You can now receive your industry news in a range of formats: Newscast, Website, Social Media, and a magazine. So whatever your preference is for catching up with the latest innovations and news in the industry, there is a Window News format to suit everyone.
We aim to keep readers up-to-date with the latest industry news, trends, technical innovations and suppliers. Our web format means that we can be in the right place at the right time – wherever that may be.
The contents of Window News are provided for general use only and do not constitute general advice and should not be relied upon.
Views/opinions, replies and specific advice expressed by external persons are not necessarily those of Window News and are not subscribed to by Window News. To see the full terms and conditions please visit: http://www.windownews.co.uk/window-news-disclaimer/ Privacy Policy: http://www.windownews.co.uk/window-news-privacy-policy/
Cover picture: Morley Glass - keeping your cool in the height of summer, read more on page 102
George Wilson, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Quanex
Quanex Building Products’ Acquisition Of Tyman Approved
By Each Companies’ Shareholders
Quanex Building Products Corporation, parent company of Edgetech and Liniar, announced on 12 July, that shareholders of both Quanex and Tyman plc have approved Quanex’s proposed acquisition of Tyman.
“On behalf of our Board of Directors and executive management team, I would like to thank Quanex and Tyman shareholders for their support as we move swiftly towards
completing the transaction and creating a comprehensive solutions provider in the building products industry,” said George Wilson, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Quanex. “We continue to prepare internally for the upcoming integration of our two companies and we look forward to working alongside our talented colleagues at Tyman following the close of the transaction. Once combined, we expect to deliver unparalleled
value to our customers, employees, and shareholders.”
Tyman shareholders will receive either a mix of 240.0 pence in cash and 0.05715 shares of Quanex common stock for each Tyman share, or a Capped AllShare Alternative of 0.14288 shares of Quanex common stock per Tyman share. The Capped All-Share Alternative will be subject to proration if more than 25% of the outstanding Tyman shares elect to receive it. Tyman shareholders, upon the closing of the transaction, will also receive a Special Dividend of 15 pence in cash. Upon closing of the transaction and subject to the elections made by Tyman shareholders, Tyman shareholders will own approximately 30-32% of Quanex on a fully diluted basis.
The acquisition remains subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions and is expected to close in August of this year.
Quanex Building Products Corporation
Thermoseal Group Sold To Fenzi In Landmark Deal
Thermoseal Group has been acquired by Fenzi Group Spa (Fenzi), a Milan-based chemical company specialising in glass
processing solutions, in a deal that marks a significant milestone for both companies, and promises to open up new
Gwain Paterson
opportunities for customers of both companies.
Fenzi has agreed to buy a 100% shareholding in Thermoseal Group for an undisclosed amount, which includes manufacturing and warehousing facilities in Birmingham and Wigan. Previous owner Gwain Paterson will remain as managing director, and Mark Hickox will continue as sales director.
“We are pleased to announce this exciting news, which is an ideal fit to help with our aspirations to become a true global player in the IG components market with our performance-leading Thermoflex and Thermobar warm edge spacer systems,” Gwain said.
“We are delighted to work with the Fenzi team in the next phase of our company’s growth, and apart from new owners everything remains the same. We have well-established supply chains and we look forward to continued business with our long-standing customers.”
Alessandro Fenzi, CEO of Fenzi Group, said: “We welcome Thermoseal to the Fenzi family. Their expertise in IG solutions, particularly the innovative Thermoflex flexible spacer product, complements our global growth strategy.”
The acquisition underscores Fenzi’s dedication to fostering collaboration, innovation, and excellence within the glass industry, and the acquisition will allow Fenzi Group to expand Thermoflex and Thermobar sales internationally.
Thermoseal Group has a rapidly expanding export division, which will benefit from the increased investment promised by the acquisition by Fenzi.
www.thermosealgroup.com
Merchants’ April Sales Up +3.9% But Down -11.0% Like-For-Like
The latest Builders Merchant Building Index (BMBI) report, published in June, shows builders’ merchants’ value sales were up +3.9% in April compared to the same month a year ago. Volume sales increased +4.7% and prices eased -0.8%. However, with three additional trading days this year, like-for-like value sales were down -11.0%.
Year-on-year, eight of the twelve categories outperformed Total Merchants, with Workwear & Safetywear (+28.9%), Miscellaneous (+15.0%), Decorating (+14.1%) and Plumbing Heating & Electrical (+13.2%) in the lead. The three largest categories –Heavy Building Materials (+1.4%),
Timber & Joinery Products (+1.4%) and Landscaping (+3.2%) – all grew more slowly.
April total value sales were +5.0% higher than the previous month. Volume sales increased +7.4% and prices were down -2.3% compared to March. With one more trading day in April, like-forlike value sales were flat (+0.0%). Ten of the twelve categories sold more, with seasonal category Landscaping (+15.4%) well up. But Heavy Building Materials (+4.8%) and Timber & Joinery Products (+3.6%) recorded more moderate growth. Plumbing Heating & Electrical (-1.4%) and Workwear & Safetywear (-4.6%) were the weakest performing categories.
Total merchant sales in the 12 months from May 2023 to April 2024 were -4.7% lower than the same period the year before (May 2022 to April 2023). Volume sales slumped -9.6% and prices rose +5.4%. With four extra trading days in the most recent 12-month period, like-for-like sales were down -6.3%. Nine categories sold more with Workwear & Safetywear (+8.3%), Decorating (+7.5%) and Miscellaneous (+5.3%) the strongest performers. The three largest categories –Heavy Building Materials (-5.0%), Landscaping (-5.7%) and Timber & Joinery Products (-11.3%) – all sold less.
Total value sales from January to April were -4.4% down on the first four months of 2023.
Mike Rigby, managing director of MRA Research which produces the BMBI report says: “Heavy rainfall and strong winds again disrupted construction output, with the latest ONS data reporting all bar two sectors contracting
in April. Private new housing (-4.4%) and private repair and maintenance (-2.5%) were the biggest losers year-on-year.
“On the face of it, the forecasts for the economic headwinds which are impacting new building works and RMI projects aren’t looking much better. Interest rates are holding firm at 5.25% and any chance of a cut is likely to be at least August. Inflation has finally dropped to +2.3% yet prices are still increasing, and some goods are increasing more than others which is squeezing many household budgets.
“Despite all the negatives, the most recent GfK Consumer Confidence Index scores for May show an increase in positive outlook for personal finances and consumers expectations for the economy, with the overall index improving two points to -17. With a general election just weeks away, and a nearcertain expectation of a change in government, could there be a bounce in the economy and much needed relief for consumers, trades and Builders’ Merchants in the second half of the year?”
Set up 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 92% of total sales from builders’ merchants throughout Great Britain. An in-depth review, which includes commentary by sector experts, is provided each quarter.
April’s BMBI report is available to download at www.bmbi.co.uk
Over 30% Increase In Garden Room And Extension Leads, Says Leads 2 Trade
Leads 2 Trade has seen a significant increase in enquiries for garden rooms and singlestorey extensions.
Compared to the same period last year, enquiries have surged by 31.24%, highlighting a growing trend in homeowners seeking alternative ways to expand their living areas, according to the company.
Andy Royle, co-founder and director, said: “While there has been a slight dip in conservatory enquiries, it’s clear that homeowners are still very much focused on adding valuable space to their properties.
“The rise in garden room leads, in particular, demonstrates a slight shift in preference, with homeowners potentially seeking a more versatile solution when it comes to additional living space.”
Another product that has bucked the trend in 2024 is conservatory roofs, which has remained consistent, and Andy added: “The consistent
demand for conservatory roof replacements shows that it is still a home improvement favoured by homeowners and it suggests consumers are looking to modernise and improve their existing conservatories to enhance their thermal efficiency or create a more usable living space.”
Enquiries come through Leads 2 Trade’s portfolio of consumer facing websites and are double qualified by the company’s inhouse call centre and delivered to members as a premium, fixed appointment, no pitch no fee, lead in postcodes of their choice.
“Our targeted approach provides installers with a valuable opportunity to connect with homeowners who are actively in the market for garden rooms and extensions,” added Andy. “So, they are more likely to convert into sales.”
https://bit.ly/3WBUuHw
https://bit.ly/3VEqDMQ
Reynaers Sponsors New White Paper Looking At Progress And Challenges In Meeting Part L
A new study looking at the changes and challenges resulting from the update to Part L of the Building Regulations to improve the thermal efficiency of windows and doors has been sponsored by Reynaers Aluminium.
Written and hosted by Architects’ Datafile, the whitepaper, titled ‘A Year On: Progress on Parts L, F and O’ looks at how architects and specifiers perceive the legislation, and the impact it has had on their projects to date.
The research takes a close look at data gained from a survey of architects on the latest updates to Part L, Part O and Part F, as well as readers’ views on changes to specification for building fabric and what solutions they were specifying to meet that.
A key aim of the research was to draw out common industry issues and identify where challenges lay in meeting the updated legislation.
The survey that was used in the white paper saw a series of questions from a previous study – ‘A New Era of Building Efficiency’ – asked to allow a
direct comparison of how the industry felt about meeting the requirements of the legislation compared to a year ago.
Introduced to make homes more thermally efficient, the regulations also ensure overheating does not become an issue and that adequate ventilation is in place.
While the need to cut the carbon footprint of the built environment is widely acknowledged, it is also accepted that the implementation of the changes has presented challenges across the construction industry.
Richard Jekiel, national consult manager at Reynaers Aluminium, said: “The implementation of Part L has certainly been a challenge for the industry, particularly ensuring that balance between creating the products that architects and end users want to see, but also ensuring we play our part in helping to cut carbon emissions by creating thermally efficient doors, windows and curtain walling.
“I think we are at the position where this is well understood, however further challenges and uncertainty remain as the industry waits to see the exact requirements of the Future Homes Standard and the Future Building Standard.
“The research is particularly insightful in helping to benchmark how confident people feel about meeting the regulations – but also identifying what the main hurdles have been in meeting the requirements of Part L. Reynaers aims to make life as easy as possible for its customers and will take on board key concerns in our own operation to further enhance the service that we offer.”
To discover more about how architects feel about the implementation of Parts L, F and O, you can download ‘A Year On: Progress on Parts L, F and O’
Richard Jekiel, national consult manager at Reynaers Aluminium UK
THE SECRET IS OUT...
Our new advanced hardware technology stops the spread of 99.9% of infections, so you can keep your germs to yourself.
Game Changing System Slashes Window Installation Time By 75
Eurocell claims to have brought to the market a revolutionary system that has transformed how windows are fitted into timber frame properties, with it taking just two days for all windows to be installed on a block of four terraced houses during a project in Inverness.
Eurocell’s InSite system, comprising a specialist hinge, sealant, cavity barrier and either Eurocells’ Logik or Modus window profile, allows windows to be installed into wall panels during the manufacturing process rather than on-site. The hinge is fastened to
the cavity barrier of a fully glazed Logik or Modus window, which is then fitted and secured into the timber panel cavity before being transported and installed on site into a property.
Eurocell says InSite doesn’t just allow for a sustainable construction process that speeds up installation, it is the only window system suitable for timber frame that has been fully tested to prevent the spread of fire and smoke from, or to the cavity –making it a game changer for the industry, according the company.
The system also reduces onsite disruption and health and safety concerns as installation of windows can be carried out from inside the building. This eliminates working at height or having to move windows around on scaffolding.
The product’s purpose is said to have been proven by a project with affordable housing provider Places for People where the construction of a block of terraced houses in Stratton, Inverness, was required swiftly and efficiently to control costs and accommodate residents promptly.
Eurocell’s Logik window profiles were manufactured at Pinefield Glass in Elgin, on the north coast of Scotland. Here they were integrated with the InSite hinge and cavity barrier before being fixed into timber panels at Kirkwood Timber Frame in
Sauchen, Aberdeenshire.
The InSite hinge enabled flat transportation of the windows in the timber panel to the construction site in Stratton –where it took just two days for them to be fit in the properties, on a project that would typically take more than a week if windows were fit on site.
Speaking on the launch of InSite and the success of one of the first projects for the new product, Angus Cowie, business development manager at Eurocell said: “Time saved is crucial in the construction process, and our InSite product has demonstrated exactly why we have brought it to the market in our recent project with Pinefield Glass, Kirkwood Timber Frame and Places for People.
“The efficiency throughout the construction process has been remarkable. Not just down to the system itself but the incredible collaboration among all parties involved. The windows were seamlessly integrated, roofs installed, and buildings insulated in a swift process that was needed to support the overall project’s needs for speed and cost-control. The fact we’ve also had it fully tested to prevent the spread of fire and smoke from, or to the cavity, makes it a revolutionary product. Plus it has been approved for use in accordance with the NHBC guidelines.”
Malcolm Thomson, managing director of Kirkwood Timber Frame Ltd added: “InSite simplifies the fitting and transport of frames, speeds up delivery to the site, and quickly provides a watertight building for the end client. It enhances efficiency, and supports sustainable construction by minimising heat loss and air leakage. InSite is a game changer.”
To find out more visit www.eurocell.co.uk/insite
More State-Of-The-Art Machinery For Glazpart
Plastic component manufacturer Glazpart has recently invested in excess of £300k for more state-ofthe-art machinery to continue its production growth to the very highest manufacturing standards.
The company’s latest investment is the Hurco Five Axis Swivel Head and Rotary Table.
Offering maximum flexibility, the new machine has multiple advantages, says Glazpart, starting with the machine’s design configuration that utilizes a torque B axis swivel head and C axis style rotary table. The generous size of the rotary table provides maximum versatility because you can use the extra table space for secondary operations or 3-axis work. With exceptional cutting feed rates (with patented high-speed motion technology) Glazpart can continue to manufacture plastic components using the fastest cutting technology
while producing the best surface finish.
On Glazpart’s latest acquisition, Dean Bradley, sales director commented, “We are pleased to continue to invest in our manufacturing to make sure they have high quality products readily available. Glazpart is experiencing sustained longterm growth on all fronts. As demand increases our production, warehousing and distribution always has to be well equipped to deliver quality products on time. Our level of investment will continue to make sure our manufacturing facilities are at the highest end of market so we can continue to supply the best for our customers.”
For more information regarding the specifications for the Hurco Five Axis Swivel Head and Rotary Table please visit Hurco CNC Machine Specifications
Glazpart.com
Hurco Five Axis Swivel Head and Rotary Table
The BFRC Launches U-Value Scheme
Following the recent news that changes are afoot, the British Fenestration Rating Council (BFRC), has made its first
announcement: a new U-value Scheme for windows and doors to complement its Energy Ratings Scheme.
Richard Bate, technical director at BFRC explains: “The launch of our very own U-value Scheme was an obvious next step for us and one we believe will hugely benefit our members. As the industry continues to be put under increasing scrutiny to show transparency and accountability, we’re doing all we can to help our members in
their efforts.
“The Scheme itself has a number of advantages:
Under the BFRC product certification scheme your U-values will be independently verified.
As part of the requirements of the scheme you will need to have a BFRC UK Approved Body report (UK Approved Body number 8543). This evidence can also be used as evidence for your UKCA marking.
One audit can cover both the energy rating and U-value schemes (license fees apply).
“The introduction of the BFRC WERs, 27 years ago, has significantly contributed to driving standards up across the industry and we want to do exactly the same with the new U-value scheme. Our intention is to promote best practice and ensure our 400+ members get the best possible support and advice. Our customers know they can depend on a credible, reliable and knowledgeable service from the BFRC.
Becoming part of the U-value Scheme couldn’t be simpler. If you’re already an approved and audited BFRC member, we can send you the relevant application forms. Once we have received that information and the supporting U-value evidence, we can approve it and add you to our new website. We are taking applications now, ahead of the launch of our new website on 1st August. Contact us today to express your interest.
At BFRC, proven performance is at the heart of everything we do and the launch of our U-value scheme reinforces that ethos. We are the most trusted ratings council for window and door energy ratings and we intend to build on that legacy to become the most trusted partner for U-value certification too.”
www.bfrc.org
DARKNESS ON DEMAND
PLEATED BLACKOUT INTEGRAL BLINDS:
The Uni-Blinds® pleated blackout system is the ideal solution for situations where complete darkness is necessary. Whether it’s for a restful night’s sleep, movie enjoyment, or any room where even the slightest light is a nuisance, the blackout system completely eliminates light transmission.
Choose from four control systems
Suitable for slimmer double glazed units with a 20mm cavity version exclusively available from Morley Glass
Solution for new build or retrofit
Innovative spacer bars - double guided spacer bars coated to reduce reflected light with ‘warm edge’ technology to maintain excellent thermal performance
Colours to match any home
Choose
White Alabaster Anthracite Black
Cocoa Dove Grey Ridge Grey Sheen
Schüco Makes Sustainable Switch With HVO Fuel Initiative
Schüco has announced its latest environmental initiative: converting its entire fleet of diesel-powered haulage vehicles to operate on sustainably sourced Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) fuel.
The company anticipates that this move will save over 380 tonnes of carbon emissions in the next 12 months alone, based on its average mileage.
As part of the transition, Schüco has installed an HVO tank with a capacity of 19,000 litres at its Milton Keynes site, home to its UK warehouse, to ensure ample storage for the company’s fuel needs. The HVO fuel supplier is an approved Renewable Fuel Supplier under the Renewable Fuels Assurance Scheme (RFAS) and is International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) accredited.
Schüco has also incorporated a Tecalemit fuel management system to allow an auditable trace of fuel drawn from the tank, for precise tracking of HVO fuel usage.
The switch to HVO comes with many sustainability benefits. HVO is made from renewable
raw materials such as vegetable oils and animal fats which reduces dependency on finite resources such as fossil fuels and supports a more circular economy.
HVO is compatible with existing diesel engines, allowing for an easy and immediate switch without the need for additional infrastructure or engine modifications. It has a high cetane number, which can lead to better engine performance, improved combustion, and increased efficiency. It often burns cleaner than regular diesel, potentially leading to reduced engine maintenance and longer engine life due to fewer deposits and cleaner combustion.
Schüco researched various fuel options, deciding on HVO with its good storage stability for extended periods without degradation, unlike some other biofuels. Despite the higher cost of HVO compared to regular diesel, Schüco anticipates that as HVO becomes more widely available across the country, prices will decrease.
By integrating HVO into its operations, Schüco not only enhances its own sustainability goals but also helps to set a precedent in the industry for responsible and eco-friendly practices. Schüco began tracking the carbon emissions associated with their energy use and business travel in 2021. In the two years since, the initiatives they have implemented enabled them to reduce their total emissions by 28%.
https://www.schueco.com/uk/
Eurocell has unveiled a fabricator partner programme that the company says will help fabricators grow their business and stand out in their markets.
Working alongside its partners, Eurocell has developed Eurocell Grow, exclusively for its network.
The programme, launched in June, is designed to help fabricators build their brand and attract more business so they can thrive in a competitive market. It aims to capitalise on the anticipated growth in the demand for home improvements in 2024 and beyond.
As part of Eurocell Grow, Eurocell will offer training and educational resources, showroom support and specification and design assistance. To help fabricators look the part, they can order branded workwear and as an added bonus, access exclusive retail discounts to help to make their money go further.
Eurocell Unveils ‘Eurocell Grow’
At the heart of the offering is the dynamic new Partner Portal, designed to streamline access to essential marketing tools for fabricators. This all-in-one platform empowers Eurocell’s partners to promote their products and services, anytime they need. The portal boasts an array of support, with a comprehensive suite of resources, including:
High-quality imagery and video assets for product promotion
Co-branded or bespoke brochures tailored for homeowners
Customisable posters, leaflets, and digital marketing assets to attract prospective customers
Robust lead generation support Expert guidance and best practices for digital marketing
On-demand technical support and expertise Eurocell says with these powerful tools at their fingertips, fabricators can elevate their marketing efforts and achieve greater success.
Fabricator partners can register for website health checks that will improve their online performance and get expert advice on how to boost their visibility and rankings in search engines, driving brand awareness and inbound website visits and enquiries.
Eurocell says it has the knowledge and expertise to continue to lead from the front – benefitting its fabricator network – who are at the heart of its operations. ‘Eurocell is innovating and evolving for the
future, pioneering new solutions in a fast-changing landscape and ready to share its expertise with fabricators’, says the company.
With what the company claims is the largest PVC-U recycling operation in the UK, Eurocell also offers fabricator partners preferential recycling rates to support sustainability goals.
Speaking on the launch of Eurocell Grow, Gary Driscoll, sales & commercial director at Eurocell, said:
“We are confident that there are green shoots of recovery for the industry and we want our fabricator partners to be well placed to take advantage and grow their businesses as the market picks up, as well as help them gain an edge against competitors.
“Eurocell Grow is industry leading and we believe it will have a huge benefit and deliver lots of value for our network. We provide unparalleled technical expertise, ensuring that our partners have access to cutting-edge technology and industry-leading technical support, helping them stay ahead in a competitive market.”
Beth Boulton, marketing director at Eurocell added that Eurocell Grow is a starting point in expanding its support for fabricators: “We value our fabricator partnerships and want to make them feel part of our community by supporting their businesses. The launch of Eurocell Grow is just the beginning of increasing our support for fabricators, with plans already in the pipeline to add further benefits to the programme. We will continue to work closely with our partners to ensure the programme delivers for their business needs now and in the future.”
Click the link to find out more about Eurocell Grow and how it benefits its Fabricator Partners
Pilkington UK To Scale Low Carbon Glass Production Under Pioneering Hydrogen Plans
Pilkington United Kingdom Limited, part of the NSG Group, will scale its production of low carbon glass from 2027 under pioneering new plans with Grenian Hydrogen to produce green hydrogen at its Merseyside base.
A new hydrogen plant at Pilkington UK’s Greengate Works site in St Helens will provide the manufacturer with up to seven tonnes of zeroemission hydrogen each day. This will enable the company to eliminate 15,000 tonnes of carbon from its direct emissions each year, paving the way for
the expanded production of low carbon architectural glass for buildings.
Plans to build the hydrogen plant powered by renewable electricity were put forward for public consultation last month (18th June) ahead of Grenian Hydrogen submitting a planning application this Summer.
It aims to start construction at Greengate Works in 2025, and to begin decarbonising Pilkington UK and the surrounding industry by 2027. The project at Pilkington UK is the first that Grenian will submit
for planning permission.
Neil Syder, managing director at Pilkington UK, said: “Securing a cost-effective, high-volume supply of green hydrogen at our Greengate site allows us to permanently scale the production of low carbon glass. As an integral supply chain material into the built environment, this represents an important cornerstone in the delivery of carbon free buildings – by enabling the specification of low carbon glass to become more routine for architects and specifiers.
“Our plans to produce green hydrogen on site will provide a blueprint for the decarbonisation of flat glass manufacturing all over the world. It will permanently remove 15,000 tonnes of carbon
emissions from our production each year, and be a major step forward in meeting our Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) certified targets for achieving carbon neutrality.
“The initiative will also help us to deliver our vision to ‘makechange’ by transforming our processes and by delivering the low carbon building products that will define the pace of decarbonisation in the built environment.”
The plans follow Pilkington UK becoming the first architectural glass manufacturer in the world in 2021 to trial the firing of hydrogen in a glass furnace. Last year, the glass manufacturer also launched architectural glass Pilkington Mirai, which features 52% less embodied carbon – certified as the lowest carbon glass product
of its kind.
Grenian CEO, Adam Baddeley said: “Grenian is delighted to be progressing our green hydrogen project at Pilkington’s Greengate Works plant. This builds upon a commercial-scale demonstration in 2021, which showed that the plant could operate safely on hydrogen, and we are now in a Government process to secure 15-year revenue support to enable us to build the plant and to start operating in 2027.
“Pilkington UK is a major energy user and switching some of this to green hydrogen will result in a material reduction in CO2 emissions from Greengate Works. The project marks an exciting point in Liverpool City Region’s journey to create sustainable energy solutions –with St Helens leading the way.”
Grenian Hydrogen comprises Progressive Energy – a low carbon energy project developer, Statkraft – Europe’s largest generator of renewable energy; and sustainability-led alternative assets investment manager – Foresight. The consortium is developing a suite of low carbon (‘green’) hydrogen production plants across the North West of England and North Wales.
The plans are revealed as Pilkington UK undertakes one of the biggest investment projects at its Greengate site in decades. It’s upgrading its glass furnace at the site to accommodate additional production moved from its neighbouring Watson Street site. Operating one furnace in the town, rather than two, will save 15,000 tonnes of CO2 each year, according to Pilkington UK.
Allan Brothers Pledges To Pay ‘Real Living Wage.’
Timber window and door
manufacturer Allan Brothers has pledged to pay its workers the ‘Real Living Wage’ at its factory in Berwick-upon-Tweed.
The company, which employs 87 staff, is one of the first manufacturing businesses in Northumberland to sign up to this voluntary benchmark, which is set by the Living Wage Foundation according to the ‘real’ cost of living rather than the Government’s lower rate.
This means that all Allan Brothers employees will be guaranteed a minimum income of £12.00 an hour which, based on a 38hour week, equates to £23,712 a year (whereas the Government’s National Living Wage, currently set at £11.44 an hour, based on the same working week would equate to £22,605 per year and for 18 to 20-year-olds just £8.60 per hour which would be £16,993
Katherine Chapman, director of the Living Wage Foundation, said: “We’re delighted that Allan Brothers is joining our movement of over 14,000 responsible employers across the UK, who have committed to pay all their workers the only wage rate based on what people actually need to live.
“Research shows that if just a quarter of low-paid workers were uplifted to the Real Living Wage, regions across the UK like the North East would see increases in productivity and a significant economic boost.”
The Real Living Wage accreditation is the cornerstone of Allan Brothers’ wider commitment to improving working conditions and staff development.
