Window News November / December 2017

Conservatory Installed Values Up By 9% 11

More Winners Than Ever At Gala G17 Awards 43

Atlas Winners Raise The Bar 80

WINDOW NEWS NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017 1

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WINDOWNEWS

CONTENTS WINDOW NEWS

W INDOWNEWS THE LATEST INDUSTRY NEWS

TRADE NEWS 4 VIEWPOINT 35

NEWS W INDOW INDUSTRY DIRECTORY

PEOPLE 39

G-17 AWARDS 43

WINDOW

DOOR SYSTEMS 48 PRODUCT NEWS 62

W INDOWNEWS

MACHINERY 72 THE LATEST INDUSTRY NEWS

ON-SITE 74 MARKETING 82

W INDOWNEWS THE LATEST INDUSTRY NEWS

W INDOWNEW W INDOWNEW W INDOWNEW

THE LATEST INDUSTRY N

THE LATEST INDUSTRY N

THE LATEST INDUSTRY N

AWARDS 87 TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT

90

W INDOWNEWS

CHARITY 92 Click to go back to

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WINDOW NEWS NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017 3

TRADE NEWS

‘Business As Usual’ At

UK’s Leading Aluminium Specialist Following MBO

the company from Jerry but we are not planning to implement any major changes. Jerry will remain an important part of the business as a non-executive chairman and we look forward to continuing to benefit from his advice and extensive knowledge of the industry.”

Mike also added: “On behalf of the team we’d also like to thank Jerry for this continued commitment to the business and his professionalism and vision in overseeing its success to date.”

(Left to Right) Angela Phillips, Jeremy Phillips, Mike Davis, Richard Smith, Martin Rowe and Allan Little

A management buyout (MBO) has recently taken place at Gloucester-based CDW Systems – a specialist manufacturer and supplier of aluminium windows and doors.

The existing senior management team of Richard Smith, Angela Phillips, Jeremy Phillips, Allan Little, Martin Rowe and Mike Davis have formed a new holding company, East Manor Group which will manage its three operating companies which includes CDW Systems Ltd, Clearway Doors & Windows Ltd and Designex Cabinets Ltd. Indeed, the MBO comes one year after Mike became Managing Director at CDW and he is quick to emphasise that

although the company has been purchased from its Group Chairman, Jerry Webb, the new owners don’t intend to make any changes operationally to how the business is run on a day to day basis.

To that end, Jerry will continue to be very active within the business, reviewing the strategic direction and pathway of the company well into the future.

Jerry Webb comments: “I’m very pleased that CDW Systems has passed into such experienced and dedicated hands. In my new role, I will continue to meet with customers and suppliers. Since the MBO in late September, I feel I’ve been even more actively involved in the company than I have been in recent years, so I don’t see myself slowing down anytime soon.”

Handelsbanken and law firm Harrison Clark Rickerbys both supported the MBO.

Mike comments: “The management buyout at CDW Systems marks the beginning of the next chapter in the company’s history but we also want to stay true to our company’s long-standing values and standards.

CDW Systems was formed in 1992 and the last 25 years has seen the company expand along with the UK’s growing aluminium industry. Indeed, last year the joint group turnover was in excess of £10 million and it aims to continue this growth by exploring areas and opportunities to increase the scope of its businesses even further.

“The six of us have purchased

www.cdwsystems.co.uk

4 WINDOW NEWS NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017

TRADE NEWS

Lowering VAT Threshold Would Drain Small Firms

Of Time And Money of the VAT threshold is the last thing our entrepreneurs need.”

Small businesses across the UK are spending a working week every year complying with their Value Added Tax (VAT) obligations, according to new research from the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB).

The latest FSB survey shows that VAT-registered small business owners spend an average of 44 hours, the equivalent of six working days, managing VAT administration every year.

Correctly calculating the proportion of VAT owed is most frequently identified as the most time-consuming element of adherence, with four in ten firms flagging this as an issue (43%). Filling out VAT returns (17%) and researching guidance (10%) are also commonly highlighted as time-consuming elements of the process.

Mike Cherry, FSB National Chairman, said: “VAT is the most time-consuming tax to deal with.

Small firms and the self-employed spend days and days every year complying with their VAT obligations – time that should be spent expanding their businesses.

“Once again small firms and the self-employed fear the Chancellor could single them out for a tax grab at the Budget, this time by forcing more of them into the VAT regime. Doing so would create a real drag on business output.

“At a time of spiralling costs and persistent uncertainty, a lowering

The new research finds that over a quarter of firms (27%) find VAT difficult to understand, compared to a fraction (5%) who describe it as very simple to grasp.

Common causes of this barrier to understanding are different exemptions (53%), establishing the rate at which payment is required (24%) and different thresholds (21%).

Mike Cherry added: “The VAT regime is awash with complexity and anomalies. When the burden of administration falls so heavily on business owners and the self-employed, it opens the door to lost hours and honest mistakes. Small firms are not like corporations – they don’t have accounting expertise on tap.

“We have an issue with some firms approaching £85,000 of turnover and putting the brakes on. The sensible route to solving that issue lies in embracing the Office of Tax Simplification’s recommendation for a smoothing mechanism that respects the current threshold, not forcing more small firms into the system.

“A sudden drop in the VAT threshold would punish the smallest businesses and shift, rather than solve, the bunching issue. The registration cliff-edge remains a concern for many firms, but making huge swathes of businesses and the self-employed join the hugely complex VAT regime is not the answer. The Chancellor should be prioritising simplification, rather than expansion, of VAT and the tax system at large.”

Everglade

Windows Named

In Top 0.4% of UK Fenestration

Industry Everglade Windows’ position as one of the top 75 fabricators/installers in a recent industry report confirms that they are the perfect supplier for installers in London & the South East.

With 37 years of window and door manufacturing experience and award-winning customer service, the family business has grown to be the best fabricator in London, says the company.

“Customers are at the heart of everything we do” explains Jay Patel, Sales & Marketing Director at Everglade Windows. “It’s our job to create opportunities for our customers by offering the latest products, backed by technical expertise and the greatest customer care.

“We understand the challenges facing installers and we develop our products and services to make their lives easier, with trend-setting products, the latest manufacturing technology and security of supply.”

The recent report by Insight Data named Everglade Windows in the top 75 fabricators/installers out of 15,099 companies – and the only one in London. www.everglade.co.uk

WINDOW NEWS NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017 5

TRADE NEWS

With Brexit on the horizon – the UK is due to leave the EU no later than March 2019 – the survey also raised questions regarding the future of the UK economy.

Most installers responded saying that they believe GDP, exports, and unemployment will remain at their current levels rather than increasing or decreasing, perhaps indicating respondents’ uncertainty about the current climate. By contrast, a huge 67.64% agreed that inflation will go up.

Looking forward into the year ahead, just over half (52%) said they expect their business to perform better in 2018 than it has in 2017.

Austin Barcley, Managing Director of Improveasy

Major Industry Survey Shows How

‘Brexit Resistant’ Glass And Glazing Industry Is A major survey of glass and glazing installers has revealed how the industry is reacting to the current economic and political climate.

Improveasy commissioned market research company Insight Data to survey over eleven thousand installers, asking them their views on many issues related to the industry and the wider economy.

The survey began by focusing on issues directly related to the respondent’s businesses and showed that more respondents (64%) reported that leads in 2017 had increased – compared to year previous – than those who said these figures had stayed the same or decreased

Similarly, 41.17% of installers said they have seen the number of domestic project completions increase in the past year.

Most (over 60%) respondents also stated that their cashflow and employee numbers had remained steady.

Regarding the wider economy, 70.6% of respondents claimed that recent political developments had had an impact on their business.

However, installers may define this effect as either negative or positive and, indeed, the statistics suggest that 2017 has been a reasonably positive year for many in the construction and home improvement industries.

6 WINDOW NEWS NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017

Austin Barcley, Improveasy’s Managing Director, comments: “Frankly, we’re all probably fed up of hearing about ‘Brexit’ but it is an unavoidable issue that is impacting many sectors and supply chains in the UK. Overwhelmingly though, our industry is looking robust and installers appear to be confident about the future of their businesses.”

Improveasy provide installers with finance solutions that they can offer to homeowners.

Companies that partner with them can also access sales training seminars, alongside a host of innovative finance options.

Furthermore, before signing up with Improveasy, companies or installers do not need to be FCA regulated. Once registered with Improveasy, installers become an Appointed Representative (AR) and can then begin offering finance options under either the Improveasy brand or their own company’s brand. www.improveasy.com

TRADE NEWS

National Glass Group Experiences Exponential

the members employ over 800 people across 12 sites, boasting turnover in excess of £90million and with annual purchases exceeding £30million, it also makes for the largest independent buyer of sheet glass in the UK.

Following the news that Nova Group have joined National Glass Group (NGG) in September 2017, the group has now announced a further two new members in the form of Crystal Units based in the South East and Ecoglass situated in East Anglia.

Beyond the purchasing power of the group, NGG looks to promote operational best practice and shares the value created by collaboration, fairly among the members. The addition of Crystal Units and Ecoglass move the group significantly closer to its goal of representing 25% of flat glass purchases in the UK, achieved through organic growth of the members and through the introduction of new companies to the organisation.

Growth In 2017 Collective member turnover for National Glass Group (NGG) is now in excess of £90 million pounds, double that of 2016 and making it the largest glass group in the UK, claims the company, providing unrivalled purchasing power, operational resilience and national reach.

Despite the scale of the group, all members retain the agility and personal attention from being owner managed, independent businesses.

Crystal Units was established in 1994 and operates from its facility in North West London, serving the

South East of England in both commercial and domestic markets. The heritage of Ecoglass stretches back to 1949 from its base in Norwich, where it has grown to be the supplier of choice in East Anglia and beyond.

NGG is a group that represents leading glass processors in the UK, including existing members Clayton Glass, Custom Glass and Northern Express Glass, Nova Group, Romag and Supaseal Glass and is the only organisation of its kind in the UK. Collectively

Ryan Green, co-director of NGG commented: ‘A key principle of the group is that we maintain the high quality and ethos as we grow, by ensuring the new members are independent, financially strong and excel through operational quality and service. The collective group now service the entire UK, operating in both commercial and domestic markets, along with niche products and markets.’

Info@nationalglassgroup.co.uk.

Which? Trusted Trader Scheme Drives “Significant” Leads At Ultraframe

eration activity. The quality of the leads is also high, with many home owners in a position to buy.

This is great news for our Ultra Installers.”

Ultraframe has reported a sharp rise in leads which the roof system manufacturer is attributing to its partnership with Which? Trusted Traders. Leads generated for its Ultra Installers are up by 20% compared to the same period last year and are still increasing beyond Ultraframe’s predictions for this time of year.

Alex Hewitt, Ultraframe Marketing Director comments: “we’ve worked really hard this year to get a number of key initiatives in place – such as the alliance with Which?

Trusted Traders. There’s no ques-

tion that the increased consumer appeal of the Which? brand is directly impacting our lead gen-

Ultraframe has recently launched a campaign called ‘take a fresh look at Ultraframe’, designed to appeal to retailers looking to take advantage of Ultraframe’s comprehensive roof range. As Alex concludes: “we have areas in the UK where we are keen to identify and recruit new retailers and ‘take a fresh look at Ultraframe’ is very much about making the process of switching roof supplier painfree.”

WINDOW NEWS NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017 7

TRADE NEWS

Chancellor Must Improve Access

To Finance For Small Builders

The Chancellor must take bold action in the forthcoming Budget to improve access to finance for SME builders if he wants to tackle the housing crisis, according to the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).

Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB said: “If the Government wants to solve the housing crisis, it must address the access to finance issue that local housebuilders continue to face. The Chancellor needs to commit to underwriting loans from banks to small house builders to get finance flowing into our sector once more. Nearly a decade after the financial crisis, difficulty in accessing finance remains a major barrier to small house builders increasing their delivery of new homes. Indeed, the FMB’s 2017 House Builders’ Survey showed little signs of improvement in this picture and if anything suggested slight deterioration in lending conditions. Assessments of lending conditions to SME developers were down slightly from 2016, the first fall in this measure since 2013.

These difficulties make it much harder for existing SME house builders to flourish and grow and deter new firms from entering the market. This has resulted in a less dynamic house building sector that is less

able to expand to build the homes we need.”

Berry concluded: “If local housebuilders are to build Britain out of the housing crisis, the Chancellor must use the Budget to pull as many levers as possible in order to enable more finance to reach SMEs. One thing the Government can do is act to reduce the capital costs of lending to this sector for smaller specialist lenders. The initiative announced last week by the British Business Bank to extend its ENABLE Guarantee to house building by striking a deal with United Trust Bank is welcome. This type of Government action, because it pushes down the capital costs of lending to SME builders, will allow lenders to do much more of this. The Chancellor needs to back this initiative, encourage its expansion and explore all other options to reduce the risk and costs to banks of lending into this sector. If the Government wants to meet the ambitious housing targets it has set itself, it will need to ensure the long-constrained SME housing sector can once again access the finance it needs to meet the challenge of tackling Britain’s housing crisis.” www.fmb.org.uk

MTC Card Expiring? Upgrade To A CORGI

Fenestration Skills Card

Many original MTC Cards are expiring this Autumn and through 2018 and need to be renewed.

Installers and surveyors should be wary over which card they use as some have switched from being personal cards to company cards that need replacing each time you change job. Those working on a sub-contracting basis may need more than one company card!

The new CORGI Fenestration

Skills Card is YOUR personal card.

It represents the ‘gold standard’ by only recognising the best qualifications in the glazing sector – those developed and certified by GQA Qualifications. It says to homeowners and employers that you are one of the best in the business.

Skills Card means you hold the best qualifications in the business,” commented Mick Clayton, GQA CEO. “They are based on National Occupational Standards regulated by Ofqual and delivered

by GQA licenced assessors – the most experienced assessors in the industry.”

It could not be easier to upgrade.

If your existing MTC Card was issued by you achieving a GQA accredited NVQ then you automatically meet CORGI Fenestration requirements and can get a card straight away. If your NVQ is about to expire you can easily complete a competency upgrade and get your card that way.

The CORGI Fenestration Skills Card has a host of other added features including: it’s also an identity card; it can be scanned to reveal your qualifications and any GQA accredited training held centrally on the CORGI Fenestration Skills Register; it can also be a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card, where appropriate.

“A CORGI Fenestration branded

www.corgifenestration.co.uk

8 WINDOW NEWS NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017

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TRADE NEWS In recent years, the Test Centre has been used primarily to test and validate Mila’s own products in development and to provide indicative testing for customers, before their windows and doors were submitted for formal testing elsewhere.

Now though, Mila is responding to requests from those same customers to provide a One Stop Shop facility, with both indicative and formal testing all available under one roof.

UKAS Accreditation

Means Mila Test Centre

Is Now A One Stop Shop Mila’s Test Centre in Daventry has just been awarded UKAS accreditation, allowing it to formally assess window and door hardware to both PAS24 2016 for security and BS EN1670 2007 for corrosion resistance.

This is the culmination of many months of hard work by the specialist Mila team behind the Test Centre, where the focus is exclusively on testing of windows and doors. It has centred around the fine calibration of equipment and the formalisation of procedures to meet the strict UKAS audit requirements.

10 WINDOW NEWS NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017

Danny Jones, Testing Engineer, said:“As well as our specialism in this sector, what sets us apart from other testing centres is the fact that we offer advice and guidance to customers at the indicative stage to make sure that their windows and doors are set up correctly in order to pass the various tests that follow. For security testing in particular, that might mean advising them on the combination of locking system and handle, or even which screws to use. We essentially make sure that customers don’t spend money on formal testing until we can be sure that their products will pass. That’s a huge advantage – not just in terms of money spent but also in time saved.”

The next stage in the development of Mila’s Test Centre is to achieve UKAS accreditation on its cycle and weather testing to BS6375.

The company then plans to announce a programme of incentives for customers so that they can make maximum use of what Mila believes is the only facility in the UK hardware sector offering this combination of indicative and formal testing together.

More details are available at: www.mila.co.uk

TRADE NEWS

Conservatory Installed Values

Up By 9% – Palmer

areas. Wood is again forecast to be static this year, ahead of decline going forward.

The Market for Domestic Conservatories also tracks the rapid growth seen in orangery and orangery-hybrid – up 38% in 2016.

“There has been a perceptible switch to more versatile structures”, the report continues.

This, they add will also drive future growth in replacement products, which accounted for 29% of the total home improvement market last year.

The trend towards higher value products, reflects a broader shift across the window and door industry as a whole. The Window, Door and Conservatory Markets in Housing in Great Britain, published in September, citing growth of 1% in volume terms and 7% in value terms to £4.5bn, with fortunes very much defined by product and material type.

This is echoed in The Market for Domestic Conservatories, whichis available as a stand-alone report offering detailed analysis on the trends that will define the conservatory sector through to 2021.

New findings from Palmer Market Research reveal that the total installed value of the UK conservatory market jumped by 9% to £1.05bn last year – the highest level since 2009.

According to the Market for Domestic Conservatories 2017 average installed prices also rose by 12%. The rate of fall in volume also slowed to 1.4% compared to 6% last year.

“Although the market appears to be in long-term decline, the conservatories that are being installed are larger and more sophisticated”, write the report’s authors. “. . . Another important trend is the growth of replacement conservatories.”

Nonetheless, the market still hit a new all-time low in volume of 77,700 units, with a 4% decline in

first-time installations.

Robert Palmer, Managing Director, Palmer Market Research, said: “The conservatory sector remains a pretty mixed bag.

‘White boxes’ have lost their retail appeal and the market has seen a shift to larger, higher value installations and more flexible spaces.”

Figures from Palmer show that PVC-U remains the dominant material type across sectors, with aluminium remaining static and failing to replicate the inroads that it has made in other

“Going forward as with the industry as a whole, the conservatory sector represents a mix of opportunity and some areas of potentially quite painful contraction through to 2021”, said Palmer.

“This will be influenced by product type and in many cases, style of installation. There will also be growth opportunities from some perhaps more unexpected areas, so the fortunes of systems companies, fabricators and installers will be very much down to how they position their offers now.”

For more information log on atpalmermarketresearch.co.uk

WINDOW NEWS NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017 11

TRADE NEWS

Promat UK

Completes Major New

Factory Programme

Promat UK, one of the country’s leading manufacturers of fire, thermal and acoustic solutions, has completed its multi-million pound development programme to create a new headquarters and manufacturing plant in Lancashire.

The 66,000 sq. ft. facility – The Innovation Centre – at Heywood near Manchester gives Promat UK a state of the art platform to grow its business and respond to the growing demand for high performance insulation and reliable passive fire protection in all markets, including the door, window and industrial sectors.

The completion of the move comes as Promat UK announces that it has also now achieved its transition to the 2015 updates to ISO 9001 and ISO 14001, the two key internationally recognised quality and environmental management standards.

The site will manufacture a wide range of products from the company’s portfolio, which includes glass brands such as PYROCET®, PYROSEC® and SMOKESTREAM®, along with its complete glazing solution SYSTEMGLAS®, which is rapidly growing in popularity in the market due to its unique a 360 degree ‘wheel of assurance’ for architects and clients. Promat UK’s insulation products including DALFRATEX® – used in glass manufacturing and heavy industry processing – will also be produced at the new plant.

The two-year Heywood development programme, which has doubled Promat UK’s production space and increased staff numbers by 20%, has seen the company relocate its HQ from its original home in Bracknell, and integrate its made-to-order workshop and specialist solutions operations that were previously located at Bromborough on the Wirral. The new factory serves clients in all industry sectors across the UK, with four new purpose-built CNC machines ensuring that bespoke products are precision manufactured to the highest quality standards. www.promat-glass.co.uk.

Aluprof Expand London Office necessary to have a permanent presence in the city.”

Przemyslaw Federowski as Facade Engineer in Aluprof’s London office

As the demand for Aluprof systems and solutions continues to grow the company has recently appointed Przemyslaw Federowski as Facade Engineer in their London office. The new post at the London office follows the recent appointment of two new Project Consultants at the company in August.

Aluprof’s Managing Director, Wojciech Brozyna comments on the company’s commitment to the new London post; “Our aluminium systems are becoming well known and increasingly specified by architects in London. To ensure that we can quickly respond to specifiers requests for facade engineering support, we felt it was

12 WINDOW NEWS NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017

A trained engineer, Przemyslaw brings with him a wealth of experience gained in the UK facade and solar shading industry. Working closely with Aluprof’s team of Project Consultants, the support position of the Façade Engineer will assist specifiers in detaining Aluprof systems into any project particularly where challenging details are required. As Aluprof embraces ‘Value Management’ across the project timeline, the Facade Engineers role will seek and design bespoke solutions which can offer project both cost and time savings whilst benefiting from robust design solutions. aluprof.co.uk.

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TRADE NEWS

Shepley In The

Top 100 Residence

Delivery Fleet Grows To Match Sales Of R9

And R7 Windows

t’s ‘grow-grow’ for Residence Collection as the premium windows system company expands its fleet with a brand new 18 tonne lorry for Residence 7 (R7).

In smart black the new livery joins the fleet’s five Residence 9 (R9) lorries.

With now six lorries and new dedicated drivers, Residence Collection has improved delivery times and the end-to-end care taken with packaging, transport and delivery.

Solid sales growth in high-quality PVCu products and composite doors, has placed Shepley Windows in the top 100 fabricators/ installers in the industry, reinforcing its position as a leading PVCu fabricator.

As the largest sole REHAU manufacturer, Shepley has flourished in a consolidated PVCu market.

Demand for the premium timBy turning around an increased ber-alternative range of flush number of PVCu window & door sash windows R9 has been frames per week, reducing lead matched by the strong market times, it has helped customers response to Residence Collectake market share. Its performance tion’s new flush sash window range R7 launched in September has been recognised in an industry report by Insight Data, which idenlast year, says the company. tifies the very top businesses.

R7 is designed for properties ranging from modern new builds “There’s no secret to our success, we just listen to what our customand city apartments to country ers want,” says Tony Ball, Sales cottages and semi-detached Director at Shepley. “We focus on houses. Its dedicated colour providing lots of design and colour range includes 20 different colour combinations (inside and options on PVCu windows, doors and conservatories, as well as out!) bringing more choice to composite doors too. Last year we installers and homeowners. invested in a dedicated composite door factory and we’re really seewww.residence9.co.uk 14 WINDOW NEWS NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017

ing its benefit with more composite door orders than ever.

“We know that customers’ core business is PVCu, especially for windows. Earlier this year we undertook a management-led acquisition with new investment partner CorpAcq Ltd, to continue to deliver high-quality PVCu products, fast, for customers.”

With short lead times on all products including five-day delivery on 17 colour options for PVCu windows and doors, Shepley has built its business on the foundation of reliable service and fast delivery.

This is backed by marketing support, which helps to give customers more opportunities.

“To continue to be a leading trade fabricator, is testament to the team and our customers,” adds Tony.

“We work closely with REHAU to make sure that installers get the high-quality windows and doors they need to complete projects, in a time that suits them.”

TRADE NEWS “The smart security industry is thriving as we see new products and innovations enter the market place every day. This provides a huge opportunity for the trade to capitalise on the developing connected smart home sector and increase expertise and revenue opportunities.

A Smart Space To Sample

Yale Smart Living

“From our consumer research, we found that 80% of consumers would want smart products professionally installed*. However, we recognise that some trade professionals don’t feel completely comfortable using the new technology and need to assess how they are going to develop their business models.

The Smart Living space is aiming to challenge perceived complexities by giving trade customers the opportunity to use the products for themselves and ask any questions.”

The demand for smart security products is increasing, as Yale recently took its revolutionary Conexis® L1 Smart Door Lock on TV. The advert has been a huge success reaching 55 million homeowners nationwide with an even bigger reach online and across social media.

Yale’s Smart Living range has grown from strength to strength and to reflect this, a recent revamp and extension in the Yale offices has taken place to create a Smart Living showcase suite. The new space has a brickwork exterior to give the illusion of a house with roofline, CCTV, Alarm completed with a Conexis® L1 Smart Door Lock on the front door.

