Window News January 2023

The AluK 77 window and door range re-engineered for future sustainability.

With the need for more energy efficiency from homes and buildings, here at AluK, we wanted to make sure we were playing our part. Especially when our products are key to letting natural light in, whilst keeping the elements out.

The 77 Range is our most high performing window and door range yet, outperforming the current A++ WER. And just as you’d expect from AluK, there’s no compromise when it comes to aesthetic design too.

The 77 window and door range from AluK, re-engineered for future sustainability.

Running Out Of Energy In 2023?

he energy relief scheme comes to an end in only three months. Will rising energy prices and potentially falling sales price create the perfect storm in glass and IGU supply in 2023. We report.

The Energy Bill Relief Scheme came into effect in October 2022 and will run until 31st March 2023. Government has effectively subsidised business by discounting wholesale gas prices, holding them at a baseline lower than they would have been otherwise been.

For electricity this has been £211 per megawatt hour (MWh) or 21.1p per kilowatt hour (KWH); and £75 per MWH or 7.5p per KWH for gas.

Without it, electricity prices for business would have exceeded £600 per MWh or 60p per KWh and gas, £180 per MWh or 18p per

KWh.

It’s been a lifeline for high energy businesses including tougheners, IGU manufacturers and glass processors. So, what happens when the Energy Bill Relief Scheme comes to an end in March?

Steep increase

“The answer is we don’t know”, says Mark Mitchell, chairman,

Cornwall Group. “It is however safe to assume that wholesale energy prices are expected to remain high, so if there is no additional government intervention, energy prices are going to go up, and significantly.

“That is going to be a very steep increase that not every business is going to be able to afford.”

With its own glass merchanting business, in addition to its three IGU manufacturing and toughening facilities – four of them high voltage – the challenges now faced by the Cornwall Group highlight the scale of the task ahead for many within the glass industry.

Mark points out that before the energy crisis Cornwall Group companies were paying on average 16p per KWh. Prior to the Energy Bill Relief Scheme coming into place, that has now gone up to over 50p per KWh. That’s a 212% increase.

“We saw our Group monthly energy bills go from £50,000 to approaching £250,000. They’re now back down to around £125,000 month but where they go after March is anyone’s guess”,

With its own glass merchanting business, in addition to its three IGU manufacturing and toughening facilities – four of them high voltage – the challenges now faced by the Cornwall Group highlight the scale of the task ahead for many within the glass industry.

Mark Mitchell, Chairman, Cornwall Group.

“I know that there are some of our competitors, prior to the Energy Bill Relief Scheme, are paying more, around 70 to 80p per KWh. Others are still benefitting from deals that they agreed pre-energy crisis but which will come to an end very shortly.

“We’ve been through a renegotiation and have medium term agreements in place, so while we pay more, we have more visibility on our future costs.

“But what this situation creates is a very uneven playing field.”

Market share

Mark argues that this creates a potentially explosive situation. He suggests an emerging softening of market conditions means there is more glass available, and in order to maintain volume and market share, some companies are discounting.

“At a time when energy prices are very likely to go up for most companies, for me it makes no commercial sense to be lowering your prices”, he says.

“Even if you are benefitting from a lower rate for energy right now, you won’t be in the future. If you’re lowering your prices while paying a higher rate now, it makes even less sense.

“Companies need to make a sustainable profit to have strong balance sheets in order to invest for the future and to have the financial strength to see tough times through.”

He warns that this means there are likely to be casualties in glass supply in the year ahead, particularly single process tougheners who are feeling the impact of energy prices most acutely, with little room for manoeuvre.

Cornwall Group which includes Mackenzie Glass, Cornwall Glass Manufacturing and Cornwall Glass and Glazing, is by contrast investing for the future, committing to a £2.5m spend in the year ahead within its existing businesses.

“In addition to the investment in the businesses already within the Group, we have a number of acquisition interests but I suspect that there will be more that come through in the year ahead, most regrettably as distress sales”, he states.

“We’re in a position to do that because while we will also be competitive, we have to be sustainable. Lowering prices at a time when energy prices have gone up beyond recognition and are likely to go up still further, doesn’t make sense.”

www.cornwallglass.co.uk

UAP Continues Acquisition Trail

Locks and hardware for doors and windows specialist, UAP, has acquired Security Hardware from Eurocell PLC.

Based in the West Midlands, Security Hardware specialises in domestic PVC-U door and windows hardware, which is supplied online and through more than 200 Eurocell branches across the UK.

Established 15 years ago, the company has forged a reputation for the quality of its portfolio, including products offered under the Schlosser Technik brand.

The acquisition will significantly expand UAP’s offer to customers, adding new products to its range and strengthening its geographical reach through Security Hardware’s distribution centre in Willenhall. The deal will also see UAP supply its entire portfolio to Eurocell’s branches.

Security Hardware joins UAP as part of a proactive acquisition strategy, which has seen the business acquire a further two companies within the last three years – Locking Systems and Intelligent Hardware.

Mark continues.

Cornwall Group is committing to a £2.5m spend in the year ahead within its existing businesses.

Listers Announce Above Inflation Pay Rise

National fabricator Listers has announced the permanent ‘Cost of Living Allowance’ uplift of £1,000 for all employees across all sites, which was originally announced in May 2022 as a temporary 12-month measure to help them cope with inflation and spiralling energy costs.

The trade fabricator is also due to increase the rate for all hourly paid colleagues from £10.40 to £10.90 in May 2023, which is the voluntary Real Living Wage. This is a 14.7% increase on the current UK Minimum Wage of £9.50.

There is not expected to be a corresponding price rise to customers.

“In November, we posted a record month, with sales of £4m,” Listers’ managing director Roy Frost said. “An accumulation of factors brought about this incredible result, including investment in products,

machinery, and marketing. But most importantly of all, our colleagues across all parts of the business have really stepped up to the plate, and without their hard work, this achievement would not have been possible.

“This pay rise is in part a recognition of that dedication. But we also understand that inflation and soaring energy costs have affected all household budgets this last year, and we want to do everything we can to make sure all our colleagues are prepared for rising bills.”

Listers’ announcement pre-empted a recent Lords report that found more than half a million people have left the UK workforce since the Covid pandemic.

“On the one hand, we want to protect our colleagues from rising prices, but we also want to guarantee that product quality and

service levels remain high, and the best way to do that is to attract and retain the best people,” Roy said. “It’s no secret that we have been experiencing a skills crisis in the window and door industry, and the news that the UK’s overall workforce is shrinking means we all have to work harder to develop the best products, which create new opportunities for our customers.”

These opportunities include premium products across both aluminium and PVC-U, all delivered in a range of finishes on the same rapid lead times.

These include the Sheerline Roof Lantern and the Prestige window range, which offer U-values as low as 1.3W/m2k with a doubleglazed unit, and 0.9W/m2k with a triple-glazed. The Sheerline Classic Window was added to the range at the end of 2022.

Growing demand for its aluminium offer has been matched by continuing demand for flush and timber alternative product ranges, including R9 and R7. These are available from Listers in a heritage mechanically jointed option and are tested to Secured by Design standards.

And Listers’ Timeless Flush Sash Window, manufactured in Veka Halo’s heritage flush sash system, offers an authentic alternative to timber with slim sightlines, a choice of Georgian bars, traditional ironmongery and dummy peg stay option, says the company.

“Our customers need a range of premium products to meet a changing set of demands going into 2023,” Roy said. “The fact that we hit a record month in November 2022 proves that our strategy is working. But we can only achieve this if we invest in our people, which is why we are proud to announce these pay rises across the board.”

www.listerwindows.co.uk

Regulation Compliant

Windows Should Be A Key Consideration For Energy Bill Reduction

Following the recent introduction of the Government’s Eco+ Scheme to reduce household energy bills through additional insulation, a prominent polymer manufacturer is asking that windows be considered an equally important factor.

According to recent stats from energy.gov, heat gain and loss through windows can be responsible for 25-30% of residential energy use. It is with this in mind that polymer provider Rehau is advocating that regulation-compliant, energyefficient windows should be a consideration within the ECO+ Scheme as a method for reducing energy lost from a property.

“The cost-of-living crisis of course, continues to impact householders and property owners and the ECO+ scheme is a great way for the Government to show support and recognise the struggles of those affected,” says Russell Hand, head of product management and technical at Rehau Windows. “However, the quality of windows within a property should be considered highly important alongside the benefits that improved insulation can bring.

“As the recent uplifts to Approved Part L under the Future Homes Standard clearly demonstrates, windows do have a big impact on housing heat loss and energy waste. By including the installation of regulation-compliant frames within the ECO+ scheme many households could reap the energy bill reducing benefits this winter.”

It is more important than ever that the risk of misinterpretation around the requirements of the Future Homes Standards Updated Part L regulations is avoided. To support with clarity around the regulation changes Rehau have launched a series of fact sheets, two of which cover, in depth, the updates to window energy efficiency standards for new builds and retrofits.

“In the wake of the energy crisis and the introduction of the ECO+ scheme, being fully aware of what the Future Homes Standard entails is more important than ever. If windows were to be included under current plans, a clear understanding of the regulations is required to ensure correct specification. Windows are a key area where heat can be lost, and so the cost of not selecting energyefficient components is only too real for the affected building occupants.”

To access the ‘In The Frame’ hub, click HERE.

www.energy.gov/energysaver/ update-or-replace-windows

Donaldson Door Systems Rebrands From Rowan Manufacturing Ltd

A Scottish joinery manufacturer of door sets has a new identity. Following its acquisition by the Donaldson Group in 2020, Donaldson Door Systems (DDS) is the new brand of the business formerly known as Rowan Manufacturing Ltd (RML).

Established in 1979 as the manufacturing arm of the Rowan Group, DDS specialises in manufacturing, merchanting and supplying internal and external door sets, as well as staircases from its site in Plains, North Lanarkshire.

Since its acquisition in February 2020, all colleagues and operations have moved over to the Donaldson Group, with managing director, Luke Roberts, and general manager, Billy Cameron, continuing to drive the business.

DDS holds Secured By Design accreditation and is claimed to be the only company in Scotland to be both Q Mark and Certifire certified. DDS will harness the expertise of the Donaldson Group, operating within its offsite division, to continue servicing the UK housebuilding and construction market.

October Merchant Sales Climb +7.5%, But Inflation’s Still Driving Growth

The latest Builders Merchant Building Index (BMBI) report reveals that builders’ merchants’ value sales were up +7.5% in October 2022 compared to the same month in 2021. Volume sales dropped again (-5.6%) while prices climbed +13.9%, so price inflation was the driving factor of growth.

Eleven of the twelve categories sold more in October compared to the previous year, with eight performing better than the Merchants overall. Renewables & Water Saving (+66.1%) was the standout category, while Plumbing, Heating & Electrical (+19.5%), Workwear & Safetywear (+19.0%) and Kitchens & Bathrooms (+17.5%) also had a good month. Timber & Joinery Products (-8.4%) was the only category to sell less.

Compared to pre-pandemic October 2019, total merchant value sales were +19.6% higher in 2022. Volume sales fell -8.9%

while prices were +31.2% higher. With two less trading days this year, like-for-like sales were up +31.0%. Four of the twelve categories grew more than total Merchants with Renewables & Water Saving (+59.5%) leading the pack. Landscaping (+31.2%), Timber & Joinery Products (+23.4%) and Heavy Building Materials (+21.5%) also fared well.

Month-on-month, total merchant sales dropped slightly (-0.9%) in October compared to September. Volume sales were also marginally down (-1.8%) and prices edged up (+0.9%). Plumbing, Heating & Electrical (+9.3%) grew most, followed by Tools (+5.4%). Seasonal category Landscaping (-8.1%) was the weakest.

Mike Rigby, CEO of MRA Research which produces this report, said: “The building industry does not operate in a vacuum and this year it’s been

hit by the effects of political turmoil and economic UK own goals, and aggressive policies and events in Russia and China. Steeply rising interest rates, soaring energy costs, a cost-ofliving crisis, a rapid slowdown in the housing market, plus beneficial freight rates tumbling back to normal, have all impacted the sector.

“Coming after a series of national lockdowns and a prolonged period of furlough, it’s hard to think of a time when the industry has had to face so many shocks to the system in such a short time. And the industry has coped remarkably well. But the roller coaster is not over. The new combination of Sunak and Hunt are safe hands but can they bring their party with them, and will their feet on the brakes postpone productivity improvements and growth? Who knows? And good luck to the boards who must put their budgets to bed before the start of 2023! It would be good to return to some sense of normality in 2023 but I wouldn’t bet on it.”

Developed and run by MRA Research, the BMBI – a brand of the Builders Merchants Federation – is a monthly index of builders’ merchant sales, and the most reliable, up-to-date measure of Repair, Maintenance, and Improvement (RMI) activity in the UK. The index is based on actual sales from GfK’s Builders’ Merchant Point of Sale Tracking Data, which captures value sales out to builders from generalist builders’ merchants, accounting for over 80% of total sales from builders’ merchants throughout Great Britain. An in-depth review, which includes commentary by sector experts, is provided each quarter.

October’s BMBI report, published in December, is available to download at www.bmbi.co.uk

Rehau Answers Lingering Questions About Future Homes Standards Updates

Three months after the introduction of the Future Homes Standards Regulation updates, Rehau has been engaging with installers and fabricators and found questions about the modified rules remain.

Following significant changes to building regulations, updates have been made to Approved Part L and Approved Part F of the Future Homes Standards, covering energy efficiency and ventilation in new and existing properties respectively. According to system supplier Rehau, the considerable time gap between the updates and their implementation risks the

spread of outdated information, which could potentially raise the risk of the use of non-compliant products.

The company’s conversations with installers and fabricators highlighted potential confusion surrounding the circumstances in which trickle vents are required. Specifically, questions arose concerning kitchens with hood vents over the hob and ovens, and when mechanical ventilation is used upstairs alongside chimneys on lower floors.

Addressing the two different conditions, Steve Tonkiss,

head of sales South at Rehau Windows, said: “In both these cases trickle ventilation is still required. Chimneys aren’t a method of controlled ventilation; however, air bricks could possibly be fitted instead as long as meet the required Building Regulation requirements and evidence can be provided to show this.

“No matter the method chosen, ventilation of any gas or combustion appliance must be done in line with Approved Document J’s guidance on the safe installation and usage of heating appliances. In the same way, kitchen hoods don’t replace the use of trickle vents either as they aren’t continuous methods of ventilation as they are intermittent extraction.”

Conformity to ventilation guidelines was also found to provoke uncertainty among installers and fabricators. For example, questions arose around whether acoustic trickle vents need to meet the same Equivalent Area (EQA) standard as regular trickle vents, and whether glazing vents can be used as an alternative method of aeration.

Considering Part F and Part L of FHS, Steve said: “All sound attenuation ventilators must comply with the minimum equivalent area (EQA) of background ventilators for natural ventilation guidelines as outlined in table 1.7 of Part F regulations. They must also be marked according to the relevant type of ventilation system detailed in section 1.16. In light of this, when it comes to using glazing vents as an alternative, provided they perform to the requirements of table 1.7, they are a viable solution.”

Situations can arise in which building standards are obstructed, for instance, Rehau

personnel had often received questions about windows with profiles too narrow for two minimum sized trickle vents. Specifically, installers wanted to know if window profiles with vents placed in the sash and the head of the outer frame could be used. In a similar vein, they also asked if a homeowner refused to have trickle vents can a disclaimer be signed to cover the installer with building compliance bodies Fensa or Certass.

Steve said: “In circumstances where the window does not present enough space for side-by-side trickle vents, as close to the minimum as feasibly possible or alternative placements can be used if weather performance is unaffected. If doing so does influence the windows performance, the homeowner or installer could approach building control to seek their advice and approval. In the situation of non-compliance by a homeowner there is unfortunately no facility for customers or installers to issue disclaimers to omit the use of trickle vents.”

With this uncertainty in mind, Rehau’s commercial technical team have developed four fact sheets to assist installers and fabricators.

For more information on and support understanding the Future Standard, click here.

Installers Can Cash In, In 2023, Says Leads 2 Trade

Energy saving home improvements will continue to be on consumer wish lists in 2023 despite the costof-living crisis. That’s the view of Andy Royle, co-founder and director of Leads 2 Trade, a UK provider of double-qualified home improvement sales leads.

“Towards the end of 2022 we saw a 29% increase in turning customer enquiries into business and a 41% increase in appointments arranged for our members and those have mainly been for products around saving energy, such as double glazing, replacement conservatory roofs and solar panels,” said Andy.

“With energy bills expected to increase again in April, homeowners will understandably continue to look for home improvements that can save them money and we see consumer interest remaining high for those products.”

With energy prices playing a big part in the cost-of-living crisis, while traditional spenders may tighten their belts, Andy expects wealthier earners to continue spending – and thinks installers who seize the opportunity to

diversify will reap the benefits.

“Lower income earners might be more reluctant to spend this year, but higher earners will still splurge on home improvements and installers must be ready to take advantage. We expect to see more installers diversifying their product range to high ticket items this year to target those different age and income demographics.”

Andy also expects to welcome more installers to the Leads 2 Trade member network as their self-generating lead efforts slow down.

“While the expected downturn never really materialised in terms of lead enquiries, installer order books and quote books will continue to dry up a little and they will need help in keeping those leads coming in,”added Andy. “We’re not off seeing pre-Covid levels of demand and have two of our biggest accounts already back on board for 2023.

“So, the enquiries will be there for installers – it’s now about our members taking advantage of them to grow their businesses in 2023.” https://bit.ly/3QgWG2a

Andy Royle

Trade And Online Sales Build A Successful Business

Freefoam has launched a new video with long standing customer Building Plastics Wales Ltd. The short film showcases the business and its customers and illustrates how Freefoam work with its trade suppliers to build long standing relationships leading to growth and success.

Colin St John, commercial director explains: “We support all our customers and believe that their growth is our growth. Building strong and lasting relationships with our customers, such as Building Plastics Wales, is crucial to our business. Our roofline, cladding and interior products are an ideal addition to any PVC supplier and it’s fantastic to see this customer grow and flourish with the help of Freefoam.”

A family run business based in South Wales, with two branches in Blackwood and Newport, the company was started in 2014 by

Vaughan Colley. Vaughan has many years’ experience selling PVC products and could see a gap in the market in South Wales for local supply, as well as the growing opportunity for online sales of building products.

Vaughan says: “We have grown the business over time, moving from the original single unit, to 3 units in Blackwood and the addition of our Newport branch to service the local area and our internet sales. We supply the full range of Freefoam building plastics throughout the UK, from the top end of Scotland to the bottom end of Cornwall, delivered by own vehicles and network of national couriers.”

Building Plastics Wales serve a wide range of customers from trade buyers, DIY customers and large housing associations. Vaughan explained: “We’ve seen our online sales grow year on year,

and they now form around 40% of our total business. E-commerce business is made up of a mixture of purely online customers from all around the UK alongside our increasingly growing number of traditional local trade customers choosing to click and collect from branch or have products delivered to site. It’s a trend we can see continuing, and we’re pleased we’ve got the systems in place to make the most of this opportunity”

Freefoam works closely with Building Plastics Wales through area sales manager Steve Shaw. Steve gives regular product and technical support and actively looks for new business for Building Plastics Wales. In conclusion Vaughan summarized: “Our sales of Freefoam products has grown as Freefoam bring out new products. We have a good working relationship with the customer service team and Steve, our area manager. I can only see this relationship with Freefoam getting stronger as we build the company up.”

www.freefoam.com

Consumer Disputes

Add To Installer Stress

The Double Glazing & Conservatory Ombudsman Scheme (DGCOS) recently published their Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) report as a Chartered Trading Standard Institute-approved ADR Competent Authority. The latest report illustrates that there is a strong correlation between customer complaints and the issues reported in the DGCOS Glass and Glazing Mental Health Survey 2022, and DGCOS recommends that tackling the big issues raised in both reports could not only make for a stronger supply chain but reduce stress and anxiety in the industry too.

Faisal Hussain, DGCOS chief executive, explains more: “When reviewing our latest ADR report, I found it particularly interesting that the type of complaints

consumers are making reflect the issues that installers reported to us via our Glass and Glazing Mental Health Survey 2022. This raises the question of whether by implementing improvements to mental health management, we can reduce the number of consumer complaints that need dispute resolution? I believe the answer to that is ‘yes’.

“In the ADR report, problems with product were mentioned in 52.5% of consumer complaints that came through the DGCOS dispute resolution service between 1 August 2021 to 31 July 2022. Pair this with the 12.5% of consumer

complaints that were about poor customer service and we’re looking at a huge number that could be overcome by better communication and more quality control higher up the supply chain. This strongly reflects the comments made in the DGCOS Mental Health Survey, where an unreliable supply chain, quality of products and lack of communication by suppliers were mentioned by respondents as being causes of increased stress and anxiety.

“If installers are not getting the right product to the right quality at the time it’s promised, this has a knock-on effect on the service they are able to provide. As the consumer-facing team, installers are being blamed for issues that are caused further up the supply chain which could be overcome by better communication and quality control from the start. For example, a QC process before dispatch would not only stop wrong or poor- quality product is reaching installers and it would also make the manufacturing process more efficient by reducing the number of callbacks and returns.

“It’s not a stretch to say that there are ways in which reducing pressure on installers and levels of stress can positively affect the way in which they work. This in turn engenders a smoother running of a project on-site and better relationships with the end customer, and could potentially mean a reduction in disputes.

“If our aim as an industry is to work efficiently, effectively and to safeguard our colleagues’ mental health, reports like the ADR report help us to identify areas that need to be addressed. To help combat these issues, I am inviting people to join my Fenestration Working Group so if you are motivated to help, please email me directly at f.hussain@schemes.org.uk.”

www.dgcos.org.uk

Carl F Groupco Reports Biggest Ever Sales Month

Independent hardware distributor

Carl F Groupco has recorded its biggest ever month, with sales exceeding £2 million. The month caps a ‘stunning’ quarter for the business, which was its highest on record. John Crittenden, managing director at Carl F Groupco, said: “If you read the headlines, it’s doom and gloom. But it’s a different picture on the ground. Feedback from our customers is that the market is still buoyant and it’s something that’s reflected in our sales.”

John reports there are highlights from every part of the business. He says: “The premium end of the market is still growing and looks likely to continue to do so in 2023. Even at the value end of the market, customers are still reporting full order books, perhaps in part driven by consumer concern over rising energy price. Fabricators in the commercial and social housing sectors are still securing contracts, albeit at slightly lower volumes due to increased budgetary pressures.”

Carl F Groupco is said to be proving a popular hardware distributor because its offer is very strong, especially in an uncertain

economic climate.

It provides an extensive range of premium quality window and door hardware and has long-standing relationships with Europe’s most innovative manufacturers. It holds £5 million of stock, which the company says means it can remain a reliable partner to its customers, offering short lead times and a high level of customer service.

For ease of ordering and an improved customer experience, the company recently launched My CFG, an online digital platform.

The company also offers a valueadded consultancy service, testing and working with its customers’ fabrication teams and manufacturer partners to scope new hardware solutions and ensure smooth transitions to new ranges.

John concludes: “We’re here to support our customers, no matter what the market conditions. But I think the lesson we can learn from this quarter’s results is simple. Let’s not talk ourselves into a downturn as the market is still holding up.”

www.carlfgroupco.co.uk

Quanex Acquires LMI Custom Mixing

Quanex, the billion-dollar building products powerhouse that owns leading fenestration brands Edgetech and Liniar, have made a major acquisition.