“To safeguard job security, we are investing in a training programme, which will enable employees to work in different types of positions within the factory,” said Morten. “In addition, we are giving production operatives the opportunity to upgrade their skills. For example, all our paint operatives have undertaken a six-month training programme to become highly skilled technical sprayers which comes with a higher salary.”
a year).
Allan Brothers managing director, Morten Bach Valsted, said: “We’re proud to be an accredited Real Living Wage Employer. We appreciate that the cost-of-living crisis is causing a great deal of hardship for many people, so we wanted to make sure that our employees are better rewarded for their hard work.”
The company’s recent investment in new factory machinery is expected to further increase training and development opportunities for staff further as well as generate the need to recruit more apprentices in the sales, engineering, and machining departments.
“We are working with local colleges and job centres so that we can offer young people the best chance to earn a fair Real Living Wage and to build their futures in a successful local manufacturing company.”
www.allanbrothers.co.uk
Morten Bach Valsted, MD of Allen Brothers
Cube Glass Secures
£250,000 Worth Of New Contract Wins In The Highlands And Islands
Precision manufacturer Cube Glass has secured a series of new contract wins in the north of Scotland totalling £250,000.
The Cumbernauld-based company, which manufactures and installs aluminium doors and windows, is set to undertake a curtain walling installation at Castletown Distillery in Thurso and a similar installation at the new ferry terminal at Uig on the Isle of Skye.
In addition, Cube Glass will undertake projects to install a mix of double glazed silicon jointed glazed screens and external doors at Old Clyne School in Brora, a 12m wide sliding door screen with windows utilising electrically charged smart glass for a private home in Dornoch, and a brace of bi-folding door projects in Inverness.
Gary Thorn, founder and managing
director of Cube Glass, said: “These are a mixture of new contracts which showcase our versatility and fabrication skills and we have installation dates for each of them reaching into midSummer.
“We have a strong record of undertaking successful project in the Highlands and Islands and our team of installers always look forward to their journey northwards.
“We consistently stress the benefits of natural daylight on mental health and recognise how much better we all feel when we are subjected to more natural daylight within a secure and ecologically sustainable environment.”
Cube Glass enjoys fruitful relationships with a number of leading specialist suppliers including Portugal-based
Gary Thorn
Panoramah, which makes a unique range of minimalist sliding doors and curtain walling with ultrathin sightlines, high-end French design and engineering specialist Bel’M. And most recently Glazing Vision rooflights which designs and manufactures innovative architectural glass rooflights for customers across the globe.
Its valued supplier relationships also include those with industryrecognised specialists such as Senior Architectural Systems, Metal Technology and Schüco.
The Cumbernauld-based business has pushed its turnover to a record £4.5m in the year to October 2023, up from £3.25m in the previous year. It now hopes to consolidate future revenues around this level.
www.cube-glass.com
Rehau And Yale
Launch New SensCheck Door Lock
Leading PVCu window manufacturer Rehau and worldleading hardware brand Yale have continued their ongoing partnership with the launch of the Yale SensCheck door sensor coupled together with the existing unique Lockmaster 21 Multipoint Door Lock.
A solution unique to Rehau, the Lockmaster 21 Multipoint Door
Lock can be integrated into the polymer provider’s profiles and has been modified with different hook positions to suit a wide range of door sizes. It includes Rehau-branded keeps and a 10year guarantee, with a two-year guarantee on the Yale SensCheck sensor, allowing homeowners to remotely operate and check the lock via the ‘Yale Home’ app.
Russell Hand, head of product and technical at Rehau Window Solutions said: “From the very beginning of the Rehau-Yale partnership in January 2022, our work together has been based on the shared values of marketleading products and technical expertise.
“The launch of this latest product is the latest example of this approach in action. By combining high-quality Rehau profiles with cutting-edge Yale innovations such as SensCheck, we can ensure fabricators and installers are receiving the best possible products to promote to homeowners.”
Alongside notifying householders whether doors are opened, closed, locked or unlocked, Yale’s SensCheck sensor also provides householders geofencing and tamper alerts, and can be used to arm or part-arm the home. Together with the PAS 24 enhanced security certification enjoyed by all Rehau door frames, fenestration professionals can give residents greater peace-of-mind over their home’s safety.
“Our ongoing partnership has allowed us to pre-integrate Yale hardware into high-quality Rehau profiles, giving installers and fabricators even greater choice when expanding their portfolios. The launch of the new Yale SensCheck door sensor continues this dedication to supplying the industry with reliable, wellbuilt door solutions from two established brands.
“We’ve high hopes for this latest product innovation, which is suitable for all Rehau door profiles. I would therefore encourage fenestration professionals to contact their Rehau and Yale representatives to find out more about its uses and applications.”
For more information about the new SensCheck door lock, CLICK HERE.
Padiham Glass is adding to its sustainability credentials by joining Saint-Gobain Glass’s pioneering closed loop glass recycling programme, Glass Forever.
The sealed unit manufacturer, which is part of the Emplas Group, will return glass from old end of life windows removed during window replacement projects plus any waste glass generated from its manufacturing process to the Saint-Gobain Glass cullet processing plant in Eggborough, East Yorkshire. Cutting-edge technology and environmentally conscious practices come together to transform the pre and post-consumer glass, also known as cullet, into new highperformance glass, reducing the environmental impact of
glass production and window refurbishment projects.
Saint-Gobain Glass is leading an industry change with Glass Forever, a pioneering closed-loop approach to glass manufacturing where materials are reused, waste is minimised, vital raw materials
and resources are conserved, and sustainable operational practices are prioritised throughout the supply chain.
Ryan Johnson, Emplas Group MD, said: “We value a sensible, scalable, and sustainable approach to enhancing the UK’s housing stock through our product range – and this includes the way they are manufactured, recycled and reused. Homeowners are increasingly looking for more sustainable options and Glass Forever, which helps to create new windows made from recycled glass, is a key differentiator in a very competitive market.
“It is important that as an industry we embrace the opportunity to remanufacture old poorly performing first-generation double-glazed windows into new high-performance windows that contribute to improving the comfort and thermal performance of our housing stock, and by doing so help to meet our net zero climate change targets.”
John Spiby, MD at Padiham Glass, adds: “Participating in Glass Forever reinforces our commitment to the principles of the circular economy. As part of our broader sustainability strategy, which includes switching to renewable sources of energy in production, investing in the latest fuel-efficient fleet, and facilitating the recycling of old PVC window frames, Glass Forever creates an opportunity for us to engage in an impactful programme that further enhances our operational efficiency and promotes glass recycling.”
Lee Glover, sustainability and net zero delivery manager at Saint-Gobain Glass, says: “We’re excited to welcome Padiham Glass and the Emplas Group to the Glass Forever programme. These companies share our commitment to minimising our carbon footprint and are proactively integrating Glass
John Spiby
Ryan Johnson
Forever processes into their business operations. This seamless integration ensures the efficient collection of pre- and post-consumer waste glass, helping us to utilise around 40% of cullet in the remanufacture of glass for new high performance windows.
“As an industry, we must be more responsible and sustainable in our operations, which is why we have
proudly developed Glass Forever and hope to see more suppliers and manufacturers prioritise circulatory environmental practices.”
The award-winning Glass Forever programme sees Saint-Gobain Glass working in partnership with a number of customers and stakeholders in the wider glass supply chain to ensure that pre and post-consumer
Garnalex Attains Seaside Class
By Angus Mackie – Qualicoat Chair
As the Qualicoat Specification continues to gain traction with powder coaters across the UK and Ireland, the Association is delighted to announce that one of our newest members, Garnalex, has also succeeded in gaining their Seaside licence for optional coating protection when in more exposed conditions, such as within 5Km of the coastline.
Martin Froggatt, health, safety, environmental and quality manager at Garnalex comments, “We are thrilled to have been awarded the coveted Qualicoat Seaside applicator class licence. This ensures our products are manufactured to the highest standards for use in seaside and coastal environments and provides the highest levels of Quality Assurance and confidence for our customers. The award demonstrates the
glass is recycled and reused in the remanufacture of new windows. The cullet processing plant in Eggborough was a £4.5 million investment by SaintGobain Glass, underscoring its dedication to reducing carbon emissions and achieving net zero by 2050.
Learn more about Glass Forever from Saint-Gobain Glass at https://bit.ly/46aOpEQ
commitment our Team have in improving and maintaining the vigorous requirements of this international standard of excellence.”
Introduced in 2008, Qualicoat began to offer a ‘Seaside Class’ of powder coating where the minimum removal of aluminium surface is increased from 1g/sm to 2g/sm using a dip or spray process of either an acid or a combination acid/ alkaline etch. This deeper etch removes more contaminants and therefore offers a more robust pretreatment for areas where local atmospheres carry corrosive salts (chlorides) and other aggressive pollutants.
Qualicoat licensed applicators who wish to offer ‘Seaside’ class coatings need to apply for an additional licence. The applicator needs to demonstrate that they can remove the 2g/sm by process and monitoring, plus the applicator must offer a coated ‘Seaside Class’ sample for an additional filiform corrosion test carried out at the IFO laboratories located in Germany. IFO provide independent inspection and testing services for all Qualicoat powder coat applicators in the UK. The up-to-date Qualicoat Specification is available for download via the UK & Ireland Association website, qualicoatuki.org
Veka Collaborates To Combat Crime With Intensive Workshop
In a drive to support advancement of security standards in the construction industry, Veka plc hosted a ‘Designing out Crime with Veka’ day on 10 July 2024.
The leading PVCu supplier invited 17 Designing Out Crime Officers (DOCOs) from across the UK to its 400,000 sq ft production facility in Burnley, Lancashire to delve into the intricacies of security standards and showcase how Veka consistently achieves industry benchmarks.
Attendees gained insights into the rigorous processes and innovative solutions that Veka employs to ensure the highest levels of security in its window and door products.
In-depth presentations, interactive sessions and practical demonstrations highlighted Veka ‘s commitment to security excellence. A detailed tour of the manufacturing facility also offered participants a firsthand look at Veka ‘s innovative
processes.
The Designing Out Crime Day particularly focused on the processes and procedures involved in a systems house attaining certification.
Veka is said to have become the first systems house to have a full range of triple glazed products accredited to PAAS24:2022 and the first Secured by Design member to achieve the feat.
The workshop took a deep dive into the security standards that Veka products must adhere to earn the accreditation, while outlining the testing processes that prove the product quality.
“At Veka, we are dedicated to providing industry-leading designs, and that standard includes the ultimate security capacity,” said Paul Kennington,
technical director.
“This event was an excellent opportunity to showcase our approach to security and collaborate with police forces from across the UK to enhance their knowledge and understanding of the processes that earn the PAS24:2022 accreditation.”
The event provided ample opportunities for networking and knowledge sharing, fostering stronger relationships between fenestration and police forces to help combat crime through innovative design and robust security standards.
Hazel Goss MBE, development officer for Secured By Design, the official police security initiative to reduce crime, said of the event: “I find days like this are invaluable to the designing
YOUR BIGGEST BUSINESS CHALLENGES - SOLVED
out crime officers who I look after because they’re learning the ins and outs of the products, seeing the products being tested and getting an understanding of how the processes work.”
Andy Hunton, designing out crime officer for Cumbria attended, saying: “When we go out for situational crime prevention, giving advice to householders, we insist that they need a tested product, and Veka recognise security standards. Coming to see how these products have actually been manufactured is very important, because then we can say we’ve seen how it’s done, we know the reason behind the testing, and we know it’s worthwhile and resilient.”
vekauk.com
Genius Marks 5th Anniversary With £2M Machinery Investment
Kӧmmerling trade fabricator Genius PVC Trade Frames is celebrating its fifth year in business with a £2m machinery investment.
Established in 2019 by industry veterans David Eagle and Peter Dyson, Genius has quickly established a reputation for excellence among the trade.
Having reached their 5th anniversary, the senior team at Genius are now looking to set their sights on the future; the company has recently invested in an eight-headed welder and cleaning line.
“This investment will enable us to not only significantly speed up operations in our factory, but
also allow us to continue offering the same consistently excellent quality that has made our name,” comments Lee Dickinson, operations director at Genius.
Alongside the new weld and cleaning line, a second Schirmer machining centre will also form part of Genius’ £2m investment.
This new investment comes as Genius sets sights on reaching a production capacity of 2,500 frames per week within the next two years, having already invested £3m in machinery to achieve this goal.
“We’re incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved in just five years,” says Peter Dyson, co-founder of Genius PVC Trade Frames. “Our
commitment to excellence has resonated with our customers, and this investment will allow us to meet the increasing demand for our products.”
“Even though Genius itself is only 5 years old, as a senior leadership team we have over 200 years of combined industry experience behind us. I’m confident that this expertise, alongside our new hightech equipment, will set us up for success.
“But this is only the beginning –we’ve got some hugely ambitious goals for the future. We’ve got a new product and even an expansion into software in the pipeline, so watch this space!”
www.geniuspvc.com
Victorian Sliders Relaunch Installation Of The Month Competition
Victorian Sliders have announced the relaunch of their popular Installation of the Month competition.
The business is inviting its ‘valued installers’ to submit high-quality photographs that showcase their latest ECOSlide installations.
Entries will be judged on their craftsmanship, attention to detail, and overall visual appeal.
Each month, the winning installer will receive a free window up to the value of £380 the next time they place an order of at least two windows.
Victorian Sliders says it’s a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the exceptional work of its installer customers, and showcase its ECOSlide sash window.
“We’re thrilled to bring back our Installation of the Month
competition,” comments Sue Davies, head of sales at Victorian Sliders.
“We take immense pride in the quality of our products, and seeing them expertly installed in stunning homes across the country is extremely rewarding.
“We’d like to encourage as many of our customers as possible to take part – it’s a great way to gain recognition for your expertise and showcase your work to a wider audience!”
Since its acquisition by growth funders BGF, Victorian Sliders says the business has made huge strides in quality, efficiency and customer service, and has recently invested over half a million pounds in state-of-the-art new manufacturing equipment.
To enter and for full T&C’s please visit: https://bit.ly/46aqWUD
Rehau
Commits To Customer Service Offering With New Showroom Investments
Rehau has revealed a revamp of its windows and doors showroom at the London Building Centre, allowing customers to get a hands-on look at the company’s full range of windows solutions.
As well as this, a host of Rehau’s UK sites have had brand new showrooms installed, continuing the company’s commitment to investing in providing customers with the best possible service. The company’s Ross-on-Wye headquarters, Blaenau Ffestiniog factory, and Manchester sales office have been updated with the latest product launches and new informative displays to ensure that every customer is able to view the company’s full range of solutions in person.
The refurb features some of the latest products from Rehau, including the new Slinova sliding door system, which can be viewed at the London hub, and at the Ross-on-Wye headquarters and the Manchester office.
Visitors to the sales offices in Manchester, the headquarters in Ross-on-Wye and the factory at Blaenau Ffestiniog will be able to see Rehau’s World of Windows exhibition, which, at the Herefordshire site, showcases Slinova, Total70 Casement, Rio Flush Fit, Heritage vertical sliders, and T70R fully reversible windows.
The site in Manchester also features a number of the major product systems from this exhibition, including the new product Artevo. Artevo is Rehau’s largest window system to date, giving architects, designers, and specifiers the opportunity to incorporate huge profiles that maximise natural light with all the performance benefits of polymer.
One of the first visitors to the new showroom, Alex Griffiths from Everite Windows, said of the new site: “The new showroom is a welcome addition from Rehau, further improving their customer support service not just at Head Office but also at their sales offices. It is the best way to showcase to our customers the quality, durability, and aesthetics of the main window systems of Total70 and Rio Flush Fit.
“As well as this, it was a good opportunity to see Rehau’s newest products on the market including the Slinova sliding door and the soon to be launched Artevo system for the commercial market. It was interesting to see Artevo in the new foil Alux, an excellent replica of aluminium.”
Alongside this, Rehau has revamped its Blaenau
London Building Centre
Ross-on-Wye headquarters
Ffestiniog factory in North Wales, where the training academy has been refurbished. It features new graphics on the walls inspired by the mountain location of the factory, with motivational messaging displayed in both Welsh and English.
One of the apprentices to benefit from the refurbishment is Elan James, a logistics administration apprentice studying Business Admin Level 2. After attending a session at the site, he said: “What a transformation, the room is now a motivational place to study and learn in. In particular the inspiring quotes, especially in Welsh, make a real difference to the learning environment.”
Manchester sales office
Russell Hand, head of product management and technical at Rehau said: “Our showrooms are the best tool to showcase our products to our customers. Seeing the full window systems in real life allows people to visualise them in their projects and often leads to more collaborative discussion.
“Meanwhile, our investment into our site in Blaenau Ffestiniog shows Rehau is fully committed to investing in the next generation with a wide range of apprenticeships. We are looking forward to welcoming both existing and new customers to the spaces soon.”
Those looking to see the products in person can request a visit to see the London Hub in the Building Centre here: https://bit.ly/3Y3M2lh
headquarters Manchester sales office
Martindale Trade Frames Extends Partnership With Veka
Veka plc has announced that one of its longest-standing customers has signed an extended five-year Long Term Service Agreement (LTSA).
The landmark agreement with Martindale Trade Frames, marks a new chapter in a 20-year relationship between the two businesses, as commitment is
extended beyond the traditional three-year terms.
Tony Crowther, director at Martindale Trade Frames, said: “Our partnership with Veka has been immensely valuable over the years. This five-year commitment will continue to propel our business forward, ensuring stability and growth.”
Martindale Trade Frames has positioned itself as a premier ‘one-stop-shop’ for installers, making substantial investments in its glass machinery. A new auto-loading cutting line and glass cutting table have revolutionised production processes, creating a fully automated line capable of producing triple-glazed units. The new laminated cutting table will also support sustainability and ensure compliance with future regulation changes, with increased cutting precision reducing waste.
Looking ahead, the business has plans in place to invest in its PVC shop, with planning permission approved for an extension to accommodate new lines, further enhancing its production capabilities. Martindale Trade Frames is also dedicated to future-proofing activity to ensure compliance with all new appropriate regulations – with Veka playing a key role in such plans.
Amy Steven, divisional sales director at Veka plc, said, “We are thrilled to extend our partnership with Martindale Trade Frames through this new five-year LTSA. Their commitment to innovation and growth aligns perfectly with our vision at Veka, and we look forward to continuing to support their success.”
Earlier this year, Veka hosted a highly successful Partner Event, further strengthening their relationship with fabricators such as Martindale Trade Frames.
During the collaboration event, Veka shared exclusive details of its strategic direction and latest range of products and services with fabricators from across the UK to enhance partnerships and drive growth across the sector.
www.veka.co.uk
The Fascia Place LtdOffering Yale Senscheck-Compatible
Products As Standard
Epwin Window Systems customer The Fascia Place Ltd has announced that all Profile 22 windows and doors manufactured by its in-house fabrication division, Our Factory, are now Yale SensCheck-compatible as standard.
Mark Lilley, head of sales and marketing at The Fascia Place Ltd, said: “The decision to add SensCheck will bring even more value to our PVC-U window and door offering and give our customers a competitive advantage.”
All 14 of The Fascia Place’s branches will have an active onsite SensCheck display so customers can see the technology for themselves. Mark commented: “The audience in our branches tends to be builders and consumers. We often see builders bringing their customers into our branches to look at different window and door options. Having a fully operational SensCheck display will demonstrate the high security and useability of the technology. As such, it will offer an excellent upselling opportunity for our customers.”
Yale SensCheck will be supplied via Safeware, the specialist hardware division of Epwin Window Systems. Paul Hinds, national sales manager at Safeware, said: “We’re delighted to be supporting The Fascia Place and working with the team to help them continually add value to their offering. Yale SensCheck notifies homeowners via the Yale Smart Living app about the status of their doors and windows, indicating whether they are open or closed, locked or unlocked, and if the windows are in the night vent position. It is also compatible with leading voice partners Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, allowing homeowners to use commands like ‘Alexa, is my front door locked’ or ‘Alexa, is my bedroom window open?”
www.epwinwindowsystems.co.uk
Reynaers Is Officially ‘A’ Good Place To Work
Reynaers Aluminium has been rated ‘A’ good place to work following a staff survey.
The report, part of the company’s
‘Together for Better’ strategy to support employee satisfaction, saw the UK company gain its highest levels of validation for workplace practices – securing
an overall ‘A’ rating from staff.
This followed a strategic plan to implement feedback following the previous survey, with a dedicated team’ instigating suggested changes.
This included introducing digital notice boards for staff who do not have immediate access to emails to allow them to stay up to date with company news, the addition of eyecare vouchers, and the introduction of a scheme to work a day in a different department to better understand how the company operates.
Richard Hall, MD of Reynaers Aluminium UK
Access to the company’s telephone counselling service was opened up to immediate family members, while the company committed to re-introducing staff social events following the Covid pandemic – this included the introduction of a bi-annual get-together to celebrate staff anniversaries and welcome new starters.
Work was also carried out to
Richard Hall, MD of Reynaers Aluminium UK
enhance the physical working environment while electric car charging points were installed on the car park.
To identify areas where staff would like to see improvements, the team canvassed employees for their ideas.
Richard Hall, managing director of Reynaers Aluminium UK, said: “Employees are the heartbeat of every company – we are who we are because of the people that work here. Their commitment and hard work allows us to create the quality products and provide the excellent level of service that Reynaers is known for.
“A key foundation of Reynaers’ ethical approach is that we are ‘Together for Better’, that means working as a collective and supporting each other within the workplace. We have strong company values #Caring, #Daring, #Passionate and #United and our team are expected to truly live these values. Commissioning an external survey to verify that is important to ensure that the commitment to creating a happy workplace genuinely works in practice.
“Following the recent survey and with a view to continually improve, we are now exploring further amendments to the working environment and have set up ‘The People Forum’ where volunteer members of our team will have the opportunity to contribute ideas and work together to implement further improvements.”
Reynaers has also recently updated its internal staff awards, with the new format seeing staff vote for who they think should win awards that fall in line with the company’s key commitments: #Caring, #Daring, #Passionate, #United, and keeping the customer at the heart.
www.reynaers.co.uk
Energy Usage Halved With Upgraded Water Chillers, Says Deceuninck
Deceuninck has upgraded its existing water chilling system in its manufacturing facility in Calne, reducing its carbon output by 550 cubic metres per year in the process, claims the company.
The two new water chillers were installed in March 2024, and were chosen for their energy efficiency.
Darren Woodcock, operations director, Deceuninck, said: “Our current energy usage for chilling our water with our new system is 50% less than it was 12 months ago.
“Our old system was outdated so we wanted to replace it with a more energy efficient and environmentally friendly alternative, that reduced the amount of carbon used.
“We only had 60mm of
buffer space to slot the new chillers into. They went in millimeter perfect, and there was no operational disruption whatsoever.”
Deceuninck has established a lead on sustainability based on its’ commitment to the Science Based Targets (SBTi) programme, with a headline pledge to cut the CO2 emissions from its own operations (Scope 1&2) by 60% by 2030 from a 2021 baseline. As well as the water cooler upgrade to reduce carbon emissions in the Calne factory, the systems house has also installed 2,200 solar panels on the roof, which generates 895,762 kWh of clean energy a year, and saves almost half a million tons of CO2, according to the company.
www.deceuninck.co.uk
Driving Change Towards a Greener Future
DoorCo is advancing efficiency, health, and safety in their manufacturing facility through its new partnership with Jungheinrich, a renowned industrial truck manufacturer. This collaboration represents DoorCo’s commitment to operational performance through the adoption of electric forklifts.
Mark, head of operations at DoorCo, comments on the positive impact of this decision:
“The decision to upgrade to electric forklifts in our manufacturing facility brings numerous benefits. Not only does the switch reduce our carbon footprint but also highlights our dedication to the well-being of our workforce through advanced safety features.” This strategic move aligns with DoorCo’s vision of creating a more sustainable future while prioritising the safety and efficiency of our operations.
Working alongside Jungheinrich, a leading industrial truck manufacturer in Europe, we have brought our fleet of eighteen FLTs into the 21st century. These new forklifts run entirely on electric energy and, though their fuel sources differ, their quality does not. Powered by electricity, they offer the same excellent quality and performance as traditional forklifts. These forklifts have a reach capacity of up to 7.5 meters and can lift up to 5,000kg over long distances.
“Switching to electric isn’t just about being green; it’s about smart savings too. By making this change, we are reducing our environmental impact, lowering our carbon footprint by a staggering 94%, and saving around £99,855.16 in energy costs and 851,863kg of carbon in emissions.
“But that’s not all! Our FLT drivers will undergo training to
ensure they can operate these new vehicles with the same competency as they did before. This new training taps into the exciting new technologies like brand-new telematics software. This software plays a crucial role in boosting safety by providing real-time updates to drivers, proactively preventing accidents.
“We saw an opportunity to boost our operations with electric forklifts, and we’re excited about the positive changes this will bring. At DoorCo, our focus remains on delivering excellence while contributing to a better, safer, and more sustainable tomorrow. It’s a practical step forward, not just a best practice. This update to our fleet allowed us to modernise and improve efficiency, as well a representing our commitment to practical innovation and safety, aligning with our end goal of net zero.” trade.door-co.com/
Rehau Celebrates 30 Years With Fenster Frames
Windows solutions provider Rehau is celebrating 30 years working with its Bury-based partner Fenster Frames.
Fenster has been working with Rehau since its founding in 1993, with the ongoing collaboration being marked by several innovative products. The most recent of which is Rio Flush Fit with its ability to provide fenestration solutions seamlessly, combining style and functionality, according to the company.