Now even bigger and better, the updated Smart Living suite will provide Yale with a comfortable space to invite customers to both view the Smart Living range, and give the opportunity for guests to get hands-on with the products in

a ‘real life’ scenario. This is ideal for demonstrating the features and benefits of products and for showcasing how they integrate with devices from Yale’s integration partners such as Amazon Echo, Nest and Philips Hue. David Herbert, Business Development Director for Yale Smart Living, commented: “The new showroom reflects our commitment to the Yale Smart Living range and how its success has enabled the range to grow and develop partnership opportunities with key players in the technology industry.

The Smart Living range is available as standalone products comprising of smart door locks, smart home alarms and smart CCTV kits, as well as a complete home security system, built around an intelligent smart security hub, which integrates with a wide range of modular accessories.

If you’d like to come and look around the new space and get hands-on with the products yourself, please feel free to contact us on 01902 366800 or email info@ yaledws.co.uk to make an appointment for your visit.

For further information about Yale Smart Living range, please visit www.yale.co.uk/smart-living or follow us on Twitter @YaleDWS for updates.

WINDOW NEWS NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017 15

TRADE NEWS mercial customers have been asking for the product since the FIT Show, so AluK knows that there is already huge pent up demand.

Speaking after the launch, Russell Yates, AluK’s Managing Director, said: “All of the products in the Luminia range have been developed to target the premium sector of the market, where we know the biggest opportunities will lie in the years ahead

Dale Pegler introducing the new F82 door at the launch of the AluK Luminia Select Partner scheme

AluK Launches Luminia Select Partner Scheme AluK has launched its first ever Select Partner scheme, creating a network of like-minded fabricators who will play a key role in helping to drive and support the next stage in AluK’s planned strategic expansion.

These are businesses who AluK feels have the same ethos, values and drive for shared growth in the aluminium market. They will be given exclusive access to the brand new Luminia premium product range from AluK for the trade and residential market, as well as benefiting from extensive business development and marketing support.

This includes the brand new Luminia F82 bi-fold door, which has been generating such a huge amount of interest since

it was previewed at this year’s FIT Show, and the SC156 sliding door due out shortly.

The Luminia Select Partner network was official launched to a group of AluK’s key customers at the end of October, at an event held at the Celtic Manor Hotel. This group, which includes many of the UK’s best known and most highly regarded aluminium fabricators, all put their names to the Luminia Partners pledge, before being invited to AluK’s nearby Chepstow facility the next day for a full briefing on the F82.

The Luminia F82 is the door which AluK believes will set a new benchmark for quality and performance in the aluminium bi-fold market. Trade and com-

16 WINDOW NEWS NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017

“By appointing Select Partners for the products in this range, we hope to ensure that Luminia becomes established as a premium brand, whilst also preserving an element of exclusivity. This is a really exciting opportunity for the Select Partners themselves and for AluK, and we will be working together to drive really meaningful market growth.”

The emphasis in the Luminia Select Partner scheme is on the word partners. The members will be fabricating and selling the products, but AluK will be supporting them with bespoke marketing support allied directly to the AluK brand, and with significant lead generation campaigns.

There will also be product and business development workshops, technical support both on site and at AluK’s new Chepstow Academy, and regular market intelligence briefings.

The AluK Luminia Select Partners are: Alpine Window and Door Systems, AluFold Direct, Arkay Windows, Capital Windows Doors and Conservatories, Climatec Windows, Complete Aluminium Systems, CWG Choices, Duration Windows, EYG, Iceni Windows, IQ Glass, Nolan, Quantum Windows, Rhino Aluminium and Whiteline, More details are at: www.aluk.co.uk

260% more Door slab stockholding than other composite door suppliers In stock at our 86,000 sq. ft. warehouse

30,000 Door Slab Stockholding

79,000+ Door Slab Stockholding

0345 2000 816 | customerservices@distinctiondoors.co.uk distinctiondoors.co.uk/nxt-gen Tried, tested and trusted, the UK’s number 1 composite door supplier

TRADE NEWS

Calls For ‘Forgotten Professionals’

To Be Bought Back In To The Construction Process In a series of 12 recommendations submitted to the Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety, the Guild of Architectural Ironmongers (GAI) has called for the recognition of the ‘forgotten professionals’ in the construction supply chain.

professionals, this can cause confusion as to what guidelines they should be following resulting in inconsistency and error.

Reiterating calls made by this year’s Fire Door Safety Week, the Guild has emphasised the importance of third party certification of fire safety products and the need for a mandatory installer registration scheme for the installation of fire doors.

The re-introduction of the Clerk of Works role on site and compulsory use of a fully qualified architectural ironmonger are just two of the recommendations put forward by the Guild to the enquiry, led by Dame Judith Hackitt.

The GAI’s key recommendations: 1. There should be mandatory usage of fully qualified architectural ironmongers to compile an ironmongery specification.

The call for evidence was launched in July in the wake of the Grenfell Tower fire.

In its submission, the GAI has also highlighted the need for mandatory fire door inspection in the UK and for larger fines for non-compliance, a process that is already in place in the USA and Australia.

Douglas Masterson, technical manager at the GAI, said: “The Guild’s response has been formed from the collective opinion of the architectural ironmongery industry, including very experienced professionals who have worked around the world on complex fire safety issues. Fire door hardware and other aspects of ironmongery specification play a crucial role in fire safety. The voice of these professionals must not be lost in critical discussions on safety and standards.”

In its response to the Hackitt

Douglas Masterson, Technical Manager, Guild of Architectural Ironmongers (GAI)

enquiry, the Guild urged the review team to review a wide range of documents which contain contradictions or ambiguity.

It has identified at least 18 separate documents and legislation that are relevant to fire safety specifically within the architectural ironmongery and the allied fire door industries that it thinks should be given more clarity.

The submission points out that many of the standards within the industry are not mandatory for building construction, such as BS 8300 relating to accessibility, and are seen purely as best practice guidance. For architects and other construction

18 WINDOW NEWS NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017

2. A similar mandatory scheme to Gas Safe should be adopted in to law for installation of fire doors.

3. Fire door inspection should be mandatory in the UK in similar fashion to USA and Australia. Heavy fines should be levied for non-compliance.

4. Third party certification of fire safety products should be mandatory.

5. There needs to be an individual who is tasked with the sign-off of each stage in the process which is related to fire safety. This should include any deviation away from accepted and original signed-off specification.

6. There should be a complete review of the sign off process

TRADE NEWS

with the introduction of mandatory sign off procedure which is similar to the Building Control Amendment Regulations 2014 (BCAR) in the Republic of Ireland.

7. The role and position of the Clerk of Works on site should be re-introduced as a means of ensuring on site compliance in installation.

8. Approved Document B should be revised to remove ambiguities and be much clearer to understand.

9. Approved Documents in general should be written in such a way that the requirements of each one do not contradict another.

10. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 should be amended to provide greater involvement of the fire service with regards to the sign-off of buildings 11. The responsible person should be named on the Health and Safety poster with a contact number giving the realistic times for when a person will answer.

12. A clear and transparent mechanism should be available which allows tenants to contact the responsible person/ local authority/ building control to report concerns on fire safety.

The Guild of Architectural Ironmongers (GAI) is the body that represents the interests of the UK architectural ironmongery industry. Its qualifications, education and CPD programmes are widely respected in the UK and overseas. Its technical information service is the only specialist service of its kind and provides GAI members with comprehensive advice. www.gai.org.uk

Euroglaze Guarantees Every Order Received In Full REHAU trade fabricator Euroglaze has launched a brand new delivery tracking solution which it says guarantees that everything in a customer’s order will be delivered in full, every time.

be exactly what they are expecting, and means they don’t waste time chasing missing items, or risk damage to their reputation because they have incomplete orders supplied to them.

The Barnsley based company has developed a new bespoke tracking system which works alongside the barcode scanning system already in use in its factory. Its despatch team are now scanning every item being delivered as it is loaded onto their vehicles and then again as it is being unloaded at a customer’s premises. What makes this system special however is that it will only allow the Euroglaze driver to collect a signature for that delivery on the tablet he is carrying, once every single item in that order has been fully and correctly unloaded.

It is obviously a real benefit for all those installers who are ordering windows and doors direct from Euroglaze to complete a particular job, but it’s even more important for the increasing number of third party distributors who buy from Euroglaze, and who need to know they have everything on time and in full to fulfil orders from their own customers.

The system completely does away with any possibility that an item could be delivered to the wrong customer, or that anything from that order could be left behind on the van. It even makes a reassuring ping every time a correct item is scanned and a fairly alarming beep if that item is scanned twice or if something for a different customer is scanned by mistake.

From a customer’s perspective, it provides real reassurance that what they receive from Euroglaze will

Euroglaze’s Managing Director Martin Nettleton said: “Our vehicles make around 40 deliveries every week across the whole of the UK, so this represents a very major change for us. We have developed this system in partnership with several key customers and the feedback we have already had has been outstanding.

“We think we’re the only trade fabricator in the UK which can now guarantee this kind of service, and we want to hear from stockists and installers who are buying from our competitors and who are frustrated by items being wrongly delivered or regularly missing from their orders.” www.euroglaze.co.uk

WINDOW NEWS NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017 19

TRADE NEWS

Andy Swift of ISO CHEMIE will be targeting designers more in 2018

tape-based sealing solutions.

Sealant Tapes Market

Has Designs On Growth In 2018

“To survive 2018, you will need a well-run business,” adds Andy Swift, “with state-of-the art product ranges and quick delivery backed up by good on and off-site technical support.”

Andy Swift, national sales manager of ISO-CHEMIE, is optimistic about UK foam sealant sales in the next 12 months as specialist suppliers ramp-up plans to target the design sector.

ary companies like ourselves.

There’ll be an increased focus on selling to designers in 2018, boosting sales in the process on the back of increasing product specification.

Growing appreciation of sealant products is also leading to the increased use of foam-based technology to close more sales and develop new business opportunities.

In the face of continuing cost pressures, possible further interest rate hikes and ongoing Brexit negotiations, the one certainty for the economy and, the construction sector in 2018 will be uncertainty.

“Brexit’s going to happen and whatever the outcome, construction will carry on, even it’s to meet the demand for new homes. So, as we look ahead, the market appears future prooffor us and who knows, it may even be better than expected.”

ISO-CHEMIE is one of Europe’s main producers of impregnated foam sealants, specialising in the manufacturer of foam products from polyethylene (EPE), polypropylene (EPP) and polyurethane (PUR) using the latest production techniques.

He also expects building regulations to get tougher and policed better around matters such as airtightness and thermal loss around windows.

The company’s UK technical and distribution operation is supported by a dedicated logistics service to ensure customer orders are completed as quickly and efficiently as possible (usually next-day delivery). More at www.iso-chemie.eu/en-GB/ home/

However, companies such as ISO CHEMIE, which supply foam sealant tapes window and door installation projects, are likely to benefit if there’s a downturn in construction as they target the design rather than the installer sector.

Andy Swift says: “The opportunities are out there for vision-

There will also be an increase in fire protection within new projects. Again, this could lead to increased opportunity for further

20 WINDOW NEWS NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017

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TRADE NEWS

Insight Data Reveals Latest Industry

Financial Performance

Insight Data has recently compared the financial performance of fabricators and installers as part of a new Industry Report, following research conducted with over 15,000 window, door and conservatory companies.

Andrew Scott, Managing Director of Insight Data, gave a word of warning:

The report reveals a significant divide between supply-only fabricators, fabricators that install, and installers who don’t manufacture.

Insight Data analysed the financial results of limited companies and LLPs. As small and medium companies don’t need to publish turnover or full accounts, Insight measured ‘net worth’ taken from their latest published accounts and calculated industry average benchmarks.

Fabricators who ‘supply only’ performed the best over the last 3 years with an average net worth

It must be noted that companies post their published accounts in arrears and the vast majority of accounts relate to a 2016 financial year end.

up some 80% from £280,220 to £505,047. Fabricators who install improved from £219,093 to £265,228 – a rise of 21%, while installers who buy-in strengthened their financial position by 9%, from £49,651 to £54,280, although many companies in this category are lifestyle businesses.

“The industry has enjoyed several years of steady growth and financial success, but an uncertain market over the last 12 months has created mixed results, with some companies reporting a slow down while others, especially premium or niche product manufacturers, have maintained growth.

2017 financial results may paint a different picture.”

The full Insight Report provides in-depth analysis of the industry, including business activity, market sectors and product information.

It is available for free for a limited period, visit insightdata.co.uk/reports

Solidor Group Hits A Record:

100 Days Of 100% OTIF

The Solidor Group has invested two years’ hard work into turning its manufacturing and operations into a finely-tuned service engine.

This is paying off for the door manufacturer – which includes the brands Solidor, Residor and Nicedor – having achieved a new industry benchmark of 100% OTIF (orders delivered On Time, In Full) for 100 days in a row from this July, on a five-day turnaround.

“These are world-class manufacturing rates,” comments Solidor Group Operations Director Mike Price, a renowned lean manufacturing specialist. “We’ve made a

Operations Director Mike Price (L) with CEO Gareth Mobley

huge commitment to continuous improvement, by reviewing and investing in facilities, focusing on efficient processes and creating a winning culture which each and every employee contributes to.”

22 WINDOW NEWS NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017

CEO Gareth Mobley adds: “Our manufacturer, distributor and installer customers have to manage their time profitably, and if you have to allow extra time because your supplier is unreliable, you can’t do that. And you won’t win as many jobs because your service is your reputation. Businesses that get known for reliable service are always in demand. It’s why our staff go the extra mile to ensure every delivery is on time, every time – and the market clearly appreciates this difference, as we’ve just achieved our first £800,000 week too!” www.solidor.co.uk

TRADE NEWS across the aluminium sector of just what a crucial role software can play in increasing efficiency.

He says: “Software used to be seen as an everyday requirement for processing orders into production but, for many, it is increasingly being viewed as a crucial part of their business, capable of delivering meaningful cost and time savings. By linking their estimation, drawing office and production functions using LogiKal, fabricators are seeing just how easily they can reduce manpower and speed up their operations. As a result, they can easily quantify payback and are more willing than ever to invest.”

Dean Hodges, Managing Director, BM Aluminium

Record Year For BM Aluminium

As Market Resurgence Continues The continuing resurgence of aluminium is proving to be very good news for BM Aluminium, the exclusive UK supplier of Orgadata’s specialist LogiKal software solution.

The company, based in Tewkesbury, has seen a 13% increase in turnover this year and an 11% increase in customer numbers.

To keep pace with that, it has increased staff numbers by 20% and moved into new, larger offices.

Business Micros Aluminium’s Managing Director Dean Hodges says that its current success, in its 10th anniversary year, is largely down to the growing realisation

Also key to BM Aluminium’s ongoing success is the number of companies who are investing in CNC machinery and requiring machine links to be created in LogiKal. Dean adds: “There is a real confidence across the aluminium sector at the moment and the boom in machinery orders is having a positive impact on our business. We have a specialist team who set up machine links for customers and they are probably busier than they have ever been.”

BM Aluminium has also launched its InfoServer module this year which allows fabricators to move towards paperless production and increase efficiency still further. The company has already completed a successful installation at Newbury Commercial Glazing and predicts that this will be one of the main drivers of its growth in the coming year.

Dean concludes: “We’ve had a record year in 2016/17 and are very optimistic about 2018. We are certainly not complacent though. We plan to keep on reinvesting in our team and in our products to keep pace with the expanding market.”

Further details at: www.bmaluminium.co.uk

WINDOW NEWS NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017 23

TRADE NEWS

Carl F Groupco’s Successful

Year For Hardware Supply

John Crittenden, Managing Director, Carl F Groupco

A successful year for Carl F Groupco has affirmed the company’s position as a leading UK hardware supplier. Landmark achievements in 2017 have included the launch of a new catalogue. Featuring over 7,000 product lines, the reference source contains a comprehensive overview of all products supplied including door & window fittings, ventilation solutions and tools for

aluminium, composite, PVCu and timber profile systems.

Commenting on the year, Carl F Groupco’s Managing Director John Crittenden said: “Key areas of growth have included high security hardware, with increased demand triggered

by Document Q. Our specialist

brands including Carl F direct – our e-commerce tool supply business – and SmartSecure have also contributed to the positive year end picture.

“As a forerunner of the Smart locking and access control evolution in the UK hardware market, we have continued to invest heavily in SmartSecure. In addition to our existing solutions based on FUHR’s fully motorised multipoint lock, we have increased the range to include the Yale Conexis L1, a retro-fit Smart keyless locking handle. We have also opened a new, dedicated SmartSecure showroom at our UK distribution centre in Peterborough.”

Looking to the year ahead, Carl F Groupco predicts continued strong interest in high security hardware, growing demand for high-end aluminium products and the ongoing expansion of its specialist brand ranges.

Carl F Groupco Limited Tel: 01733 393330 E: sales@carlfgroupco. co.uk www.carlfgroupco.co.uk

Double R Difference Published In

Customer Charter

It’s one thing for companies to promise their customers quality products and good service, but it’s quite another to make these promises in writing, to all customers. Double R Glass & Roofing Systems has done just this with the publication of its customer charter.

“Customer charters may not be a new idea, but they have an important part to play in building relationships with customers that will last the distance,” says Ian Sims, Managing Director of Double R. “Relationships and service are buzz words that our industry uses a lot, but what customers really appreciate is knowing where

they stand. They like to genuinely know what to expect and have these expectations met time and time again, they appreciate regular and open communication with their supplier and perhaps most importantly, they appreciate knowing they will have all the support they need if something goes wrong – whatever the reason for the mistake.

“We consider ourselves one of the companies that go the extra mile, whether we’re manufacturing sealed units in volume or in smaller numbers, or whether we’re delivering bespoke decorative patterned units, or whether we’re delivering conservatory roof

24 WINDOW NEWS NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017

kits, Double R genuinely puts the customer first and treat all our customers how we would wish to be treated. Our customer charter document lays all of this out for all of our customers, existing and new, to see. The details include delivery times, response times, complaints procedures and as importantly what we expect of our customers to make the relationship work in the best possible way for everyone.

“We’re proud to be different when it comes to customer service and hopefully our newly published customer charter will give our customers additional peace of mind in our written promise to them.” www.glassandroofs.com

Efficiency meets innovation REHAU is committed to minimising the impact of our operations on the environment. We continue to invest in our co-extrusion capabilities to ensure recycled polymer plays a significant role in our business.

Our TOTAL70 range uses co-extruded profile within it’s core. This process allows us to offer an energy efficient product that is also friendly to the environment.

To find out more visit rehau.uk/inhand or email enquiries@rehau.com

With REHAU

It’s all in hand

TRADE NEWS

Universal Trade Frames Becomes Excellence As

Nxt-gen

Standard Member

From Distinction

Doors Adds Value

To Consort’s Offering Trade fabricator Consort Ltd has recently signed a new partnership with Distinction Doors and now manufactures the new nxt-gen composite door. Consort launched the nxt-gen door to their customers in October and the decision to switch suppliers was met with universal approval, says the company.

Jeff Dunn, Sales and Marketing Director of Consort, explains: “The decision to switch to Distinction and Nxt-gen was made for numerous reasons.

The new standard in composite door design is immediately evident in the door’s stunning aesthetics. Nxt-gen offers clinical sightlines that deliver superb symmetry with the glazing apertures and line up perfectly with the depression mouldings.

The glazing system is unique and sits flush within the frame and has an internal glass retention bead to create a sleek and impressive finish. Glazing is similarly as impressive as the nxt-gen door is quicker to glaze and uses a notable 50% less glazing consumables. Furthermore, the intelligent door design is also easier to deglaze as minimal sealant is required which is an advantage for remedials.” www.consortwindows.com

From left to right: Duncan Saunders of Universal Trade Frames, Paul Adlington of Epwin Window Systems and Brian Kruger of Universal Trade Frames

Spectus trade fabricator Universal Trade Frames has recently announced it has joined Spectus’ Excellence as Standard membership programme. Brian Kruger, Universal’s Managing Director, said: “Excellence as Standard is just the kind of ambitious, proactive, high quality membership programme we’d expect from a brand such as Spectus. It advocates excellence at every stage of a project and aims to set the benchmark for the home improvement and construction industries. It’s a commitment we share and we’re proud to be part of the scheme.”

As an Excellence as Standard fabricator Universal Trade Frames will be able to support its customers in becoming Excellence as Standard installers via the EAS Academy.

Once members, installers are better equipped to gain the loyalty and trust of homeowners and tap into the comprehensive support that the programme offers.

Universal Trade Frames will benefit from being able to access upto-the-minute technical support and training to help it achieve the highest manufacturing standards, plus details of current legislation and the latest industry information.

26 WINDOW NEWS NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017

In doing so, it will be continuing to support its installers in delivering the highest quality products.

Universal Trade Frames will also be able to help generate leads for its installers with a dedicated page on its website that incorporates an Excellence as Standard-accredited installer finder and review centre.

Brian comments: “We’ve always been impressed by the level of support that Spectus has given our business over the years and this commitment is perfectly demonstrated in Excellence as Standard. We’re looking forward to being able to use Excellence as Standard’s tools to work closely with our customers, drive their businesses forward and give them an edge in a competitive market.”

Universal Trade Frames is a family-owned company that was founded in 1996. All its products are fabricated in its state of the art manufacturing facility in Shrewsbury. It has a reputation for its ability to stay ahead of industry trends and add value to its customers’ businesses. In joining Excellence as Standard, it’s showing its reputation in action.

TRADE NEWS

Real Aluminium Shows Off

Extended Range In

ER Certification Ltd

New Showroom

Achieves Corgi Fenestration

Audit Centre Accreditation

ER Certification Ltd has won recognition for its commitment to trust, reliability, expertise and quality by attaining CORGI Fenestration registration. CORGI Fenestration has been established to acknowledge the best in glazing company management, customer service, qualifications, the best qualified staff and their continuing professional development.

ER Certification Ltd is a team of dedicated glass and fenestration industry professionals with combined experience upwards of seventy years. Based in Stafford, the company was set up in 2009, specifically to operate as an Independent Agency for the British Fenestration Ratings Council (BFRC) conducting assessments and audits to ensure window fabrication and installation companies operate within a variety of certification parameters. More recently it has added its own quality mark against a variety of fenestration industry standards, and can provide certification for companies wishing to join the Secured by Design scheme for windows and doors.

This is in addition to providing auditing services to several external organisations. Driven by ensuring customers meet and exceed the standards, it’s no surprise that

they have achieved audit centre accreditation for CORGI Fenestration.

Bill Keating, Managing Director of ER Certification Ltd comments: “It was clear from our first meeting with CORGI Fenestration that there were many shared values, as we’re both quality orientated organisations. In order to attain our accreditation, an audit of our processes and procedures was conducted to ensure we operate in a way that was in parallel to what was expected. We are the first UKAS accredited certification body to be involved and we are delighted to be at the forefront of this scheme.”

REAL Aluminium is investing once again for its growing network of customers with the opening of a new showroom.

The new 88m2 showroom in Stonehouse, Gloucestershire, is the first of its kind to be totally dedicated to the entire REAL Aluminium range of products – one of the widest collections in the industry.

For further information about ER Certification: Tel: 07980 863175 www.er-certification.com

The latest in a string of resources that REAL Aluminium has invested in for customers, the showroom displays the complete range of products from REAL – aluminium windows, sliding patio doors, residential doors, bi-folding doors, French doors, roof lanterns and Flat Rooflights. The showroom also features the new Virtu-AL aluminium effect composite door, which will be added to the REAL range in 2018.

www.corgifenestration.co.uk

www.real-aluminium.co.uk

Chris Mayne, CEO CORGI Fenestration, commented: “Through its work as an Independent Agency for verification of window energy efficiency ratings and its UKAS accreditation we know the high standards ER Certifications sets.

The company will be a valued addition to the CORGI Fenestration registration process.”