The North American-based group has bought the assets of LMI Custom Mixing – a state-of-theart custom polymer mixer that produces high quality rubber compounds.

Supplying a variety of different sectors, LMI has ‘an extensive track-record of providing excellent service’ to the fenestration industry. Going forward, it will do business as Quanex Custom Mixing.

The business has been a key Quanex supplier for twenty years – which made the acquisition a logical development, as Edgetech managing director Chris Alderson explains: “LMI is a perfect fit for Quanex, not least because they were a longterm supplier already, and had previously been part of a group with Edgetech in the past.

“The acquisition significantly enhances Quanex’s existing expertise in materials science and process engineering, and allows us to further expand our product offering.

www.edgetechig.co.uk

New Wave Doors Delivers 100% OTIF

Despite industry-wide supply chain issues recently, New Wave Doors reported fulfilling every one of its orders on time and in full throughout November.

The Bristol-based manufacturer has seen demand for its alternative to traditional bi-fold doors increase considerably in recent years – prompting some to ask if the typical bi-fold’s days are numbered – and has always been proud of its ability to fulfil orders quickly and efficiently.

New Wave Doors production director, Ben Warren, commented: “Maintaining high OTIF scores is something we’ve been focusing on since the pandemic, and we’ve achieved over 90% OTIF since

April. The fact we have been able to deliver 100% of our orders on time and in full for the whole of November shows that our hard work is paying off.”

Having been on the receiving end of supply chain difficulties in the post-pandemic market recovery, New Wave Doors has implemented several key points that have contributed towards the latest 100% OTIF record.

“The biggest influence has been our new software system,” explains Ben. “We found offthe-shelf systems just weren’t delivering what we needed, so we are working with our own software developers and have invested in a system that has been designed

specifically for our business. It allows for full QR code scanning throughout the factory, which gives full transparency throughout our manufacturing processes. We can simply log in and see exactly what’s going on at any given point.”

“Working with the right systems company to extrude our unique New Wave system and investing in stock levels has also been a huge contributing factor to delivering orders on time. We’ve been working closely with Cortizo for our aluminium profiles and have invested in large volumes of stock of our most popular white, black, and anthracite products. We’ve also developed the New Wave ‘Decimal’ lock with Ingenious and invested in significant stock levels.”

“Like nearly all companies in the industry, we’ve been at the mercy of supply chain issues. But we’ve taken the necessary steps to combat these, and it’s fantastic to see those are paying off and our customers can rely on New Wave Doors to reliably and consistently fulfil their orders.”

Following on from the launch of a package of digital sales tools in late 2022, Ultraframe has now announced that a full range of physical samples are available to support builders and installers with selling the hup! building system.

The samples range which is available to order now via the company’s Cuckoo online marketing centre includes pullup banners, a brick mesh sample case, a hup! build-up sample and corner column, and a hup! cable management panel.

Commenting about the new hup!

samples, Ultraframe marketing director, Alex Hewitt, said: “We are continuing to enhance the package of tools available to support our customers in selling hup! and these physical samples are the latest addition to our hardworking hup! marketing suite. They are the ideal package to get a showroom fully ‘sethup!’. We know that there is often no substitute for getting hands on with a product – particularly something as new and innovative as hup! – and so we feel that the physical samples will be a great help in helping consumers to understand the many benefits of the hup! system.”

The physical samples join the many other items in the hup! suite of sales tools including digital samples, an online configurator, web page templates, and a range of sales literature.

For more information visit trade-hup.co.uk

Sheerline Showcases

New Products And State-Of-The-Art Facilities

During Customer Open Days

Sheerline recently held several open days for its installer and fabricator customers at the company’s HQ in Nether Heage, Derbyshire. It provided an opportunity for senior members of the team to highlight Sheerline’s achievements over the past few years and showcase its new products that will be available from early 2023.

This includes a new Prestige Lift & Slide Patio Door, which completes the Prestige door range. The technical design team have worked hard to ensure there is consistency across the Prestige range for fabricators and installers with U-values match every item within the Prestige range, achieving 1.0 triple glazing and 1.4 with double glazing. The

new door also uses the same clip-in beads as the rest of the range – further evidence of Sheerline’s commitment to integrated system design.

It integrates seamlessly with other Sheerline products, so homeowners don’t have to worry about mismatched doors and windows. It is Part L compliant as standard, and as with all Sheerline products, provides exceptional thermal efficiency through Sheerline’s proprietary Thermlock technology.

In addition, says Sheerline, it maximises the views outside by offering slim sightlines and is available in stepped and contemporary styles. With a choice of four threshold options, the option for triple

tracked options that allow for easy drainage, the system also features fully retracting hook locks and flush jambs to avoid the use of protruding pegs that can snag on clothing.

The team also took customers through the benefits of the new beaded option for the ultra-slim, ultra-secure Classic range as well as showing how fabricator and fitter friendly the new SBD option for the award winning S1 lantern is.

Darren Pusey, supply chain & technical director of Lister Windows commented: “Lots of things have impressed us about Garnalex–they’re dynamic, exciting, supportive, and they’ve got a fresh approach to the aluminium industry, but with years of experience to back

them up.

“They’ve got high-performance U-values for every product within the Prestige range, which is a huge achievement and an excellent selling point for us. And because of Sheerline’s approach, they’ve brought to market a family of suited products that genuinely work well together, look good, and use interchangeable parts,” he added.

After showcasing its’ new products, the team provided a comprehensive tour of Sheerline’s state-of-the-art facilities to give customers an insight into the manufacturing process. This included the company’s SMS HybrEx Press, which can extrude 4 tonnes of aluminium per hour. Garnalex prides itself on being one of very few manufacturers in the UK to extrude their aluminium inhouse, with what the company describe as the most integrated production facility in the UK.

There was also an opportunity to see the in-house powder coating plant in operation, which has benefited from over £1.2 million in investment and was recently awarded full Syntha Pulvin applicator status. Aside from enhancing Sheerline’s quality control process, powder coating in-house means customers benefit from agile lead times.

Sheerline CEO, Roger Hartshorn said: “We’re delighted with the success of our customer open days and look forward to holding more in the future. It’s a great opportunity for us to showcase what we’re doing at Sheerline, which is pushing the bounds of what is possible within the fenestration industry by using technology to innovate and set ourselves apart from our competitors.”

www.sheerline.com

Fentrade

Brings Its Customer-Focused Approach To The

Aluminium fabricator Fentrade has announced it is expanding into PVC-U and will be manufacturing the Residence Collection from January 2023.

Chris Reeks, Fentrade’s director, said: “The Residence Collection brings together a suite of premium window and door systems, designed and made in Great Britain. The range offers the aesthetics and quality today’s discerning consumers want. As such it offers significant market advantages for our customers.”

Fentrade will be manufacturing three suites in the Residence Collection.

Residence 9 is the original timber window alternative. It has the traditionally elegant flush exterior and stylish decorative interior needed to authentically replicate 19th century timber designs.

Residence 7 windows are versatile without complication.

PVC-U Sector

Beautifully flush inside and out, the system is equally at home in heritage projects and modern homes.

Residence² offers an alternative to aluminium windows. Symmetrical and sleek, it’s perfect for modern interiors.

All systems have a diverse colour offering covering a number of architectural styles. Hardware choices include bespoke butt hinges, dummy or working, and a choice of handles and stays, in a range of colour options.

Chris continues: “The Residence Collection demands expert fabrication with an eye for detail, two traits we pride ourselves on. We are looking forward to combining the expertise of Fentrade and Residence Collection to take our business to the next level.”

www.fentraderesidence.co.uk

Morley Glass Hits 1,000-Tonne Glass Recycling Milestone

Uni-Blinds integral blind manufacturer Morley Glass has saved over 1,000 tonnes of post-consumer glass from going to landfill in just two years, and instead diverted it into the production of new glass in a scheme that has provided funding of more than £60,000 for environmental and community schemes in West Yorkshire, claims the company

Morley Glass is the UK’s largest manufacturers of double glazed units with ScreenLine integral blind systems inside, offering installers a range of Venetian and pleated blind options.

In 2020, the company invested in reducing its process waste and providing a post-consumer glass recycling service to installers by commissioning machinery that could crush waste glass into what is known as cullet. This can be fed directly into the manufacture of new glass which not only reduces needless landfill waste, but it also cuts the volumes of virgin

raw materials needed to make glass and saves energy as turning cullet into new glass requires less energy.

The scheme, which is run in conjunction with international glass manufacturer Saint-Gobain Glass, is continuously audited so Morley Glass can see exactly how much waste glass is being collected and the benefits it is delivering.

The data shows that in two years, the amount of glass cullet produced by Morley Glass is equivalent to the weight of 150 elephants, saving around 325,000kg of CO2, as every tonne of glass cullet prevents 300kg going into the atmosphere. Over 920,000kg of sand, the main raw material for glass, has also been saved and the overall energy saving to Saint-Gobain Glass is calculated at 541 ‘energy years’ – that is the energy used by an average UK household in 12 months, says the company.

In addition to saving resources

and energy, the recycling scheme has another important benefit for communities in West Yorkshire. All the money raised by the sale of the recycled glass cullet to Saint-Gobain Glass goes into a fund set up by Morley Glass called GreenVision.

This offers £500 one-off grants to charities, individuals and community groups who are located in West Yorkshire and dedicated to providing environmental or social improvements in their local area

Ian Short, managing director of Morley Glass said: “What started out as a simple business improvement idea has snowballed into an initiative that is delivering far-reaching benefits at a time when environmental and social sustainability have become priorities. We are thrilled to reach our 1,000 tonne milestone in just two years, which clearly demonstrates how popular the recycling service is with our customers who can save money on waste disposal costs too.

“And of course, the more waste glass we are able to collect and process, the more support we can provide through GreenVision to local people and groups who are giving up their time to improve their local environment or deliver social benefits.

Applying for a grant is quick and easy, so if this is you, please go to our website and submit a GreenVision application today!”

Morley Glass is also offering a free collection service to any window installer located in the Leeds area who would like them to turn their post-consumer waste glass into funds for the community. This can be arranged by calling 0113 277 8722.

Any eligible charity, group or individual interested in applying for a £500 GreenVision grant can do so at https://bit.ly/3Gr0Jo0

Made for Trade Celebrates Longstanding FIT Show Success

Whilst looking ahead to the 2023 event, revolutionary manufacturer MFT reflects on how the event has played a crucial role in the company’s success

How do trade exhibitions fit in the online, social media and post-Covid age? It’s a question many companies might ask

themselves when it comes to marketing and brand promotion, when the easy solution is just to push more and more potential customers online for image and video-based information.

That’s certainly not the case with glazing system manufacturer

Made for Trade, in particular when it comes to the FIT Show. The fenestration company’s products might have shaken up the industry and disrupted tradition with their cutting edge, precision engineeringled focus, but when it comes to promotion, nothing, they say, comes close to the face-to-face demonstrations and hands-on displays at FIT Show.

As the North East-based firm explored options and promotional opportunities for its forthcoming new design back in 2016, FIT was the one event that stood out as the most suitable launchpad for what was set to become a truly game-changing product and parent brand. That product was the roof lantern, under the auspices of MFT’s new Korniche brand. Thanks to features that revolutionised fit, finish, quality - and most notably speed and ease of installation - the lantern raised some experienced industry eyebrows as it applied practices, quality and precision from other areas of engineering to the fenestration market.

Whilst no modern day sales item is seemingly complete without a slick online video, still nothing replicates real life conversations with potential new customers

and trade partners, and still nothing beats being hands-on with a demonstration of just how a Korniche Roof Lantern can literally save time, hassle and money.

The initial launch was at that 2016 event, which was in many ways a journey into the unknown for the expanding family business. As soon as the show welcomed thousands of visitors through its doors on day one, the new Korniche brand and offering was quickly springboarded on its way to becoming a multi-award-winning and UK best-selling trade product.

As a free-to-attend exhibition for those in the business, FIT Show is the UK’s number one event dedicated to the window, door, hardware and flat glass industry. The key difference, however, has always been that FIT has established a reputation as the networking hub of ‘the community for our industry’. In the years that followed, the ability to offer build demonstrations became paramount to the success of Korniche products; really cementing the ease and speed of installation of the lantern in the minds of installers, show organisers, press and visitors. Along with related advertising to

How it all began at FIT Show 2016

deliver an enormous audience and exposure, the FIT Show allowed Made for Trade to be more strategic and targeted with its promotion, and to really publicise the unique attributes and USPs of ‘a Korniche’ to those people who MFT knew it would directly appeal –installers and builders.

As a result, three years later it was the natural choice for the second major Korniche product showcase: the new Bi-Folding Door. Once again pushing boundaries in terms of ingenuity, ease of fitment and clever design in the fenestration market, FIT was once again the number one choice for its first public display to attendees, trade partners and installers. With the system in its last stages of development, the event also allowed the MFT design team to listen to intensive feedback from show start to finish, and as a result

tailoring the final features and market positioning perfectly to suit.

When the event returned after a three-year Covid hiatus, FIT Show 2022 provided Made for Trade with the opportunity and platform to present both products to the broader audience and fenestration press – as well as the other 100+ exhibitors and 10,000+ visitors in attendance. With an impressive 170sqm stand featuring live demonstrations, competitions and interactivity to exhibit the unique selling points of the now-rapidly selling Bi-Folding Doors (such as the award-winning clip-in ‘SpeedBead’), being face-toface at the FIT Show provided a sorely-missed opportunity to really express the qualities of a Korniche product’s advanced engineering-led design; saving hours on site and increasing trade partner profits as a result.

Speaking of the events, MFT’s marketing manager Ian Bousfield said: “There has been a surge in product development and innovation within the fenestration industry in recent years. Exhibitions such as the FIT Show deliver a platform that allows businesses to maintain and grow brand positioning and allow consistent profile to trade audiences.”

The Wynyard-based firm has come a long way since that initial 2016 event; now an industry leader in aluminium fabrication and a multi-awardwinning business with award winning items. As a result, Made for Trade have seized the opportunity to showcase Korniche products at the FIT Show in May 2023; the event remaining the number one method of demonstrating a new development or offering to this diverse and dynamic industry. www.madefortrade.co

Richard Hall

The Year Ahead: Reynaers Expects Another Strong Year For Aluminium Solutions

Richard Hall, managing director of Reynaers Aluminium UK, provides an overview of what lies ahead for the company and the industry as we look ahead to 2023.

We expect many of the current trends in the glazing industry to continue to gain momentum as we move into 2023, with demand for aluminium solutions remaining high across both the commercial and residential sectors.

Slimmer sightlines and narrow frames will continue to be a popular choice across both markets, combining a stylish aesthetic and latest thermal efficiency ratings, with exceptional durability, performance and

quality.

Economic challenges

Despite signs that we’re about to embark on a challenging 12 months, demand for aluminium is expected to continue. The latest Glenigan Construction Industry Forecast suggests there will be a two per cent slip back in projects starting next year, while the residential market is set to see a drop off in demand as the cost-ofliving crisis bites.

While these challenges can’t be ignored, opportunities remain and a commitment to quality and outstanding service will allow trusted brands to stand apart,

Through Reynaers ACT, the company is making a clear commitment to choose to act differently to improve the environmental impact of its products, operations and people

giving partners confidence to invest. Here at Reynaers, we continue to prioritise product

development to deliver quality, high performance products giving our partners every confidence.

In supplying both the commercial and trade and retail sectors, Reynaers benefits from opportunities in both markets, and we will be looking to continue to grow our market share across the 12-month period.

Sustainability

Sustainability will continue to be a major consideration for the industry as we move towards 2025 and further revisions to building regulations. Ensuring the right products are available, when they are needed, will be an essential part of planning and product development.

At Reynaers, we keep customers at the heart of what we do, concentrating on their journey and what they need from our products and services. We proactively support this, constantly evolving to meet future needs. Throughout 2023 we will continue major innovations to increase efficiency and meet sustainability targets.

With the launch of our sustainability strategy in November 2022, Reynaers Act, we have set out a clear pathway

across the organisation on how we intend to reduce the carbon footprint of our products, the buildings they are used in and our operations. Work to support this and to meet our commitment to Science Based Target Initiatives (SBTi’s) is underway, including adding more circular products and introducing additional products to achieve anticipated lower U-values as part of the 2025 Construction Products Regulation revisions.

Environmental regulations will increasingly impact architectural design and construction decisions and by having already introduced a number of products that achieve U-values as low as 0.8W/m 2 K, Reynaers is well positioned to provide products for projects looking ahead.

Product Innovation

Product development continues to be a cornerstone of Reynaers’ commitment to performance and quality. Creating innovative products and services enables us to drive our customers’ growth, by seeing increased demand. We are continually enhancing our products, for example, adding options to complement the ultra slimline HiFinity sliding doors, which will be available in 2023.

The choice will expand to offer bi-part and open corner designs. We’re also launching a motorised version of the MasterPatio sliding door. Both of these doors, as well as our classic and highly popular ConceptPatio 130 system, have also received PAS 24 2016 security certification.

Supply chain issues

While the previous couple of years have seen supply chain issues across the industry, we are pleased that our current service has returned to pre-pandemic levels. We have extended the warehouse capacity at our headquarters in Birmingham, increasing stock capacity by almost 46 per cent. As part of our strategy to continue to enhance our customer service, we are studying buying patterns to adjust stock in line with requirements.

Digitalisation

To meet sustainability targets and increase efficiency, digitalisation will be a core focus for the year ahead. We’re aiming to introduce digital passports for all of our products to support ease of use and access to information, but crucially to embed environmental credentials. The aim is to have these completed by 2024. This will be supported by the Reynaers catalogue, which will also become fully digital.

Incorporating an increased level of smart build technology, along with simplified installation systems, will add value to our product range, as we look to the future of automated locking and operating systems.

Of course, having the right people is what really makes the difference to a company, and at Reynaers we work hard to attract new people into the industry, build the skills of current staff and nurture a new generation of talent – to deliver the highest standards. Our culture is founded upon the core values of being Passionate, Daring, Caring and United!

Reynaers will be adding to its HiFinity sliding door range in 2023

Taking The Hassle Out Of Aluminium

By Russell Yates, Managing Director, AluFold Direct

If the only thing stopping PVC-U installers from adding aluminium to their product portfolio and giving themselves a fighting chance against the current market downturn is the fact that it feels too disruptive to their existing business, then I would say they are talking to the wrong supplier.

We’ve had lots of new enquiries over recent months from PVC-U companies who have recognised that they need to start targeting the higher end of the market where buyers are more cushioned against the cost-of-living crisis, but who definitely don’t want the hassle that installers normally associate with buying and installing in aluminium.

One of the main reasons why they tell me they have started buying from AluFold Direct is because the whole experience we are offering in aluminium so closely mirrors what they are used to in PVC-U.

For instance, we use the same

pricing and ordering software that many installers use for PVC-U so they can price jobs themselves instantly online and convert them straight to orders. And, once the orders have been checked by us, they go direct to our factory, saving valuable time and avoiding mistakes. We also offer guaranteed product lead times of 7-14 days depending on whether frames are glazed or unglazed, and we offer windows, bi-folds, sliders and roof lanterns at a range of price points so that they can win business with strong margins.

Crucially, we’ve also got a huge factory with plenty of scalable capacity so we can take on new customers and help them to grow. Key to that is our large stockholding, which buffers our customers against all the usual challenges in the supply chain in a way that smaller, local aluminium suppliers with less space and fewer resources just can’t match.

Since I joined AluFold Direct in 2020, our aim has been to give traditional PVC-U buyers the same level of convenience and efficiency

in aluminium that they can already get in PVC-U, ensuring that they can easily run the two options side by side, and I am confident that we are now delivering that.

There’s a reassuring familiarity for PVC-U installers in how we operate – and for those who are already buying aluminium from elsewhere probably a refreshing focus on making life easy for our customers. With AluFold Direct, there is no waiting for your aluminium supplier to price every job for you, no weeks of waiting for your delivery, and no questions about quality or consistency. We have teams of customer service advisors on the phone to help everyone get started and an impressive package of installer support right across sales, marketing and training.

As the PVC-U market becomes increasingly price sensitive and margins start to be hit, the answer for installers who find themselves under pressure is to look at new opportunities with higher-end products where revenues are bigger, and margins are more sustainable. A recession doesn’t have to mean all bad news. With the right supply partner, it could even be just the opportunity installers need to aim higher for their businesses and make the leap into aluminium they have long been considering.

www.alufolddirect.co.uk

Lightweight enough to use on existing bases, the hup! building system is the ideal choice for conservatory replacements and can be built in any weather.

Window Of Opportunity

Kurt Greatrex, Dekko Window Systems sales director, discusses emerging window aesthetic trends and the importance of keeping up to date.

When it comes to home improvements, buying trends have certainly changed in recent years.

In the wake of the pandemic, many homeowners have found a new love for their homes and have decided to invest in their properties.

And with the internet at our fingertips, giving them access to literally millions of home

improvement ideas at the touch of a button, consumers generally want more options to choose from in real life.

The industry has seen an increased demand for different styles, colours and applications, and at Dekko, we’ve certainly seen a trend for spending more money – today’s homeowners are much more willing to invest in quality over cheap and cheerful options, creating a growing liking for more luxurious aesthetics.

And when it comes to windows in particular, we’ve seen some emerging trends in recent months.

Explosion of colour

At Dekko, we’ve recorded a strong demand for colour in both uPVC and aluminium windows, having seen around 55% of our orders in the past year being for coloured profile.

Coloured profile has of course been a growing trend across the industry for a while now, especially in the post-lockdown home improvement boom, and

Dekko sales director, Kurt Greatrex

there’s certainly been a big uptake in people choosing colour over the standard white products we’re used to.

Popular colours we’ve seen are black, cream, agate grey, anthracite grey, Chartwell green, and even woodgrain effects.

The quest for slim sightlines

The idea that windows are simply just functional elements of a home is quickly changing, and with a growing range of slim profile windows available, it’s never been easier for homeowners to access this stylish aesthetic without sacrificing the efficiency or thermal performance of traditional, thicker windows.

Without a doubt, unobstructed views of the outdoors have become one of the most frequently requested aspects of new windows, and we’ve certainly been seeing an increased interest in window systems that are completely flush, creating a smooth, ultra-modern and clean aesthetic that’s popular in both traditional and contemporary homes.

Demand for smart tech Smart devices have become an integral part of society, and as the world evolves, it certainly seems that entire homes are becoming equipped with smart devices for entertainment, convenience, and most importantly, security.

Feeling secure in their properties is paramount to homeowners, many of whom have invested in things like smart security cameras and doorbells, so it goes without saying that a window fitted with its own smart security feature would be extremely popular in this day and age.

It’s why at Dekko, most of our products can be fitted with Kubu, the smart-equipped lock from Avantis hardware.

The technology involves a smart sensor being attached to the window or door, which is then linked to the homeowner’s smartphone, enabling them to check whether their window or door is locked or unlocked – at any time and from any location.

In the age of digital technology, smart home security systems have become more popular than ever, and as technology has improved, so have these systems.

Today’s smart homes begin at the front door, and the Kubu Smart Lock is the ideal product for this, combining convenience and security with the latest technology and sophisticated design, while being extremely user-friendly and offering ultimate peace of mind.

