UK warehouse, which carries £1million in stock. Bonded onto this new VEKA substrate will be the proven Cool Colors® foil from Hornschuch, which 3D Laminates have the sole rights to in the UK, ensuring that the CoolSkin® brands remains associated with
high performance, long lasting composite and panelled doors. With 16 different woodgrains and 8 different colours, it’s already an impressive range and there are further plans to expand this during the course of 2016. Mark Lofthouse, managing director of 3D Laminates commented: ‘The introduction of a new VEKA substrate is an important milestone for us as a business. It’s a technically better product that’s been tested to the extreme and with VEKA and Hornschuch as key partners for us, the future for our customers looks very good indeed, particularly given the success of the new generation of solid composite doors.’ For further information on CoolSkin and 3D Laminates call 0113 273 6281, e-mail info@3d-laminates.com or visit their new responsive website at www.3d-laminates.com. READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0098
0216/0099
www.glassnews.co.uk | February 2016
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DOORS & HARDWARE
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
NEW GREEN GRIP™ HANDLE FROM MILA Mila is calling its new GRIP™ (Green Reliable Intelligent Polymer) espag handle the most exciting and innovative product it has launched in the last five years. The handle, which was on display for the first time at the 2015 Build Show, looks quite similar to Mila’s existing ProLinea espag handle but in reality it represents a radical redesign. Instead of being manufactured in conventional zinc, the GRIP™ handle is manufactured from high strength, fully recyclable ABS, which Mila says opens up a vast range of new opportunities in the trade and commercial sectors. GRIP™ is specifically designed to be ‘green’ and Mila has worked with the Carbon Trust to certify that the carbon footprint of this handle is a massive 60% lower than a standard Mila espag. With specifiers in the commercial sector in particular increasingly looking for ways to reduce the embodied carbon in their projects to comply with
UNISEAL’S PREMIDOOR OPENING Uniseal UK are the latest Kömmerling fabricator to introduce the new PremiDoor 88 lift and slide door which offers a genuine alternative to a bi-folding door in terms of size and scale, yet with a far greater passage of light.
government guidelines, this represents a huge benefit. In fact, Mila has calculated that the carbon footprint of the GRIP™ is just 0.8kgCO2e per handle, compared with 2.2kgCO2e for the ProLinea espag – a saving of 1.4kgCO2e for every handle manufactured. Even more impressively perhaps, it has also worked out that, if all of the 12 million or so zinc die cast handles sold in the UK every year were swapped for the new GRIP™ version, it would constitute a saving of 16,800 tons of carbon per annum – equivalent to the annual domestic energy use of almost 3000 UK homes, or 50 million miles driven in an average UK car. Mila’s Managing Director Richard Gyde said: “The new GRIP handle is a clever and, above all, cost effective solution for fabricators who are working on projects where carbon saving targets have already been set or where the specifier is benchmarking suppliers on their environmental performance. It is a future proof product which gives our customers a very
The company has only just completed their technical and training day and so the first installation on an extension has been carried out quickly, much to the delight of the homeowner and the installation team. At 4500mm wide and 2150mm high, this Kömmerling PremiDoor 88 offers a fantastic panorama of the garden and has made a real feature to the home. significant competitive advantage in PVC-U, aluminium and timber applications.” As well as its outstanding ‘green’ credentials, the GRIP™ handle of course has lots of other benefits for fabricators and installers as well. It has been performance tested to more than 60kg so easily outperforms a zinc handle in terms of strength and, having been cycle tested to 50,000 cycles, it is guaranteed for 10 years. The corrosion and chemical resistant ABS material is suitable for use in even the most aggressive environments because it will never corrode, and the attractive high gloss finish has been independently tested to international automotive standards for UV stability and abrasion. The GRIP handle was developed by Mila’s own inhouse product design team and has a worldwide patent. It is supplied in packaging emblazoned with the Carbon Trust’s familiar Footprint logo to guarantee that it is the only window handle in the UK where the carbon generated by every aspect of the production process - from the raw materials used to the manufacturing, distribution, use and even eventual disposal - have been measured, assessed and independently certified. Further details are available at www.mila.co.uk. READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0100
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With 5 domestic fitting teams, Uniseal UK have a strong presence in the Staffordshire area and will be looking to push this new door to consumers with a newly installed showroom door measuring an impressive 5200mm wide and 2700mm high. The company is also in the process of launching a new trade counter in Burntwood, Staffordshire as they also look to expand their offering to the local trade. Steve Cooper, managing director of Uniseal UK commented: ‘We are the first company in the area to launch the PremiDoor 88 and
believe it will take market share from both aluminium and PVCu bi-folding doors. The first installation was quick and easy and we look forward to promoting the product with our new showroom display.’ Kevin Warner, head of sales and marketing for Kömmerling concluded: ‘The PremiDoor 88 is a perfect example of our pedigree for engineering excellence in door systems. We have unquestionably the best PVCu door systems in the UK at present, as our revolutionary PAS 24 PremiLine PRO has also demonstrated.’ For further information on trade sales from Uniseal, log on to www.uni-seal-uk.co.uk or call 01543 674404. For further information on PremiDoor 88 log on to www.kommerling. co.uk, call the sales office on 01543 444900, or add to their growing following on Twitter @ kommerling_uk. READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0101
TRUFRAME’S NEW COMPOSITE DOOR BIBLE With the recent announcement of a new solid and secure composite door range using the proven Endurance® door slab, TruFrame have now launched a supporting 76 page brochure that existing customers have dubbed the new ‘composite door bible’.
customers. Elsewhere in the brochure the hardware and glass options are carefully detailed and laid out for ease of ordering either by traditional means of a fax, or through their online ordering portal which over 50% of customers now use regularly.
Designed by the new in-house marketing team at TruFrame, which is headed up by marketing manager Simon Box, the brochure has been designed to show off 43 different composite door designs, including stable and French door, along with matching side frame options. The marketing team have also developed a separate 6 page colour swatch which shows an actual foil swatch of the 16 different finishes available inside and out and a total of 11 different frame colours.
Patrick Firmager, marketing director of TruFrame commented: ‘We sent a small batch of these brochures out to our customers just before Christmas and we’ve received incredible feedback. Orders are now coming in quickly for the new composite doors and we’re now in a position to be able to offer them out to the wider market.’
The brochure commences with an exploded view of the solid timber core composite door, highlighting 13 key features which TruFrame believe makes it the perfect composite door. Also detailed is TruFrame’s unique 4-step hand finishing process to the uPVC door frames, making for the most exacting of finishes, while a cut through section shows the engineered and proven Endurance® door slab with the RockFoam technology to the base of the door. TruFrame also lay claim to the fact that their solid and secure composite door is the most secure in the UK, given the fact that these doors carry Secured by Design and are offered with the new 3-Star Ultion cylinder as standard, without any additional costs to
The new 76 page brochure can be viewed at www.truframe.co.uk/composite-doors or call the sales office on 01664 410140 for your hard copy. You can also add to their growing following on Twitter @TruFrame.
READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0102
February 2016 | www.glassnews.co.uk
0216/0103
www.glassnews.co.uk | February 2016
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DOORS & HARDWARE
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
Trojan Group’s hardware is ENDURANCE ahead of the game INTRODUCE Document Q, the latest addition ROCFOAM to building regulations that TECHNOLOGY covers security, came into force on 1 October 2015 and left many hardware products noncompliant. But Trojan’s core product range already met the requirements, meaning that for Trojan fabricators and installers it was business as usual. Tony Chadwick, Trojan’s Group Managing Director, said, “We at Trojan pride ourselves on developing value added hardware. The fact that so many of our core products already meet the requirements of Document Q shows just how valuable this approach is.” Trojan’s window hardware products that meet the requirements of Document Q are the Stallion Reverse Espag, the Mustang Slim Line Reverse Espag, the Mustang Slim Line Shootbolt, the Pegasus Window Lock, the Stallion 2 Shootbolt and the Mega Egress Hinge (hinge protection may be required). Trojan’s door hardware products that meet the requirements of Document Q are the Patriot Plus 3D High Security Door Hinge, the 3D High Security Composite Door Hinge, the PAS 24 Stainless Steel Letter Plate and the TS007 2* Stainless Steel Door Handle. Document Q states that all windows and doors installed in new dwellings (that means new builds and conversions) need to
Endurance® Doors have now introduced their unique RocFoam technology to their range of solid and secure doors, as they look to take the technological edge in the composite door market.
conform to PAS 24:2012. Full details of the requirements and how they affect fabricators and installers have been laid out in a leaflet that Trojan has prepared. The leaflet can be downloaded from the Trojan website, www. trojangroup.com. Tony concludes, “New legislation always has the capacity to worry fabricators and installers. But our core products meet the requirements of the latest changes to the law and have done for some time, so Trojan customers don’t need to worry.” Trojan’s value added approach means it is a market leading force in the industry. And the fact that the quality of Trojan’s core products mean they already meet the requirements of Document Q demonstrate why it is such a force to be reckoned with. Tel: 01922 713 933 - www.trojangroup.com READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0104
The company has been involved in the composite door sector since 2002, which has provided them with the opportunity to fully test and research the performance of their solid timber composite doors. For over 13 years Endurance® Doors have been offering the Scandinavian Kerto LVL timber core that’s made up of 15 individual laminations for better longevity and structural performance. It’s also the only timber door slab that carries full BBA Certification. The new RocFoam technology is a cellular, recycled PVCu section that is extruded inhouse within the Rocal Group and has been designed to be bonded at the base of all of their timber composite doors. This ensures that there is no risk of water ingress and eliminates the potential of any de-lamination of the door. As the composite door market continues to move at a pace, Endurance® Doors now believe they have what their customers claim is the most structurally robust solid timber composite door in the UK market, with new customers such as Whiteline and TruFrame having made the switch. Stephen Nadin, managing director of Endurance® Doors commented: ‘The
RocFoam technology is a result of our 13 years experience in the composite door sector and our understanding of the longterm requirements of an external door. Our solid and secure composite doors have been carefully engineered to provide long lasting performance without any risk of remedial and warranty problems, which can be costly for installation companies. He continues: ‘2016 will be a defining year for us and our customers and with new business leads at a record high, I’m relishing the opportunity to put the Endurance® Doors brand firmly on the map in the trade and consumer sectors.’ For further information on the Endurance Solid and Secure composite door range for complete door sets or for slab only manufacturing, please log on to www. endurancedoors.co.uk, e-mail sales@ endurancedoors.co.uk or call the sales office on 01652 659259. READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0105
Aztec Windows ‘had to offer’ Ultion as standard on ALL doors Coventry based Aztec Windows, fabricators of one of the largest ranges of PVC-U windows and doors in the West Midlands, has standardised in Ultion, Brisant Secure’s high security flagship cylinder lock, for all doors. Aztec Windows (Coventry) Ltd Director Michael Hagan explains: “We’re a fabricator that offers customers high quality products with unrivalled service, so we’re always looking to improve our product range. I started to talk to Brisant about Ultion after reading about it in the press and on social media. I tried using Ultion as an upgrade but it quickly became clear that I had to offer it as standard because real security shouldn’t be
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an option. From October 1st last year all our doors have come equipped with Ultion.”
stopped trying to break Ultion after 2½ hours of testing.
Ultion has achieved Sold Secure Diamond (SSD) having passed real-life security tests that most other cylinders can’t. There is no time limit in SSD tests. Testers choose from a range of tools and try to break the cylinder in any way they know how. If the cylinder breaks, it fails. If it doesn’t, it passes. Testers
“It seemed silly to sell insecure doors when we have a solution to secure them,” adds Michael. “We’re talking to all our customers about Sold Secure Diamond and Ultion to make sure they know what they mean by real security. So far the reception has been great because our customers would rather pay more for a secure door.”
“We’re talking to all our customers about Sold Secure Diamond and Ultion to make sure they know what they mean by real security. So far the reception has been great because our customers would rather pay more for a secure door.”
Brisant Secure CEO Steve Stewart comments: “Security is a problem in the window and door industry. But the fact that fabricators like Aztec Windows are taking positive steps to improve the security they sell is reassuring, and marks a real change in the way the industry is thinking.” For more information on Aztec Windows visit www.aztec-windows.com or call 024 7662 1316.
Aztec Windows ‘had to offer’ Ultion as standard on ALL doors.
Fabricators and installers looking to sell real life security should call Warren Yates on 01924 455 444. READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0106
February 2016 | www.glassnews.co.uk
0216/0107
www.glassnews.co.uk | February 2016
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DOORS & HARDWARE
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
Don’t let the winter weather affect your bottom line any more than it has to For many installers, the onset of winter means an increase in callouts as a result of failing hardware. Zinc-based hardware will start to fail sooner or later because the damp weather we experience in winter speeds up the corrosion process. But rather than accept corrosion as a fact of life, the Trojan Group developed a solution: stainless steel hardware. The range has taken the market by storm and sales have risen by over 300% in the past two years.
Bison Embraces Aluminium
with WarmCore
Trail blazing fabricator Bison Frames has just launched Bison Aluminium with the WarmCore Folding Sliding Door. Mark Tetley, Director of Bison, says, “We’ve been looking for the right product to manufacture and step into the aluminium market place for a couple of years now and our patience has been rewarded. WarmCore is a truly innovative system that has raised the bar so high that it will set the standard for many years to come. WarmCore definitely signals the rebirth of aluminium doors and windows and we are proud to say that we now manufacture this product”. Bison is a company renowned for manufacturing high quality products and its meticulous approach to product design with the Bison Genesis VS becoming the benchmark for the vertical slider market over the past few years. The WarmCore Aluminium Folding Sliding Door is set to do exactly the same. Designed from scratch, prototyped, tooled, trial installed and meticulously tested prior to launch by one of the industry’s largest and trusted system manufacturers. The WarmCore Aluminium Folding Sliding Door stands out from the crowd with its premium quality finish, structural integrity and architectural elegance that the market demands from quality aluminium products. Available in any combination of 4 colours, white, grey, black and cream from stock, dual
“The WarmCore Aluminium Folding Sliding Door stands out from the crowd with its premium quality finish, structural integrity and architectural elegance that the market demands from quality aluminium products.” 60
colours are not an issue with WarmCore and are readily available on sensible, standard lead-times. Another big difference is the use of WarmCore technology which means that, using standard double glazing, the door comfortably achieves a U value of 1.5 and U values as low as 1.0 using 44mm triple glazing. With many aluminium doors struggling to meet current legal requirements for thermal efficiency the WarmCore Aluminium Folding Sliding Door has a clear advantage. The WarmCore Aluminium Folding Sliding Door is enhanced by features that ensure exceptional weather tightness. The leaves are triple sealed with contact weather-strip gaskets to eradicate draughts and offer bestin-class performance. Unique gasket corner mouldings use a push-fit design to neatly and positively couple straight-cut gasket lengths for easy application, while avoiding the need to overrun gaskets to fill gaps between sashes. To complete a compelling package of benefits, the WarmCore door is PAS24 and Secured by Design compatible as standard, providing peace of mind for end users. In short, the WarmCore door delivers aluminium elegance with PVCu performance and is perfect solution for both residential and commercial building applications. Bison Frames is the home of the Genesis Vertical Slider, a product with looks so authentic it is being accepted for use in heritage, conservation zone and listed properties up and down the country. The WarmCore Aluminium Folding Sliding Door is set to follow in the footstep of Bison’s Genesis VS as another exciting game changing innovative product. Bison Aluminium manufacturing WarmCore doors and windows will undoubtedly become the ultimate one stop solution for residential and commercial aluminium markets. Tel: 0800 138 3838 www.bisonframes.com READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0108
Tony Chadwick, Trojan’s Group Managing Director, says, “Failing hardware as a result of corrosion was becoming an increasing problem in the industry. Returning to replace hardware has a direct effect on an installer’s bottom line, so needs to be avoided wherever possible. Stainless steel hardware solves the problem because of its corrosion-resistant properties. We are so confident in the fit and forget qualities of our stainless steel door hardware range that all products come with a 25 year anti corrosion guarantee as standard.” Trojan’s stainless steel range includes hinges, door handles and letterplates. Each of these is available at three price points so there is a stainless steel product for every project budget. It also includes door knockers, door numbers and numerals, an escutcheon, a T-bar pull handle and a central door knob. All products are available in Polished Gold
(PVD), Brushed Gold (PVD), Polished Stainless, Brushed Stainless and White or black powder coated over stainless, offering a perfectly suited solution. Trojan’s reputation is as a hardware manufacturer that has innovative products with tangible benefits at competitive prices. Trojan’s stainless steel range is just one reason why the company more than deserves this reputation. Tel: 01922 713 933 - www.trojangroup.com READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0109
Solidor Cloud makes life easy for PJ Plastics Solidor Cloud, Solidor’s revolutionary online ordering app, is helping London based installer PJ Plastics process quotes and orders faster and more easily than ever before. PJ Plastics has been using Solidor Cloud since it launched in 2014. The app has been in continuous development since then, with updates improving the system as it evolves to meet customers’ needs. Solidor Cloud enables customers to build the door they want quickly and easily, with all options available for selection. A live preview of the door shows them what the options look like before making their choice. One click returns a quote, which can be converted to an order at a later date. PJ Plastics Business Development Manager Heidi Farmer says: “The vast majority of doors we sell are Solidor, and Solidor Cloud is a great benefit. We have it set up on flat screens in our showroom so we can design
Solidor Cloud makes life easy for PJ Plastics.
the door with the homeowner and give them a quote very quickly. It means we can provide a personal service smoothly, without any stress or waiting. “We can convert saved quotes to orders very easily, which is a great feature,” continues Heidi. “So we spend less time crunching numbers and more time making sure our customers get the service they need.” To find out more about PJ Plastics call 01322 351588 or visit www.pjplastics.com. To sell Solidor or see how Solidor Cloud makes ordering easy call 01782 950941. READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0110
February 2016 | www.glassnews.co.uk
0216/0111 IG Glass News February16 Ad AW.indd 1 www.glassnews.co.uk | February 2016
12/01/2016 15:15
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GLASS NEWS INTERVIEW: DOORCO
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
DOORCO makes a move... At golf tournaments, Saturday is referred to as Moving Day, when players are jockeying for position on the leaderboard ready for an assault on the title on the Sunday. 2015 has been one big moving day for DOORCO in one way or another and Chris Champion, Editor of Glass News talks to the Managing Director of DOORCO, Dan Sullivan, about the company’s move in the marketplace.