Samantha Nuttal, digital marketing manager at Fenster, added: “Fenster’s commitment to excellence and innovation remains unwavering as we look ahead. We are thrilled to extend our partnership with Rehau , a collaboration that has been pivotal in our quest to set new standards in the fenestration industry.” https://bit.ly/4cMnKko
Warringtonfire’s $30m Birchwood Park Site Awarded Perfect
Score by the Considerate Constructors Scheme
Warringtonfire’s upcoming laboratory at Birchwood Park has been recognised with a Considerate Constructors Bronze Award in partnership with main contractor Tilbury Douglas.
Issued by the Considerate Constructors Scheme, the award recognises the efforts of construction sites, organisations, and suppliers who commit to raising both environmental and community social value standards. The Birchwood Park site, which is nearing completion, achieved a perfect 45 out of 45 score.
The report judged the site on three different pillars: Respect for the Community, Care for the
Environment, and Value for their Workforce. The site received top marks in all categories, earning an ‘excellent’ rating for each and individual praise for its environmental and social policies.
Warringtonfire and Tilbury Douglas implemented a series of measures to demonstrate the social value of the site, including an open doors week and hosting a Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity site presentation on mental health, promoting health and wellbeing conversations. The teams also made further charitable donations to Warrington Youth Zone and the Trussell Trust Food Bank, and purchased sanitary products for the workplace via the Hey Girls
social enterprise.
The report highly commended Warringtonfire and Tilbury Douglas for the project’s environmental pledges, which included a Net Zero 2050 carbon reduction plan, avoiding diesel-powered plant and equipment during the construction, promoting the use of HVO fuel, and planting over 50 trees. Tilbury Douglas’ ISO 14001 accreditation, the international standard for environmental management systems, further reinforces the project’s commitment to environmental protection and sustainability.
Local students from Warrington Vale and Royal College were also welcomed to the site throughout National Apprenticeship Week, with several offered future work experience placements.
Iwan Lewis, Project Manager of the site for Tilbury Douglas, said: “Investing in the next generation of construction professionals is a key priority for my team and
Floor Furnace Area
together with Warringtonfire we have actively engaged in educational outreach activities with Warrington and Vale Royal College to address the skills shortage in the construction and fire stopping industries.”
Martin Horne, Regional Director at Tilbury Douglas, said: “We are proud of the value created through our partnership, the successful outcomes achieved, and the alignment of goals and values between our organisations.”
Phil Shaw, Managing Director at Tilbury Douglas, said: “It’s a great result and evidences the team’s inherent culture on site driving our sustainability strategy, ‘People, Planet, and Performance’, or PPP, which sets out to deliver improved social and environmental outcomes for our business, customers, and supply chain.”
The 101,000sqft Birchwood Park site is set to be the new hub
for Warringtonfire’s fire testing services. Due to open its doors in January 2025, it will triple the company’s testing capacity. The laboratory will have two vertical furnaces, two horizontal furnaces, and one indicative furnace ready for test specimens when it launches, with two more furnaces to be added by the end of 2026.
Dafydd Llewelyn-Jones, Project Manager for Element Materials
Technology, said: “This award recognises all the hard work put into the project, both from our team and Tilbury Douglas. We’re particularly proud of our social value scores, especially our outreach with the local community. Warrington has always been our home, so it is important that we continue to make valuable contributions to both the next generation and the environment.”
https://bit.ly/3WqK3Gy
recognising Deceuninck’s quality in its extrusion and products, and ISO 14001, recognising its environmental pledges, in Deceuninck’s list of ISO achievements.
At The First Attempt
Deceuninck Earns Health And Safety Accreditation
operational Health and Safety.
Deceuninck has added to its ISO (International Organization for Standardisation) accreditations with the addition of ISO 45001, recognising excellence in
Demonstrating a solid framework for the health, safety, productivity and wellbeing of its employees, ISO 45001 accompanies ISO 9001,
Darren Woodcock, operations director, Deceuninck, said:
“We have had the ISO 0001 and ISO 14001 for a while, but we have been putting a lot of hard work into our health and safety on site – it’s one of the most important aspects at Deceuninck, that we vigorously ensure our employees’ safety.
“So we went and attempted to achieve the ISO 45001, and we got it at the first attempt, which was fantastic news.
“We plan to run the three accreditations for the next three years, and then roll them into one accreditation during a week-long audit in 2027.”
www.deceuninck.co.uk
Warringtonfire Vertical Furnaces
Darren Woodcock
FUHR Joins CAB
The Council for Aluminium in Building (CAB) has announced that hardware company FUHR have recently applied for and been approved into membership of the Association. Providing security products for over 165 years FUHR specialise in the development and production of multipoint locking systems for doors. With hardware manufacturing based in Germany the UK Division is located in Telford.
Ian Ward, FUHR managing director comments, “We are delighted to become members of CAB and look forward to networking with the membership and taking an active role in supporting the Association to ensure future legislative
proposals meet with Industry expectations.”
A family owned and run company, FUHR is in its 5th generation of family ownership, continuity, trust and a sense of
Stuga’s Danny Jones Expands His Role
Into Scotland
As part of machinery manufacturer, Stuga Machinery’s continuous improvement programme, the company is now offering direct sales and service
responsibility therefore have a long tradition in the company. Selling two thirds of products abroad, FUHR in Germany are the market leader, claims the company, in the area of multipoint locking systems with a portfolio which currently includes around 14,000 sellable items.
Recently there has been a surge in CAB membership enquiries from across the fenestration supply chain and we are keen to attract more members into the Association. CAB membership demonstrates company commitment to supporting best practice in the Industry and helps when seeking contract opportunities. Please contact CAB directly if you are considering joining the Association and helping to shape its future.
c-a-b.org.uk
to Scottish customers, on both Stuga and Stürtz machines.
Integral to this change, Danny Jones, Stürtz business manager at Stuga Machinery, is now covering Scotland as well as the North of England.
“We are really pleased to have Danny heading up our sales and service in Scotland,” says Ed Williams, managing director at Stuga Machinery. “With more than 25 years of experience in the industry, Danny is a highly skilled engineer and is known as a safe pair of hands. His knowledge of both Stuga and Stürtz machines is exceptional. Danny is well regarded in the industry and is perfectly positioned to support our customers north of the border.”
Ed adds: “Great service is key for customers. Since becoming a subsidiary of Stürtz, our goal has been to give customers access to more products – and an improved service. The portfolio of Stürtz welding, cleaning, logistics and handling solutions means we now offer a complete solution for PVCu window manufacturers, as they are the perfect fit with Stuga’s sawing and machining centres.”
The direct sales and service offering brings Scotland in line with the rest of the UK, with a commitment to continuous improvement.
stuga.co.uk
•
•
• Hybrid timber-foam core to combine thermal efficiency and strength
• Aluminium sheets add rigidity and reduce moisture ingress
• Slab painted to order for a perfect finish in a wide range of colours
•
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 Business Pilot Barometer
Waiting to win?
By Neil Cooper-Smith, Senior Analyst, Business Pilot
This month’s Business Pilot Barometer was published just days before a General Election, which puts it in a unique position: we have never seen how such an event affects window retail trading figures.
What’s also interesting is that you could be reading this in the days following the General Election (depending on how you consume your trade media) and so you could be mentally extrapolating how the result could affect the Business Pilot Barometer in a month’s time.
Working with what we do know, average sales are 49.7, which is a 9.1% fall on the previous month (54.7). It is also 12.5% lower than the rolling sixmonth average of 56.8.
Meanwhile, at 100.7 average leads are 9% lower than May 2024, and 15% lower than the rolling sixmonth average of 118.5.
With the Euros kicking off a summer of sport (which also includes the Olympics), and families looking to make the most of their holidays following a wet winter,
there is a lot of pressure on disposable income, which could explain why those headline figures continue to fall.
But there is also a case to be made for households having a wait-and-see approach to how the next few months take shape.
A General Election is a big upheaval, and while – at the time of writing – many see the result on July 4 to be a foregone conclusion, there are unforeseen variables that could come into play over the next few months which could affect household finances, market confidence, and the economy.
On the morning that this Barometer was written, three high street banks announced mortgage interest rate cuts of up to 0.38%. This is because economists expect increased buyer activity in the autumn following a likely cut in the Bank of England base rate at the start of August, which has been held at 5.25% since August 2023.
Like the General Election, a reduction in the base
rate could be a starting pistol being fired as cautious investors (including homeowners) decide the time is right to resume spending.
Don’t forget that inflation is now officially down to the Bank of England’s target rate of 2%, fuel prices in the UK continue to fall, and the energy price cap fell by 7.2% this summer, further easing pressure on household finances.
There is some further respite. While the volume market looks like it is waiting for the right moment before picking up again, the average order value continues to increase quite significantly. At £6,130, the average order in June 2024 was 34.1% higher than May 2024 (£4,571). It is also 53.9% higher than the rolling six-month average of £3,984.
This time next month, we’ll have a new government, interest rates could be lower, and we may have won the Euros. Let’s see what effect that’ll have on the Barometer.
www.businesspilot.co.uk
Building Dreams: What Labour’s housing pledge means for the fenestration industry
By Andrew Scott, MD of Purplex Marketing
One of the starkest measures of economic performance over the last few years has come from the housebuilding industry, and the fact that nowhere near enough homes are being built to keep up with demand. In part this has pushed up prices to the point where affordable ownership or renting has become a complete contradiction in terms.
The new government has made a grand promise to build 1.5 million new homes over the next five years. It’s a bold target indeed, and a step in the right direction as far as addressing the housing shortage goes. For those of us in the fenestration industry the news can only be welcomed, as it equates to a lot more work all round. But is it realistic, and what might be the drawbacks to such an ambitious scheme?
At first glance, Labour’s strategy looks well-considered. There is a pledge to protect greenbelt by building on ‘grey belt’ sites – disused spaces and former industrial sites, among others – and more than adequate provision for affordable housing. With a series of ‘new towns’ also planned, breathing life into forgotten corners while creating communities seems to be the ambition.
So far, so good. But as champions of the fenestration industry, we know that nothing is quite that simple. Two key issues facing the government are planning requirements and the shortage of skilled labour to work on construction sites.
Firstly, the issue of planning. We can subdivide this issue into two areas for concern: a shortage of planning officials and the planning system itself.
The government has promised to fund the employment of 300 new planners, which is all very well until you consider that this equates to an average of two new people for every local authority.
More problematic, however, is the need to overhaul the planning system. As anyone who has applied for something as simple as a kitchen extension will know, the system is unwieldy, bureaucratic and expensive. In recent years it has had to take issues such as zero carbon and biodiversity into account and while necessary, these are slowing down the process considerably. If the government is determined to achieve its target, a more streamlined and swifter approach to planning permission should be a priority right now.
Then, of course, we have the well-publicised shortage of skilled labour. The UK needs somewhere in the region of 500,000 workers, including fabricators and installers, at present, and this could easily grow to meet the government’s new housebuilding demands. A massive recruitment drive will be needed if targets are to be hit and inevitably, a fair percentage of new recruits will need to come from abroad, making Labour’s post-Brexit headache just that little bit worse. Clear thinking, and a requirement to take potentially unpopular decisions about immigration numbers, will also be necessary to counter any drag in the government’s plans.
All that said, I count myself very much as an optimist and I do think that our sector can help match the government’s ambitions. Getting match-fit in terms of marketing should be a priority for fenestration companies who are ready and willing to take advantage of this building boom, seeing where they can pivot quickly when
Andrew Scott
for Installers, Fabricators and Specifiers, REHAU Answers provides:
▪ A U-Value Calculator in line with the latest Building Regs
▪ Compliance Guidance
▪ Up-to-the-Minute FAQ’s.
Access Answers today to quickly fulfil all your project requirements.
www.rehauanswers.co.uk
necessary.
Below are four quick marketing pointers to consider ahead of offers to tender:
• Build relationships: Don’t wait until the last minute to start marketing. If you know about a potential big contract, consider initiating conversations with the decision-makers well beforehand. Build brand awareness and establish yourself as a thought leader in the relevant field.
• Think strategically: Research the specific decision-makers involved and tailor your message to their needs and priorities. Highlight your company’s experience and success in similar projects, focusing on the value you bring to their specific challenges.
• Show credibility: Winning a big contract is about trust and competence. Focus on showcasing your company’s expertise through case studies, white papers or testimonials from similar projects.
• Stay on track: Understand the specific goals and challenges outlined in the contract and ensure your marketing demonstrates how your company can deliver solutions that directly address those needs.
If and when the government gets cracking on its plans, those companies who are on the radar will be the ones who benefit. Keeping up appearances now, via effective marketing and recruitment, will almost certainly pay off in the none-too-distant future – if, of course, we believe what the politicians say!
• If you want to know more about Purplex, and how we can help you gain the best possible results for your business, contact us here: https://bit.ly/3SnKEXa
Bohle’s Managing Director Dave Broxton explains why communication is key when the market recovers.
Now we have a new government, does that mean a wand has been waved and we will see the brakes removed from the economy and we will all benefit from booming business?
Unlikely, but we are almost guaranteed five years of stability, which should give people the confidence to invest – whether homeowners, organisations with property portfolios, or the public sector. And we will be watching carefully to see how new policies (a new approach
Now’s Time
to planning laws for example) will affect stalled projects.
Demand picking up?
The general election aside, we are coming to the end of a particularly difficult period. While Q1 was remarkably slow, demand did start to pick up in Q2. All eyes are now on the second half of the year, where we should see several positive things happen at once.
The signs are that inflation will continue to level off near the Bank of England’s target rate of 2%, which should pre-empt a steady reduction in the Bank’s interest rate, thus driving down the cost
Now’s The To Talk!
of borrowing. The expectation is that this should kick-start the housing market (coinciding conveniently with the regular uptick in activity in Q3), which typically drives an increase in home improvement projects.
At Bohle we don’t expect exceptional growth; all the indicators are that the market will be slow until the end of this year. At the end of April, the CPA forecast a ‘construction recession’ this year, and a 2.1% growth in 2025.
What does that mean for us and our customers? Well, the obvious takeaway is that confidence is returning to the market. Exactly how and when we’ll feel the effect of
that in the construction and home improvement industries is up for debate. What is more clear, though, is the need to be prepared.
There is mounting evidence from industry analysts, such as the CPA and ONS, that those firms most likely to be hardest hit are those with a narrow field of expertise.
With this in mind, we are talking to our customers, to ensure that we are following the same journey they are, and to offer opportunities they may not initially see. For example, there is steady growth in the demand for internal partitioning and internal sliding doors, which is a market sector that is accessible to window and glass companies.
Our easy-to-install, yet incredibly high-value MasterTrack internal sliding door system has been an inspiration for customers who have wanted to bring more light into internal spaces, while partitioning off living areas.
Designed to accommodate glass thicknesses between 8mm and 12.76mm and maximum weights of 150kg, MasterTrack can be either be wall-mounted or ceiling hung. Capable of being installed in as little as 10 minutes thanks to an easy-touse clamp system, it is suitable for home improvement and light commercial sectors.
MasterTrack also uses a patented hydraulics system and a double-sided spring to slow the door in a single, ultrasmooth operation.
And a stand out product at the 2023 FIT Show – which still remains popular today – is our FrameTec 2.0 glass partitioning system, because it was designed and built to support fast and cost-efficient
installation using a modular design and easy-fix system.
If homeowners are installing bi-folds that bring in more light, they will be interested in opening up the interior, and the FrameTec 2.0 system creates that opportunity, offering installers excellent margins in the process.
The right conversations
We value face-to-face events, like the FIT Show, because it gives us that opportunity to talk to existing and new customers. This is why we held an open day at our showroom and training centre near Manchester earlier this year. It’s all well and good designing and manufacturing new products, but they need to be a) suitable for your customers’ projects, and b) you’ve got to train your customers on how to install them.
And having these conversations early can help head any future challenges off at the pass. For example, as expected, we are still seeing some pressures on the market thanks to imports from the Far East.
But we know that price is only part of the equation. Our field sales team stays close to our customers, and they know that quality remains paramount, as does a secure supply chain from Germany – we’ve seen what can happen when longdistance supply chains start to break down.
By keeping those lines of communication open, we can respond to market conditions swiftly and decisively, which is what will help us – and our customers – make the most of the opportunities when the market picks up again later this year.
www.bohle.com
Back To The Classroom?
The lack of skills in the construction industry –not just the glass and glazing sector – is a cause for concern. Glass Express Midlands’ managing director Arun Photay discusses what practical measures can be taken to alleviate the situation.
When Glass Express Midlands organised a roundtable event in May this year, the focus was on better regulation and closer working relations with government. To that end, great strides were made, with encouragement from one MP, and a commitment to closer working arrangements between trade associations.
While conversations largely stayed on track, one fundamental challenge refused to be ignored: the worrying lack of skilled individuals required to allow the construction industry to operate effectively.
“Our headline news story at the conclusion of our Roundtable Event in London in May, was a willingness from government to work closer with industry, and for construction industry bodies –such as the GGF and CAB – agreeing to present a unified voice to government,” Glass Express Midlands’ managing director Arun Photay says.
“We actually began the day with Eddie Hughes MP, who was previously the Minister for Rough
Sleeping and Housing at DLUHC (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities), telling delegates that a single unified body representing the interests of all parties would help ensure Building Regulations are workable.
“But while working with government is key to making Building Regulations work, so is the need for adequate training.”
Arun explains that the Roundtable event raised a number of key issues. He said that delegates representing architects, specifiers, installers and product manufacturers all raised the same point: that a lack of expertise and knowledge is undermining the success of some projects.
“We had one manufacturer explain that they use technology to demonstrate Building Regulation compliance, and for meeting projects’ specifications,” Arun says. “But that when products are swapped out for cheaper alternatives, the desired goals aren’t achieved because there is a lack of knowledge in the middle of the supply chain.
“The knock-on effects can be considerable, such as overheating, poor security, and even dangerous installations.
“It was also pointed out that as components are changed in a project, then all calculations will be affected, but no-one is going to know if they don’t have that key information.”
Arun says some home truths were shared about the glass and glazing industry specifically. He
quoted the GGF’s current President Natalie Little who said: “Our industry isn’t seen as a place to go into from school – people are falling into it. We’re not attracting talent, so we don’t get the right professionalism.”
Despite this, there are elements of positivity.
Gurprit Bassi, Director at Wintech Façade Consultants, said they had signed a memorandum of understanding with UCL, Wolverhampton Uni, and Edinburgh, to attract more talent at university level.
But Liz Williams, Housing and Communities Board Member at Centre for the New Midlands Housing Communities said that was too late.
“We need to attract people at school-level,” she said. “We need promotion of the old-school trades.”
And this is where Arun agrees the focus should be.
“Kirsty, our Technical Manager, takes one day a month to go into schools and colleges to talk about women in construction and to entice people into the role,” he says. “Educating people at a young age needs to be a priority.
“With this inherent knowledge, we can build our highly experienced technical team that can provide all the support required to ensure the right products are specified for the right projects, and that they are installed correctly.
“We know from discussions with clients that not every supplier can offer this level of service, which means our competitive advantage is that we can offer valuable solutions that our customers may not have known existed.
“However, I’d much rather we all had access to this skilled workforce because a rising tide lifts all ships – if glass and glazing was viewed as a skilled and professional industry, then we would all benefit.”
For Arun, while the focus of the Roundtable discussion was on raising professional standards, thanks to closer collaboration with government, addressing the skills crisis should also form part of that same agenda.
“It’s heartening to see so many individual attempts at training the next generation of skilled workers in the glass and glazing industry,” he says, “But if we can be more strategic in our approach, helped by meaningful input from government, then we can look to a brighter future where the success of our projects aren’t hinged on whether or not someone has the right qualifications.”
glassexpressmidlands.co.uk
Find Your Perfect Bar Pull Handle
Just like your doors, Coastal Group black door furniture is made to turn heads.
y Made from 316 marine grade stainless steel
y Coated in protective matt black lacquer
y Easy to install and maintain
y Built to last
y Range of sizes and styles to suit all
y Contemporary design
Transform your doors with Coastal’s collection of matt black lacquered bar pull handles.
Matching black escutcheon available.
Can’t see the size or style you need?
Our Research & Development team are on hand to craft your bespoke design – get in touch to find out more.
Email sales@coastal-group.com or call 01726 871 025
Could Poor Customer Service Cost You Your Business?
What does good customer service look like, and why is it important? Business leaders from across the glass and glazing industry came together for a joint Business Pilot and VBH-hosted roundtable discussion to find out. We report.
There is a shadow that hangs over the glass and glazing industry when it comes to customer service, and that is price.
There is an almost universal assumption that the way to win and keep customers is to be cheaper than your competitors, which ultimately leads to a race to the bottom where everyone loses out.
It is not a surprise, therefore, that in an industry discussion –hosted online by Business Pilot and VBH – the focus was initially on balancing brand, quality and price. But it quickly became obvious that this alone doesn’t create the solid relationships up and down the supply chain that are required to win repeat business and build companies.
“As an industry, what we’ve got to do is differentiate on value, of which customer care is a huge part,” Clever Bean Accounting’s Simon Jarman said. “This allows an elevation of the prices to the end consumer overall, bringing in better margins, better cash flow, and more long-term sustainability for the industry.”
Part of the culture
Everglade Windows’ sales director Jay Patel agreed, saying that customer care needs to run through your business and culture, and not something you pay lip service to.
“I believe that if you offer the right level of customer experience and customer care, you are not only likely to hold on to your customer base, but you’re likely to attract more,” he said. “During times of difficulty or times of crisis, people need experts, people need people that can look after them, and I think it’s the same in our sector, the same in any sector.”
Ryan Schofield from Thames Valley Window Company said this approach also needs to run between businesses, as well as within them.
“If our manufacturers aren’t making money, then they’re not going to support us long term,” he said. “And if we can’t make money, then we’re not going to sustain ourselves as a business.”
Business Pilot’s managing director Elton Boocock said it was important to differentiate three separate things that tend to get talked about in the same breath: customer support, customer service, and customer care.
“Customer support and service are what you do to keep the business moving,” he said. “Customer care is something you do regardless of the return on investment. But the reality is I’ve never seen good customer care not return a good ROI.
“But, importantly, your motivation for customer care is because you do care.”
Simon Monks, managing director of VBH, said that understanding the situation from a customer’s perspective, is key to this.
“As a business, we realised we needed to take away as much pain and angst our customers may have about the long-term performance of our products,” he said. “So, we have developed new services that allow homeowners to bypass the installer if there are any issues in the future, which we will manage.”
Jay agreed, saying that a missing handle on an order full of windows and doors, for example, can have a bigger than expected impact.
“We have to put ourselves in our customers’ shoes,” he said. “One fabricator could send a replacement handle in the
post and that’s the end of it, whereas we will think the installer will probably have money outstanding on that job, and are wondering when they’re going to find time to send an installer out to change this handle.
“And understanding that dynamic is key to customer care.”
This point was picked up on by Kubu’s Marc Henson, who saw parallels with his own company.
“We’ve actually sent our technical engineers out to go and realign people’s windows for them because they think that it’s a technology problem when it isn’t,” he said. “It’s much simpler and cheaper for us to say, ‘we’ll come and fix it’ than it is to say ‘sorry, it’s not our fault’ and pass the buck.
“It’s the wanting to help solve the problem and making sure that the customer is always happy. That way we call all sleep easier at night!”
Main drivers
Ryan said that from a customer’s point of view these are powerful drivers.
“Decent product quality backed up by customer service – where you actually feel like that there is ownership – is a very powerful combination,” he said. “These are our two main drivers from an installer perspective before we look at price.”
Simon Jarman warned that a business with good product quality and without good customer service is on shaky ground.
“I worked with a fabricator whose strategy was to supply as many different profiles as possible, and went on the acquisition trail to buy fabricators,” he said. “The thought was that if you supplied the profile they liked working with, then you’ve got a better chance of them switching to you.
“However, many of the installers they won only lasted a few weeks because their call centres were difficult to deal with. The business ultimately went bust, and the root cause was having poor customer care.”
Elton explained that Business Pilot had taken this idea one step further, pointing out that customer care should be based on what the customer cares about.
“Our Business Pilot Community is a massive part of our customer care initiative because it is about us really listening to what makes our customers tick,” he said. “In fact, what we learn on our #BPCommunity days often feeds back into software updates and new initiatives. It has been so popular that it is now part of the culture at Business Pilot.”
Summing up, Ryan Schofield said the industry is changing for the better.
“I do think there are a lot more people in the industry trying to think the way that we are,” he said.
Simon Jarman concluded: “Customer experience is absolutely paramount to business success. And that individual business success is what’s going to drive the whole industry.”
Playing To Win
Mike Parczuk, Sternfenster’s MD, explains why Tik Tok, Gareth Southgate and prisons could ultimately hold Great Britain back after Labour’s recent landslide victory on July 4.
Liz Truss losing her South West Norfolk seat was the highlight of the recent general election for me. As for everything else? I’m not so sure. It will soon be politics as usual, and unfortunately that doesn’t benefit us as a country.
There are three main reasons why.
Firstly, all political parties fought campaigns that ultimately boiled down to soundbites. They were appealing to a generation of voters who need to have big ideas summarised into short easily digestible clips that could be distributed quickly.
Being concise and clear is good. Stripping away detail so you pursue a populist agenda isn’t
so good. What we need in this country are big ideas that will benefit all of us, and we want less red tape to help grow the economy. Instead, we are still bickering over boats in the channel and dredging up Brexit.
This leads me on to point number two, which is that we are already seeing a raft of headline announcements that are more about short term gains than long term stability.
For example, Labour are planning to build 1.5 million homes over five years. Sounds big, but isn’t much more than what we are building now. And ministers are already getting their excuses now: “Can’t build a prison in 24 hours”, or “government has inherited worst set of circumstances since second world war”.
Their desire to be re-elected in five years’ time promotes soundbite policies, and doesn’t address the
bigger picture.