WINDOW NEWS NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017 27

TRADE NEWS

Edgetech And Sternfenster Hit The 1m Mark

Manufactured to the highest standards at the firm’s 110,000 ft² factory in Lincoln, Sternfenster products deliver robust quality, stunning aesthetics, and, thanks in no small part to Edgetech’s Super Spacer, outstanding all-round performance.

“We’ve benefitted hugely from our relationship with Edgetech,” commented Sternfenster MD Mike Parczuk. “Super Spacer hasn’t just dramatically improved the thermal performance of the units we produced – it’s significantly upped our productivity and efficiency.

“Super Spacer doesn’t need to be cut into bar length form, it comes pre-dessicated, and it doesn’t need a PIB primary seal applied. Taken altogether, it’s helped revolutionise our manufacturing process, and helped us grow from strength to strength.

Fabricator Sternfenster are celebrating a major manufacturing milestone.

Over ten years of partnership with Edgetech, Sternfenster have produced over one million IG units using Super Spacer warm edge spacer technology.

Sternfenster, the Lincoln fabricator behind fast-growing installation business Starglaze, has built itself into one of the industry’s biggest and most respected brands through more than four decades of hard work and innovation.

Today, the firm supplies a comprehensive selection of uPVC windows and doors using Deceuninck’s 2500 and 2800 profile systems, and high-performance aluminium products from Smarts.

“Customers who join our approved installer network enjoy a host of benefits that give them the edge over the competition – and, thanks to Super Spacer, a level of thermal performance that helps them sell to increasingly energy-conscious end users.

“If you’re interested in learning more about the Sternfenster approved installer network, visit https://www. sternfenster.com/join-our-network/ today.”

Chris Alderson, Edgetech MD commented: “It’s fantastic to reach such a momentous milestone with Sternfenster. It’s been a privilege working with one of the most forward-thinking, quality-driven businesses in UK fenestration – and we look forward to working with them to reach the two million mark!” www.edgetechig.co.uk

Droylsden Glass Strengthens Its Range With A Little Help From Dekko

Dekko Window Systems has a reputation for helping its customers grow and reach new markets.

Looking to strengthen its offering, North-West installation specialists Droylsden Glass has become the latest firm to partner with Dekko.

With ambitions to offer their customers the best of both, the business, which is celebrating 35 years of trading, has added not only Dekko’s standard Deceuninck uPVC windows to its range but Infinity – their premium collection of seamless uPVC windows.

“In today’s competitive marketplace, the best attribute any installer can have is a strong and diverse product range,” comments Kurt Greatrex, Sales Director at Dekko.

“By offering both solutions, Droylsden can deliver a high-quality core product from Deceuninck with

28 WINDOW NEWS NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017

the fantastic upselling opportunity offered by our luxury Infinity Collection.”

“Infinity makes such a great addition to Droylsden’s offering because of the variety of projects they complete. Infinity provides a high-performance solution for the many schools Droylsden refurbishes whilst still providing Mrs Smith with a fantastic, premium finish to her home. With the seamless, timber-like appearance achieved by our graf welder and one of our authentic woodgrain finishes, Infinity is even at home on older, heritage properties.”

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TRADE NEWS

Above: Mila’s Oliver Burgess (centre) accepts a certificate from Izabela Payne and Mark Frain from Synseal

Remarkable

Achievement By Mila

Mila has demonstrated once again that its supply chain and logistics organisation is world class by delivering six months of 100% OTIF to Synseal.

In what the systems company itself has described as a ‘remarkable achievement’, Mila has delivered every order to Synseal on time and in full for the past six months.

It is all the more remarkable given that Synseal is one of Mila’s biggest customers, buying more than 300 different lines from Mila and typically placing more than 40 orders per month.

This includes Mila’s own brand ProSecure high security door handle, ProLinea twin cam espag and espag handle, NightSecure keep and ProLinea TBT handle, as well as third party

Siegenia AF security hardware.

Synseal’s Hardware Category team of Mark Frain and Izabela Payne visited Mila recently to present Mila’s Supply Chain Director Oliver Burgess with a certificate to congratulate the whole team on their achievement.

At the presentation, Oliver commented: “We are very proud of what really is an outstanding performance, delivered on the back of many years’ hard work and partnership building with Synseal. We have direct relationship with their warehouse team of course, but we also have relationships across the business, coordinated by our Key Account Manager Julie Holmes, which enable us to accurately forecast their re-

30 WINDOW NEWS NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017

quirements and respond to any changes.”

One key reason why Mila has been able to record a perfect OTIF for Synseal is that the two companies have worked together to create a tailored supply chain solution which works for both of them, ensuring that there are no interruptions to supply even during periods of peak or unexpected demand.

Mark Frain, Synseal’s Hardware Category manager added: “When a supplier is as consistently good as Mila, it’s easy to take their performance for granted; but when they achieve something as outstanding as 6 months without missing a single item off an order, then we think it deserves some real recognition. Mila tells us that it consistently benchmarks its performance against big Blue Chip names and I’m delighted that Synseal, and in turn our customers, are directly benefiting from that.” www.mila.co.uk

TRADE NEWS

Healthy Quarterly Figures For Joinery Undermined By

Long-Term Question Marks Over Skills And Construction Growth

volumes would improve in the next quarter, with a balance of 40% predicting an increase for Q4 2017, and a balance of 36% predicting an increase over the next year.

- 26% of companies reported a current order book of future work extending beyond 3 months – down 16% from the previous quarter – with 53% saying that their order book extended from between 1 and 3 months.

- Labour availability was listed as the most likely constraint on output over the next year by 35% of respondents. Demand and Capacity came next, with 29% and 17% of respondents feeling that they were most likely to constrain output.

The BWF’s Joinery State of Trade Survey Q3 2017 has indicated that the medium term prospects of the joinery industry remain sound, but growing concerns over skill, raw materials and the implications of Brexit are fostering long-term uncertainty.

BWF Policy and Communications Executive Matt Mahony commented on the state of the joinery industry: “Labour shortages and raw materials costs continue bite but sales growth is still expected, at least in the medium term, with order books holding up well and more than half of firms operating at over four fifths of their capacity.

“Investment is set to increase with manufacturing equipment and product improvement the main targets but large increases in spending are also anticipated for R & D and e-business.

Longer-term growth expectations appear to have been dampened slightly however and this tallies with broader construction industry research suggesting that slower

economic growth and signs of an emerging weakness in construction activity outside of private housing are beginning to have an impact on spending decisions.

“Labour availability is also becoming a growing concern and this is now anticipated by survey respondents to become the biggest constraint on activity over the next year. New training and apprenticeship reforms, not to mention industry-led skills initiatives, will need to deliver for the woodworking sector and BWF has been redoubling its efforts to support the joinery skills agenda.”

Key points from the BWF Joinery State of Trade Survey Q3 2017 include: - A balance of 44% of respondents reported an increase in sales volumes over the last quarter, with 46% reporting an increase over the last year. This corresponds with the 42% of respondents reporting a quarterly increase in the previous survey.

- Manufacturers felt that sales

- 34% of respondents on balance reported increasing their labour force in the last year, with 37% of respondents anticipating an increased labour force over the next year.

- Raw material costs were noted as the main inflationary factor for unit costs for 96% of respondents, with wages/salaries increases pushing up unit costs for 82% of respondents on balance.

- Over the previous year a balance of 49% of respondents had invested in improving their products with 43% investing in their plant/equipment.

- Investment in in product improvement was set for the highest capital investment over the next year, with a balance of 54% planning to invest and with 50% set to invest plant/equipment.

As a benefit of membership, British Woodworking Federation members can view the full BWF State of Trade Survey plus the latest economic reports produced by the Construction Products Association industry forecasting team. www.bwf.org.uk

WINDOW NEWS NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017 31

TRADE NEWS

Carl F Groupco & FUHR

Mark 55 Year Partnership

Sliders UK Adds Second

Aluminium

Window

To Its Offer

Sliders UK has continued the strategic expansion of its specialist product portfolio with the launch of a second aluminium window system.

Manufactured in ALUK’s proven 70mm Optio system, the new Ultimate Residential Window from Sliders UK is defined by clean and flexible sightlines, making it suitable for traditional and contemporary applications.

It accommodates double and triple-glazed insulated units of 24mm to 40mm, employing a unique polyamide thermal break design to achieve u-values as low as 1.2W/ m2K. It’s also fully tested to PAS24 and is part Q compliant.

Available in white or anthracite grey as standard, plus dual colour options and any RAL colour as special order, it comes in a range of fully anodised finishes, also carrying a 10-year guarantee.

It’s adoption by Sliders UK, gives the specialist manufacturer a second aluminum window system having launched the Ultimate EVO XT last month. sliders-uk.com

A 55 year partnership is celebrated by hardware distributor Carl F Groupco and renowned German lock manufacturer, FUHR. The company, then Groupco, was the original distributor of FUHR products in the UK and, after significant growth, Carl F Groupco is now FUHR’s largest single customer worldwide.

The collaboration between the two companies dates back to 1962 and, from the earliest days, FUHR’s extensive range of locking solutions have been flagship lines in the Carl F Groupco catalogue.

Six FUHR products are currently featured in Carl F Groupco’s top 10 best seller list: the biggest selling line overall is the FUHR 856 Type 3 door lock.

Endorsing the partnership, FUHR’s Managing Director and owner, Andreas Fuhr said: “We value our relationship with Carl F Groupco extremely highly.

The strength of the partnership comes from our shared values and history – we look forward to continuing to work with the team

32 WINDOW NEWS NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017

to supply our traditional markets and expand into new sectors such as Smart Tech.”

Carl F Groupco’s Managing Director John Crittenden expanded on the significance of the relationship: “We have grown with FUHR to increase our offer from standard mechanical locks to the fully motorised 881 multipoint lock. FUHR is an important partner to us for a number of reasons including product quality, innovation and service commitment. Support also plays a key role and training is extensive – our entire sales team has visited FUHR’s German headquarters to gain a deep understanding of product features, benefits and how to make a lock.”

An extensive range of FUHR products is offered by Carl F Groupco including hardware that caters for all major aluminium systems. The FUHR multitronic fully motorised multipoint lock plays a pivotal role in Carl F Groupco’s pioneering SmartSecure electronic door locking and Smart access control brand. www.carlfgroupco.co.uk

TRADE NEWS

“World First” For The Manufacturing Industry

at that stage, and we are excited to see the positive impact it will have on our partners, and to see how much disruption it will cause in an already innovative marketplace.”

Origin has invested over £350,000 in introducing the Origin Window to its YLTNO promise, predicting that it is going to have a significant impact on the way the fenestration industry operates moving forward.

This investment includes leasing additional space to house the increased levels of stock being kept on site. This means that Origin has a contingency plan in place, and is not reliant on any third parties to ensure that the 100 per cent record Origin currently boasts stays intact.

Origin are claiming a world first for the manufacturing industry, saying the Origin Window, a bespoke aluminium system can now be fabricated and delivered without a traditional lead time and believe it is set to revolutionise the way in which the industry views lead times on bespoke products.

By applying the principles of Dr Goldratt’s Theory of Constraints to its manufacturing model, the British manufacturer has introduced the Origin Window to its revolutionary ‘Your Lead Time, Not Ours’ (YLTNO) promise.

YLTNO gives the partner the option of specifying the window’s required delivery date at the point of ordering, which means that installation scheduling can be done with far more certainty, and cash flow is improved due to not having to wait from ordering to installing. Customers on tighter deadlines can also be catered for, allowing more projects to be taken on.

Andy Halsall, MD at Origin, comments: “We first introduced our ‘Your Lead Time, Not Ours’ delivery promise on the Origin Bi-fold Door, which revolutionised the fenestration industry’s manufacturing and lead times standard. The logical next step was to bring the Origin Window in line with this, but manufacturing a window is more complicated than a bi-fold door. It can come in a variety of sizes and configurations of squares, so the manufacturing process is unique each time a window is made. So, as with everything we do at Origin, we wanted to ensure we were 100 per cent confident in our offering, before launching it to our partners. We are now 34 WINDOW NEWS NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017

New equipment, from saws and blades through to CNC machines, were needed to further expand operations and to make sure there is spare kit that can be called upon if necessary. Two sites have been merged to create a bigger, more usable space, and the production line has been redesigned to help increase productivity. This has been done by realigning the systems in place, and situating buffers next to the fabricators, helping to stabilise the process if any fluctuations in ordering are experienced.

Alongside the significant investment, Origin is implementing the same processes as with the Origin Bi-fold Door to ensure the Origin Window experiences the same successes. By introducing a flow-line system, it gives each factory worker a defined role in the production process, making it more effective and efficient. It will also add a ‘traffic light’ system, which ranks orders by urgency. This flags the orders under the strictest time constraints and allows Origin to systematically work through orders via priority.

Halsall concludes: “With numerous companies boasting products with unique USPs, it is imperative to be able to offer more. The Origin Window is manufactured bespoke in the UK, quality checked at every stage, offers a 20-year guarantee, boasts an A++ energy rating and is a certified 0.9 U-Value with space age technology, Aerogel, but we still strive to improve. Adding it to our YLTNO is a major step forward for the company, and is something that sets us above the rest in an increasingly crowded market.” www.origin-global.com

VIEWPOINT everyone is investing – you aren’t simply training people for someone else”.

Philip Pinnington, Glass & Glazing Federation, said the GGF was working with training providers to align training programmes to industry requirements. He picked up on a point also raised by other members that the industry was also struggling to attract new blood, suggesting it should be targeting ‘career-switchers’ as well as school and college leavers.

Despite this, those attending said that they were nonetheless, confident about the industry’s future, citing Brexit as a not necessarily welcome but far more a ‘bump in the road’ than anything catastrophic.

Skills Gap A Far Bigger

Threat Than Brexit The skills gap represents the major challenge for the glass processing and glazing sectors as increasing automation of process and generational change creates a deficit in traditional skills.

The warning was made at a special industry forum, organised by Bohle to discuss the key issues shaping the glass processing and glazing sector.

Held in London in early October, the skills deficit and limited training and development opportunities for new entrants to the sector were highlighted as the single biggest challenge for glass processors and glaziers.

1st Glass & Mirror’s David

Simberg, warning that quality remained a challenge for the industry because of the erosion of traditional skills sets as a generation of glass processors moved out of the industry.

This was echoed by Vince McDonnell, Glass Designs, who attributed the decline to the increasing automation of process.

He argued the focus on volume production had accelerated this trend.

Paul Rogers, Express Glazing, also picked up on the theme.

He said: “We need a consistent and standardised training programme, raising the skills set right across the industry.

This would give businesses the confidence to invest because

Glass Design’s Billy Perry, reporting that delays to major London commercial and new build contracts meant that order books remained healthy.

He added: “What’s also been happening recently is that we are being asked by existing customers who we have worked with inside London to tender on projects outside of it, for example Manchester.”

The forecast slowdown in foreign investment in London had also not materialised, with many central London developments being sold almost entirely to overseas investors.

Nonetheless, those attending the forum said that they expected the toughening of economic conditions that had accompanied Brexit to continue for the foreseeable future. This had led to a ‘turning down of the temperature of the London market”, according to Rogers.

Putting Brexit to one side, continuing innovation in glass technology was seen as a key driver of future growth including multi-laminates, security, acous-

WINDOW NEWS NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017 35

VIEWPOINT

tic and painted glass.

The integrity of the supply chain was also seen as important. The Glass Wipeboard Company’s Aaron Dewhurst, suggesting that corporate and commercial clients were increasingly expecting their supply chain to deliver ‘green credentials’.

“One of the things we believe we’re going to see more of, is bigger commercial clients and end users expecting their suppliers to be able to demonstrate what they’re doing to minimise the impact of their business on the environment.

“For example, we’re currently working to reduce our CO2 footprint and collating figures on waste and recycling rates because the companies we’re working with are asking for it and it’s going to be key to winning future business.”

Commenting on the event, Bohle’s Dave Broxton, said there was clear and continuing confidence amongst glass processors.

He said: “The mood still very positive. London continues to provide wide-ranging opportunities and well organised and run businesses are continuing to take advantage of them.

“What is, however, clear is that the industry needs to do more to address the skills gap that increasing automation of process and generational change has created.

“This isn’t unique to our industry and is something which can only be delivered through effective partnership between business, the industry’s representative bodies and Government.”

For more visit the Bohle website bohle-group.com/en-gb email info@bohle.ltd.uk

What Impact

Are New

Metro Mayors Having On The

Construction

Sector?

In early May 2017 six city regions in the UK elected metro mayors, or ‘combined authority mayors’ to change the political structure in the UK, with some decision-making powers to be devolved to a regional level.

Amongst the most high-profile people to be elected as a metro mayor was former Labour leader candidate Andy Burnham – for the Greater Manchester region.

Leon Friend, who is Managing Director of prestigious aluminium window and door supplier Hueck believes that the rollout of American style mayors will have a longterm positive impact.

He comments: “With cities such as Bristol and Manchester already growing at an incredibly fast rate the structure of the new, combined authority, comprising of local councillors and chaired by each region’s metro mayor, is designed to continue this expansion. Importantly, this new structure also provides local authorities with a bigger say in the decisions which affect their constituents and themselves.”

“We’ve already seen works beginning on the HS2 project and other major infrastructure projects this year and with such sizeable investments being put aside for the development of city regions we are likely to see new buildings – housing, community centres, offices – and transport links appearing all over the country. Many of these

36 WINDOW NEWS NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017

Leon Friend – Hueck UK Managing Director

schemes will require quality aluminium products for their construction and this opens up a wealth of potential supply opportunities for those of us who are in the industry.”

The Greater Manchester Combined Authority is already promising to build 1,184 housing units across 9 different sites in Greater Manchester, the West Midlands is working to provide an integrated transport network which provides links to the developing HS2, and Bristol is due to become home to a new arena by 2020.

The devolution bill, which allows the creation of these metro mayors, is also very flexible and could even facilitate the devolution of a variety of issues from the national government to local authorities in the future.

This means that even more opportunities are likely to arise for aluminium suppliers, manufacturers and the construction sector as local authorities are given more and more power to invest their grants where they see fit.

Hueck has already supplied its systems to many projects based in central London and Manchester this year. These projects include London’s Parliament House residential tower, the ‘mini-Manhattan’ development, the Stratford Plaza and St George’s Wharf along with many others. www.hueck.com

Naturally straight.

CONSISTENTLY STRAIGHT

SAVES TIME

REDUCES COST

MINIMISES WASTE

www.qwood.co.uk Qwood, we are ready when you are.

WINDOW NEWS NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017 37

VIEWPOINT much on the rest of the house.

If a home’s walls, floor, and roof are well-insulated then its biggest heat loss is likely through windows.

“In this case – or if a customer’s renovation involves improving insulation generally – the use of triple glazing could save a customer money in the long run.

“In terms of the initial expense of purchasing triple glazing, this is where financial solutions can help. Installers that work with Improveasy will be able to advise homeowners if triple-glazed windows would be a good fit for a home and how finance can be used to fund the investment.”

Austin Barcley, Managing Director of Improveasy

The Benefits Of Triple

Glazing Are Overlooked

By Most Homeowners Despite its popularity in mainland Europe, triple glazing is still not on the radar for many UK homeowners.

This is the view of the Managing Director of Improveasy – a company that offers customers financial solutions to fund home improvements through its approved installers.

The use of finance arrangements by homeowners has grown hugely in the last few years but Austin says that data from his customers shows that, regardless of its benefits, triple glazing is failing to gain traction.

He comments: “Recently, we’ve

seen big improvements in the standard of double glazing and these enhancements have been well communicated to homeowners. In contrast, the potential advantages of installing triple glazing are often overshadowed by the initial expense of installing them and by customer’s concerns regarding payback periods.”

Triple glazed windows are hugely popular in Scandinavian countries where the climate is very cold they and are reported to offer good soundproofing against noisy neighbourhoods, enhanced security, and improved insulation.

Austin continues: “Payback periods for triple glazing depend very

38 WINDOW NEWS NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017

Now, triple glazing makes up 1% of the UK’s window market and, with the popularity of the ‘Improve-Not-Move’ trend, Austin predicts that this figure will increase in the future.

“For our installers, triple glazing is a good opportunity to up-sell, but we also want to help spread the message that homeowners can benefit from triple glazing with the help of Improveasy’s finance solutions.”

Improveasy doesn’t just offer finance solutions and companies that partner with them can also access sales training seminars, alongside a host of innovative finance options.

Companies that become Appointed Representatives (AR) will appear on the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) register; and can then begin offering finance options, under the Improveasy brand.

Installers can also offer the finance options under their own company brand and Austin says he is seeing an increase in the number of homeowners who are using finance to part fund larger investments such as conservatories. www.improveasy.com

PEOPLE

REHAU Recruitment

Drive Boosts Customer

Support Services

Left to right – Rick Cole, Ruby Sidhu, Sam Tynan and Shaun Young

REHAU has appointed five new starters to its Windows Solutions team to improve support services for its installer and fabricator customers, and ensure that whatever their needs, it’s All in Hand.

In September, REHAU made four new appointments to its sales team. Shaun Young takes over as the Area Sales Manager for the North East, leaving Hormoz Nouri – who was covering both the North East and Scotland – to dedicate his focus to account management and specifications for Scotland.

Sam Tynan joins as Junior Sales Manager, with a varied national role providing support to REHAU’s trade counter customers and Authorised Partner installers.

Rick Cole, has been appointed Area Sales Manager and will oversee operations in the West

and South Yorkshire, Humberside, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire and Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire.

Rick’s outstanding performance in his previous role as Internal Sales Support made him an ideal candidate for promotion to this role.

New recruit Ruby Sidhu, Business Development Administrator, will be looking after REHAU’s databases and providing back-office support to the business’ Commercial Sales Managers. Ruby is based in Slough as part of the business development team alongside Steven Porte in Glasgow and Sue Sanderson in Manchester.

The four young, dynamic and enthusiastic recruits will work alongside more experienced members of the REHAU team, including Hormoz Nouri, who has 17 years’ service, and the Sales Director Barry Gilligan

who has been in the business for 30 years.

Barry said: “At REHAU we know that our people are what sell our products. That’s why we are boosting our sales team, ensuring we have people on the ground to go out, meet our customers face-to-face, hear what challenges they face and see what support we can offer. It’s so important to show our customers that we have the time and the resources to be there when they need us, providing the products and expertise that can help their business succeed.”

As well as the new additions to the sales team, REHAU is also expanding its Technical Services Support team at its head office in Ross-on-Wye, with the appointment of Paul Evans who will provide an extra pair of hands to resolve any technical queries that customers may have.

Adele Taylor, HR Manager from REHAU said: “It’s been a busy time for HR as we’ve seen a flurry of recruitment in the Windows Division at REHAU, but it’s a worthwhile investment that is going to help us support our customers better.

Going forward, REHAU will be making further appointments to our sales team to make sure we have a robust structure in place, particularly in terms of ensuring we the have resources to drive our Authorised Partner Program.”

To further support these teams, REHAU will shortly launch a handy tool known as the 360 performance portal, which provides REHAU customers with marketing support and downlaodable materials throughout the year. www.rehau.com

WINDOW NEWS NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017 39

PEOPLE

Thomas Fielding.

Rebecca’s role as Client Account Manager is to support Made for Trade’s client base across all products ensuring high levels of service are maintained and develop strategies for new client relationships.

Made For Trade Appoint New Staff Following

Korniche Expansion

Throughout 2017 Made for Trade has expanded its workforce in all aspects of the business to manage growing demand for its products including the Global Conservatory

Roof and Bi-folding doors. Following the success and expansion of the Korniche Aluminium Lantern recent strategic appointments include Rebecca Claydon and

Thomas is an Engineer with an automotive background working on projects demanding precision and high tolerances. These skills add to the existing design and engineering backgrounds of Bradley Gaunt, Managing Director, Ashley Gaunt, Head of Design and Chris Wann, (pictured centre) Made for Trade’s Business Manager.