The most significant move for DOORCO in 2015 has to be the new premises although product sales have been impressive, too. The analogy of Moving Day is quite accurate. 2015 has been a great year but we all honestly think 2016 will be even better. We grew by 25% overall in 2015 and have budgeted for a 30% growth in 2016 although we all feel that may be pessimistic. Acquiring the new premises including warehousing,
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must have gone into administration and I walked round and asked one of the staff. That was exactly what had happened and I asked who the landlord was and I was pointed to a guy across the car park. He told me that the company had gone bust owing him rent and he was obviously pretty unhappy and I asked him if I could look around the place. He told me that the administrators were keeping everyone out. By the time I’d mentioned that I’d take a lease on the place if he could persuade the administrators to let us go inside, he’d sorted it and that was it. A new home for DOORCO!
Managing Director, Dan Sullivan with a prepped door ready for despatch.
manufacturing area and offices all in one place, is ideal for us….and literally round the corner.
The fact that it is still on Charter Way is amazing. How did that come about? It was pure luck. We had been looking for some time and, one day, one of the girls came back from lunch saying that all the staff at the premises next door were out in the car park. My immediate thought was that they
If there have been any negative comments over recent years about DOORCO, it has probably been about stock. Is the move to bigger premises all about remedying that? There have certainly been occasions when we probably should have had larger stock holding - not to satisfy our own customer demands so much as to supply customers from rival companies who were short of stock themselves! We really haven’t required vast stockholding because, although doors blanks are coming from the Far East, our lead time is 5 weeks, not the normal 12 weeks for product from that part of the world. That difference in lead time has been very significant in that we really only need to hold 5 weeks stock at any time. Of course, in practice, we actually hold more
Every door blank is fully traceable.
than that and, with the new 40,000 sq ft, plus our other warehouse from where we top up our stock at Charter Way, we will hold 16,000 to 20,000 relevant blanks at any one time. When I say relevant, I mean that all stock is up to date and will pass any new PAS24 cutting test. There is also considerable volume of door blanks going to direct container customers.
February 2016 | www.glassnews.co.uk
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
GLASS NEWS INTERVIEW: DOORCO
You have always had a very loyal customer base… I think that is down to a number of things. Our customers are our partners and we provide a great service, and they pay their bills! I know everyone will say this but in our case it is true. We deal with like-minded people. There is an honesty in our dealings which may be strange in this day and age but, fortunately, there are other people with the same standards as us…loyalty, honesty, enjoyment in working together and producing the best possible product for the market.
There is much being said now about new cutting tests in PAS24 (2016) and how the polyurethane foam filled GRP door blank is at a disadvantage…
New warehouse racked for 20,000 door blanks.
Prepped doors being assembled and packed.
eye opener! I thought that his experience at Doorstop would mean constant demands for more and better machines but it is just the opposite. He looks for efficiency in every manufacturing procedure and takes great pride in finding the best way of producing quality products without spending additional cash.
There is a lot being written about PAS24 as it makes for a good news story, but its old news to us, we made improvements to our products nearly 2 years ago, and we continue to make improvements to our products. The point is that we can react to change very quickly and I think it surprises customers when they make a suggestion or ask for something different and a sample is being flown in almost immediately.
Just before we leave the issue of PAS24, is the test realistic given the choice of tools….chisels, Stanley knife and so on? Everyone knows that the standard Stanley knife now gets wrapped to provide greater leverage and use high tensile blades as opposed to the original specification of a standard blade… The test is whatever it is, and DOORCO will ensure that the doors conform to that standard in the most cost effective way possible. If you are asking whether the test is realistic in this day and age and whether a prospective burglar would use those tools or choose to break in through a front door, the answer is probably no. But it is what it is and however a test may be changed, we shall always ensure that the DOORCO product conforms.
Painted door blanks and cassettes move through the oven.
Le Mesurier who has had a lot of experience at DoorStop. Those two alone must have changed the dynamic in the company. It has, and things have changed very quickly. It was a big decision for Jayne to leave a very high paid job and join DOORCO. Her experience of systems and procedures has improved the whole service offered to our customers and, with the company growing so rapidly, we needed a more professional and streamlined approach to take the company to the next level. We have taken steps to achieve this, but still have some way to go and this will continue to be one of Jayne’s key focus points through the first half of 2016. With additional team members there will be more focus on customer service and new software investment across all areas of the business. In the case of Matt joining us in his Senior Production Manager role, that has been an
Another ‘move’ is in the area of staffing. Last time I was here you had around 18 staff. That is up to around 30 now and includes your wife, Jayne, who has moved from a very senior director position with Ernst and Young, and Matt One of three CNCs in the new manufacturing area.
www.glassnews.co.uk | February 2016
The final ‘move’ is product. It seems you are constantly innovating and whenever I have visited DOORCO there has been new product under test. What drives this innovation? It’s mostly me, I’m afraid! We have a tremendous relation with the factory in Korea and, if an idea comes to me or is suggested by a customer and it makes sense, then we’re straight on it. A good example is the Combi door which, by redesigning the tools for the GRP skins, we have been able to reduce stocking requirements for both us and our customers. One door design allows the combination of designs that used to require a 4 panel and 6 panel door. Additionally, the Smart door is a preapertured 4 panel door – in other words, routed to take twin vertical glazing. This reduces waste for us in our manufacturing of prepped doors and for our customers who have CNCs. People are inclined to forget the high costs of waste disposal and, added to that, the saving in tool costs and time, too.
This re-engineering of tooling is costly. Surely it’s around £30K to £60K to produce a new tool?
In our case it’s significantly more, as we produce very high quality tooling with a long lifespan and a very low degradation in the definition of the graining. Again, this is something we have learned over the last 10 years. Our tools will produce in excess of 1 million door blanks. The high cost is down to the hand graining of the tools and this is key to performance. Not only does the grain need to look good, aesthetically, but the spread of the grain is what provides the keying for quality painting.
You have an impressive paint spraying facility and a large oven… …which is about to be doubled in size! We can paint to any RAL colour – both here and in Korea. It has never been a case of just the standard colours of White, Black, Red, Blue, Green and a couple of Woodgrains. If a container customer wants all their door blanks in Canary Yellow, it’s not a problem. Equally, if a smaller customer wants a different colour for each of their prepped doors, we are happy to accommodate them.
And 2016? As I said earlier, 2016 is a year when DOORCO will see big growth. We now have the premises, staff, the products, and the stock to expand our customer base. Even more new products will be launched and an additional edgebander is on order to add to our three CNCs. DOORCO has the best imported door blank in the UK and what we do in 2016 will reinforce that statement. If 2015 was Moving Day in your golfing analogy, then 2016 is the Sunday, and the day to win!
READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0112
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SKY LIGHTS & ROOF LANTERNS
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
helios becomes activ Frame Fast UK’s Skypod® skylight sales demonstrate the importance of this product Alumen Ltd, the established SMART and Schueco window and door fabricator, has added a shade of blue to its new Rooflight range. Launched in December, the new range of Rooflights offers trade customers a quality, value for money, off the shelf product. And now the offering has expanded further with the option to upgrade with Pilkington’s Activ Blue glass.
Leading trade fabricator Frame Fast UK has just announced that sales of its Skypod® skylight have been exceptionally strong during 2015 and says that this trend looks set to continue well into 2016.
The Skypod® is the perfect product for spaces such
The Skypod® is suitable for a huge range of projects both big and small because it is available in a two-bar pitched gable design, which is suitable for openings of up to 1.5m x 6.5m, and a three-bar pitched gable design which is suitable for openings up to 2.75m x 7.75m. The Skypod®’s interior frame colour is White as standard, to maximise the airy feel it adds to a space. External frame colours are White, Rosewood, Golden Oak, Anthracite Grey and
Moondust, while glass colours are blue, neutral, bronze and clear. The Skypod®, which is part of the Eurocell product portfolio, is manufactured in Frame Fast UK’s state of the art 30,000 sq ft, purposedesigned production facility in Derby, giving customers the additional reassurance that it will meet the exceptional standards for which the company is renowned and is backed up with a ten year guarantee for additional peace of mind. Nigel concludes, “I’m delighted that the Skypod® is proving as popular as it is – but I’m not surprised. It’s an exceptional product that has filled a big gap in the market.” Tel: 01332 344459 www.framefastuk.com
“The unique coating applied to the glass is self-cleaning, has solar control that filters out heat entering through the glass but still offers good light transmission, and lasts for the lifetime of the glass. The attractive blue colour is perfect for roof glazing as it enhances the view from inside to out, even on a grey day. Rolled out as a standard upgrade option on Helios - the flat rooflight with a contemporary chamfered edge and available as fixed or opening systems – means it is held in stock on our standard sizes ranging up to 3200mm x 1200mm and available on next day delivery across the UK. “Ordering online is easy and delivery is free for limited time. With over 45 standard options in stock across the entire range why not visit https://www.alumen.co.uk/Shop/Shop-Home. aspx to order now?”
For more information visit www.alumen.co.uk/Products/ Rooflights.aspx or call us on 01536 737377 and to keep up to date with developments and special offers follow us on Twitter @AlumenLtd.
READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0114
! ze Pri
Frame Fast UK’s Nigel Leivers says, “A skylight is an aspirational product that can be integrated into an extension or retrofitted into an existing space. The Skypod® skylight brings that aspiration within the reach of many more people because it offers aluminium aesthetics at a PVCu price.”
as flat-roofed extensions, orangeries, new builds, kitchen-diners, garage conversions or anywhere homeowners want to flood a space with light and create a modern, stylish look. It offers exceptional thermal efficiency and can achieve a U-value of just 1.0, helping homeowners to avoid the problem of a space that’s too hot in summer or too cold in winter.
Ken McMichael, Technical Director at Alumen comments: “The success we have seen in a short space of time with our new Rooflights has quickly led to the expansion of the range
with the addition of Activ Blue glass as standard to our most popular Helios range. We selected Activ Blue as the perfect addition, in line with our existing window ranges.
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February 2016 | www.glassnews.co.uk
CONSERVATORIES
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
Perfect FIT
I cannot help but wonder how many times the word ‘FIT’ is going to be used between now and the next big industry get together at Telford in April? But the fact is that The FIT Show is a major landmark in the industry calendar and like all of the shows which have gone before it a pivotal point at which suppliers can look to convince new customers that their products are the best.
to our network of suppliers to the trade is gathering pace.
the leading suppliers to the sector. The next big push for ourselves is to fill in the gaps in our supply chain jigsaw; we want to add new manufacturers into our network to feed the installers who are in contact with us every day looking for someone to supply them.
The market for solid roofs has been growing for the past two years and through our products, our service levels and our marketing support we are very much amongst
“In our view we are the perfect ‘FIT’ for the industry as a supplier of solid roofs.” We have an outstanding range of products, and our marketing support for our manufacturing partners and our installers stands comparison with any other supplier in the sector. The FIT Show will give us the opportunity to showcase everything we are about, and will give us the opportunity to talk to the industry with the solid roof market for the first time in a mature phase. Installers and manufacturers across the country really understand the market for the product now and it will be great to show them what we are about. In our view we are the perfect ‘FIT’ for the industry as a supplier of solid roofs.
For us the timing could not be better. We have already been working alongside the show in our role as a major sponsor of the Master Fitter Challenge, and as we start to finalise our plans for the exhibition itself our campaign to attract more manufacturers
Steve Hacking is Operations Director for Supalite www.supaliteroof.co.uk.
READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0115
WE ARE EXPANDING OUR NETWORK OF FABRICATORS The next generation of roof is here and we have great demand
All of our SupaLite Roofs are now available with
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www.glassnews.co.uk | February 2016
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CONSERVATORIES
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
Astraseal to the rescue in complex
conservatory installation
When Northamptonshire based installers Wollaston Windows were faced with an especially challenging conservatory project in Little Houghton, they knew they could rely on their trade supplier Astraseal for full support. Working closely with Astraseal, Wollaston Windows installed a bespoke conservatory, fully fabricated by Astraseal. The brief from the homeowner was very detailed, requiring the coming together of aluminium bi-folding doors, a bespoke roof system and high performance glazing, with a specific RAL colour chosen for the external and internal finish. It was imperative that the sightlines remained consistent throughout the roof and frames, meaning it was essential that the complete building could be designed and manufactured by the one supplier. Calculations were carried out to enable the manufacture of a steel support frame as both the front and side elevations of the conservatory were to be manufactured using the Smarts Visofold Aluminium door system. The roof was specified to include Pilkington active glass units and automatic roof vents. RAL7009 was the chosen colour, with the aluminium bifolding doors being powder coated and the roof, gutter and all bespoke cladding sections spray painted by Astraseal in their own spray booth.
The Future of Conservatories Do you want to install a conservatory like no other? Set to revolutionise the conservatory market in 2016, the Solaris Roof is an exciting new product launching at the FIT Show this year. “We are really excited to be launching the Solaris Roof at this year’s FIT Show” explains Andrew Glover, Managing Director at Solaris Solar. “Following an extensive period of research and development, we have come up with a unique concept that we believe will bring something truly different to the market. Without revealing too much information at this stage, we have drawn
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on expertise from all of our areas of business to create something totally new. Combining a solid conservatory roof with the all the benefits of solar PV panels, this new product will not only offer something totally progressive to the homeowner, but will save them money too. “Available to trade as an easy install, flat pack option, this innovative new roof concept really is the future of conservatories. But, don’t just take our word for it. Come and see it for yourself on stand A50 or to follow our developments over the next couple of months, register your interest at www.solarisroofs.co.uk or follow us on twitter @ solarisroof.”
READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0117
“This had the potential to be quite tricky but thanks to Astraseal’s support, the installation ran like clockwork”, said Wollaston Windows MD, Brian Henson. “Astraseal offer a full technical support package from start to finish. One of the key benefits is how they pre-assemble the conservatory in their factory beforehand, meaning we knew it would fit together perfectly when out on site. Due to an unusual tile detail, where the new conservatory had to meet the existing building a bespoke box gutter was designed by Astraseal, this was welded on site to form a one piece seamless gutter to run the full length of the building. The fact they can spray everything inhouse was perfect for this job and meant we could go back to our customer with really competitive lead times and costs.” “We were delighted to work with Wollaston Windows on this project”, commented Zac Nedimovic, Astraseal marketing manager. “As ever, we strove to do as much of the assembly work as possible ourselves, leaving the customer to focus on doing an excellent installation. It’s great for the installer, because they can source everything for such a complex project from one supplier. Price and lead time are reflected in Astraseal having complete control over every aspect. Wollaston Windows did a fantastic job, and we’re really looking forward to working with them on other projects in the future.”
