MODPLAN EXTENDS ITS MANUFACTURING CAPACITY

Trade fabricator Modplan has just completed a new manufacturing extension at its headquarters in Newport, Gwent. The new extension further boosts Modplan’s manufacturing capacity across its multisite operation and will accommodate the company’s doorline fabrication.

Heidi Sachs, Modplan’s Managing Director, said: “We firmly believe in continuous investment in our business. This new doorline extension will open up new opportunities and provide additional capacity to support our long-term growth efforts.”

The new extension will allow Modplan to maintain its competitive turnaround times even as volumes increase. The extension has been future-proofed too, because new fabrication stations can be added as volumes grow further.

As you would expect from a Modplan facility, the new manufacturing centre is equipped with state-of-the-art door fabrication machinery, including a dedicated automated supercut machine for precision accuracy.

Heidi commented: “Investing in machine technology helps us deliver the quality we want as well as maintain competitive turnaround times, even as we grow.”

As Heidi says, continuous investment is a priority for Modplan. The new door extension follows hot on the heels of investment in several new trucks for its transport fleet as well as increased capacity to support the growth in demand for its PVC-U Flush Sash windows. It has also opened a Training Academy, which provides a dedicated space to train personnel across its business from NVQ level through to management. As well as supporting its own staff, the Training Academy is also available to Modplan’s customers, offering both office-based skills development and handson fabrication training.

Modplan manufactures a wide range of window, door and conservatory products for it growing customer base. It also has a partnership approach that delivers marketing, technical and training support that adds value to an installer’s business. Add in a clear commitment to continuous investment to ensure it is equipped to continue to deliver for its customers both now and into the future and it becomes clear why the company is about to celebrate 50 years in business.

Tel: 01495 246844 – www.modplan.co.uk

ENDURANCE® DOORS INVESTS INTO INCREASED SUSTAINABILITY

Endurance Doors® - the designer and manufacturer of solid, secure, and stylish composite doors - has invested over £300,000 into 500 solar panels which have been installed on the roof of its main production facility in Brigg, North Lincolnshire.

The new panels build on an existing focus at Endurance Doors of only using electricity generated from renewable sources, rather than fossil fuels, throughout its manufacturing processes. They will also significantly reduce the company’s energy spend.

Stephen Nadin, managing director at Endurance Doors, said: “As a business, Endurance Doors is proud to be a leading advocate and adopter of more sustainable manufacturing practices for the fenestration and construction sectors.

“To date, we have made enormous strides in our drive to minimise our environmental impact but there is no room for complacency. We continue to look for new opportunities to increase our levels of sustainability and the installation of the solar panels at our Brigg factory reflects this relentless focus.”

The use of self-generated electricity from solar energy is just the latest in a long line of steps taken by Endurance Doors as part of its commitment to the environment.

The business already plants two trees for every door it produces, sends zero waste to landfill, employs recycled material where possible, and aims to use virgin material from renewable, sustainably managed sources such as PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification) and FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified forests.

Endurance Doors® has also became a corporate supporter of the World Land Trust (WLT) – an international conservation charity whose patrons include Sir David Attenborough, Chris Packham, and Steve Backshall.

“At Endurance Doors, we recognise our responsibility and the need for action rather than words. Anyone who buys our products can be confident they’ve been designed and manufactured with the future of the planet, as well as security and style, uppermost in mind.”

-Stephen Nadin, Managing Director,Endurance Doors

By partnering with the WLT, Endurance Doors has become carbon neutral with any unavoidable emissions from its operations being offset by investment into forests, biomass plantations and other sustainable means of carbon sequestration.

Concluding, Stephen adds: “The next decade is make or break when it comes to the environmental issues facing the Earth. In the last 12 months alone, we’ve seen stark evidence of the effects of climate change – from record-breaking unseasonal heatwaves to devastating floods.

“At Endurance Doors, we recognise our responsibility and the need for action rather than words. Anyone who buys our products can be confident they’ve been designed and manufactured with the future of the planet, as well as security and style, uppermost in mind.”

HURST’S DEDICATED DELIVERY FLEET PROVIDES CUSTOMERS WITH CONSISTENT SERVICE

Manufacturing more than 3500 PVC panels and 500 composite doors per week for a national network of over 1800 installers requires a constant and reliable delivery service.

That’s why Hurst Doors has heavily invested in their own dedicated fleet of 24 Mercedes vans and to support the large transport operation. Each van travels around 100,000 miles a year to help deliver more than 200,000 door products nationwide and Hurst’s Sales Director, Mark Atkinson, said: “When you’re sending approximately 4,000 products out every week, you want to know that they’re going to arrive on time and safely with the customer. Having our own transport fleet gives us this control over distribution and is a real benefit both to our customers and the business.

“We used to outsource to a third-party delivery company many years ago however now we don’t have to rely on couriers for 95% of our deliveries, which minimises damages, provides traceability, and gives us complete control.