Meeting demand

At Dekko, our wide range of products is constantly evolving, and is diverse enough to meet very different end user requirements, helping installers offer their customers the latest in glazing.

These include our range of Infinity uPVC windows, manufactured using pioneering Graf weld technology to deliver a seamless finish, and the Residence Collection of windows, the timber-

effect uPVC system that’s perfect for period property renovations.

We also offer the Räum collection of luxury aluminium windows, boasting sleek sightlines and optimal light intake.

But we haven’t stopped there – at Dekko, we’re constantly looking out for emerging trends, and have recently invested in a brand new window that will not only offer extremely slim sightlines and a fully flush appearance, but will also boast smart security features that truly make it a world first offering.

Due to be launched soon, we very much look forward to sharing this innovative new window with our installer customers, enabling them to offer the end user something they can’t refuse.

With new window aesthetic trends constantly emerging, it’s vital that suppliers adapt in order to keep up with consumer demand.

Dekko has a commitment to meeting our customers’ needs, and with our current product offering matched with recent investments, we’re certainly prepared to adapt to an everchanging market. www.dekkowindows.com

The ‘R-Word’

And Why We Should Still Be Optimistic

An open letter by Rob McGlennon, Managing Director, Deceuninck

The UK is in recession. The Office of Budgetary Responsibility downgraded its’ forecasts for the economy sharply following the Autumn Statement in November. Prospects for growth in 2023 have evaporated, to be replaced with a predicted 2% drop in GDP.

Rising energy and food prices have according to the OBR, ‘taken the wind out of the sails’ of the global economic recovery.

The OBR report is pretty depressing stuff but while uncomfortable reading there are things that we need to note, because it gives us a sense of the direction of travel for the UK economy and the window and door industry within it.

The first are wholesale gas prices. These are currently four times higher than they normally would be and the OBR expects them to remain high for at least the medium term.

This is an over-riding reason for homeowners to invest in improving the energy efficiency of their properties.

Costing the economy £86.4bn, it is also unlikely that the energy price guarantee can be maintained (at least in its current form) beyond April 2023. The energy crisis is going to continue and the cost to the end-user is likely to increase.

Our energy calculator shows how increased energy costs are already reducing payback times on new windows and doors, with savings of up to £1,400 per year. That’s a step-change. New windows and doors will pay for themselves in a 5-10 year period.

Ask yourself what would you rather do? Burn cash –literally – or invest it in a home improvement, which will materially improve the comfort of your home, enhance its’ appearance and security, and lower your carbon footprint?

Even if the energy price guarantee was retained in its current form, at £3,000 it still pushes average household energy bills to more than double where they were before April 2022.

Without it, energy analysts Cornwall Insights warns typical household energy bills would have

topped £3,739 a year!

Energy efficiency will drive window and door sales in 2023 and into the medium term.

The flip side of rising energy prices is that along with food and other costs, it contributes to a squeeze on household incomes. This the OBR says will push the economy into a recession lasting around a year from Q3 2022.

The first point to draw out is that in this scenario, we’re already in recession and so far the market has held up. Things are perhaps marginally slower than they were but we need to remember that the baseline has been the twoyears of exceptional demand, driven by COVID and numerous lockdowns.

The OBR also acknowledges that recession will be far shallower than previous downturns and significantly less severe than the last – the 2008 Crash.

There is in my view another factor to consider here and that is household saving. It remains at historically high levels with UK households collectively making more than £140bn of forced savings during the pandemic. That’s around 10% of household income.

The OBR has suggested separately that those who can afford to, will access savings to maintain spending.

And this is the underlying point. Those with cash to spend will continue to spend it. In the decade preceding the pandemic, the top fifth of wealthiest households accounted for more than half of all home improvements in the UK.

That is unlikely to change as we move forward.

It is also worth noting that the alarmist forecasts of a 15% or even 20% drop in house prices in

2023 in response to rising interest rates, are now being revised down to 6 to 8% Even in the dark days of 2008 and 2009 and the global banking crisis, house prices only fell by 15%.

The economic prospects that the UK faces in 2023 are nowhere near as severe as those we faced in 2008. A correction of the market of around 6% would go some way to correcting the record house price inflation that we have seen since Covid which brough average house prices to a record high in August 2022 at £296,000.

Mortgage interest rates are also dropping from the October jump in response to the rise in the base rate and are forecast to come back to around 4% at the start of 2023. This will still be a shock to anyone coming to the end of their 1.8% fixed deal but compared to

historical interest rate levels, they remain low.

If we take it that energy efficiency will be the foundation for window and door sales in 2023 and 2024, we should also assume that those with money still to spend, will want products which enhance and add value to their properties. Heritage, colour, flush casements, will continue to drive the market in the year ahead.

Having committed to the Science Based Targets programme and a pledge to cut our carbon footprint by 60% by 2030 from a 2021 baseline, and as the winner of the G22 Sustainability Initiative of the year, it would also be remiss of me not to mention sustainability.

It needs to be part of our offer, your offer and a collective offer from the window and door

industry. Energy efficiency, carbon footprint and wider sustainability go hand-in hand.

It is not ‘the’ reason to buy new windows and doors. Energy efficiency as we have said, and other evergreen drivers, appearance and security, will drive sales.

It is, however, a point of difference. And when the market is more challenging the ‘margins’ of your offer assume far greater importance.

Pre-pandemic in 2019 we were working hard. 2020 and 2021, and for much of 2022, new business has been served to us on a plate. Now we need to get back to working, marketing our products and our service offer, and start hustling again. www.deceuninck.co.uk

What Will Drive Window And Door Sales In 2023?

By Ryan Johnson, Group Managing Director, Emplas Group

What lies ahead for window and door sales and the economy generally, is difficult to call.

Energy costs remain at record highs for business and consumers. On the one hand that’s placing a squeeze on household incomes. On the other, it gives them a reason to invest as savings become greater and payback times are cut.

Inflation which loomed large over the UK economy for throughout 2022, will still be an ever-present force within this year, but peaked at 11% in Q4 2022. Going into 2023 it will continue to put

pressure on household budgets but is expected to fall back to 5% by the end of the year [2023].

House price inflation has slowed, but so far warnings of a 20% drop in house prices haven’t materialised. Is a more modest adjustment in the housing market now more likely and what will it do to window and door sales?

Retail is in short, entering a period of significant change as is the window and door supply chain:

1 UK consumer spending is slowing.

Retail sales fell across the board over the summer, into this autumn and continued into the winter, as

consumers have cut back in the face of rising costs.

Inflation, expected to peak at 11% and at a 40-year high, is not conducive to spending while high energy prices and higher interest rates, mean real wages are falling.

Consumer confidence will be fragile at the start of 2023 but with employment still high and inflation forecast to drop to 5% by Q4 2023 and then 1.5% by Q4 2024, we can expect it to recover by the second half of the year.

2 We’re in a mature market. Inflation makes things more difficult.

This is reflected in a drop in year-

on-year sales of on average 1015% (Business Pilot). According to Business Pilot year-on-year leads and sales were both down 10% in November.

There is an inevitability to this fall. According to the ONS the number of applications made for home improvement works in 2021 rose by more than a quarter compared to pre-pandemic levels.

That was never going to be sustained in 2022 or into 2023.

3 Will the housing market crash?

The forecast for the housing market before the Mini Budget last October was that it was going to cool but not crash. After it, and the Bank of England’s decision to increase rates to 2.25%, the forecasts shifted to a predicted Armageddon for the housing market with a crash of 20% in value.

At the time of writing [December 2022] the base rate has risen to 3%. The housing market has cooled with a 1.4% fall in November, although remains in growth (4.4% year-on-year) for the year as a whole.

Forecasts for the market in 2023 suggest a softening but a far more modest 5% and not the crash forecast in October. That’s important because it means people will retain equity in their properties, with the potential to release it for home improvements.

4 The energy crisis creates opportunity

At an upper limit of £3,000 on ‘average household bills’ the Energy Price Guarantee may have pulled homeowners back from a cliff edge but still represent roughly double what they were paying before the 1st April 2022

As it stands, it’s also only a twoyear offer so if energy prices

remain high, end-users will still face increased costs by April 2024

With new energy efficient windows offering savings of up to £1,400 a year and a significantly shorter payback time, it makes investing in home improvements if you can afford to, make sense.

5 The people who spend on home improvements still have cash

According to the ONS almost half of the spending on home improvement in the ten years from 2011 to 2020 came from the upper fifth of households by income, with almost 80% of the spend from the top half by income.

These are people with money who in the current energy crisis have an opportunity to control their future costs through a moderate spend now.

6 Being targeted will pay

Baby-boomers born between 1946 and 1965 they, and to a lesser degree, Generation X (born 1966-81) have accumulated large amounts of housing equity, through rampant house-price inflation.

This has supported a wave of spending that has gradually lifted spending levels within older age groups.

With housing prices likely to hold-firm, older people will have greater equity and will be more willing to spend in the year ahead.

7 Glass is going to be a crunch point

Energy costs create opportunity, but they also create pressure on business. The Energy Bill Relief Scheme which fixed energy prices for business for sixmonths from October is helping,

but it runs out on 31st March this year. Many businesses, including glass suppliers which use energy in high volumes, remain vulnerable. Consolidation in glass supply should be expected and that will make the supply chain fragile.

8 Upstream activity will continue to attract and be shaped by venture capital

It may feel tougher out there but that hasn’t put off venture capital. Prospects for growth in the commercial sector are appealing for investors who tend to look ahead to the next three to five years.

We would be naïve not to think that the influx of cash would not have an impact on the shape of our market.

We remain a family-owned and investment-led business, that gives us an increasingly distinct USP from those other large fabricators around us.

9 Flush has entered the mainstream

We’ve seen massive growth in sales of Flush products from Profile 22 and AluK in the last two years. We expect that to continue to grow as flush products push beyond heritage replacement markets to a far wider range of installations.

10 A final word on sustainability

We’re working to lower our carbon footprint, streamline our manufacturing processes, use less energy and create less waste throughout our business. We work in the commercial sector and being able to evidence your environmental credentials is a pre-requisite to doing business.

We’re seeing that cross over into home improvement. In 2023, it’s not going to define sales but it is going to contribute to them.

Part F Over-Specification Costing Installers Jobs

Emplas has warned that sixmonths on from the update to Part F, many installers are still defaulting to a catch-all replacement specification, something which it says could be costing them work.

The update to Part F in June, introduced a new requirement for replacement windows to either put back the same level of ventilation in new windows as was there before, where trickle vents were previously present; or to make sure that windows achieved a 8,000mm2 equivalent area (EA) background ventilation in kitchens and habitable rooms.

The requirement for replacement windows in bathrooms is 4,000mm2 EA, while in utility rooms and WCs, there’s no minimum requirement.

Paul Dowling, technical manager at Emplas, warned that installers who were specifying trickle vents on all windows were adding unnecessary costs, something which could cost

them business as homeowners applied more scrutiny to costs in the face of rising inflation bites.

“The individual cost of a trickle vent may be comparatively small but if you’re applying it to a house full of windows, it can add up and tip the balance in favour of someone else”, he said.

“We’d much rather that our

customers get specifications right and win more business.”

The most common overspecification of trickle vents in replacement installations is in utility and WCs, which don’t require trickle vents under the regulation but also multiple windows in habitable rooms.

Paul continued: “There’s an issue here of comfort for the end-user. If you have a double aspect living room or dining room you could easily have two, three or even four windows in that space.

“If those windows each have a 4000 mm2 EA trickle vent, you could be effectively doubleventilating the space, increasing cost but also compromising performance.

“The regulation sets the requirement for the room – not the window.”

Emplas supplies the Link Vent trickle vent from Glazpart, which is available in a 4,000mm2 EA,5000 and 2500EA options.

This includes a wide range of solid colour options available internally and externally to match Emplas’ colour offer, plus externally foiled options and white internally.

“The 4000mm2 Link Vent is the product which our customers are going to be specifying most of the time and it delivers a number of advantages”, Paul continued.

“At 380mm, the Link Vent 4000 is also 74mm shorter than the Link Vent 5000, and can also be used in the frame and the sash and has less of an impact on the appearance of the window.

“It also performs very well acoustically and with the match that we can offer to our standard colour ranges creates a very flexible solution.”

www.emplas.co.uk

Paul Dowling, technical manager at Emplas

The Business Pilot Barometer

Seasonal adjustment?

By Neil Cooper-Smith, Senior Analyst, Business Pilot

For example, in December 2021, sales were down by 40%, going forward to record a 47% bounce in January 2022.

Tougher times may, however, be ahead.

Leads were down 4% year-on-year, and 29% on December 2020. Sales last December were down 17% on the same time in 2021 and 32% on December 2020. The market has been creeping back towards ‘normal levels of demand’, for the last 12-months or more.

We should still expect to see figures climb back in January this year after the Christmas-lull. The squeeze on household incomes and inflationary pressure, however, means that it is likely that this will be at a more modest level than in either 2021 or 2020.

Despite massive political and economic upheaval, December was what December normally is – a slow month for window and door sales. Leads were down 40% on November and sales were down 43%. The flip side of that is that at £6,142, average order value was up 15%.

And while a month-on-month drop of 40% in leads and 43% in sales sounds – and is – significant, the fall is consistent with a ‘normal’ seasonal adjustment.

The Business Pilot Barometer offers a monthly analysis of the key trends defining window and door retail. It draws on real industry data collated by Business Pilot, the cloud-based business management tool.To find out more see www.businesspilot.co.uk/barometer

The forecasts for the housing market and the wider UK economy are downbeat. The UK is widely predicted to already be in recession and the Bank of England is expected to increase the base rate further this year in the face of stubbornly high inflation.

Against this backdrop house prices are expected to suffer their biggest decline since the financial crisis with a drop of around 4%.

Even the double-digit falls predicted by the most pessimistic commentators would not wipe out the pandemic-driven increase of around 20% in house prices, since 2019.

Homeowners who purchased their properties before COVID and Stamp Duty holidays will retain equity, so will in this respect, still have cash to spend; but higher mortgage interest payments – predicted to rise on average by £3,000 this year – will lessen affordability.

Inflation will also continue to limit household discretionary spend.

If you don’t already, this may make it a prudent time to add finance to your offer. Homeowners are facing a squeeze on income but higher average order values suggest that they recognise the contribution windows and doors can make in lowering their heating costs and bills.

The other silver lining in amongst an otherwise gloomy outlook for the UK economy as a whole, is that unemployment remains at historically lowlevels, and while it may rise, it is forecast to do so more modestly than during past downturns.

The knowledge that their income stream is for most, protected, should give homeowners increased confidence to borrow to fund investments.

The bigger challenge may be company cash flow and bad debt. As always, those fabricators and installers that have continued to invest – and

Business Pilot gives installers access to critical management information which supports them in maximising conversions, controlling costs and managing cash flow, through effective forecasting and planning.

This includes drag-and-drop scheduling, which allows you to plan and reschedule jobs to support your cashflow with a mouse-click.

Notifications, changes to diaries, all the things that you have to change with a job-move, are taken care of automatically behind the scenes, making your business more agile and more robust.

www.businesspilot.co.uk

The decisions you make today will determine where your business goes in the next 12-months, so if you’re still running your business on unlinked spreadsheets and gut feeling, it’s time to get in touch.

www.businesspilot.co.uk

those who have close control on cash – will be better placed to ride out tougher times this year.

Quality Hardware On Display

In 2023 with the race to ‘wow’ homeowners and win business will be more competitive than ever. Having quality hardware on display can be extremely valuable in helping influence the decision-making process, says Coastal Group.

“We’ve had a lot of feedback from our customers that physically seeing and feeling the quality of the hardware helps them appreciate the difference this can make to their finished door”, states managing

director Loren Jenner. “We saw the potential to take this concept further and help our customers by introducing high quality product display boards for their showrooms”.

Coastal’s product display boards range has proved extremely popular in showrooms up and down the country, helping to increase sales and make the buyer decision easy according to Coastal Group. “Our customers see a huge benefit in simplifying the selection process for their clients, as well as offering an opportunity to offer something different from their competition” comments Loren Jenner.

Whether its sharp contemporary design or heritage charm you’re looking to capture, Coastal offers a range of standard boards to showcase Classic, Contemporary and Antique designs. The boards are available in four different sizes to fit within a given showroom area. Coastal can also design bespoke boards for customers who want to showcase multiple styles on a single board

“We designed the boards to be in keeping with the quality of the hardware. The aim was to create a striking look for our customers which they would be proud to have in their showroom” says marketing

manager Neil Jones. “The hardware is not only mounted onto a premium look grey laminate display board, but the lever handles are fitted with spring cassettes, giving a nice positive action as if on a door”

For customers seeking a solution to help win those allimportant orders whilst on the road visiting customers, Coastal also offers a display case option. The key principle behind this innovation is the same as the display boards, putting high-quality hardware in front of the homeowner to make the decision easy, but presented in a portable case. www.coastal-group.com

Passivhaus Principles Key To Commercial Business Pipeline, Says Supplier

As the ongoing energy crisis further underlines the need for energy-efficient structure design, fenestration professionals are being implored to highlight the importance of Passivhaus principles to futureproof new and existing building stock.

According to technical experts

at systems company Rehau, the Passivhaus performance criteria can provide installers and fabricators with a key tool for securing new business in the drive to more sustainable properties. Specifically, Steve Tonkiss, head of sales – South at the polymer supplier, is highlighting how educating commercial project stakeholders

on Passivhaus principles and their impact on window design, can help fenestration professionals stand out in competitive markets.

“Passivhaus has long been regarded as a hard-to-reach goal in building design, but its focus on thermal efficiency has never been more topical,” explains Steve. “Consequently, the fabricator and installer have a major role to play in ensuring architects and specifiers stakeholders consider the principles when selecting frames for new and retrofit commercial projects, and the major impact window selection can have. This is

especially important considering recent updates to the Future Homes Standard and ongoing speculation that thermal performance requirements will soon begin to mirror this strict certification – something that is already being discussed in Scotland.

“Indeed, we have often found that while many across the supply chain for these projects are aware of the Passivhaus concept, it is only in more general terms. Being able to provide a technical steer on this fascinating topic will be key to a paradigm shift in building design, especially when it comes to window

specification. It is for this reason that we have published a new guide to provide greater clarity on the topic, which can assist fenestration professionals in demonstrating how implementing the technical points rising from Passivhaus can improve property efficiency and sustainability”

Rehau’s new guide, In The Frame: Passivhaus Windows looks at key factors differentiating Passivhaus windows from traditional designs, including airtightness, insulation, ventilation and thermal bridging, and how these negate the need for additional air recirculation. Key to the guide is the message that frames do not need to be certified by the Passivhaus Institute – the organisation enforcing these higher standards – to work successfully in either new and retrofit builds.

“This guide has been developed to demonstrate that Passivhaus is not a binary concept, in which a structure achieves

the certification or not,” concludes Steve. “Architects and specifiers, guided by fenestration experts, should instead see it as a set of influential design principles that can help foster greener building stock and greater thermal efficiency, which will only become a greater priority during window selection as we move closer to net zero.

“It is for this reason that we have detailed the specifications, requirements and key steps around Passivhaus, so installers and fabricators can further educate specifiers when choosing frames. By doing so, fenestration professionals will be able to strengthen relationships and business pipelines with new and existing customers, especially when further uplifts in building performance in line with the Future Homes Standard and any additional legislation comes into force.”

For more information on Passivhaus and its impact on window design, click here.

Reflections On 2022 And The Year Ahead

Bonnie Hodson, chief financial officer (CFO) at UAP, reflects on the trends that have shaped 2022 and what lies ahead.

In a year that has been dominated by economic and political upheaval, there have been inevitable challenges for all businesses. For manufacturers, supply chain disruption has also continued as have fluctuating material costs, creating further bumps in the road. But against this backdrop, there are also positive trends which are driving growth in our sector and creating new opportunities.

Smarter strategies

We operate in a fast-paced market, where customers’ needs and expectations are constantly changing. This is accelerating new product development with a focus on door hardware that improves security, durability, ease of use and installation.

One of the biggest drivers of new innovation has been the shift towards smart technology. The pandemic, which caused people of all ages to more actively use online devices, has meant that smart technology is no longer a

Bonnie Hodson

nice to have.

This trend has seen more electronic door locks come to market in 2022, including the Ionic, which is the first in a series of smart products to be launched under UAP’s Fullex-ai brand. Although the product launched at the end of 2022, it follows five years of extensive research, planning and testing.

This saw us investigate customers’ priorities and the factors needed to provide the best possible experience. The result is an ultra-secure electronic lock, enabling access via a smartphone App, a fob, push button on the inside, or a thumb turn. Security is enhanced

A simple to use smartphone App

through face recognition and the fobs can’t be cloned.

UAP has continued to carry out market and customer research over the past 12 months, which will result in several new product launches in 2023.

Evolving processes

Keeping pace with customer demands also requires manufacturers’ processes to evolve and that includes investment in new equipment. Automation is a crucial element in this strategy to improve capacity,

manufacturing speeds and quality.

At UAP, we have been working on plans to integrate more automated technology into our operations to deliver a better customer experience both in terms of delivery times and stock availability.

At the same time, we have to be mindful of our impact on the environment. That is why UAP has launched a new initiative named S.E.E. which aims to go above and beyond standard environmental policies and accreditations such as ISO:14001.

A range of initiatives have been rolled out, including a competition to encourage our customers to upcycle crates or pallets, and a project to introduce manufacturing equipment that produces less waste and energy. We are also working with suppliers in China to audit products and factories to stop the use of virgin plastic packaging.

Building resilience

The hurdles of the past year have underlined the importance of resilience. Managing ongoing uncertainty is incredibly difficult, so all businesses must be in

The IONIC can be paired with rose handles to improve aesthetics

a strong position to respond quickly and effectively to change.

At UAP, we have strengthened our operations through an acquisition strategy. Since 2019, we have acquired two businesses, and set up two companies overseas. In 2023, we will be back on the acquisition trail to provide our customers with a broader range of highquality products.

To support our expansion plans, we have also restructured our finances this year and repaid our investors, providing us with more working capital to achieve our targets.

Of course, it is impossible to grow and strengthen a business without people and this has also led to new initiatives designed to support and develop staff.

Our growth share scheme means that every UAP employee now owns a share of the business and benefits from its future success. These shares are earned and can’t be purchased, with 20% of the UAP share fund now owned by our employees.

In 2022, we also embedded the UAP Training Academy, which is now integral to the way we operate as a company.

Unlocking potential

Over the past year, one of the key lessons learned is that economic and political challenges should not be seen as a barrier to growth. As we look ahead to 2023, these challenges are unlikely to change, so we can’t stand still. Ongoing research, development and investment will ensure that our products, manufacturing processes and people can keep up with the pace of change and are fit for the future.

https://uapcorporate.com/

The Ionic

Natalie Little Steps Up As GGF President

Natalie Little steps up to the plate as the President of the Glass & Glazing Federation for a two-year term, with her tenure commencing 1st January 2023. Natalie will lead the GGF and its subsidiaries in what is expected to be a seminal period in the development and progression.

Natalie takes up her presidency – the first woman to hold the position – whilst continuing her role as commercial director of Truhouse, her family’s home improvement company based in Stroud, Gloucestershire.

Natalie manages corporate oversight together with supplier and contract management for the business, having previously enjoyed 13 years in commercial banking.