Astraseal manufactured aluminium conservatories.
As one of the UK’s largest and longest-serving fabricators, Astraseal boasts an extensive product portfolio, manufacturing the full range of REHAU windows and doors, Global conservatory roofs, and Smarts Aluminium windows, doors, curtain walling and shopfronts. The company recently launched the Eurocell uPVC system and also produce sealed units in-house including toughened and fire rated glazing. Astraseal have a purpose made spray booth enabling them to offer a full colour coating facility. For more information call Astraseal on 01933 227233 or visit www.astraseal.co.uk. READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/011
Window Ware increases its repair & remedial range The Window Ware repair range is designed with locksmiths and repair companies in mind. The products have been carefully selected to help save time and money by allowing the repair to be completed in just one visit. The range includes superb retrofit products from brands such as Yale and Kore by Window Ware. The new time saving additions to the Kore Repair Range include: Kore Repair Cockspur Handle Kit is a high quality replacement cockspur window handle. It will suit most up
stands from 9mm to 21mm and includes 3 different sized packers. The handle is key locking, simple and easy to fit, available in left and right handed. Colours available are white, black, satin chrome, polished chrome and PVD gold. Kore Cockspur Handle Wedge Kit is available in black or white in 2mm, 3mm, 4mm and 5mm thicknesses. Quick and easy to use the wedge kit is ideal for assisting you in the fast repair of a cockspur handle. Kore Sash Blocker Kit is an easy to fit simple way to add extra security to most uPVC doors and windows. Available in white, brown and tan and locking or non locking variations. Includes 2 x sash packers, 3 x button spaces and 2 x screw cap covers. Kore Sprung Door Handle for GU Ferco 70mm multi point door lock with 70mm cylinder centres. Quick and easy to fit this product is available in white, PVD gold or chrome. The built to last handle has been corrosion tested to 480 hours and cycled tested to 50,000 cycles.
“With over 5,000 products in stock available for next day delivery as standard Window Ware successfully deliver 98.5% of orders the next day and in full.”
Kore Locksmith Multi Tool is a must have for all locksmiths. Its highly durable and affordable with fantastic features. Features include: measuring cylinder lengths, operating the locking point without a cylinder, acting as a 4mm – 6mm spindle in addition to two spindle sockets.
Why Window Ware? With over 5,000 products in stock available for next day delivery as standard Window Ware successfully deliver 98.5% of orders the next day and in full. In addition to this 60% of Window Ware staff have 5 years or more experience in the industry, giving customers the best advice since 1987. Order and manage your account with Window Ware online 24 hours a day 7 days a week, by phone on 01234 242 724, or by email sales@windowware.co.uk. READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0119
February 2016 | www.glassnews.co.uk
Connaught have been fabricating the Ultraframe system for over 15 years. That’s why we’re:
YOUR PROFESSIONAL CONSERVATORY ROOF SPECIALISTS... 0216/0120
We can offer technical support, training and a full marketing package to help increase and develop your sales and more importantly increase your profits.
Nobody knows the Ultraframe system better than us and we can offer a full back-up service to help you: • Bespoke Software available to our trade customers • Structural report for every roof • 2 Hour quotation turnaround • Professional support and advice from our expertly trained fabricators • On site assistance • Free delivery to site • Training for your installers • 7 Day turnaround
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The Ultraframe Experts
www.glassnews.co.uk | February 2016
Fax: 01709 525262 Unit 3, Lloyd Street. Parkgate. Rotherham. S62 6JG www.connaughtroofs.com
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GLASS NEWS INTERVIEW: EVEREST
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
£100K plus per annum?
Experienced conservatory sales people need to talk to Everest
Tom Devine, Sales Director of Everest Home Improvements and Managing Director of Everest Conservatories talks to Glass News’ Editor, Chris Champion, about the conservatory market, the range of products in that sector and a new ‘no fee’ franchise opportunity for ambitious conservatory sales people.
It seems like only yesterday when the announcement was made that Better Capital had acquired Everest, Roy Saunders joined as CEO and that you were joining Everest from BSkyB and, previously, Vodafone Time goes quickly! It’s actually two years ago and I’m now in my third year with Everest.
Apart from being Sales Director of Everest Home improvements you also hold the title of Managing Director of Everest Conservatories. Do I take it from that the conservatory market is an important sector for the company?
Tom Devine, Sales Director of Everest Home Improvements and Managing Director of Everest Conservatories.
increased enormously but the demand for the traditional conservatory is still buoyant.
The latest statistics I have seen on conservatories state that about 18% of households have one, of some description, but only 77% of those have any form of heating. Is that correct? What I do know is that modern materials make the traditional conservatory a more
‘year round’ option. Certainly there was a period when the ‘too hot in summer and too cold in winter’ syndrome existed, but materials and construction have changed since the ‘70s and ‘80s and now most conservatories require little more than a small wall heater to make the structure useable year round.
to be leaving home is 28 years of age. That means that, in many cases, there could be four or five adults living in a house. It isn’t just a case of having a sun room that Mum and Dad can sit in and survey their garden now the kids have left home. It’s a matter of adding a room that provides for space that all can enjoy.
You mentioned new materials. Is this a case of the polycarbonate roof is now in the past?
Another big drivers is the popularity of bifold doors. People want them because they like the idea of being able to open their new room to the elements. It provides a link between the house and garden.
It was only last year that Everest involved itself in the replacement roof market. This is an area of real growth over the next few years. Roofs vary between glass, solid roofs including tiled, and polycarbonate. Quite a lot of replacement roofs are remain polycarbonate because of weight and cost. The new Macrolux IR product has ten chambers and out performs many older glazed roofs. This gives the customer a real option when they are on a budget.
So is it the high end structure that is the main growth?
There is a trend for solid roofs we can satisfy and we will adding further to our product portfolio this year. And let’s not forget glass! There are so many options we can give a customer to keep that great light and airy feel which will also deliver a room that can be used all year round.
And what is the driver for that additional room, whether conservatory, orangery or whatever? I want more space! That’s what it’s all about. The whole dynamic of family life has changed and they are now saying that the average age
While we are seeing growth in replacement roofs and solid roofs, the smaller, PVCu traditional conservatory, is still growing in popularity. One of our problems, as a company, is that we generate vast numbers of enquiries through our national advertising campaigns and we need to constantly improve our service to prospective customers so that we can follow up on those enquiries, and satisfy the demand.
What are the timescales involved when it comes to a householder wanting a quote for a conservatory? The first essential is to respond to that enquiry immediately. Second, is to make a visit, and often that is two or three visits, in a 7 to 10 day period. The quotation stage can take another 7 to 10 days and then it is a case of planning for the build. From start to finish it is probably around 6 weeks depending on the complexities of the
Very much so. And although the business is doing extremely well, it’s the conservatory side that has shown real growth, and considerably so from the middle of 2015.
That’s interesting as I have been led to believe that the conservatory market was dropping off…. It depends on what you classify as ‘conservatories’. We include replacement roofs, orangeries, glass extensions and tiled roof extensions as well as the traditional conservatory in our offering. It’s certainly true that the orangery and glass extension side has
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February 2016 | www.glassnews.co.uk
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
project which may include gaining planning consent which may vary between 3 to 12 weeks. Working with the customer is so important – it’s all about managing their expectations.
Can we talk about Everest’s new Partnership in Business scheme? As the conservatory market increases and new products such as Tiled Roof Extensions and Glass Rooms are added to the portfolio, we need to increase our sales capacity and bring specialists on board. It is no longer sufficient to have sales people selling windows and doors plus the various options within the conservatory market, so the Partnership in Business scheme aims to bring, initially, 20 new and very experienced conservatory people into the company. We shall offer these new people exclusive territories with all leads for conservatory products generated for the area being passed
to them. Our experience tells us that around 30 leads per month is sufficient for each area. Many more than that and an individual will be unable to provide the service required by the customer.
Is this, effectively, a Conservatory Franchise? You could describe it as that but with no fee to pay! In fact, Everest will provide a £5,000 annual marketing fund and will co-fund an additional £5,000 with the consultant. They will also have the full support of our technical and surveying staff as a well as a local manager to guide and mentor them.
Presumably it isn’t a case of simply cutting the UK up into 20 areas… .I’m not sure I would necessarily choose Scotland as my area!
GLASS NEWS INTERVIEW: EVEREST
There are, naturally, areas that are better than others as far as conservatory demand is concerned. We expect the territories to be most in demand will be south of a line between East Anglia and Birmingham and east of a line from Oxford to Poole. However, areas such as Cheshire and parts of Yorkshire generate substantial numbers of leads. The point is that we are looking for experienced Conservatory sales people who are successful where they are now but would like to be running their own business. They will have a minimum of 2 years successful experience in selling conservatories and will want to be earning £100K to £150K per annum.
I can see a situation where a ‘franchisee’ is very successful in an area and can’t keep up with demand. What happens then?
As the model develops, you’re right, some areas will prove to be too big for an individual. In that case, another Conservatory Consultant will take a part of that area and the original consultant will earn an override on the new person, or persons’, sales. The original consultant could end up with a number of additional consultants from whom he is benefitting from through additional override commission.
Presumably they will have to be managed as some consultants may be better than others…. They will have KPIs to keep to and will turn over approximately £500K per annum with some turning over £750K to £1m. In those cases their earnings will be in the region of £150K per annum. We are not looking for people who fancy having a go at selling in this field. We are looking for people who want to be selfemployed with the backing of a company like Everest. People that are already successful but would like to be more successful and reap the rewards for themselves, and benefit from the leads that Everest generates and the support of a market leading company. These people will understand the whole conservatory business and, apart from a short training period to understand Everest’s systems, they will be able to get selling in their territory pretty much immediately. We need these people because of the profile Everest has gained in the market place and the opportunity is open ended for ambitious conservatory sales people.
Thanks Tom. And how do they contact you to talk about this opportunity? Either email me at Tom.Devine@everest.co.uk or call Nicole Lake on 07812 962932.
READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0121
www.glassnews.co.uk | February 2016
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COLOUR
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
Homeowners love colour
Are you giving them what they want? Deceuninck MD Roy Frost says homeowners are looking for colour to enhance their home. So why do Syscos make it difficult for fabricators and installers to sell colour? Britain used to be a colourful place. In medieval times, even the insides of cathedrals were a riot a colour, not the dull grey we’re used to. The Georgians and Victorians decorated every inch of their houses and buildings with bright, strong colours and patterns. But in the aftermath of depression and two World Wars, Britain’s housing was in a sad state. Streets of dull grimy houses with rotten timber windows and doors with flaking, peeling, faded paint of indeterminate colour. Then PVC-U took the market by storm. So what if it was white, or a couple of woodgrains if you insisted. It was shiny, clean, fresh, and maintenance-free and it transformed the face of Britain. But British homes are built for colour and in recent years leading paint brand Dulux has been campaigning to bring back colour into our homes. It’s no longer white or magnolia! Paint retailers have significantly widened their stock of off-the-shelf colour and paint mixing services create whatever new colours homeowners want in their home. This surge in colour demand has fuelled an explosion of aspirational (and eye-wateringly expensive) paint brands like Farrow & Ball, Fired Earth, Little Greene, Sanderson and Zoffany. Give homeowners the choice, and make it easy for them to buy colour, and they’ll go for it.
Colour is back, big time!
Making it easy to sell colour
In mainland Europe colour never really went away. It’s now around 75% of window installations. In Scotland it’s getting on for 50%, and in Ireland colour is 55%. In the UK it’s 25% and rising.
But Deceuninck decided to do the opposite and extend our colour range to 26 colourways from stock, including matching trims, cills, end caps and ancillaries, for our windows and doors. That means colour in stock for our Heritage 2800 window, new Slider24 patio door, innovative Slide & Swing, composite door and residential outer-frames. Phew! That’s over 2,500 Stock Keeping Units (SKUs). We had to get a vast new warehouse to stock it all!
Homeowners are actively searching for ideas and colours to enhance their home. They’re becoming more confident and bolder in choosing colour for their windows and doors. They want to stamp their personality on their property, add kerb appeal, or recover the character and authenticity of their house. And they’ll pay for it.
Other Syscos think we’re nuts, but colour isn’t a ‘special’ for us. Our customers lead in colour and already sell 50% more colour than their competitors. We’ve just made it even easier by making their colour windows and doors available on the same lead time as white. So there’s no uncertainty, delays or disappointment. And they don’t have to order in bulk. They can order a single length of colour profile if they want.
But most Systems companies (Syscos) have been slow to promote colour, so it’s been hard for installers to sell it.
If they could avoid it, most Syscos wouldn’t sell colour. They’d like to sell white only, and keep their extruders running day and night without changing colours. More colours mean more raw materials, more waste, more work in progress and more finished stock in the warehouse to manage and finance. Changing colour means stopping one colour and flushing it through until there’s no trace of it before you start another profile. You have to keep all the colour profiles in stock, including trims, ancillaries end caps and cills, so installers can sell it. You can understand why production, logistics and finance people don’t want to know!
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It’s also good business. Demand for colour is growing, so our customers are more likely to sell and to sell at better margins. And if it’s good for them, it’s good for us. For more information on Deceuninck’s extended colour-from-stock range call Roy on 07808 365234 or Sales Director Rob McGlennon on 07818 383385. Follow @DeceuninckUK.
READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0122
February 2016 | www.glassnews.co.uk
COLOUR
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
Mighton move
0216/0124
into paints
The UK’s oldest established supplier of products to the sash window manufacturing industry, Mighton Products, have recently added a range of paints to their extensive offer. Set up in 1983 to sell nylon sash pulleys to the window joinery industry the company now boast over 2000 ‘high quality’ sash, casement and door products in their catalogue and online. Their aim has always been “to stay close to joiners and provide them with what they want”. Today the company has many thousands of customers Worldwide. The latest addition is the Drywood range of interior and exterior primers and wood finishes specially developed for Joinery use. Drywood Coatings are manufactured by Dutch company G.B. Holst who began developing waterbased timber finishes in 1963, long before the industry began to switch to such coatings for
“Mighton are the sole UK distributor and say that because of the product’s durability, they offer a 10 year guarantee when applied using the Drywood system.” environmental reasons. Today they offer a complete range of paint products with extremely long life cycles which have been assessed by independent test institutes for durability, adhesion, moisture permeability etc. The products have been used in a wide range of climates, from the freezing cold of Norway, to the often wet climate of Ireland and the heat of Southern Italy. Mighton are the sole UK distributor and say that because of the product’s durability, they offer a 10 year guarantee when applied using the Drywood system.
Next day delivery, volume discounts and the ability to match any existing colour at their premises in Hinxton Cambs all come as standard. Mighton also stock other Drywood products such as Optijoint, a gap filling, moisture resistant adhesive which can be coated over in 15 minutes, clear and white end grain sealers (Optisealer) and Optifinish TR an exterior semi-gloss translucent selfpriming coating. There are also two topcoats available, OptifinishG40 (semi-gloss) and G70 (full gloss).The Drywood range also includes quick drying exterior wood stains, water based spray coatings as well as brush applied gap-filling white and coloured paints for sash restoration work. In particular, the factory applied paints have secured rave reviews amongst Mighton’s customer base with their ease of spray application, durability, close matching-standards and 10 year guarantees all playing their part. Tel: 0800 056 0471 www.mightonproducts.com READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0123
www.glassnews.co.uk | February 2016
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ALUMINIUM
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
Crown set to reign once more
A new full colour, six page brochure promotes Carl F Groupco’s Aluminium Collection. The literature highlights hardware designed specifically to suit aluminium profiles for domestic and commercial applications.