I hesitate to say it, but we really do need to put the ‘Great’ back into Great Britain, which leads me on to point three.
You would never have guessed it, but England won their Quarter Final match against Switzerland on Saturday, scoring five penalties and saving another in the process. Yet, all I heard was how England are being too cautious and not bringing on substitutes early enough.
England are through to the semifinals! And I know from how people came to work on the following Monday morning that winning makes a big difference to their frame of mind and productivity.
It is this we need to tap into. As a nation, we need to stop viewing our glass as half empty, and to develop a positive can-do attitude.
And that starts with companies like yours and mine. Not only is the window industry a barometer for how well the economy is performing, but it is also a bridge between homeowners and the construction industry, feeding into a multi-billion-pound machine that helps drive the economy in the UK.
And we are the ones who keep that machine going. It is up to us to invest in our people, in our factories, in product development and in our customers. A general election is a once in a five-year event – we are the ones who keep the economy moving on a day-today basis.
No, we can’t build prisons in 24 hours, and the markets are still recovering from that awful mini budget in October 2022, but with less regulation we can innovate and stride forward, building a country where we can all benefit from our success.
www.sternfenster.com
Mike Parczuk
Letter To The Media
Dear Editor,
For those that know me well I am a forthright person and one that’s passionate about the industry. But it is an industry sector that has received its fair share of criticism over the years and there remains areas today where a greater degree of accuracy, transparency and honesty should prevail.
The energy efficiency and respective U-values of windows and doors is under scrutiny and will be more so in the years to come as we look to combat climate change. So, my request is that we need to be honest in the presentation of product performance, as I’m seeing occurrences of product
performance claims that are misleading at best, or worse still plainly false.
Window and door systems regardless of material need to
be accurately presented to everyone and preferably stated with the type of glazing whenever possible. To mislead consumers or indeed the trade is wholly wrong when the vast majority of us are presenting consistent and accurate information as we do with WarmCore.
So please on behalf of the vast majority of us, be accurate, honest and truthful before we tarnish the reputation of the industry again and loose some of the important goodwill that has been built up in recent years.
Yours sincerely
Mark Frain
National Business Development Manager
WarmCore
Everything Interconnected
Eric Knappett, director of ConservA-Tech Home Improvements Ltd, discusses how customer support underpins their positive Business Pilot experience.
Keeping on top of your workflow is vital for any business, because if one part gets missed or overlooked, then it can affect many other moving parts, according to Eric Knappett, director of ConservA-Tech Home Improvements.
“We employ all the installation teams and a full-time building team to carry out our many projects,” he says. “And when running any successful business, all aspects of the process need consistent monitoring.
“The first management system I used years ago was a T-card system with a previous company, where we moved these T-cards around on a wall,” he says. “While we’ve moved on and kept up with technology, I actually know people today who run window companies using that same old T-card system!”
Eric says he originally used Outlook Calendars as a booking system when he started ConservA-Tech, colouring them in like a T-card system and moving elements around appropriately.
“But the problem was I was the only one that could see them,” he says. “I did try to share those calendars with other people in the business, but it wasn’t very successful.
“As a result, other people in the company didn’t know what was being scheduled, and noone had complete visibility, so it was difficult to stay on top of all the different projects on the go. Especially those who worked remotely.”
Eric quickly realised Conserv-ATech needed a CRM system where all employees could log onto a centralised system, but he initially backed the wrong horse.
“Unfortunately, our first experience with a CRM system wasn’t very positive,” he says. “And we had
Eric Knappett (centre)
paid about £2,000 up front for the privilege, which was to basically build a database platform.
“There was no support, and we were kept in the dark, left to our own skill set to try and make this thing work,” he says. “So, it was very difficult to navigate and use it efficiently.
“Now that we are with Business Pilot, we pay per month and we get regular updates and training. It’s as though we aren’t actually subscribing to the product, but investing in the ongoing development of the software. And that means it is always up to date.”
Business Pilot provides the transparency that Eric and his colleagues required. Because it is cloud-based, you can access it from anywhere either on a desktop, tablet or on a phone on the app, which is ideal for colleagues who work remotely, and for fitters who are always on site.
And because it integrates with lead generation tools, supplier ordering systems and accountancy software, everything is available at your fingertips. Users get unlimited document storage, so there is no need to keep a paper-based archive.
“Paperwork is almost a thing of the past,” Eric says. “No more ring binders and box files in the archives. As long as everything is uploaded to Business Pilot, I know that if I have a customer’s contract number or name, then I can have everything in front of me.”
This interconnectivity, Eric says, helps make his company operate more efficiently than it did with other systems. And thanks to the investment Business Pilot made into ongoing training, his colleagues have quickly adopted the CRM software.
“Once my salesmen started using Business Pilot properly, it made a big difference to the efficiency of the company,” he says. “When they leave the correct notes on the system, we can all help them better, so they actually get better and quicker results.
“And the ongoing support is so good, that I feel like we are never left entirely on our own. If I have a question, there is a whole section dedicated to help and advice –Knowledge Base – but there is always someone on the end of the phone, and the live chat feature inside Business Pilot works really well.
“And the Training Days support this as well. Not only do you get to talk to the people behind Business Pilot face to face, but you get to meet other companies in the same sector who are using the software, and you can chat to them and get new ideas, and even help each other.”
Five Training Days have been planned for different venues across the UK in 2024, with events selling out.
“It’s got to the point where Business Pilot is so engrained in our lives that I can’t imagine living without it,” Eric says. “I know that sounds dramatic, but imagine going away for a weekend away on holiday, and you lose your mobile phone on the first night. It shouldn’t be a crisis, but we rely so much on our mobile phones that our everyday lives are affected if we lose ours.
“I feel the same way about Business Pilot,” Eric concludes.
You can watch a discussion between Eric Knappett and Kim Holloway (finance and administration manager) from Conserv-A-Tech, and Business Pilot’s MD Elton Boocock here: https://bit.ly/3LTBdeB
www.businesspilot.co.uk
Will 2024 Be The Year That Fenestration Embraces Installation Tape?
Talk about thermally efficient glazing, and minds naturally jump to what windows are made of – the glass, the frame, gas, spacers and so on.
We’re much less inclined to think about how the finished window is fitted – and that can have one of the biggest impacts of all.
However, at Quanex company Edgetech, they’re beginning to see signs that attitudes are changing.
In addition to its Super Spacer, the firm also supplies TruFit, a window installation tape – and in recent months, demand for it has noticeably increased, says the company.
“TruFit offers a much quicker, cleaner and thermally efficient method of installing windows,” explains head of sales Tony Palmer.
“Once the tape’s backing paper is removed, it gradually expands to seal the window fully, ensuring it offers exceptional allround performance.
“TruFit protects against mould, and provides first-class thermal and acoustic insulation.
“On average, a window installed with TruFit retains up to 23% more heat compared to one fitted using traditional methods.
“In addition to this, it’s much easier to apply than silicone and can be used in all weathers.
“All this makes it an excellent choice for helping build the energy-efficient windows of
the future – and it’s no surprise that, both for cutting carbon footprints and energy bills during a cost of living crisis, demand for products like TruFit is rising.
“An A+ rated window isn’t delivering an A+ rated performance if it’s not fitted properly – and with TruFit, installers can ensure outstanding twenty-first century windows are fulfilling their potential.”
The recently released Spring edition of the Keystone Consumer Fenestration Trends report revealed that many people are unhappy with their current windows and doors.
Draughty homes topped the list, with 16% of homeowners reporting issues with cold air leaks, often attributed to poorly fitted windows and doors or worn-out seals.
Energy efficiency was another big concern, with 12% of homeowners feeling their windows and doors weren’t keeping their homes comfortable or saving them money on energy bills.
Noise pollution was also cited as a problem, with 7% of homeowners mentioning outside noise coming through their windows and doors.
Tony continues: “Homeowners are clearly more concerned about window performance than ever – and TruFit can give them the comfort, quiet and energy savings they’re looking for!”
Is Your Supplier As Committed As You?
David Evans, managing director of Anglo, explains how you should build trust with your customers, and why it is more important now than ever before.
A weak link in your supply chain will let you down eventually. The Covid pandemic was a wake-up call for many businesses, and systems companies and window fabricators learned the value of having reliable and trusted sources for product supply.
During the pandemic we saw some supplies of steel dry up, and many companies were left unable to source material. In turn, they were not able to supply their customers, subsequently losing business and market share.
Many companies learned that having secure supply chains is crucial to maintaining business in challenging times. We are talking to systems houses now that have made it clear that they are actively sourcing from multiple suppliers as a result of lessons learned in 2021. They found that during Covid, in being reliant on one supplier who struggled to supply metal, they literally had no reinforcement to deliver to their customers.
While we are currently seeing a fall back to what might be considered normal levels of demand, companies need to be prepared now for future shocks such as a sudden increase in demand or a major interruption in raw material supply. And that could come from any number of factors.
If a company needs to respond to a sudden uptick in demand, it pays to have trusted suppliers who can meet that need quickly. As a market sector, we source raw material that is made globally,
David Evans
coming from as far afield as Asia, so lead times can be long and demand carefully planned forward buying.
So, your business is put at risk if you are overly reliant on one supplier – if you call on your supplier to provide extra volumes very quickly, can you depend on them to step up and do that?
One way round this issue is to dual source, as some systems houses are now doing, picking one or two trusted suppliers who you can rely on for quality, mitigating the risk in the process – you can call on one or both at times of increased demand.
The second risk is that we are operating in a very mature and competitive market. The fenestration steel reinforcement space has a limited number of players in the UK, a number which has been shrinking year on year. This may reduce further because there is intense pressure on margins in the market as fabricators look for ways to save money. And some of those
suppliers will ask if it is even worth remaining in fenestration sector, particularly when they are also catering to other markets.
Anglo specialises in steel reinforcement for the window fabrication market, so it is always going to be a big part of our business. We are investing in machinery, people and processes that make our business more efficient, creating savings that we pass on to our customers.
For example, we have invested more than £1 million in a new double-sided roll-forming line, which allows us to retool one side while the other is running. This means switching to make different products takes minutes instead of hours.
We also provide cut-to-size reinforcement, which offers labour efficiencies and reduced wastage, which can create savings of up to £184,000 per year for fabricators producing 1,500 frames per week.
So, while the number of suppliers of steel reinforcement to the window market may reduce, systems houses and fabricators can be assured that Anglo is in this for the long run and we continue to invest heavily in serving this sector.
Finally, it is worth mentioning that during the pandemic and afterwards, thanks to the strong relationships Anglo has with its own steel suppliers, we were one of the only companies that continued to supply metal uninterrupted. We even helped businesses who were not our usual customers when they were badly let down by their own suppliers of reinforcement. While others closed their doors, we kept going, and through careful procurement planning we are always prepared for sudden increases in demand or future shocks to global supply chains.
For more information, please email enquiries@angloeuropean.net
Russell Yates Features On Podcast
Russell Yates, managing director of AluK, is one of the latest senior industry figures to be interviewed by Glazing Insider’s Richard Lannen – which is now featured on the Window News podcast page on our website.
In the half hour chat recorded at AluK’s Chepstow HQ, Russell tells Richard why, after three years
away, he couldn’t turn down the chance to come back to AluK for chapter two.
He also talks about how he’s assembling the ‘best team we’ve ever had at AluK’ and how quickly AluK is now making up lost ground on product development.
Beyond that, there’s plenty of
debate about why Russell thinks some of the newer names in a crowded systems house landscape are still struggling with Part L – and the questions their customers need to be asking. And there’s a rallying call to the whole of the aluminium sector who, Russell says, should be taking inspiration from France where aluminium has just reached 50% market share.
As you might expect, the conversation covers AluK’s plans for next year’s FIT Show and more surprisingly, the two people from fenestration that Russell would want with him if he was stranded on a desert island for two weeks!
their supply agreement with Epwin Plc - Ben Weber
You can watch the video or listen to the podcast here
IAN SHORT – MORLEY GLASS
In this episode Richard has a conversation with Ian Short from Morley Glass. Ian talks us through his fenestration journey all the way from how it started to the position he’s in today. You can watch the video or listen to the podcast here
VEKA OMNIA –PHIL GREGORY
Phil Gregory talks to Richard Lannen about Veka OmniaYou can watch the video or listen to the podcast here
NICKIE WEST –GLASS CONFERENCE EVENT DIRECTOR
Nickie west talks to Richard Lannen about teh Glass Conference. You can watch the video or listen to the podcast here
NIGEL LEIVERS –MD
OF
FRAME FAST
n this episode Richard talks with Nigel Leivers, who is the MD of Frame Fast. You can watch the video or listen to the podcast here
Do You Know Your Gross Margins?
Simon Jarman, CEO of Clever Bean Accounting, discusses the importance of understanding your Gross Profit Percentage.
I say it repeatedly – businesses are run by their numbers. If you don’t know your numbers, you don’t know your business. One of the most important numbers of all, if not the most important, is Gross Profit.
Gross Profit is what you have left after deducting the costs directly attributable to a project
– typically materials, labour, installation costs (including vehicle costs, access equipment and consumable materials) and sales costs.
You then deduct your Overheads (costs not directly attributable to a project) to arrive at your Net Profit. Overhead costs typically include
Simon Jarman
staff costs (but not fitters, surveyors, service engineers or manufacturing labour), rent, rates, insurance, office costs, legal & professional charges, bank charges etc. I also usually classify marketing costs as overheads.
Even more important than Gross Profit is Gross Profit Percentage (or Gross Margin percentage). It’s all very well knowing how much profit you have made in terms of pound notes, but that only tells half the story.
All too often I hear “I made a grand on that job, I’m happy with that”. But what if that
job’s sales value was £10k? That means that Gross Profit in percentage terms is just 10%.
Let’s imagine a £1m turnover business and extrapolate that return for every job – that means a Gross Profit of £100k for the year – an amount that is very unlikely to be sufficient to cover overheads and as a result the business will be loss making.
The following will vary whether you are a fabricator or an installer, or whether you focus on Ali, PVC or Timber but as a broad rule of thumb your Gross Margin Percentage should be no less than 30% of turnover and your Overheads no more than 20% of turnover, leaving you with a minimum 10% Net Profit.
Once Gross Margin Percentage falls below 25%, it’s highly improbable that the business will
be making money and is likely to run into cashflow difficulties.
But despite this being such a crucial indicator, how many businesses in this industry are monitoring their Gross Margin Percentages consistently (and accurately) every month? Sadly, far too few, and changing this outlook would have a massive positive effect on the industry as a whole.
Now let’s talk about the difference between Margin and Mark-Up, as this is often misunderstood. If you add 30% to your direct costs to arrive at your selling price, have you made 30% Gross Margin? No, 30% is your Mark-Up, not your Margin. Let’s take a job with costs of £1,000. If we mark it up by 30%, we will sell it for £1,300 and make Gross Margin of £300.
Our Gross Margin Percentage on this job is £300 divided by £1,300 which equates to 23% which in my view is insufficient. To make a Gross Margin Percentage of 30% or more, your Mark-Up needs to be a minimum of 43%.
A common response to this level of Mark-Up is ‘that would make me uncompetitive and I’d lose sales’. The conclusion to draw from this is that as an industry we are too focused on competing on price and it’s a ‘race to the bottom’. Ultimately, this is bad news. Squeezed margins means squeezed cashflow and companies going bust. A topic to be explored in another article on another day, but this is something that the industry must address in order to gain long-term prosperity. www.cleverbeanaccounting.co.uk
Maria Burnett
– A Rising Star in the Fenestration Industry
The fenestration industry has in the past traditionally been one that is male dominated. In construction itself, only 11% of the current construction workforce is female, with female workers making up just 1% of manual trades.
However, some in the industry are trying to make a change and show that there is a place for women in construction. This is exactly the case for people like Rehau’s Maria Burnett.
Maria, who is a Sales Coordinator, has recently been nominated for a Customer Service award at the NFA Awards in recognition for all the hard work and support she provides for Rehau’s customer base. Having only started at Rehau two years ago, Maria has really made a positive impact within the sales team. In this piece, Maria will take us through her career at Rehau, and the things that make her love the fenestration industry
What did you do before joining the industry?
Before joining Rehau and even hearing about the fenestration industry, I ran a pub in my native Slovakia for over a year, but I knew it wasn’t really for me, which is when I moved to the UK and joined the food industry, working in buying for a wellknown supermarket chain. After a few years I started looking for new opportunities, which is where I spotted a role within Rehau, swapping buying to sales. The world of fenestration was completely new to me, but it was a challenge I was ready to face head-on.
What have you achieved since joining Rehau?
My role at Rehau is a “Sales Support Representative”, which involves supporting all of Rehau’s sales team when they’re out on the road. I help provide the relevant materials they need when they’re visiting customers or prospective clients.
However, I don’t just deal with the internal sales team. I help in the ordering of marketing materials for customers who request them, and also talk to homeowners to answer any of their questions, help to find installers, and sometimes even assist in specifying the colour of windows. My role also includes being responsible for dealing with enquiries from installers and passing them over to the correct people.
One project that I’m particularly proud of was a training package that I prepared for colleagues in the UK and abroad. Alongside my colleague Catherine Pike, I was tasked with both creating the material and delivering it to other people within the organisation. The project was a success, and really helped my personal development and allowed me to learn and grow within Rehau.
How have you found being a woman in the industry?
The fenestration and glazing industry has typically been maledominated, but I have found it to not be as big of a challenge as many would assume. However, my experience within Rehau has been overwhelmingly positive, and there have not been many, if any, barriers to me progressing in the industry.
However, the industry can always do more, including putting women in prominent positions, showing that the fenestration industry is a viable and great career choice for women.
In terms of my future development, I’m hoping to continue moving forward in my role with Rehau, and possibly continue onto a customer-facing role that means I go out on the road with the rest of the sales team.
How do you feel about your NFA nomination?
I’m incredibly proud about my nomination at the NFA Awards. I’d like to thank all my colleagues and customers for really making this possible, as, without them, I wouldn’t be able to develop my skills and provide the great customer service that people have come to expect from Rehau.
I’ve only been at Rehau for two years, and I can’t wait to see what’s next!
https://www.rehau.com/uk-en/
DoorCo Welcomes Maili Lavin-Bailey as Marketing Communications Executive
Composite door manufacturer DoorCo, is delighted to announce that Maili Lavin-Bailey has joined their marketing team, bringing with her a wealth of B2B marketing knowledge.
“With 10 years of diverse marketing experience under my belt, I’m excited to bring a wealth of knowledge to my new role here at DoorCo”, says Maili. “My journey has taken me through many roles, from a marketing executive in customer service outsourcing to working with manufacturers of industrial safety showers, and even diving into social housing. While the industries may differ, the essence of marketing remains the same. It’s the quirks and unique traits of each industry that keep things interesting!
“I’ve discovered there’s so much more to doors than meets the eye! Beyond just looks, there’s a whole world of core materials, cassettes, and hardware to explore. Even after a few months,
I’m still soaking up knowledge and can’t wait to dive deeper into the world of doors.
“What excites me about DoorCo is that we’re in a current period of growth and the marketing communications executive role was a brand-new role which gives me the room to shape it and make it my own. What truly impressed me during the interview process was the warmth and positivity, it just felt like a great place to work.
“One of the best parts about working at DoorCo is the variety and creativity the role offers. No two days are the same, and there’s always a new challenge or opportunity to innovate when promoting our doors and the company. This fits perfectly with my passion for art, both digital and traditional. Although being a parent means time is limited, I cherish any moment I can dedicate to my artistic pursuits.
trade.door-co.com
Deceuninck Appoints
Darren Woodcock as General Manager
Darren Woodcock has been appointed as the new general manager of Deceuninck’s UK operation.
Heading up the business with immediate effect [1/7/24] he picks up the reigns from Rob McGlennon, who steps into a new leadership role as commercial director.
Darren said: “Deceuninck is a fantastic company and delivering a lead to the window and door industry in the UK – and globally – in product innovation and sustainability.
“We’re designing and investing in the development of a new generation of products that are more energy efficient, incorporate more recycled content, generate less carbon in manufacture and are easier to recycle at end of life.
“To have the opportunity to head up our business in the UK is an absolute privilege. We have a highly experienced senior leadership team, and committed employees, with a shared focus on customer service excellence and quality manufacture.
“Our customers are fantastic and personally, and as a team, we very much look forward to working with and supporting them, long into the future.”
Darren joined Deceuninck in 2016 as head of operations. Previously holding a number of leadership roles within the window and door industry including specialist foiling operations.
Darren’s appointment means that Rob McGlennon, who had held the post since 2017, having joined Deceuninck as sales director in 2014, moves
into a new leadership role of Commercial Director.
He is tasked with working alongside Darren to deliver Deceuninck’s medium-and-longterm strategy for the UK.
Rob said: “Having on a personal note worked with him for more than 25 years, Darren is a top guy in every sense and without a doubt perfect for the role and leading Deceuninck into what I am confident will be a rewarding and successful future.
“He has been instrumental in building that team and in driving forward manufacturing innovation, in what has become a Europe-wide centre of excellence in PVC-U extrusion and foiling.
“I’m very much looking forward to working alongside Darren to evolve and set our strategy to ensure that Deceuninck and our customers remain at the forefront of innovation, today and tomorrow.”
www.deceuninck.co.uk
FLAT ' S IN FASHION
As the leaders in daylight solutions, we’re well-versed in the latest rooflight trends. And this year our flat glass is the must-have statement piece.
From stock to fully bespoke, linked units to electric opening, and even walk-on, we’ve got the most comprehensive range of flat glass products for all applications.
To see our exclusive range; visit www.whitesales.co.uk/flatglass or call 01483 917580
- 18 stock sizes in 3-5 days delivered to site
- Bespoke units from 3 weeks
- Fixed, manual & electric opening options
- Factory pre-glazed for faster installation
- Laminated inner pane & toughened outer pane as standard (double & triple glazing)
- Class 1 CWCT tested option
New Promotions At Cornwall Glass & Glazing
Cornwall Glass & Glazing has promoted three highly experienced members of its trade branch team into senior positions, reflecting both the effectiveness of the company’s in-house training programme, according to the company and the strength in depth of its home-grown talent: Ryan Thomas, Steven Ellis and Sam Steele.
Ryan Thomas is the new branch manager of the Truro branch of Cornwall Glass & Glazing, which reflects the successful journey he has made through the business.
Ryan began he career with the company as an apprentice in 2016 and has developed his skills through taking on several roles and managing different projects. As branch manager Ryan welcomes homeowners, renovators and trade customers to the trade counter, advising them on the use of the different products that can affect thermal efficiency, prevent solar gain and improve acoustic performance.
“Ryan has demonstrated adaptability and determination in the time he has worked at Cornwall Glass & Glazing, and he has
proved he is capable of managing projects, supporting colleagues and learning new systems and routines,” Cornwall Glass & Glazing’s managing director Paul Garrard said.
“As a trainer, Ryan has presented in-depth knowledge and understanding coupled with patience and adaptability. Within a very short period as branch manager, it’s very clear to see the focus Ryan demonstrates to support both customers and colleagues to achieve effective results.”
Steven Ellis has been promoted to branch manager of the Yeovil branch of Cornwall Glass & Glazing, replacing longstanding branch manager Nick Turner, who is following a new path outside of the industry.
Steven embarked on two months of familiarisation and training across the Cornwall Glass production and trade counter network before taking on the new demanding role.
“We needed someone with a clear focus on growth and customer service, and Steven fitted that role
perfectly,” Paul said. “Steven has easily adapted and has supported the Yeovil-based team with a clear business growth plan that makes the customer experience key to every activity.”
Finally, Sam Steele has been promoted to assistant branch manager of Cornwall Glass & Glazing’s busy Penryn branch.
With guidance and support from experienced branch manager Yvonne Burns, Sam has been empowered to develop and grow, and his effort and determination will help him take on new challenges and responsibilities while retaining a clear focus on customers’ experience.
“With customer service excellence as his Mantra, it is amazing to support and recognise the growth and ambition of Sam Steele who has quickly made himself an integral part of the Cornwall Glass Penryn Team,” Paul said.
“The busy Penryn Branch is an established part of the Commercial Road community of small businesses that provide local value for many. High-performance glazing solutions are only a small part of the products and services offered by the Penryn team that embrace an effective balance of experience and innovation.”
www.cornwallglass.co.uk
Ryan Thomas (left)
Sam Steele (right)
Carl F Groupco Appoints Alex Macintosh As New Chief Financial Officer
Independent hardware supplier
Carl F Groupco has appointed Alex Macintosh as Chief Financial Officer (CFO), succeeding Owen Coop following his appointment as Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
Alex held senior finance positions both within and outside the fenestration industry. He holds a professional accounting qualification and a diploma in business and will oversee all finance-related activities at Carl F Groupco, including business planning, budgeting, forecasting and negotiations. His proven expertise will be instrumental in driving the company’s continued
Business Development Manager Appointed At Business Micros
Joe O’Hara has joined Business Micros in a new role as business development manager. He is working alongside the sales team headed up by Nick Bailey, helping to open up opportunities with new and existing customers.
Nick commented: “Joe’s background is in customer service and business improvement, so he’ll be helping us deliver an even better experience for our customers, as well as identifying ways for them to do more with our software. That might mean simply utilising their existing software more effectively, or adding new products from our range to improve their manufacturing, operational or sales efficiency.
Joe spent the past six years at Epwin Window Systems in a variety of business improvement
Joe O’Hara
roles, so brings with him real awareness of the demands on fabricators and lots of experience and expertise working across the supply chain delivering measurable improvements in business performance.
growth and success.
Alex said: “I am delighted to have joined Carl F Groupco, a company with such a strong heritage and track record. I’m looking forward to working with the management team and beyond to continue taking the business forward.”