Chris says “We are very excited about both appointments, it shows our continued commitment to existing and new clients alongside further investment in product development and lean manufacturing techniques to maintain and enhance operations across our product base” www.madefortrade.co

Epwin Window Systems’ Katrina Earl appointed to National Sales Manager Epwin Window Systems are pleased to announce that Katrina Earl has been promoted to National Sales Manager, Fenestration Division. In her new role, Katrina will report directly to Paul Lindsay, Sales Director and will be responsible for the development of sales within the Fenestration Division working across both Epwin Window Systems and the soon to be launched, Epwin Glass business.

Commenting on her appointment, Katrina said: “I am delighted to accept this new position within the company and look forward to developing sales across the two business areas. We are fortunate to have a professional and proac-

going forward. It’s exciting times for the Group and I am delighted to be part of this successful business.”

Previously holding the position of Northern Regional Sales Manager for Epwin Window Systems, Katrina has been instrumental in helping build the company’s well-respected position in the market. Her appointment as National Sales Manager, Fenestration Division reflects the strength of her abilities and her commitment to the success of the business. tive customer base too that is well placed to help us deliver the ongoing sales growth we are seeking

40 WINDOW NEWS NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017

Katrina takes up the new position with immediate effect. www.epwin.co.uk

is going on TV!

Smart Door Lock

Our distribution partners:

October sees the launch of our brand-new advertising campaign with the Yale brand hitting TV screens across the nation.

The advert will showcase the benefits of the new Conexis L1Ž Smart Door Lock across ITV, Channel 4 and Sky. Backed by a robust online, social and print campaign, this is Yale’s biggest ever media spend, helping to drive consumer demand during a key time for security sales.

For further information please contact your Yale area sales manager or email marketing@yaledws.co.uk

www.yale.co.uk/smart-living

WINDOW NEWS NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017 41

PEOPLE

New Appointments

At Modplan Ruwaida Denn, Operations Co-ordinator

SWISSPACER

Grows Team

At New HQ

SWISSPACER is experiencing strong growth since its investment in a new HQ in Milton Keynes.

The new offices and warehouse is opening up new opportunities with direct customers. As a result, SWISSPACER is growing its UK team with the appointment of Ruwaida Denn as Operations Co-ordinator. Ruwaida will be working closely with the Branch and Operations Manager at the new HQ, ensuring all customer service levels are achieved.

Ruwaida has qualifications in Business Communications and Accounting and an IATA diploma.

John Cooper, Commercial Director at SWISSPACER UK says: “Ruwaida has joined the business due to an increased demand for operational and logistics support, thanks to a growing base of direct customers since we moved to Milton Keynes in June. With customers purchasing directly from us, they are experiencing better lead times and customer support, and can benefit from our new Laser Marking Service.” www.swisspacer.com

from left to right: Neil Gater – Marketing and Communications Manager, Heidi Sachs – Managing Director, Justin Williams – International Sales and Marketing Director

VEKA trade fabricator Modplan has just announced the appointment of Justin Williams as its new International Sales and Marketing Director. Justin takes up this position with immediate effect.

Justin has worked within Modplan for the past four years and was, and still is, responsible for the Nordic division within the business. This change will mean that all the sales, marketing and customer service functions across Modplan will now operate as one entity across the different markets and product groups.

Speaking on Justin’s appointment, Modplan’s Managing Director Heidi Sachs said: “Justin has been instrumental in building the company’s well-respected position through his work within our Nordic division.

His appointment as International Sales and Marketing

42 WINDOW NEWS NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017

Director reflects the strength of his ability and his continued commitment to the success of Modplan.”

In other business moves, Neil Gater has become Marketing and Communications Manager having previously performed that role within the Nordic Division. And Chris Wake has become Customer Service Manager having previously worked within the conservatory processing office at Modplan.

Both Chris and Neil will report direct to Justin.

Heidi concludes: “The new structure ensures we are equipped and able to service the needs of our diverse market and our valued customers.

We would like to congratulate Justin, Neil and Chris on their new appointments.” www.modplan.co.uk

G17 AWARDS Fabricator of the Year was The Glazerite UK Group Installer of the Year: SEH BAC Glass Company: Global Glass Conservatory Installer: Thistle Windows and Conservatories Promotional Campaign, Trade: Real Aluminium Promotional Campaign, Retail: SEH BAC

More Winners

Than Ever At Gala

G17 Awards

What a night it was at the G17 Awards with more trophies than ever to celebrate even more worldclass products, people and initiatives when the industry gathered at the London Hilton on Park Lane to recognise the very best achievements throughout the year.

Guests on Friday (Nov 17) not only cheered the 12 deserving G-Award winners, plus the Derek Bonnard Award for Outstanding Achievement, but also this year applauded winners of two brand new awards, the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Glass & Glazing Federation and the FENSA Installation of The Year.

The biggest cheers however were for the 12 heroic women of the GM Fundraising Paddle2Pedal challenge when they used the event to reveal that their marathon had more than doubled their original target to reach a fantastic £108,474.19!

Commercial Project: HSSP Architects and Oxted Window Systems Component Supplier: Mila Training and Development Initiative: Epwin Group Customer Care Initiative: Glassolutions Unsung Hero: Danny Barnett, Solidor Derek Bonnard Award for Excellence: Thermoseal Group GGF Lifetime Achievement Award: Greg O’Donoghue FENSA Installation of the Year: Artisan Conservatories and Windows

“It was a fantastic night,” said organiser Tony Higgin, “not just for the 600-plus who joined us to applaud the winners but again for the standard of entries and the effort that was put into every one of them. Also, special thanks to our host Russell Kane for carrying on the tradition of top-class comedians at the G-Awards.”

Top of the list, the coveted New Product of the Year award went to Deceuninck for its Heritage Flush Sash window system.

The event was sponsored by a number of leading industry organisations including: DW3 Group, Customade Group, Emplas, Epwin Window Systems Division, GGF, Deceuninck, FENSA, Pilkington UK, Edgetech, Saint-Gobain Glass UK, Renolit, Thermoseal Group, Unique Window Systems, The VEKA UK Group, and Glassolutions.

Tony concluded: “We are already turning our thoughts to the G18 Awards, but when the judges were so much in agreement about the high standards of entries this year, it’s going to be a tough act to follow.”

WINDOW NEWS NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017 43

G17 AWARDS

Deceuninck Heritage Flush Sash Wins New

Product Of The Year

“In addition to designing the best-looking product for this sector, we have also been able to offer our Heritage Flush Sash

“The beauty of our cleverly designed Flush Sash isn’t limited to the Heritage sector however – it looks just as stunning in a modern town house property, as it does in a traditional cottage. Our new grey substrate with smooth matt anthracite foil is available on our Flush Sash and from stock and will continue to develop the range to help our customers win even more projects, in even more property styles.

“From a technical perspective, our new product addressed a gap in the market at the time because no other Flush Sash came with a night vent, so didn’t come with the option to lock the window in a night vent position. For this reason, the euro-groove position became critical. We also ensured outstanding weather and security performance was part of our Flush Sash offering with Airtightness Class 4, Watertightness Class E900, Wind Resistance Class AE2400 and PAS24:2016 Kitemark approved, all complete with the system.

Deceuninck’s Heritage Flush Sash, which forms part of the company’s Heritage Window Collection, has won the prestigious category of New Product of the Year at this year’s G-Awards. It’s not often we see something genuinely innovative in our market, but the Flush Sash from Deceuninck has delivered something new that provides fabricators and installers with a completely new sales opportunity.

Rob McGlennon, Managing Director of Deceuninck UK comments: “We quickly identified the need for a strong product for the growing heritage sector and worked hard to design a product that suits every need in this field.

Our Heritage Flush Sash comes with the option of fully welded or mechanical joints for a completely traditional and authentic look, also giving our customers a true USP over the competition.

character of the property.

customers the benefit of 26 colourways from stock. Again, for added authenticity we also offer 26 colourways in matching trims, cills and ancillaries – all from stock. We have of course had to invest a significant amount of money to allow us to offer this amount of product from stock, but we did it because we knew how far ahead this investment would put our customers. It means they can order colour as easily as they can order white. For the Heritage sector, this is particularly important as the windows need to match the

44 WINDOW NEWS NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017

“The Flush Sash also comes with a host of marketing support that is considered to be above and beyond the industry standard. All Heritage Collection customers have access to an array of marketing assets to suit all needs, including printed brochures, image library, point of sale and much more.

“We are thrilled to receive the prestigious recognition from within the industry at the G-Awards for what we feel is a product that has truly changed the market in 2017, but we will continue to work closely with our customers to deliver what the market wants, when it needs it, with new #Bestinclass innovations and product developments on the horizon.”

Contact Deceuninck today visit www.deceuninck.co.uk

Mila Wins

Component Supplier Of The Year At The G17

G17 AWARDS

Managing Director Richard Gyde collected the trophy on behalf of the whole team, which included sales, marketing, testing, supply chain and warehouse representatives, all of whom had been key to Mila’s success in 2016/17.

Speaking after the presentation, Richard said: “This is a hugely competitive category because it is open to suppliers from every sector of the industry. We’re obviously delighted to have won – it’s a fantastic endorsement of what we have achieved this year, and a massive well done to everyone at Mila.”

Mila was named the Component Supplier of the Year at the G-17 Awards, in recognition of its outstanding work in tackling the industry wide issue of hardware

corrosion, and its decision to deliver a new programme of Smart Hardware, Simple Guarantees to customers.

This is the third time that Mila has won the Component Supplier of the Year award and the trophy now has pride of place at the company’s Daventry headquarters, alongside the awards from 2013 and 2011. www.mila.co.uk

Glassolutions Wins G17 ‘Customer Care’ Award

go’, build a quote in their own time and choose the option of delivery to site, without the need to call into a GLASSOLUTIONS branch for any aspect of their order. The app has successfully helped customers work smarter, solve problems, and add real value to their own customers.

GLASSOLUTIONS has won the ‘Customer Care’ category of the G17 awards for its commitment to quality customer care with the further development of its innovative and user-friendly e-commerce app.

Arguably the only app of its kind in the UK supporting a national glass supply service, it has been successful in putting control in the hands of customers, allowing them to configure and order glass ‘on the

Head of Customer Services at GLASSOLUTIONS Darren Dickinson, says: “Ease of use and adaptability are everything in the digital age, and that’s what we aim to provide with the app: an app which allows businesses large and small to access our extensive glass range, configure exactly the product they need to add value to their business proposition. Feedback from customers in 2017 has resulted in changes and improvements to the app, which in turn has led to improved year-on-year performance. Online sales up to the end of July 2017 increased by 343% compared with the whole of 2016 online sales.

Find out more about GLASSOLUTIONS at www.glassolutions.co.uk.

WINDOW NEWS NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017 45

G17 AWARDS

Double G Award Win For

Installer Of The Year SEH BAC

Rounding off a remarkable year for the South-East installer, SEH BAC has won two prestigious G17 Awards, including the highly-sought after Installer of the Year award.

The Installer of the Year award recognises SEH BAC’s unwavering commitment to outstanding products, expert craftsmanship and exceptional service. The firm, renowned across the region for its expertise in windows, doors and conservatories were also awarded Retail Promotional Campaign of the Year for their first-class approach to customer engagement and communications.

“We are absolutely thrilled to win two G Awards, especially Installer of the Year, which is an incredible validation of the customer-first approach we have held throughout our 45 years of trading,” com-

ments John Savage, Managing Director of SEH BAC. “Winning at The G Awards is no easy task, so to not only win but to be the night’s only double winner, it just goes to show the strength of SEH BAC and the outstanding quality of our amazing team.”

The double G Award success completed a hat-trick of high-profile award wins in just 48 hours.

The firm, which is part of Suffolk-based One Group Construction, a £130m group of companies which complete nationwide construction projects, also won the Community Benefit Award from The National Home Improvement Council. The award recognised SEH BAC’s transformation of the West Cliff Theatre in Clacton, the winner of their £10,000 Community Giveaway Competition.

“2017 has been a fantastic year

46 WINDOW NEWS NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017

and these prestigious awards are the icing on the cake,” adds John.

“We’ve focused our attention this year on improving every part of our operation whether it’s expanding our product lines, opening new showcentres or creating dynamic, accessible promotions with our partners Purplex to bring our range closer to consumers.”

“Throughout all of this, we have kept to our deep-routed commitment of delivering a supreme service from enquiry right through to completion. We are honoured to see the high-levels of customer satisfaction we receive, backed up by this overwhelming recognition from our industry colleagues.

2017 will take a lot to beat, but with the talented, driven team we have, we know we can do it!”

For more information visit www.sehbac.com.

G17 AWARDS

even better year, with a continued focus on providing our growing base of installer partners with the most comprehensive product portfolio and support packages in the industry. Glazerite will certainly be doing its upmost to retain the trophy at the next G awards.”

17 Years Of Experience

Helps Glazerite Scoop G17 Fabricator Award The Glazerite UK Group have come a long way from their humble beginnings in 2000, with just one site manufacturing 50 frames per week, to now be crowned the G17 Fabricator of the Year.

“We are thrilled to have won such a highly-coveted award, especially when we were up against some of the finest companies in the industry,” said Director Jason Thompson, “It is a great reflection of the hard work and effort consistently Global Glass, the specialist IGU division of Synseal Group, has been named Glass Company of the Year at the G17 Awards.

The award was independently judged by the Glass and Glazing Federation’s Technical Officer, Richard Kells, who cited quality and growth as the key reasons the Global Glass entry stood out.

put in by everyone across our business.”

Glazerite’s Operations Director Ian Lloyd said: “This year has been a particularly challenging one whilst we have been integrating the new East site into the business. We have continued to invest in its development and expect service levels here to soon be in line with those achieved throughout the rest of the company. Everything is in now in place to make 2018 an

Jason added: “We would also like to congratulate the organisers on the success of the awards as it was a fantastic evening with a great atmosphere. The genuine congratulations we received from customers, suppliers and competitors alike were hugely appreciated and celebrating with our installer partner Thistle Windows, who won Conservatory Installer of the Year, was a particular highlight.”

“Winning this award has been a very proud moment for all at Glazerite, but we could not have done it without our valued customers. Their continued loyalty and support, especially throughout the difficult times, is greatly appreciated. We are also an NFA 2017 finalist for Fabricator/Manufacturer of the Year so please vote and help us achieve the double!” www.glazeritewindows.co.uk

Global Glass Named Glass Company Of The Year

Richard said: “For their commitment to growth, achievements in the areas of product quality and creating an impressive collaborative working culture within the factory at Witham, Global Glass have been judged the winners in the category of Glass Company of the Year.”

WINDOW NEWS NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017 47

DOOR SYTEMS

Caledonia Doors now manufacturing the AGILA Sliding Door

Opportunity

Knocks For Rehau’s Agila Doors While the REHAU name is synonymous with high quality PVC-U windows, the strength of its AGILA doors portfolio is positioning REHAU as a complete solutions provider for a range of domestic and commercial applications. Here, senior representatives from REHAU talk to Windows News about the latest developments in the range: Gareth Jones, Marketing & Technical Director - Window Solutions at REHAU says, since the launch of the AGILA door range in 2016, sales have gone

from strength to strength as the quality and variety of doors within the portfolio ensure it delivers a solution for almost every application. The AGILA door profiles suite perfectly with our TOTAL70 window profiles, so when specified together, it’s simple to create a continuity of style across a whole house or building installation which many specifiers and customers like.

But it’s not just aesthetics where the AGILA range delivers, and this year has seen a greater emphasis on the fire protection,

48 WINDOW NEWS NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017

security and energy efficiency features of our doors.

Neil Baker, Senior Engineer at REHAU adds his thoughts on the AGILA Fire Door. He said: Unsurprisingly, one of the doors which we get a lot of enquires at the moment is the AGILA Fire Door. Since the Grenfell Tower tragedy, there is increasing scrutiny of every aspect of fire safety in a building and many local authority and social housing providers are concerned about the level of fire protection their properties offer.

This year, we used September’s Fire Door Safety Week to launch a video which shows our doors being tested to highlight the importance of getting the right door for the job. Formerly known as the RAUFERNO, the AGILA Fire Door has a 30-minute fire rating thanks to

DOOR SYSTEMS equipped with bespoke security hardware from ERA to meet the requirements of PAS24, including security handles, a 12-point locking system and additional corner hooks for added security. Coupled with the Total Security Guarantee, AGILA customers can have a lifetime of peace of mind.

Energy efficiency remains a key issue for all of our AGILA door profiles, and uptake of our Passivhaus doors in particular has been encouraging this year.

AGILA doors can achieve Ud values of 0.7 W/m2K and come in a range of contemporary, stylish designs with pre-fitted hardware, making them simple to install. When coupled with our GENEO® windows, ultra high thermal efficiencies are achievable.

AGILA Fire Door 30 Mins Side Pane WS UK

its reinforced frame and graphite intumescent strip which expands with heat to create an effective barrier against fire, smoke and heat.

While the AGILA Fire Doors ensure life and property is protected, they also look and function like a regular composite door. To achieve this, we have recently introduced expansion coupler technology so that our fire doors are now available with fully compliant toplight and sidelight configurations. We have established a partnership with Distinction Doors so customers can also choose from different panel styles and colours, fire rated letterboxes and viewers, so a fire door can still look like a standard front door.

ager at REHAU comments, as well as safety, security is a big theme for our AGILA doors range this year. Homeowners love large span doors – either sliding or multifold – to bring light and space into their living areas, but they want to be sure that as a patio or entrance door, they are as secure as possible.

To reassure end users that we offer the most secure doors on the market, we have recently introduced the ERA Total Security Guarantee availalble for the enhanced security hardware option of the AGILA sliding door.

Recognised by Neighbourhood Watch, the guarantee scheme is a key selling point for the doors and offers customers a replacement door plus £5,000 should they suffer a break in due to the failure of the hardware.

Clare Higgins, Product Man-

AGILA sliding doors are

Malcolm Taylor, Product Manager at REHAU is the resident expert on sustainable doors and windows. He said: When we first launched the Passivhaus doors, they were very much designed for a niche market for one-off self builds but they are making their way into mainstream through largescale housebuilding projects and social housing installations. Through our continued membership to organisations such as the Passive House Institute, the profile of AGILA doors in this arena will only increase in the months and years to come.

AGILA is not just one door, it is a whole range of options and opportunities for customers, specifiers, fabricators and installers alike. It is the solution for endless applications, and REHAU will continue to invest in new design features to further strengthen the range’s appeal to consumers and the trade.

For further information visit www.rehau.uk/agila

WINDOW NEWS NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017 49

DOOR SYTEMS

Profile 22 Introduces Its Frontier Range Of Composite Doors Profile 22 has recently launched Frontier a new range of composite door leaves. Gerald Allen, Marketing Manager of Profile 22 comments: “Industry projections suggest that composite doors are set to continue their popularity until at least 2020, by which time they’ll make up around two thirds of the door sector. When a sector has growth projections like these, it’s important to have the right product in your portfolio to be able to take advantage of the opportunities. We are delighted to now offer the Frontier door leaves through Profile 22.”

Manufactured in the UK, Frontier doors have a solid timber core and are available in 44mm and 48mm options. There are three ranges: traditional, contemporary and cottage, all featuring a beautiful and unique thermoplastic woodgrain finish that replicates timber and gives

a more realistic effect. There is a wide range of glazing options covering decorative, plain and obscure designs and a capsule collection of 10 popular colours to help consumers personalise their choice – Black, White, Red, Green, Blue, Rosewood, Cherrywood, Chartwell Green, Soft Cream and Anthracite Grey. Frontier’s hardware supplies locks and door furniture, with a choice at every price point too.

Frontier doors are available in slabbed or pre-prepped options so Profile 22’s customers can choose the best option for their business. They are suitable for standard or low-threshold doors, so they’re suitable for domestic, new build, commercial and refurbishment projects.

Frontier doors are scratch and abrasion resistant. COOLSKIN technology minimises

50 WINDOW NEWS NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017

the amount of solar heat absorption in order to reduce the surface temperature fluctuation throughout the day. In addition to their excellent weather stability the facings are also highly durable with high impact performance even during extremes of temperature.

The Frontier leaves are compatible with Profile 22’s universal composite door outer frame CD70 and the award-winning Profile 22 Optima chamfered and sculptured systems. Together, they create beautiful opportunities for fabricators and installers.

Aside from all the benefits of the doors themselves, it’s important to remember that when you choose Optima windows and Frontier doors from Profile 22, you get the benefit of being able to place window and door orders through a single supplier too.

So, if you want to make the most of the growing composite door sector, then take a close look at the Frontier range from Profile 22. www.epwin.co.uk

Distinction – Leading By Example

DOOR SYSTEMS is widely regarded as the most beautiful on the market and its oak tree woodgrain skin is much admired. The glazing cassettes feature the same woodgrain effect for a seamless finish and claims to be proven to be the most thermally efficient – 17% more efficient than the next best.

In the nxt-gen range the company is proving its market-leading credentials in innovation too. For example, the glazing system sits flush within its frame and has an internal glass retention bead for a sleek and elegant finish that’s unique to nxt-gen. The brief was to create the next generation of composite doors and all the feedback is that the range has delivered exactly that.

According to Distinction Doors, the composite door supplier has over 50% of the market share and confirms its position as the market leader. Chantel Roach, Sales and Marketing Director at Distinction Doors, comments: “We’re proud of what our company has achieved and we’re proud to support our customers in maximising the opportunities for their businesses.”

The company has around 80,000 doors in stock at any one time at its 86,000 sq foot headquarters in Yorkshire – 260% more than its nearest rival, it is claimed. Coupled with around 180,000 glazing cassettes and 45,000 triple glazed units, it’s an impressive offering that translates into rapid delivery and turnaround times.

Distinction says its Signature door

Marketing is equally impressive. The retail literature sells the Distinction difference clearly and stylishly while innovative features such as real RAL/BS colour swatches bring the door and its quality alive for homeowners. The company’s design boutique provides graphic design for promotional literature. And there’s a free bespoke door-designer tool that Distinction customers can use on their own websites and in their own sales processes. www.distinctiondoors.co.uk

Painted Doors In Five Days

DOORCO composite door manufacturer is delighted to announce the reduction in the lead times for painted doors from its UK facility, with one side painted doors now available in just five days.

“Colour makes up around 60% of our sales at DOORCO”, comments Jayne Sullivan, Operations Director at DOORCO. “With this level of demand comes complexity, as an increasing palette of colours are required by our customers as quickly as possible. As part of our strategic investment plan to ensure we remained responsive to our customers’ needs, in March this year we choose to invest in a purpose-built Turn-Key paint solution from Schubert’s. The Schubox® has provided DOORCO with a technologically advanced approach to supplying customers of all sizes with the highest quality,

consistent custom finishes. Both solvent and water-based substrates react well, so not only have we noticed significant improvements in quality, but the unique infra-red drying process has dramatically reduced drying times.

WINDOW NEWS NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017 51

DOOR SYTEMS

Lumi Door’s A Family

Favourite For Designer Paul It was an obvious choice for Apeer R&D engineer Paul Vajda to have one of the doors he helped to design for his own home near the company’s Ballymena factory recently. So it was just as natural, when his fatherin-law wanted a new front door, that Paul would recommend the company’s radical Lumi system.

The result, a striking combination of Lumi composite door with two full-height glazed sidelights in Chartwell Green exterior, with Winchester foil inside to complement the oak flooring, was obviously well-received as the customer is now looking to order matching Lumi windows.

Just as with the acclaimed

Lumi windows, the entire system, door frame and sash is made of glass-fibre reinforced profiles and is triple glazed as standard. As well as U-Values as low as 0.8 W/m²K, the Lumi door is exceptionally strong and of course every component, from windows, entrance doors, patio and bi-folds, is perfectly co-ordinated in the same iconic styling that has marked Lumi since its launch in 2015.

The door was fitted by Apeer’s own fitting team manager Gary Neil, who said: “The system was designed for easy retrofit installation as well as new-build and that proved to be the case here. Once the old door was out, the new one was in and

52 WINDOW NEWS NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017

complete in just a couple of hours.”

Apeer Marketing Manager Linda Tomb added: “The look of the finished door shows once again that the Lumi system is just as much at home in a traditional setting as in the contemporary it was initially designed for. We can’t wait to see how the whole house will look when it has the full set of Lumi windows to match.”