Report predicts strong
growth in commercial aluminium market
As an established hardware supplier, Carl F Groupco has observed the growing popularity of aluminium profiles and lists durability,
The Commercial Glazing Market Report UK 2015 – 2019 analysis has revealed prospects for growth in the market over the next 4-5 years look positive. Following a period of decline between 2008 and 2011, significant growth in 2014 appears to have been sustained and improved upon in 2015. Increased activity in the construction office sector has been a major influencer in this growth; and the education sector is also likely to see the number of new projects increasing from 2016 onwards. Jerry Webb, MD of specialist aluminium fabricator CDW Systems, says the report’s findings spell good news for aluminium suppliers and the construction industry as a whole. He commented: “The rise in new projects in the commercial market will see higher demand for aluminium products. It will also help attract interest and investment from developers overseas keen to get involved in a booming market, which in turn has a positive impact on the UK economy.” In terms of product sectors, the report stated the largest segment by value is commercial windows, followed by curtain walling and ground floor treatments. Jerry says the report’s findings suggest the commercial market is on a fast track to recovery after reduced activity from 2012 – 2013, and hopes aluminium can now find equal footing in the domestic sector. He comments: “Aluminium has always been the material of choice in the commercial market and it’s fantastic to see such positive findings from the report. At the same time we have been very vocal about the lack of use of aluminium in the domestic market and are campaigning to promote the benefits of bringing this material into mainstream projects such as new build housing.” CDW Systems has been operating for twenty two years as an aluminium specialist, manufacturing and supplying a wide range of windows, doors, shop and curtain walling, using some of the leading aluminium profile systems on the market today including SAPA, ALUK and Smarts. READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0125
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The Aluminium Collection from Carl F Groupco
Stroud based fabricator Crown Aluminium (UK) Ltd is set to open it’s doors once again to service the UK’s buoyant aluminium and steel windows, doors and curtain wall market. Having spent the last couple of years working exclusively for an overseas façade contractor, Crown is back doing what it has always done – utilising 30 years of experience to service the whole industry with high quality, cost competitive fabrication services. Colin Cornwall, General Manager said, “We have retained all of the qualities that made Crown’s name synonymous with fabrication excellence in the past. The skills, the machinery, the processes and the drive are all still here. We are looking forward to servicing this exciting market again. We look forward to hearing from any interested contractors and have capacity to fulfil orders almost immediately. ” Ideally located close to excellent transport links, Crown is able to service the whole of the UK to assist in meeting a contract’s needs. Crown have fabrication experience of all major aluminium and steel window, door and curtain wall system suppliers as well as being experts in the fabrication of bespoke unitised systems. Roger Phillips said, “I have left a strong team at Crown and will continue to be available in a non-executive capacity if necessary to ensure the smooth running of Crown’s operations. I am feeling invigorated by the challenge of the Crown team repeating the success of the past 30 years.” The doors are open once again and Crown welcome business from all window, door and building envelope contractors. All enquiries should be made direct to Colin.cornwall@ crown-aluminium.co.uk or on 01453 753222. READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0126
security and design appeal as key reasons for their appeal. As a result, the company reports increasing demand for complementary hardware, which it is supporting with its Aluminium Collection backed by comprehensive technical support. In line with Carl F Groupco’s ethos of providing solutions and delivering hardware, ranges included in the
“As a result, the company reports increasing demand for complementary hardware.” collection are the PN Uni for reversible window gearing, Siegenia ALU tilt & turn gearing and Cotswold Architectural Products’ friction & parallel stays. Other manufacturers represented include FUHR and Strand. Products featured in Carl F Groupco’s Aluminium Collection also cater for remote window control, emergency and panic exit / multipoint door locks plus folding sliding door, lift & slide, and tilt & slide hardware. Tel: 01733 393330 www.carlfgroupco.co.uk
The latest literature from Carl F Groupco promotes the company’s Aluminium Collection.
READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0127
BUSINESS MICROS ALUMINIUM
CONTINUES TO GROW Perry Mace is the latest support technician to join the team at Business Micros Aluminium. Based at the company’s Tewkesbury office, Perry’s role is to provide online and telephone support to users of the LogiKal software system, and also to visit customers to provide more specialist training and advice. Perry is the second new technician recruited by Business Micros Aluminium in the past year as it has experienced record sales levels and has invested in recruiting the right people to make sure it keeps pace with demand. The company has also announced plans to recruit a further new technician later this year to bring the total number to five. Managing Director Dean Hodges said: “Our customers rely on our support team to help them get the most from LogiKal, so we’re constantly investing to make sure that we can maintain and even improve our service to them.” Tel: 01684 851230 www.bmaluminium.co.uk
READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0128
February 2016 | www.glassnews.co.uk
THE YEAR OF IMPROVEMENT
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
A Year Of Improvement
An initiative from Glass News & The GAP Academy
Month 2 – FEBRUARY 2016
2016. Make it your year Order the funniest new book for everyone in sales – and for anyone who wants to be.
NOT ALL DOORS
“Focus on getting better rather than wishing it was easier. If Britney could get through 2007, you’ll cope with missing a few sales targets. You’ll never control the way the wind blows but you can adjust the set of your sails.”
ARE MADE EQUAL
Babies and psychopaths have one thing in common. They’re excellent at getting what they want.
While a lot of people may think that a life in building product sales just isn’t their thing, the reality is that we all find ourselves persuading someone to do something for us at some point. And the reality is that anyone who can master a handful of simple disciplines can make anything become irresistible. Especially doors. First on your list should be understanding your power of persuasion and using it sparingly. Getting someone to see your point of view usually doesn’t need excessive emphasis. Let’s say the focus of your door pitch is the A++ Holy Grail of energy ratings. If you want to get your own way, make it clear that you believe passionately in what you’re saying or selling about its bill-reducing advantages - and be calm but persistent. In true General Colin Powell style, choose your battles selectively and then go in with overwhelming force. Next comes understanding the relevance of having two ears and one mouth. Listen twice as much as you speak. You know how amazing you feel when you’ve talked to someone who’s looked like they’ve been actively listening. The world’s best sales people have all mastered this. They listen to assess receptiveness to their point of view. They listen for specific objections. And they listen for golden moments of agreement. It’s the easiest thing in the world for someone to dismiss you if you try to persuade them without having any emotional stake in either them or their beliefs. Really persuasive people
www.glassnews.co.uk | February 2016
“You don’t have to settle for things as they are now. Only dead fish go with the flow.” “Having the will to win is important in sales. Preparing to win is what really makes the difference. Learn to become pitch-perfect.” “Cold calling is stressful, daunting and unsettling - and there are no shortcuts. But you’ll crack it if you can hang on after everyone else has let go.”
work hard to find common ground and shared objectives.
“Lighten up and have fun. Sales is the best job in the world if you don’t take it too seriously. The best salesmen and women never really grow up - they just learn how to behave in public.”
Don’t waste time arguing facts. The world functions in colour, so focus on emotion. If your door is the toughest on the market and can only be opened by whoever has the key, focus your pitch on guaranteeing the safety and security of the people it protects. Respect and reinforce the other person’s needs and views, and never dismiss them. The best persuaders know they can lose a few battles and still win the war. Next time you’re trying to win someone over, look for the small areas of ground on which you’re prepared to make a sacrifice. Giving ground where you can and holding your ground only where it matters will get you to yes much faster. Learn to win the silence. When you’ve asked your question, button it. Whoever speaks first generally loses. And if you’re caught in a stalemate with someone who favours the same strategy and feel you need to blink first, try: “someone once told me that silence was an indication of consent. Were they correct?” And finally, know when to back off. Urgency and immediacy are often the enemies of real persuasion. Bring whoever you’re trying to persuade along in their own time. There’s nothing more powerful than someone persuading themselves on your behalf.
A Year Of Improvement initiative from Glass News and GAP
Paul Sowerby is Group Sales & Marketing Director at Rockdoor manufacturer GAP UK Ltd, and author of My Name’s Paul And I’m A Bullshitter; a brave new personal development book and seminar programme for sales and business development professionals.
To order your copy, go to www.glassnews.co.uk/yearofimprovement and enter code 0116/0001
By Paul Sowerby
www.paulsowerby.co.uk READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0129
0216/0130
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GLASS NEWS INTERVIEW: UNIVERSAL ARCHES
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
Bend it like
Universal Arches... Profile bending is a niche part of our industry and Glass News’ Editor, Chris Champion, talks to market leader Universal Arches’ Managing Director, Leon Day, and experiences how an order progresses through the factory to completion.
And at that point, you didn’t want to join what was the family business?
Leon, before we embark on taking a D frame through the various stages of ordering and manufacture, can we talk a bit about your background and Universal Arches? We’re in an industry that is full of entrepreneurs but quite often there are familiar links to what they have done and I must admit I had thought you had followed your father into this industry…
But why the bending business?
My father was well known in the glass industry and eventually sold his company, AG Glass, to Pilkington in 2006. I wanted nothing to do with glass and wanted to be my own man and make my own way in life, rightly or wrongly! I was motorbike mad and was riding them for a living, in both Motocross and Supercross. That was fine until I broke my neck and my motorcycling career came to an end.
Window frames of every shape and size.
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Not at all. I joined John Dennis in Barnsley in his wholesale fruit and vegetable business. My first job was sweeping the yards but I progressed from that into sales and was with him for 6 years. Much of what I learned about running a business was from John and his business. I was ready for something new and joined Dixon Motors and sold cars for nearly 11 years, by which time I was ready to take on and build a business of my own.
At first we wanted to buy the bending equipment from Universal Arches and to start manufacturing from Barnsley, harnessing some of our contacts that we had built up over the years through AG Glass. In the end we had the opportunity to buy the entire business and with the existing expertise, it was obvious that we needed to stay in St Helens.
And so started a 90 odd mile daily commute from Barnsley to St Helens? Yes. I know the M62 intimately and have lived through constant 50mph restricted zones and upgrades to a Smart Motorway. The constant accidents and closures and snow and ice on the top of the Pennines and the queues past Manchester. It used to be a 06.30 start to be at St Helens for 08.00. Now it’s just after 05.30 to get there for 08.00…and that’s what they call progress!
So you’ve now bought Universal Arches. Is it just a matter of getting on and running it?
If only life was that easy! To begin with, the purchase was funded by 4 individuals with equal shares for my father, stepmother, sister and me. Within 18 months, my sister and I bought back my father and stepmother’s shares and at the end of 2008 I had bought my sister’s shares. So I’ve now owned Universal Arches outright for 8 years.
That’s rapid progress to have achieved that. Can we talk about the way you run the business? By the very nature of our business, we are not a mass producer of PVCu windows and doors, but more of a hand finisher and processor of profiles. Nearly all of our products are manufactured on benches, much like the traditional time served joiner. However, we have developed our own manufacturing processes and capital equipment some of which we’ve managed to patent and production is now consistently at 300 frames per week. We now process PVCu profiles using infrared technology, something that we’ve joint developed with Liverpool University, rather than the messy hot oil process or the use
Complex fabrication and impeccably finished.
Leon Day, Managing Director, Universal Arches.
of ‘kettle like’ elements. In other words we heat the profile with, effectively, microwave ovens and we own those patents within the parameters of this industry. That method of heating and the people is what makes this business, and the best way to show you is to take you through the process.
OK. I noticed from my email that you’ve already set me up with an account so that I can place orders. Do we make a start? We’ve registered you, so all you do is log in, fill in the details of the frame you want and you will get the price, immediately. Once you’ve placed the order it will be acknowledged and then it works its way through the system.
So the order isn’t giving instructions to a cutting station or anything? No. This is very labour intensive. Your job, however simple, is unlikely to match any standard frame. Therefore, your order is checked very carefully before being passed on to have materials selected. This would sometimes involve collecting the profile from your company. Your job is then passed to the designers and a full scale drawing of the frame using our unique 3D technology is produced and printed out to provide a template on the shopfloor. Your job ticket then goes round the shopfloor to each station as it is cut, goes for bending and then gets
Leon Day shows some of the silos holding customers' profile.
February 2016 | www.glassnews.co.uk
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
GLASS NEWS INTERVIEW: UNIVERSAL ARCHES
1 - Online order is checked.
2 - Bill of components is completed.
3 - Full size CAD drawing of project.
4 - Job ticket and full size drawing is printed.
5 - Drawing handed to shopfloor.
6 - Bending table is prepared.
7 - Profile removed from oven...
8 - ...and bent over template.
9 - The completed bend...
10 - ...is placed over CAD template and angles for cutting measured.
11 - Frame is welded.
12 - Checked against job specification.
13 - Fitted with seals and bead.
14 - Into finishing ahead of packing and despatch.
We inherited highly skilled people and we don’t lose staff. I try very hard to treat people as I would like to be treated and would like them to be well rewarded. We have a pension scheme and everyone is on a private medical scheme for both themselves and their children.
We are also the only bending company that is ISO 9001/2008 accredited.
to the bench for fabricating. The full size template is essential because the angles for cutting and welding are not straightforward 45 degrees. Every job will require specific angles that must be cut and welded. When the frame has been fabricated, it then goes for finishing and polishing and there are a variety of finishes that can be chosen, namely knifed, grooved and polished. The point being that our hand finished frames are designed to sit perfectly next to other PVCu frames within a house or indeed commercial project.
There is the chance for a mistake at every stage. What is your rejection rate?
Our rejection rate is all but zero. Every stage is checked carefully and there are two high level QA checks before it gets to finishing. On the rare occasion that a mistake is made, it will have been immediately rectified or re-made.
How do the infrared ovens help you? In two ways – speed and cost. It is just like a microwave oven – pretty much instant heat whereas a kettle like element is much slower. And cost, in that we use less power with microwave. You can see from the factory that it is clean. No hot oil everywhere!
The skill required though, is very high indeed. How do you go about getting staff and training them?
As far as acquiring staff is concerned, we have no set qualification. I would like to employ young people who have a wish to have a career with us but often it is older people that show that desire. The closing of well respected companies in the area has meant that there are semi-skilled people actively on the job market and so with training, they have become excellent members of staff. The difficulty we have is that it takes around two years for full training. The individual fabrication of each frame requires many of the skills of a bench hand joiner and it is not simply a case of assembly of parts.
Bubble wrapped to prevent any damage whatsoever!
www.glassnews.co.uk | February 2016
We pride ourselves on producing an excellent product and the individuality of each frame – some very complex indeed – must be perfect as it is unlikely that there is time available to remake it. We work to exacting tolerances of just +/- 3mm and take pride in achieving it.
What are your volumes of frames and what does the future hold for Universal Arches? We make around 300 frames per week and have around 700 customers. Bended profile products are not an everyday requirement for the average fabricator and installer. Some of the large fabricators may have a need for 6-10 per week whereas a small installer may require one per annum. You will see many well-known names as we go round and, in our storage facility, you will see named silos where many keep a supply of their profile so there is no delay in providing profile for their jobs. As for the future, we are continuing to grow, and I expect to be doing my 90 mile commute for a long time to come!
READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0131
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MACHINERY
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
ELUMATEC LAUNCHES NEW CORNER TRANSOM CLEANER
ALU-TEC CELEBRATES HIGH SPEED PAYBACK ON ITACA SOLUTION CRIMPER With payback on its first Atla Coop Itaca Solution crimping machine achieved in little over a year, it is hardly surprising perhaps that Alu-Tec is set to place an order with suppliers Emmegi (UK) for a second machine in 2016. The Southend based aluminium trade fabricator, which is part of the successful Climatec group, bought the NC controlled crimper at the end of 2014, and says it has already paid for itself. Director Phil Bates said: “Just in terms of time saved on manual crimping, the Itaca Solution has been a great investment, but what’s been just as important is that it does a much better job than a manual solution and helps us to achieve the quality finish which is so important to Alu-Tec and our trade customers.
elumatec is launching several brand new machines in 2016, the first of which is the ES-TXR 3/2 Corner Transom Cleaner.
“We’re growing fast so we’ll definitely be ordering a second machine to help us keep pace with increasing volumes in 2016.” The big advantage of the Itaca Solution is that it allows fabricators to switch between profiles without needing to manually change the tools, reset and then test. It has full 12 axis NC function so the changeover process can take minutes rather than hours. It features two fully adjustable blades which can be moved in the X, Y and Z axes to accommodate virtually any size or shape of aluminium profile up to 120mm high. Emmegi (UK) is the exclusive UK distributor of the Itaca Solution machine which for several years was probably the aluminium sector’s best kept secret. After Emmegi demonstrated the crimper at the 2014 FIT show though, it saw a surge in orders from customers like Continental Installations, EAG, Everglade, Marshall Brown, Perfect Crystal Windows, PSP, Sealtite, Sunflex, Utopia, Window Warehouse and Window Wise, as well as Alu-Tec. All were keen to benefit from the fact that
it allows them to switch quickly between profiles without needing to manually set the machine. Much of Alu-Tec’s growth has come in bi-fold doors which the company produces in Alu-K profile to complement the range of PVC-U windows and doors manufactured by Climatec. Trade buyers can now get a one stop shop service from Climatec with a whole house of PVC windows and the bifold doors all available from one supplier. Phil Bates added: “Emmegi have supplied all of the machinery we’ve purchased for Alu-Tec since the company was set up in 2013 including end millers and saws and we’ve been impressed not just with the quality of the machines but also with the service and advice we’ve received from the team.” Tel: 02476 676192 www.emmegi.com READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0132
This latest edition to elumatec’s range of premium quality machines for working UPVC is a totally new machine concept. Designed specifically to meet the most upto-date production requirements of the UK’s UPVC fabricator the ES TXR-3/2 is a three + two axis cleaner for welded transoms/crucifix and corners. It offers fully automatic cleaning of corners, transoms and crucifix welds and the visible surfaces of UPVC window frames and sashes. It also cleans the outer corners, gasket areas and inner corners. Crucifix cleaning is done with just one clamping operation. Achieving consistent accuracy and quality of finish are key factors of any elumatec machine and the ES TXR-3/2 delivers a very high standard of cleaning thanks to its sprung loaded knife units. Production efficiency is supported by the machine’s flexible tooling options. This comes from its 7-fold, servo controlled, turret system top and bottom; outer contour machining is achieved via a 180mm diameter contour milling disc. The ES TXR-3/2 features automatic identification of the profile corner/ transom and crucifix by scanning the overlap top and bottom, width and height. The operator controls the machine’s Windows operating software via its touch screen monitor. The position of the machining can be automatic or modified via this graphic terminal, which also offers a visual diagnostic menu and a range of programming features.