Owen Coop, CEO, commented: “As I know from my own experience, the role of Chief Financial Officer is critical in a successful organisation. Alex has all the credentials we were looking for and brings a great deal of valuable experience to the business.”
As Carl F Groupco continues to evolve and adapt to the demands of the market, the appointment of Alex Macintosh highlights the company’s dedication to business excellence and sustained growth.
www.carlfgroupco.co.uk
Joe added: “I’m really excited to be joining the BM Group. Their Touch software platform offers something truly transformative for fabricators and their installation partners, and there are so many ways that I think we can help BM customers make the most of the end to end integration that Touch provides.
“From online ordering with Touch Portal to delivery tracking with Courier, the opportunities for BM and the benefits for fabricators are immense. I’ll also be looking at how we can become more efficient ourselves of course, and making the sales process as smooth as possible.”
Joe’s appointment is part of a new strategy at the BM Group to bring the sales and customer support teams closer together and offer customers a more joined up service, tailored to their individual requirements.
www.businessmicros.co.uk
Alex Macintosh
Senior Architectural Systems’ Makes A Major New Appointment
Senior Architectural Systems, manufacturer of aluminium windows, doors and curtain wall solutions, has appointed Mark Rossouw to the newly created role of major projects manager.
A familiar face within the construction industry, Mark brings with him over 15 years’ experience of helping to design and deliver multi-product fenestration packages and previously worked for Senior as one of the company’s regionally based architectural advisors. Mark rejoins Senior as major projects manager to support the company’s growing order book of larger and more complex contracts, and further develop its supply chain partnerships with national main contractors,
architects and fabricators.
In his new role, Mark will work closely with Senior’s national specification manager to oversee Senior’s involvement in the many high-value and longer term contracts that the company has
Strand Hardware Appoints New Finance Manager
Working for Strand Hardware truly adds up for Moninder Shergill who recently joined the company as its new finance manager.
Moninder will manage the daily bookkeeping operations for Strand, complete essential monthly tasks such as payroll and the preparation of management accounts, and oversee the creation and
secured across the country, with a particular focus on London and the South East. This pipeline also include large-scale regeneration projects and mixed use residential schemes where Senior can provide a complete package of thermallyefficient fenestration systems manufactured using fully recyclable low carbon aluminium.
Commenting, Senior’s new major projects manager Mark Rossouw said: “It’s great to be back with Senior and to be able to take on a brand new role that will allow me to draw on my existing experience and knowledge but also challenge me to continue to find new and innovative solutions for our customers. This is a really exciting time for Senior as we take on larger and longer term contracts and I’m looking forward to working closely with the wider project teams to see them successfully brought to fruition.”
www.seniorarchitectural.co.uk
review of cash flow and budgets.She will also oversee client/supplier account payments – making her a front line contact for Strand customers and stakeholders.
She brings a wealth of experience to the role, having previously served as a Finance Business Partner at GKN Aerospace Services in Solihull. There, she managed daily bookkeeping tasks among other responsibilities, providing her with a strong foundation and relevant industry experience.
Moninder holds a BA in accountancy from Birmingham City University and is a part-qualified CIMA accountant, further showcasing her commitment to excellence in financial management.
“I am thrilled to join Strand Hardware and look forward to contributing to the company’s continuing success,” said Moninder.
“I am keen to develop efficient processes within the finance function and learn more about the ironmongery industry.”
Sales director Craig Fox commented: “We would like to extend a very warm welcome to Moninder, who with her colleague Accounts Administrator Emma Elks, will provide much needed support to the efficiency of our financial management.”
www.strandhardware.co.uk
How working with the right fabricator can transform your business
After more than 20 years in business, the Glazerite UK Group still strives to add value for installers in different ways. The leading trade fabricator’s offering includes a huge range of products backed with tailored business support through technical advice and marketing.
Here, head of group marketing, Michelle Wright, outlines the difference working with Glazerite can make for every installer.
Every installer, wherever you are
Glazerite installers come in all shapes and sizes, from large commercial installers to sole traders focusing on home renovations. We tailor our products and services to meet the differing needs of those end markets. That could be by adding
products to help them tap into new markets or on-site visits to support with technical advice.
One area we’ve strengthened of late is our geographical presence, underpinned by a robust delivery fleet to ensure our installers have access to our comprehensive portfolio, wherever they are in the
UK. Deliveries are also timely and tailored to fit in with demanding installation schedules.
A great range of products to win over customers
We have recently added the Deceuninck 2500 and 2800 systems to our uPVC product range to give our installers more choice than ever before. In addition, we have strengthened our portfolio with aluminium products including AluK casement and tilt and turn windows, the Edgeglide+ sliding door and Unifold+ bi-fold doors.
Installations can be further enhanced with the high-end range of Uni-fold blinds available from Morley Glass. Alongside Veka, Halo and the Residence Collection, our leading brands and choice of styles and colours appeal to every end customer. An increased product offering gives our installers and their
customers’ options and the ability to meet different price points, as demonstrated by our flush sash offering in the form of R9, R7 and Halo.
Finishing touches to elevate your installs
Style, colour choice, energy efficiency and security are all important levers for homeowners. With a host of different types of
doors, windows and hardware from leading brands, Glazerite can help installers fulfil every customer desire, from heritage styles to contemporary door furniture and smart-technology ready hardware. To reassure security-conscious homeowners, our doors are fitted with the unrivalled Ultion cylinder as standard and for those keen to leverage smart technology, each door is equipped for use with Kubu, while we can also offer the innovative Ultion Smart. Meanwhile, we’ve recently added Ultion Sweet as the new standard offering on our composite doors.
Differentiating your offering from your competitors
We know that whatever your end customer base, you need access to tailored services and solutions to suit. For commercially focused installers, that might mean assistance in the planning or quote stages, the provision of technical advice on wind loads or to discuss the possibility of nonstandard frames.
Meanwhile, domestic focused
installers might be looking for an extra pair of hands in the form of marketing support. Our team is on hand to support you with a range of digital and more traditional marketing, from social media content and strategy to a branded website to give the very best first impression. Our new Glazerite ‘Vista’ system gives installers instant access and the ability to create their own branded printed POS materials and brochures.
Continuous investment to futureproof your business
As a fabricator, it is our business to support yours and to achieve that we focus on operational excellence and quality. It is a process that starts with investment in both our people and our operations so that we can continue to deliver what you need when you need it. We work hard to ensure everything we do improves our performance, service and quality for the benefit of your business. By working together in partnership with our customers, we can continue to add value at every step.
www.glazerite.co.uk
A Success Story
Case study – KLIC Home Improvements
From its inception, KLIC Home Improvements has grown into a leading home improvement company. Central to its success is a robust partnership with Emplas, which has provided essential support, strategic resources, and a three-year sole supplier agreement that has driven KLIC’s impressive growth and market position.
KLIC Home Improvements was established in January 2021, founded by Brett Wittam and Phil Dorrington, leveraging their
extensive experience in the home improvement sector to build a company focused on quality and customer service.
Stewart Grand, director at KLIC, commented on their partnership with Emplas, “We engaged with Emplas from day one. In the early days, Emplas provided all the marketing materials and accreditations we needed to help grow our business from the ground up.”
Stewart officially joined KLIC as a director last year, bringing with him a wealth of experience from his previous roles. “I spent 13
years as the business manager for a home improvement company, helping them grow from a small local firm to one of the largest national installers in the UK,” he shares.
KLIC’s growth trajectory has been impressive. From its inception, the company has achieved an annual turnover of £1 million, with projections to reach £4-5 million in the current year.
Emplas’s Role in KLIC’s Success
Most notably, KLIC recently signed a three-year sole supplier agreement with Emplas, a significant milestone that has bolstered their
competitive advantage.
Stewart elaborates, “We’ve signed a three-year sole supplier agreement with Emplas, giving us supplier security in an uncertain market. This partnership ensures we have the resources and support needed to continue our growth trajectory and maintain our high standards.”
Emplas provides a wide range of support services that have been instrumental in KLIC’s operational efficiency and growth. “Emplas supports us every step of the way, providing samples, brochures, and marketing collateral,” says Stewart.
“This comprehensive support allows us to focus on what we do best—installing windows and doors—without worrying about the logistics of marketing materials or sample products.”
Innovative Real-Time Tracking from Emplas
A key component of Emplas’s support is its IT-led innovation, particularly the real-time delivery tracking system. This advanced technology has been developed and tested over 18 months, ensuring precise delivery scheduling and enhanced customer communication. Emplas’s realtime tracking capability offers two-hour delivery slots based on predictive analysis of journey times, accounting for congestion and other variables.
Stewart discusses the benefits of this system: “The real-time tracking provided by Emplas has been incredibly beneficial for us. Knowing exactly when our deliveries will arrive allows us to plan our installations more efficiently and keep our customers informed. It’s a game-changer for our operations.”
Emplas’s system includes comprehensive data analysis, encompassing 200-300 customer drops, 75 delivery routes, and 20,000-30,000 km of the UK road network each week. Integration with live traffic data ensures accuracy and reliability. When a lorry reaches the preceding drop, the system sends a text notification to the assigned customer point of contact, indicating their delivery is 30 minutes away.
Stewart highlights the impact of this feature: “Receiving delivery notifications helps us manage our workflow more effectively. The early morning alerts, while sometimes a bit early, are a small price to pay for the increased efficiency and customer satisfaction they bring.”
Operational Highlights and Market Position
Despite market downturns and the collapse of major players like Everest and Safestyle, KLIC’s lean operational model and low overheads have positioned them favourably in the competitive home improvement market. Their strategic focus on efficiency and customer satisfaction has enabled them to thrive where others have faltered.
Stewart Grand explains their approach: “We take a different approach. We’re a small business and we focus on doing a good job and providing exceptional customer service. While other companies might aim for rapid expansion, we prioritise quality over quantity. Our goal is to maintain a manageable scale that allows us to deliver the best possible service to our customers.”
The company’s emphasis on exceptional customer service is validated by its top ratings on Trustpilot, a critical factor
in building and maintaining customer trust. Stewart proudly notes, “We are the most trusted company in our area on Trustpilot, and that’s where we want to stay. Our customers’ feedback is invaluable, and we strive to exceed their expectations with every project.”
Strategic Vision and Future Outlook
KLIC Home Improvements maintains a clear vision for the future: to remain a regional leader without pursuing national expansion. The company aims to increase its market share within East Anglia by continuing to deliver high-quality products and services. Their strategic focus is on sustainable growth and maintaining a stellar reputation.
Stewart articulates this vision: “We want to take more of the market share in our area. We’ve got no desire to chase turnover for the sake of expansion. This approach allows us to maintain close control over our operations and consistently deliver the high standards our customers expect.”
KLIC Home Improvements’ rapid ascent in the home improvement sector is a testament to strategic planning, operational excellence, and robust partnerships. Emplas has provided essential support and fostered a mutually beneficial relationship.
“Our relationship with Emplas has been crucial. From the very beginning, they’ve provided us with the tools and support we needed to establish and grow our business,” Stewart emphasises.
“Emplas has been with us every step of the way, we couldn’t have done it without them.”
www.emplas.co.uk
Service Costs Nothing
Hayden Home Improvements have been a Sternfenster customer for over a quarter of a century. We spoke to its owner, Steve McNeil, to find out why their relationship has stood the test of time.
Fitting quality conservatories, windows, doors, as well as a host of other premium home renovations, Hayden Home Improvements has served the Aylesbury Vale and wider Buckinghamshire area, since 1988.
“I’ve been trading with Sternfenster for over 25 years. This is a one-man operation, with me being the quoter, the fitter, the administrator – you name it, I do it!”, Steve McNeil, owner of Hayden Home Improvements,
explains. “Because of that, I really rely on reputation.
“So, it was vital that I partnered with a supplier that I can not only trust to deliver the highest quality, lowest maintenance products as possible, but also one that had the tools in place to make my life as a small business, easier.”
For Steve, a key factor in this is the fabricator’s pioneering EasyAdmin and SF+ software.
“I’ve used EasyAdmin for probably 15 years, maybe longer! I use it every day – every single quote is done on there, as well as every order; it’s just so convenient rather than having to sit in my van and email everything over.
“Equally, I use SF+ alongside EasyAdmin largely due to the technical data on there – for any project, I can double check the technical guides, and that then helps secure sales too.”
Steve joins around 75% of Sternfenster’s customer base who currently take advantage of the SF+ system, that shows the live status of quotes, contracts and deliveries with the touch of a button.
As well as its technical data, it is also home to extensive marketing material and a live production capacity feed. This provides real time data on the capacity of individual products, across Sternfenster’s aluminium and PVC lines, and gives installers a unique overview of the fabricator’s production schedule from the moment an order is placed.
“We mainly buy UPVC products from Sternfenster, but if we have a demand for it, we’ll also occasionally buy aluminium products as well.
“My favourite product from Sternfenster is their 2800
Continued on page
Continued from page 72
Deceuninck casement window. It’s so easy to fit, and its literally maintenance free – I’ve never had any callbacks on it.”
Sternfenster’s casement window features low sightline grey weather seals and a multi-chambered construction for excellent heat and noise insulation.
And installed with a multi-point shoot bolt locking system and high security internal beading as standard, customers like Hayden Home Improvements can sell on safety, as well as aesthetics.
But how does a relationship stand the test of time for over 25 years?
“For me, the thing that Sternfenster does better than any company, and the reason why we have such a strong relationship, is simply the professionalism and the service that they offer”, Steve says.
“I’m just a one-person business, but they treat me like I’m a big customer, and I never feel as though I’m being penalised or pushed to the side because I’m not a ‘volume’ customer.
“I’m on first name terms with everyone that I speak to there, and they always take the time to ask me about how business is –they just make every customer feel important.”
With over a quarter of a century already under their belt, Hayden Home Improvements’ relationship with Sternfenster shows no sign of slowing: “I would like to wish Mike and the team all at Sternfenster, a happy 50th anniversary, and good luck for the next 50 years. Keep going because you’re doing a grand job!”
www.sternfenster.com
Growing In Tandem
Windowplus are celebrating their 40th year of continuous trading as a family business. We talk to manager John Tierney about how partnering with aluplast has aided their longevity and success.
Windowplus is a manufacturer of quality PVC-U windows and doors, using aluplast as their sole PVC-U supplier. Originally established by John’s parents, the business is now run by his Uncle and the second generation of the family.
“We pride ourselves on the fact that we’re still a family business after all this time”, says Windowplus manager, John Tierney. “It’s still largely the same people that are here doing the same work – we have some fabricating staff that have been here for upwards of 35 years. That’s the key
to our success I think – a knowledgeable, skilled and experienced team creating quality products.”
Based in Glasgow, Windowplus’ outreach extends across the whole of western Scotland, including customers as far north as the Isles of Barra, Mull and Skye, who use courier services to travel the hundreds of miles to Windowplus to collect their products – such is their reputation.
“Because of the scope of our customer base, it’s really
important for us to deal with a supplier who is reactive and agile”, explains John. “That’s why we love working with aluplast: they’re consistently flexible enough to meet our demands.
“In these situations where we need quick communication, we’re always able to talk to someone who is in a position to make a decision – you don’t have to work up through the ranks. We know them all by name, and more importantly, they know us and our business inside out. The fact they’ve managed to grow their business whilst keeping that personality is vital to us.”
Investment in offering
It is widely known that the tilt-and-turn window is highly popular within the Scottish market, and for Windowplus, this is no different.
“We predominantly use aluplast’s Ideal 70 suite of products. Our customers’ favourite product is the Tilt-and-Turn. It has an ovolo finish inside, compared to a standard bevel, that gives it a smart, aesthetically pleasing
finish, which you don’t see very often in the market.
“I think for a lot of profile houses, tilt-and-turns are often left by the wayside and are a bit of an afterthought, but this certainly isn’t the case for aluplast – you can tell a lot of thought has gone into its design.
And for Windowplus, aluplast’s broad range of colour is another key aspect as to why they are their supplier of choice.
“The colour market for us is absolutely enormous. It covers probably 40% of our sales, and aludec counts for a lot of that. Customers love the aluminiumfinish, and it’s just something that’s a little bit different. It really helps us to get sales, being able to offer aludec.”
Technical help on the ground
In the latter half of this year, the Glasgow fabricator is looking to continue to diversify its offering, by introducing aluplast’s new flush sash window to its product offering.
In preparation for this, they have been utilising aluplast’s new UK technical team. With over 100 years’ experience in the window and door industry between them, the technical team are on-hand to provide a vital personal touch to support both new and existing
aluplast customers.
“Andy, from the tech team, has been up to our site probably three times now, helping us to get the set-up ready to start fabricating the flush sash, which is just great”, says John.
“We know we’re probably the most Northern customer that aluplast have, but for us to be able to pick up the phone and say, “we need a hand with this”, and within a day or two, he’s here helping out. You can’t beat that service. You really can’t.”
Mutual growth
For John, the ease of working with aluplast has proven the true key to their long-term relationship.
“The service and the access to the key decision-makers are probably the best bits of working with aluplast, for us – not to mention the quality of the product which is always exceptional.
“And it makes an enormous difference when you’re working with a company that is going forward with you at the same pace. It’s huge for us, knowing that they’re future proofing in their business – it allows us to do the same and have full confidence in our supply chain.”
www.aluplast.co.uk
Low Carbon Glass
Is A Must From This Point Forward
Paul Higgins, commercial director of TuffX, talks about the desperate need for more low carbon building materials and explains what TuffX is doing to help its customers deliver.
In the run up to the General Election all of the political parties jostled to tell us their plans for the country. As you would expect many of the policies were conflicting,
but one thing the three main parties at least had in common was the promise of more new housing and the infrastructure to go with them. However, with the construction sector still contributing substantially to carbon emissions, the question is how we deliver on these promises, while also playing our role in meeting Net Zero by 2050. The less we do each year to reduce our carbon emissions, the more ground we have to make up, and the more urgent the requirement for sustainability in building materials becomes.
At the end of last year, the UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) reported in their latest assessment that the UK Built Environment has not reduced its emissions quickly enough to be on target to meet Net Zero. The UKGBC went on to suggest that in order to meet the 2050 deadline, we need to decarbonise twice as fast as we are now, by 2025. Overall carbon emissions were reduced by 13% between 2018 and 2021, but embodied carbon (the carbon emissions associated with the whole lifecycle of a product) only fell by 4%. Coming second only to surface transport, the UK’s built environment is still responsible for almost 40% of carbon emissions. Whatever happens from this point forward in Government, the statistics leave little room for doubt. The time to act is now.
Start future proofing today
A lot of specifiers are already choosing low carbon building materials where they are available to ensure buildings are future proof and to meet a more responsible green brief now. Low carbon materials minimise carbon usage when they are produced and when they are in use. One of the ways to do this is to take advantage of recycled
materials in the production process. This obviously cuts down on the need for further raw material extraction and processing, and so immediately lowers carbon usage. Another way is to use green energy sources.
The good news for the glass building materials sector, and anyone utilising these products, is that low carbon glass is already here and is successfully cutting carbon emissions. This provides the glass sector with a huge opportunity to make a significant difference. A large amount of glass will be required to meet the demand for new housing and improved infrastructure, not just in windows and doors, but also in high volume glass products such as glass balustrades. Offering a low carbon option to meet this demand is the responsible thing to do.
No compromises necessary
TuffX is ready to support customers in meeting this
demand now with its low carbon glass alternative. Our low carbon glass balustrades offer a reduced carbon footprint of up to 50% compared with common glass production. The products also look and perform the same as our other quality glass products, which is particularly important for balustrades with so much glass on show. The only difference, which is undetectable to the end user, is the lower carbon content.
There may not yet be strict legislation about the use of low carbon glass in building projects, but the requirement is unequivocally here now. As the latest assessment from the UK Green Building Council highlights, we are already falling woefully behind our targets, so the need to bring more low carbon materials into commercial and retail properties is becoming more urgent. We are pleased to be able to offer our customers a solution sooner rather than later, so that we can start making a difference now. http://www.tuffxglass.co.uk/
Saint-Gobain Glass has launched its latest innovation, a shatterproof safety mirror called Miralite Easysafe. It delivers enhanced safety performance in comparison to standard mirrors and does not require the application of safety film during processing.
When a standard mirror breaks, shards of glass can be dangerous for everyone, including building occupants, homeowners and for the professionals who handle and install it. To overcome this issue, Miralite Easysafe incorporates an anti-shatter resin that retains 98% of splinters in the event of breakage.
The anti-shatter resin is applied at Saint-Gobain’s factory during a single-step
Saint-Gobain Glass Launches Shatterproof Mirror
industrial process, removing the need for the application of a safety film at the processing stage. This patented innovation also provides a consistent, high-quality finish.
Saint-Gobain says this results in a mirror that is safe and simple to work with, that can be easily cut to size whilst requiring no specific primer. The durability performance of Miralite Easysafe also exceeds the EN 1036-1 European standard for mirrors.
Miralite Easysafe is ideal for installation in places where safety is a high priority, such
as high-traffic public buildings like sports facilities, shopping centres, bars, restaurants and hotels, as well as residential properties. It is also ideal for incorporating into furniture, such as wardrobes, sliding doors, table-tops and shelf backing.
To support Saint-Gobain’s commitment to the environment, Miralite Easysafe is manufactured without plastic film and generates less waste, allowing a more sustainable material choice for specifiers and building occupants. When retrofitting, it can be dismantled and fully recycled like any standard mirror.
According to Saint-Gobain, made with water-based and lead-free raw materials, Miralite Easysafe also contributes to improving indoor air quality thanks to ultra-low VOC emissions and meets A+ classifications by EN ISO 16000 VOC emissions testing (Eurofins test, France).
Commenting on the launch, Jenni Young, sector market manager at Saint-Gobain Glass says: “Mirrors are magical in their ability to transform a room by adding brightness and making spaces appear bigger. However, we all know safety is a central issue for everyone processing and using mirrors. With Miralite Easysafe, glass processors can be confident that the mirrors they use are safe, and easy to process, install and maintain.”
The Modern Elegance Of Glass Tees Off
In the contemporary design landscape, glass has become a favoured material for its ability to zone areas, control crowds, and partition spaces without obstructing views. This is particularly evident in commercial and public settings where maintaining an open and airy ambience is crucial. Golf clubs, with their expansive greens and scenic surroundings, benefit immensely from the use of glass balustrades. These installations not only offer unobstructed views but also effectively delineate hospitality areas.
Golf clubs are unique environments where aesthetics
and functionality must harmonise. The seamless integration of glass balustrades allows members and guests to enjoy panoramic views of the golf course while ensuring safety and structure within the club’s facilities. Whether used internally or externally, these glass partitions offer a modern and sophisticated touch that enhances the overall experience for visitors.
One of the critical aspects of using glass in such settings is ensuring straightforward and secure installation. The latest innovations in screw-clamp technology have revolutionised the way glass panels are installed and adjusted. This technology involves using clamps
that securely lock the glass panels in place, providing stability and safety without the need for bulky frames or intrusive fixtures.
St Helens and Bolton are just two of the UK’s golf clubs that have recently showcased the CRL Posiglaze system as a practical and stylish glass balustrade solution.
Using the CRL Posiglaze screwclamp technology, the installers on these projects were able to securely anchor the glass panels without compromising on the aesthetic appeal. CRL says Posiglaze is designed to provide the greatest possible adjustment opportunities, enabling each panel to be perfectly aligned during, or even after, installation. This innovative patented screw-clamp technology locks glass panels into position, with four immobilising fasteners per metre of channel.
This solution preserved the breathtaking views of the greens for the golf club patrons. The result on both projects is a seamless, uninterrupted view of the lush greens, enhancing the club’s appeal to its members and visitors. www.crlaurence.co.uk
CRL Posiglaze installation at Bolton Golf Club
CRL Posiglaze installation at St Helens Golf Club, Warrington, Cheshire
Our data allows you to target prospects directly, helping you win more sales, more effectively.
So if you need more fabricator, installer or trade counter customers, we’re the only database supplier that’s 100% dedicated to the window, door, conservatory and curtain walling industry.
For your FREE trial go to: windowbase.info/free-trial or call us on 01453 845717
e: info@windowbase.info
UAP Ltd Launches Campaign For Armasmart Anti-Viral Hardware
Door and window hardware manufacturer UAP Ltd has announced the launch of its Armasmart anti-viral hardware through its newly-established division Armadillo Metal Coatings Ltd.
The Armasmart hardware coating is the first on the market to eliminate 99.98% of viruses, including COVID-19. This is achieved through a patentpending coating technology that prevents harmful bacteria from accumulating on stainless steel surfaces, claims the company.
Armadillo Metal Coatings Ltd will work with – and across – various environments, and health and
safety in settings ranging from healthcare facilities to private homes.
In conjunction with these two launches, the ‘Stop the spread’ campaign addresses a critical need for improved infection control. According to a WHO report, seven out of every 100 patients in acute-care hospitals, in high-income countries, acquire at least one healthcare-associated infection, with a significant percentage resulting in fatalities.
The Armasmart product line includes pull handles, push plates, door closers, kick plates, signage, bathroom turns, escutcheons, hinges and lever handles, plus
bespoke products that can provide flexible solutions for door manufacturers and their clients.
One of the standout features of Armasmart hardware is its selfsanitising properties; reducing the need for frequent cleaning and the use of harsh chemicals, streamlining maintenance efforts and promoting a healthier environment, claims to the company.
The specialised coating on Armasmart products offers exceptional resistance to corrosion and tarnishing. This ensures a longer lifespan for the hardware, maintaining its aesthetic appeal and functionality over time; providing a costeffective solution for maintaining hygiene, according to the company. This is particularly beneficial in settings where door hardware is subject to frequent use and exposure to harsh cleaning agents.
www.uapcorporate.com
ERA Launches New Maxim Cockspur Casement Window Handle
ERA, manufacturer of fenestration and home security products, has added to its range of window handles with the launch its new Maxim Cockspur Casement Window Handle.