Natalie’s commitment to the GGF has been significant since

joining the organisation, including chairing of the Window and Door Group. She is known to be outspoken and is passionate about customer service and improving the image of the industry. Natalie also wants to oversee ‘an improvement in the transparency, communication and the image of the GGF’ and, asked what characteristics she will bring to the presidency she replied: “I am passionate about our industry and intend to invest the skills and insights that I have learned and put to work every day in my company, into the GGF during my period as President. I am known to be straightforward, uncomfortably honest, and have a tenacity to get things done and I promise that my presidency will be anything other than a mere title.”

Anda Gregory, group chief

development officer for the GGF, has worked closely with Natalie during her period as Vice President: “Natalie has been involved with the GGF for some time now and we have worked closely together during the past year. She brings extraordinary insight with her and her direct and pragmatic approach to everything is refreshing. I know that she will be a huge asset towards the team achieving some exciting projects that we are set to deliver during the next two years.”

GGF group managing director John Agnew agrees: “Support for the management team by the board of directors has been excellent and is crucial for us to deliver a most ambitious programme for our members and the industry. Natalie is already heavily involved and her leadership as president will ensure seamless continuity, whilst bringing intuitive leadership and professional skills and experience to the programme.”

www.ggf.org.uk

AT Precision Appoint Marketing Coordinator

Aluminium bi-fold hardware supplier AT Precision has appointed a new marketing coordinator to help spearhead company growth and development.

Newcastle University graduate Lucy Hewitt has joined the Durham-based company to help ensure that new product ranges, price lists and business updates are provided to customers on a regular basis.

“As a marketing coordinator, my role is to help develop, coordinate and execute campaigns for AT Precision, and improve the company’s marketing efforts through modern methods such as email marketing and social media,” says Lucy.

“In today’s competitive market, it’s vital that suppliers not only provide high-quality products, but a reliable service too, and at AT Precision, that’s what customers are getting. My role is to further enhance this service, and to help put the company on the map as the country’s leading and most reliable supplier of aluminium bifold hardware.”

www.atprecision.co.uk

Andy Jones Joins Apeer And Associated Brands As UK

Mainland Sales And Marketing Director

Glass and glazing industry veteran Andy Jones has joined New World Developments Ltd, the Northern Ireland-based company behind brands Apeer; Lumi and Silka the all new, high performing aluminium window and door system.

The senior appointment, says New World Developments managing director Asa McGillian, has been made to develop the company’s sales and marketing operations in England and Wales in line with its growth strategy for the next five years: “We have added several exciting options to our Apeer door ranges to offer the UK’s largest range of composite residential doors including a 70mm A++ door. We have a door for every aperture at every price level, a true one stop door shop. We are also launching a full range of Silka innovative aluminium window and door products and have several other ambitious plans that will come to fruition during the next 12 months.

“So, we need to know that our retail installer network is supported sufficiently for them to drive sales

to achieve their true potential, as well as ensuring that that network is sufficiently comprehensive, high performing and motivated to provide the best returns for our substantial investment in product. We have known and worked with Andy for nearly two decades and his experience is just what we need for this task,” explained Asa.

Andy, who has enjoyed senior positions with some of the UK’s leading glass and glazing brands, says that he is delighted to have the opportunity to join Asa and the existing team: “The products produced under these brands are some of the best available in the market and there is a huge opportunity for driving sales beyond their current levels, especially with the level of marketing support the company provides for its retailers. This is one of the most impressive door and window manufacturing operations in the UK industry and there is huge potential for growth. This is very exciting,” added Andy.

www.apeer.co.uk

Promoted To The Board At AluK

on full responsibility for everything from production and purchasing to logistics, quality, and planning, with an overriding focus on delivering improvements in AluK’s customer service levels and OTIF performance.

He said: “We have lots of plans in place to make sure we can navigate our own way through the current challenges in the UK market and at the same time give our customers the support they need in terms of prompt and reliable service. We‘re moving towards our full-scale SAP implementation in 2024, so there will be a fairly relentless focus on ongoing efficiency.”

Chris Dawkins’ long term success at AluK means he has now been promoted to the role of operations director. It is the culmination of a highly successful 17-year career at the

aluminium systems company, during which time he has worked in operations, production, supply chain and customer service.

In his new role, Chris takes

Kevin Harvey Joins Brisant Secure As MD

Kevin Harvey has regrouped with his ex-colleagues Nick Dutton and Steve Stewart at Brisant Secure as managing director. Whilst Kevin’s 30 years in the industry have covered hardware, PVC profile and conservatories, the last 5 years have been in the composite door sector at Future Products.

Kevin said ‘The two CEOs have invited me back and having worked for both of them separately it’s such an amazing opportunity to work with the two of them together. The dynamics they have created within the business and the team they have put together affirms my

belief that this is a tremendous opportunity to join a company that is driving the standards within the hardware industry.

Chris is the second recent appointment to the AluK board, joining Michael Andrews, who has just been announced as the new finance director.

www.alukgb.com

I have a strong hardware background that will serve me well with regards to the product range itself. I had almost 12 years in selling hardware. At Future I have been using the products in a first-hand capacity for the best part of six years.”

With Ultion products due to expand even further in 2023, Nick Dutton says ‘Kevin is highly regarded in the industry and his joining our team is a big marker in Brisant’s evolution. Coupling this high regard with his understanding our quality ethos, knowing many of our team, suppliers, customers and products places him ideally to help us introduce the next wave of Ultion products and initiatives.’

www.brisant-secure.com

Epwin’s

Nic Rossano Retires

Epwin Window Systems’ Nic Rossano, is calling time on his career after 25 years with the Telford-based business. Currently development manager for Epwin Window Systems, Nic will retire at the end of December 2022.

Over the past 25 years, Nic has been at the forefront of system development and was central in overseeing customers with the introduction of the awardwinning Optima PVC-U window and door system and the multiaward-winning Stellar Aluminium System. His technical credentials, product knowledge and strong customer focus have been fundamental to the success of his longstanding career, and he will be greatly missed by the company and customers alike.

Nic has enjoyed a broad career in the window and related industries, from designing window systems in the 1970’s for leading retail companies to technical sales, which has been his main focus since the mid1980’s. Nic joined Profile 22 in 1997 as a product manager on an initial three-month contract and a quarter of a century later, Nic is a name synonymous with Epwin Window Systems.

Commenting on his retirement, Clare Bailey, managing director at Epwin Window Systems, said: “Nic has been a popular member of our management team and I know I speak for everyone when I say how much he will be missed. His technical competencies have been

invaluable across the business as we have continued to drive product innovation to support our customers. His knowledge and commitment to customers has been resolute. On behalf of our customers, support partners and the Epwin Window Systems’ team, we wish him the very best for his well-deserved retirement.”

With one eye on the future, Nic, aged 67, says it’s the right time to retire and will be handing over the reins to Mark Brown, business development manager at Epwin Window Systems. Nic said: “Having a career in the window industry that has spanned five decades means I retire with some terrific memories and some proud personal achievements too. Our sector has undergone many changes during my time, but Epwin Windows Systems remains resolute, and I will continue to follow its success in the coming years.”

Nic who is a classic car and motorbike enthusiast is looking forward to spending time away from windows and doors and putting his technical skills to further use. Nic is the proud owner of a 1992 Ducati 888 SP4 that was originally owned by Gordon Murray (F1 McLaren Designer) and uses a BMW GS Adventure motorcycle for occasional touring with some of his old window industry friends.

Over the years he has become more focussed on the ClassicHotrods than motorcyles and will be preparing his 1931 A Vintage Hotrod Ford Model ‘A’ Roadster for a speed trial at Pendine Sands in June 2023 with the Vintage Hotrod Association. He is also a grandad to two young grandchildren so like his career, his retirement looks set to be very busy.

Nic Rossano and Clare Bailey

Comp Door Sales Team Welcomes Lee Marriott

Comp Door has announced that Lee Marriott will be joining the business, taking on the role of business development manager. He will work alongside Comp Door sales director, Richard Diliberto, and Lee Williams in the sales team.

Lee Marriott has many years of experience within the Fenestration Industry and has been highly successful in similar roles, having previously worked for major brands in PVCu, machining and ancillaries. Lee’s new role will see him operating on a national level, forming new trade partnerships with Comp Door’s growing customer base of

installers, fabricators and trade counters.

Richard Diliberto commented, “Lee’s knowledge of the industry and professionalism will undoubtably prevail in helping him to be successful in his new role with Comp Door. I’m positive that he will very shortly become a valued member of our business, in winning even more new customers and taking our brand even further.”

Lee Marriot said of his new appointment, “I’m joining a firstgrade company with an excellent product offering that is second to none for solid timber core

Stuart Stockley Takes The Reins At Veka Recycling

With a background in business leadership within the building and construction products sector, Stuart Stockley has been appointed as the managing director of post-consumer frame recycler Veka Recycling Ltd.

Stuart has a long history of heading manufacturing and merchanting operations for sectorleading brands, including wall and roofing components manufacturer Klöber Group, insulation distributors CCF and notably, as the head of sustainable products for the UK’s largest builders’ merchant, Travis Perkins.

With particular skills in manufacturing and distribution, business and brand development, Stuart has a personal and business commitment to the broader issues of sustainability and how these may be applied

commercially. These were key drivers for his interest in the role, said Stuart: “Veka Recycling Ltd is the leading UK-based specialist PVC-U recycler and I was particularly attracted to the proposition of the commercial

composite doors. I’m looking forward to helping to grow the company and watching it flourish into what we all know it can be.”

compdoor.co.uk/contact-us

and social potential of collecting and returning this material for re-use over many cycles. We have an impressive facility here in Wellingborough and I am really looking forward to collaborating with our customers, colleagues and supply partners to help drive the business forward.”

Veka Recycling’s Wellingborough plant was completed at the end of 2020 and can process PVC-U into high-quality recycled PVC-U pellet. This material is now used in the production of new window and door profiles, in addition to established high volume users including products for the electrical and HVAC industries.

The site was located within central England to reduce the carbon footprint of the recycling process by containing the material recycled and then re-manufactured within the geographical borders of the UK. It is the third to be built by Veka Group, the others being located in France and Germany.

www.veka-recycling.co.uk

New Finance Director At Aluk

Michael Andrews is the newly appointed Finance Director at aluminium systems company AluK. With more than 15 years’ experience in a variety of finance roles within manufacturing environments, his commercial expertise will help AluK deliver on its strategic growth plan.

Michael has joined AluK from Ontic, a specialist supplier of parts to the international aviation sector. While fuel gauging systems for holiday jets and barometric displays for military planes might seem a world away from AluK’s window and door systems, the two fastpaced manufacturing businesses share the same desire to increase revenues and grow their market share.

Michael joins Chris Dawkins who has also just been promoted to the AluK board as operations director, and managing director Michael Williams, technical director Nick Cooper, sales director Wayne Heath and HR director Kirsty Parker. www.alukgb.com

Made For Trade

Appoints Leigh Greenwood As Head Of Business Development

Made for Trade has welcomed Leigh Greenwood to the company as head of business development.

As the family firm continues to expand and break new ground in the fenestration market, this new role, focused on business expansion, has been introduced. MFT sought someone with a hands-on approach who could assist with plans aimed at new market sectors whilst further increasing sales and improving the “already exceptional” service offering to new and existing customers.

Thanks to significant experience in the industry, Leigh’s appointment will further bolster Made for Trade’s sales and marketing team and maintain the company’s trajectory as the Korniche-branded range of glazing products increase their market share.

A spokesperson for MFT said: “Leigh’s commercially minded approach will help elevate the already enviable skillset of the MFT customer services department, whilst ensuring that sales and marketing offer the most efficient quotations via access to the Korniche KwikQuote online software. This market-leading tool enables MFT customers to produce quotations instantly –Leigh will look to expand on the success of KwikQuote, which is proving to be the ideal solution for merchant and business branches for account and quotation management.”

Leigh joins MFT following a successful period of sales across the last two years, alongside recent accolades covering everything from customer service

to manufacturing.

Speaking of his appointment, Leigh said: “It’s been amazing to see the scale of the Made for Trade operation. As an established business with many years in aluminium fabrication that has developed a brand and product set, it clearly has great affinity with builders and installers.

“MFT’s commitment to their customers shines through with product support, demand driving exhibitions, advertising, and continued investment in partner quoting software delivered to the highest standard.

“I’ve admired the business for several years now and can’t tell you how excited I am to be part of the family/team. As the market leader for aluminium bi-folding doors and lantern roofs they are constantly driving innovation with their ‘inhouse’ engineering deportment. Working with our sales team, both internal and external, I’m really looking forward to introducing our award-winning product range to a new range of customers.”

www.madefortrade.co

Leigh Greenwood (left) with Made For Trade’s operations director, Chris Wann

Michael Andrews

Zac Nedimovic Joins Purplex

increased sales and ultimately a sales management role a few years later. In this role, Zac first started working with Purplex –calling on the marketing agency’s experience in the construction industry to drive Astraseal’s trade commercial and retail sales further.

Since leaving Astraseal in 2018, Zac became a shareholder of a regional installer before relocating to the South West where he joined Purplex as national sales manager at the end of October 2022.

Purplex Marketing has recently expanded its sales team by appointing Zac Nedimovic as national sales manager.

Fresh out of university in Northampton with a degree in design and marketing, Zac started his career in the fenestration industry. Initially factory based, operating an eight-head welding tool, it wasn’t long before Zac’s

skills with computers saw him called upon to fix and program manufacturing machines. This experience then led to Zac helping to implement the first Stuga cutting centre machine head at Astraseal and run the company’s IT systems.

Eventually migrating into the sales team, Zac’s technical knowledge of the product translated into

Obituary Announcement From GQA Qualifications

Mike Morris, GQA’s Chairman since its inception in 2002 has passed away after a short illness.

With a background as a trained engineer working in industry and then for a large part of his career working in education, Mike was perfectly placed to understand the huge value of training and qualifications in raising standards to support both the personal and professional development of individual employees.

Having become Chairman, he oversaw the sustained growth of GQA from a small single sector awarding body

to the organisation it is today, providing over two hundred industry-relevant qualifications delivered through over two hundred Approved Centres in sixteen sectors.

Commenting, Mick Clayton, CEO of GQA said: “Everyone here at GQA sends our condolences to Mike’s wife, Jane, his two sons and his two grandchildren. He will be sadly missed.”

For much of the time that Mike chaired the GQA board, Justin Ratcliffe also served as a GQA Director. Justin was elected as Chairman when Mike retired from his role earlier this year.

At Purplex, Zac will be responsible for communicating briefs with clients, where, says Purplex, his industry insight and technical understanding will allow him to discuss a client’s needs on a specific level, and his marketing background will help him identify the best approach to deliver results for that business. www.purplexmarketing.com

Listers Closes-Out The Year With Record Month

Listers has ended 2022 with a record £4million month, with sales boosted by sales of Sheerline, Residence Collection and its heritage Timeless window.

Listers, which was named Fabricator of the Year at the NFA Awards in November, added the new Sheerline range to its offer early in 2022, coinciding with major investment in its in-house aluminium manufacturing facility.

Roy Frost, managing director, Listers, said that the fabricator

had seen consistent growth in demand throughout the year, contributing to its record £4m month in November.

He said: “We brought the Sheerline bifold on because of its thermal performance and because of the installation efficiencies that it delivers, including its knock-in glazing bead.

“We’ve expanded the range to include the Sheerline Roof Lantern and the Prestige window range, which gets down to

U-values as low as 1.3W/m2k with a double-glazed unit, 0.9W/ m2k with a triple-glazed. We’ve also added the Sheerline Classic Window to our offer this month [December].

“The thermal performance is exceptional across the range and with Part L, high energy bills and freezing temperatures, Sheerline is creating big opportunities for our customers.”

Listers has also successfully aligned its PVC-U and aluminium ranges so that standard

Roy Frost

aluminium finishes, including agate-grey-on-white, are available on the same rapid lead times as PVC-U, including R9, R7 and Lister’s own Timeless heritage flush casement.

Roy said that making aluminium and PVC-U products available on the same lead times had been important in underpinning growth.

“Our strategy has been to focus on premium products but to recognise that end-users may want a mix of products in aluminium and PVC-U on their home – it’s not about a single material.

“Having a single point of order and delivery for PVC-U and aluminium, rather than to source them separately, simplifies things for our customers so they can

focus on winning business and getting product fitted.”

Growing demand for its aluminium offer has been matched by continuing demand for flush and timber alternative product ranges, including R9 and R7. These are available from Listers in a heritage mechanically jointed option and supplied as Secured by Design as standard.

Listers has also positioned its Timeless Flush Sash Window in this space. Manufactured in Veka Halo’s heritage flush sash system, it offers an authentic alternative to timber with slim sightlines, a choice of Georgian bars, traditional ironmongery and dummy peg stay option.

Roy said that Listers had been careful to manage growth to ensure that it was sustainable,

with £2.5m invested across its’ manufacturing sites in Stoke and Essex.

“We’ve also worked hard and will continue to do so, to retain and recruit quality people”, he said. “We introduced a £1,000 cost of living allowance in May and committed to make that permanent this month [December]. We’ve also decided to move to the new minimum wage now ahead of April to support our team with rising costs.

“That’s important because products and processes are ultimately underpinned by people. We’re building a really strong team, that’s reflected in the growth that we’re seeing, and we want to retain them.”

www.listerwindows.co.uk

Richard Hammond, Stedek’s sales director

Why Stedek Relies On Core Values

Walsall-based Stedek has built its business on a set of key underlying principles, which have helped it to maximise opportunities in key market sectors.

The trade fabricator also expects a similar commitment from its key suppliers, which is why it partnered with aluplast in the manufacture and supply of flush casement windows.

“We were asked ‘what does “Stedek” mean?’ and we matched it with trust, honesty, integrity and reliability,” Stedek’s sales director Richard Hammond said. “And if I can get that message across to our customers, promise those core values, and then deliver on them, they become real, not just disposable words.”

As the demand for home

improvement products increased post pandemic, reflecting the changing economic conditions, these core values supported Stedek’s role as a key supplier of high value niche products.

“Over the past two years, we’ve seen flush casements emerge and become prominent in both the new and replacement windows markets here in the UK,” he said. “Instead of standard white casements, homeowners want more premium products, a wider range of colours and an altogether different aesthetic. Being able to offer those higher end products means meeting increased consumer demand

and growing the business.”

Stedek is one of the country’s most experienced manufacturers of flush casement windows, supplying them to the trade for more than five years. When aluplast introduced a high-quality flush casement option that suites with the Ideal 70 system, the trade fabricator jumped at the opportunities this offered.

aluplast’s flush meets the demands of the heritage sector, thanks to the narrowest sightlines on the market (58mm) and a range of 40 different finishes, including the next generation woodec and aludec foils.

The systems company has also invested significantly in its foil offer which allows it to maintain a strong supply of its most popular stock colours, with foiled product accounting for as much as 50% of total order volume.

“People almost never want a white window when it’s a flush casement, so having a supplier like aluplast that’s got a wide colour range available from stock, and a really strong commitment to lead times on special order colours, means that we can offer our customers really broad offering, which is key in the current climate,” Richard said.

“We’re also excited to be able to offer the new flush door from aluplast, which has just been tested, and will help us meet those demands where homeowners want a flush appearance across the whole façade.”

The flush door is fully PAS24accredited in both single and double open-out configurations, and has a five-chamber design that can achieve U-values as low as 1.2W/m2K.

Both windows and doors are manufactured using ecotech, which maximises the amount of recycled content in a profile’s design, without affecting performance or the finish of the profile.

Ecotech uses a ‘dual-extrusion’ process that uses two extruders in parallel to push recycled and virgin polymer through the profile die at the same time. This ensures that recycled material is only used in the internal webbing, remaining isolated from the external wall, with virgin polymer used to provide the external wall of the profile.

“Like Stedek, aluplast is a family run business with similar values to our own –sustainability, quality, reliability, and dependability,” Richard said. “We are not a huge business, and we don’t have a big warehouse to store lots of profile. So, we rely on our suppliers to be dependable, and to deliver on time and in full. This allows us to dedicate more floorspace to producing quality frames and to deliver on time and in full to our customers.” www.aluplast.co.uk

Premier Arches Spearheads Production With New Mezzanine Expansion

Arched frame manufacturer Premier Arches has further expanded its production facility with the installation of a new 2,000 square foot mezzanine floor at its St Helens headquarters.

The additional production space will be used purely for profile bending, allowing the company to really ramp up and streamline its processes.

Managing director Sean Greenall comments: “We’ve been seeing increased demand for our arched frame products, and so we felt it was important to expand our premises in order to improve efficiency and turnaround times to our valued customers.

“Over the past three years, we’ve outgrown our premises, and have consistently gained new customers who are looking for not only high-quality products, but easy and honest service. The new mezzanine is an extremely worthwhile investment, as it will allow us to successfully meet continued demand while still delivering the quality our customers are used to.” Visit

www.premierarches.co.uk

Glazerite Extends Portfolio With Launch Of Aluminium

The Glazerite UK Group is set to boost its product portfolio with the addition of an aluminium range. The move has been designed with its installers in mind as the trade fabricator seeks to expand its offering and support customers to leverage new opportunities.

From January 2023, Glazerite will offer installers access to the Senior Architectural Systems (SAS) aluminium product range of casement and Tilt & Turn windows, as well as bi-folding and patio doors.

Rob Brearley, Glazerite’s group managing director explains: “Our uPVC product range is one of the broadest in the industry. We recognise though that the market for windows and doors is ever evolving and by adding aluminium to our portfolio, it

gives our installers access to another solution that appeals to today’s trend-conscious consumer.”

The addition of the SAS range of aluminium products enables the fabricator to test the market amongst its customer base with the assurance the profile is crafted with the same high-quality finish Glazerite’s customers expect while adding further options to its portfolio that will suit every customer budget, says the company.

Rob adds: “Aluminium is a highgrowth market and one that we’ve wanted to explore for a while. By partnering with SAS on its supply, we can gauge the market initially across our existing customer base and better understand its potential.” www.glazerite.co.uk

Meeting First-Class Specifications

Founded in 2021, JB Glazing has swiftly established itself as a trusted installer to customers in the Scottish region, thanks to its emphasis on quality workmanship and customer satisfaction.

Central to this well-gained reputation is its product portfolio, which prominently

features windows from polymer supplier Rehau. Engaged by developer S. Ewing & Sons to provide windows for a new luxury development in the rural village of Saline, the fenestration specialists needed high-quality frames to match the high-end properties under construction.

Though Jim Walker has been in

the fenestration industry over 40 years, he is often taking on new challenges. It is this view that led him to found JB Glazing last year together with managing director James Boyce, using their combined experience to win a wide variety of projects, from small residential work to larger commercial contracts.

This included when, Jordan Ewing, managing director for S. Ewing & Sons, tasked JB Glazing with providing high-quality frames for the Dunfermlinebased developers’ latest build. Nestled on the western slopes of the Cleish Hills, the picturesque village of Saline had been earmarked for a suite of five

luxury homes for homebuyers looking to escape to the country.

“When constructing a new development of this sort, our philosophy is simple – source the best suppliers, and you will build the best homes,” explains Jordan. “It was this desire for premium products that led us to use Rehau. I already knew Jim from previous projects, so I was confident he and his company could meet the exact specifications required to build these five luxury properties.”