Networking is possible via the Ethernet interface. To meet the technical specifications of today’s UPVC profile systems, the ES TXR-3/2 has a minimum window size (inner clear dimension) of 170 x 170 mm. This allows the fabricator to produce a broader range of window designs, often being able to replicate heritage styles in UPVC. Standard equipment includes: top and bottom gasket drills, inner corner knives, grooving knives and an outer contour saw blade with optional tooling units for bevel and radius cleaning. Phil Heavey, managing director of elumatec UK said: “This all new model is an outstanding example of our range of machines for working UPVC and demonstrates why elumatec is renowned for its future-facing machine designs. The ES TXR-3/2 will be on display at the FIT Show in April along with other working machine models.” For more information or a demonstration of the ES TXR-3/2 corner-transom cleaner contact elumatec on 01908 580800 or email sales@elumatec.co.uk. www.elumatec.co.uk READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0133
Astraseal kicks off 2016 with major machinery investment One of the UK’s most prominent trade fabricators, Wellingborough based Astraseal, has kicked off 2016 with a £300k machinery investment. The uPVC and aluminium fabricator have installed a new CNC machine, increasing their composite and fire door capacity from 150 to 250 doors per week, and have acquired another wrapping machine to vacuum pack the finished product. Marketing manager Zac Nedimovic comments: “The new CNC has been specifically designed for composite doors and will enable us to manufacture more efficiently than ever before. It’s a double bed machine, so we can work on two doors at the same time, and incorporates specially designed saws that cut the glazing cassette holes with incredible speed and precision. As well as improving the quality of the finished product, the saw means we will produce less wastage, which is another key benefit.” Astraseal’s recent investment is part of a longer term strategy to firmly cement their
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position as one of the biggest trade suppliers in the UK. The company has invested around £3m in the business over the last two years, increasing their capacity to 4,000 frames per week. “Astraseal have grown steadily since our inception back in 1979 and the recent round of investments means we have the tools in place to continue our evolution into the future,” Zac comments. “Composite doors are a big part of what we do, and the new CNC means we can meet ever increasing customer demand and continue to grow this area of the business.” Astraseal’s composite doors are made with the Nan Ya slab set in either a REHAU S706 or Eurocell Eurologik outerframe. They come equipped with the Winkhaus 2 claw STV2 Cobra lock and a choice of modern and traditional hardware. For clients that want something a little bit different from their composite door, Astraseal offer the Memphis Collection. Influenced by the Memphis
Group, an Italian design and architecture group that specialised in exotic and often flamboyant designs, the Memphis Collection combines modern stainless steel handles with a choice of stunning glass designs and unlimited colour options to create some of the most modern looking doors available on the market today. Astraseal also offer 30 and 60 minute fire doors made with the Nan Ya slab and Winkhaus Eco-frame outerframe. Operating from a 110,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Wellingborough, Astraseal are one of the largest window, door and conservatory fabricators in the UK. The company manufactures a comprehensive product range in REHAU and Synseal PVC-u; and Smarts and Reynaers aluminium. They also produce all sealed units in-house and have an in-house colour coating facility. For more information call Astraseal on 01933 227233 or visit www.astraseal.co.uk.
Marketing manager Zac Nedimovic READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0134
February 2016 | www.glassnews.co.uk
Promac Shop on-line
0216/0135
Do you need a replacement part in a hurry? For the first time you can now order your parts, spares and consumables on-line at www.promacshop.co.uk. You don’t have to wait until the next day, you can now order 24-7, and be assured of a first class service from a name you can trust. Productive and profitable manufacturing relies on machinery that is running. Promac go the extra mile to make sure customers receive genuine approved replacement parts - all backed by manufacturer guarantee - quickly and efficiently to ensure downtime is kept to a minimum. Promac is focused on giving customers what they need.
www.promacshop.co.uk
PROMAC, where good just got On-Line www.promac.co.uk
3c Hadrians Way, Glebe Farm Industrial Estate, Rugby, Warwickshire CV21 1ST
T: 01788 577577 F: 01788 567938 E: sales@promac.co.uk
www.glassnews.co.uk | February 2016
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ELUMATEC UNVEILS NEXT GENERATION
PROFILE MACHINING CENTRE
The launch of elumatec’s new SBZ 122 family of models sees an exceptional leap forward in machine design and engineering. The new models have lower space and energy requirements and can be adapted to suit customers’ differing needs and budgets thanks to their modular design.
Originally, the SBZ 122 was aimed at small to medium sized aluminium fabrication companies however because of its reliability and breadth of machining options it soon became established in other sectors including UPVC and steel. Companies ranging from small fabricators producing 20 windows a week to those manufacturing products in volume on a multi-shift operation bought these, and their budgets varied as widely as their application requirements. With six models planned for the range the new SBZ 122 family of machines can be better tailored to suit these individual needs. Fabricators of UPVC products especially doors - are very keen on the option to
operate parallel machining which the SBZ 122 can handle perfectly as it can work the stationary profile bar, including inserted steel reinforcement, with an angle head from five sides in a single operation. Other advantages of the new SBZ 122 generation include a larger work area with minimized installation space requirements; faster, more energy-efficient drives and narrower, more stable clamps. The bed is dimensioned for high rates of travel with minimal oscillation. With dimensions of 300 x 300 mm, the machine’s work area has been enlarged while its overall footprint has become smaller. The protective enclosure reduces noise and eliminates the need for a light barrier meaning less space is required for installation. Machining times have been reduced by 20 percent and the servo axes now operate at twice the previous speed. The X-axis achieves speeds of 120 m/min and the other two reach 60 m/min. The increased rate allows the controller to react with more sensitivity and so enabling faster positioning of the spindles which are RPM regulated. Only the energy required for the machining task is supplied to the spindle, regardless of its rated power, and this results in energy savings of between 25 and 30 percent. Furthermore, the intelligent control technology ensures an extremely high degree of consistency in speed, which in turn produces very good machining quality even with quickly changing loading. Maximum processing length is 4.15m without end processing or 4m with end processing. Travel distance of the X-axis is 4.2m and the Vmax. is 120 m/min; The Y-axis has a travel distance of 900 mm and a Vmax. of 80 m/min and the travel distance of the Z-axis is 610 mm, with a Vmax. of 80 m/min. The milling spindle can operate at speeds of up to 24,000 rpm
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at a power output of 8 kW, S1 with feedback. The tool magazine has four positions a standard; additional tool magazines, with a total of up to 20 positions, can be installed as needed anywhere along the X-axis and up to two angle heads can also be accommodated. The new SBZ 122’s machining head now moves on a 45° inclined machine bed. Swarf automatically falls off of the bed making it easier to clean and the operator can work more ergonomically as they can get closer to the machine table when positioning profiles. Another new feature on the SBZ 122/70 and SBZ 122/71 is the elimination of the operating cable as clamp activation via a remote control button. As with all elumatec systems, the machine is controlled via the intuitive and easily understandable touch-screen ECI (elumatec customer interface) graphic display which is available in three different versions from entry-level to ‘Professional’. The display is now attached to the machine frame with height adjustability to again take ergonomic working into account. Phil Heavey, managing director of elumatec UK said: “elumatec offers premium quality, German engineered machines fully supported by UK service. The new SBZ 122 family of models showcases our exceptional machine design and manufacturing capabilities. “The SBZ 122/70 and SBZ 122/71 are available now with the third SBZ 122 model being launched at FENSTERBAU FRONTALE, which takes place in March 2016 in Nuremberg, Germany. “These models will be on our stand at the FIT Show in April 2016 along with other working machine models.” For more information contact elumatec on 01908 580800 or email sales@ elumatec.co.uk. READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0136
Your Letters
LETTERS
MACHINERY
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
CONTINUED
FROM PAGE 3...
As mentioned on Page 3, this Letter to the Editor contains Editor Comments on various of the points made. Dear Chris, You may have received a lot of comments about Solidor’s promotion of the new PAS24 cut test, but your December leader is inaccurate and out of date in a number of respects. • The new PAS24 cut test is coming, and it will be in March or sooner. Editor’s comment: It is certainly anticipated, but it is not guaranteed until the time it is approved, adopted and published. • You say the new test only applies to thumb turns. That simply isn’t true. The new standard applies to key/key locks too. The current 2012 version on applies to thumb turn, meaning many doors already fail PAS24 tests. Editor’s comment: The existing PAS 24 2012 covers two pass/failure criteria: 50mm hole for Key/Thumb turn and 380mm x 225mm hole for Key/Key. The new proposal for PAS24 only provides for one pass/failure: Key/ Thumb turn, meaning that it must withstand making a 50mm hole within the 3 minute period, using the proscribed tool kit. • A 50mm hole is big enough to get your hand in to open the door from the inside, and burglars don’t need a large hole to use a wire to fish for keys left near the door. Editor’s comment: Very true, but fishing can be undertaken via the letter plate where a hole/ aperture already exists.
February 2016 | www.glassnews.co.uk
LETTERS
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper • The area in which the test can take place is not 800mm, it is 700mm above or below the lock. So 1,400mm, which is most of the door! Editor’s comment: At the time that I wrote my editorial in late November 2015, the proposed 800m banded zone for attack (400mm above and below the cylinder position) was set out in the proposed revised document, and this document was out for the 60 day public comment period during which representation was made to increase the zone to 700mm above and below the cylinder. I understand that as of today’s date, 21 January 2016, the proposal has now reverted to the 800mm banded zone NOT the 1400mm you suggest. • We’ve been talking about the new cut test because independent tests show that most composite doors fail it. So most composite doors can’t legally be installed now on new builds or conversions that require building regs. And social housing is already starting to reject them too.
reality is that no statistics exist that show that illegal access is being gained by the cutting of 50mm holes in the fabric of doors. • Every company chooses the door it sells. Solidor has chosen to use components that are fit for purpose so it comfortably passes the new PAS24 test: RegaLead glass, Ultion cylinder locks and Solidor’s solid core laminated-hardwood door. Most installers sell some doors for extensions or new build, and as currently specified most composite doors aren’t (legally) fit for purpose. But put legal considerations aside for the moment, what about their other customers? Doesn’t their security count? Burglars are well informed and need no coaching in how to break in. It’s the industry that needs coaching in how to keep them out. Is it reckless and irresponsible to alert the industry so installers can sell composite doors that do the job they bought them for? Or is it reckless and irresponsible to pretend that the doors they buy and sell are fit for purpose when they are so very clearly not? Editor’s comment: No it’s not. However putting video footage within the public domain that shows methods and tools for attacking a door that can be viewed by the opportunist burglar, is reckless/ irresponsible and is not in the interests of our industry, crime prevention or homeowners. Sincerely Gareth Mobley CEO, Solidor
But as RegaLead pointed out, it’s not just the door slab that’s the problem. Most composite doors also fail because the glass falls short of what PAS24 requires. And if that isn’t enough, most doors are sold with locks that snap in seconds, some in as little as 9 seconds. So burglars can break in quickly to most composite doors in a number of different ways. They can choose to break through the glass, snap the cylinder or cut a hole through the door itself.
Dear Chris, The recent announcement that the GGF has created RISA (Rushworth Inspection Services & Auditing) Ltd, a subsidiary to take over from FENSA’s inspections to audit installations within the replacement glazing sectors, has to be good news for the glazing industry. We welcome any move to raise the industry standards for the installation of windows and doors. For many years we’ve been at the forefront of raising performance and standards. As the leading voice for energy efficient glazing we have seen the industry manufacture higher specification products than anyone thought possible ten years ago. It’s not just been in thermal efficiency. Security too has seen big improvements. But the way these super-performing windows are installed is just the same as it’s always been: screws, foam and silicone, often covered up with plastic trims. That’s a problem, because the perimeter edge is the part of the installed window where it’s most vulnerable to heat loss. Fitted wrong, it doesn’t matter how well the manufactured window unit performs. Edgetech has created an installation system that is designed to tackle these issues. TruFit is an expanding foam perimeter tape that makes installations more thermally efficient and look better. It offers installation companies a way to systemise fitting that’s not been possible in the past. We believe 2016 will be the year that the focus will move onto installation methods as we’ve seen happen in manufacturing over the last decade. And the announcement by the GGF is part of the professionalisation of the installation of windows and doors in the industry. Yours sincerely, Alan Fielder Director of Sales and Marketing, Edgetech UK
Is the window & door sector being unfairly treated? Dear Chris Late last year, The Window Company (Contracts) changed banks from one of the ‘big four’ to the much less well known Swedish firm Handelsbanken. Whilst I had never been unhappy with the service we had received from our previous provider, I was driven to change by the fact that they told me in no uncertain terms that the construction sector was on their list of ‘poor risks’ and that they could not support an application from us for funding. I’m sure many within the industry would share my surprise that even a highly profitable, award winning businesses like ours, which has a full order book and had just achieved year on year growth of 40%, could be turned down flat because of a blanket ban imposed by ‘head office’. Bearing in mind that the funding was required to give us sufficient capital to take on a new million pound plus contract, I’ve asked myself since then whether this attitude from the traditional banking sector is holding back other businesses like ours in the window and door market? Aren’t we hearing constantly that the construction industry is now outperforming the rest of the economy, that new housebuilding will be fast tracked through the planning process and even that the government is now planning to invest in overhauling 100 neglected social housing projects? Isn’t that message getting through? I don’t know whether the policy extends beyond the bank we were dealing with, but it certainly prompted us to make the shift to the decentralised Handelsbanken and needless to say, our application for funding was very quickly approved. I’ve been delighted with the switch and it will probably benefit The Window Company (Contracts) in the long run, but I would be interested to hear if any other businesses like ours have experienced similar problems or prejudices? David Thornton Managing Director, The Window Company (Contracts)
Is this theory versus practice, lab standards versus real life? Most of us know people in the industry who have been burgled and it’s a devastating experience. Editor’s comment: I don’t dispute this and certainly no one wishes to see illegal access gained, with contents being stolen, together with the emotional suffering intrusion causes. The
@GlassnewsMag
Christina Shaw
/GlassNews
www.glassnews.co.uk | February 2016
READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0137
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GLASS
SGG COOL-LITE XTREME 70/33 II offers market leading aesthetics & solar control performance
Float Glass Industries’ supply capability helps realise new HQ for international insurers, Amlin Amlin plc’s prestigious new UK headquarters – an impressive £13.5m development in Chelmsford, Essex – is not only a significant demonstration of growth and success for the international specialist insurance company but also a positive commitment to the local area and its economy. The new building now covers a 65,000 sq. feet plot, allowing Amlin to potentially double its number of employees. Such a move will mean Amlin becoming Chelmsford’s largest employer in the next few years, all from its new flagship home – in itself a new prominent feature of the city centre. The five-storey steel frame and glass structure has blue tinted glass and a blue canopy, complete with a stunning board room on the top floor. Overall it gives Amlin the chance to consolidate its previous offices into one purpose-built HQ; bringing new life to what was an area of three disused office blocks. With the building design requiring a significant amount of complex glazing within the framework of an equally complex build and site, the contractors, Alumet, one of the UK’s leading curtain walling contractors, needed to work with an experienced and knowledgeable glass supplier. Float Glass Industries were able to meet the key criteria – expertise and experience but also the ability to access and supply specialist glass. “We were very happy to be working with Alumet Systems again,“ says Dawn Offland, Joint Managing Director of FGI. “We have a very good working relationship with them, working on other major builds since 2001, including the prestigious Riverlight development in London. With the Amlin development in particular, it was very important to them that we could supply and manufacture all the necessary specifications within their deadlines. With our experience
and production expertise, we were able to achieve this and I believe this is one of the key reasons as to why we were successful in winning this contract.” The specifications included blue tinted glass for the exterior and a soft coat Low-E glass on the interior. Using low-E glass for a more comfortable and more efficient working environment was very important in a building that stretches over five glazed floor-to-ceiling storeys. As part of the specification process, FGI provided all necessary technical data regarding product photometrics, as well as wind and barrier loads, another significant consideration for the development. An important aesthetic element of the design was to achieve a seamless exterior in some areas. FGI sourced and manufactured architectural elements from the Schuco Toggle range. The project has taken 9 months to complete in all, with all specialist glass specified, supplied and manufactured by the FGI team to schedule.