Suitable for PVCu, aluminium and timber windows with traditional locking; the Maxim Cockspur Casement Window Handle is designed to be a strong addition to merchant offerings, catering to a broad range of customer style preferences, according to the company.
The handle is available in both locking and non-locking versions, with a choice between right and left handed options. In addition, it is also offered in two nose heights, 12mm and 21mm, to
accommodate a wide range of window profiles to ensure a perfect fit.
With a cohesive aesthetic, the Maxim Cockspur Casement Window Handle has been designed to complement the ERA Maxim Espagnolette Handle.
Kenrick: “Captive Door Hinge Remains A Market Favourite”
Hardware manufacturer and supplier Kenrick is experiencing sustained high demand for its Captive Door Hinge. Andy Meakin, sales and marketing manager at Kenrick, said: “The Captive Door Hinge has become an industry classic that is continuing to attract new customers thanks to our commitment to continuous innovation and intelligent product development.”
The Captive Door Hinge is constructed with a zinc die-cast body with stainless steel pin and has been designed to be a versatile and valuable component that meets the requirements of PAS24.
It fits over rebate sizes from 17mm to 22mm and it has an 80kg weight capacity with three hinges and a 120kg weight capacity on four hinges.
Fitting is made easy because there is a plus or minus 2.5mm compression that’s pre-set during fitting, plus or minus 5mm horizontal adjustment and a plus 6mm and minus 2mm vertical adjustment.
Kenrick says the quality of the hinge shines through in its test credentials and its ten-year mechanical guarantee. It’s tested to 100,000 cycles and has achieved a minimum of 240 hours salt spray testing for the paint
Designed with a slender grip, a locking cylinder and a simple release button, the handle locks automatically upon being closed, and can be simply released by depressing the button, or deadlocked for added security.
For assurance of longevity and quality, the handle has been tested to BS EN 1670:2007 Grade 3 (96 hours) for corrosion resistance and has been endurance tested in excess of 25,000 cycles., claims the company.
Sarah Knight, technical product manager at ERA, said: “Designed with both functionality and style in mind, the Maxim Cockspur Casement Window Handle provides the perfect solution for distributors looking to offer versatile and reliable options to their customers. Its compatibility with PVCu, timber, and aluminium windows with traditional locking and the cohesive design ensure it meets the diverse needs of the market.”
www.eraeverywhere.com
finish and 480 hours salt spray testing for the lorica finish, which both exceed the requirements of BS EN 1670:2007.
Recent innovations include a new compact design between the body and flag section that deliver improved streamline aesthetics and enhance customer appeal.
www.kenricks.co.uk
ERA Launches New ERA Protect Smart Universal Handle
ERA, a leading UK manufacturer of fenestration and home security solutions, has launched its new ERA Protect Smart Universal Handle, offering a smart security solution for lift-to-lock multi-point locks, commonly found on PVCu or composite doors.
The ERA Protect Smart Universal Handle is a keyless smart solution offering multiple access methods including fingerprint recognition for up to 50 users, one touch unlock with the ERA Smart Home app, and instant access using the encrypted key card.
For convenient access control, the handle can also be unlocked remotely via the WiFi Connection Hub and in instances where family friends or tradespeople may need to be granted access, e-keys can be sent directly through the ERA Smart Home app. Homeowners can control, track and revoke access to ensure the highest level of security. Exclusive to the ERA Smart Home app, a Smart Report feature also provides valuable insights into home security activity and the
system’s performance.
Additional features designed for user convenience include a voice assistant for low battery notifications, set up and operation; notifying users if the door is ‘locked’ or ‘unlocked’. Built-in geolocation technology also allows the users to choose auto-unlock when at their door once they are within the parameters of ‘home’. From inside the property, users can simply turn the thumbturn and press the lever down to unlock. Locking is just as simple, lifting the lever locks the door and the voice assistant will let you know the door is locked.
The hidden 9V battery back up at the bottom of the external handle adds to the user’s peace of mind. If batteries are depleted a single charge from the 9V battery allows entry via registered fingerprint, key card or app; ideal as a short term measure to allow access for the batteries to be changed.
Users can be assured that the highest level of data protection is provided, all fingerprint and key card information is encrypted and stored within the handle itself. GDPR and PSTI compliant, the ERA Smart Home app uses two-factor authentication. The UK-based support team can help during setup, answer any questions following installation and general queries when using the handle.
Easy installation ensures seamless integration into existing manufacturing processes, with a comprehensive video guide for installation and useful how-to videos for operation. The handle is available in a choice of stylish finishes including Matte Black, Polished Chrome, and Satin Chrome to complement any door.
Adam Taylor, product manager for Smart Security at ERA, said: “The launch of the ERA Protect Smart Universal Handle makes smart security available for doors with a lift-to-lock multi-point lock, allowing door manufacturers to offer the convenience and security of smart tech to an even broader customer base.
“With its robust design and choice of smart access methods, the handle ensures the highest level of performance and security for the end user and reflects ERA’s commitment to evolving its range of smart solutions to meet the demands of the market.
“In addition to PVCu doors, the ERA Protect Smart Universal Handle is also compatible with timber and composite doors and is battery powered with all wiring contained in the handle, so no need for an electrician!”
UAP’s TS008 letterplate has received an updated TS008 certification from BSI Kitemark. The award-winning Soterian TS008 letterplate is available in standard and slim version.
UAP says the Soterian Slim
letterplate is unique to the UK market and “the most compact TS008-compliant letterplate ever made”. Manufactured for 44mm70mm composite, timber and uPVC doors, the product is said by the company to be fast and easy to install; providing a convenient,
safe and more secure solution for the end user.
UAP’s CEO David Jennings commented: “The Soterian letterplate is undoubtedly our flagship product here at UAP – it has its own dedicated team and workshop here at our Bury base, with boxes being shipped all over the world every day.
“Alongside the Fire Door Maintenance training centre, also here at our HQ, the letterplate has put our company on the map for fire safety and specification. The updated TS008 certification acts as further proof to our commitment to the fire sector, and innovation across the fenestration industry as a whole.
“The certificate’s in the post!” www.uapcorporate.com
proteQ10 Guarantee Is Simplified
VBH, the specialist behind the greenteQ hardware range, has made improvements to the registration process for its proteQ10 profile cylinder anti snap guarantee.
Under the guarantee, which covers the popular greenteQ Orion TS007 3 star profile cylinder, consumers can expect a payment of £2000 should an Orion snap to allow a successful break in.
VBH has launched a completely new registration process to make it ‘even easier’ for the end customer to register their cylinder.
The information card that comes with each cylinder has now been updated to include a QR code that takes the customer directly to the registration page of a new website.
The easy-to-use site takes the visitor through the simple registration process in just a few clicks. Once registered, the cylinder’s 10-year anti-snap and function guarantees are activated. In addition, by setting a Key Security Password during registration, the user activates the free Key Security Scheme, which prevents additional keys from being ordered via the key number unless the password is provided.
Gary Gleeson, marketing manager at VBH, says,
“We have had over 18,000 individual registrations since launching the proteQ10 guarantee and security scheme.
“These improvements to the key card and website make product registration easier than ever. greenteQ Orion is the obvious choice for installers and lock replacement specialists, as it is easy to explain the benefits of the cylinder and the process of registering for proteQ10 to potential customers.
“Once the cylinder is registered, VBH takes over responsibility for all dealings with the end user in the unlikely event of an issue, saving our customers the potential headaches and costs of call outs and providing replacement products.”
www.vbhgb.com
Espag Window Handle Demand Up
Coastal Group, a leading manufacturer of external door and window hardware, is reporting a significant rise in demand for espagnolette window handles.
The surge is predominantly driven by an increasing number
of composite and aluminium manufacturers seeking high quality, reliable and stylish hardware solutions.
“We’ve always worked closely with manufacturers across composite, timber and aluminium
products,” explained Coastal managing director, Loren Jenner, “but the interest in aluminium products has grown in recent years because of its durability, aesthetics and low maintenance. It’s only natural that demand for complementary hardware follows.”
Growth in the aluminium market has been spurred by trends in modern architecture and contemporary home design, along with more energy efficient door and window products. Coastal’s espag handles have been developed with sleek lines, CNC machining and quality throughout to work perfectly alongside.
“As living costs spiral, consumers are looking for energy-efficiency throughout their homes,” continued Loren Jenner.
“Aluminium, paired with our high performance stainless steel espag handles, provide that superior insulation and contribute to energy savings.”
Security is another critical factor driving demand for traditional espag handles. As residential and commercial property owners become more concerned about
safety, there is heightened focus on how window hardware can provide protection against breakins.
“Our espag handles are engineered with advanced multipoint locking mechanisms built in,” added Loren Jenner. “These ensure maximum security without compromising on style or functionality.”
Coastal Group invests heavily in research and development to meet the evolving demands of the industry, working with partners in the composite and aluminium market to develop bespoke products suited to their changing needs.
“The SST100 espag handle is part of our continuous product development program,” added Phil Walklett, engineering manager at Coastal Group. “We’re always looking for ways to not only meet but exceed industry standards for performance and durability.”
Coastal’s SST100 espag window handles are meticulously crafted from marine grade stainless steel and are part of the company’s BLU range. This premium material is designed to resist corrosion and withstand even the most challenging environmental conditions, such as those found in coastal and inner city areas.
As the trend towards sustainability, security and aesthetics shows no sign of slowing down, Coastal Group says it is proud to be at the forefront, providing hardware solutions that meet demand.
“We look forward to continuing our partnership with aluminium window manufacturers,” concluded Loren Jenner, “and contributing to the advancement of external door and window hardware solutions.”
www.coastal-group.com
Safedoors Introduce The Autolock AV4 From Winkhaus
Safedoors, a provider of highquality composite doors has further enhanced its doors’ security credentials with the introduction of the autoLock AV4 from Winkhaus. Available on doorsets with pull bar handles and finger pulls, this automatic multi-point locking system takes door security and product functionality to the next level, according to the company.
Steve Jones, managing director of Epwin Fabrication, said: “The autoLock AV4 has replaced Safedoors’ current auto fire locks when used in conjunction with pull bar handles and finger pulls. The AV4 automatically engages multiple locking points when the door is pulled closed, eliminating the need to lift a handle or use a key. It’s a high quality locking system which perfectly aligns with our reputation
for offering product excellence.”
The autoLock AV4 is PAS 24:2022 compliant ensuring that Safedoors’ products continue to meet rigorous security standards. Additionally, the lock is Secured by Design approved.
Steve said: “We are committed to providing our customers with the highest levels of security and convenience, and the AV4 exemplifies this commitment. With its automatic locking functionality and compliance with industry standards, the autoLock AV4 sets a new standard for door security.”
Mike Rushen, sales director for Winkhaus UK, commented: “Winkhaus are privileged to have worked closely with Safedoors for over a decade now, with our high security multi-point locking solutions in use for over 90% of their product range. AV4 was unveiled to a very positive reception last year, and I’m proud to see that Safedoors has taken it on in our latest collaboration.”
The autoLock AV4 requires the lowest force to operate and has the widest installation tolerances, significantly reducing the need for lock adjustment throughout the door’s lifespan. This not only saves valuable time, but also minimises associated maintenance costs, providing a cost-effective solution and greater consumer satisfaction, claims the company.
Steve concluded: “Safedoors has always brought the reassurance of a brand with an exceptional market pedigree. With the autoLock AV4 automatic multi-point locking system available now on our doors, the benefits build on an already powerful proposition.”
safedoors.co.uk
A Longstanding Partnership
Sterling PVCu Ltd, one of the North West’s largest window and door fabricators, has highlighted the value of its 25+ year partnership with independent hardware supplier Carl F Groupco.
Dave Mulholland, general manager at Sterling PVCu, said: “Strong supplier relationships are the cornerstone of our business. We truly value the quality of the partnership with Carl F Groupco and the benefits it delivers.”
Dave highlighted the synergy between the two businesses: “The collaboration between Sterling PVCu and Carl F Groupco is all about delivering quality. We have built our business by offering
quality windows and doors, while Carl F Groupco provides superior hardware solutions. Together the partnership adds value to our products and benefits our customers.”
He noted that the strength of the relationship also extends to the level of support Carl F Groupco offers, saying: “We also benefit from the high level of added value service they offer, in particular their testing assistance. The experienced team supports us throughout the entire testing process, from hardware selection advice to onsite fit-ups and pretest preparations. It’s an endto-end testing package that is invaluable.”
John King, sales director at Carl F Groupco, said: “Sterling PVCu has grown to become one of our largest customers and are a great example of how a fabricator can leverage maximum benefit from a partnership with us by making full use of the resources we offer. We are proud of the strength of our relationship and the mutual value it brings to both businesses.”
Sterling PVCu was established in 1993 and is dedicated to delivering high-quality windows, doors and conservatories in PVC-U, aluminium and composite profiles. The company operates three dedicated factories in Warrington, manufacturing and installing products for the trade and domestic markets.
Dave Mulholland concluded: “Over the years, we’ve grown to manufacturing over 2,000 frames a week. Carl F Groupco has supported us throughout this growth and remain integral to our ongoing success.”
www.carlfgroupco.co.uk
Yale Expands Hardware Offering For Sash Windows
Yale has modernized and expanded its sash window offering with new improved products and designs of decorative hardware in a wider colour pallet.
The company has launched the new Yale Face Fix travel restrictor, which limits the movement of lower sliding sash windows to enhance safety and security, and the new Yale Sash Handle lift, which facilitates the easy operation of vertical sliding windows while providing security and durability.
Yale says both additions help to maintain the traditional aesthetics of sash windows and are
available in ten colours, including the popular anthracite grey, bronze, and brushed stainless steel.
They complement Yale’s Vertex and Caldwell spring balance ranges, which enable the smooth operation of sash windows while prolonging the lifespan of the window by reducing operating forces and wear, according to the company.
The Yale Vertex range includes both pre-tension and wind-up spring balances. The former are suited to larger sash windows, while the latter are suited to lighter, smaller windows such as those made of aluminium or
secondary glazing vertical sliding sashes.
Pre-tension balances are manufactured bespoke to the window, accounting for weight, glazing, size, and profile to deliver a perfectly tailored solution, and wind-up balances have been designed to suit range of window weight and sizes. Both include tilt-in and non-tilt options for windows weighing between 2kg and 45kg.
The Caldwell offering includes the Spirex, Ultralift, and Torso II ranges, each providing what Yale describes as ‘outstanding mechanical assistance, longevity, and economy’. The Ultralift range is designed for sashes ranging from 4.5kg up to 31kg, while the Torso II range has been designed for sashes starting from as little as 3kg up to 45kg.
Grant Stratford, technical director for window hardware at Yale, comments: “Our Vertex and Caldwell spring balances provide the ultimate solution for sash windows and are designed and manufactured to the highest standard at our centre of excellence for window hardware in Cheltenham, as well as other Assa Abloy factories. This means we can ensure that functionality is second-to-none, and in the case of the UK-manufactured products, allows us to respond rapidly when our customers make an order.
“With the new additions to our decorative hardware range –which mean we now offer both Face-Fix and Side-Fix travel restrictors – we have further enhanced our offering to sash window fabricators.”
To find out more about the Yale Vertex range, please visit https://bit.ly/4c1zvSK
For more information on the Caldwell’s spring balances, please visit https://bit.ly/4cWLkeu
Apeer Introduces 10 Year Anti-Bow And Paint Guarantees
Apeer has launched a brace of new product guarantees, initiatives that Apeer says underline its status as the industry’s leading manufacturer of high-quality composite doors while delivering ultimate peace of mind for its customers and end users.
The introduction of a new 10-year anti-bow guarantee means that Apeer’s customers can now sell the brand’s extensive range of doors with even greater confidence that they will not suffer from the kind of costly remedial issues that are said by Apeer to be typically associated with some other composites on the market.
Similarly, its new 10-year paint
warranty will allow customers to take full advantage of increasing consumer demand for colour, with the ability to reassure homeowners that their new front door will remain looking as good as new with just a minimal amount of maintenance.
The new guarantees, which are highlighted in Apeer’s latest product brochure, are in addition to the firm’s existing, 10-year product warranty and its 10-year guarantee for glass across the range.
Apeer’s managing director, Asa McGillian, explains more about the importance of the latest guarantees: “Warping and bowing are the Achilles heel of some
composite door products, and can cause huge problems for installers if they have to return to fix remedial issues. That includes the cost of additional time on site, but also reputational damage.
“Composite doors should represent an easy win for installers,
but many are running the risk of losing positive reviews from homeowners, just because their door suppliers are letting the side down.
“At Apeer, we’ve always been extremely confident in the strength of our composite doors,” he continued. “That’s because they are 60% thicker than other doors on the market, they feature seven layers of interwoven fibreglass skins that provide enhanced strength and durability and they are designed around a GRP and steel reinforced sash with a double rebated construction. Also, the foam density used within our own in-house sash manufacturing is nearly three times denser than the foam density typically used within slabs imported from the far east.
“The new anti-bow guarantee really helps our partners to demonstrate the quality of engineering that goes into Apeer doors, to their homeowner customers, as does our new paint warranty.
“We know that colour and finish play a huge part in the purchasing decision for consumers when choosing a new entrance door, and because we only use the best automotive grade paint for our products from one of the world’s largest manufacturers of highquality paint, they can rest assured that it will not suffer from peeling, blistering or cracking for up to 10-years.”
Apeer’s range includes 62 x 70mm doors, 60 x 44mm doors, 20 options across the Residence Door Collection by Apeer and 16 products in its Kärben Hybrid Aluminium Entrance Door Collection, which is believed to be the first residential door to incorporate carbon fibre into its construction for optimum strength and rigidity.
The latest Apeer catalogue is available now and for more information visit: www.apeer.co.uk
Comp Door Adds New Glazing Cassette Option To Door Range
Comp Door has recently introduced a brand-new modern glazing cassette option on its door range.
Available in an exclusive range of contemporary styles, this new ultimate cassette has been specifically chosen to be part of the Comp Door range to offer an additional layer of choice in the company’s ever-expanding options portfolio.
These new and super-slim glazing cassettes are available on Comp Door’s following door ranges: Bedford, Westminster, Rutland, Richmond, Cornwall, Brampton, Sutherland, Wellington, Montrose, Mowbray, Hamilton, Sussex, and Abercorn.
Comp Door says it is proud to admit to being obsessed by the detail in the design and manufacture of its doors, continually monitoring processes from pencil through to production and distribution.
Richard Diliberto, sales director at Comp Door explains: “When choosing which composite door to install our customers want complete assurance and confidence that the entire door is the most durable, aesthetically
pleasing, and secure door on the market. Here at Comp Door, we are committed to designing and manufacturing the UK’s ultimate and in-demand composite door. We are the market leaders in our field and are always seeking to continually enhance and improve every feature of our product design, portfolio options, service, and our innovation.”
Comp Doors says constantly expanding its product range with new feature options, more choice of colours, expansive selections of new glazing and handles, providing a continually growing range and assortment of technologically enhanced, secure PAS24:2022 accredited doors is paramount to deliver its customer centric strategy.
Pierre Mifsud, managing director of Comp Door continues: “We don’t compromise our doors, instead, we continually enhance the specification of our offer to remain the market leader in composite doors. It will always be our people, choice, service, technical innovation, and versatility which separates us from other UK composite door manufacturers.”
www.compdoor.co.uk
New Ranges From Hurst Now In Showrooms
New composite and PVC-U panel doors from Hurst are now available to view in customer showrooms, which represent a network of 1,800 installers.
Mark Atkinson, sales director at Hurst Doors, said: “Our aim has always been to support our customers by providing them with the best products and tools
to succeed.
“By showcasing our new door styles in showrooms, we are giving homeowners the opportunity to explore and appreciate the variety and quality of our range up close. This not only aids in making a confident purchase but also drives the success of our
customers in meeting market demands.
“The fact that we have a large and growing customer network doesn’t put us off either, because we believe it is a powerful marketing message at the point of sale.”
Among the showcased products are the Monaco One featuring the Verona from and the Harmony Glass Range, and doors such as the Composite Two Thirds and new Select Solo from the new composite door
collection, launched later last year. Both the latest composite door and PVC-U panel collections have been well-received by customers and homeowners, according to the company.
The Monaco One PVC-U door panel style offers a contemporary composite aesthetic, bringing a modern and aspirational look to Hurst’s PVC-U door collection.
“Our panel range remains a significant part of our business,” Mark said. “Despite being a mature product, the demand for new styles and colours continues to grow. The Monaco One is a testament to our commitment to innovation and meeting our customers’ needs.”
The Harmony Glass Collection includes contemporary etched effect geometric designs that provide an elegant 3D effect on both sides of the double-glazed unit.
“Our Harmony Glass Range has grown in popularity within our composite door range due to its unique and sophisticated design,” Mark said. “By expanding this range into more styles in our PVC-U door panel collection, we are supporting our customers in offering diverse and attractive options to homeowners, and helping them stand apart from competitors.”
Mark added, “We are further helping to support customers with our ‘You’re Home with Hurst’ 65-page lifestyle brochure, which interacts seamlessly with a new generation of assets that allow our customers to provide their customers with the ultimate retail experience and guidance when choosing the perfect door for their property.”
These assets include the new Hurst Augmented Reality Composite Sales Tool, which allows homeowners to
superimpose a selection of Hurst’s most popular composite door styles (including Classic, Cottage, Contemporary, and Designer collections, plus its wide choice of furniture, colour, and glass options) against their property using their mobile phone or tablet, and short professionally created videos, which are accessed via a QR code.
“And Hurst Live, our exclusive 24/7 online portal, provides full visibility and access to orders including order history and delivery tracking, as well as a wealth of resources to help customers manage their account and market their business,” Mark says.
“Ultimately, we aim to equip our customers with highquality products, coupled with leading business and marketing support.”
www.hurstdoors.co.uk
Hallmark Doors & Panels Partners With Saint-Gobain
To Add Patterned Glass Range To Its Offering
Composite door manufacturer Hallmark Doors & Panels is now offering installers and their customers a choice of contemporary patterned glass designs from Saint-Gobain Glass.
The seven patterned glasses will be available in the company’s wide range of composite, UPVC and aluminium doors and panels, helping homeowners create bright and stylish entranceways whilst retaining privacy levels, according to the company.
Hallmark Doors & Panels said: “We’ve recently been voted by installers as the number one manufacturer in the National Fenestration Awards. We believe this is due to our excellent product range backed by superior customer service. Partnering with Saint-Gobain Glass and adding their range of patterns to our offering will help us to enhance our product range and continue to give installers and homeowners modern, stylish doors that meet their needs.”
The patterned glass range gives customers the choice of smart and simple to more textured and sophisticated designs.
The new pattern glass designs are available on the Door Designer page of the Hallmark Doors website, where visitors can create a bespoke design by choosing from more than 150 composite doors, hundreds of glazing options, and over 2000 colour options, and benefit from lead time from just five days, says the company.
www.hallmarkpanels.com/composite-doors
Senior Unveils Its New Ali VU Heritage Style Aluminium Door
Senior Architectural Systems has extended its popular Ali VU range of slimline aluminium windows and doors with the addition of a new heritage style door option.
The Ali VU door has been developed to offer an attractive, secure and thermally-efficient solution, according to the company, for customers working on retrofit and refurbishment projects as well as those that require a classic heritage style aesthetic. The new door is available with a choice of two transom designs to offer greater design flexibility, alongside a selection of heritage style handles and backing plates.
Fully Part L compliant, Senior’s
new door can achieve U-values as low as 1.0 W/m2K when calculated as a CEN standard door. Available in both inward and outward opening single or double door styles, with a choice of double and
Fire Door Online Ordering Available For Hurst Customers
Hurst Doors’ comprehensive range of third-party accredited composite fire doors is now conveniently available to order through Hurst Live, its dedicated customer portal, which allows customers to quote and place orders, and access full technical support.
Whether managing a smaller project that requires just a few doors or overseeing large-scale developments
triple glazing up to 44mm thick, the new Ali VU door has a maximum door leaf width of 1200mm and a maximum height of 2500mm. It can accommodate a maximum weight of 125kg per door leaf and has been fully security tested to meet the requirements of PAS24. The new Ali VU door has also been tested to BS6375 Part 1 for weather tightness and BS6375 Part 2 for operating forces, says the company.
The new Ali VU aluminium door has been designed to complement Senior’s stylish Ali VU aluminium window which thanks to its slim frame and narrow sightlines, has proved to be a popular and cost-effective replacement for traditional steel windows, says the company. Both are suitable for use on residential and commercial projects.
www.seniorarchitectural.co.uk
such as social housing projects, Hurst Live is designed to streamline and simplify the ordering process.
Hurst Live allows customers to specify the exact requirements of their fire door projects, place orders efficiently, and track deliveries in real-time. The portal also provides access to a comprehensive order history, enabling easy management of both ongoing and past projects.
Mark Atkinson, Hurst’s sales director, said: “We recognise that it’s about supporting and educating our customers in the requirements of the market, ensuring they have all the necessary information to be knowledgeable and confident in installing our products.
“We know through our market research that some trade customers have previously hesitated to service fire door enquiries due to concerns about the required skillset or regulatory knowledge. However, it’s important to note that our fire doors have been successfully integrated into the market for the past two years now.”
Mark said Hurst continuously strives to equip its installers with the necessary tools and information, and specialists are also on hand to help them navigate every stage of their fire door project. www.hurstdoors.co.uk
Deceuninck Launches
Triple-Track Sliding Patio Door
Deceuninck has continued to build on its leading Slider24+ patio, with the launch of a new dedicated triple-track option TT24.