Lumi proved to be a show-stopper from day one when the radically different window system was unveiled at Grand Designs London in 2015.

Demand has grown exponentially since then and the system has been extended with the addition of patio and bi-fold doors as well as entrance doors, so now there is no installation, retrofit or new-build, that could not be completely fulfilled with Lumi. www.apeer.co.uk

DOOR SYSTEMS

Bowater By Birtley Achieves PAS1188 On Flood Door Following months of product development and rigorous tests, Bowater by Birtley is pleased to announce that it has achieved the much coveted PAS1188 test standard on its Flood composite door.

All products tested to PAS1188 are subject to an initial type test and the facility that manufactures the product is assessed for quality at the start of the process and then on an ongoing basis, typically once or twice a year.

“Bowater by Birtley is one of just two companies to hold PAS1188 on composite doors,” explains Kevin Kiernan of Bowater by Birtley. “We invested the time and money to get it right because we recognise the importance of being able to offer this product.

“Flooding is an increasingly relevant issue for homeowners in the UK and potentially devastating for those affected, not only in terms of damage to life and property, but also for insurance and resale ability. A recent study by the conservation charity WWF, reports that up to 2.5m homes will be at risk of flooding by 2050 if we

don’t start future-proofing now.

With the risk of being affected by floods growing, there is political consensus that investment in defences and sensible planning is essential. But how do homeown-

Eurocell Raises The Bar

With Lower Threshold As a part of its drive to continuously improve its systems, Eurocell – one of the UK’s leading manufacturer, distributor and recycler of PVC-U window, door, conservatory and roofline products – has introduced a new PVC-U low threshold for its Eurologik 70mm chamfered and ovolo doors that offers users an alternative to aluminium that will cut energy bills and improve comfort.

This threshold is superior to aluminium equivalents because it reduces cold bridging and is more thermally efficient. Using

ers know when they are buying a genuinely suitable flood defence door? They can only be sure if the door comes with certification and in this case the relevant certification is PAS1188.”

the PVC-U low threshold improves the U-value by roughly 0.1 W/m2k depending on the style and specification of the

Kevin continues: “The Bowater

by Birtley range of doors was brought to market to give fabricators, installers, housebuilders, specifiers and homeowners a wide choice of quality composite doors. We are already just one of a handful of companies to offer a double rebated 68mm composite door and now we are one of just two companies who will able to offer a fully certified Flood Defence door. This means that our customers can benefit from a complete range of doors with no gaps and no compromise, especially where it really matters.” www.bowaterbybirtley.co.uk door. Put another way, using the PVC-U threshold can boost the energy rating of a door by up to one energy band, over the aluminium equivalent.

This threshold has another advantage too: Eurocell has designed it so that it can be removed and replaced without removing the whole door if damaged.

Fully tested to BS 6375 and PAS 24 both on residential and French doors, the threshold complies with Part M of the Building Regulations (Access to and use of Buildings), which govern disabled access, when installed complete with a choice of specific ramps from the company. www.eurocell.co.uk

WINDOW NEWS NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017 53

DOOR SYTEMS

Industrial Services Group Is Impressed By nxt-gen’s Quality

High quality market-leading products are a core part of ISG’s offering. The company surveys, manufactures and installs PVC-U windows, doors, composite doors and curtain walling.

It claims to offer transparent pricing, a proactive approach and a commitment to customer satisfaction that means it has never lost a client due to poor performance.

Commercial fabricator and installer Industrial Services Group is one of the many businesses to start manufacturing Distinction Doors’ nxt-gen composite door.

And ISG’s General Manager Peter Keeley comments: “We’re impressed by the quality and aesthetics of nxt-gen. Plus because the fabrication programme is shorter, it is quicker to fabricate.”

The aesthetics are claimed to take composite doors to the next level thanks to features such as the unique glazing system that sits flush within its frame and has an internal glass retention bead to create a sleek, balanced finish. At the same time, the oak woodgrain skin that is retained from Distinction’s Signature door marks it out as a Distinction door.

The range also offers benefits to fabricators and installers because simple developments reduce waste, increase tooling yield and contribute to a reduced machin-

are specified in most of the tenders we receive and we’re proud to be able to supply the market leading product.”

Peter Keeley, General Manager at ISG

ing time of an average of two minutes per door, says Distinction.

ISG has been a customer of Distinction Doors for over ten years and manufactures between 40 and 70 composite doors per week for commercial clients up and down the country. Peter comments: “Composite doors

Allan Brothers Promises Strong

Margins And Kerb Appeal Allan Brothers is encouraging fabricators and installers, who want to differentiate themselves and offer retail buyers a new kind of kerb appeal, to take a look at its range of timber exterior doors.

With Scotdoor, Allan Brothers successfully debunks the many myths which surround the durability of timber exterior doors, and gives fabricators and installers the opportunity to add a stand out product to their ranges which offers strong and sustainable margins.

These doors come with a reassuring 30 year warranty on the timber and a 10 year warranty on the 54 WINDOW NEWS NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017

But perhaps the most noteworthy part of ISG’s offering is the fact it is a social enterprise set up to give unemployed disabled people a chance to train, develop and go on to achieve sustained employment in the wider world of work. Wholly owned by Bradford Council today, its roots – and its ethos – stretch back to the 1920s when it was set up by the Bradford Royal Institute for the Blind to support incapacitated service people returning from World War I into employment. www.distinctiondoors.co.uk weatherproof stains and paint finishes. They also boast impressive thermal and security performance with U-Values of between 1.0 to 1.2W/m²k and PAS24 accreditation.

There are 16 standard Scotdoor styles available – from traditional to contemporary and, because the doors are all handcrafted, buyers can customise any of these designs by changing the shape or size of any glazed panels or by changing the groove patterns.

They are supplied as complete, easy to install doorsets, including frame, door, glazing and hardware, and come fully factory finished in any water based RAL colour paint or one of four popular stains. allanbrothers.co.uk/trade

DOOR SYSTEMS

Making Sure Fire Doors

Are Up To The Job Astraseal Advances Fire

Door Range With New

Winkhaus FD60 FireFrame

A high specification, backed by third party testing and full accreditation, makes a life-changing difference when it comes to the effectiveness of fire doors.

Yet, despite the importance of their performance, fire doors are often first to be downgraded on a specification in order to cut costs. REHAU composite fire door partner Shepley, knows all about the importance of making sure fire doors are up to the job.

“Fire doors are the first line of defence in containing fire and smoke, so when it comes to an emergency, they mustn’t fail,” says Tony Ball, Sales Director at Shepley. “Testing and achieving BS 476 and BS EN 1634 accreditation, must be in place to ensure compliance with fire regulations and for the safety of occupants.

“As a REHAU composite fire door partner, we are one of a select number of fabricators who manufacture Agilia composite fire doors. In fact, we worked closely with REHAU to develop its global assessment accreditation which covers doors, as well as approved sidelights and toplights too. This testing is alongside BS 476 and BS EN

Astraseal has become the first fabricator in England to manufacture fire doors using FireFrame, the new, high-performance 60-minute fire door frame from Winkhaus.

1634 accreditation.

“It means all of our composite fire doors have been rigorously tested to make sure they are fire resistant and offer smoke control for at least 30 minutes. We also offer a high specification too. We use special fire glass for added insulation, with no Georgian wires, and there’s the option for Astra concealed fire door closers, which meet fire regulations and accessibility requirements.”

As well as being tested to the necessary accreditation for fire safety, Shepley’s composite fire doors achieve PAS 24 and Secured by Design to provide tough security for homes.

There’s also a number of design options including colours and door style to choose from.

“With the profile of fire safety nationally at the moment, the message about specifying high quality fire doors, couldn’t be more important,” adds Tony.

“We have taken extra care to make sure our fire doors are up to the job, to give installers and occupants peace of mind.” www.shepley.com

The new FireFrame provides a superior solution compared to its traditional hardwood and uPVC counterparts claims Astraseal. The new frame, which offers stylish slim internal sightlines, will be paired with both Astraseal’s uPVC door set from REHAU and their composite door slab from Distinction.

“For us, it was a no-brainer to switch to the Winkhaus FireFrame,” comments Zac Nedimovic, Astraseal’s Sales and Marketing Manager. “The FireFrame is a smart, high-performance solution which for us is easier to fabricate and is more cost-effective, allowing us to reduce our lead times, deliver competitive prices and ensure the fast turnaround our customers come to expect.”

“It’s no secret with the tragedy of Grenfell Tower that everyone is questioning their fire rated products and looking for something that they can assure their customers is of first-class quality. Upgrading to Winkhaus’s FireFrame strengthens our FD60 offering and ensures our door range not only complies with FIRAS assessment for both FD30 and FD60 but also with Approved Document Q and PAS24.” www.astraseal.co.uk

WINDOW NEWS NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017 55

DOOR SYTEMS

Üni_Slide

2.2m wide, and doors can be assembled in an unlimited run of units. The results are stunning, particularly since the system also delivers sightlines as slim as 20mm.

Heads West For Prestigious

In Cornwall, Üni_Slide ’s floorto-ceiling glass panes were used to maximum effect in Stan Bolt’s luxurious design, enhancing the magnificent sea views afforded by the property’s ultra-desirable beachside location.

Fenster Fabrication’s bestin-class sliding door product Üni_Slide has been used as part of a high-end residential development in Sennen, Cornwall. The project is a collaboration between esteemed Brixham-based architect Stan Bolt and noted interior designer Jill Stein.

“We’re always pleased when Üni_Slide gets specified,” said the Üni_Slide team. “But we were absolutely delighted to have it incorporated in as stunning a development at this one. Personally, I’m a huge fan of Stan Bolt and his work, and it’s an honour and a pleasure to have played a part in one of his projects.”

Sennen Project

Üni_Slide is a premium-qual-

ity aluminium sliding door system, designed to balance sleek, stylish looks with exceptional all-round performance – while still coming in significantly less expensive than similar products on the market. It’s capable of achieving some impressive dimensions, having passed a security weather test of 2400 Pa on a door sash 3m tall and

56 WINDOW NEWS NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017

DOOR SYSTEMS

“Üni_Slide makes a fantastic addition to any residential development. As this project demonstrates perfectly, the uninterrupted views it can offer makes it an ideal choice for picturesque locations – it’s proving unsurprisingly popular across the south coast for that reason. It can offer a sense of sleek luxury to any architectural development, and, for installers, it’s an excellent way of appealing to the lucrative high-end of the market.”

“We’ve had a great response to our search for Üni_Slide installation partners so far – but we’re still looking for exceptional installers, dedicated to quality products and fantastic customer service, to join the network. If you think your business fits the bill, don’t hesitate to get in touch!” www.fensteruk.net

WINDOW NEWS NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017 57

DOOR SYTEMS

Low-sightlines The New aluplast Lift-and-Slide

aluplast Lift-and-Slide system can accommodate glazing units of up to 51mm to deliver u-values as low as 0.65 W/m2K, meeting Passive Haus standards.

Delivering manufacturing time efficiencies of up to 40% over comparable systems, the aluplast Lift-and-Side employs proven easy-lift technology, effortlessly opening and closing with the lightest of touches.

It’s also available in aluskin, aluplast’s proven external aluminium facing technology. This uses an innovative ‘click-and-fix’ system to allow PVC-U fabricators to manufacture an aluminium-clad PVC-U casement window without the requirement for specialist equipment – opening-up access to new market sectors.

In addition to the aluplast Lift-andSlide door, aluskin is also available on aluplast’s new Ideal 4000 casement window.

aluplast has added a new low-sightline fixed sash profile to its ultra-energy efficient Lift-andSlide door, delivering increased design flexibility and end-user appeal.

Unveiled at this year’s FIT Show, the aluplast Lift-and-Slide, combines reduced manufacturing times, Passive Haus equivalent standard thermal efficiency and modular aluskin aluminium external cladding options.

The German systems house, has now expanded this UK offering with the launch of a new low-sightline option on the fixed sash of just 32mm, maximising the glazed area of the door.

Ian Cocken, Director of Sales and Marketing, aluplast, said: “The aluplast Lift-and-Slide door is about end-user appeal. It’s not a product that homeowners purchase because they need to. The soft touch lift-and-slide mechanism, the aluminium finish options combined with 27 foil colour options – this is an interiror designers dream product. It’s about aspira-

tional appeal.

Adding an ultra-low sightline on the fixed sash creates an almost seamless connection between inside and outdoor spaces and that sense of additional exclusivity.

The minute end-users come into contact and get up close to this product, they want it.

“Also offering considerable manufacturing and installation efficiencies, the aluplast Lift-and-Slide is a really high margin opportunity for fabricators and installers.”

Capable of spanning openings of 6.5m X 2.8m, the modular 85mm

58 WINDOW NEWS NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017

This modular approach and the scalability of its new Lift-and-Slide system is, according to Cocken, a key advantage. “You can take the aluplast Lift-and-Slide from its still high-end but standard specification in PVC-U and build on that.

The aluplast Lift-and-Slide is just like a quality German car, you start with the basic model and then add what your customer wants to achieve all the way up to aluskin and Passiv.

“This includes the addition of foils, including flat grey finishes on grey substrate to an aluminium finish or from entry level U-values of 1.6 W/ m2K all the way through to 0.65 W/m2K with very low levels of stock-holding.”

He added: “At a point of retail that’s also a real advantage because as an installation business you can price according to budget and generate opportunities to upsell product and increase margin.” www.aluplast.co.uk.

DOOR SYSTEMS

Aluminium

Bifold Doors,

Ready In Just 2

Weeks From

Frame Fast UK

Cor-Vision Plus Takes Centre Stage Alumen Ltd’s recently launched sliding aluminium door set, Cor-Vision Plus, is set to take centre stage in their brand-new showroom, following their recent expansion to a new 15,000ft2 facility in Kettering.

“The Cor-Vision Plus offers 94% glass area with only 25mm sightlines. It is a real game changer and why we have chosen it to be centrepiece of our new showroom,” comments Alan Robinson, Alumen’s MD. “We recently moved to a new facility in Kettering, which not only offers increased fabricating space to keep up with demand, but also a larger showroom facility where we will be showcasing the wide product range we offer, including Cortizo, Schueco and Smarts.

“The Cor-Vision Plus is the first system we are fabricating from the Spanish aluminium giants Cortizo, and we’re one of the first fabricators to launch to the UK market.

There is little else on the market to rival this product, which has been designed to offer uninterrupted, expansive glass areas thanks to its incredibly slim sightlines. Its innovative inlaid frame design, coupled with ultra-slim sash profiles, means that the visible profile on an installed doorset is just 25mm when

closed – and when open, its innovative inlaid pocket frame means that there’s zero threshold.

“While its ultra-slim design is the headline feature, everything about it has been put together with practicality in mind. Available with maximum sash sizes up to four metres width and height, with two, three of four sash options, it can be used in apertures up to 16 metres wide by 4 metres high.

This means a large and heavy doorset but not an issue for the Cor-Vision Plus – the rollers are in the frame, while the sashes have stainless steel reinforced channels.

This makes operation incredibly smooth and easy, and thus, sashes up to 400kg can be manually operated, while any sash up to 700kg can be motorised.

“Sashes can be fixed or sliding, on twin or triple tracks. It can handle double or triple glazed IGUs up to 54mm thick, allowing U-values of down to 0.9 and acoustic insulation of up to 43 dBA. “Why not come and see the Cor-Vision Plus for yourself? We will be holding an Open Day on 24th November, but the showroom is open 7 days a week. email: info@alumen.co.uk www.alumen.co.uk

Award winning manufacturer Frame Fast UK, now offers aluminium bifold doors in just two weeks.

“Installers are ordering more and more bifold doors,” says Nigel Leivers, Director at Frame Fast UK. “Whether it’s for a conservatory, an extension or a commercial project, we know they need them fast. We have made from ordering to site, quick and easy. With fast quote turnaround, including an online bifold door designer, to reliable processing of orders, it only takes from two weeks to get a bifold door from Frame Fast.”

Frame Fast, celebrating its 20th year in 2017, manufactures aluminium bifold doors in its Derby factory. With modern, slimline frames, wide openings up to 7 panels and an ultra-low threshold option, its bifold doors can meet any project requirement. Frame Fast is offering white bifold doors with warm-edge glass units as standard, in two weeks.

Nigel adds: “This is just the start.

We will be offering more colours on a 2-week turnaround very soon.

This will give installers even more options, to complete projects really fast, for domestic and commercial projects. For made-to-order bifolds, we can do any RAL colour with dual option available.” www.framefastuk.com

WINDOW NEWS NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017 59

DOOR SYTEMS

ly, with the new heavy duty compact rollers offering a heavier maximum sash weight of 150kg as standard. It also boasts class leading thermal performance, thanks to U-Values of 1.3W/m²K with a double glazed unit, and just 0.7W/m²K when triple glazed.

Aluk Officially

Launches New F82 Bi-Fold After it made such a huge impact when it was previewed at the FIT Show, the door which AluK says will become the new benchmark in the bi-fold market has officially been launched.

The Luminia F82 bi-fold is the flagship product in AluK’s premium Luminia range, and is now available exclusively from a network of Luminia Select Partners across the UK. Targeted directly at the higher end of the market where demand is buoyant and still growing, it has all the aesthetics and performance features needed to justify a premium price with strong and sustainable margins.

The F82 ticks every box for the homeowner and developer offering contemporary slim sightlines, effortlessly smooth operation, stylish hardware and low U-Values.

Crucially, AluK says that it also allows installers to differentiate their product offering from both the me-too doors in the mass aluminium bi-fold market and the

less streamlined alternatives.

The F82 has slimmer sightlines than other doors available, but more importantly offers bigger expanses of glazing, thanks to slim, symmetrical sightlines on the frame, cill and jamb of only 97mm.

ALUK38 Close up of the pop up T-handle on the new AluK F82 bi-foldThe contemporary look created by these uniform sightlines extends to the bespoke flush hardware designed and developed just for this door. This includes a new flush pop up T-handle, unique to AluK, which removes the need to add unsightly surface mounted door handles.

There is also a flush handle for the traffic door, and specially designed, heavy duty rollers which deliver effortless operation. The F82 has achieved PAS24 accreditation at 2600mm wide, meaning that it can be installed in new build properties where Approved Document Q is required.

AluK has ensured that the door always opens and closes smooth-

60 WINDOW NEWS NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017

All of the configurations in the F82 are available as open in or open out doors, and in double and single door options to ensure a suited offering for the homeowner. It is available from stock in four standard single and dual colours – grey, white, brown and black.

Further popular RAL colours are available to order, with the additional option of custom RAL colours if required.

The F82 has been deliberately designed to be quicker and easier to fabricate, with fewer separate profiles, a single gasket requirement and only two types of corner moulding. It also therefore more cost effective to install, requiring less preparation and less time on site.

AluK’s Managing Director Russell Yates, says: “We’ve been inundated with enquiries for this door since the FIT Show – not just from our own customers but also from retail buyers and commercial specifiers. We know from the response that it offers a unique combination of style, performance and security, and that there are buyers waiting and eager to buy.

“We’re delighted to have 15 of the UK’s best known and most highly regarded aluminium fabricators already lined up in our new Luminia Select Partner network to start fabricating the door for us, and we are working closely with them to give trade buyers all the sales and marketing support that they need.”

Further details on the new F82 are available www.aluk.co.uk

DOOR SYSTEMS

P C Henderson

Evolve With Automation Sliding and folding door hardware manufacturer, P C Henderson, is pleased to announce the launch of its new and improved Evolve range for internal automated straight sliding doors for residential and light commercial applications.

Evolve now takes advantage of P C Henderson’s renowned Soltaire product which is known in the market for its exceptionally smooth and reliable operation. To complement the qualities of Soltaire, a quieter operating motor has been paired with Evolve to create a more sophisticated and reliable offering to the market.

Technology is changing the way we live our lives and consequently has an impact the design and functionality of our homes and places of work. Smart home technology aims to make your living

space more comfortable, convenient and adaptable. Evolve has been designed to support this movement as a step towards achieving a responsive home.

Evolve has been designed with flexibility in mind, can be soffit or face fixed and has a number of key safety features such as obstacle detection and a safe low voltage operation, in addition to this the doors also work as standard sliding doors in the event of a power failure.

Available to order now, the system is suppled in a variety of kits for wooden and glass doors weighing up to 80kg. Options include straight sliding and bi-parting models with simultaneous action and are supplied with two wall mounted ‘push and go’ control panels as standard. To further enhance the range a selection of

sensors and remote controls are available as optional extras.

Fergus Pickard, Product Development Director at P C Henderson, comments: “P C Henderson are delighted to release our new and improved Evolve automation range to the market. As a company we are committed to continuous improvement and product development to ensure that the market has a range of fit for purpose products that take advantage of new technologies and processes”.

Evolve has proved to be popular with residential and light commercial applications such as care homes as it allows for free unrestricted access around a building. Doors open wide enough to allow those in need of walking aids to pass freely and independently from one area to another.

To find out more about what P C Henderson has to offer, visit www.pchenderson.com or email hello@pchenderson.co.uk

WINDOW NEWS NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017 61

PRODUCT NEWS

Kick Traditional Ball Bearing Hinges

Into Touch With

Coastal’s New

High Performance

HQ And HY Hinges

The traditional problems of unsightly rust and leaking oil associated with ball bearing hinges are a thing of the past thanks to the launch of the new high performance HQ and HY hinges from hardware specialist Coastal Group.

Manufactured from 316 Marine Grade stainless steel, the new bluTM hinges won’t rust, leak or need regular maintenance – unlike traditional ball bearing hinges.

They are also the only hinges on the market manufactured from 316 Marine Grade Stainless Steel that are available in 4 finishes* – super-satin steel, polished steel, PVD brass and black, claims the company.

The perfect solution for properties in exposed or coastal locations where there is a high salt, corrosive environment or where acidic timber is used, the new hinges are self-lubricating with oil-free washers.

There is also no leaf play ensuring an accurate and consistent fit.

Featuring clean lines and slim knuckles, the HY3 hinge also features a new ‘hole pattern’ based on customer feedback. Available in square or radius corners the new hinges also have a 3mm gap for enhanced aesthetics. sales@coastal-group.com

Mila Adds Yale Conexis L1™

To Product Line Up

Mila has added the Yale Conexis L1™ Smart Lock to its range, adding the legendary Mila stock availability and exceptional customer service to the innovative features of the product.

Mila’s Head of Sales Vicki Sanders says the company is responding to demand from fabricators and installers who are keen to make the most of growing consumer interest in smart homes and smart technology: “Products like Conexis L1™ are becoming increasingly mainstream, and it’s no longer just tech savvy Millennials who are embracing the kind of convenience and control they offer.

“The Conexis L1™ has had the backing of TV advertising and a widespread media campaign, and some of our customers tell us that consumers have even been asking for it by name.”

The Conexis L1™ allows users to lock and unlock their door using their smartphone and a free App. For a family or group of sharers, it comes with the option of using the phone itself to unlock the door

62 WINDOW NEWS NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017

(just by twisting it 90 degrees) or a choice of key tag, key card or phone tag.

It comes with the reassurance of a secure push and turn thumbturn feature, and a 9V battery connection port just in case the batteries should run flat.

The door lock itself meets the security requirements of PAS24 and is compatible with the vast majority of multi-point door locks in the Mila range. Mila’s expert customer service team can advise customers on compatibility and fitting and can give sales and marketing support to customers.

Vicki Sanders adds: “More than half of the products Mila supplies in the UK are now designed in house and manufactured exclusively for us. However, we remain committed to supplying key product ranges from the likes of Yale and Siegenia with the same guarantees of on time in full availability and next day delivery which we make on all our own products.”

Further details are available at: www.mila.co.uk

PRODUCT NEWS

Kenrick Develops Bespoke

Shootbolt For Garrard Windows ing homeowner demand for enhanced security products, the new locking system incorporates a unique heavy-duty shootbolt, which is twice as thick as a standard shootbolt. The Excalibur Heavy Duty Shootbolt, which is totally exclusive to Garrard Windows, is Secured by Design approved and one of the most secure multi point window locking systems in its class.