SGG COOL-LITE XTREME 70/33 II is the latest product from Saint-Gobain Glass to target the premium commercial market, offering specifiers and glass processing companies a thermally efficient ‘to be toughened’ option that features high light transmission, a low solar factor and excellent neutrality. SGG COOL-LITE XTREME 70/33 II features a unique market leading performance band by combining a high light transmission of 70% with an extremely low Solar Factor of 0.33. The light transmission ensures a high level of natural light floods any open space and the low solar factor blocks 67% of solar heat gain. Adrian Adams, Better Working Market Manager for Saint-Gobain Glass commented “The high performance SGG COOL-LITE XTREME 70/33 II triple silver coating features a selectivity of 2.12 whilst also offering a center pane u-value of 1.0W/m2k.” “The products unique features make it the best product available on the market for combined light transmission and solar factor as well as excellent neutrality on a ‘to be toughened’ triple silver product.”
“A reduced requirement of HVAC results in a significant decrease on energy consumption and CO2 emissions for a potential project; this can therefore make a building environmentally friendly, which can have a positive impact on BREEAM points when designing a project.” “Furthermore, as the product offers a high light transmittance of 70% this increases the diffusion of natural light which is strongly linked to occupant productivity, well-being & comfort and helps create a pleasant working environment.” SGG COOL-LITE XTREME 70/33 II features excellent aesthetics, which provides greater design capabilities; the coating is neutral and low reflective, which means a potential reduction in the amount of external shading devices that need to be used. For more information about Saint-Gobain, visit www.saint-gobain.com or www.saint-gobainglass.com and the twitter account @saintgobain.
“This significant development gives Chelmsford city centre such an impressive new building as well as a significant boost to the local economy.” says Dawn Offland. “It was a very positive project to be a part of, particularly involving our technical advisory team. Their experience and knowledge contributed to the design process as well as our other teams working on sourcing and supply. At Float Glass Industries we look forward to being involved in further highprofile glazing projects where clients can benefit from our experience.” Tel: 0161 946 8000 www.floatglass.co.uk READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0138
Senior’s class act
READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0139
Leading fenestration manufacturer and designer Senior Architectural Systems has helped deliver a dramatic new design scheme for a new performing arts centre in Newcastle-under-Lyme. The new state of the art centre, which is part of Newcastle-under-Lyme College, features various glazing solutions from Senior that have been installed by Aire Valley Architectural Ltd for main contractor Bardsley Construction. The slim sightlines and aesthetic flexibility of Senior’s SMR800 curtain walling made it the ideal choice to create the modern entrance to the building and the system has been used throughout to maximise the flow of natural light into the dance studios and communal areas. The centre’s bright and spacious design has been further complemented by Senior’s SPW600e windows and the use of Senior’s SD automatic doors.
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The high selectivity of SGG COOL-LITE XTREME 70/33 II results in the product offering increased energy efficiency and helps reduce the requirement of air conditioning.
Designed by Ellis Williams Architects, the glazing elements of the new performing arts centre provide an attractive contrast to the building’s striking façade which comprises a mix of render, aluminium and terracotta rainscreen cladding. The exceptional thermal efficiency of Senior’s SMR800 curtain walling and SPW600e windows also met with the scheme’s stringent sustainability targets which has led to the centre achieving a BREEAM rating of ‘excellent’. The new £5.5m performing arts centre includes teaching rooms, dance studios, performing arts spaces, a 200 seat auditorium, music studios and a student café. For more information about Senior, visit www.seniorarchitectural.co.uk. READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0140
February 2016 | www.glassnews.co.uk
0216/0141
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www.glassnews.co.uk | February 2016
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GLASS
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
Promuseum helps French multi-media library open a new chapter with Guardian Clarity™ anti-reflective glass The Médiathèque Pierre Amalric d’Albi (Albi Médiathèque) houses many rare, valuable and historical books. In early 2015, the library wanted an impressive, seven-meterlong showcase to house the contents of a major new exhibition that was due to open this fall. Albi Médiathèque Director Jocelyne Deschaux found the solution with Guardian Clarity™ glass with help from Promuseum, a supplier specialized in sourcing materials and equipment for museums, public spaces and cultural sites. With more than 25 years of experience, Promuseum, based in Rosny-sur-Seine, France, is a global designer of museum showcases that enhance, as well as protect and conserve, precious collections. “Guardian Clarity antirelfective glass met the museum’s three conditions for the showcase: preservation, aesthetics and value for money,” said Mrs. Deschaux. When she arrived at Albi Médiathèque over two years ago, Mrs. Deschaux noticed that the library’s showcases were in dire need of upgrading. They were made of different materials – wood, aluminium or glass – and were not suitable for preservation of the rare books. “They were not adequate for these historic collections,” she said. Mrs. Deschaux connected with Promuseum to discuss the project. “I wanted an airtight showcase with laminated and anti-glare glass that complies with AFNOR standards to exhibit illustrations and photographic collections,” she explained. Given the amount of natural light in that part of the library, and hence the likelihood of glare and reflection off the display case, Promuseum recommended Guardian Clarity anti-reflective glass as the ideal solution for this installation.
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Last year, Promuseum met with Guardian Industries’ Glass Group in Europe to develop a range of showcases using Guardian Clarity™ anti-reflective glass. This followed an extensive search by Promuseum staff to find a high-quality solution that would allow museums to provide a perfect view of their collections behind glass. “The Albi Médiathèque did not know about Guardian Clarity glass,” said Juliette Bourdillon, Promuseum General Director. Guardian Integrator Manager David Allouche provided samples and technical support to explain the advantages of Guardian Clarity glass. ”Promuseum believes in this glass and we felt it was the ideal solution for the Albi Médiathèque. They decided to give it a try.” Promuseum built a sevenmeter-long display case mounted wall to wall, with the entire front using Guardian Clarity glass. “The biggest challenge was the large size,” said Mrs. Bourdillon. “Moreover, it had to be slotted in a niche. But in the end it turned out perfectly and it really met the high expectations of the Albi Médiathèque.” The Guardian Glass Group in Europe is a leading supplier of high-quality commercial, residential, interior and automotive glass products. It produces its Clarity double-sided, anti-reflective glass using the most advanced magnetron sputtering glass coating technology. As a result, Guardian
Clarity glass enables a light transmission of 97% and a reflection of less than 1%, compared to architectural float glass, which offers a light transmission of 90% and has a reflection of 8%. Guardian Clarity glass was developed by taking into consideration the demanding needs for optical performance within the museum display segment. Its features provide the best available anti-reflective visual performance on the market and allow to provide maximum transparency whilst eliminating unwanted reflection and glare. Guardian also provided training and technical support, and helped Mrs. Bourdillon and her team to establish contacts with local fabricators who could manufacture the glass. Leon Broekman, Business Development Manager for Guardian InGlass products, and David Allouche, worked closely with Promuseum throughout the project. Promuseum placed the glass order in July and installed the custom-made display case at Albi Médiathèque in late September. On October 6, the multi-media library opened its current exhibition of historical books, called “Black: the History of Color” which runs through Jan. 2, 2016. According to Mrs. Deschaux, the exhibition is an adaptation of Michel Pastoureau’s book of the same title - using books and engravings - in which the author explains the fascinating history of the color black, how the color is considered by societies, and how civilizations have viewed it over the centuries.
ROMAG GLASS PASSES THE BIG CAT TEST Specialist glass manufacturer Romag were commissioned to provide high performance laminated safety glass for a new large tiger enclosure at Lincolnshire Wildlife Park. The new installation has been specifically designed to provide a ‘close encounter’ visiting experience where the public could see the animals easily through glass that would hold its transparency and clarity, whilst being protected by glass strong enough to withstand the weight and power of the largest big cats such as tigers. Five sheets of low-iron 39mm security laminate glass were manufactured for the enclosure by bonding together several layers of mirror quality float glass under heat and pressure, using an interlayer of polyvinyl butyral (PVB) in Romag’s cutting edge clean rooms and high pressure autoclaves. The laminated panels were delivered for installation on the day requested by the park after a short turnaround period of only a few weeks.
enclosure and viewing facility. They were an immediate hit and visitors were amazed at being able to get within such close – and safe – proximity to the world’s largest cat.
the UK. We are confident Romag’s glass will once again ensure our visitors can maintain that ‘get up close and personal’ experience, whilst remaining completely safe.”
Steve Nicholl, director of the park, said: “We have had nothing but compliments from all visitors who have come to see animals in the big cat enclosure. Particularly, we have received glowing reports from photographers on just how clear the glass is, even after it has endured all of the seasons and changing weather conditions.
Lincolnshire Wildlife Park, formerly known The Parrot zoo, opened in 1993 and has grown to be one of the largest parrot and exotic bird sanctuaries in the World. In 2008, the park diversified into assisting other animals that had entered the private sector, including meerkats, lemurs, monkeys and a numerous amount of mammals including big cats.
“Romag provided excellent advice and service when we were selecting the appropriate glass for the project and delivered what was promised quickly and on time. This gave us confidence to again select Romag’s high quality laminated glass for installation in our new ‘Bengal Gardens’ attraction, which is another unique new research enclosure currently under construction.
Romag is a UK pioneer with over 70 years of glass laminating experience and expertise. Romag was established in 1943 and has built a strong reputation around the globe for manufacturing high quality specialist security glass products in a range of shapes and sizes to meet individual client aspirations. Romag has supplied safety and security glass for projects in critical national infrastructure, transportation, government buildings and leisure facilities.
A streak of four Bengal Tigers became the first inhabitants of the new
“This will be a huge enclosure that will hold a further eight tigers that will be arriving on completion, making the collection of tigers at Lincolnshire Wildlife Park the largest in
As for the new display, Mrs. Deschaux said: I am quite satisfied with the anti-glare aspect thanks to Guardian
Clarity glass. I have to say that visitors are really happy with the look of the showcase.” Following the growing success of its showcase portfolio for museums, Promuseum appointed Bernard Rey to reinforce the team. He will be responsible for developing the market for customized and personalized showcases, and for intensifying the contact with other French museums. “Given the success of this project, Guardian Glass Europe and Promuseum
More details at: www.romag.co.uk READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0142
will demonstrate Guardian Clarity double-sided and anti-reflective glass during the SITEM Fair in January 2016 to show the differences between this product and other types of glass,” said Bernard Rey. “We now propose Guardian Clarity anti-reflective glass for all showcase projects, and have started to show it to designers and architects specialized in museum displays,” added Mrs. Bourdillon. READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0143
February 2016 | www.glassnews.co.uk
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www.glassnews.co.uk | February 2016
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GLASS
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
QUALITY STANDARDS
Float Glass Industries supplies glass for a Legal and General office refurbishment in Surrey
BRING POSITIVE RESULTS FOR TUFFX The quality standards of the Ambience range from TuffX has once again inspired consumer investment. In one specific extension project the Ambi Neutral product option was selected due to the thermal properties it offered as well as the striking aesthetic which heightened the overall finished look. With consumers continuing to invest to add value and year round living space, the Ambience range of thermally efficient, easy maintenance, solar controlled products are generating increased sales and referral business for the company’s customers. Large orangery style extensions still remain popular and as shown in one particular project, it was to be an integral part of the home that would be used as the kitchen. A number
of aspects therefore needed careful consideration by the TuffX customer, including optimum use of light and varying temperature changes that would occur both internally and externally. For this reason the Ambi Neutral product made the ideal choice. For many customers the broad selection available in the Ambience range greatly improves business opportunities as the end user can make informed decisions about the varying performances of the glass, which have all been developed to overcome restrictions caused by weather extremes. Andy Hayes, Sales Manager for Ambience comments, “It is rewarding to see that we are providing the right solutions for our customers. This project is testament to
Financial services company Legal and General’s property in Lotus Park in Staines consists of four two-storey office buildings and provides 79,000 sq ft of prime office accommodation.
the skills and diligence of the entire team, as we have developed a range that is technically advanced and that is clearly inspiring investment.” He concludes, “The homeowner is delighted with the finished project and this has led to referral business for our customer.” For more information on the Ambience range please visit the website www. ambiglass.co.uk or call 0845 3 400 200 to discuss project requirements. READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0145
Glass comes to the rescue
The installation company had been approached by a homeowner after his conservatory roof had started leaking four months after installation. The conservatory roof had a total length of 3.340mm and had been roofed using two separate units joined with a muntin bar. The homeowner was understandably disappointed and keen to have the problem solved as quickly as possible. The homeowner had discovered TuffX online and suggested to the installation company that TuffX’s 4.2 metre glass panels could be the solution they were looking for. Using such a product would remove the need to use a muntin bar, removing the risk of leaks as well as improving the aesthetics of the installation. Both the installer and the homeowner were delighted to find that using a single unit of glass made a minimal difference in cost compared to two units tied together with a muntin bar.
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to complete. It required high performance thermal and solar glass, security toughened glass, structured units using Schuco retention pockets and ceramic painted units. FGI manufactured all the products in-house, including painting the ceramic units using its roller painting machine.
Specialist glass manufacturer and supplier Float Glass Industries had the track record and credentials to be able to supply and install the glazing elements of the refurbishment and, after a competitive tender process, was awarded the contract.
Steve Ferrie commented, “We are used to supplying large contracts on time and on budget. But despite our familiarity with such work, we maintain a meticulous attention to detail to ensure we get every element right and meet or exceed every manufacturing standard.”
Steve Ferrie, FGI’s Commercial Sales Director, said, “We have been working with the main building envelope contractor for over five years so could provide ample evidence of our suitability and expertise to meet all the requirements of this complex project.”
The finished results have transformed the buildings, giving them a new lease of life and demonstrating yet again that when it comes to high profile complex glazing installations, Float Glass Industries is a name to trust.
The project, worth around £150,000 to Float Glass Industries, took over four months
Tel: 0161 946 8000 - www.floatglass.co.uk READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0146
AMBIMAX EXCEEDS ALL EXPECTATIONS
TuffX Processed Specialist toughened processed glass manufacturer TuffX is valued by its customers for its ability to provide glass in lengths of up to 4.2 metres, something that makes stunning expanses of glass a reality. The company’s manufacturing capabilities proved to be invaluable for one installation company, helping them to solve a leaking conservatory roof for a homeowner and dramatically improve the aesthetics at the same time.
The buildings date from the 1980s and were in need of refurbishment. The scale and prominence of the buildings combined with the exacting nature of the specification meant that only experienced contractors and suppliers would have the necessary credentials to undertake the work.
TuffX reinvigorated the conservatory sector with the launch of Ambi-Max oversize glass units, as a simple but dynamic concept which has proved popular with all customers and consumers.
TuffX supplied an Ambi-Blue conservatory glass roof for the homeowner’s conservatory and it was successfully fitted by the installer. The glass is self-cleaning and offers up to 60% reduction from the sun’s heat rays, reducing the internal temperature of a conservatory in summer. The homeowner is delighted with the finished result which gives him peace of mind as well as a more aesthetically pleasing living area. And thanks to the quality of the service the installation company received on the project, TuffX has a new repeat customer. TuffX manufactures a huge range of toughened processed glass for domestic and commercial use from its Merseyside factory and is renowned for its commitment to supplying high quality products and exceptional customer service. Its attention to detail and willingness to help on a project of this scale illustrates its customer-oriented approach and helps explain why the company has grown rapidly in recent years. Tel: 0845 3400 200 - www.tuffxglass.co.uk READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0147
Launched initially as a niche glass roofing option that would eliminate common problems associated with muntin bar leaks, AmbiMax as a product, has gone on to far exceed initial expectations. Popular for both domestic and commercial applications with the technical and aesthetic benefits it offers, the oversize Ambi-MAX option has achieved outstanding sales figures month on month, with a staggering 50% increase from 2013 – 2015.