Manufactured as a dedicated single profile, the new Slider TT24 triple-track option accommodates openings of up to 6m in a six-pane configuration and almost 4.42.m in a threepane option.
Rob McGlennon, managing director of Deceuninck, said the
new TT24 built on an already strong proposition, bringing increased design flexibility to its customers.
He said: “The addition of a genuine triple-track option in a PVC-U patio is unique to Deceuninck and developed directly in response to demand from our customers.
“Tested to openings of up to 6m wide, TT24 allows them to go to head-to-head with aluminium systems but to deliver
an enhanced level of thermal performance at a far more competitive price point.”
The new Slider TT24 is also fully Kitemark tested. This includes PAS24 2022 in a fixed and twosliding sash configurations of up to 4420mm wide by 2280mm tall.
It’s also fully tested in a six-pane configuration including two fixed lights and four sliding sashes to 6m wide and can also be manufactured in a Secured by Design specification.
Individual sashes can be manufactured to up to 1500mm wide or individual sash weight of 150kg depending on hardware options.
Rob continued: “The Slider TT24 works across markets but is clearly an ideal solution for home improvements, where there is still a strong retro-fit market, including bi-fold replacements.”
Deceuninck added a sculptured sash option to the Slider TT24 patio last year offering a perfect match to its Heritage Window Collection and the 2800 system.
Deceuninck recently reported that its On-Time-In-Full (OTIF) has consistently remained at 98% or above for the last 12-months, despite the complexity in its market leading colour offer.
“The combination of our colour and a product range developed exclusively for the UK home improvement market, puts us and most importantly our customers, in a great position to take advantage of a significantly improving home improvement market this summer and into next year”, Rob added.
“TT24 is deigned to and will generate opportunities in a resurgent market for inline sliding patio doors.”
www.deceuninck.co.uk
Alunet Systems –Innovating Aluminium The Aluna Way
Alunet Systems is a UK supplier of luxury aluminium door and window materials. Aluna, the company’s luxury range of aluminium is constantly evolving and being enhanced, driven by Alunet’s mission to be the most in-demand and premium aluminium brand of choice in the UK.
PAS24 accreditation demonstrates the Aluna commitment to security and with marine grade profile as standard across its entire range, Aluna truly defines luxury aluminium, says the company.
Phil Rotheram, group commercial director at Alunet Systems says:
“Continual improvement processes in our product design have hugely enhanced Aluna. Launching key product features that massively differentiate our range from our competitors, we have introduced super slim sash options which enable industry leading sightlines, and with our ‘Clip and Forget’ clip in beads now fully available across our bifold, single and patio door styles, Aluna is not only speeding up installations across the country, but it is also living up to its growing reputation as the aluminium product of choice amongst the industry.”
Constantly evolving and innovating
is said to be the heartbeat of the team at Alunet Systems who are always looking to enhance and better what they currently have – proudly announcing their brand-new Heritage Look style. According to the company, this modern and timely addition to the Aluna bifold family further signifies why the business is ‘Making it Easy’ for their clients and end users. This super-sleek steel-look offer is now available as true divide or as slimline astragal bars.
Steve Kendrick, director at Alunet Systems says: “Not content with providing an optional heritage look style upgrade, we go one step further to ensure that Aluna offers vast product choice and ease of fabrication. Therefore, providing two options to deliver the same look for the end user catering for any preference and maximising
choice for the fabricator. Flexibility is critical in product design so in keeping with providing choice, the contemporary Aluna heritage style is available in standard colours from stock or alternatively, if the project dictates something unique, then any RAL colour can be powder coated to suit any project specifications.”
A spokesperson for Alunet systems said: “Imagine the combination of this sleek, strong and modern steel-look, coupled with Alunet’s new PAS24 accredited Lever Lever Lock System, enabling the ultimate symmetrical, premium sleek finish to your fabricated and installed doors. The features, benefits and design options are simply stacking up in favour of Aluna.”
CDW Systems Introduces Innovative Technal Curtain Wall System To Range
Specialist aluminium fabricator CDW Systems has added Technal’s Tental curtain wall system to its product range.
The move marks a significant upgrade from the previously offered Technal Elegance 52 system, providing customers with a more advanced, high-end solution for their glazing needs.
CDW says the Tental curtain walling system is a highperformance, thermally-broken solution with slim sightlines and exceptional thermal performance and available with 50mm or 60mm wide aluminium profiles, offering superior performance and design flexibility.
Managing director Jeremy Phillips commented: “We’re excited to offer the Technal Tental curtain wall system, which replaces our Technal Elegance 52 system, to our customers. The upgrade allows us to offer a more sophisticated solution which will open up more commercial project opportunities for them.
“The system’s clean lines and design flexibility make it a more
technical curtain walling, ideal for commercial applications where looks and performance are a priority.”
Notably, the Tental system is said to also boasts impressive sustainability credentials, aligning with CDW Systems’ commitment to the environment.
Technal UK’s (Hydro Building Systems) products are made using high quality 75% recycled aluminium profiles which lowers CO2 emissions by up to 85%, says CDW.
“Sustainability is a core focus for us and our clients,” added Jeremy. “The Tental system not only brings enhanced technical capabilities and delivers on performance but also helps reduce the environmental impact of building projects.
“Using Technal UK profiles enables us to provide our customers with a viable green and sustainable option and helps us contribute towards reducing our carbon footprint. It also reinforces the sustainability credentials of aluminium.”
www.cdwsystems.co.uk
Fentrade Using AluK Quik Clip On Bifold Doors As Standard
Aluminium trade fabricator Fentrade is now fitting the AluK Quik Clip bead as standard across its aluminium bifold door range. Chris Reeks, managing director of Fentrade, said: “We chose the AluK Quik Clip bead for our bifold doors because it significantly streamlines the installation process. The intelligent design of the bead ensures installation is quicker and easier, providing substantial benefits to our customers.”
The new AluK Quik Clip
bead offers a rapid, secure installation in just seconds, without the need for force or specialised tools. It maintains the door’s sightlines and provides flexibility if the glass is out of tolerance, allowing the sliding gasket to be easily replaced with a standard wedge gasket without changing the Quik Clip bead. Additionally, the bead can be removed as effortlessly as it is installed, ensuring there is no risk of damage to the glass, claims the company.
The Quik Clip will be used on all bifold doors in Fentrade’s range. It includes multiple configurations and opening options and can accommodate double or triple glazing, with standard and low threshold options available. Rollers have up to 5mm adjustment and will accommodate up to 120kgs, making them suitable for the widest door apertures.
To open up even more opportunities, frames can be supplied as “flat pack” if there are access issues on site.
Chris continued: “As an experienced fabricator, we’re always looking at ways to make life easier for our customers. The introduction of the Quik Clip is the latest example of our efforts to enhance our market offer.”
Senior launches
ReAL 2.0 – A New UK-Sourced Low
Carbon Aluminium Extrusion Offering
Window, door and curtain walling systems designer and manufacturer, Senior Architectural Systems is going the extra mile to reduce the carbon footprint generated through the transportation of its products by supporting the use of UK-sourced closed-loop recycled aluminium.
Branded as ReAL 2.0, Senior is launching a new bespoke scheme for customers who are looking to further reduce the embodied carbon generated through the manufacture, transportation, and disposal of aluminium fenestration products. Senior says it can now manufacture its full range of products from aluminium extrusions comprising a minimum of 75 per cent recycled content from post-consumer scrap materials which are sourced and processed in the UK using low carbon methods.
As the largest privately owned aluminium systems house in the UK, all of Senior’s products are manufactured in South Yorkshire.
The new offering is currently only available to customers on request but Senior hopes that as more aluminium from the UK is able to be recycled and reused, supply will increase to reduce the reliance on importing recycled aluminium from overseas. To support this, where possible Senior will also work with select clients to manage the removal of older aluminium fenestration products from retrofit schemes for recycling.
Owing to the UK’s current limited capacity for reprocessing aluminium, most recycled aluminium is imported but Senior has recently made changes to its main supply to ensure that it can still offer all its customers a lower carbon option. According to
the company, as one of the early adopters of recycled aluminium, Senior extrudes all its products from aluminium that contains more recycled materials than before and which generates lower carbon emissions throughout its production. These emissions are measured in kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalents and one kg of CO2 equivalents is comparable to the effect of one kg of CO2 emission. The recycled aluminium Senior currently uses as part of its standard offering is below 4.0kgCO2/kgA, which is significantly lower than the global average and approximately a 35 per cent reduction in carbon compared to the 6.1kgCO2/ kgA aluminium the manufacturer could offer before. As it is sourced from the UK, which reduces the need for extensive transportation, Senior’s new ReAL 2.0 aluminium offering has an even lower carbon footprint at 2.0kgCO2/kgA.
Commenting, Senior Architectural Systems’ managing director Mark Wadsworth said: “It’s important to us as a manufacturer and for our customers working in the construction industry that we are continuously looking for new ways to reduce the environmental impact of the work we do and the buildings we can help create. Senior has long championed the use of recycled aluminium and as a UK based supplier, the transportation of our products is already less carbon intensive than others. However, there is always more that we can do and by supporting the greater use of aluminium that has been recycled right here in the UK, we can hopefully help create a stronger supply and a more sustainable solution.”
Customers are advised to contact their regional architectural advisor or technical sales manager for more information on how Senior’s low carbon aluminium can benefit them. Contact details can be found at seniorarchitectural.co.uk/contact
Left to right – Senior Architectural Systems sales director James KeelingHeane and managing director Mark Wadsworth
“Best Value Proposition In The Flat Rooflight Market”
a
Whitesales is staying ahead of the ‘Flats in Fashion’ movement with a significant update to its em.glaze Economy rooflight designed to make it the best value proposition in the flat rooflight market.
Sioned Yates, Whitesales’ marketing director says that it’s great news for customer margins at a time when demand for flat rooflights is surging. She says: “We’ve enhanced the overall specification of the em.glaze Economy with the addition of a new 84mm frit around the edge and a choice of manual and electric opening options, and our pricing is extremely competitive.
“This is our entry level rooflight but there are no compromises on quality, thermal and weather performance or product features, so customers can be confident of achieving very robust margins.
“In fact, many of the standard features of the product – such as a thermally broken frame, a laminated inner pane as standard, the 84mm frit to enhance the aesthetic and flush glazing so there is no risk of water pooling around the edge – are normally not available at this price point, so this represents a big new sales opportunity for fabricators and installers.
“The em.glaze Economy doesn’t just outperform the competition in product and performance terms; it also comes in large range of stocked sizes and with a choice of Part L compliant timber sloping kerb or PVC-U upstand. Alongside the original fixed version, it also now has manual and electric opening options – with a visible or concealed motor – giving installers a simple way of achieving optimum levels of free ventilation.”
Whitesales was quick to identify the rising demand for flat rooflights as an alternative to lanterns and says the em.glaze Economy will give customers a route into the mainstream market and all those style conscious buyers who want something with a more contemporary feel but don’t have the budget for a premium flat rooflight.
What might surprise fabricators and installers though is that according to the company, in a side by side comparison for a 2m x 1m opening, Whitesales’ em.glaze Economy flat rooflight can actually work out as much as 35% cheaper than a lantern – adding still further to the appeal.
The em.glaze Economy remains as quick and easy to fit as all of the Whitesales’ flat rooflights – arriving on site pre-assembled within 3-5 days and ready to fit directly onto the upstand.
Full details of the 11 stocked sizes for the em.glaze Economy, the opening and upstand options, the colour choices and comprehensive service package are all at: https://bit.ly/3ybSxrO
Whitesales em.Glaze Economy
Whitesales em.glaze Economy with electric motor on
PVC stand
Sky’s the Limit for
Sheerline and Titan’s S1 Roof Lantern Partnership
Sheerline has named Titan Aluminium as one of the top suppliers of its award-winning S1 Roof Lantern. With over 30-years’ experience, the Hampshirebased company specialises in the manufacture of rooflights.
Titan wanted a roof lantern that would complement their existing range while also ensuring it offered comparable benefits in terms of the overall look and style, thermal efficiency, security, and quality, and selected the S1 system.
Part of the appeal of Sheerline’s roof lantern is the fact the inhouse design team developed the product from the ground up. They knew the weaknesses that some existing roof lanterns had, including the areas prone to leaks and poor thermal efficiency, and set about changing this.
Applying Sheerline’s vision and contemporary style to the S1, the company took a traditional roof lantern design and transformed it, making it slimmer and sleeker. With unique inline corner and rafter caps.
The key benefits of this, from the perspective of Titan Aluminium is a combination of factors; the aesthetics, the ‘fit and forget’ confidence of the product they supply and the ease of installation. Resulting in happy customers and repeat business.
Besides the S1, Titan also supplies SheerVent – Sheerline’s revolutionary approach to roof vents, which was revealed on the company’s stand at FIT Show 2023. It’s another unique selling point as it overcomes the historic issues of leaky, unreliable ventilation options, says Sheerline.
John Jones, managing director of Titan Aluminium, said: “If you’re thinking about stocking the S1, but you’re unsure, it’s an evolution of all the good roofs you’ve known, but it’s been innovated and updated – it’s the warmest, slimmest and most stylish lantern. Your fitters will love it because it’s easy to install and your customers will love the look.”
“We had been looking for a roof lantern for years, but I hadn’t found one I felt I could put my name to, until this one. The product is second to none, and working with Sheerline is brilliant – I’ve had nothing but a great experience,” he added.
Tony Basile, Sheerline’s sales director, said: “We’ve been working with Titan Aluminium for a number of years now, so it’s no surprise that they’re one of our top S1 suppliers. The relationship our companies have is based on a shared ethos where the customer comes first because we create quality products that are innovative, work, and look good at the same time.”
https://bit.ly/3zSd1WV
www.titanaluminium.co.uk
Keeping Your Cool In The Height Of Summer
Ian Short, MD of Morley Glass explains how Uni-Blinds integral blinds combine the best in glass technology and blind systems to keep homes comfortable and useable at the sunniest times of the year.
According to a 2023 survey commissioned by John Lewis, just over half (51%) of people in the UK say the summer is their favourite season. But when it does finally arrive, many of us realise that our homes are not necessarily very well equipped to deal with the sunshine and heat.
Unlike hotter countries where homes are built to withstand the effects of constant warmth and strong sunlight, British and Irish properties are constructed to accommodate a year-round temperate climate, making them susceptible to summer heat.
One of the ways we can make our homes more comfortable in the summer is to utilise the latest window and door technology, including advanced heat-reflective or ‘solar control’ glass and incorporating integral blinds within the cavity.
Realising the benefits of solar control glass
Standard glass enables heat to transmit through with relative ease and retain it well within a confined space – like a greenhouse. As a result, homes featuring large areas of glazing on elevations subjected to prolonged sunshine will warm
up to an uncomfortable level and take a long time to cool down.
Today’s solar control glass technology addresses this with dramatic improvements possible. It is an ultra-clear glass with a microscopicallythin coating applied to it which acts as a reflector of heat without noticeably affecting the window’s overall clarity.
Hence why Morley Glass offers the world’s most respected solar control glass products from Saint-Gobain for use in any Uni-Blinds integral blind unit. Two options are
available – Cool-Lite SKN 176 II and Cool-Lite SKN 183, both offering outstanding solar control performance with the additional benefit of being super-insulating to help homes retain heat during winter.
Reducing annoying glare
Strong sunshine entering rooms can be a nuisance when it makes spaces excessively bright. When sunlight is extreme, the glare can make it feel like we need to wear sunglasses indoors or at the very least, it can make everyday activities such as watching the TV or viewing a laptop screen difficult.
Traditional curtains or blinds may provide the solution, but they can have the opposite effect and make rooms depressingly gloomy – going from one extreme to another. They can be impractical too when we may want to keep windows and doors open to let air flow through the home.
Integrating a blind within the glass unit is a much better approach. Available as a Venetian or pleated blind, integral blinds provide an effective way to reduce the intensity of light with ease so there is far less glare inside a room. There is even a pleated blackout option available from Morley Glass to minimise infiltration of sunlight.
Choosing the ideal summer-
ready specification
Uni-Blinds integral blinds work well in both traditional and contemporary properties and they can be fitted into all kinds of windows and doors, including French doors, bifolds, sliding doors, vertically sliding sash windows and standard casement windows. And one of the most recent additions to the Uni-Blinds range is an integral blind that can be fitted into flat glass rooflights.
There are five different control systems available within the range including a manual corded system and our biggestselling system, the SV Sliding Venetian, which is operated using a cordless magnetic slider. And for those seeking the ultimate in climate and comfort control inside the home, the smart-home compatible motorised MB System offers huge appeal.
Regardless of which operating system is selected, however, the double or triple glazed unit can be combined with Cool-Lite glass to achieve the optimum solution for the summer. And there are no long lead times either, with all Uni-Blinds made to order and supplied with complimentary delivery in as little as 10-12 working days.
Find out more about Uni-Blinds integral blinds at www.morleyglass.co.uk
Euroglaze Supporting Garden Room Sales
Keystone’s latest consumer research report revealed two very interesting points about the garden room market. Firstly, that they ranked high in the list of home improvements homeowners are planning over the next 12 months, but secondly that more than a third of those homeowners have a budget in mind for an insulated garden room of less than £10,000.
While many specialist garden room suppliers might balk at that level of budget, for Euroglaze customer MCD Garden Rooms, it is very good news.
MCD Garden Rooms has been partnered with trade fabricator Euroglaze since 2020 manufacturing timber insulated garden rooms featuring Rehau French doors and full length windows fabricated in anthracite grey.
These garden rooms are targeted directly at the budget conscious customer and, unsurprisingly,
MCD Garden Rooms is seeing an upsurge in demand as the cost of living crisis beings to ease.
Managing director Martin Blacksell says that demand is coming from across the UK, from customers who prioritise value and who like the fact that they can tailor the garden room around their budget. He says: “We can work around a customer’s wish list in terms of internal finish and extras – but we have refined our core offering so that it is focused on value, but with consistent quality and outstanding service.
“We are almost invariably cheaper than our competitors – and even when customers have what other suppliers might consider unrealistic expectations in terms of budget, we can always help.
“An important part of that is the support we get from our neighbours Euroglaze, who are based near to us in Barnsley and who provide us with quality Rehau
frames at affordable prices. Using Rehau PVC-U windows and doors in our garden rooms definitely gives them more of a premium feel, and Euroglaze’s precision fabrication means they are reliably easy to fit, with virtually zero remedials.
“Together we have worked out the optimum combination of doors and windows to be able to offer an extensive range as standard, and Euroglaze consistently deliver those on time and in full, with consistently short lead times.
“Beyond that, we get access to our own dedicated Euroglaze customer service advisor, and we benefit from their bespoke stock management system which automatically alerts them to any items that are out of stock and gives us the opportunity to switch to an alternative product or component if we need to.
“All the signs are that demand is continuing to increase and we’re very confident that the value end of the market is where the biggest growth will come from.”
More details at:
www.euroglaze.co.uk and https://mcdgardensheds.co.uk/
Garden Rooms
Are Still On The Rise This Summer, Says Nine Zero Timber Windows And Doors
Nine Zero Timber Windows and Doors has seen a continued surge in the popularity of garden rooms, which the UK timber manufacturer and supplier says is driven by their versatility and added property value.
Steve Winscott, company director at Nine Zero Timber Windows and Doors, highlights the growing trend of repurposing home offices, which became widespread during the pandemic.
Nex-Gen Extend Range
With Launch Of Garden Room Kits
Nex-Gen Aluminium Systems has further enhanced its ‘fitters’ friend’ approach to doing business by extending its range to include garden room kits, designed specifically for installers looking for efficient, high-quality solutions for their projects.
The Bolton-based fabricator manufactures a comprehensive suite of aluminium products including windows, bi-folds, sliding doors, heritage doors for both external and internal use, as well as rooflights, lanterns, balconies, and balustrades. NexGen Garden Room Kits have been added to provide customers with even greater choice.
With 19 pre-made designs
available in various configurations and six specialist garden room options, ranging from pyramids to gable roofs, plus the freedom to create bespoke solutions, the company says their portfolio caters to every project requirement.
Design possibilities include steel RSJ supports, enabling aluminium bi-fold door and wide span sliding door installations. Other door options include slimline French doors and heritage doors.
The kits utilise high-performance structural insulated panels (SIPs) which have been engineered for superior thermal efficiency, along with 97mm wall and 122mm roof panels. Prefabricated timber/
“I think we have largely moved on from the home office, and are instead looking for breakout spaces that can be adapted with minimal work,” says Steve.
“Garden rooms offer an ideal solution – they are endlessly versatile, and can easily be transformed as homeowners move between wanting a playroom, outdoor den, exercise space… the list goes on. This creates a big plus when it comes to property value.”
Property experts say a garden room can increase a home’s value by anywhere from 5-15% depending on quality, or 1.5 times the amount spent on its construction, making them an appealing option for both current and future homeowners. Nine Zero handcrafts FSC-certified sustainable timber from its Cornwall factory, and so garden rooms created from its materials are bespoke, beautiful, and of the highest quality available, claims the company. www.nine-zero.co.uk
SIP joining splines streamline assembly and installation, saving time and effort on site. Ground screws can also be supplied to provide a base solution.
Choose from timber cladding for contemporary or rustic styles across various building types, or composite cladding for a low maintenance, eco-friendly alternative. There’s also the option to mix and match cladding, providing the flexibility to create a contrast or optimise costs without compromising on quality.
www.nex-genaluminium.co.uk
Walsin On Target For A Fast Payback From
Emmegi Satellite Machining Centre
Less than six months after installation, architectural glazing specialists Walsin Ltd is already seeing significant benefits from its investment in an Emmegi 5-axis Satellite XTE machining centre.
The Satellite XTE has positively impacted the efficiency and production volumes of Walsin’s products. Additionally, it has provided the Lisburn based company with enough capacity to offer sub-contracted machining and fabrication services to other companies.
The Satellite XTE is an upgraded version of Emmegi’s popular Satellite XT. It retains the mobile gantry designed for milling, drilling, threading and processing five workable sides on large scale sections of steel and aluminium. Additionally, the XTE features a larger 24-position tool magazine and an exchanger arm system for faster tool changeover.
The XTE’s cutting and separating function allows a series of
machined profiles to be obtained from one bar length and then separated into individual elements. The Satellite XTE is a popular choice for companies like Walsin which manufactures and installs the complete suite of aluminium façade products, ranging from punched windows to complex unitised facades. The large capacity of the tool unit can accommodate a 500mm saw blade allowing for separation cuts to be run on large dimensional profiles in addition to compound cuts, straight cuts, angled cuts and notching.
It also features an ergonomically designed cabinet with wide glazed sections for easy visibility during machining, enhanced soundproofing, and safe access for cleaning and maintenance.
Before investing in the Satellite XTE, Walsin extensively researched all compatible machining centres available in the marketplace to find one capable of delivering the required quality
and functionality.
One key factor that convinced it to choose the Emmegi machine over others was the aftersales care provided by an Emmegi team based full time in Ireland.
Along with sales manager Jim O’Connell, Emmegi (UK) has two technicians on its Irish team –one based within 30 minutes of Walsin’s factory. Consumable spares are stocked locally, and an extensive range of major breakdown spares are held in Coventry.
This local approach to service and maintenance not only provides significant cost benefits over the lifetime of the machine but will also minimise extended breakdowns as Walsin would not have to await parts to be shipped from central Europe in the event of an emergency breakdown.
Walsin has ambitious growth targets and believes the Satellite XTE will help achieve them. The company offers both the supply of fabricated façade systems and total envelope façade packages, including design, manufacturing and installation throughout the UK and Ireland. They have ongoing architectural façade contracts in Dublin, Belfast, London, Manchester, Glasgow and Leicester, having recently completed in Liverpool and Sheffield, with more to come.
Conor McCarron, Walsin’s production manager, commented: “The Satellite XTE is providing the extra volume we need to advance to the next phase of our expansion. Output per operator is up, and costs are down. Coupled with the savings on running costs, we are on target to recoup our capital expenditure in a shorter timeframe than with previous investments.”
More details are at: www.walsin.co.uk/ and www.emmegi.com/en/home
As the UK’s exclusive supply partner of Graf Synergy machines, Haffner delivers the seamless weld machine innovation to take your business to the next level.
• Superior transom welding quality
• V-Perfect ® transom welding technology
• Weld seam elimination
• Suitable for both V Joints and Butt Joints
• Precision accuracy - delivering a perfect weld every time
• Faster, automated fabrication
Mercury Makes Waves In The USA
Specialist fabricator Mercury, in collaboration with Conservatory Craftsmen, has completed a spectacular aluminium new build project in North Kentucky, south of Cincinnati in the USA.
The 111 sqm home extension was designed to accommodate
an indoor lush garden space complete with largescale waterfall pond, allowing the homeowner to grow bananas, citrus fruits and a variety of tropical plants. With such a generous glazing façade needed, the choice of products specified was exacting to maximise light penetration.
Fabricated in-house by Gloucester-based Mercury, the extensive structure was manufactured from the innovative Smart Wall system for the main framework, featuring a combination of 100mm and 150mm sections. Reinforced with robust steel supports, the thermally broken system is designed to withstand extreme weather conditions and offers excellent thermal transmittance, ensuring both longevity and performance. The aluminium structure was powder coated in RAL9011 Satin black to complement the existing property.
The project’s windows, fabricated from the Alitherm 600 system, were used as inserts and in higher-level positions within the Smart Wall framework. The windows are designed to optimise thermal efficiency whilst their slim sightlines maximise light exposure, a crucial element for this project. The windows also incorporated sloping beads to effectively channel water away, which was important given the adverse weather conditions the region can experience.
A unique aspect of the project is the conservatory’s side wall, which stands over 4 metres high and is
shared with the adjoining house. The design allows the second floor of the property to directly overlook the botanical garden, creating a seamless blend of an indoor and outdoor space.