Long-standing supplier support Key to both JB Glazing’s reputation for first-class installations and its work on

this project, was their leading window portfolio, which exclusively includes frames from Rehau. Jim had long been aware of the polymer provider’s array of solutions, having worked with the company for over 30 years. Most recently, this has seen JB Glazing join the Rehau Authorised Partner scheme, which identifies selected installers to customers as providers of both best practice and leading window solutions.

“As the saying goes, if it isn’t broke don’t fix it, and I’ve never had any reason to move away from Rehau as a supplier,” says Jim. “For me, their profile stands the test of time – I source it from

a trade fabricator and you know it will be tried and tested to guarantee it is consistent and high-quality.

“I have been in this industry for a long time, and having the Rehau brand next to your name, whatever company you’re working for, lets specifiers and developers know you will be fitting exceptional products. This was certainly the case when working on the Jim Hensman Place development –Jordan has certain standards on all of his build’s components, and he knows we’ll meet them.”

With work beginning on the project in January 2022,

JB Glazing was tasked with providing frames that would meet high U-value and energy efficiency standards. Alongside this, any frames fitted needed to be long-lasting while also providing a modern appearance matching the high specification of the houses.

Finding adaptable profile Following advice from Rehau, Jim sourced 60 Total70 windows from Rehau’s Total70 range in a smooth grey foil. Providing a contemporary look suitable for the Saline properties, the system’s high-performing uPVC polymer allows it to easily achieve A+ gradings –the highest possible rating for thermal efficiency.

According to Jim, the versatility of the Total70 frames also stood out: “When you’re carrying out an installation, you have to be on the ball,” he explains. “For example, on this specific project, the design of the houses meant that we needed to fit windows in a lot of different shapes.

“Having the peace of mind that the profile can be adapted to fit simply in multiple ways without a drop in performance cannot

be underestimated. Additionally, feeling you can rely on your supplier as a one-stop-shop meant we could be similarly confident we would meet this project’s strict deadlines. Considering most of the homes at Jim Hensman Place sold quickly, knowing everything could be completed on time was of vital importance.”

Following regulations

JB Glazing handed the project over to S. Ewing & Sons in March 2022 in advance of new residents moving into their new, high-standard homes. Considering the uplift of energy efficiency standards planned for the future in Scotland Jim believes meeting these specifications now is more important than ever.

“My advice to installers is that they should seek windows that exceed current building regulations, because these standards are only going to get stricter,” he says. “What might seem well above standard now – such as with the frames fitted at Jim Hensman Place – will become more commonplace over time.

Euroglaze Extends Flush Sash Offering

Stockists and installers looking to make the most of the surging demand for flush sash windows in PVC-U can now buy three different options from Euroglaze.

The Barnsley based fabricator, long established as one of Rehau’s leading trade customers, has just added the Rehau Rio system to the Liniar flush sash and Liniar Resurgence systems it already offered.

Managing director Martin Nettleton says that flush sashes

He says: “Our supremely efficient manufacturing operation means we can easily offer three different options with no impact on quality or lead times. We have long set ourselves up as a One Stop Shop for Rehau products with vertical sliders, bifold and composite doors and even fire rated windows in our range, and now we plan to become a One Stop Shop for flush sash frames as well.

“Despite the cost-of-living crisis, there are still a large number of affluent homeowners with funds available to invest in their homes.

Reynaers Expands

Range To Meet Growing Demand For Heritage

Demand for heritage style windows and doors continues to grow, as new build and refurbishment projects seek to achieve high quality period aesthetics. In response to this demand Reynaers Aluminium UK Limited, has expanded the choice of profiles for its SlimLine 68 (SL 68) range which features as part of its heritage collection.

The SL 68 is already an established and popular choice for architects, fabricators and homeowners alike because of

Aesthetics

its minimalist design, says the company. The window replicates the look of traditional steel windows typical of those used in historic buildings. The two new profiles, called Classic and Ferro, also have slim sightlines so allow the maximum level of light inside the building, as well as offering expansive views of the outside.

The new ‘Heritage’ profiles feature a bevelled and a stepped sash option and choice of outer frames to create a look typical of 20th century designs. Its 68mm

frame depth makes it ideal for replacements as an existing window can be removed and replaced with the new SL 68

profiles without affecting existing plaster lines. All profiles in the range can accommodate either double or triple glazing without compromising the super slim profile and have a Window Energy Rating (WER) of up to A on double glazing.

Alongside the two new vent profiles, the addition of a flush transom allows for the fabrication of cruciform windows achieving a fully flush outer frame look, whilst the introduction of a further slim outer frame profile can be used to achieve an even slimmer outer frame sight line. Reverse rebate adapters are also included, enabling fabricators to bead the window on the same side as the vent.

Reynaers product manager Ian Osborne: “Heritage aesthetics are going from strength to

strength for commercial and residential buildings. Keeping a close eye on current trends, we identified an opportunity to develop additional profiles for the SL 68 range that combined strong performance characteristics, slim sightlines and most importantly, ease of fabrication.”

“We’re proud to offer some of the industry’s best performing windows. With the introduction of the new SL 68 profiles and the features they offer, there is now the possibility to benefit from these with an even greater range of design flexibility.”

The SL 68 is part of Reynaers’ Heritage Collection, which offers design versatility and choice across different period styles. The collection also includes profiles from the SlimLine 38 range (SL 38), which is a highly insulated system that combines elegance and comfort with a unique slender steel design. The SL 38 is therefore a perfect choice for modern architecture and renovation of steel-framed windows, that respect the original design of a building but provide the latest thermal efficiency performance.

Another significant product in Reynaers’ heritage range is the MasterLine 8, a window and door system that combines maximum daylight and safety without compromise – allowing for breath-taking views with a classic looking aesthetic combined with the latest performance capabilities. The system’s patented technology ensures excellent air permeability and optimal thermal insulation.

The ConceptSystem 77, one of Reynaers’ comprehensive systems, offers both inward and outward opening window and door designs, and is available in a choice of three styles for different types of traditional buildings. Offering excellent levels of security, weather resistance and thermal insulation, CS 77 products are also available in a huge selection of colours and finishes.

The additions to the SL 68 system are available now –full technical details can be downloaded from here: https://bit.ly/3vLfo8D

For further information about Reynaers range of heritage products visit: Click Here

Security Tested Across Listers’ Residence Range

Products in the Residence Collection range from Listers have all been PAS24 tested, underscoring the trade fabricator’s commitment to security, while simplifying the decision-making process for homeowners.

By meeting PAS24 credentials as part of the design and manufacturing process, homeowners are assured that Listers-made Residence windows and doors are produced to a much higher standard than from other sources, says the company.

“Security is always paramount in the minds of homeowners, and by PAS24 testing all products in the Residence Collection, we are allowing our customers

to push security as a defining feature of their windows, not as an optional extra,” Listers’ managing director Roy Frost said. “It then allows homeowner to concentrate on the other key features, such as the authentic flush sash, heritage detailing, and the diverse colour palette in the Residence Collection range.”

PAS24 is a set of tests designed to assess the security of door and windows against an attempted attack by an opportunistic burglar. While it is not mandatory for refurbishment projects, compliance is required for all newbuild homes.

All Residence frames are affected, including open-in and open-out doors, and single and French doors.

And in a move that will benefit customers who prefer to source their units from a local supplier, or want greater flexibility over the installation process, Residence R7 windows can now be ordered unglazed.

“Residence Collection windows were originally designed to be glass-bonded, which offered structural integrity that didn’t require steel inserts,” Roy Frost said. “But this method doesn’t suit all window installers, and many want the flexibility to install unglazed windows because they are either easier to fit, or they want to buy their units from elsewhere.”

Listers have re-designed their R7 windows so that they retain their strength, but don’t require glass bonding. Frames are then delivered unglazed with the option to have units packed separately.

“Glass-bonded windows are heavy,” Roy said. “So while the R7 window is a premium product that attracts a better margin, it also requires extra manpower to install, which eats into those profits. By offering R7 windows unglazed, they only require one person to install and our customers can take advantage of those cost savings. Sourcing locally made units that have a lower carriage fee can also lower costs and increase profit margin.”

Listers says all Residence Collection products are fully de-taped, QA-checked, retaped, and fully wrapped before being shipped to the customer.

“We are proud of our Residence Collection range, and we want our customers to appreciate them as much as we do,” Roy said. “So we go to great lengths to make sure they arrive at their destination in perfect condition!”

www.listerwindows.co.uk

Roseview

Release Innovative New Sash Window Feature

Specialist sash window manufacturer Roseview Windows has launched a new feature that marks a significant step forward for timber-alternative window design.

The new sash horn uses a design common to original timber sash windows, but which previously couldn’t be achieved in uPVC, says the company. The curved profile of Roseview’s sash horn, dubbed Seahorse because of its shape, was made possible by their investment in the cutting-edge technology already in use on their award-winning Ultimate Rose sash window.

Roseview director Mike Bygrave describes the new feature and what went into creating it: “At

Roseview we’re constantly looking at ways that we can improve our class-leading sash windows, both in terms of aesthetics and performance. By recreating an important detail often seen on period originals, Seahorse is another step on that journey towards making the perfect timberalternative sash window.

“Like all the best features, Seahorse seems simple.” Mike continues, “But creating it was anything but. A horn detail like this can’t go through a typical milling machine. It was made possible by the specialist CNC processes that we already use for our existing seamless run-through horns, and the different way of looking at product design these techniques

open up.

“The hidden cap also provided a challenge because of the deep recesses that are fundamental to such a traditional horn design. Long-term temperature testing showed that traditional foiling techniques couldn’t handle the intricate design and deep recesses reliably. So we had to take a different approach to design and manufacture a textured cap that doesn’t rely on standard foiling.

“The result, however, was well worth the time, effort and investment that went into creating it. It may seem like a small detail but it makes a huge difference, and it’s another milestone in the development of timber-alternative sash windows. Pushing the boundaries of conservation-grade authenticity and leading the market for sash windows is what we do at Roseview; and this is yet another example.”

The new Seahorse sash horn is available immediately and is exclusive to Roseview’s Ultimate Rose sash window. www.roseview.co.uk/seahorse

More Products

Added To Mila’s Stainless Steel Door Hardware Range

Mila’s Supa stainless steel door hardware range is expanding again, with the launch of a new Supa Safety handle, which meets the accessibility requirements of Building Regs Approved Doc M and the Lifetime Homes Initiative, claims the company.

The Supa Safety handle has an extended lever which is easier to grip than the standard Supa lever – even with a closed fist –and it sits 45mm from the face of the door in line with BS8300 referenced in the Regs.

Like the rest of Mila’s popular Supa range, the new handle is also available in polished or brushed stainless and polished PVD gold finish, making it is easy to achieve the visual contrast between the hardware and the door which is an integral part of Doc M.

The launch of an accessible handle in its Supa range is yet more evidence, Mila says, of how the hardware market is shifting towards stainless steel as standard. Managing director Richard Gyde explained: “We’ve long had Doc M compliant handles in our ProLinea zinc hardware range, but increasingly customers now just want every option in stainless steel.

“The numbers speak for themselves. Almost 50% of all the door hardware we sell is in stainless steel and we’ve seen sales almost treble since 2019. Demand is such that we’re filling in any perceived gaps in our range as quickly as we can, so that all our customers can make

the switch regardless of the type, style or application of the finished door.”

The move towards stainless steel is hardly surprising, when you consider that Mila offers a 25-year guarantee on both the finish and mechanical operation of its Supa range. For fabricators and installers, that’s a powerful sales tool, as well as providing peace of mind that they will not be faced with costly remedials down the line, says the company.

Stainless steel also comes with proven sustainability credentials, which appeal both to retail customers who want to buy more sustainably and to commercial specifiers who often have to demonstrate that they are achieving carbon reduction targets.

Mila commissioned its own independent analysis in 2022 to prove that the carbon footprint of stainless-steel hardware is lower than zinc diecast; and the resulting report from consultants Tunley Engineering, revealed that the annual carbon emissions for a Mila stainless steel door handle are only 17% that of the zinc die cast equivalent.

The huge difference is partly because stainless steel products have a lifespan which is typically five times longer than zinc, so the carbon emissions can be averaged out over a much longer period. But, more significantly it comes from the fact that the emission factors for producing zinc are 60+% higher than they are for steel, and there are more energy intensive processes required to manufacture in zinc rather than in steel.

Richard Gyde added: “Because of the proven benefits when it comes to both durability and sustainability, we’d like to see stainless steel become the default option for all doors in 2023. As well as expanding the range, we’re also continuing to work hard to bring costs down so that the price difference between our Supa and zinc diecast ranges eventually becomes negligible for most of our customers.”

Mila’s Supa stainless steel hardware range already includes door handles, letterplates, pull bars, escutcheons and door knockers – the vast majority of which are available in either SS304 extreme or SS316 marine grade material for coastal and high pollution areas. The entire range has been independently performance tested for corrosion resistance to BSEN1670 Grade 5 and has sailed through more than 1000 hours in a salt spray test – hence the 25-year surface finish and mechanical operation guarantee.

Yale Launches New Mantis 4 Multipoint Door Lock

The new generation of the Yale Mantis multipoint door lock has arrived with the launch of the Mantis 4 from Yale Door and Window Solutions.

The new lock includes several improvements on the popular Mantis 3. These include an easy-to-use push-in snib feature that ensures the door remains open when required, and precompression rollers cleverly

positioned within 100mm of the auxiliary cases for enhanced sealing, compression and security performance. Screw-in, hardened plastic tidy boxes also provide improved longevity and a more aesthetically pleasing look.

According to Yale, the Mantis 4 retains several features that make the Mantis range unique, such as a chamfered linear bolt for superior security and compression, an

oversize deep penetrating hook offering 25mm engagement, and allen key-compression adjustable keeps as standard.

Meeting the new test requirements of PAS 24 to protect against the opportunistic burglar, the company says the range offers the best in strength and durability for all types of external doors.

Yale Mantis 4 has been designed, developed, tested and manufactured in the UK, and benefits from recent enhancements that Yale has made to its manufacturing processes. Among these are improving its plastic moulding cell by buying additional moulding machines, updating robots, implementing robotic sub-assembly, and creating a full robotic demoulding, sorting, bagging, and boxing solution.

Paul Atkinson, managing director at Yale, comments: “Our new Mantis 4 multipoint door lock significantly improves on the well-established Mantis 3, which can trace its heritage back to Millenco Hardware, a business that was acquired and integrated with Paddock Fabrications back in the day’ before being sold and integrating with Yale in 2010.

“In recent years, our plastic moulding cell has really come into its own and we have continually invested in this area of our manufacturing operation with a series of updates. The Yale Mantis 4 certainly benefits from this investment.

“It offers outstanding security, functionality, and aesthetics, making it the most advanced multipoint lock in our Mantis range yet.”

The Mantis 4 comes with the Yale 10-year security guarantee as standard and can form part of the Yale Security guarantee as part of a door-set.

www.yaledws.co.uk

Hardware manufacturer VBH is reporting a high uptake on the recently launched new greenteQ Slim Omega letterplate.

The product has been introduced following feedback from VBH customers who were struggling to find a featurepacked letterplate that they could fit to slim mid-rails without it overhanging the profile.

The new letterplate opens to 180° in the same way that the standard Omega product does, but is only 56mm deep. Despite the slim overall size, the internal aperture is only, at 31mm, 8mm less than a standard letterplate.

VBH advise that this will cope with most standard postal items.

Omega Slim is available in nine finishes of the greenteQ Suite, VBH’s range of matching residoor, window and patio door furniture.

Marketing manager Gary Gleeson says, “We re-vamped

the Omega range in 2022, giving it a much more contemporary look. We had been hearing for a while that people wanted our original ‘box’ but in a slimmer package, so it seemed the perfect time to lay down the tooling and put some stock in place of the all-new Omega Slim.

We knew that we had readymade customers in place, but towards the end of the year we have welcomed many new customers come on board for Omega, too.”

As with all greenteQ furniture products, Omega is supplied with a 10 year mechanical and surface guarantee. The guarantee also extends to plated finishes.

www.vbhgb.com

John Mitchell

Carl

Groupco

Amanda Hale Roundbrand

Putting An End To Door Callbacks

Listers now supplies Gallery Gripcore doors, which it says ‘are designed to be stronger and heavier than other composite doors on the market, and won’t warp or crack, resulting in fewer callbacks for installers.’

“The main irritation with any door installation are the callbacks to site,” Listers MD Roy Frost said. “You want to fit and forget, which is what you can do with Gallery Gripcore doors because of the advanced technology in their construction.”

Some timber core composite doors are prone to warping or bowing as thermal stresses build up within them. These are typically caused when the two faces of the door are subject to vastly different temperatures. For example, on a cold day, the outside face of the

door could be close to freezing, while the internal face could be closer to 20C thanks to central heating. As the door expands and contracts simultaneously, it can lead to twisting which can stop it from closing properly.

Gallery Gripcore doors, from DoorCo, are made using a hybrid of cross-laminated engineered hardwood, laminated veneer lumber (LVL) timber, and hardwood stiles and rails, then pressed with 4mm GRP skins. Thanks to this robust design, it is claimed that the doors will not move, bow or twist more than 3mm. Also, that they will require minimal maintenance, and are more secure than many alternatives.

Listers’ customers can choose from the same styles and colours that its Gallery 44 doors are

available in, making it easier for customers to upsell on the technical benefits of the door. For example, Gallery Gripcore doors can achieve an ultra-low U-value of 1.0W/m²K or better, and they feature multi-point locking mechanisms and high-grade security hardware.

“We know that homeowners are looking to improve the thermal efficiency of their homes as the cost of energy continues to increase,” Roy said. “And, as Gallery Gripcore doors are warmer and stronger than many doors on the market, our customers have a great opportunity to meet a real demand for high value high margin products.

“And because Gallery Gripcore doors resist warping and cracking, that margin stays with the installer, and is not wasted returning to site to deal with performance issues.”

Listers’ customers can also access a number of other benefits, such a homeowner leads, marketing and showroom support, and ‘nononsense’ online ordering.

www.listerwindows.co.uk

Decalu Entrance Door Now Available From Dekko

Following a hugely successful past 12 months, trade fabricator Dekko Window Systems has added the Decalu 88 entrance door to its Räum range of aluminium products.

The Decalu 88 entrance door comes in a wide choice of flush and glazed in door slabs, while offering a modern 88mm thermally efficient system, claims the company.

Sales director Kurt Greatrex comments: “We’re delighted to have added the Decalu 88 entrance door to our Räum range. The door boasts many benefits for installers, the most impressive of which is its use of special ABS inserts, which adapt to temperature change and allow the internal and external faces to expand and contract independently of one another, limiting bowing to a minimum of 2.5mm, even in extreme heat.

“This means it won’t bow or stick, regardless of the temperature outside, removing limitations on door design, including the

specification of dark colours.”

The door also features a unique fingerprint control option, and is Part L compliant, thanks to energy-efficient U-Values as low as 1.3 with double glazing and 1.0 with triple glazing, says the company.

The Decalu 88 entrance door joins Räum’s aluminium patio doors, windows and entrance doors, as well as the Decalu 88 bi-fold door, which in the past few months, has proved a very successful addition.

Kurt continues: “Since its launch in 2015, Räum has always included state-of-the-art luxury aluminium products that offer sleek sightlines and first-class thermal performance.

“It’s set to be a very worthwhile investment for Räum and Dekko as a whole, and we look forward to seeing our installer customers benefit from this market-leading product.”

www.dekkowindows.com

Vista Celebrates A Decade Of XtremeDoor

Composite door manufacturer Vista Panels is this year celebrating 10 years of its XtremeDoor brand, following a decade of success.

When the brand was launched in 2013, XtremeDoor took the market by storm as a composite door that ticked all the boxes for homeowners, and offered installers a way to really stand out, claims the company.

It boasted a high-security fivepoint locking system and an anti-snap, bump and drill cylinder designed to withstand the main attack methods during a burglary, provided excellent weather performance thanks to a triplesealed uPVC outer frame and GRP weatherproof skin, and exceptional thermal performance thanks to a high-density foam-filled composite door slab, says the company.

Since then, XtremeDoor has moved on – the GRP skin is now 100% thicker, having increased from 2mm to 4mm, while its fivehook lock has been upgraded to pull tighter to the frame and offer an even better weather seal, improving its weather performance by 50%, claims the company.

The range has also since been expanded to include several new styles, RAL colours and hardware options, while machinery investments and two major factory expansions at Vista have seen increased production of the brand.

www.vistapanels.co.uk

Patio Performance From Warmcore

Given the new building regulations and a drive for better energy efficiency in patio doors, Kömmerling says the Warmcore solution offers double and triple glazing options within a system that also boasts a number of premium performance features.

With a U-value of 1.4 W/(m2K) double glazed and 1.0 W/ (m2K) triple glazed, Warmcore is a product platform for the domestic and commercial sectors. Available in 2, 3 and 4 pane variants it’s also said to be a system with complete design flexibility and the option of both single colour or dualcolour options and there’s also a thermally broken low threshold available.

Bespoke hardware features throughout the Warmcore

patio door with self-levelling rollers running on a precision engineered track to give longterm, ‘ultrasmooth’ and reliable performance. These wheels have also been tested to 50,000 cycles, providing further proof of longevity.

There is also a custom designed ‘lift-to-lock’ handle which we are told is unique to the Warmcore patio door. The handle operates the bi-directional locks located at the top and bottom of the door and feature ‘claws’ helping to make Warmcore patios secure at the interlock, typically a security weak point in standard PVCu patio doors, says Kömmerling. The Warmcore patio door also carries PAS24, an important standard under the forthcoming revisions to Part Q of the building regulations.

The Warmcore patio door also incorporates soft close technology, also known as a safety brake, as an optional upgrade which helps prevent trapped fingers and unintentional slamming, particularly useful when children are around. Carefully engineered, these builtin safety brakes guarantee soft, dampened operation, helping prevent misuse.

Phil Brown, research and development manager at Kömmerling commented: “The Warmcore patio door is a wonderful piece of product engineering and is available as a finished product and also as part of an integrated bar length system including casement, flush and tilt and turn windows, along with an impressive bi-folding door. With consumers looking towards better performing products and those rich in design features, there’s never been a better time in which to look at Warmcore.” www.profine-uk.com

The AluK 77 window and door range re-engineered for future sustainability.

With the need for more energy efficiency from homes and buildings, here at AluK, we wanted to make sure we were playing our part. Especially when our products are key to letting natural light in, whilst keeping the elements out.

The 77 Range is our most high performing window and door range yet, outperforming the current A++ WER. And just as you’d expect from AluK, there’s no compromise when it comes to aesthetic design too.

The 77 window and door range from AluK, re-engineered for future sustainability.

Future Proofing

The 77 Window And Door System

AluK says its high performance 77 window and door system has just been given a comprehensive update to ensure it not only complies with the 2022 updates to Part L of the Building Regs but is also ready for the 2025 Future Homes standard.

The modern, minimal aesthetic of the 77 system means it is ideally suited to new build settings, particularly multi-storey apartments where developers can achieve a uniform look. The floating mullion open-in French casement option is also especially useful for ensuring that Juliet balconies tie in with the rest of the building.

According to AluK, the 77 opens

up opportunities for fabricators and installers working right across the new build market with a flat, square profile design and fully rebated flush door ‘which buyers and developers love’. The openin and open-out window profiles are both easily paired with the door, so it’s easy to create a coherent overall look throughout any size or scale of property with no compromise on light, views or sightlines.