Customers have been impressed by the high production standards combined with fast turnaround times as well as the flexibility of the national fleet, which delivers AmbiMax either direct to site or factory. Ambience as a range has widened business scope for those looking to offer more options in a very competitive sector, which requires constant evaluation to keep the end user inspired to invest. Regarding Ambi-Max, many TuffX customers state that the simple solution it provides to a common technical problem has brought about many time saving benefits on site, with call backs virtually eliminated in relation to
leaks. Additionally, the product offers a striking alternative aesthetic that allows for more dynamic conservatory design. Ambi-Max units are produced in the company’s modern manufacturing facility in Knowsley that has been carefully designed to accommodate the glass sizes required to produce the oversize units. There are few production companies today that can manufacture the units on such a fast turnaround with all requisite industry guarantees. Andy Hayes, Sales Manager comments, “Ambi-Max has become increasingly popular since its launch as our sales figures prove and we believe it will continue to do so. It offers substantial advantages for our customers and this differentiation combined with consumer awareness is sure to inspire further investment.” For more information on the Ambience range of Conservatory Roof Glass please visit www.ambiglass. co.uk or call 0845 3 400 200. READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0148
February 2016 | www.glassnews.co.uk
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0216/0149
Apply online at stroma.com/installer-application or call 0845 621 11 11 (ext.622) Š Stroma Certification 2016 - v1.0 *Calls cost 7p per minute plus your phone company’s network access charge or call 01977 665420.
www.glassnews.co.uk | February 2016
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CAREERS
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CAREERS RECRUITMENT & TRAINING
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Helping you find & place positions. If you are looking to recruit, contact us today for prices! Email: christina@glassnews.co.uk or Tel: 07805 051322 NEW APPOINTMENT
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25 new jobs announced
at Purplex Marketing
Purplex, the window industry marketing agency, has announced plans to create 25 further jobs as part of its continued expansion plans. The company has already recruited 14 new staff in the last year, as well as purchasing a 4,500 sq ft office HQ and acquiring new offices in central London. According to managing director Andrew Scott, more companies are outsourcing their marketing to full-service agencies such as Purplex. He commented; “Marketing has become more complex and customers are now bombarded with a bewildering
array of communications every day. Many marketing departments are struggling to manage the growing number of marketing channels and technologies, and Purplex provides a complete, fully integrated service.” The company has specialist teams in PR and social media, advertising and design, web development, digital marketing and video. The new jobs will be created across all departments, and will include Apprenticeship and Graduate programmes. Andrew added; “Today it’s essential that marketing is integrated, so your PR is shared online and through social media, your print advertising reflects your digital ads and website banners, and your SEO, PPC and social media ads dovetail with your traditional marketing.
Using one company with specialist experts working seamlessly together means a more integrated, responsive approach and much better results.” Purplex was established in 2004 by Andrew, who has almost 30 years experience in the glass and glazing industry. Today the agency employs 45 staff and works closely with ambitious companies across trade, commercial and retail sectors. Contact Purplex on 01934 808132, or visit www.purplexmarketing.com.
Further Strengthening of VBH Management Team Hardware supplier VBH has strengthened its senior management team with three new directorships.
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Simon Monks marks his 9th year at VBH with a promotion to the position of Sales Director and is now responsible for all sales in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. VBH customers in Scotland continue to be served by Allan Price and his ‘very able’ team in East Kilbride. Allan starts his 27th year with the company in 2016.
For print and online recruitment marketing and an effective media mix, email Christina for further details: christina@glassnews.co.uk
Following the retirement at Christmas of Fay Keddie, new appointment Vince Kay takes over the reins as Financial Director. Vince has a solid construction and civil engineering background and has spent the previous six months shadowing Fay and acclimatising to the demands
From as little as £150 +VAT, per month.
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READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0150
of the window and door industry. Finally, Mark Skudder, who has been responsible for all aspects of purchasing and warehousing since joining VBH in 2012, moves into the newly created position of Logistics Director. His initiatives have been largely responsible for the company consistently exceeding its target of delivering 96% of catalogue items on time and in full. One of Mark’s first tasks as Logistics Director will be to oversee the implementation of the storage capacity expansion at VBH Gillingham over the first few months of 2016. Managing Director Peter Rowlands commented ‘These are very exciting times for VBH (GB) and, of course, I would like to congratulate each of the new directors on their appointments. ‘Over a period of several years we have been reshaping VBH (GB) into a company which is capable of being ‘best in class’ and sustaining
“The appointment of the new directors is only a part of the story of our reinvigoration of the whole organisation, but it marks a key milestone in that process and provides an excellent platform for the future.” that position for the long term. The appointment of the new directors is only a part of the story of our reinvigoration of the whole organisation, but it marks a key milestone in that process and provides an excellent platform for the future development of VBH in the UK.’ Tel: 01634 263263 READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0151
February 2016 | www.glassnews.co.uk
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NEW APPOINTMENT
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New appointment
Sealco adds expertise
in England Wales
sparks further growth
at Insight Data
Top independent hardware distributor Sealco adds expertise to the team with the key appointment of Norman Berrill as Business Development Manager. Norman heads up technical sales in England and Wales as the business continues to grow south of the border. Over recent years, Sealco has seen an increase in the number of customers throughout the UK looking for the level of technical expertise offered by the Scottish-based company. With more than 30 years’ experience in the window and door hardware industry, Norman is a perfect addition to the team. Starting as a tool maker, Norman moved into product development and technical sales, and reached board director level with a national hardware distributor before his move to Sealco. Norman also contributed to writing European and UK hardware standards for the industry. Of his appointment Norman says: “I like the way Sealco does business. I’ve known them since they started 18 years ago, and I’ve kept an eye on the company’s development. Over that time, they’ve grown and proven themselves to be Scotland’s number one. “I’m attracted to the independence of the company structure which sets them apart
Insight Data, the window industry data experts, has appointed a new marketing manager to spearhead further developments in 2016. The move is part of an expansion plan that will see the company launch a range of innovative new software, marketing and data solutions. from others. In my book customer service always comes first, and I believe Sealco is the ideal company to support joiners and fabricators who have to offer more specialist products than ever before. It’s not enough to just have an exemplary track record for delivering on time and in full, customers also need a distributor to support them with new products, and expert advice that offers quick, easy and cost effective solutions. “Sealco has the infrastructure to be the biggest independent hardware distributor in the UK, and my role is to support customers switching over. I can’t wait to get started, especially at such an exciting time in the run-up to FIT Show 2016, where Sealco will be exhibiting.” www.sealco-scotland.co.uk READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0152
Joseph Kay, who has a journalism degree from Leeds University, will be responsible for developing training and best practice guides, market reports and industry trends, as well as marketing communications. Joseph commented; “It’s a very exciting time at Insight Data with both the data research and software teams working on some very innovative new projects. It’s been a real eyeopener to see how complex the process of managing, updating and verifying data really is, particularly with the in-depth intelligence available on the Insight database.” The role is one of several new appointments currently being made by Insight, which now has over 700 users of its online CRM platform, Salestracker. Insight Commercial Director, Helen Costeloe-Hughes, said; “Joe will play a key
Marketing Manager – Joseph Kay.
role in helping our customers get the best from the Insight database and our CRM software, and he will be working closely with our internal teams on some very exciting new developments for the window industry.” Insight Data provides detailed market intelligence and prospect data to help industry suppliers target over 60,000 new customers including fabricators, installers, builders, architects and construction companies. The information is updated live in real-time and users access the information online via Salestracker, Insight Data’s award winning sales and marketing platform. For more information on email marketing call Insight Data on 01934 808293 or visit www.insightdata.co.uk. READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0154
NEW APPOINTMENT
Dr RICHARD CAVE BOOSTS SAINTGOBAIN GLASS’TECHNICAL SUPPORT Saint-Gobain Glass UK has appointed Dr Richard Cave to the newly created role of Technical Support Manager. Based at the company’s Eggborough HQ, he will work both with SGG’s own Technical Specification Managers and directly with customers, architects, specifiers and others to strengthen and speed up the company’s response to technical enquiries. His remit will also include the development of SGG’s online technical capabilities, delivering a wealth of information and tools to help the supply chain be more self-sufficient through easier access to information. He said of his role: “Previously, support such as calculations, CPDs, training and advice came from the Specification Managers themselves. Now
by combining the work with them and working directly with the customers, we will be able to give a faster, more efficient response to their enquiries. “Also, having more technical resources available digitally with the development of the online resource will allow more scope for developing what we offer based on feedback from users, as well as changes to legislation and requirements, and development of new products.” Richard is a mechanical engineer with a Ph.D. in biomedical materials. He has significant glass industry experience, previously as a technologist for Glass Technology Services and more recently with Guardian. Head of Marketing, Craig Dodsworth, said: “Richard’s abilities and extensive
www.glassnews.co.uk | February 2016
experience will add further strength to the ongoing journey of Saint-Gobain Glass to be the reference for technical support in our industry. Richard will work with the marketing, sales and specification teams to deliver pro-active and responsive technical support and broaden the technical capabilities of the business to underpin business growth through the development of new tools and solutions. He will be a great asset to us and we are looking forward to his integration within the SGG team.” READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0153
0216/0155
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CAREERS
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
TRAINING
Committed to competence & a fair price for the fenestration industry Stroma Certification has relaunched its Competent Person Scheme for Doors and Windows installers. Having conducted a series of focus groups and listening to feedback, the company is now confident of presenting a market beating package for certification membership to the glazing industry. In 2014, Stroma Certification launched a special offer for the electrical trade on membership of its Competent Person Scheme. The discount (which still applies today) offers electrical membership for only £288 including VAT. Due to the promotion’s overwhelming success it is now being extended to the fenestration industry. Tradespersons working in the fenestration industry can apply to Stroma Certification’s Competent Person Scheme and will be eligible for the £288 special offer. Stroma Certification has been building a stellar reputation in the installer marketplace to rival its market-leading status for the provision of certification, training and software to energy assessors. Last summer they were named Installer Certification Body of the Year and much of the reason why has centred on their commitment to providing high value certification to installers at a
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“The discount (which still applies today) offers electrical membership for only £288 including VAT.” fair and affordable price. This is echoed in the approach to the fenestration industry. Membership of Stroma’s industry approved Competent Person Scheme will be sanctioned according to the competence of each installer. Each prospective member will be subject to an initial and annual assessment. It is an approach which has gained Stroma widespread praise from all major industry trades in terms of the content, process and attention to
detail involved in a Stroma Certification site assessment. Stroma Certification members can be assured that their certification body is committed to maintaining professional standards in the glazing industry.
customer that the work is protected in the event of their installer retiring or closing the business. With a notification fee of only £1.50 per installation it is a low cost, unmissable benefit to joining Stroma Certification.
One of the key advantages to an installer registering with an approved Competent Person Scheme is the opportunity to save on costly Building Control notification fees through self-certification of installation work. Stroma Certification’s notification process is administered using a user-friendly online notification portal (soon to be relaunched with an improved look and added functionality). Once glazing work is notified through the Stroma portal it is guaranteed for 6 years. This offers peace of mind to the
The scheme benefits available to Stroma Certification installer members also include free technical support, training opportunities, free van stickers and a dedicated members website. The aim is to make double glazing membership both affordable and valuable for installers. Stroma Certification represents the views of its members to give installers a voice and help them to shape their industry. There is also the opportunity to include TrustMark membership for double glazing as Stroma
is an approved Scheme Operator. Andy Sharp, Commercial Manager, said: “We are providing a high value scheme at a fantastic price for the fenestration industry. It is an award-winning scheme and I’d invite installers to take advantage of our special offer to join Stroma. We’ve listened to the industry during scheme development and
will continue working with installers to deliver added value.” Installers can join Stroma Certification’s Competent Person Scheme online for only £288 (including VAT). Alternatively, call 0845 621 11 11 (ext.622) to speak with a member of the team. READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0156
February 2016 | www.glassnews.co.uk
CAREERS
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
NEW APPOINTMENT
NEW APPOINTMENT
Balls2 Marketing appoints specialist Deceuninck Simon as Director of Communications expands
sales team to support growth
Balls2 Marketing, specialists in PR and marketing for glazing and construction, has strengthened its senior management team with the appointment of Simon Kinnear as Director of Communications, as the company looks to capitalise on a successful 2015.
Simon has over 15 years’ experience in agency PR and has represented business-to-business and business-to-consumer clients in sectors as diverse as construction and building materials, packaging, materials handling and legal services. His extensive account handling experience also includes managing integrated campaigns involving print and digital advertising, social media and e-marketing. In his new role, Simon will oversee all PR and communications activities for Balls2 Marketing’s growing client portfolio. The company’s previous Communications Director, co-founder Sarah Ball, now becomes Client Strategy Director to spearhead the company’s ambitious growth plans. Managing Director Andy Ball explains: “We’re thrilled to have a PR professional of Simon’s calibre joining us, as we seek to expand upon the terrific achievements of 2015. His agency background means he is full of sound strategic ideas that are proven to work across a range of industries and markets. Simon comments: “Balls2 Marketing is already a highly-regarded agency for the quality of our
marketing and PR campaigns in the glazing and construction sectors. I’m looking forward to enhancing that reputation and helping our clients to achieve the best possible publicity to support their sales growth.” He joins Balls2 Marketing at the end of a year in which the agency has celebrated 43 percent growth, completed a major refurbishment of its offices in a converted chapel in Allestree, and was a finalist at the Midlands CIPR Pride Awards. In 2016, Balls2 Marketing is launching GET, a new suite of low-cost solutions for SEO, social media and direct mail that are designed to Generate Extra Trade for tradespeople.
Deceuninck expands its sales team with the appointment of Andy Smith to support its rapid expansion and growth. Andy worked for Deceuninck many years ago before gaining experience with other systems companies. His return adds strength to the team in the South East. Sales Director Rob McGlennon says: “We had a fantastic 2015 ending on a record
Andy Smith joins Deceuninck’s growing sales team.
December. Many significant developments in product and service have given our customers a strong lead in the market. It’s great to have Andy back and his return is a testament to the turnaround and development of our business. He is a valuable addition to the team.” Visit www.WhyDeceuninck.com. Follow @DeceuninckUK. READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0159
READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0157
NEW APPOINTMENT
BUSINESS MICROS EXPANDS
PROGRAMING TEAM The success story at Business Micros continues with another new appointment at the company’s Dumfriesshire programming centre.
Murray Pattison, aged 24, has joined as a programming technician with a specific brief to help maximise the efficiency of the core programming team. Murray is carrying out the set up of data and reports ready for the programming team to work on, and researching solutions for programming problems so that they can move more quickly from task to task. An Information Technology graduate from Dumfries, Murray joins Business Micros at a time when the company is expanding fast to keep pace with demand for its core software programmes such as Evolution and EvoNet,
www.glassnews.co.uk | February 2016
and in particular for its bespoke customer solutions. Managing Director Graeme Bailey commented: “Murray gives us the opportunity to work smarter in our programming centre and make sure that our experienced programmers are as efficient as possible. We’re getting busier all the time and, while we are very willing to invest in expanding our team, it’s important that we get the right people like Murray into roles where they can have the biggest impact on helping us to help customers.” Tel: 01925 296105 - www.businessmicros.co.uk READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0158
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CAREERS
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
NEW APPOINTMENT
NEW APPOINTMENT
Warwick North West tackles industry skills shortage by taking on four new apprentices Warwick North West, the Merseyside based uPVC fabricator of luxury high end products, has collaborated with leading regional training provider Express Training to offer the much-needed work and training opportunities to local young people. The company has taken on four new apprentices, all of whom are working as fabricators in the 25,000 square foot factory. Director Greg Johnson explains: “Ask anyone in glass and glazing what they see as one of the biggest long-term challenges facing the industry today, and they’re likely to say the skills shortage. We’ve got a fantastic and everexpanding range of products, the most diverse selection of aesthetic options we’ve ever had, and technology that keeps marching forward and improving all the time. But without skilled people, that all counts for nothing.”