“Our fantastic Transport Manager, Jon Brake, who has been with the company 18 years, organises deliveries nationwide from our manufacturing facility in Hull. It’s a big operation and is cited by customers as a USP for Hurst; time is a precious commodity, and we understand how important it is to customers for deliveries to be made on time and in full. Thanks to our transport fleet and wider distribution capability we can provide that service across the whole of the UK.”

Hurst’s distribution has been helped by a recent £200K investment in a new 430sqm extension to its 50K sq ft manufacturing facility in Hull. This has enabled the business to provide a greater consistency of service in its dispatch of PVC panels and composite doors. The extension features a dedicated loading area for the fleet of 24 vans to be loaded overnight ready for the next day.

“As the fleet doubled in size, space became very limited. The extension has provided more space for the vans to reversed into the loading area meaning we can load them more efficiently and effectively,” explained Mark.

“We have built our reputation on our OTIF, which is currently at 99.8% on panels and 97% on composites. This investment will make it easier to achieve our 99.9% targets and reassure customers that we are doing everything we can to increase and ensure consistency of service.”

Customers can track their deliveries through Hurst’s online support portal, Hurst Live, which enables them to manage all aspects of their account in one place. The automated system features an animated Hurst van on screen which can be tracked in real time enabling customers to see their delivery.

Mark added: “Having our own dedicated transport fleet helps us ensure that our products always get to our customers on time, in full and, most importantly, in satisfactory condition. When it comes to distribution, we strive to deliver a first-class service.”

For more information on Hurst, call 01482 790790 or visit www.hurstdoors.co.uk.

SURGING DEMAND FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY HIGHLIGHTS THE NEED FOR SOLUTIONS LIKE TRUFIT®

Edgetech may be best known for its internationally recognised warm-edge spacer technology, but the Quanex company is experiencing rapidly rising demand for another cutting-edge product it offers.

TruFit is a state-of-theart window installation tape. Made of open-cell polyurethane foam and filled with a flame-retardant synthetic resin, it provides a much quicker, cleaner and more thermally efficient alternative to traditional silicone.

Once the tape’s backing paper is removed, it gradually expands to seal the window fully, ensuring it offers exceptional all-round performance – protecting against mould, and providing first-class thermal and acoustic insulation.

In addition to this, it’s much easier to apply than silicone and can be used in all weathers.

Edgetech Head of Marketing

Charlotte Hawkes suggests these reasons are behind the growth of interest in TruFit:

“The biggest factor driving the surge of interest in TruFit is clearly energy efficiency.

“Installers have always been very impressed with TruFit when they’ve seen it but, in the past, they have often chosen to stick with what they know.

“For many of those installers, the last year has been a tipping point. The huge rises in household energy prices, combined with continuing pressure to help the country reach net zero, has led to a surge in

Epwin Window Systems Employee To Run London Marathon For National Trust

the numbers of customers enquiring about TruFit.

“It’s an incredibly effective tool for helping installers fit windows and offers outstanding thermal performance – in addition to being quicker, cleaner and easier to use than silicone.

According to market forecasts we’re also heading for a tougher time ahead for the industry, those that do well in times like these innovate to differentiate themselves. We believe that right now TruFit offers a unique opportunity for installers to stand out, before products like these become the norm and we have a full marketing package to support this”. If you’re interested in learning more about TruFit, don’t hesitate to contact Edgetech.

For more information, please call 02476 639931 or visit www.edgetechig.co.uk.

Epwin Window Systems employee Nathan Standley will be taking part in the 2023 London Marathon, running 26.2 miles (42km) to raise money for the National Trust.

Nathan says: “Having run a handful of 10km races for fun, the London Marathon is a bucket list item and I’ve been lucky enough to gain a place through the National Trust. The National Trust are involved in nature conservation, the fight against climate change, the promotion of sustainability, preserving our national heritage, and working with local communities to make sure everyone benefits from the places they look after, and that they’re welcoming to everyone.”

Gerald Allen, Head of Marketing at Epwin Window Systems, said: “Everyone at Epwin Window Systems wishes Nathan the very best of luck. I’ve personally been involved in a few endurance events with GM Fundraising and I know just how much work goes into training for something like this. Hats off to him!”

Nathan is Head of ICT at Epwin Window Systems and Group Information Security Officer for Epwin Group. He manages all aspects of ICT for Epwin Window Systems, from ensuring the stability and security of its key business systems, through to implementing new solutions to improve its performance to customers. In his Group role, he defines the strategic approach to Information Security for Epwin and works with the divisional Heads of ICT to implement its strategy.

Epwin Window Systems is a proudly British business based in Shropshire. It’s the UK’s largest systems house and offers the widest portfolio of fully integrated window and door systems with unrivalled expertise and support to grow your business. Its people are the heart of the business and they are committed to working hard and going above and beyond. As Nathan’s challenge demonstrates, it’s a commitment that extend to personal lives as well as working ones!

This year’s London Marathon takes place on Sunday 23rd April, 2023.

To sponsor Nathan, visit: https://bit.ly/3YKQBhQ