The 77 system ‘easily’ meets the 1.2 W/m2K U-Value limit set for Part L compliance in new builds using standard, cost-effective 1.0 centre pane double glazing. If even lower U-Values are required, then it can also accommodate triple glazing to achieve as little as

0.8 Wm2K, which is the expected target in the 2025 Future Homes standard.

The system’s high performance extends beyond the thermal efficiency, however. It has now been given new glazing foams and centre seals to enhance the wind and water resistance and has passed the PAS24: 2016 security test.

Also part of the update are the new AluK Novae handle designs available in black, white and silver to suit any interior finish and décor, and additional hinge options including face fixed, slimline barrel or fully concealed for the ultimate contemporary look. A new mid rail means doors can even now be fabricated with solid panels at the bottom if required in either single or double configurations.

For fabricators and installers, windows and doors in the 77 system are easier than ever to manufacture and fit, says AluK, with simplified gasket and bead

combinations which reduce stock holding and ordering, and clipin membrane details for all the outer frame profiles which reduce fabrication time and provide more robust weathering details.

The handle and hinge choices have also been deliberately designed to give plenty of freedom and flexibility to buyers while still being cost effective and easy to fit.

New Automatic Smoke-Ventilating PVC-U Commercial Window From Emplas

Emplas has launched a smokeactivated PVC-U window that opens in the event of fire, channelling harmful smoke and gases away from corridors, stairs and lobbies, allowing a building’s occupants to escape quickly and safely.

Designed for the commercial sector, Emplas’s range of NSHEV (Natural Smoke and Heat Exhaust Ventilators) windows are made using the Optima profile from Epwin, and are fully compliant with BS EN 12101-2, having been rigorously tested and accredited by SE Controls.

“Smoke is the number one killer in the event of a fire, and it is vital that buildings can respond quickly and automatically so that occupants can escape unharmed,” Kush Patel, managing director of Emplas, said. “Working closely with commercial developers, we have designed top-hung, sidehung and bottom-hung variants, in a range of 28 colours in a range of finishes, to suit a variety of applications.

“Producing these windows in PVC-U – rather than aluminium – gives our clients greater design flexibility, while keeping costs to a minimum. We can also achieve U-values as low as 0.9W/m2K.”

Key to the NSHEV windows’ design is its ability to open completely automatically in the event of a fire.

“Our NSHEV windows require absolutely no human

intervention for them to work when required, and we have had them fully tested by SE Controls to make sure they comply with the relevant standards,” Kush said.

“As a result, our NSHEV windows provide vital daylight, ventilation and smoke control in the event of a fire, giving building owners and building occupants full confidence in their ability to perform.”

NSHEV windows are installed in areas of a building, protecting occupants by preventing the excessive build-up of smoke and noxious fumes that would obscure the view and cause suffocation.

Fitted correctly, NSHEV windows from Emplas comply with BS EN 12101-2 and building owners will receive a Declaration of Performance. www.emplas.co.uk

Decalu88 Bi-Fold Door

Added To Dekko’s Aluminium Suite

Dekko Window Systems has added the Decalu88 bi-fold door to its Räum range of aluminium products.

The Decalu88 bi-fold is a contemporary 88mm thermally efficient system that delivers u-values of as low as 1.4W/ m2k when double-glazed and 0.68W/m2k when triple-glazed, making it both Part L and Future Homes ready for 2025, claims the company.

It also uses a co-extruded, preinserted gasket designed to significantly reduce the amount

of glazing time required per unit, and help speed up installation as a result.

These gaskets are also backed with rigid PVCu, helping reduce shrinkage.

The Decalu88 features minimal sightlines for a premium aesthetic, and with each sash able to accommodate weights of 200kg and up to 3m in height, the bifold also offers impressive design flexibility, while guaranteeing ultrasmooth running.

Decalu88 joins Räum’s aluminium

patio doors, windows and entrance doors, all of which offer sleek sightlines and first-class thermal performance.

Dekko sales director Kurt Greatrex comments: “When we first launched our Räum range back in 2015, it was designed specifically for the luxury end of the market, thanks to superior quality, outstanding performance, and a sleek and contemporary appearance.

“The Decalu88 bi-fold door is the perfect addition to the range, offering low-u-values, slim sightlines and a contemporary premium aesthetic.

“Add to that its superb thermal efficiency and a pre-inserted gasket which will save installers a significant amount of time, and you’ve got the ideal aluminium product, something which we at Dekko are very proud to have amongst our other Räum offerings.”

www.dekkowindows.com

Direct Trade Windows

Adds Smart Alitherm To Portfolio

Following increased demand for luxury home improvement products, trade supplier Direct Trade Windows has added the Smart Alitherm Heritage range to its portfolio.

Using innovative polyamide thermal break technology, Alitherm Heritage profiles create a barrier between the cold air outside and the warm air inside, significantly reducing thermal transmittance and enhancing the overall U-value, while also meeting the exact Document L requirements, says Direct Trade Windows.

The company supplies Alitherm Heritage windows and doors, both of which are said to offer superb thermal efficiency.

Designed to function as a direct replacement for steel windows, the range of windows are available in either fixed, tilt & turn,

side hung or top hung open out casement configurations.

Also designed as high-quality steel replacements, Alitherm Heritage doors are available in both single and double door configurations, offer ‘extremely’ slim sightlines, and are equipped with multi-point locking and face mounted shoot bolts.

Both Alitherm Heritage windows and doors are security tested to PAS24:2016, and come with a wide range of Heritage and Art Deco hardware options.

The range is also available in a choice of standard or nonstandard colours, including metallic, dual colour, and Alchemy anodised finishes.

Direct Trade Windows Director AJ Hassanali comments: “Despite the continued challenges faced across the industry over the

past two and a half years, our products and services have been in high demand, and we’ve managed to maintain a high level of service across the board, providing outstanding products and a smooth and reliable sales process for all our trade customers.

“We’ve got a great partnership with Smart, and their Alitherm Heritage Range is a great system. The slim profiles and sightlines are the ideal solution for building renovations as well as new projects, and we’re excited to be offering this range to our trade customers.

“Alitherm Heritage has been a very worthwhile investment, and has allowed us to continue to provide our customers with the high-quality home improvement products they’re used to.”

www.directtradewindows.co.uk

Ultraframe

Flat Roof System Now In Unlimited Widths

The recently launched Ultraframe Flat Roof system is now available in unlimited widths and projections of up to 5m, as opposed to the previous maximum sizes of 7m wide by 4m projection. The system has also been enhanced to provide solutions for free standing garden homes and compatibility with bungalows and partial walls.

The innovative system is a popular choice for flat roof extensions any style of orangery or garden home and is fully compatible with the company’s revolutionary hup! building system.

Explaining more, Ultraframe marketing director, Alex Hewitt, said: “Our new Flat Roof system has proved extremely popular since launch and we have been working to enhance the configuration options due to demand for even larger sizes. We’re thrilled to now be able to offer unlimited widths and projections up to 5m. This should allow for some extraordinary projects. The system can also now be used on bungalows, for free standing structures, and for partial wall situations, providing even greater flexibility for our customers.”

The Flat Roof system has

everything required within one simple order, including structural calculations, lanterns, and skylights. The system has recently achieved JHAI and Assent Building Regulations approval, making it not only fast to fit, but also fast to project manage. Flat Roof users can choose to work with either Assent or JHAI to carry out their Building Regulation approvals as an alternative to working with Local Authorities. Fast tracking the red tape on new build and transformation projects means that builds can begin sooner and that the process is hassle-free, claims the company.

The new Ultraframe Flat Roof at a glance:

• Suitable for use on bungalows and partial wall situations

• One roof, one order with structural calculations, lanterns and skylights included

• JHAI & Assent approved for Building Regulations

• 7 soffit and fascia designs including elegant cornices

• BBA approved Ultrapanel technology

Supports rooflights up to 5.7m x 3m.

• Thermal performance that exceeds Building Regulations –0.12W/(m²K)

• Fully insulated ring beam and kerb

• Up to 50% faster to fit than traditional methods

• Time saving, patented Pitchlock fall system

• Delivered as a flat packed kit with easy-fit soffits and clip-fit panels

www.ultraframetrade.co.uk

Roof Maker Launches SheerLux Low Profile Pitched Rooflight

Rooflight and lantern manufacturer, Roof Maker has launched a brand-new range of energy efficient made to measure pitched roof lights with a minimalist low-profile appearance.

Based on Roof Maker’s award winning Luxlite range, the unvented SheerLux rooflight sits flush or slightly lower than the surface of a pitched roof (depending on the thickness of rooftiles), creating an uninterrupted roofline suitable for newbuild, retrofit and some heritage projects. As they are all made to measure, in sizes from 0.4m to 2m wide, they can match the frame sizes of the existing rooflights.

When viewed from the inside of a property, SheerLux has an attractive frameless appearance, increasing the internal glazed area and giving the end user an excellent source of natural light.

The improved thermal efficiency of these triple glazed units delivers whole product U-values of 0.6w/m2k (calculated for 1m x 1m product), which can help lower a home’s carbon footprint and energy costs, whilst Roof Maker’s easy clean glass, supplied as standard, helps to keep the rooflight looking clean and bright.

Suitable for roof pitches between 16 and 75 degrees, SheerLux is constructed from durable marine grade aluminium powder coated frames and incorporates the company’s built-in flashing apron, which improves weather resistance by allowing the rainwater to disperse and enables quick and easy installation.

As with all Roof Maker products, SheerLux comes with a 20-year unit seal warranty.

www.roof-maker.co.uk

SupaLite

Launches S1 Roof Lantern System

The addition of the S1 lantern follows on from SupaLite’s launch of the ILite flat roof orangery system which was launched earlier this year, which can accommodate the S1 system.

Wes Clarkson, sales director at SupaLite, said: “The introduction of the S1 lantern perfectly complements both our flat and pitched tiled roof range, and homeowners will be delighted with the way the lantern floods the room below with plenty of light.

A lantern system claimed to deter would-be intruders has been launched by tiled roof specialists SupaLite.

The S1 Lantern System is the latest product in the SupaLite range and can be fitted to both flat and pitched roofs.

The company says many traditional lantern systems have design flaws that can be exploited

by burglars but the S1 system eliminates these flaws via design considerations which internalise various security fittings.

The S1 lantern can be ordered glazed or unglazed and is available in three standard powder coated matt colours – pure white, anthracite grey and jet black. It also includes an integral channel around pits perimeter which can be used to house LED lighting.

“The S1 is stylish, sustainable and secure, and because we have a fast turnaround time of between 10 to 14 days, we can supply the system to the tightest of deadlines.

“It’s a terrific addition to our range and already the S1 is generating a lot of interest with installers. In an uncertain housing market homeowners are increasingly choosing to improve instead of move, so a roof lantern like the S1 is an excellent choice for a new or existing conservatory.”

www.supaliteroof.co.uk

High Quality Shower Hardware Will Keep You Profitable Says Stowmarket Glass

clean.

“The general customer doesn’t specify a shower fitting as such, they just like the look of projects we’ve already completed. So, we tend to push the Bilbo range ourselves. I can’t ever remember it being specified, but the second someone gets to hold a Bilbao hinge, they are immediately impressed because it is so heavy. They can tell it’s well made and good quality, and that’s why we push it. They also don’t mind that little bit extra for it, because they appreciate the value.”

Luke says leads for high-end bathroom projects continue to come in to the business, despite the general economic slowdown, providing much-needed revenue streams. Choosing the right hardware to meet this demand is crucial not only to satisfy this demand, but also to ensure profits are not lost to underperforming products.

“We use the Bilbao range of shower hardware from Bohle, because we know they are going to last,” Luke said. “The products don’t degrade or rust, the bearings continue to work within them, and they open and shut as they should.

Partnering with suppliers of premium shower hardware, such as Bohle, will help you maximise opportunities in highend bathroom fit-outs, according to Stowmarket Glass’s managing director Luke Browes.

“Shower screens are 25% of our work,” Luke said. “It’s not a huge amount, but it’s a constant source of work, given the fact that English buildings are wonky and you need unusual shower screens, and people are regularly extending up into their attics.”

Luke said that the Bilbao range from Bohle allows the

Suffolk-based glass company to approach bathroom projects with confidence, because not only can they fulfil the brief, but they can effectively provide a fit and forget solution. This allows it to stay one step ahead of the competition and maximise profitability.

“We can get everything we need from the Bilbao shower hardware range – glass-to-glass, glass-towall, fixed clamps – and there is a good amount of flexibility within the fitting, which makes it easy for the fitters,” Luke said. “And it is a nice-looking product: very minimal looking and very

“We’re far too busy to be going back to jobs and wasting an hour here or there re-adjusting something or changing a hinge because of the quality is not good enough. We just simply don’t have the time for it, and neither do our customers.

“We’ve been going for 30-odd years, and we plan to be here for another 30 years. So, we don’t want callbacks every 10 years with shower fittings falling apart, and the Bilbo range stands the test of time.”

www.stowmarketglassco.co.uk www.bohle.com

HWL Reveals

Tip For Efficient Manufacture

Leeds-based trade fabricator HWL Windows has revealed that processing all of its product designs – regardless of system and profile material – with Window Designer from First Degree Systems is key to efficiency within the business.

“Using a single piece of design processing software across multiple systems and profile types is an important part of running our business efficiently,” HWL director Graham Howatson said.

“When we first started manufacturing aluminium products, we ran other forms of software to process those designs, because some of the systems companies had their own software, or their material list was only available on a specific software.

“But you end up having different processes on your aluminium products than you do on the other products running through your factory, and that doesn’t

make sense.”

HWL has been in operation for 20 years, and has used Window Designer to process its designs for all of that time. In the last five years, the company has switched its purchase agreement to a subscription model, which has given the fabricator access to more functions within the Window Designer suite of software, such

as Stock Assistant and Barcode Tracking.

“In the last five years, we’ve changed our approach to software,” Graham said. “We recognise that it is a necessary requirement in the business, and it’s becoming even more important.”

Graham pointed out that handing the design processing element is just one piece in a complex manufacturing jigsaw, and that using your software to create efficiencies elsewhere in the production process saves money on additional resources. This makes fabricators more profitable, and Graham said that processing the Sheerline aluminium designs with Window Designer was a logical decision to make.

“As a result of running our high-end Residence Collection PVC-U products through the Window Designer suite of software, we knew it worked,” he said. “For example, we experienced the accuracy of having all the components available for manufacture thanks to Stock Assistant; we successfully managed all our orders and customer relations thanks to the Zandi CRM software; and the design processing is fast and efficient. We’ve got confidence in it because we know it works.

“In fact, a pre-requisite for us is that before we would look at any system, we would check that the material file was available on First Degree Systems.

“If you used different pieces of software for different materials, all you are going to do is add labour in your admin team and other functions. So, 100%, one of the biggest benefits is that our operation runs on one piece of software – Window Designer.” www.firstdegreesystems.com

Graham Howatson

Comp Door Customers Get Their Own

Branded Version Of Touch

When it launched its Business Micros Touch Portal online quoting and ordering system towards the end of 2022, Comp Door promised there would be more to come, and it has delivered on that promise with the launch of a new Branded Mode for Touch which customers can make their own.

Trade companies buying composite doors from Comp Door now have the option of adding a branded version of

the Touch lead generation tool to their own company website which allows homeowners to design their door and enquire direct – generating retail leads for them around the clock.

In Branded Mode, the Touch design tool offers a simplified interface and fewer options than the full version in Portal on the Comp Door website, but crucially it still uses the same up to date product data and images and the same distinctive Touch Home Visualiser to

engage with retail buyers. It works on any mobile device so homeowners can design their door at home and can also be used as a powerful sales tool by installers in their showroom or in presentations.

Installers who opt for Touch Branded Mode effectively get a boosted retail presence, without the need to invest in extra salespeople, and the ability to generate warm, accurate enquiries straight into their Touch Portal account for any of the products in their fabricator’s range. They can then send out personalised, professionally branded quotes in response and, once those quotes are converted into sales, place the orders using the same integrated end to end software. They can also track, store and edit their quotes all in one place and get the benefits of a mini-

CRM system for a fraction of the cost.

Touch Branded Mode can be added into any website and is so quick and easy to set up ad personalise that trade customers can be up and running within an hour, says the company.

David Massey, Comp Door’s Head of IT, explained: “Branded Mode is linked directly to the Touch platform here, so customers can use it to take a lead all the way from enquiry to installation direct with us using their agreed pricing structure and consistent product data. The software doesn’t allow homeowners to generate an enquiry for a door that we can’t make either, so every lead is especially valuable and worthwhile.”

At its base in Newcastleunder-Lyme, Comp Door has implemented the TOUCH software platform throughout its operation. It links directly with the company’s other Business Micros software for manufacturing and business management and is said to be helping Comp Door achieve market leading levels of efficiency.

The roll out of Touch to the 40+ big name fabricators who have already signed up to the platform is now ongoing, and the system will be live at many more businesses over the next few months.

Richie Thornton, Head of Operations for Touch, said: “The response to Touch from the early adopters like Comp Door has been phenomenal. Their customers are loving it too, so we’re very confident that our long-promised Touch revolution is finally on the way.”

compdoor.co.uk store.bm-touch.co.uk

ARC Design Upgrade To Help Boost Installer Sales

Augmented Reality Conservatory Design, the visualisation tool that helps installers sell more conservatories, claims the company, has been upgraded to include brand new features that will help users benefit further.

Sitting within an installer’s website, ARC Design helps homeowners design and fully customise their own conservatory within minutes, before submitting the design to the installer to request a quote.

With the click of a button, the homeowner can then view their design in 3D augmented reality, allowing them to view the conservatory in situ on their house, helping them make their final decision.

ARC Design now features a realistic looking sky, as well as a function to add furniture to conservatory designs, giving customers an even better feel for their investment.

ARC COO and Co-founder Andy Clear comments: “Augmented reality has really taken off within the glazing industry, with long standing software developers following our lead. With ARC

Design, we’ve created something that is proving a huge benefit to our customers across the country, and seems to be driving technological innovation forward.

“Installers that have ARC Design installed on their website have reported increased sales, increased lead generation, and a real boost to their brand reputation, and a lot of that is down to the realistic aspects of the software.

“We’ve always strived to make the software as accurate as possible, and by adding a realistic sky and furniture options to the mix, we’re helping homeowners get a very good idea of what their conservatory will look like in real life. This in turn will help conservatory installers secure new customers with their offerings, and ultimately boost their business.

“As we move into an increasingly digitised world, ARC Design provides an opportunity for installers to position themselves as the best choice for a homeowner, and we want to enhance this by constantly improving the software to engage as many potential customers as possible.”

FIT Show 2023 Registration goes live!

Registration for May 23-25 FIT Show 2023 edition is now live. Visitors can now register to attend the UK’s number one event for the windows, doors, glass, hardware and components industry via the FIT Show website (www.fitshow. co.uk.)

FIT Show 2023 marks an extra special edition of the B2B trade show as it celebrates ten years since its launch. Over the last decade, FIT Show has evolved significantly. From its roots as a predominantly UPVC windows and doors show, FIT Show now incorporates the full plethora of home improvement products in materials ranging from aluminium through to timber and the very latest glass technology.

Over 85% of space has now been allocated, 20% of which is made up of brands who have never exhibited at FIT Show before. In the last month alone, exhibitors to join the lineup include garage door experts Hormann UK, fenestration software providers Cyncly, Italian aluminium machinery manufacturer

Gemma Group SRL, lifting systems companies Uplifter Gmbh & Co. Kg and GGR Group, aluminium systems company ASAS Aluminyum, Supalite Tiled Roof Systems and Windowparts.

As part of its anniversary event, organisers have announced a number of new and exciting features designed to entice visitors to return again this year. For exhibitors looking to qualify leads more efficiently, and indeed visitors looking to purchase the latest products, the new ‘Hosted Buyer Programme’ will set up pre-arranged appointments. This feature is brand new for 2023 and is designed to save time and money by taking visitors straight to the people and products they want to see most.

GGF and Fensa will partner with FIT Show to deliver another first class CPD certified learning programme. Content will tackle current industry challenges as well as covering the latest industry regulations and legislative changes. There will also be a new

demonstration area on the show floor designed to complement the theoretical content with hands-on, practical support for installers.

FIT Show event director, Nickie West said: “It’s always exciting when we open registration for FIT Show. It’s been a quick turnaround since our delayed 2021 event in May 2022, but we’ve managed to make some exciting changes and develop new features to broaden our appeal in this time. This, coupled with the fact that there are so many new brands to see for the first time make FIT Show an essential fixture in the 2023 calendar.

“This is your chance to see every link in the supply chain, under one roof, at the same time. Save time visiting multiple suppliers and distributors, wrap everything up for the year ahead at FIT Show. And the fact it’s our ten year anniversary event means there’s even more reasons to attend and help us celebrate than ever before!”

After the anniversary edition of FIT Show this May, there will be no FIT Show until 2025 with the event reverting to its ‘every other year’ pattern to complement Fensterbau.

www.fitshow.co.uk

Window News & FIT Show –Win A Stand

sets you apart from your competition.

Find out more and enter at WindowNews.co.uk Entries close 31 January 2023.

Deadline for submission

Entries open November 1st 2022 Winner announced February 28th 2023

What You’ll Win

• Crystal Stand Package with 12M2 of stand space, which includes walling, lights, electrical connection, carpet and furniture ready for you to arrive, add your company branding and product and be ready to meet 10,000 potential customers!

• Press release announcing that you are exhibiting

• Marketing support in the run up to the show

Window News and FIT Show are offering one lucky brand the chance to win an exhibitor space at FIT Show 2023, an extra special edition of the trade show which is celebrating a decade of innovation since its 2013 launch.

Over 20% of the lineup for FIT Show 2023 is made up of debut brands ranging in sizes from small startups through to more established brands who have chosen the 2023 event as an integral part of their marketing strategy next year.

The campaign with Window News is specifically designed to encourage brands who may have thought about exhibiting before but might not be sure if they’re quite ready, those who might believe that the cost of exhibiting is too prohibitive, or those who have never considered exhibiting before and would like to take their

first step on the FIT Show ladder.

FIT Show & Window News will take the hassle out of your FIT Show debut by providing a Crystal Stand Package with 12M2 of stand space*. All we need from you is a business case which outlines:

• Company name, website and overview of nature of business

• Target audience

• Background of your companywhen you started, why you started and what your goals are for the next five years

• A 500 word overview of why you think you should win a free place on the floorplan for the FIT Show 2023 - whether it’s your innov tions, sustainable credentials or grass roots initiative - tell us what

• FIT Show TV interview at the event

Terms and conditions:

• Only open to first time exhibiting brands

• Must be a service or product provider relevant to the fenestration industry

• Entrants cannot be employed, family or friends of either Montgomery Group or Windows News

• One entry per company

• One winner will be selected by FIT Show organisers and the editor of Window News before being notified in February 2023

The Judges

Representatives from FIT Show & Window News.

Cube Commercial Chooses Emmegi Machining Package

Until it invested in an Emmegi Phantomatic T3A CNC machining centre, Cannock-based Cube Commercial had been carrying out all its aluminium profile preparations using punch tooling and a copy router. The fabrication team were skilled and experienced so the quality was good, but Paul Grenfell, Cube’s director knew it could be even better.