“There are thousands of young people out there with a huge amount of potential, but lacking the investment and encouragement they need to flourish. At Warwick, we want to take a lead in investing in the future, and that’s why we’re delighted to be taking on these four apprentices – and hopefully setting them on the road for long, prosperous careers in the industry.” The apprentices, Ryan, Luke, Jack and Gerard, will be given the chance to experience various aspects of the business during their on-thejob training, picking up crucial skills to help them progress within glass and glazing. Established in 1998, Warwick North West has quickly risen to become the region’s leading provider of uPVC windows, doors and conservatories. The company recently launched Innolux, a collection of PVC-u windows and doors that combine innovation and luxury. The Innolux range includes bifolding doors made with the Eurocell Aspect system, casement windows made with the new Modus system, and vertical sliders made with the Eurocell Charisma system. For more information call 0151 933 3030 or email info@warwicksliders.com.
Director Greg Johnson (centre) with the apprentices
READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0160
CONSERVATORY OUTLET PAVES THE WAY FOR NATIONAL REACH WITH NEW RECRUITS Big plans require resources to match – which is why Conservatory Outlet has further expanded its team to help deliver on an ambitious growth strategy. In 2015 the Wakefield-based fabricator revealed plans to expand its retail network to full national coverage. The company has since added two new faces to it sales and marketing department and another reputable installer to the network, soon to be announced. Joining as Business Development Director, the very experienced Andy Miller is tasked with developing Conservatory Outlet’s relationship with established retail partners, helping to generate and sustain growth and increase business collaboration while new network members are sought in currently unoccupied regions. Greg Kane, Conservatory Outlet joint Managing Director, said: “Our retail partners are absolutely central to everything we do. As we expand into the remaining areas Aberdeen, the Highlands, Essex, North and South Wales and the South West of England - we will continue to invest in the products, people and resources available to our established partners.” “Andy’s experience and energy will undoubtedly bring a massive contribution to our business. Having worked in similar
Andy Miller, Conservatory Outlet
positions prior to joining us, Andy understands the specific needs of a retail network partnership – although he also highlights some major differences at Conservatory Outlet, such as true area exclusivity for our comparatively small number of members.” The company’s marketing division has also been bolstered by the arrival of graduate Amy Johnson who assumes the role of PR & Events Coordinator, creating an in-house team of three people employed primarily to support the network of less than 30 companies. “Our existing partners can rest assured that the new wave of expansion will not alter the industry-leading value-added services they receive, that continue to set our business apart in the marketplace,” Greg continued. “Potential new partners will find us to be an even more attractive prospect and, in turn, geographical expansion will unlock the potential of national advertising.” READER ENQUIRY No: 0216/0161
Installers | Fabricators | Glass People | Also stocked in Trade Counters
THE INTERNATIONAL CENTRE, TELFORD 12 - 14 APRIL 2016
www.glassnews.co.uk Visit us ON stand 126 FITSHOW 2016 DEFINING THE INDUSTRY
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REQUIREMENTS There are only 10 partnership opportunities available so we are looking for proven specialists. The following minimum criteria applies:
THE OPPORTUNITY We are offering a new and exciting conservatory partnership for the top converters in the industry.You will be given an exclusive territory and guaranteed first choice of all the leads on your area.
• Proven conservatory sales of at least £500,000 per annum • At least two years’ experience of conservatory sales • Fantastic conversion rate history
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www.glassnews.co.uk | February 2016
To find out more, please get in touch for a confidential conversation. Call Nicole Lake at Everest on 07812 962 932, email nicole.lake@everest.co.uk, or visit everest.co.uk/careers All applicants will be treated in strict confidence. No agencies please.
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FACE TO FACE
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
THIS MONTH: Stewart Lamb, Managing Director VITA UK You might think being an MD of two businesses sounds stressful, but not for Stewart Lamb. As MD of VITA UK and SCHURING GMBH, Stewart chooses not to worry about what daily business life can throw at you but instead to face it head on – preferably with a coffee and a piece of carrot cake available if that’s an option!
It’s all about you Where you were born and where you live, currently… I was born in Sheffield and currently live near Congleton in Cheshire. My role as SCHURING MD means I am currently in Germany or Europe every other week.
Your education and the subject or activity in which you excelled… Dinnington High School near Sheffield then on to Army Military College in Chepstow. Sports were my thing, mainly Athletics and Rugby.
Your favourite sports or interests… I like all sports, but particularly Athletics, Rugby and Cycling. My wife and I also enjoy property renovation, so we spend some of our spare time doing that.
Your biggest regret in life… Not having a dog as a child – despite asking for one! I own two now and really appreciate the joy and calm they bring to my life.
Making a life choice to be happy, not being afraid of change and not worrying what others think, it’s just their opinion. I aim to be relaxed and enjoy my life.
The temptation you can’t resist… Carrot cake with a coffee.
your career When and how you joined this industry… I joined HOPPE in 2005 from being involved with Pyroplex (part of the Reddiplex Group) in the manufacturing of fire door intumescent products. Hardware was a natural progression for me, I moved to the VITA Group as MD in October 2014.
The job you do in 25 words… As the MD I set the tone, I am the one held accountable
when things go right but also if they go wrong.
Your greatest achievement… Managing fifty people in Northern Ireland back in the Eighties and all coming home safe during some challenging times. I credit that and lots of other achievements since, to the fact I am not a worrier. I don’t worry what tomorrow brings - it will come anyway - so I accept that and deal with whatever turns up.
The mistake you’d like to correct… The perception some people have of our industry. We get a lot of bad press, but it’s not often justified. We are a professional industry with some very talented people and this industry is always working hard to raise standards. I think it’s important we do all we can to make people aware of this.
The talent you would like to enhance…
I’m a people person and enjoy working with people to ensure the best possible outcome in any situation, be it colleagues, customers or the wider industry.
and your future What you would like to do if you weren’t in the industry… Renovate properties with my wife (we have done four so far). We find it very relaxing and a way to take your mind away from your normal day to day lives. We enjoy every aspect from the planning, through the actual renovation to completion and feel a real sense of achievement with what we have accomplished so far.
A particular ambition…. I really like the way of life in the USA and I am keen to spend more time there in the future in the form of a road trip.
The way you want to be remembered… I want to be remembered for standing strong when needed. For having the personal strength to follow my instincts and not just being comfortable with getting by.
Someone or something that inspires you…
If you would like to appear in ‘Face to Face’, or would like to nominate someone else to be featured, simply email chris@glassnews.co.uk. 92
February 2016 | www.glassnews.co.uk
GMF_Calendar_2016_Layout 1 14/01/2016 08:39 Page 1
2016 Calendar of Events
The Biggest Year Yet
1st
NOV
29th
OCT
20th to 24th
14th
10th to 22nd
TBC
12th to 14th
SEPT JULY JUNE MAY APRIL
GM Fundraising will be hosting another full calendar of events in 2016. Please add these dates to your diaries to ensure you don’t miss out:
Fit Show
Visit us at Stand A22 and see if you can beat the cycling pros at a one minute sprint. Location: Telford International Exhibition Centre
Football 5’s
Back by popular demand! Date to be confirmed, but likely to be early May. Location: St Andrews – Home of Birmingham City FC
Border2Border Cycling Challenge
With proud sponsors Deceuninck – The ‘Toughest Yet’ covering 2,016 miles, climbing over 92,000ft, with temperatures excess of 40 degrees for our team 18 strong team of cyclists and support crew. Location: Vancouver, Canada to Tijuana, Mexico.
Golf Day
This year our signature event has a new venue offering a fun and challenging day. Location: Mottram Hall, Mottram, Cheshire
The Inaugural GMF Cup
A Ryder Cup style competition set to test the most competent golfers amongst us. Location: The Belfry
Gala Dinner
Our most popular event has a Halloween theme this year – fancy dress if you dare… Location: Holiday Inn, Stratford-upon-Avon
Christmas Cards
Designed by the children at Hope House will be on sale from now.
www.gmfundraising.co.uk www.glassnews.co.uk | February 2016
0216/0163
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Entry deadline: 29/02/16.
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LEGAL EAGLE
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Call Saul...
Don’t pay, take it away? Understandably, getting paid is the number one cause of disputes and claims by contractors, sub-contractors and businesses in general, often leading to a suspension of works and a “Mexican standoff.” The bad news is that “downing tools” may be a breach of contract in itself, especially if this is the first instance of late or suspected non-payment, opening the door for the employer to potentially terminate the contract. This has led to smaller businesses in particular being caught between a rock and a hard place, in either carrying on and risk not being paid, or stop and risk being sued. This made worse by contracts which don’t include express terms on the right to suspend works for non-payment and until payment is made. Perhaps, unsurprisingly in the absence of such a term, it becomes a matter of legal interpretation and maybe judicial intervention to establish whether the term can be imputed or implied; which of course costs money- and money that the business hasn’t got due to non-payment! There are two key aspects here; first, be sure to check the contracts, then check again, secondly, be sure that you have fulfilled your own obligations and that there’s no likely claim for substandard or incomplete work. Following that, time is of the essence. Waiting until next month or the next, in the hope that “it’s just a mistake” and you’ll get double is unlikely to work out. In addition, the “wait and see” approach may give rise to you being seen to have ‘agreed’ to the breach.
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Philip Harmer is a Business Lawyer and partner at Stormcatcher Law specialising in employment and business legal services. His real world experience in construction and property as well as car sales, repair centres, and finance and leasing, give him a true commercial outlook to the business of law pertaining to commercial and company law including employment, anti-bribery, competition and ethics, anti-money laundering , consumer law and trading standards, for the small and medium sized businesses, as well as PLCs and large firms.
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And why ‘Call Saul’? Those aficionados of TVs Breaking Bad will understand! Chris Champion Editor
www.glassnews.co.uk | February 2016
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If you have any questions or queries about the column subject, Philip is happy for you to contact him by ‘phone or email and he will impart his wisdom absolutely free. So please, take Philip up on his offer. The ‘Call Saul’ column will try and bring you news and views on current and impending legislation to help you keep ahead of the game.
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0216/0179
Aluminium
V Visofold
Tel: 01642 610798 Fax: 01642 671026
/madefortrade
www.madefortrade.co
@madefortrade1
Glass News - Classified Qtr page Advert.indd 1
25/01/2016 15:24
WE MEAN...
We want to know your opinion about the industry!
0216/0180
Contact Christina or Chris today! christina@glassnews.co.uk or chris@glassnews.co.uk
www.pearlwindows.co.uk
0216/0176
0216/0177
Secured by Design
SBD Police Preferred Specification
Tel: 0800 014 2769 | Email: sales@pearlwindows.co.uk
98
February 2016 | www.glassnews.co.uk
FIND A SUPPLIER
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
Hardware Supplies
OPEN UP YOUR...
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www.pearlwindows.co.uk
0216/0183 Secured by Design
SBD Police Preferred Specification
Tel: 0800 014 2769 | Email: sales@pearlwindows.co.uk
0216/0182
Useful Numbers
Is your supplier letting you down ?
15% OFF
YOUR FIRST ORDER*
£ ££
Conservatory Roofs
E
UK MAINL A
SIT E R LIVE Y DE
ND
3m x 2m
£315 +vat
3.4m x 2.5m
Double Hip inc. Box Gutter
Active Blue Glass
7 £12va6 t +
2.8m x 2.9m
Edwardian Active Blue Glass
£921 +vat
Over 99% of orders on time & complete
Health & Safety Executive (HSE) – Glass & Related Industries Phil Smith, HM Principal Inspector Tel: 01782 602300 David Appleton, HM Inspector Tel: 0115 9712800
Building Research Establishment (BRE) Tel: 01923 664000 Council for Aluminium in Building (CAB) Tel: 01453 828851 Dekura Tel: 01952 201631
Fenestration Self-Assessment Scheme (FENSA) Tel: 0207 645 3700
Tel: 01642 610799 Fax: 01642 615854
www.madefortrade.co
FR E
Glass News - Classified Qtr page Advert.indd 2 www.glassnews.co.uk | February 2016
BSI – Assessment & Certification Tel: 0845 080 9000
Double Glazing & Conservatory Ombudsman Scheme (DGCOS) Tel: 0845 053 8975
Very competitive roof glass
@madefortrade1 * Offer is only available to new customers and excludes glass units. Stickered prices include 15% new customer discount
GQA Qualifications (formerly Glass Qualifications Authority) Tel: 0114 2720033
Door & Hardware Federation (DHF) Tel: 01827 52337
Quick quote turnaround /madefortrade
British Standards Institution (BSI) – Standards & Publications Tel: 0208 996 9001
BBSA (British Blind & Shutter Association) Tel: 01449 780444
made for trade
Lean-To 25mm Opal
Glass & Glazing Federation (GGF) Tel: 0207 939 9101
BSI – Product Certification & Testing Tel: 08450 765600
Lowest price anywhere
GET A PRICE COMPARISON TODAY
British Plastics Federation (BPF) Tel: 0207 457 5000
Get Britain Building (GBB) Tel: 0870 162 0936 25/01/2016 15:23
Proskills – Head Office Tel: 01235 833844 Proskills – Glass & Related Industries Neil Robinson – Tel: 07917 015 322 Recovinyl (via Axion Consulting) Tel: 0161 355 7618 The Glazing Ombudsman (TGO) Tel: 020 7397 7200 UK Green Building Council Tel: 0207 580 0623 Veka Recycling Tel: 01322 38721 Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP) Tel: 01295 819 900 Wood Window Alliance (WWA) Tel: 0844 209 261
99
FIND A SUPPLIER
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
15,000 circulation!
NEED TO TARGET INSTALLERS?
Find local installers and the elusive white van man, with Glass News.
We distribute to trade counters, as well as posting copies to a database of installers.
Email: christina@glassnews.co.uk SALES & MARKETING
TAPES
0216/0184
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Data, Direct Mail & Email Data 0216/0186
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ATTENTION ALL SALES AND MARKETING COMMANDOS –
YOUR
MISSION
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MISSION
TARGET 60,000 NEW
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insightdata business is better with insight
If you want serious firepower, call our command centre on
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Call Insight Data today for more info
insightdata business is better with insight
01934 808 293
or email: mission@insightdata.co.uk
www.insightdata.co.uk
Fabricators | Installers | Architects | Local Builders | Main Contractors | House Builders
February 2016 | www.glassnews.co.uk
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
FIND A SUPPLIER
Machinery 0216/0188
FLYSCREENS
0216/0191
We want to know your opinion about the industry!
WINDOW OPERATORS
Contact Christina or Chris today! christina@glassnews.co.uk or chris@glassnews.co.uk
0216/0189
@GlassnewsMag
Christina Shaw
www.glassnews.co.uk www.glassnews.co.uk | February 2016
0216/0190
/GlassNews
0216/0192
101
FIND A SUPPLIER
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
STEEL REINFORCEMENT
Balustrade Systems
0216/0193
We want to know your opinion about the industry! Contact Christina or Chris today! christina@glassnews.co.uk or chris@glassnews.co.uk
0216/0194
NEED TO TARGET INSTALLERS? 15,000 circulation!
Find local installers and the elusive white van man, with Glass News. We distribute to trade counters, as well as posting copies to a database of installers.
Profile Bending
0216/0196 0216/0195
102
February 2016 | www.glassnews.co.uk
0216/0197
Genius!
Targeted, low cost lead generation for installers from just £1 each GoSend.it is a revolutionary drop-card mailer service that makes it easy to promote your business to households around a selected address generating high-quality, high-converting sales leads, without the hassle. Simply log-in, choose your design from a range of templates, edit and personalise, and we'll print and mail directly to the neighbours around your chosen address, using our consumer database of 29 million homes.
GoSend.it is a great lead generator that also promotes our brand. We use it on all our installations and it’s a great investment – a real winner for installers that want more leads”. Lee Parrott – Managing Director, Reddish Joinery
www.gosend.it www.glassnews.co.uk | February 2016
Contact us today on 01934 428 778 or email enquiries@gosend.it to create your account or for more information 103
0216/0198
There’s a Trade Counter near you!
We know the trade
Windows Doors Conservatories Roofline Decorative Cladding (Tile Alternative)
You can visit anyone of our 31 depots and simply call in and pick up whatever you need, whether its windows, doors or conservatories (including fully fabricated conservatory roofs by Ultraframe) as well as a full range of VEKA products.
Check out our vast range of cladding (a fantastic alternative to tiles, and easier on the pocket too) - in store today.
We also stock a huge range of roofline products - all ready to take away.
Plus, there is free delivery on all orders over £25 (in England and Wales).
Or why not just buy online? You can also pre-order your products and pick up next day!
We make it easy to get the job done!
Let National Plastics become your trade partner - today!
CALL OR GO ONLINE
TO FIND YOUR NEAREST DEPOT!
0800 011 3503
nationalplastics.co.uk 0015 - MAY15 - NATIONAL PLASTICS AD (265MM X 3180MM) _V1.indd 1
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