Every one of the 3,000 windows that Garrard Windows fabricates from Liniar profile each week is equipped with a Kenrick system and the majority are now fitted with this new shootbolt.

Kenrick has created a bespoke multipoint window locking system for Garrard Windows – one of the UK’s largest trade fabricators.

Developed in response to grow-

The fitter-friendly shootbolt features a robust unhanded die-cast gearbox and bi-directional diecast claws to ensure it provides exceptional security and reliability.

The centre keep of the claws has been branded with Garrard Win-

dows’ ‘Vevo’ logo.

Steve Leek, Garrard Windows’ managing director, said: “We’ve enjoyed a long and prosperous partnership with Kenrick, during which the company has kept pace with our growth and introduced a number of new products to the range. The team at Kenrick developed this new shootbolt to meet our customer needs. It carries all the hallmarks of quality and security and is now the most popular system we use.

Steve Williams, Kenrick’s sales and marketing director, added: “We’re very pleased to show off our enviable new product development abilities and create a product that Garrard Windows’ customers clearly want. It marks our commitment to serve fabricators and develop leading-edge products that cater for individual requirements. We’re looking forward to continuing our long relationship with Garrard and supporting the business as it continues to grow.” www.kenricks.co.uk

Conexis L1 Strengthens SmartSecure’s

Retrofit Remit Carl F Groupco has added the Conexis L1 – a Smart Keyless Locking Handle, to its SmartSecure range of electronic door locking and Smart access control solutions. Ideally suited for retrofit installations, the addition to the company’s portfolio enhances its range of Smart options and increases its Smart Tech offer.

New markets for SmartSecure are opened up as any 92mm PZ door lock can easily be upgraded to incorporate the system, whether this is a retrofit or new door.

The Conexis L1 joins the SmartSecure brand’s established

screwdriver and Smartphone, is engineered for ease of installation. Carl F Groupco is confident that the system will support Smart Tech take up. The Conexis L1 allows operation of the door lock through a number of access control methods including key cards, key tags, phone tags and an app.

FUHR multitronic 881 lock technology and access control options, which include the sensor based ‘SmartTouch comfort’ and radio based access control solutions.

All SmartSecure variants are designed to be easy-to-fit and the Conexis L1, which can be fitted in just 20 minutes using a

Technical support is seen as Carl F Groupco’s key strength in supporting the Conexis L1 – easyto-access experts who provide straightforward advice are seen as essential in supporting the introduction of the product to the company’s portfolio. www.carlfgroupco.co.uk www.smartsecure.co.uk

WINDOW NEWS NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017 63

PRODUCT NEWS

Thomasson Court, the communal entrance doors were changed because the existing doors were coming to the end of their useful lives and repair costs were rising; ‘therefore a change was needed to ensure there was not a total failure of a door’.

The main requirements when selecting the new doors were straightforward; the doors had be very secure, look secure and also be interoperable with electronic access systems so that secure fobs could be used instead of traditional keys.

Winkhaus AV2-E Automatic Locks Provide ‘Peace Of Mind’ For Residents Eight Winkhaus AV2-E automatic locks are providing uprated security with ‘peace of mind’ and added convenience for residents of a Bolton luxury apartment complex where new composite entrance doors have been installed.

The new Solidor Milano composite doors were installed by Winkhaus customer Fenster Trade Frames at the Thomasson Court Apartments.

Replacing original timber doors that were rotting and insecure, the new ones are finished in Anthracite Grey with 1,800mm brushed stainless steel pull bar handles and Stipolyte/Obscure glass.

Andy Dempsey, Fenster Trade Frames Managing Director says they specified the Winkhaus

Thomasson Court Apartments, as the slam- shut capability ensures the door is very secure, yet it can be electronically opened using the key fobs, touch free pads and the intercom. This provides excellent convenience in a communal property,” says Andy.

Key factors for the project’s success, he says, were careful pre-planning and liaison with Thomasson Court’s management team on when and where the eight doors would be installed. The whole project went smoothly and was completed in five days, giving everyone ‘peace of mind’.

AV2-E locks ‘because we have used them for several years now and are really happy with the product’.

Andy adds: “The Director insisted on the better security provided by a Solidor composite door and Winkhaus lock as they were aware of the products’ performance on homes within his family. Low maintenance was an additional benefit they had recognised too.”

“This type of lock worked well for

For Anoop Seera, a Director of

64 WINDOW NEWS NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017

He adds: “The selection of Solidor was therefore a relatively simple one as Fenster know Solidor products well and I chose Fenster as they were able to assure me that the vision I had for Thomasson Court could be realised, which ultimately has happened.”

According to Mike Rushen, Winkhaus UK’s National Sales Manager, the versatility of the AV2-E lock offers a range of benefits for both door fabricators and their customers.

Mike continues: “Door fabricators have been confidently using our original autoLock AV2 & blueMatic AV2-E locks for a number of years. The AV2 range is extremely adaptable; it can be specified with several faceplate and backset options. It is also available with or without a deadbolt to suit both residential and communal entrance doors.”

Winkhaus autolocks are suitable for all types of doors – from PVC-U, to timber, aluminium and composite materials. Mike adds: “This level of flexibility and breadth of application is unique in the marketplace for an automatic multi-point locking system – and, of course, is the result of enormous investment!” www.winkhaus.co.uk, email marketing@winkhaus.co.uk.

PRODUCT NEWS

Yale Launches Flush Sash Shootbolt riety of manufacturing and stocking preferences.”

Along with chamfered security shootbolts, the new Shootbolt variant features a secondary cam.

This addition allows for the ‘night vent’ position which enables the window to be partially opened but still locked via the window handle.

This position offers a means of ventilation and can improve the air quality in a home but should only be used when someone is inside the property as the lock is more secure when fully closed.

The security specialists at Yale have launched a new Shootbolt lock to fit modern flush sash systems that offers the usual security credentials you would expect from Yale, with the additional convenience of a night vent facility.

Paul Atkinson, Sales and Commercial Director for Yale, comments: “The developing UK fenestration market has seen huge growth in flush sash systems offering both a traditional and contemporary aesthetics. We have enhanced our proven Shootbolt range with a lock to suit flush sash systems, allowing homeowners to achieve the look they desire, without compromising on security.

“The Yale Shootbolt system has variants suitable for flush sash and French casement, as well as standard casement styles of window. The new Shootbolt Flush Sash Window Lock is available with a choice of cropping and non-cropping variants to suit a va-

Manufactured to the highest specifications and complying with British security standards, the Yale Shootbolt Flush Sash Window Lock delivers superior security performance; safeguarding homes from intruders. It also helps to protect against the elements by delivering optimal levels of weather-proofing, which is aided by the compression adjustable cams.

The lock is Secured by Design accredited, PAS 24: 2016 compliant and backed by Yale’s 10-year mechanical guarantee – providing ultimate peace of mind to homeowners.

Windows fitted with a Yale Shootbolt on flush sash as part of a Yale PAS 24 specification are also protected by Yale’s ‘Lifetime Security Guarantee*’ which allows fabricators and installers to take advantage of Yale’s reputation for excellence with the consumer.

For further information on the Shootbolt Flush Sash Window Lock or the rest of the Yale range, please visit www.yaledoorandwindowsolutions.co.uk or alternatively call 01902 366800.

Tommafold Bifold Door Gear Now

Available In Black Finish Tommafold is a unique, patented folding door system, providing all the components required to create a premium result for bi-fold doors.

The system is often used to open out a room, offering increased light during summer months joining inside space with outside living. Tommafold, predominantly working with timber frames can also be used to create inside room divisions in homes or hotels.

Tommafold bi-fold door gear is now also available in a black finish, this is a stainless steel product with an electro-coating, giving the product a solid black appearance and making it extremely resistant to corrosion.

Daniel Wells, Sales Director at Runners Sliding Systems commented “ We are very excited to launch this black bi-fold door gear, it’s especially well-suited for properties that have black ironmongery on their windows and doors, allowing their bi-fold door gear to be in keeping with their current style”.

Tommafold allows doors to open up to 1000mm wide and carry a weight of up to 100kg per panel, it is extraordinarily robust and secure, with heavy duty precise hinges tested to over 200,000 cycles. www.tommafold.com

WINDOW NEWS NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017 65

PRODUCT NEWS

versatility. Projects in contemporary settings benefit from its simple, clean lines while projects in heritage locations benefit from features such as the elegant glazing bars. And wherever the window is used the project will benefit from the quality and attention to detail of a Swish window.

The common Swish platform means installers can use beads from other systems to enable 24,28 and 32mm glazing for greater flexibility.

Security is assured because the window meets Secured by Design standards.

The Impressions colour range includes timeless and traditional shades and woodgrain effects as well as accent colours and on-trend shades. Dual colour options are available.

Ten of the most popular shades (covering 88% of colour sales) are stock colours and there is no minimum order quantity on its non-stock colours, making colour accessible and appealing.

The Swish Flush

Casement Window Offers Stylish Versatility The Swish Flush Casement Window offers quintessentially British style. It has the trademark aesthetics of the traditional nineteenth century window, but as Gerald Allen, Swish’s Marketing Manager points out, it isn’t only period homes that benefit from its charming aesthetics.

“Thanks to its understated simplicity, the Flush Casement Window is a design that has stood the test of time. For that reason, it’s just as at home in a contemporary modern home as it is a heritage setting.”

As Gerald says, the Flush Casement Window offers impressive

66 WINDOW NEWS NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017

The window may have classic looks but it has 21st century thermal efficiency. It can easily achieve A+ ratings. And, where exceptional levels of insulation are required, triple glazed frames can deliver a U-value of just 1.2.

The company claims that when an installer works with Swish, he also benefits from the credentials that come with a brand that’s recognised by 7 out of 10 consumers. Added to which there’s the advantage of exceptional support and Excellence as Standard, Swish’s new membership programme, which aims to drive and promote excellence at every level of member businesses. www.swishwindows.co.uk

PRODUCT NEWS

Deceuninck Offers Aluminium Alternative Universal Trade

Frames’ Flush

Casement False Vent Passes PAS 24 Security Test Hot on the heels of the announcement of its new grey substrate, Deceuninck UK has revealed a Smooth Matt Anthracite foil that along with its grey substrate provides a very real alternative to aluminium, says the company.

“Aluminium windows and doors continue to see growth as the trend for sleek grey windows remains,” says Chris Jones, Head of Sales at Deceuninck. “However, when given the choice, when the aesthetics are like for like, people would still rather have PVC-U in their homes. They prefer the warmer feel of the material, the improved thermal efficiencies and of course the lower cost. Until now though, the PVC-U market hasn’t had anything that can really sit alongside aluminium as a real alternative.

“Along with our new grey substrate, this new smooth matt

anthracite foil offers all the benefits of PVC-U but with the sleek, smooth look of aluminium. Our customers are already leading the way with colour but this combination is another game changer for them. In anticipation of the popularity of this new product, the smooth matt anthracite foil on grey substrate will also be part of our colour range in stock, so homeowners that want these windows, won’t have to wait for them.

“We do things differently at Deceuninck so that our customers can make the most of market opportunities. This latest product development is the perfect example of how we continuously invest to ensure we’re delivering the right products at the right time on behalf of our customers.”

For more information contact Deceuninck on 01249 816 969 or visit www.deceuninck.co.uk

Universal Trade Frames’ Flush Casement Window has achieved the PAS 24:2016 accreditation and has passed Parts 1 and 2 of BS 6375 which cover weathertightness and operation and strength. What’s more, not only did the standard window pass the tests, the versions with night vent locking and dummy vents achieved the same results as well.

Universal Trade Frames’ Managing Director Brian Kruger said: “The false sash is typically the weakest part of a flush casement when it comes to security and weathering, so it’s usual to rely on the cascade testing method and assume accreditation without testing. Universal’s Spectus Flush Casement Window is different and we were so confident in its abilities we did not hesitate to send it for testing. We are delighted to have been proved right and we believe we have one of the only flush casement windows in the industry that has fully accredited PAS 24 2016 flush casement dummy vent certification.”

WINDOW NEWS NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017 67

PRODUCT NEWS

Optima, What Your

Customers Want

PVCu is still number one when it comes to installers’ businesses. That’s why Yorkshire manufacturer, Kingfisher Windows, offers the Optima window range, the next generation of PVCu windows.

“Optima comes in a range of colours including popular choices like Anthracite Grey, Cream and Chartwell Green in single or dual colour,” adds Deborah. “On top of this, we offer stained glass, leaded glass and special glass types including self-cleaning, so installers can give their customers, exactly what they want.”

“Optima is not just another white window,” says Deborah Beeley, Sales and Marketing Manager at Kingfisher Windows. “With its superior look and performance, it’s what homeowners want.

“It has a slimline design and comes in a huge choice of colours, it really takes PVCu windows to the next level and these benefits are why we offer

all-round performance. Available in casement, French casement and tilt & turn, its casement profile has a 6-chamber outer frame and 5-chamber inner frame for superior thermal performance. It’s been tested to PAS 24 standards and Secured by Design accreditation.

it in flush sash and sculptured as standard, on delivery from just 10 days.”

Optima is designed for better

To download Kingfisher Window’s new PVCu window, door and conservatory brochure, visit, www.kingfisherwindows.co.uk

WarmCore SV Achieves PAS 24:2016

Synseal Group’s slimline WarmCore window range now comes with the latest PAS 24 accreditation and is available in both bar length and fully manufactured alongside the wider WarmCore range.

The WarmCore SV (slim vent) window has successfully been tested to meet the requirements of PAS 24:2016. This enhanced security standard means that the product also meets the requirements of Approved Document Q and Secured by Design.

The slim vent window, which is available as both a standard and flush casement, is 18% slimmer than the standard WarmCore casement window and offers the advantage of reduced sightlines but with the same impressive U-values of 1.3W/m²K double glazed and just 0.8 W/m²K with triple glazing.

Phil Parry, Head of R&D at Synseal Group, said: “The WarmCore SV window now joins the rest of the WarmCore window range in achieving PAS 24 accreditation.

This means we can offer our customers a comprehensive suite of windows in standard or slim vent, as both conventional and flush casement, in addition to our tilt & turn window offer.

“We designed the WarmCore

68 WINDOW NEWS NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017

SV window to have the optimal balance of slim sightlines without compromising the thermal benefits that WarmCore customers expect – all available at the same price as our standard sized sash. Customer response to the slimmer product has been overwhelmingly positive and we’re looking forward to seeing the SV window become more highly specified in commercial and new build developments now it has achieved PAS 24 and Secured by Design status.

“Now that we are also manufacturing WarmCore SV in-house, we will be able to offer the product to our fabricator customers who don’t have the capacity to manufacture themselves, but are reliant on a consistent supply chain of our WarmCore products to meet growing demand for thermally efficient aluminium products.” www.synseal.com

PRODUCT NEWS The unique selling point of the ETL weld, is that it retains the external appearance of a mechanically jointed frame. This is formed by a special machining process to the ends of the sash profiles prior to welding. The resulting internal corner has a welded mitre that is pinched tight to form a 0.5mm seam which is almost invisible.

Climatec Director Steve Barker says “Those familiar with the Residence Collection will be aware that to maintain its integrity the glazing has to be bonded into the sash frame, therefore all frames are supplied fully factory glazed. The main disadvantages with this process is that the frames are very heavy to lift, and to replace the glass, if broken, invariably involves replacing the whole sash frame”.

Welcome To

Our Weld

It’s here, it’s new and as one of the first UK Companies to introduce it, it’s big news for Essex based fabricator Climatec Windows. Climatec’s new ETL welding process now means they can offer the popular R9 and Deceuninck Flush Sash windows unglazed. And whilst they may not be one of the giants in the industry, Climatec pride themselves in being at the forefront when it comes to embracing new production methods and tech-

nology.

The “External Timber Look” (ETL) weld is an ingenious method of joining frames at the corners. Climatec began researching the technology associated with this new method of welding 9 months prior to this year’s FIT show, and as an exhibitor were subsequently able to offer a sneak preview to visitors; the feedback received was extremely encouraging.

Climatec are able to offer a wider choice of options than anyone else when it comes to Flush Casements. The biggest advantage being the ability to offer this range of products unglazed without the need for them to be supplied fully glazed with the glazing bonded in place. They are also able to offer the acclaimed Deceuninck flush casement as an option for the mainstream market as this is also available with the ETL Welded joint.

The Climatec Group will celebrate its 25th year in the window and door industry next year and throughout that time they have had continued success using the company ethos of ‘continuous development and improvement’.

You only need to take a look at their ever expanding portfolio of products and their loyal customer base for confirmation of this.

For more information on the ETL welds, the Flush Sash products or to discuss the many other products Climatec can offer, www.climatec-windows.co.uk

WINDOW NEWS NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017 69

PRODUCT NEWS

Create Your Own Inspiration Board Using Guardian’s New Online Portfolio Of Glass

Projects For Architects, Designers And Cladders Guardian Glass is launching “Guardian Inspiration,” an online portfolio of projects that use Guardian glass. The intent of the portfolio is to inform and inspire architects, designers, cladders – and the glass community as a whole – to the endless possibilities of glass in building design and construction.

The Guardian Inspiration e-platform allows users to create “mood boards” or “inspiration boards” of glass projects that inspire them. These boards can help users gather ideas and creative inspiration for their next building project.

The online platform showcases stunning visuals of building projects and includes descriptive design and performance

characteristics. A variety of useful features and functions allow users to quickly and

70 WINDOW NEWS NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017

easily share their favourite projects and mood boards with business partners and colleagues across a variety of social media platforms. Projects can be searched using three filters: Aesthetics, Performance or Country.

Volodymyr Shkurenko, Fenestration Segment Manager at Guardian Glass Europe, comments: “This tool is part of our effort to create an extraordinary customer experience. With our new online portfolio, architects, designers and cladders can browse through our glass projects and be inspired by what they see. We want to help stretch their imagination, help them see what’s possible® in terms of glass by allowing them to create their very own mood boards and sharing these with their work colleagues and business partners.”

To be inspired, visit: www. guardian-inspiration.com.

PRODUCT NEWS

Pilkington Launches Two New Textured Glass Patterns

The new products, Pilkington Cassini™ and Pilkington Tribal™, add to the manufacturer’s existing texture glass range, which helps homeowners maintain privacy and security while adding style to windows and doors, partitions, dividers, splash-backs and cupboards.

Ian Bateson, specialist in hand-etching, said: “Hand-etching is a dying art in this country, with so many patterns relying on computer aided design these days.

I’ve been helping create textured glass with Pilkington for over 40 years and I’m proud that this traditional, hand-drawn method is still making its way into the manufacturing of new products.”

Leo Pyrah, texture glass product manager at Pilkington, added: “Working with leading trend forecasters, we’ve created two new contemporary and stylish patterns that complement our existing range.

Click the picture above to play the video

Pilkington United Kingdom Limited, part of the NSG Group, has launched two new patterns to its popular Pilkington Texture Glass range.

hand-engraving methods when creating the roller to produce a modern patterned glass that’s steeped in history.

Pilkington Cassini™ features fine line detail that offers a multi-layered effect, resulting in a modern design influenced by the mosaics of Barcelona. It’s achieved by engraving the roller, which marks the pattern onto the glass during the manufacturing process, using cutting-edge technology.

In contrast, Pilkington Tribal™ has a hand-drawn finish inspired by Aztec patterns. To achieve this look, Pilkington used traditional

“The new products will help to capture demand from homeowners, who are increasingly looking for ways to create more privacy while still maintaining a pleasing aesthetic and functionality for home interiors.”

Pilkington Texture Glass offers 21 different designs ranging from traditional to contemporary, allowing maximum light in while maintaining a chosen level of privacy or obscuration.

New Solar Control Glass From Guardian Glass

Guardian Glass has extended its SunGuard® SuperNeutralTM (SN) range of high performance solar control glass with a product that provides the highest light transmission in the portfolio.

Guardian SunGuard SN 75 HT and SN 75 Ultra HT offers, respectively, a light transmission of 75% and 76%, which is 5% and 6% higher than other coated glass products from the Guardian SunGuard SuperNeutral range. This high light transmission supports building owners, architects and designers in their effort to effectively introduce more natural daylighting into their projects.

SunGuard SN 75 HT is also aesthetically appealing with its highly desirable, consistent, neutral appearance and low level of outside reflection. Coulour

neutrality of SunGuard SN 75 Ultra HT is particularly high as it is produced on Guardian UltraClearTM lowiron glass, providing a much more neutral tone when viewed from both inside and outside the building. www.sunguardglass.com WINDOW NEWS NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017 71

MACHINERY

the road, Promac offered its customers ‘industry-leading’ through-life machinery support.

He said: “We have more engineers out there than anyone else but the really key difference is that they’re employed directly by us – not on a sub-contract basis.

“That means that they go through rigorous training and development, for example we have two current apprentices, who are working with our experienced master technicians in the field as part of their training.

“All of our engineers also continue to train and develop expertise through the partnership programmes that we have in place with our suppliers. This means that they have a currency that sub-contractors just don’t and we can offer a better service to our customers.”

As part of the new support offer, customers make monthly payments towards regular servicing costs. This allows them to spread the cost of routine maintenance throughout the year. They also get 10% off all consumables orders.

Promac Launches New Service Agreement Plan Promac Group has continued its investment in customer service and machinery sales aftercare with the launch of its new Service Agreement Plan.

Officially launched this month, the new aftersales package allows fabricators to tap into special discounts on consumables, spread the cost of servicing and maintenance and to call in priority repairs on in-warranty machinery.

Lee Marriott, Sales and Marketing Manager, Promac Group said that with 19-engineers on 72 WINDOW NEWS NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017

“We have the UK’s largest machinery consumables offer with more than 3,500 parts and consumables in stock for a wide range of PVC-U, aluminium and glass processing machinery from FOM-GS Group, BDM, Pertici, Forel, Rapid, Pegic, Urban and MTL amongst others”, says Lee. “You take that discount and you look at your annual consumables spend and it’s a big saving.”

Spares and consumables from Promac are available for next day delivery up to a cut-off point of 4.30pm the day before through its online shop, www.promacshop.co.uk .

This features manufacturer approved consumable parts and tooling; router, cutter and espag drills; power tools; airline and air tool accessories; saw blades; lubricants; finishing products; hand tools; groove knives; safety equipment and glass consumables.

“We see the through-life support that we’re able to offer to our customers as a key differential”, said Lee. “It’s not about unboxing it and walking away but a partnership, which allows our customers to access support from our expert field service engineers but also from machinery manufacturers.

“It means we can offer manufacturers an incredible depth of resource, knowledge and support.”

For more information log on at www.promac.co.uk

MACHINERY

Elumatec Assist

With Polar’s Expedition To Growth

James Hill.

“We’ve been using a number of smaller products from elumatec for years, and have been hugely impressed with the quality. When we approached them about making a bigger investment they really took the time to get to know exactly what we were looking for, and went on to recommend the perfect product for us.

“With the SBZ 122, we’ve been able to future-proof our factory, and lay the foundations for future growth.”

Polar NE has become the latest firm to purchase a state-of-the-art CNC from elumatec.

Founded in 1983, Polar has gradually risen to become one of the UK’s premier commercial specialists, serving clients from Southampton to Aberdeen.

Using quality systems from Kawneer and Comar, the Middlesbor-

ough fabricator has contributed to hundreds of refurbishment and new-build projects all around the country – and in the commercial sector, quality and reliability are paramount.

“At Polar, we’ve got ambitious plans for the years ahead – not only continuing to grow our presence in commercial, but also expanding into the higher-end of the residential market, too,” commented Operations Director

Andrew Robson, Technical Sales Manager at elumatec UK, commented: “The SBZ 122 is one of our most popular models. It’s been tried and tested by fabricators all around the world, and is guaranteed to provide exactly the sort of best-in-class quality, efficiency and reliability that Polar need to take their business to the next level.