He said: “Our mission as a new full-service business providing design, consultancy, fabrication and installation services is to delight customers on every step of their journey with us. That has to start with the quality of the windows, doors, shopfronts and facades we fabricate, so choosing top quality machines was always our plan.

“Emmegi has an outstanding reputation in this industry for the usability and reliability of its machines, and when we spoke to a couple of other aluminium fabricators in our area, they had no hesitation in recommending them. In fact, it was a friend of mine in the industry who suggested the Phantomatic T3A and said it would

suit the structure and vision of our company perfectly.”

The Phantomatic T3A three axes machining centre contains an angular machining head and a saw blade for machining on all five faces of the workpiece and comes with an eight-piece tool magazine. It also has an automatically positioned clamp unit and a high torque 5.5kW electro-spindle.

Paul Grenfell added: “Since

the T3A was installed, we have certainly seen a significant improvement in our productivity and better precision, accuracy and overall quality in our frames. As you would expect, our fabrication team are very pleased with our investment – they can focus more on efficiency and quality control now and on delivering the repeatability and consistency that our commercial clients demand.

“From the moment we contacted them, the Emmegi team couldn’t have been more helpful. They have surpassed our expectations at every stage – not just in terms of the machine itself, but also the promptness and efficiency of their commissioning and service visits.

“In fact, we have been so impressed that we have also now purchased an Emmegi bead saw and crimper and various trolleys and ancillaries to add to the facilities here and continue our programme of ongoing investment. Moving forward, we plan to make Emmegi our machinery partner so that they can help us as we grow and ensure that our set-up suits our needs.

“We work hard to build strong partnerships with our suppliers because we recognise that they can make a huge difference to the quality of the service we can provide. We are currently planning on broadening our offering to include supply only framing solutions to installation companies in the UK, so those supplier partnerships will be more important than ever.”

Ian Latimer, Emmegi (UK)’s managing director who advised Cube on its investment, commented: “The Cube facility is already a great showcase for our products – absolutely immaculate and really well organised, and we’re very much looking forward to seeing how it develops in the future.”

More info at: https://bit.ly/3QuL3ET

The Emmegi T3A installed at Cube Commercial

The Cube Commercial factory in Cannock

Residence Collection

Helps Transform Stunning Property In Alderley Edge

A stunning property in Cheshire’s Alderley Edge has been transformed and modernised by new windows and doors, courtesy of Alexander Windows and The Residence Collection.

Premium window and door designer, The Residence Collection, designed the window profile system. Local window and

door installer Alexander Windows and their fabricator, made and installed The Residence Collection windows for each room of the property, bringing the homeowner’s modern vision to life.

The tired wooden frames have now been replaced with stylish flush windows with a clotted cream exterior and flat white interior,

modernising the property but retaining the charm and character. As well as all the windows, one cottage door, one flint door and one Painswick door were also installed into the home.

The Residence Collection’s R7 window was chosen due to its fresh look and intelligent functionality, alongside the flush interior and exterior. The windows consist of a traditional mechanical joint that provides the timber alternative aesthetic throughout the home.

It’s not just the look of the R7 that delivers, but the performance too. The R7 windows boast an energy rating of A++, with u-values as low as 0.84 W/m2K with triple glazing and 1.2 W/m2K as standard with double glazing.

Commenting on the project, the homeowner said: “We couldn’t be happier with our new windows and

the process as a whole. We chose The Residence Collection due to the flush fitting primarily, but then the extensive choice of colours meant that we could modernise our home but still keep its character.

“Our windows have totally changed the look and feel of our home and has taken it to an entirely different level. Clean lines, an excellent finish and look, and doesn’t look out of place with the area, which is really important to us. The internal benefits have been just as great, the look inside too, but economically the house is much warmer.

“We’ve had lots of comments from friends and family about our new windows. Mainly people have been surprised with the flush fitting and were unaware what could be done with UPVC. We’ve even had comments from colleagues on Teams/Zoom calls!” https://bit.ly/3vQ29Uh

Epwin Window Systems Specified For Refurbishment Programme At Cumbria Secondary School

adds, the curtain walling system incorporating Epwin Window Systems’ window products, offers a cost-effective solution compared with a full powder coated aluminium system, with typical savings of between 10%15%.

Due to John Ruskin School’s exposed location, the product specification was exacting. As such, World Group worked closely with Epwin Window Systems’ specification manager

Gary Millership who designed a solution that met the project requirements. The solution gave a U value of 1.3 W/m²K, exceeding the requirements of Part L of Building Regulations and helping to make the school more thermally efficient by design. In order to meet the requirements of Part F of Building Regulations, which covers building ventilation, the number of opening windows was increased, and additional trickle vents were incorporated.

48 Optima casement windows, 24 insulated 70mm insulated panels and 240 metres of Epwin Window Systems’ curtain walling were installed at the John Ruskin School as part of the school’s refurbishment programme. A thriving community comprehensive secondary school, John Ruskin is situated in the heart of Coniston, within the Lake District National Park in Cumbria.

The school’s windows and curtain walling system were originally constructed from single glazed timber and were in a very poor state of repair with poor thermal performance and limited ventilation, which was negatively impacting on the

learning environment.

The school appointed experienced local contractors Top Notch Contractors to manage the full programme of refurbishments. The window and curtain walling element of the contract was awarded to World Group. Based in Carlisle, World Group is a family-owned business and experienced in carrying out commercial contracts.

Epwin Window Systems says its ‘purpose-designed curtain walling system combines quality, sustainability, aesthetics, price and performance – making it the ideal choice when creating large areas of fenestration’. Furthermore, the company

To avoid term-time disruption, a strict three-week timescale was required. From the initial design and pricing, through to survey, fabrication and installation, the technical team at Epwin Window Systems and the commercial management team at World Group worked together closely to ensure nothing slipped from the schedule.

Gary Millership concluded: “When you consider that this project was awarded to World Group at the eleventh hour, with the aim of installing the new curtain wall screen and windows during the school summer holidays, this was a great success and a testament to all parties involved. The professionalism and skill of the installation team at World Group was second to none and we are delighted to have helped them deliver this first-class refurbishment project.

epwinwindowsystems.co.uk

TuffX: Fair And Square

Sleek, contemporary design, bold geometric architecture and a mixture of modern and traditional build materials are the key components of a stunning residential property in Exeter which was recently completed with specialist glass from TuffX.

TuffX supplied a total of 10m2 21.5mm toughened and laminated glass for the prominent first-floor balustrade, made up of six rectangular units each 1205mm in height.

With the balcony being at the front of the property, privacy was an essential consideration,

so a satin privacy finish option was chosen for the glass panels which were delivered to site for installation. Meanwhile, a near-invisible frameless finish ensures a seamless, subtle and unobtrusive sightline.

The finished build is a complementary mix of both modern textures and traditional materials, which have turned a home into a design showpiece, while the completed glass balustrade creates a practical, safe and secure outdoor space for the occupants to enjoy.

This Devonshire delight is just one

example of the type of projects TuffX supply specialist glass products for across the UK.

“It’s always a huge pleasure to see our products take pride of place in such impressive architectural designs,” said TuffX’s commercial director Paul Higgins.

“Whatever your project, wherever you are in the country, our team is ready to talk to you about how our specialist glass products can help you achieve the results you want and that homeowners will love.”

www.tuffxglass.co.uk

Granada’s Secondary Glazing Installed At Architect’s Practice

Architects at a Warwickshire practice were so impressed with Granada’s secondary glazing system that they decided to get it installed to improve thermal efficiency and reduce energy costs in their own premises.

Jonathan Holland Architects, based in a Grade II listed property in Kenilworth, serves clients throughout the UK and around the world for a wide range of commercial, public and private projects.

After inviting a Granada Glazing specialist to present a secondary glazing CPD session, they quickly recognised that their building’s original single-glazed

and draughty windows were not up to the job and that their working environment could benefit from additional thermal insulation.

Single glazed windows are highly conductive, letting in unwanted cold air during the winter and too much heat in the summer. Studies have shown that up to 70% of the heat from buildings is lost through singleglazed windows, leading to higher energy bills to maintain a comfortable inside temperature.

Installing quality secondary glazing provides excellent thermal insulation that reduces heat loss by up to 65%. Low-E

glass is often the best choice for this extra internal glazing panel as the special coating reflects heat back into the room. Secondary glazing is also far less expensive than full window replacement and frequently the only option to improve thermal efficiency in historic or listed properties, says the company.

Granada Glazing’s specialists fitted eight secondary glazing units in total: four balanced vertical sliding units, three threepanel horizontal sliding units and one two-panel horizontal sliding unit – all with 4mm toughened Low E glass to reflect heat back into the rooms.

Designed specifically for traditional box sash windows, balanced vertical sliding units blend in seamlessly with the internal décor and are undetectable from the outside, maintaining the character of a building’s external appearance.

Robert Cottam, commercial

sales manager at Granada Secondary Glazing, said: “We initially heard from the team at Jonathan Holland Architects back in February 2022 when they requested that a member of our team pay them a visit to deliver one of our secondary glazing CPD sessions.

“It became apparent as the session progressed that the company’s HQ may well require a secondary glazing install. Operating out of a listed building, the customer found themselves in the familiar position of being unable to complete a full window replacement due to planning restrictions. As heating bills continued to rise in line with the ongoing energy crisis, it had quickly become obvious that something had to be done to address the leaky windows.

“Our proposal comprised a mixture of our vertical sliding and horizontal sliding units designed to match the décor of the primary windows. Low E glazing was chosen to offer the team at Jonathan Holland Architects the best possible thermal performance and improved comfort.”

Contemporary Appeal For Home Refurb Project

A 4-bedroom 1990’s detached home in Aberford, West Yorkshire has been transformed by domestic and commercial fabricator and installer, Kingfisher Windows. The domestic project included the installation of fourteen flush casement windows, two sets of French doors with side panels and a new 3m x 3m conservatory all manufactured from Optima by Epwin Window Systems. The sixweek installation was part of a total house renovation project.

Deborah Beeley, sales and marketing manager at Kingfisher Windows explains: “The 1990’s-built property was fitted with first generation PVC-U windows and doors. The homeowner wanted to update their property with modern window and door aesthetics which included rebuilding their existing conservatory into a new, modern garden room. The windows and doors manufactured in anthracite grey on white perfectly matched the homeowner’s brief and delivered the modern transformation this family home required.”

Having constructed the property’s original conservatory twenty years ago, the homeowners returned

to Kingfisher Windows for this new project. The homeowner said: “Having used Kingfisher Windows before, we knew we were in safe hands with our home refurbishment project. They took the time to understand our requirements and advised us at every level. Everything was meticulously planned from the onsite builders to the window and door fitting teams. Their attention to detail was faultless and all the trades cleaned up afterwards with an end-to-end white glove service. We are delighted with the finished result which has transformed the look and feel of our home.”

The PVC-U system meets and exceeds all regulatory requirements and achieves a window U-value of 1.2W/m2K with 24mm double glazing, claims the company.

The homeowner said: “Whilst we looked at changing our windows and door for improved aesthetics, having better energy efficient products made good financial sense too. The Kingfisher team ensured we had the best energy efficiency products fitted which will make a big difference to the thermal efficiency of our home.”

www.epwinwindowsystems.co.uk

Granada Glazing – Jonathan Holland Architects, Kenilworth.

hup! Sales Support Continues To Grow

Ultraframe has announced the launch of a new digital toolbox packed with hardworking digital tools for its revolutionary hup! building system. The package, which is available via the company’s Cuckoo online marketing support centre, includes digital samples, a configurator, and web page templates – all to aid installers and builders with selling hup!.

Explaining more about the hup! digital toolbox, Ultraframe marketing director, Alex Hewitt, said: “We’re thrilled to announce the launch of our hup! digital

toolbox packed with the latest additions to our ever-growing hup! support package. We understand that because the system is something so new and so different to bricks and mortar, homeowners are likely to have lots of questions about how the system works and the benefits that it will provide in terms of speed, less mess and energy efficiency. By using the various items in our hup! toolbox, installers can not only educate potential customers, but also present and position themselves as a hup! builder in a highly professional way. We hope that

the digital samples, configurator, and web page templates will make it easy for homeowners to understand the high level of technology and engineering in every component and to give them confidence in choosing hup! for their conservatory, extension, or conservatory transformation.”

The new digital samples platform is available free of charge to hup! users to use as a sales tool in the home, or for integration onto hup! users’ own websites or showroom displays to help explain the technical details of the system to homeowners. Those viewing the digital samples either online or on digital showroom displays will be able to explore technical cut-through details of various aspects of the system, including the hup! walls and the Glass, Flat, or Tiled roofs.

On each digital sample viewers will then be able to focus on hotspots to read more about detailed components and watch explainer videos that provide more information about each element of the hup! building system.

The hup! configurator is another free-of-charge digital tool for hup! users. The configurator can be added to a website to allow homeowners to visualise their dream hup! in a simple to use platform that is designed to inspire and educate homeowners about the many possibilities of the system. Configurator users will first select a room set based on what they have in mind for their own hup! space – choosing from a playroom, dining room,

living room, or blank canvas. Next, users will choose the overall style of their hup! from a selection of styles such as contemporary orangery, glazed extension, traditional extension, and traditional orangery. Next comes the choice of roof style and finally, the exterior wall finish, with choices ranging from the new hup! brick mesh, which delivers an authentic brick look and feel, through to render, cement board, brick slips and timber. Simple-toadd hup! web pages are also available to complement the configurator and easily create a full hup! section within an installer or builder’s website, says Ultraframe.

Concluding, Alex said: “The feedback from those who

have experienced hup! so far has been fantastic. Both homeowners and builders have been astounded at how quickly the system can be built and how warm it is – even before heating is installed! hup! is already starting to revolutionise our market and really have a positive impact on the business models of those who are adopting the system.”

In addition to the ‘vast’ package of digital sales tools, hup! users can also access physical hup! samples through Cuckoo, including pull-up banners, Brick Mesh samples cases, build-up samples, corner columns and the hup! cable management panel.

www.ultraframetrade.co.uk

commitment to innovation, quality and excellent customer service.

SupaLite invested in the TV ad campaign in a bid to generate new leads for installers nationally, including those on the SupaLite Registered Installer scheme. This was launched in 2019 and gives members exclusive access to a dedicated account manager, on-hand technical support, marketing advice and collateral as well as the full range of SupaLite products.

The timing of the ad comes as many homeowners have decided improving their property is preferable to moving and are spending budgets on home renovations. Additionally, with the rise of hybrid and remote working, more flexibility is needed with existing living spaces, says the company.

TV Ad Highlights

The Benefits Of Tiled Roof Replacement System

A TV advert showcasing an award-winning conservatory roofing system has been launched by Preston-based company SupaLite.

The advert, which aired on HGTV channel, featured a range of the organisation’s products, including external and internal views of SupaLite conservatory roof installations, highlighting the company’s

While conservatories could become the perfect home office, the traditional polycarbonate design means temperatures dramatically fluctuate throughout the year, making the space too hot in summer and too cold in winter.

SupaLite tiled roof replacements are the perfect product for creating a more usable temperaturecontrolled space. With lightweight aluminium beams and rafters, 100mm high-density insulation and high-performance ExtraLight roof tiles, the SupaLite tiled roof system is hard-wearing and provides outstanding thermal efficiency, claims the company.

www.supaliteroof.co.uk/products/conservatory-roof

The New Guardian Glass

Resource Hub Offers 24/7 Online Access

Customers and the wider glass community of fabricators, processors, wholesalers, architects and specifiers can now benefit from 24/7 online access to the Guardian Glass Resource Hub, a new digital platform that offers a wealth of technical information on glass, as well as engineering, analytical and specification tools, marketing resources and interactive training – all in one place.

The Resource Hub includes a comprehensive technical library that allows self-service on technical enquiries. Technical information and notes are available on a wide range of searchable topics such as glass fundamentals, thermal stress management, bent glass, understanding condensation on glass, as well as specialty applications, interior glass and architectural glazing.

Users also have access to Guardian Glass Analytics, a comprehensive suite of engineering and analytical tools that help demonstrate the benefits of high performance glass in building facades. These tools include the Performance

Calculator for modeling thermal and optical properties of glass substrates, coatings and interlayers; the Glass Visualizer for evaluating the aesthetic properties of glass make-ups; and the Acoustic Assistant for estimating the acoustic performance of many types of glass make-ups.

In the Specification Tools section, the Product Selector allows users to quickly find the most suitable Guardian Glass product for their project. Using search, sort, and filter options, in just a few clicks, users can explore the aesthetic and functional possibilities of Guardian Glass products, while helping them to choose a solution that also meets other important project criteria such as a building’s energy and daylighting requirements. In addition, Guardian Glass for BIM(Building Information Modeling) is an Autodesk Revit© plug-in that works within the Revit workflow to guide selection and specification of Guardian Glass products. This powerful application analyzes key performance metrics (thermal, passive solar heat gain, natural daylight) for all glass types. The software supports early-stage design considerations, enabling

users to establish the optimal glass-to-wall ratio, define an early-stage glazing performance selection, as well as understand the location, orientation and the effects of shading from surrounding buildings. Guardian Glass for BIM also supports designers at the schematic and detailed design stages of their project, including selection and specification of glazing to meet performance requirements, geometry optimization, and downloadable detailed specification and performance reports. Thermal analysis tools are also provided to enable users to calculate total window or curtain wall system U-values.

The Resource Hub also includes the Training Center, a platform with a variety of online interactive training tools and resources, including video-based learning sessions, webinars and an inperson training booking system. The Marketing Resources tool provides a range of downloadable marketing resources such as Guardian Glass logos, which users can utilize in their own marketing materials.

Steven Scrivens, global head of digital platforms at Guardian Industries, comments: “We want to provide our customers and the wider glass community, including those who specify glass in buildings, with 24/7 access to the tools and technical information they need to make faster, better and more informed decisions about glass and its use in building projects. By providing a combination of technical information, analytical tools, marketing and training resources, the Resource Hub is a very powerful, valuable, self-service platform.”

Access to the Resource Hub is via the Guardian Glass website https://bit.ly/3VS43hO After creating a user profile, customers simply log in to start enjoying the benefits of the new digital platform.

Apeer Sells Doors Through Movies

When a picture is worth a thousand words, how do you place value on a video? Or even a whole series of them? To better convey the ‘fantastic features’ and benefits of their product ranges, Ireland based manufacturer Apeer have released a collection of six clips to make the installer’s job of selling, easier.

Like miniature TED talks, each of the videos concisely describes the pros of Apeer and Silka products in under three minutes, with topics including security, glass, energy efficiency and colour options. Close up visuals of police approved integrated locking systems, glass manufacture and money saving A++ rated doors mean that homeowners looking to upgrade have a clear idea of what their new purchase will offer.

Managing director Asa McGillian is excited to see how the videos are received by installers: “The videos are informative for installers but can also be used by them as a tool to effectively sell or explain Apeer and Silka to

their homeowner customers. For those customers who like detail, we made sure that the scripts of the videos answered questions that installers are most frequently asked, while still highlighting the aesthetic and functional benefits.”

Apeer says that of all six, the Silka Doors video – while less technical than the rest – is a must see. ‘It shows how the products ooze effortless, contemporary design, and reminds customers that if a choice of 27 colours isn’t quite enough, Apeer will take any sample colour and match it.’

Asa continued: “For easy access, the videos will be available on Apeer’s website. We expect that over time, each clip will form a fundamental part of any sale; homeowners all shop differently and some will really like the ‘movie’ effect to better understand what they’re getting. If we can reach more people by letting these visuals do the talking, we’re happy to support our installers by rolling them out.”

Dekko Helps To Support Customers With Energy Saving Calculator From Deceuninck

Dekko Window Systems has become one of the first fabricators to feature Deceuninck UK’s new energy saving calculator on their website.

The simple selling tool enables installers to work with their customers and calculate how much money and CO2 could be saved by fitting Deceuninck windows, an important factor for homeowners to consider when looking to invest.

For example, a double storey detached house with double glazing and mains gas could expect to save over £6,600 over a 10-year period by having Deceuninck’s double glazing windows installed. This then rises to over £35,000 over 30 years, £63,000 over 40 years, and £110,000 over a 50-year period, claims the company.

Dekko sales director Kurt Greatrex comments: “It can often be a challenge for installers to demonstrate just how cost-saving energy efficient windows can be, but with Deceuninck’s new energy saving calculator, this becomes much easier, which is why we’re proud to feature it on our own website, enabling our customers easy access to this clever and easy to use selling tool.

www.dekkowindows.com

Another Record Year As G-Awards

Salute The Best Of The Best

The G22 Awards Ceremony and Gala Dinner proved to be yet another record night as nearly 600 gathered to celebrate the best of the best at the industry event.

Two new awards for 2022 – for Rising Star and Machinery Supplier of the Year – meant there were 14 trophies, presented by actor and comedian Hugh Dennis to the companies and individuals who showed their mettle in some

of the most challenging times the industry has seen.

“Once again, we have seen how the real leaders have come to the fore when they were put to the test,” said organiser Tony Higgin.

“The winners this year were the ones who excelled themselves in the face of all the challenges that 2022 has sent, and every one of them deserves these trophies more than ever.”

The winners were:

Training & Development Initiative of the Year – Sternfenster

Promotional Campaign of the Year – Kubu Smart

Unsung Hero – Will Ruane, SaintGobain Glass

Customer Care Initiative of the Year – AluK

Component Supplier of the Year –DoorCo

Rising Star Award – Bradley Foster, Lister’s

Commercial Project of the Year – Alpine Homes Hayling Island, Rehau

Sustainability Initiative of the Year – Deceuninck

Machinery Supplier Award –Haffner

New Product of the Year – Stellar Aluminium Systems Part L, Epwin Window Systems

Installer of the Year – Clearview Home Improvements

Fensa Installation of the Year –Magna Windows

Glass Company of the Year –Saint-Gobain

Fabricator of the Year – Quickslide Windows and Doors

During the event, a collection for GM Fundraising and Hope House raised £2,971.

AluK Wins Customer Care Initiative Of The Year

AluK was rewarded for its efforts to support customers through the changes to Part L of the Building Regs with a second win at the G-Awards for Customer Care Initiative of the Year.

AluK ensured their customers understood exactly what the changes would mean and giving them the tools they needed to comply across every market. Re-engineered products, dedicated customer Forums, a comprehensive communications campaign and a whole raft of useful support including training, downloadable guides, videos and website content were all part of a coherent and comprehensive package.

From a Round Table and Part L podcast in October 2021 to the launch of new HI products in June 2022, AluK rose to the challenge in a really impressive way, says the company.

Sales director Wayne Heath who accepted the award on behalf of the AluK team from G-Awards host Hugh Dennis said: “AluK’s focus from the

moment the changes to Part L were announced was on ensuring our customers could make a success of them. We channelled significant resources into a product development programme which meant customers could achieve compliance without having to use costly triple glazing and delivered user-friendly Part L guides which they could share with their installers.”

AluK picked up the same Customer Care Award in 2021 for its creation of an online Marketing Academy which provided free tools and advice to customers as they navigated their way out of the Covid lockdown.