“As ever, it’s fantastic working with them, and we wish them all the best in the years ahead.” www.elumatec.co.uk

Mighton Machinery Improves Efficiency For

Conservation Windows Since launching its own brand range of machinery earlier this year, all designed to make targeted aspects of joinery production quicker, easier and more efficient, Mighton Products has welcomed a growing number of positive reviews, with the latest coming from Glasgow based sash window specialists Conservation Windows.

Experts in the restoration and installation of sash windows in period properties, the family run firm recently purchased the Mighton Scribe-It™ machine, one of the most popular products in the range, and was quick to praise its precision and speed.

Conservation Windows director, Archie MacLean

“We have regularly been buying sash window components, such as sash cords, seals and ironmongery, from Mighton for the last decade,” said Director Archie MacLean, “so we had no hesi-

tation in looking to them for our machinery needs. We took full advantage of the Mighton Mobile Demonstration Vehicle service and booked a visit with Dale Cook, giving us a chance to ‘try before you buy’ and ask him any questions we had before going ahead with the purchase.”

He continued: “We have had the machine in our workshop for around a month now and there has been a notable impact on our output in terms of both speed and quality of finish. The machine itself is compact, straightforward to set up and very easy to use.

It’s a good value product and there is nothing about it I would change.” mightonproducts.com

WINDOW NEWS NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017 73

ON SITE

Aluprof on the Square

The MB-SR50N glazed façade and the foyer roof construction

Built in 1772, ‘Square Chapel’ is a red brick built Georgian Chapel and one of only few square churches ever built.

Almost thirty years ago, in 1988, the Square Chapel Trust

was set up to save the Grade II listed chapel to convert it back into a place of worship and a performing arts centre in Halifax.

74 WINDOW NEWS NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017

After gaining popularity in the town, in 2012 a further £5.9m development fund was raised to be invested in the complex, with £3.9m by way of Arts Council funding. Located next to the Piece Hall in Halifax, the Square Chapel now includes a second 120 seat auditorium, that provides a cinema with live screening facilities.

Square ChapelToday, the Square Chapel forms a popular complex which offers the best in film, theatre, live music, comedy, family shows and workshops complete with a large bright foyer, where

ON SITE

refreshments are served daily.

The foyer comprises of a strikingly designed and decorated arrowhead roof construction, designed by architect Evans Vettori. Aluprof have provided full height curtain walling in their MB-SR50N system which has been supplied in a dark grey powder coat. The curtain walling was designed and installed by the specialist envelope contractor H-K-L of Sutton-in-Ashfield.

As the new roof to the foyer could not be loaded onto the existing structures of the Piece Hall or Square Chapel, everything is carried on three central structural steel trees.

The tree metaphor is echoed in the leafy colours on the angled canopy soffit, which has led the two entrances to be dubbed either the ‘spring’ or ‘autumn’ bridges with green being the dominant shade on one, and brown on the other.

Completing the theme, the

single glazed modules of up to 450Kg to be carried. The system includes a continuous thermal barrier made of HPVC insulating material complete with profiled EPDM glazing gaskets which makes it possible for the system to achieve very high levels of insulation to meet demanding BREEAM ratings.

etching of branches on the south wall glazing has been artistically provided to help reduce solar gain.

Amongst the characteristics of the MB-SR50N system, is a wide choice of 50mm wide mullion and transom profiles complete with substantial assembly cleats that offer

Aluprof’s extensive range of systems extend to unitised curtain walling, sliding folding doors, commercial doors systems and a wide range of window systems, all of which are increasingly being specified on a variety of residential and commercial projects across the UK and overseas.

All systems are designed and installed by selected, specially trained companies to ensure each product meets Aluprof’s exacting standards.

Further information is available on the company website at www.aluprof.co.uk.

WINDOW NEWS NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017 75

ON SITE

Senior’s Sleek Finish Adds Style To Royal

Enfield’s New R&D Facility As one of the world’s oldest and most famous motorcycle manufacturers, Royal Enfield is known for creating modern classics and the company’s cool and contemporary style has inspired the design of a striking new technology centre in Leicestershire, which features a range of aluminium glazing solutions from Senior Architectural Systems.

Designed by LE1 Architects, the highly glazed façade of the impressive two storey research and development facility has been created by leading fabricator and installer Unique Window Systems Ltd for main contractor Stepnell.

With the need to maximise the flow of natural light whilst ensuring a comfortable inter-

76 WINDOW NEWS NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017

nal working environment a key requirement, the attractive slim sightlines and enhanced thermal performance of Senior’s popular SF52 aluminium curtain wall system was the perfect choice for the building’s dramatic glazed entrance. To complete the fenestration package, Senior’s slim profile thermally-broken SPW300 aluminium windows

ON SITE

were also specified, alongside Senior’s high-performance SPW500 and SPW501 aluminium doors which are ideally suited to high traffic applications.

Having successfully worked with Senior Architectural Systems on previous contracts, Unique Windows Systems Ltd recommended the use of Senior’s products for this high-profile scheme where achieving the desired aesthetics and performance was paramount. The strong yet slim profile of Senior’s SF52 aluminium curtain wall and SPW300 aluminium windows have helped to create the sleek, modern finish that the architect and client desired, with the low U-values offered by both systems also contributing to the overall energy-efficiency of the building.

Commenting, Patrick Marston, marketing manager at Unique Windows Systems Ltd said: “Senior Architectural Systems provide an excellent range of aluminum products for us to fabricate from. We often have complex budget and performance requirements from our customers to consider and Senior have a portfolio of products that means we can offer our clients an array of options to best suit”.

ADM Windows Uses Spectus Flush Casement Windows To Recreate

Traditional Aesthetics In A Farmhouse

Sheffield’s ADM Windows has just given a stone farmhouse in Maltby, South Yorkshire, a new lease of life by installing 17 Spectus Flush Casement windows and one bay window.

Aaron Fountain, Director of ADM Windows, said: “Our customer wanted to replace the ageing timber windows of his farmhouse and replace them with high quality windows that would enhance the heritage look and offer modern day thermal efficiency and security. The Spectus Flush Casement gave them the answer they were looking for.”

Located on the site of a former airbase in Bruntingthorpe near Lutterworth in Leicestershire, the new technology center for Royal Enfield is set to play a vital role in the manufacturer’s long-term product development strategy and as well as providing new office and design space, also includes state of the art facilities for the testing of new motorcycles.

The project was a dual colour one – black on the exterior and white on the interior. The result is a sleek, beautiful finish that has helped to return the farmhouse to its former glory. Aaron commented: “Our customer runs a market leading business from the farmhouse and the Spectus Flush Casement windows have helped to give him a headquarters that reflect his status.”

For more information about Senior, visit www.seniorarchitectural.co.uk

This installation is the latest in a growing number of projects for ADM Windows that involve the

Spectus Flush Casement. Aaron comments: “We’ve seen a tremendous growth in interest in the Spectus Flush Casement window since we added it to our portfolio.

I’m not surprised, though: it delivers what the market needs.”

As Aaron says, the Spectus Flush Casement window delivers what the market needs. Its aesthetics reflect the looks of traditional 19th century timber casement windows but with the added benefits of 21st century security, thermal efficiency and low maintenance, making it an ideal product for heritage refurbishments.

ADM Windows is a longstanding Spectus customer and specialises in its niche products, including the market leading Vertical Slider. The hallmarks of the ADM experience are competitive prices, quality guaranteed and outstanding customer service, a combination that has seen the company becoming increasingly recognised as a go-to supplier in the region. And in delivering high quality projects such as this stone farmhouse in Maltby, it is enhancing its reputation even further! www.spectus.co.uk

WINDOW NEWS NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017 77

ON SITE

Uni_Slide Unlocks Atlantic Views At Sea Edge House

Torquay’s Fenster Fabrications has contributed to a stylish sea-view residential development that’s been shortlisted for multiple awards.

Designed by respected Truro architects KAST, and located in Downderry on Cornwall’s south coast, Sea Edge House is a strikingly modern cliffedge property with stunning Atlantic views.

The dwelling’s low roof profile allows it to make the most of its spectacular location, 78 WINDOW NEWS NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017

ON SITE

without obstructing the views of properties further inland.

Entry is gained from the upper level, with an external staircase offering quick access to the garden.

KAST used Fenster’s flagship Uni_Slide sliding doors to allow access onto the dwelling’s 10m south-facing balcony.

PR484 - Sea Edge HouseOffering exceptional thermal efficiency, build quality, and desirable minimalist aesthetics, Uni_Slide can achieve frame sightlines as slim as 20mm, and a slim central interlock, while being able to support sliding panels of up to 3m high and 2.2m wide.

The product can be assembled in a limitless run of units, with each panel capable of holding up to 320kg of glass.

The Fenster Fabrications Team, commented: “Uni_Slide makes a fantastic addition to any residential development.

It can offer a sense of sleek luxury to any architectural development, and, for installers, it’s an excellent way of appealing to the lucrative highend of the market.

“We’ve had a great response to our search for Uni_Slide installation partners so far – but we’re still looking for exceptional installers, dedicated to quality products and fantastic customer service, to join the network. If you think your business fits the bill, don’t hesitate to get in touch!”

KAST has subsequently been shortlisted asBest Self Build Architect or Designer of the Year as a result of their work on the Sea Edge House project. www.uni-slide.com

Jackloc Specified For Upcoming Luxury Hotel

In Iconic Dubai Hotspot apartment buildings, Jackloc can be found safeguarding lives at Abu Dhabi’s largest private hospital as well as the five-star Sheraton Hotel in Dohuk, Iraq.

W Hotel, Dubai

Fresh from securing approval from the Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council, Queen’s Award-winning restrictor specialists Jackloc® have been specified for a luxury hotel under construction on The Palm in Dubai.

The Leicestershire-firm are supplying 400 of their Queen’s Award-winning MK2 key-lockable restrictors for the upcoming W Hotel. Due to open in March 2018, the W Hotel will feature over 350 rooms including 58 suites with views across the Arabian Gulf and the Dubai skyline.

“It’s fantastic to see Jackloc specified for yet another building in the United Arab Emirates and another luxury hotel,” comments Emma Wells, Jackloc’s Founder and Director. “The W Hotel will be a stand-out feature on the iconic Palm and we’re proud to play our part in ensuring guest safety through our range of universal window restrictors.”

The W Hotel will join a long-list of residential and commercial buildings in the UAE and across the Middle East, which feature Jackloc restrictors. Along with many of their iconic, high-rise

Designed, engineered and manufactured in the Midlands to exacting BS EN Standards, the Jackloc range encompasses a full collection of restrictors designed to dramatically reduce the risk of falls from windows. In addition to the MK2 key-lockable restrictor, the range also includes push and turn, swivel/stud and key-lockable folding models.

“With a tested and proven product range, made in Britain, it’s not hard to see why Jackloc is setting the standard for window safety in markets outside of the UK,” adds Judith Burrows, fellow Jackloc Director and sister to Emma. “Specifying Jackloc provides huge peace of mind and a great assurance no matter the application, whether it is in the leisure industry or in healthcare, sheltered accommodation, care services or even by homeowners protecting their families.”

“We’re delighted that W Hotel and its owners Marriott International are joining with other leading global organisations in seeing the importance of improving window safety, and supporting us in our mission to drastically reduce the risk of injuries and fatalities caused by falls from windows.”

For more information visit www.jackloc.com

WINDOW NEWS NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017 79

ON SITE

Atlas Winners Raise The Bar Gareth Thomas, sales director at Atlas Glazed Roof Solutions, explains: “The standard of the Atlas installations is getting better and better and our latest winners have set the bar very high indeed. There is still time to send in an Atlas showstopper though and we can’t wait to see who will win the very last place of the year. It’s going to be an exciting race to the final!”

Hybrid Windows

As the Atlas Installation of the Month competition draws towards the end of its third year, the latest round of winners has raised the bar with some incredible designs.

The competition has attracted

hundreds of entries this year as Atlas installers jockey for their chance to win the prized Installation of the Year title. With just one winning place left this year, competition is hotting up as the quality of entries reaches new heights.

80 WINDOW NEWS NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017

The latest trio of Installation of the Month winners are Monmouthshire Conservatory Company, Village Conservatories and Hybrid Windows. All three companies are first-time winners of the award.

Monmouthshire Conservatory Company pulled out all the stops with a breathtaking orangery that took the place of an ageing timber conservatory. Chris Atwell, owner at Monmouthshire Con-

ON SITE

Aluprof

Specified in Dublin

Village Conservatories

servatory Company, says: “This project demonstrates the huge impact that modern, well-designed products can make to a project. We considered every single detail in this installation and knew that the lantern and bi-folding doors would be dominant features, so they had to be perfect. We use Atlas because we know it’s what homeowners want and, when this customer visited our showroom, they loved the look of the Atlas product.

The finished orangery is a sharp contrast to the rest of the property and it looks absolutely incredible.”

Hybrid Windows created an impressive space in a Cheltenham family home that can now be used all year round. The installation, which incorporates floor to ceiling glazing and two Atlas lanterns, replaced an old-fashioned conservatory. Leonard Roberts, managing director of Hybrid Windows, said: “This is a fabulous extension and it has really taken this property from ordinary to extraordinary. The owners needed an energy efficient space, but they are also extremely design-conscious and would not compromise on style.

This fantastic new space has completely changed how the

owners use their home.”

Village Conservatories caught the judges’ eyes with a striking L-shaped orangery that combines aluminium, reclaimed brick, glass and two large Atlas lanterns to bring contemporary style to a traditional home. Colin Dicker, owner of Village Conservatories, said: “We’re really proud of this project – it shows off how beautifully an ultra-modern aluminium lantern can sit against rustic brickwork and really bring a property to life. The two Atlas lanterns look amazing, but they also deliver superb thermal performance so the space can be used throughout the year. This lantern is certainly a looker and this project proves that it works hard too.”

Every month, an installer will win a £200 Screwfix voucher and a £50 Majestic Wine voucher.

There’s also trade industry PR and promotion through the Atlas website, as well as entry into the Atlas Installer of the Year award finals. All entries submitted with completed installation pictures will receive an Atlas thermal mug.

For further information visit www.atlasroofsolutions.co.uk.

As Aluprof systems continue to gain popularity with specifiers across the UK, overseas, the system company is also seeing significant growth. Dublin is one of the latest cities to see a growing use of Aluprof systems.

Trinity College uses Aluprof MB-SR50N in an extensive roof complex which links two parts of the original college together forming an extensive atrium and open space. Right in the heart of the shopping district, Grafton Street sees a new store opening using Aluprof MB-SR50N finished in gold anodising with bespoke corner panels completed to a very high level of detail.

Large US multinational companies have also made their home in Dublin, ideally located for the European market, one social media giant has recently moved into 1 Cumberland Place. An existing building, the structure has been fully refurbished with MB SR50N OW facade system with large size integrated parallel windows provided by Aluprof. aluprof.co.uk

WINDOW NEWS NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017 81

MARKETING

Excellence As Standard Marketing Support

Sets A New Benchmark Epwin Window Systems’ Excellence as Standard membership programme aims to set a new benchmark for quality at every stage of the industry. The quality of the marketing support that’s available via the programme demonstrates how seriously the company takes this commitment. Katie Leese, Excellence as Standard’s Programme Manager, said: “The marketing elements of Excellence as Standard reflect the results of our customer research and represent an industry-leading marketing support package.”

via the online portal to create a completely co-branded and professional image.

Excellence as Standard offers a comprehensive suite of branded marketing material including brochures, POS items, sample bags, clothing, drop cards and advertising templates. What’s more, many items can be easily personalised with an installer’s logo, colours, contact details, images and text

Installers looking to harness the power of the web even more will find support in the form of the Excellence as Standard dashboard.

This gives installers complete visibility of all their leads, ratings, reviews and pay-per-click results so they can develop and leverage their online presence.

Lead generation comes in several forms: Excellence as Standard-approved fabricators, homeowner ratings and reviews, Epwin brand websites, bespoke lead generation options and the Excellence as Standard website, www.excellenceas.co.uk. Every member has their own landing page on the EAS website which they can personalise and add their homeowner ratings and reviews.

82 WINDOW NEWS NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017

And when member businesses need further support they’ll find it in the form of a dedicated brand manager who is focused on a member’s success and will be on hand to offer marketing advice and support.

The marketing support is just one element of the Excellence as Standard programme because members also benefit from the market-leading products available from Epwin Window Systems’ core systems brands – Profile 22, Spectus and Swish, the Excellence Academy, partner benefits and the support team.

In short, Excellence as Standard has everything that’s needed to become the name that consumers look for when they are researching new home improvement products.

It’s why so many fabricators and installers are flocking to be part of the programme. For more information visit www.excellenceas.co.uk

MARKETING

Morley Boxes Clever With Latest Sponsorship Pledge Morley Glass & Glazing is getting into the ring with a new sponsorship opportunity, with the integral blind manufacturer pledging its support to up and coming boxer, Terry Broadbent, as he attempts to make a name for himself in the world of professional boxing.

Having previously taken a break from the sport to focus on his contract cleaning company servicing companies in and around Leeds, Terry made the decision this year to give his all to the sport he loves, selling his part in the business in order to devote himself to the sport full time. In a show of support for the talented sportsman, a number of the companies Terry previously worked with in his cleaning business, including Morley Glass & Glazing, have come together to sponsor him as he aims to achieve his ultimate goal of boxing for a world title.

At the start of September, the Morley Glass team was at Elland Road to cheer on Terry in his comeback fight as he was awarded a 40-35

points win over Russ Midgley, in what was described as a ‘confident and impressive performance’.

Ian Short, managing director at Morley Glass & Glazing, commented: “Having been based in Leeds for almost 20 years, supporting a variety of local sports and community clubs is a large part of our proactive corporate social responsibility programme.

Having known Terry for a number of years now his passion for the sport is clear and it’s a privilege to be able to help him follow his dream. We’re looking forward to seeing big things from him in the future!”

The privately-owned company has also recently pledged its ongoing support to Millshaw Park Rangers, Mirfield Parish Cricket Club, Moortown RUFC and Pudsey St Lawrence Cricket Club.

For more information about Morley Glass & Glazing visit www.morleyglass.co.uk

TruFrame’s Marketing – A Digital Age Department

TruFrame’s marketing department has recently benefitted from a number of additions, as they look to bring in considerable digital marketing expertise from B2B and B2C sectors, to go alongside more traditional means of corporate communications and branding.

The newly expanded marketing function is headed up by Paul Roper, Marketing Director, who brings extensive multi-channel marketing experience having worked both agency and client-side for brands such as, Cognizant Consulting, Monster.co.uk and Levi Strauss and is already putting in place a strategic plan to support the overall business objectives of TruFrame. With sales for the first half of 2017 up on the previous year, the company continues to build market share.

as a new graduate with a degree in English Literature with Creative Writing she brings a solid background in crafting great copy and content.

Supporting Paul is Ben Burch, Creative Designer, who has a wealth of experience in graphic and creative design with a flair for both online and print deliverables.

Ben will be supporting TruFrame’s creative marketing, including results-driven customer development programmes. Additionally, Libby Zbaraska forms part of the team as Social Media and Content Executive,

TruFrame’s success in recent years has been down to a combination of new business wins and through organic growth, with a plan to build on this strategy further, with a detailed plan from the new marketing function. Yet with digital marketing strategies more important than ever, the company is looking to bring some new thinking to the industry. truframe.co.uk WINDOW NEWS NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017 83

MARKETING

URBANroom

Design Now In Print Prefix Systems have just launched a new 8-page URBANroom brochure, which details the features and capabilities of this new contemporary glazed extension to the home.

URBANroom was launched at the FIT Show in 2017, with installation partners keen to take advantage of the full kit aluminum system, which boasts full height glazing, a choice of four corner design options, Ultrasky roof and the option for bi-folding or patio doors. To the inside there is also a LivinRoom internal pelmet for the adoption of spotlights and integrated speakers.

However, the most visual means to distinguish URBANroom is by way of the 225mm deep gutter

shroud, which makes this glazed extension so appealing to consumers. For the trade, one of the key features of the shroud is a multi-functional and structural water deflector to ensure water flows where it should. The deflector also provides a clean line and uncluttered finish to the rear face of the shroud, which is often a neglected area with other systems, leaving an unfinished appearance.

The URBANroom brochure is part of a suited range of marketing materials from Prefix Systems as marketing co-ordinator, Hannah Gilrane explains: ‘The new URBANroom brochure is there to support our installer partners who are eager to start selling this new genre of glazed extension. With on trend colours such as RAL 7015 and 7016, the overall look and feel is vastly different to that of a traditional conservatory.

She continued: ‘With fully glazed, rendered, brick or Loggia corner options, along with Georgian or double hipped Edwardian aluminium roof and literally hundreds of RAL colours to choose from, there’s plenty of design variation for both consumers and the trade, as the brochure perfectly shows.’

For further information on Prefix System and to request the new URBANroom brochure, contact the head office on 01254 871800, or e-mail marketing@prefixsystems.co.uk. For other information visit www.prefixsystems.co.uk

Kingfisher Launches New Website To Support Installers To add to it’s range of marketing support for trade installers, Kingfisher Windows has launched a new trade website. Installers can browse through its products, create fast quotes, access brochures & technical information, and learn everything they need to know about its services.

For more than 27 years Kingfisher Windows has been supplying the trade with windows, doors and conservatories throughout Yorkshire and the North West. The trade site, which can be accessed by going to www. kingfisherwindows.co.uk/trade/, has all the support installers need for their business. From a full library of exclusive brochures, to a quick and easy quote engine to price up jobs fast.

“We designed the trade site to be a dedicated space installers could go to, to easily access everything they need to make orders,” says Deborah Beeley, Sales and Marketing Manager, Kingfisher Windows. “Trade 84 WINDOW NEWS NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017

customers can choose to click through straight into the trade site, where they will find all the information they need.

“Kingfisher Windows supplies installers with PVCu & aluminium windows and doors, as well as composite doors and curtain walling. Fitters can choose to go through to the trade site to see all the features, benefits, colours and glazing options of our products.”

To start using Kingfisher’s new website, go to www.kingfisherwindows.co.uk/trade/

MARKETING

Getting Tasty With

Door Brochures From Endurance

Profile 22 Publishes

New Specification Guide

Profile 22 has just published a comprehensive new specification guide. The 74 page publication explains the brand’s range of profiles and hardware in detail and provides an overview of the services it provides to architects and specifiers alike. Gerald Allen, Epwin Window Systems’ Marketing Manager, said: “Our specification guide has been designed to enable architects and specifiers to access all the information they could need to specify the right solution.”

The first section of the guide opens with an introduction to Profile 22 and Optima. There is then an introduction to Profile 22’s specification and advisory services, which covers assistance for every stage of a project through both field and technical support teams, including a no-obligation consultation, specific design requirements, full specification, surveying and structural calculations and an extensive choice of quality and durable products.

There is also information on Profile 22’s approach which recognises

that respective business goals are best achieved through working collaboratively and by establishing short and long-term agreements with supply chain members. The final part of the first section covers Profile 22’s quality assurance and environmental credentials and explores its reputation for product innovation.

The second section of the guide features information on all Profile 22’s systems: Casement Windows, Flush Casement Windows, Tilt – Turn Windows, Flush Tilt and Turn Windows, Fully Reversible Windows, Vertical Sliding Windows, Residential and, French Doors, Doors with Side Screens, Emergency Doors, Composite Doors, Patio Door System, Curtain Walling and Cavity Closer System. It also covers the colour options and provides information in respect of building regulations.

For copies of the specification guide, contact Profile 22 by emailing info@profile22.co.uk. www.profile22.co.uk

Endurance® Doors have just launched a new 8-page taster brochure in response to customer demand for an inspirational brochure that can be distributed en masse, leaving their 92-page composite door bible more for the purposes of a reference guide.

Described as ‘The Perfect Door For Your Home’ this new taster brochure highlights some of the key USP’s, including details of the BBA certified solid LVL timber core, unique Moisture Barrier System and high security locking options and guarantees. The seventeen colours are prominently promoted, along with a section encouraging users to try the new HomeView Door Designer.