Wayne added: “ As a supplier, we recognise just how important it is that we add value to our customers’ businesses – whether that comes in the form of sales and marketing support, technical advice, new product development or training. With two G-Awards in two years for Customer Care, we’re clearly getting lots of things right.”

uk.aluk.com

Rehau And Central Windows

Celebrate G22 Awards Win

REHAU and Central Windows were presented with the ‘Commercial Project of the Year’ accolade at the G22 Awards, in acknowledgment of their work providing and fitting frames for six luxury homes on Hayling Island, Hampshire.

The coveted award reflects both companies’ ability to balance contemporary styling and design with practical solutions to futureproof window profiles, on a challenging project where the harsh coastal environment was a major factor. The resulting Alpine Homes development, Yacht Heaven, saw Rehau and Central Windows tackle design constraints created by the homes’ unique location, Covid-induced restrictions, and approvals from the Marine Management Organisation. Each home also had to match the styling of the neighbouring house to create

a consistent look across the coastline.

Close communication between the manufacturer and fabricator was essential and the coupling of Invisifold Doors and Rehau Total70 tilt-and-turn windows enabled the developer’s brief to be met on a practical level. As well as providing large viewpoints to let in natural light, the frame’s PAS24 accreditation also allowed the development to easily conform to Part Q of the building regulations covering security. The Invisifold doors used were specified with each property’s modern aesthetic in mind, with their lack of visible hinges or hardware creating a seamless finish.

Luke Boban, area sales manager at Rehau, said: “We’re overjoyed to have won Commercial Project of the Year alongside Central

Windows. The combination of the Invisifold doors and our Total70 system work seamlessly to meet design briefs, and the stunning views out to the water that the residents will enjoy every morning really are worth the efforts from planning to completion. Yacht Heaven has turned out to be a stunning development, one that we at Rehau are proud to have been part of.”

Steve Smith, managing director at Central Windows, commented on the project: “From Alpine Homes getting in touch to this most welcome award, helping build a high-end housing development on Hayling Island has been a fantastic experience. They wanted us to supply and fit contemporary solutions to assist in the futureproofing of the houses, and looking at the project, it was an opportunity we couldn’t pass up. While a few design challenges arose, given the location of the properties, working with Rehau profiles we knew we’d meet the design brief and create an overall stylish and functional housing development.”

For further information on the Hayling Island project click here or for further information on Rehau Total70 system click here.

Kubu Receives G22 Award Accolade

mantra that encouraged customers to partner up with the pioneering smart security brand. With smart sensor technology relatively in its infancy in the sector, it’s also been a marketing message to communicate joining up with a proven technology too, ‘ultimately the smart choice’.

The campaign also realised a shift in approach by the company from one that has been engineering and product led, to one that’s more marketing focussed than ever before, with new communications channels being explored for 2023 and beyond.

It’s been a remarkable year for Kubu Smart, topped off by winning Promotional Campaign of the Year at the G22 Awards for their ‘Be Smart’ campaign in a highly competitive category. Now completing its 18th year, the G22 Awards event proved to be another evening that celebrated the very best of the industry late into the night.

The ‘Be Smart’ campaign was harnessed across social media, video, PR, web, exhibition, POS and print, along with email marketing as a persuasive

With their success announced at the G Awards held in London’s Park Lane, Leicestershire installer Magna Windows Ltd collected the trophy for the 2022 Fensa Installation of the Year competition.

One of the technical judges Lee Galley, assessor manager for inspections and auditing specialist RISA, said of the installation: “I picked this one as it was a highquality installation that was also in keeping with the design of the property. It would not have been an easy installation the property is old and some areas had suffered from subsidence in the past that had affected the shape of the window apertures. This all had to be taken in to consideration by the surveyor who has done a great job in ensuring that the best possible fit has been achieved. Storm Evolution Rebated windows have also been installed with a great deal of care and operate faultlessly.”

The culmination of several years of hard work in both product development and sales, the campaign has introduced industry first products, partnerships and benefits, through high-energy and high-quality videos, posts, parties, POS, and PR – all with one crystal clear message: Be Smart. Work with Kubu.

“We are absolutely delighted to have won such a highly regarded award in front of our friends and colleagues, but this is not just about us marketing ourselves” commented Marc Henson, head of marketing for Kubu Smart. He added: “It’s about making sure our customers, and their customers can be successful too. That’s why we have developed our ‘Works with’ and ‘Kubu PRO’ programmes too.” www.getkubu.com/trade

Magna Wins 2022 Fensa Installation Of The Year Award

Fensa’s Tom Butler added: “The response from the homeowner that triggered the initial entry for Magna was glowing; when our inspectors followed up to consider the technical aspects of the installation, that too was

exemplary. Magna epitomises everything that we expect from FENSA Approved installers everywhere and we are proud as an organisation to highlight their commitment to excellence.” www.fensa.org.uk

Sternfenster Wins Training And Development Award

Quickslide Win Fabricator Of The Year At G Awards

Quickslide has been awarded the Fabricator of the Year title for the second time at the G Awards 2022, during a glittering ceremony in London’s Park Lane.

The annual G Awards are an industry highlight, celebrating the very best in UK glass and glazing.

Chairman Adrian Barraclough said being presented with Fabricator of the Year and the reception Quickslide were given as winners made it an unforgettable and special night:

“Winning the UK’s Fabricator of the Year at the G Awards is one of the most truly proud and humbling moments. Our staff, clients and suppliers integrate to produce something exceptional, and that’s something we at Quickslide have always strived for, but to have that recognised by the best standards in our industry means something very special indeed.”

The annual G Awards celebrate innovation and exceptional performance in the glazing industry, with the lavish reception hosted this year by actor and comedian Hugh Dennis at the Intercontinental London Park Lane. This year there were a record number of entries for the awards, up 40% on the year before.

www.quickslide.co.uk

Sternfenster picked up the gong for Training & Development Initiative of the Year at this year’s G-Awards, underlining the trade fabricator’s commitment to its colleagues and the importance it places in professional development.

Underpinning Sternfenster’s entry in this category was its commitment to achieve a Gold Investors in People award, after being awarded Silver in October 2020.

Sternfenster achieved this goal in the weeks leading up to the G-Awards, thanks to a series of bespoke training and development initiatives the company created, which were aligned to the IIP framework.

“All of us at Sternfenster are thrilled with the Training & Development Initiative of the Year award, because everyone played a part in winning it,” Sternfenster’s MD Mike Parczuk said. “People are the most important thing in any business, but they need to be empowered to make the most of their talents.”

To achieve this, Sternfenster created its Family Principles: a set of values and that shape and underpin the actions, behaviours, and attitudes of everyone in the business as they achieve the company vision.

“Our colleagues are assessed on a regular basis to make sure that their goals are being attained and that’s all within the framework of trying to achieve our wider vision,” Mike said. “We know it works because we are hitting our key performance indicators, and our customers are more engaged.

“And I want to thank everyone at Sternfenster for all their hard work and commitment in turning this vision into a reality. While the Investors In People initiative came from the senior leadership team, all colleagues took ownership of it, and worked tirelessly to win the Gold Award. And to win the Training & Development Initiative of the Year G-Award has made it even more worthwhile, because it shows that our peers recognise that we are doing the right thing.”

www.sternfenster.com

Stellar Takes New Product Of The Year At The G22 Awards

Epwin Window Systems has won New Product of the Year at the prestigious G22 Awards for its Stellar Aluminium window and door system (Part L). The newly designed aluminium window and door system won for its developments to future-proof the system for the new Part L of Building Regulations as well as the more stringent regulations that will come into force over the coming years as the government continues its push towards net zero.

Clare Bailey, managing director at Epwin Window Systems said the award reflects the dedication and design excellence of the inhouse product development and technical teams. “The strength of Stellar’s design is reflected in this award. One of the defining factors in the development of the original Stellar system was a refusal to compromise in search of excellence. It is a commitment that is still in evidence in the development of the new Stellar

window and door system. It’s fantastic to see the efforts of the talented Epwin Window Systems’ teams recognised in this award. We are thrilled.”

As a business whose commitment to product excellence is front and centre, in March 2021, the development team made the bold decision to evaluate the system and consider where and how it could be made even better. Clare said: “The new Stellar aluminium system demonstrates a level of ingenuity and innovation that the fenestration industry can take pride in. There are few systems that are so comprehensively re-evaluated at any point in their lifespan, let alone just two years in. It reflects a desire to blaze a trail in the industry and set new standards for technical benefits and aesthetic advantages to give our customers a competitive edge.”

The original Stellar system took a ground-up approach to its

design, questioning every element of traditional aluminium window construction and looking for ways to improve it. Such refusal to compromise is an impressive commitment and one in evidence in the new Stellar aluminium window and door system, qualities that impressed the G22 Awards judges who described this product as “innovative and forward thinking”. They commented “with 95% recycled aluminium, slim sightlines, reverse butt joint, and with compliance with current and possible future regulations, this really gives installers a viable option in a competitive market.”

The award was announced by actor, comedian and writer Hugh Dennis on 25 November at a Gala Dinner and Award ceremony at the InterContinental London Park Lane in London.

Clare concluded: “The G Awards are always a very special event and an opportunity to celebrate excellence in the industry. We are delighted to have won this award for Stellar.”

www.epwinwindowsystems.co.uk

Haffner

Scoops Machinery Supplier Of The Year At The G22 Awards

Haffner Ltd has been named Machinery Supplier of the Year at the prestigious G22 Awards.

This year was the first year the category of Machinery Supplier was included. Matt Thomas, Haffner’s managing director, said: “Winning an award is always noteworthy but to be the first winner in a new category is even more special. It means a lot to everyone in the team and it’s a tribute to the years of hard work and commitment from our chief executive officer, Dave Thomas.”

The company has seen exponential growth in the past few years thanks to its machinery offer and experienced team who are committed to adding value to every customer’s business. In the past three years alone, the company has doubled the size of its Staffordshire headquarters and commissioned a new 37,000 sqm purpose-built factory in Istanbul, Turkey.

Haffner won the award for delivering the world’s first fully seamless window, something that

was only possible thanks to its exclusive UK supply partnership with Graf Synergy, says the company.

The judging panel commented: “The judges were impressed by this supplier’s innovative approach.”

The award was announced by actor, comedian and writer Hugh Dennis on 25 November at a Gala Dinner and Award ceremony at the InterContinental London Park Lane in London.

Haffner CEO Dave Thomas concluded: “This is a proud moment for everyone at Haffner. I’d like to thank everyone who’s part of the Haffner team – all our staff and our partners, especially our PR and marketing expert Jane Ward of Team 4 Marketing, who’s been part of the Haffner story for 20 years. We are all thrilled.”

www.haffnerltd.com

DoorCo Is G-Award’s Component Supplier Of The Year

DoorCo is delighted to have been announced as Component Supplier of the Year at the G-Awards ceremony on Friday (25th November) night in London, with the judges’ comment ‘No wonder this company did so well despite the pandemic’ being a great endorsement too.

Dan Sullivan, DoorCo MD comments: “To be recognised as the Component Supplier of the Year at this year’s G-Awards is a great achievement for the business but the accolade must go to the team. It is them that has driven DoorCo forward through 2021/22 and one of the toughest trading periods any of us have ever faced, supporting brave decisions and our existing plans of investment and growth, despite the multitude of challenges faced. Throughout, everyone has remained focused on our core values, that we are a door component supplier that delivers what our customers need to keep the composite door market fresh and innovative, from products

and services to marketing and business support.”

The judges commented on the award: “Bringing manufacturing in-house is one of the ways this company survived the restrictions over that last 2+ years. Investment in machinery, buildings and personnel are likely to help weather any future storms.

“DoorCo understand that with Composite Doors it is about durability, style, security and value for money. Combined with a great website and service mantra, it is no wonder the business has done so well despite the pandemic.”

Dan concludes: “We appreciate the judges’ comments. DoorCo is a more robust business than ever before with a restructured team that are shaping DoorCo with confidence for the future. Investment and growth are part of that future, and we have some exciting plans for next year.”

www.door-co.com

MRA Research And Toolbank Win CMA Award

MRA Research and Toolbank have won the Best use of Research & Insight award at this year’s Construction Marketing Awards (CMAs).

This prestigious accolade, the only one of 28 CMA awards that focuses on research and insight, is awarded for results that have made a difference to marketing strategy and success. The win makes construction specialist MRA Research a five-times winner of the Research & Insight award.

Earlier this year, leading independent tool wholesaler Toolbank commissioned MRA Research to undertake a market benchmarking and customer insight study to feed into a longterm brand strategy review.

Through three phases of research, using unique proprietary MRA diagnostic analysis tools, MRA Research was able to challenge existing perceptions, identify fundamental changes in the market and key issues for Toolbank’s customers. MRA Research recommended clear actions for Toolbank to build and grow the brand.

www.mra-research.co.uk www.toolbank.com

Korniche Wins Trophy At Built It Awards

There was yet another award for the office shelves at Made for Trade’s Wynyard HQ, when the team picked up the winner’s trophy for the ‘Best Roofing System or Product’ for the Korniche Lantern Roof, at the prestigious 2022 Built It Awards.

The Build It Awards highlight, recognise and celebrate the very best people, products and services available in the self-build industry. From houses themselves to technology and even self-build finance lenders, the plethora of awards consider each and every last detail to judge the ultimate offerings in their respective fields, and when applied to the selfbuilder.

From its first unveiling at the 2016 FIT Show, the Korniche Lantern

Roof was a ‘step-change’ product. With the use of engineering precision derived from the automotive and motorsport world applied to a fenestration system, the benefits of the Korniche were twofold.

First was the product itself, with what the companys describes as ‘unrivalled sightlines, precision details, elegance, and value for money’. Secondly, the speed and ease of fitting; a real game-changer and money-saver compared to existing products, says MFT, and designed in such a way that installation does not require specialist glazing experience; a factor recognised by the self-build award win.

From the comprehensive illustrated graphic installation manual, to the

marked components, and fussfree glazing requiring no silicone or quantity guesswork, the installation time is vastly reduced regardless of the installer. As a result, MFT says the Korniche saves costs whilst revolutionising installation, whether that be for the trade partner, or a real hands-on self-builder.

Made For trade believes the Build It Awards have always been regarded as the most coveted recognition in the self-build industry, mainly as a result of the rigorous, impartial judging panel of

specialists and which affords real credibility for all winners.

As the last of the main industry awards attended by the MFT team during 2022, this year’s event took place at the end of November, with a gala dinner in the heart of London.

Picking up the award as part of a selection of categories that extended beyond the fenestration sector – from financial to architectural – added a new visibility to Made For Trade’s commercial perception, the company believes, as well as seeing the Korniche brand recognised in a new sphere of trade, industry – and enthusiastic new consumers.

As well as coming away with the top prize for the ‘Best Roofing System or Product’, a second recognition was also celebrated, as the Korniche Bi-Folding Door was shortlisted for the award of Best Glazed Doors. The two shortlists alone were a significant milestone for the MFT team, rounding out another enviable year for the North East-based family business, and going a long way to show just how far the brand has come, and how popular its reputation that sees Korniche being requested by name alone from both the public and trade installers.

Speaking of the double-shortlisting and the award win, Made For Trade marketing manager Ian Bousfield said: “Recognition and understanding of the Korniche brand and products continues to become more and more established in the fabric of the wider building industry. Made for Trade work hard and continually invest in product development, marketing, and brand awareness to ensure that Korniche offers the very best platform for our partners and customers, to allow them to sell multi award-winning products at the best prices.”

Tradeglaze Employee Named One Of ‘Lincolnshire’s 30 Under 30’ Rising Stars

Lincolnshire fabricator and installer Tradeglaze has announced that trade sales representative and a member of the company Board, Jonathan Brewer, has been named as one of the 2022 ‘Lincolnshire’s 30 Under 30’ rising stars. Organised by the independent Lincolnshire media publisher The Lincolnite, the ‘Lincolnshire’s 30 Under 30’ celebrates young shining stars in the county and their inspiring career journeys.

Shortlisted from 200 profiles, from entrepreneurs to musicians, mental health advocates to sportspeople and now double glazing professionals, too, these are 30 young talented individuals who are each year recognised at a very special awards ceremony. The event was held at the Chapterhouse of the 950 years old Lincoln Cathedral, one of Britain’s finest Gothic cathedrals and a host of many films, including Ron Howard’s The Da Vinci Code and most recently Sir Ridley Scott’s Napoleon.

Lincoln Law School graduate, Jonathan Brewer has been instrumental in the transformation of the company and its retail subsidiary Jackson Windows to a modern, customer-facing glazing supplier. He joined the business in 2019 and today wins 7-figure sales each year. He is a professional, dependable and highly respected by his customers and colleagues, says the company.

Jonathan was promoted to the company management board in 2020, making him, at 28, the youngest senior manager at the company. Two of Jonathan’s projects were selected as finalists in the national 2022 GGP Installer Awards. He was then selected as one of ‘30 Under 30’ professionals at the FIT Show event in April. The following month, Jonathan earned the prestigious Rising Star of the Year award in the Lincolnshire Business Excellence Awards, also hosted by The Lincolnite.

www.tradeglaze.co.uk

(L-R) Adrian Pickup, Katerina Pickup (marketing manager), Jeremy Wetherall (managing director), Chloe Brown, Jonathan Brewer (trade sales), James Wetherall (trade sales)

https://www.windownews. co.uk/wp-content/ uploads/2022/11/BWF_ Awards-Image3.jpg

Winners Of British Woodworking Federation Awards 2022 Announced

The winners of the prestigious British Woodworking Federation (BWF) Awards 2022 have been revealed at an evening of celebration held at the Kimpton Fitzroy London Hotel.

This year marks the 14th anniversary of the annual Awards which celebrate outstanding achievement, skills and talent from across the woodworking and joinery manufacturing sector.

The seven categories and winners were:

BWF Process and Resource Efficiency Award – Sponsored by Teknos

The Sash Window Workshop for its project to identify and significantly reduce carbon emissions and offset their remaining emissions. The judges acknowledged that “reducing carbon emissions is incredibly important for our industry, and The Sash Window Workshop’s commitment to this is outstanding. By identifying and measuring key areas, they were able to considerably reduce their carbon footprint, even as their manufacturing capacity increased.”

BWF Innovation in Design Award – Sponsored by Anker Stuy Coatings

Valdi Ltd for the innovative design and manufacture of a cornerless timber bifold door system that allows the building to open on three sides. The judges commented that “the concept of this design seems difficult enough, but to actually produce this is breathtaking.”

BWF Heritage Project of the Year Award – Sponsored by Remmers (UK) Ltd

Gowercroft Joinery Ltd for the complex retrofit of a low-energy Victorian listed mews property in West London. Gowercroft Joinery was commended for demonstrating “a great vision for the importance of keeping sustainability achievable in conservation projects.”

BWF Woodworking Project of the Year Award – Sponsored by National Timber Group

Precision Made Joinery Ltd for its multifaceted renovation of a heritage property in Suffolk. The company picked up the award for “an example of great capability and skill – where modern joinery techniques have been used to sympathetically blend structures into the existing fabric of the building.”

BWF Rising Star Award –Sponsored by CITB

Jamie Dixon, Technical Manager at ERW Joinery Ltd, for his strength of purpose in customer service and achieving greater efficiency within the business. According to ERW Joinery, Jamie has demonstrated “exceptional skill and aspiration for the growth of the business, and his attention

to detail and customer service have positively impacted both the business and its customers.”

BWF Apprentice of the Year –Sponsored by Lorient

Aidan Taylor, Apprentice at TMJ Interiors Ltd, for demonstrating dedication to high quality work and not being afraid to stretch his skills or to push outside his comfort zone. According to his employer, Aidan takes pride in everything he does and sets himself the highest standards.

BWF Health and Safety Certificate of Commendation – Sponsored by PIB Insurance Brokers

Nigel Barber, Health and Safety Manager at Salisbury’s R Moulding & Co, was awarded the Certificate of Commendation in recognition of his work to improve and embed health & safety throughout the organisation’s 150 employees and subcontractors. Nigel has changed the perception of health and safety at his company and reduced the risk of potential accidents to keep employees safe at work.

Commenting on this years’ winners and the Awards ceremony, Helen Hewitt, Chief Executive of the BWF, said: “The BWF Awards allow us to come together and take pride in all that has been achieved over the past year. Our sector has overcome a great deal this year, with supply chain interruption as well as the increase in energy costs and the continued skills shortage. The Awards are a welcome opportunity to celebrate the hardearned achievements of the past year and showcase the skill and technical expertise in the sector. Every year I’m amazed at the hard work, innovation and incredible skill of all of our finalists, and I want to congratulate all our winners on their achievements. It was fantastic to bring the industry together once again and celebrate the successes our ever-evolving profession.” hwww.bwf.org.uk

Avantal Voted As New Product Of The Year

The ultra-modern Avantal door from Endurance Doors has been voted as new product of the year in the 2022 National Fenestration Awards (NFA’s).

In 2022 there were 2,128 nominations in the NFA’s with 29,060 votes cast across 33 categories. In a year in when there were a number of notable product launches, this achievement for Endurance Doors represents the importance the new ultra-modern door will have in the composite door sector, says the company.

Avantal is based on the proven Endurance solid timber architecture and features a range of premium smooth foils to the exterior and a new satin white internal face and edge banding. Hardware is specified through a 3-Star ABS cylinder as standard, along with door ironmongery from Coastal with their Blu collection.

Endurance Doors says that with a demand for higher quality, consumers are increasingly turning to Endurance Doors for the ultimate solid timber entrance door, and to the Avantal product for something a little more luxurious. There’s also a new Avantal brochure which has just been launched in response to customer demand.

Rapierstar Supports Dunelm’s ‘Deliver Joy This Christmas’ Campaign

Staff at Rapierstar donated a trolley full of presents to help make sure disadvantaged children and adults in its local area did not go without this Christmas.

The team at Rapierstar, which is the UK’s largest specialist distributor of fasteners to the door and window industry and this year is celebrating its 30th anniversary, took part in the ‘Deliver Joy this Christmas’ campaign organised by the retailer Dunelm at its store in Stoke-on-Trent.

The initiative gives members of the public the opportunity to donate a gift anonymously by picking up a tag in the Dunelm store with details of the present requested from somebody in need in the surrounding area, including

age, gender and Christmas gift wish. These requests could be individuals from underprivileged schools, refugee centres or elderly care homes.

A member of the Rapierstar team visited the store to collect a number of these gift tags from the ‘Delivering Joy’ tree so the team could set to work organising gifts and wrapping them up. Donated gifts included a tea party set for a female in the 3-7 age group, a cookbook for a male aged between 20-30 and a knitted blanket for someone over 60.

Each gift was around £10 in value and, overall, a trolley of more than 15 presents was prepared before being dropped off at the Stoke Dunelm store for delivery before

Christmas.

Coordinator of the Christmas present donations, Helena Furness, project manager at Rapierstar, said: “Our business is very lucky to be in a position to help those less fortunate, which is especially important at this time of year, so getting involved in the Delivering Joy this Christmas campaign was great. We are passionate about supporting those in our local community and hope to do more charitable activities throughout 2023.”

In addition to getting involved in the Dunelm campaign, the Rapierstar team has also raised money for East Cheshire Hospice. Donations were raised by staff taking part in a number of festive activities including swapping their blue Rapierstar workwear for Christmas jumpers and Santa hats.

www.rapierstar.com

Helena Furness, Rapierstar’s project manager, with the presents that the team donated as part of Dunelm’s ‘Deliver Joy this Christmas’ campaign.