The Classic, Country and Urban Collections are carefully summarised in the taster brochure and it has also been designed to be used alongside the popular The Finishing Touches brochure, which details all hardware and glass options including the latest architectural and heritage options.

Rachel Dixon, marketing manager of Endurance® Doors commented: ‘Our customers requested a shorter version of our 92-page composite door bible and so we’ve delivered this taster version in quick time. We’re also actively looking to expand our marketing department with a new marketing executive and assistant, so we’re able to fully support the needs of our business and rapidly growing brand. endurancedoors.co.uk

WINDOW NEWS NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017 85

MARKETING

Scottish Group Saveheat

Joins Insight Data Dekko Helps

Mcdermott

Windows Make Premium Switch Dekko Window Systems has a proven track record of helping its customers successfully shift into the high-end, premium market.

One of the latest examples, which displays the firm’s overriding commitment to being far more than a trade supplier is their partnership with Blackburn-based McDermott Windows.

Seeing the value of Dekko’s product range and looking to diversify, the family-run business with over 15 years of experience in the industry now offers its customers Dekko’s entire range including their Infinity range of seamless uPVC windows, Räum aluminium and R9 from The Residence Collection.

“For installation firms, it’s so important to have the right product range, especially as consumer tastes are changing and more are looking towards the premium end of the market,” comments Dekko Sales Director, Kurt Greatrex.

“McDermott Windows saw the tide changing and wanted to stand out from their competitors in what is a challenging and competitive market by offering high-end home improvements.”

Along with supplying their products, Dekko has also helped the firm transform their marketing through their ‘Make It Yours’ initiative.

For more information contact visit www.dekkowindows.com

With the formation of four well-established Scottish brands into one all-encompassing group, the brand-new Saveheat Group Ltd. has partnered with Insight Data to continue their ambitious growth plans, as they look to reach new customers across the UK. Formed by renowned industry figures Alex Gray and Colin Torley, the Saveheat Group is comprised of the Merlin Network, Saveheat Glass and both Blairs Timber and Aluminium to create the first company in Scotland to manufacture the four fundamental fenestration materials.

Looking to spread its wings outside of Scotland and promote its group businesses, Saveheat has tapped into the data and market intelligence of Insight Data.

“We are delighted to partner with the Saveheat Group, undoubtedly the major force north of the border with their four wellknown brands,” comments Jade Greenhow, Insight Data’s General Manager. “Through our industry-specific data and online CRM software, we will help Saveheat continue to grow their presence across the UK and accurately target potential customers within the industry. It’s great to see yet another industry heavyweight trust Insight Data to power their sales and marketing strategies.”

Insight Data’s data is accessed through Salestracker, their combined online prospect database, CRM system and email marketing platform. With over 700 active users including system houses, fabricators and sealed unit manufacturers, Salestracker provides up-to-date contact and business information for over 60,000 prospects across the fenestration and

86 WINDOW NEWS NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017

Colin Torley, sales and operations director (left) and Alex Gray, MD

wider construction industries.

Sales and Operations Director Colin Torley adds: “Of course we are really pleased to join up with Insight Data as we look to showcase what is a valuable business proposition to a larger section of the market. As a group, Saveheat combines four incredible brands, over 150 staff across our four manufacturing facilities and a wealth of experience from our many years of trading.”

“Working with Insight Data allows us to grow our client base outside of Scotland by communicating directly with a targeted list of potential customers. We are determined to build on the established reputations of our group companies and offer firms within the industry a better and stronger trade partner.”

Alongside the Construction and Fenestration and Glazing databases which Saveheat will be predominantly using, Salestracker users also gain access to the architects, local builders and house builders databases.

Insight achieves its real-time data through 20,000 research calls every month and access to a credit referencing agency. hello@insightdata.co.uk

AWARDS

Norman Hornigold and John Savage collecting NHIC Award

SEH BAC Wins NHIC Community Benefit Award For West Cliff Theatre Transformation

After the successful transformation of the West Cliff Theatre in Clacton-on-Sea, established installer SEH BAC has won a prestigious award from the National Home Improvement Council (NHIC).

The firm which specialises in windows, doors and conservatories was named winners of the coveted ‘Delivering Community Benefit Through Home Improvement’ Award. The West Cliff Theatre was the winner of SEH BAC’s Community Giveaway competition, receiving £10,000 worth of new windows and a much-needed new lease of life.

“We are incredibly proud to win this prestigious award from the NHIC – our third in four years,” comments John Savage, Managing Director of SEH BAC. “For us to see the fantastic West Cliff

Theatre restored to its former glory and ready to entertain many more generations to come, was already a special reward. We are proud to not only support our customers through our home improvements, but to also support important and cherished community buildings just like West Cliff.”

The firm, which is part of Suffolk-based One Group Construction, a £130M turnover group of companies which complete major construction projects, currently holds two NHIC Awards. SEH BAC picked up the Best Glazing Project Award in 2014 and the 2015 Double Glazing with Community Benefit Award.

The Community Giveaway competition was designed to find a community building in desperate need of SEH BAC’s help. Receiving no government funding and

mainly run by volunteers and donations, The West Cliff Theatre in Clacton was a worthy winner.

SEH BAC replaced the dilapidated windows of the theatre with brand-new uPVC alternatives, helping to reduce its running costs and give a vital facelift.

“It’s been an incredible year for us as we celebrate 45 years of trading across the South-East,” adds John. “Not only have we helped West Cliff keep its doors open, we’ve received recognition from the leading council on home improvements. That’s not forgetting opening our new showcentre in Colchester – our 16th across the region and a record four nominations at The G Awards.

We can’t believe the year we’ve had!”

In addition to windows, doors and conservatories, SEH BAC specialises in timber-effect windows, replacement conservatory roofs, single-storey extensions and luxury orangeries. The firm’s 16 showcentres can be found across the South-East, East Anglia and the Home Counties.

For more information visit www.sehbac.com

WINDOW NEWS NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017 87

AWARDS

VBH Nominated For Best

Hardware Company

VBH has been nominated for Best Hardware Company in the National Fenestration Awards (NFAs). Established in the UK for over 35 years, VBH is a leading distributor of window and door hardware products. It supplies well known hardware brands such as Yale, Maco and Roto as well as its own branded suite, greenteQ.

With a newly updated online ordering portal, VBH offers a full solution to fabricators, installers and locksmiths searching for high quality window and door hardware. In addition, fabricator and installer customers also benefit from VBH’s new Q-secure guarantee, helping them to sell to homeowners. Once the installation is registered with VBH, homeowners are issued with a guarantee certificate and information pack. If their home is broken into as a result of hardware failure during the 10-year guarantee, VBH will pay towards replacing the window or door and make additional payments to the homeowner.

VBH Marketing Manager Gary Gleeson, comments:

“We offer industry-leading window and door hardware brands and continue to grow our own greenteQ brand which includes the unique Invisifold slide and fold system, Securifold ‘foldaway’ handles and our stainless-steel Coastline range with a 25-year guarantee.

We’re delighted to be nominated as an NFA finalist in a year of continuing growth and success. We look forward to sharing more about our latest innovations and product ranges in 2018.”

To vote for VBH go to: www.fenestrationawards.co.uk/ hardware-company-2017. For more information, visit www.vbhgb.com.

Everglade Windows

Named Double Finalist in West London Business Awards 2018

Everglade Windows, the number one fabricator in London has been named a double finalist in the West London Business Awards 2018, making the shortlist in both the Manufacturing and Engineering Company and SME of the Year categories for the second year running.

Yogesh Gopal, Managing Director at Everglade Windows said: “It’s a fantastic achievement for the Everglade team to be recognised by our West London Business peers again this year. Last year, we were highly commended in the Manufacturing and Engineering category, so we’re hoping to win the title this year.

Heathrow Airport, Fullers and Brunel University.

Andrew Dakers, CEO of West London Business said: “We have again received a good number of entries this year, despite tougher entry criteria, making this the hardest year yet in which to secure a place on the final shortlist of the West London Business Awards.

“Everglade Windows has called West London home for more than 37 years, so winning a West London Business Award would mean such a lot to the whole team.”

“Our shortlist provides a fantastic window on the excellence that continues to drive West London’s economy, as well as the exciting innovations coming through. The awards night at Wembley will provide a fitting platform to recognise the success of all these businesses.”

The West London Business community has been running the awards for five years now, and is governed by some of the biggest names in UK business, including

The winners will be announced at the West London Business Awards Gala Dinner on Thursday 1 February 2018 at Wembley Stadium.

88 WINDOW NEWS NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017

AWARDS

Edgetech Scores A Hat-Trick

With Trio Of Prestigious Award Nominations Warm edge pioneers Edgetech have been shortlisted for Company of the Year at the Coventry Telegraph Business Awards.

“Recently investing over a million pounds in expanding our headquarters, we’re demonstrating our continuing commitment to the people of Coventry and Warwickshire more broadly.

The annual event, started by the long-running Coventry Telegraph newspaper, exists to celebrate success, recognise achievement and showcase Warwickshire’s most outstanding and innovative businesses.

They culminate in a glamorous presentation evening held at Coventry’s Ricoh Arena, routinely attended by hundreds of members of the area’s business community.

When choosing finalists for the Company of the Year category, judges looked for businesses “universally acclaimed for their commercial practice and dedication”, who could demonstrate “strong market share, economic turnaround and innovative approach”.

tech, we’re incredibly proud to be a thriving Midlands business, training and employing hundreds of local people over our decade of manufacturing in the area.

“We’re really looking forward to the awards night itself, and meeting other exceptional businesses from around the region. Good luck to all our fellow nominees.”

Charlotte Davies, Head of Marketing, Edgetech

The good news came just after Edgetech was nominated as G17 Component Supplier of the Year, and Spacer Bar Manufacturer 2017 in the National Fenestration Awards.

Head of Marketing, Charlotte Davies commented: “At Edge-

Edgetech’s Super Spacer is one of the leading foam warm edge spacer products on the market, offering easy application, 100% memory and exceptional thermal efficiency and condensation resistance. The firm also manufactures an extensive range of other flexible components, including its commercial-focused TriSeal and T-Spacer and a number of rigid products. www.edgetechig.co.uk

Victoria Gate Triumphs At World Architecture Festival Victoria Gate in Leeds has scooped the Retail Project of the Year at the World Architecture Festival in Berlin.

This completes a perfect week for the retail outlet, having won two awards earlier in the week at the Brick Awards 2017.

Bennett Architectural worked on three parts of this innovative project including a complex diagrid pattern for the rooftop restaurant of John Lewis which was formed using laser cut aluminium sheets in gold ionized finish with structured silicon glazed curtain walling. For the Victoria Gate arcade frameless glazing systems – including curved glazing, were installed using bonded angles to the back of the glass inside concrete panels.

Installations on the arcade’s rooftop restaurant included Kawneer AA100 roof glazing, AA720 windows within Cor-Ten Steel rain screen cladding and curved glazing to corners.

Lionel Grant, Managing Director at Bennett Architectural commented, “We’re delighted to hear that Victoria Gate has won such a lucrative award at the World Architecture Festival.

“This was an architecturally stunning scheme to work on, the John Lewis rooftop restaurant presented significant challenges for the curtain wall system from an engineering point of view but we worked with a specialist glass engineering company to achieve this innovative solution.” www.baasl.co.uk WINDOW NEWS NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017 89

TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT

added: “GQA has long highlighted the skills gap within fenestration and industry support for our approved centres is vital to ensure that practical training facilities are available.

It’s fantastic to see Atlas making this investment and commitment with West Suffolk College and Total Support Training and I look forward to seeing the facilities in use.”

GQA Qualifications provides training courses at more than 70 centres throughout the UK, including West Suffolk College and Total Support Training.

West Suffolk College apprectices.

Atlas Gets Behind The Installers Of Tomorrow Atlas Glazed Roof Solutions is helping to tackle the industry’s shortage of skilled labour and inspire young talent into a career in fenestration. Under its commitment to support industry progression, the company has donated two full-sized glazed roof lanterns, which will be used to provide apprentices with essential practical training at two top fenestration learning centres.

The contemporary Atlas roof lanterns have been specially made for West Suffolk College in Bury St Edmonds and Total Support Training in Middlesex. Both centres provide a range of specialist courses from GQA Qualifications – a leading awarding body for glass, fenestration and construction.

Gareth Thomas, sales director at Atlas Glazed Roof Solutions, explains: “Our industry has been re-invigorated with some truly innovative new products but, sadly,

it is still hindered by a shortage of skilled people to install them.

We want to bring more passion in to the industry and boost its professionalism by inspiring young people to join the industry and stay in it. We can’t think of a better way to breed new talent than through practical training and we’re delighted to donate these roof lanterns which will help the apprentices to develop their installation skills.”

As part of their Level 1, 2 or 3 training in Fenestration Installation and Fenestration Surveying, the apprentices will develop their installation skills by fitting a number of products – including the Atlas lantern – into purpose-built 3×3 metre pods. The pods were previously used in the Master Fitter Challenge at this year’s FIT Show and have also been donated to the colleges.

Mick Clayton, chief executive officer at GQA Qualifications,

90 WINDOW NEWS NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017

Tim Warnock, programme manager at West Suffolk College, said: “Practical training is fundamental to our apprentices, providing them with the vital skills and confidence to become highly qualified installers and surveyors. For many apprentices, the only way they could learn about how to fit products was in a real-life installation, which was understandably a daunting experience for them.

Sharon Alderton, managing director of Total Support Training, added: “I’ve been working with many specialist suppliers across the industry and we all agree that there’s a wide skills gap to fill. We are committed to capturing youngsters and encouraging them into this industry, so we’re very excited about our brand new training facility which is just about to open in Milton Keynes. It will be equipped with a modern classroom and two training pods, which will include fitter-friendly products like the Atlas lantern. This investment in our future talent will help to combat the skills shortage and raise professional standards in the industry.”

To find out more about the Atlas range of Contemporary Lanterns, visit www.atlasroofsolutions.co.uk.

TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT

Excellence As Standard’s NVQ

Support Helps Boost Skills One of the biggest concerns in the industry at the moment is the impending skills gap. It’s a concern Epwin Window Systems is acutely aware of, but Sharn Samra, the company’s Marketing Director, says it is taking steps to tackle the issue. “We know that fabricators and installers are concerned about finding skilled workers and it’s something that Excellence as Standard, our groundbreaking new membership programme, addresses. The programme aims to drive quality at every stage of the business and a core part of that is in having a skilled workforce.”

A cornerstone of EAS is the Excellence Academy, which offers two routes to creating a skilled workforce. The first is a heavily discounted NVQ training and the second is apprenticeships. Managed by The Vocational College (TVC), the largest provider of glass

related qualifications in the UK, there are qualifications for window, door and conservatory installers, installers of roof line products, glaziers, curtain walling installers, window, door and conservatory fabricators, glass processors, stores and warehouse persons, photovoltaic panel installers and trade counter staff. Also available

are qualifications in ILM management, customer service, business administration, team leading, IOSH Working Safely and IOSH Managing Safely (Managers & Supervisors).

Paul Gray, Business Development Manager at TVC, comments: “Training in the form of NVQs and apprenticeships offers three key benefits. It demonstrates your commitment to a qualified workforce, improving retention. It leads to more efficient practices and greater competence, meaning less waste and a better bottom line. And it improves Health & Safety, so there are fewer accidents and days off work.”

The Excellence Academy is just one element of the Excellence as Standard programme because members also benefit from the quality products available from Profile 22, Spectus and Swish, strong marketing support, partner benefits and business support. www.epwin.co.uk

CORGI Fenestration Is Delighted To Announce Its First Locksmith Training Registration, MPL Locksmith Training MPL Locksmith Training is based in Wakefield and provides the only City & Guilds accredited specialist locksmith training in the UK, claims the company. The company is now CORGI Fenestration registered too.

MPL launched this course in 2008, the only one of its kind in the country. In 2016 it achieved City & Guilds accreditation and in 2017 needed to expand the range of courses and move to new premises so it could satisfy demand. Initially the CORGI Fenestration registered City & Guilds course will run for five days and will culminate in the issuing of a CORGI Fenestration skills card. This card will prove invaluable to qualified locksmiths as the CORGI mark is recognised by 74% of UK consumers*.

Nicky England, MPL Locksmith Training Operations Director, commented: “We are delighted to be the first locksmith training provider that has registered with CORGI Fenestration. We both share the same commitment to recognise and encourage best practice. It proves that the level of training we offer is of the highest standard and meets all required criteria.” England added: “Offering the CORGI Fenestration skills card alongside City & Guilds accreditation raises locksmiths we train to another level – the best in the industry.”

“We are delighted to welcome MPL Locksmith Training into the CORGI Fenestration family,” commented Chris Mayne, CEO of CORGI Fenestration. “MPL’s registration

is an example of CORGI Fenestration’s commitment to recognising and encouraging best practice across the whole supply chain.

This now includes the professional fitting of window and door locks by the best qualified staff.”

CORGI Fenestration has been established to bring together the best in glazing company management, customer service, qualifications, the best qualified staff and their continuing professional development. enquiries@corgifenestration.co.uk

WINDOW NEWS NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017 91

CHARITY

The Window Company (Contracts) and Osborne and Building Space The Window Company (Contracts) Ltd are helping Osborne celebrate its 50th Anniversary by working alongside them to build a two-storey extension at Demelza’s Eltham Hospice in South East London that will allow seriously ill children the space to grow, develop and live life to the fullest.

Osborne, we were more than happy to get involved with such a worthwhile project. As well as us donating the windows and doors for the project, our team working on site are donating some of their time as well, which I think says a great deal about the calibre of fitting teams we have.”

the lives of vulnerable children in our society for the next 50.”

Demelza Hospice Care for Children provide expert, compassionate care, free of charge to severely ill children and their families 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

At Demelza in Eltham, The Window Company (Contracts) are installing aluminium windows and doors throughout the new extension, as well as automatic door opening gear to make it accessible for hospice users.

Claire Ellis-Waghorn, Head of Fundraising at Demelza said: “We are so grateful to the team at Osborne and all their wonderful colleagues and suppliers for giving us such a phenomenal gift. The work that is taking place at our Eltham hospice will make such a big difference – not just to our children and families, but also our staff and volunteers too, who work tirelessly to provide the best possible care.” www.thewinco.co.uk

The Window Company (Contracts) are working with other supply chain partners on this build with many donating their time and materials for free.

Chairman David Thornton said: “As a long term partner of

Andy Steele, Chief Executive at Osborne said: “I am delighted we found the Delmelza Space to Grow Project to mark our 50 years in business but most importantly achieve an outcome that will positively impact on

92 WINDOW NEWS NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017

“This ambitious project would not have been possible however, without the support of The Window Company (Contracts) and many other partners who have all come together for such a worthwhile cause.”

CHARITY

Carl F Groupco

Raises Funds For Local Charities

Carl F Groupco staff pictured on a fund-raising dress down Friday.

Stef Brown from the company’s internal sales team who organised the charity initiative is pictured centre (seated) with bake sale cakes and jar of money raised

Kind hearted staff at Carl F Groupco have chosen Homes 4 Dogs as its new nominated charity. Over the course of the year, money is being raised for the organisation which for over 30 years has rehomed thousands of dogs and puppies. The company previously supported Little Miracles, a charity that assists families that have children with additional needs, disabilities and life limiting conditions.

Both charities are local to Carl F Groupco’s UK administration and distribution centre in Peterborough.

Initiated by Stef Brown who works in Carl F Groupco’s internal sales team, the company has a ‘dress down day’ every Friday with each participant donating 50p to the designated charity.

Other events that have also contributed to the funds raised have included bake sales. www.carlfgroupco.co.uk

Send Season’s Greetings With GM Fundraising GM Fundraising Christmas cards are now on sale!

The children at Hope House Children’s Hospices have been working very hard to create a pair of very special and unique cards which are sold in packs of 20 and can be personalised with company logos and messages.

“This year Callie and Lily have produced the very special Christmas drawings that we used to create the cards this year,” explains GM Fundraising team member, Alan Sadler. “These cards have become a tradition for us and every year the designs from the children get more and more special. Last year we sold more than 5,000 cards, many personalised with messages and logo’s. Every penny we raise from these cards goes straight to supporting the children and families at Hope House.

“Each pack contains 20 cards – 10 of each design – costing £20 plus £2.50 P&P. Orders over 60 packs can be personalised for a small additional charge.

“With Christmas just around the corners, why not be traditional and send a Christmas card to your customers, friends and family, and support this amazing

cause at the same time?”

Packs can be purchased directly from the GM Fundraising website www.gmfundraising.co.uk/cards or from Alan Sadler, by email alan@gmfundraising.co.uk, or phone 0845 302 1966.

More information on GM Fundraising can be found at www.gmfundraising.co.uk WINDOW NEWS NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017 93

CHARITY

Icotherm Becomes Team

Pudsey For Children In Need

The Icotherm Roof Systems’ team donned fluffy, yellow onesies on Thursday 16 November, to become Team Pudsey and raise money for Children in Need.

Overall, the team raised £491.00 with donations from customers, suppliers, friends and family.

Jenny Jackson, Director at Icotherm said: “As soon as I saw the Pudsey outfits in the supermarket, I knew that I needed to get the team involved in Children in Need, so we ordered 18 suits! All of the team, including our delivery drivers, office-based team and factory floor team wore their Pudsey outfits all day and brought a smile to customers and our neighbours!

“I’d like to say a big thank you to everyone who donated money to our team fundraising page to support the fantastic cause that is Children in Need.”

Friday’s live Children in Need show saw a record onthe-night total of £50 million and donations can still be made online. Icotherm’s fundraising page is still open – if you would like to contribute, please visit www.justgiving.com/companyteams/icotherm.

Conservatory Outlet Ltd

Get Creative For Cancer Research UK Staff at uPVC fabricator Conservatory Outlet Ltd have gathered together in their finest fancy dress to create a charity fundraising calendar in aid of Cancer Research UK. The idea of a fundraising calendar was suggested by factory and office staff in a recent staff forum event and has since captured the imagination of staff from all departments across the business.

Each team at the Yorkshire – based plant will represent a month in the calendar year, complete with costumes and props to match their chosen theme, such as “Great British Summer”, “Yorkshire Day”, “Valentines” and the company’s Directors going all out for “Christmas”.

Also selected by the Conservatory Outlet staff was the beneficiary charity – Cancer Research UK – resonating with an overwhelming number of employees, each

Morning and staff Charity Boxing matches, with future plans also in the pipeline for Directors Greg Kane and Michael Giscombe to lead the UK-wide network of installers in a physical challenge to achieve big figures for charity in 2018.

Conservatory Outlet Managing Director, Michael Giscombe explains “The charity calendar has been a fabulous team effort from initial idea right through to completion.

agreeing that Cancer affects far too many lives in the UK today.

The cost of print, time, and all proceeds from the selling of the calendars (along with some silliness for good measure!) will all be donated

by Conservatory Outlet Ltd. Copies will be available to purchase for staff, customers, suppliers and contacts from December onwards.

A target of £1,500 has been set to raise from calendar proceeds.

Other recent charitable gestures from the Conservatory Outlet team include a Macmillan Coffee

94 WINDOW NEWS NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017

“It’s great to be able to use our people power at Conservatory Outlet for such a good cause. I’m so proud of the team for all coming together to make this work, and hopefully we can make a difference in the live-saving studies that Cancer Research UK undertake.

“We’re certain the rather comedic images of the Conservatory Outlet team, including myself and my fellow team of directors will be a hit with all our contacts!”

Details on how to place an order can be found at: www.justgiving. com/fundraising/conservatory-outletcalendar2018.

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CALLING ALL PROFESSIONAL

INSTALLERS We need your help to drive up standards across the industry.

Excellence shouldn’t be a one-off. It should be a given. Together, we’ll make that happen.

Excellence as Standard is FREE to join. We’ll reward your commitment with: Effective Lead Generation Market-leading Products Excellence Academy Bespoke Training Comprehensive Marketing Support Partnership Benefits

Raise the bar and deliver your best – join Excellence as Standard today.

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join@excellenceas.co.uk