The roof was manufactured by Roof Kits in Yatton, west of Bristol and was overseen by the Mercury team to ensure a seamless integration within the structure.
Throughout the project, Mercury’s experienced in-house commercial team collaborated closely with Conservatory Craftsmen to ensure all products were manufactured and shipped on time direct to site.
The completed project showcases the manufacturing expertise of the Mercury team. Steve Cross, director at Mercury, commented: “This was an exciting project to be involved in and the finished result is superb. The project ran seamlessly and is a testament to the calibre and dedication of the Mercury team.”
With installations across the USA, including New York, Florida, Minnesota, Arizona, California, Nevada, and now Kentucky, Mercury’s products are making waves internationally.
www.mercuryglazing.co.uk
Howells’ Ultraline
Illuminates New Build Extension
‘Let in as much light as possible,’ that was the brief to bespoke window and door company, Benchmark Windows when tasked with supplying products for a new build extension.
The property, based in the coastal village of East Preston, backs onto the beach with far-reaching views across the English Channel. The homeowners decided to demolish an ageing extension and rebuild to make the most of this vista and maximise natural light within.
“The client was sent our way by their builder, who is a longstanding Benchmark Windows’ customer,” comments Josh Brown from Benchmark Windows Ltd. “The requirement was to get as much light as possible into the new extension and for daylight to reach deeper into the plan. They also wanted the best products we can offer.”
The product specification was heavily influenced by the coastal location. Self-cleaning glass was essential for the rooflight, for example. For this, Benchmark Windows turned to trusted supplier, Howells Patent Glazing.
“We have worked with Howells for 12 years now. They are reliable, and our fitters like installing their products, plus
our customers love them too. We selected the company’s glass rafter rooflight, Ultraline, for this project because the client wanted an uninterrupted view. The Ultraline is perfect for this because its glass rafters give the illusion of one large pane of glass across the 6.6m x 1.6m opening.”
Howells designed and manufactured its Ultraline aluminium rooflight with six panes of 28mm double glazed units and five 175mm glass rafter dividers, at a pitch of four degrees.
The aluminium frame is powder coated in Anthracite Grey (RAL 7016 matt) on the outside and Satin White inside. The coating provides added protection against the coastal conditions.
For ease and practicality, the client requested self-cleaning glass. To meet this requirement and to combat the effects of solar gain, Howells used heat soaked toughened glass with an easy-clean coating and solar control properties.
The rooflight was delivered to site unglazed due to the weight of the glass. Each pane weighs 35kg. “We’ve installed plenty of rooflights in the past,” continues, Josh, “…and we know the best way to install them safely. We also know that there is no issue if ever we need Howells’ support during an installation; they are happy to help.”
If an Ultraline rooflight measures less than five metres by two metres, the unglazed
rooflight can be delivered preassembled, direct to site in an unbranded vehicle. If the rooflight exceeds these dimensions, such as the one installed in East Preston, then it can be delivered in multiple parts. Early morning drop-offs mean the Ultraline rooflight can be installed in a day.
Josh explains how the client has reacted to the completed installation: “They love it and are over the moon with the entire project. Now that the sun is finally out, they can really enjoy the space and appreciate the amount of natural light that pours into their home, and the connection with the garden and beach beyond.”
www.howellsglazing.co.uk benchmarkwindows.co.uk
Stellar Aluminium Helps Give Iconic Windmill A Transformative Makeover
Stellar aluminium windows and doors have been installed in a 285 year old windmill near Llanerchymedd as part of a transformative upgrade. Melin Gallt-y-Benddu has been an iconic part of Anglesey’s landscape for nearly three centuries. However, in recent years, the windmill, which was completed in 1738, was in danger of becoming a ruin.
Its third-generation owner and his wife wanted to restore the building and to achieve this, the couple enlisted the help of local architectural technologist Adrian Williamson of WM Design & Architecture and P&C Building Contractors Ltd.
The system specified for the project was Stellar Aluminium
and the windows and doors were manufactured by longstanding Epwin Window Systems’ fabricator, Heritage Trade Frames Ltd. Richard Moore, area sales manager at Heritage Trade Frames, said: “We’d manufactured Stellar products for several of Adrian and WM Design & Architecture’s previous projects, so he knew the quality Heritage Trade Frames brings. He also understood all the benefits of Stellar Aluminium, including its Qualicoat-approved marine-grade paint finish, which is perfect for Anglesey’s coastal environment, as well as its slim sightlines and contemporary flush styling.”
Richard continued: “The original specification was for casement windows, but a site visit with P&C resulted in a change to tilt and turn
windows. Looking at the fivestorey building, it was clear that tilt and turn windows would be the better option because they would be easier to clean from the inside.”
To secure the agreement of the local planning department, Heritage Trade Frames supplied a sample window alongside a detailed specification. The planning officer agreed the Stellar Flush Tilt & Turn Window had all the credentials required and permission was granted.
The 22 Stellar Tilt & Turn Windows, Stellar Flush Casement Window and Stellar French door, were installed by P&C Building Contractors over a five month period.
To achieve an exceptional visual finish, the colour of the window and door units was critical. The exterior of the building uses the Baumit render system in Chalk, skilfully applied by
M.W. Plastering Ltd. Against this understated colour, Anthracite
Grey (RAL 7016) gave a beautiful contrast. Internally, the frames were white to match and brighten the décor.
Thermal efficiency was a critical requirement of the project to protect the building’s inhabitants from the sometimes fierce coastal weather but also to minimise the carbon footprint. Units were double-glazed using Planitherm One T on the inner pane and Planitherm Clear on the outer pane, giving an overall u-value of 1.45 W/m²K.
The building’s most startling new addition is a fully glazed viewing platform that gives 360-degree views of the surrounding landscape. To prevent too much solar gain in this room, the window units use SGG Cool-Lite SKN 176 solar control glass.
The finished result is a beautiful building that retains all its iconic charm but has been updated for future generations.
Heritage With A Modern Twist
Quickslide have supplied a whopping 557 vertical sliders for a new build housing development in Burgess Hill, Sussex that was completed over four phases.
Developers Croudace Homes chose Ideal Window Solutions to help complete their new community of 2, 3, 4 and 5 bedroom homes and, in turn, Ideal Window Solutions turned to Quickslide to fulfil the brief.
“We’re a glazing installation specialist celebrating our 28th year and the preferred supplier for many major developers,” says Thom Emerson, Ideal Window Solutions’ sales and marketing director. “And for over ten of those years now we’ve been buying from Quickslide.”
The King’s Weald housing development is located on a 19-hectare area once used by the Keymer Tile Works, where production can be traced back to 1740. Quickslide’s vertical sliders were chosen to complement the site’s ethos to create a community of high-end homes that blend traditionally inspired detailing with stylish and comfortable modern design.
Quickslide supplied vertical sliders in white uPVC with a single astragal bar in both the top and bottom sash. No
sash horns were requested, to complete the heritage feel with a modern touch. Additionally, depending on their location, some windows also featured Quickslide’s enhanced PAS 24 security upgrade to comply with Document Q of the building regulations.
The King’s Weald project is a testament to the synergy between these three companies. Quickslide’s high-quality vertical sliders, Ideal Window Solutions’ expert installation, and Croudace Homes’ vision for a development that honours its historical roots while offering the best in modern living.
“Quickslide’s windows were perfect for the requirements of this project and competitively priced,” said Thom. “Quickslide’s buying process is one of the easiest we have ever used; the staff are professional and responsive, and their customer service is exceptional.
“I’d recommend Quickslide to any installer for their quality and first-class service,” Thom Emerson added. The success of this project demonstrates the strength of their collaboration and the high standards they uphold in the industry.
www.quickslide.co.uk
Edgetech Technology Takes Centre Stage At Cutting-Edge
Berkeley Campus
Edgetech spacer technology has helped create a functional and high-performance façade at Berkeley City College’s new Milvia Street Campus,
Architects at Ratcliff sought to create a welcoming and open environment, maximising natural daylight for energy efficiency.
The 6-storey building replaces an existing building in downtown Berkeley at 2118 Milvia Street. In addition to classrooms, it will house art studios, a library and
areas for student support and administration.
The building was planned and designed by Ratcliff Architects as part of a design-build partnership with XL Construction, with CS Erectors responsible for the facade consultation and installation.
And in executing their vision, the stakeholders relied on a unique structural glazing system –featuring state-of-the-art Edgetech technology, according to the company.
The design called for a uniform grey edge seal, because a traditional black seal would have disrupted the desired clean and transparent aesthetic.
The effect was achieved through a combination of light grey Super Spacer, grey butyl, and grey silicone.
Creating a uniform grey edge seal presented a technical challenge. AGC Interpane, the glass manufacturer, collaborated with Glaston to develop a world-first solution, claims the company. A “double-head applicator” was modified to automatically switch between black and grey butyl, streamlining the production process.
However, functionality wasn’t compromised for aesthetics, says the company. The lower portion of
the glass features a bird-friendly etched pattern, maintaining visual appeal while preventing collisions with the glass.
Additionally, the Super Spacer technology boasts superior thermal insulation properties, contributing to the building’s energy efficiency, according to the company.
Edgetech President of European Fenestration Chris Alderson comments:
“The Milvia Street Campus is yet another example of the incredible versatility of Super Spacer.
“In this building, and millions of others around the world,
Residence 9 Windows Chosen For Old Bank Transformation
26 original timber alternative windows from window and door designer, The Residence Collection, have been installed into a former bank as part of a new apartment project.
Partnering with installer Silent View Windows and fabricator CWG Choices, 26 Residence 9 windows were installed in the historic 18thcentury building in the centre of Thame Town High Street.
R9 windows in the popular Grained White colourway, featuring leaded glass, were used to
provide elements of 19th-century architectural design, replicating the style of the original structure. These windows offer modern functionality and energy efficiency, aligning with the preservation needs of the conservation area. Notably, R9 was the only timber alternative window that was approved during the planning process, according to the company.
The selected windows exceed British Building Regulation standards with a u-value of 1.2W/ m²K, offering A++ energy with double glazing as standard. The R9 collection, available in 21 colours, provides optimal insulation and energy savings, claims the company. For this project, Grained White was chosen, a colour that is one of The Residence Collection’s best sellers.
Enis Evlat, managing director at Silent View Windows, explained: “We are so pleased that the R9 windows perfectly replicate the style of the windows from 1910. These windows not only add to the aesthetics but also bring exceptional durability and energy efficiency.
“Our team took great pride in joining this project to seamlessly integrate each window to perfection. We’re thrilled to have been part of this project alongside The Residence Collection windows and fabricator CWG Choices”.
Edgetech technology is delivering outstanding energy efficiency, without compromising the architect’s vision.
“We’re certain staff and students will benefit from Super Spacer’s superb performance for decades to come.”
www.edgetechig.co.uk
Jo Trotman, marketing manager at The Residence Collection, commented: “This project is a perfect example of how the R9 windows can be used to replicate that heritage feel and look while still being high-performing and energy-efficient. This project opted for a window that perfectly complemented the building while still capitalising on all the other performance qualities that the R9 boasts.
“The transformation of the historic NatWest Bank offices into modern apartments presented a unique set of challenges and opportunities. Retaining the architectural integrity of the original structure was paramount, and the R9 windows provided an ideal solution by combining traditional aesthetics with cutting-edge functionality. The result is a seamless blend of old and new, honouring the building’s legacy while providing contemporary living spaces.
“Establishing quality partnerships is crucial to the delivery of our superior design, manufacturing, and installation services that we consistently provide to our customers. For this project, Silent View Windows and CWG Choices played pivotal roles in seamlessly executing this transformation. Their expertise and attention to detail ensured that every aspect of the window installation met our high standards. We look forward to future projects with them and to continuing to set benchmarks in the industry.”
https://bit.ly/3ToNhsN
Another Bread And Butter Job For Cornwall Glass Bristol
Cornwall Glass & Glazing recently completed a high-profile project in Wadebridge, Cornwall, which involved early design input, when the original structural design team left the project. This involved a close collaboration with the end client and their on-site team.
Wadebridge-based Malcolm Barnecutt Bakery approached the Truro branch of Cornwall Glass & Glazing to design, manufacture and install curtain walling with
entrance doors for its new bakery and café in Wadebridge. Initial conversations led the Truro team to bring in the expertise of the Bristol Team, who have vast onsite experience, headed by Branch Manager Neil Ford and assisted by their hands-on Glazing Manager Steve Lawler.
“Malcolm Barnecutt Bakery’s stylish new café on the outskirts of Wadebridge is a modern steel and glass building, which has
already become a local landmark,” Cornwall Glass & Glazing Director Barrie Gazzard said. “We were approached very early on in the design process, and we were able to offer a competitive cost framework, and workable solutions to how different elements of the building interfaced with each other.
“We were also able to offer a turnkey solution thanks to our close working relationship with our suppliers such as Source Aluminium Systems and Metador, who ended up supplying us the steel doors to fit on the project.
Bristol-based Source Aluminium Systems manufactured and supplied 145m2 of curtain walling using Senior Architectural Systems profile. Cornwall
Manufacturing (Plymouth) supplied 130m2 of specialist units consisting of 8.8mm laminate glass and 6mm toughened 176 SKN weighing up to 160kg per panel.
“Working closely with our supply partners, we helped to improve the overall aesthetics of the project,” Barrie said. “For example, where the lower section of the building met the upper section, we designed a solution where the frames passed the steel structure that ran around the building to give the impression of one continuous façade, rather than two separate ones.”
Once on site, Cornwall Glass & Glazing had to overcome site restrictions, including a soakaway that put weight restrictions in place, meaning an alternative lifting
plan was required.
This meant all glass had to be lifted into place by crane.
“Sparrow Crane Hire used a 60-ton crane at the rear of the property to lift all glass panels into place, with guidance from our fitting team,” Barrie said.
“We then met further complications when we tried drilling through 12mm steel using a Mag Drill – the magnet would not work on the steel as the fireretardant paint was too thick to allow this to work.
“We were met with various challenges as the project began to take shape and we pulled in resources from across the group to assist our colleagues at
Bristol – including our branches in Plymouth, Exeter and Truro – to ensure that we kept the project running to schedule, even as we were battered with high winds and rain.”
Malcom Barnecutt is a family run Cornish bakery, that has been making and supplying pasties, cakes, bread and other baked products to the region for more than 90 years.
The new shop in Wadebridge is its largest shop to date, where customers can enjoy indoor and outdoor seating, with views of the Cornish countryside.
For more information, please call 01726 66325 email info@cornwallglass.co.uk or log on at www.cornwallglass.co.uk .
Ultraroof
Provides Family With “Ideal” Extension
A family from Lancashire have totally transformed their downstairs living space with a fullwidth hup! and Ultraroof extension – which despite its impressive size and constant heavy rain during the build – was watertight in just four days.
The house was bought over 10
years ago at a time when the two children of the family were very young. Over time and with the children now in their teenage years, the family had simply outgrown the space but loved the area their home was in and didn’t want to move.
Commenting about this stunning
hup! project, Ultraframe marketing director, Alex Hewitt, said: “The reasons why the Hawksworth family wanted to extend their home are typical of many families. As children grow, our homes often become too small for that next stage of family life but moving is too expensive or inconvenient. This family had also felt that their home had always been missing a utility room to manage the laundry and cleaning equipment associated with a busy family away from their kitchen.
“By choosing hup! and Ultraroof for their new extension they have been able to add the valuable extra living space that they so needed in the form of a modern open plan space along with their much longed for utility room in an incredibly short period of time. The extension is 30sqm and is knocked through into the existing rooms on the back of the house, creating a huge sociable space that has totally changed how the family live in their home.
“Our Brand Ambassador, Laura Jane Clark, has been to visit and meet the family and she agreed that the new space is ideal for their family now and in the years ahead. She was especially drawn to the
huge full length glazed panels in the Ultraroof and of course, that they had incorporated a utility –something that Laura believes no home should be without!”
The incredible speed of a hup! build meant that this busy family experienced very little mess or disruption and were soon able to start living in their stunning new space.
Ultraframe says Ultraroof is a fantastic choice for projects such as this one where an external tiled finish is required, along with large areas of glazing to draw light into the room below. The popular tiled roof system offers a U-Value of 0.15 and can handle spans of doors up to 4m without additional support thanks to its ‘superior’ strength. According to Ultraframe, pairing Ultraroof with speedy hup! walls ensures a super-fast build as Ultraroof is the fastest solid roof on the market to install thanks to a host of features. Tiles are supplied in panels of 12 tiles, pre-cut to size and the roof itself is 100% prefabricated with no cutting required. Internally, no battening is required while an expandable panel and wide beam accommodate tolerances on site to further save time.
Externally, a choice of tile finishes and colours are available. These include Ultraroof slate tiles or shingle finish Metrotiles, which are currently on offer with a 20% discount vs Ultraroof slate.
Concluding, Alex said: “This project is a great example of how hup! extensions can totally transform family life without the many headaches associated with a traditional build. hup! and Ultraroof are a fantastic combination for extensions and conservatory conversions in a huge range of styles and sizes – and for those wanting a Metrotile finish, the current 20% saving on this finish offers fantastic value for money.”
https://bit.ly/3WiBr3F
Profile 22 Delivers Required Specification For Retirement Living Complex
Over 200 Profile 22 casement windows and over 100 doors have been specified and fitted at the Lavender Fields Care Village, a newly developed retirement living complex situated just outside Barmby Moor village in Yorkshire. The development includes a care home, 25 closecare bungalows and The Hub, a multifunctional facility featuring a bar, café, wellness centre, gym, hairdressers, nail bar/therapy centre, cinema, general store, post office, and multi-function room.
The main contractor for the project was Firecrest Construction Ltd. The window and door contract was awarded to Kingfisher uPVC Windows & Doors Ltd, an Epwin Window Systems Approved Commercial Partner. Given the extensive glazing requirements essential for maximising countryside views and ensuring thermal efficiency, the project demanded an experienced commercial fabricator. Kingfisher, an established business with over three decades of experience, was well-equipped to deliver exceptional results.
For this project, the windows and doors were manufactured using the award-winning Profile 22 system from Epwin Window Systems. The widely-specified system meets and exceeds all regulatory build requirements and
can achieve a 1.2 W/m2K U-value as standard. When using a tripleglazed unit filled with Argon gas, U-values as low as 0.8 W/m2K can be achieved, according to the company.
Kingfisher’s installation team collaborated closely with Firecrest Construction, phasing the installation of windows and doors as the buildings progressed. In The Hub, Kingfisher installed 55 windows, 50 doors, nine curtain wall screens, and 19 aluminium doors. In the 25 close-care bungalows, the team installed 149 windows, 25 sets of French doors and 25 composite doors.
The result is a high-end, selfsustaining retirement community offering residents independence and support as needed.
Deborah Beeley, sales and marketing manager at Kingfisher Windows, commented: “It was a privilege to be involved in creating this innovative retirement community. The high specification of the Profile 22 windows and doors ensures every building is thermally efficient, while the generous glazing makes the most of the countryside views for the residents. The project ran smoothly and we are delighted with the completed results.”
Stellar Aluminium windows and doors from Epwin Window Systems were selected for the high-end conversion of two barns in High Roding in Essex. The products were precisionmanufactured by Prestige Aluminium Essex Ltd and meticulously installed by local installer V. Fullalove Installations Ltd.Stellar Aluminium was selected for the project by the developer Chelsteen Homes because of its unique ability to deliver on all of the project’s demanding specifications, according to the company.
Energy efficiency was a key feature of the conversion, with
the barns using air source heat pumps and underfloor heating. Stellar windows and doors can achieve a U-value of 1.2 W/ (m²K) with triple glazing, the regulatory standard for the new build space, which meant they had all the credentials required, claims the company.
Aesthetics were a key consideration too, not least because expansive glazed elements were a central feature of the design. The system’s fully flush window option was used to deliver a sleek and understated appearance, while the Anthracite Grey colour used on both sides gave a crisp,
modern finish. At the same time, Stellar’s slim sightlines more than delivered on the remit to retain an abundance of natural light and put the spotlight on the surrounding countryside.
In total, Prestige Aluminium Essex and Fullalove Installations manufactured and installed 33 Stellar Fully Flush Casement Windows, four Stellar Slimline Bifold Doors, three Flush French Doors and three Flush Residential Doors. The centrepieces were two sets of bifold doors to the upper and lower front aspect.
Prestige Aluminium Essex and Fullalove Installations worked closely with the main contractor to ensure a seamless installation, which took just two weeks.
www.epwinwindowsystems.co.uk
Paris Balconies Bring Light And Views To Urban Spaces
Connecting indoor and outdoor spaces seamlessly has become a crucial requirement of modern architecture. Whether you’re in a bustling city apartment or a tranquil rural retreat, the ability to enjoy the view, flood interiors with natural light, and blend the boundaries between inside and out is key. The Paris Balcony system by CRL is designed not only to enhance natural light but also to prioritise safety and enhance aesthetic appeal.
At the heart of the Paris Balcony system is its frameless design, which creates a sleek and streamlined finish. Suitable for use with toughened laminated glass in thicknesses of 13.52mm, 17.52mm, and 21.52mm, the system offers clarity and durability. The 1200mm long profiles can be seamlessly integrated into various architectural structures, whether face fixed or reveal fixed to brickwork, concrete, or steel, says CRL.
With options available in both grey and white finishes, the Paris Balcony system is said by the company to ‘effortlessly blend with any design’.
The system also has a commitment to safety. Tested to comply with stringent building and safety regulations, including BS6180:2011, this system prioritises the well-being of its users without compromising on style. According to CRL, unlike
traditional balcony designs that rely on cumbersome railings, the Paris Balcony system opts for a minimalist approach, offering an uninterrupted view while ensuring the utmost security.
With no top cap rail required, the toughened laminated glass provides an additional layer of protection, assuring peace of mind for inhabitants.
Two recent installations by Bespoke Glass Services highlight the versatility and efficiency of the CRL Paris Balcony system. In the picturesque setting of Upper Cumberworth, a large barn conversion was fitted with two Paris Balconies, chosen for their minimalist design and seamless integration with existing aesthetics. The anthracite grey option worked perfectly with the timber-framed structure, while the absence of railings preserved the panoramic views.
Similarly, in Lower Cumberworth, a large semidetached house embraced the Paris Balcony system to maintain uninterrupted vistas over sprawling fields. Opting for the white finish ensured a cohesive look with the PVC windows, while the smooth reveal facilitated a hassle-free installation process.
In both instances, the CRL Paris Balcony system was said to have exceeded expectations, delivering not only on functionality but also on ease of installation. Compared to traditional methods involving point fixings, the Paris Balcony system offered a straightforward and swift installation process.
As urban landscapes continue to evolve, the demand for innovative architectural solutions that blur the boundaries between indoor and outdoor spaces looks set to increase. With its emphasis on maximising natural light, optimising views, and prioritising safety, the Paris Balcony system by CRL offers a contemporary solution.
www.crlaurence.co.uk
How Manufacturers Can Effectively Engage With Architects And Specifiers
By Kirsty Winter, General Manager, Insight Data Ltd
There is a common misconception within the architectural community: the belief that architects shy away from engaging with building product manufacturers. This perception, however, is untrue, as evidenced by a recent AIA study, which gathered responses from over 400 architects.
The study, titled “The Architect’s Journey to Specification: Rethinking the Relationship Between Architects and Manufacturers,” examined how architects choose products for their projects and how manufacturers can effectively capture their attention. Contrary to popular belief, architects heavily rely on manufacturers as a vital
resource in their decision-making process.
Surprisingly, the study uncovered a disconnect between architects’ preferences and manufacturers’ marketing strategies, with only around 60% of manufacturers recognising the architects’ desire for proactive engagement and relationship-building.
Not only that, but an overwhelming 88% of architects emphasised the significance of forging strong relationships with manufacturers is important to their success.
This suggests that there’s an enormous opportunity for manufacturers to effectively market to a willing audience of architects and designers to help secure product specifications. While
some may advocate for a passive approach, waiting for architects to request information, the reality is that architects are always seeking insights into new products and materials to stay ahead of evolving design trends. Being proactive in reaching out ensures that manufacturers remain top-of-mind and increases their chances of being considered for projects.
That said, understanding the nuances of architectural preferences is fundamental to crafting a successful marketing strategy. Manufacturers must ask questions such as:
– What criteria do architects prioritise when selecting building materials and furnishings?
– How do architects seek out product information, and where do they find it?
– At what stage of the project do architects seek out product specification?
– Who are the key-decision makers, and how can manufacturers effectively reach them?
Establishing robust connections with architects and designers is the first step in creating a wellinformed marketing strategy and the key to answering these all-important questions. By continually educating themselves about architects’ preferences and needs, manufacturers can position themselves as indispensable allies in the design process.
Soliciting feedback, understanding project requirements, and maintaining open lines of communication are pivotal steps in nurturing these relationships.
All of this can be achieved and is made easily available to those who utilise the Insight Data Architects Marketing Database. Providing all the necessary information to help you target decision makers
within the architectural sector by telephone, post and email, our prospect data allows businesses to connect with architect firms as well as solo practitioners early in the design process – enabling communication at the design stage of a project, and the opportunity for your products and services to be written into the project specification.
With over 18,700 architects active in the UK build environment (boasting 20,600 verified and updated email contacts), you can easily segment and target architects across a range of sectors and sub-sectors, including public, private commercial projects, large-scale developments, residential housing and more.
The architects database is made available through Salestracker, Insight Data’s live online prospect database. From there, users can build tailored data lists that suit the size and scale of their business, targeting architects in their local area or even nationwide.
The architects database makes up one of Insight Data’s five key databases. Customers can also gain access to accurate prospect data and marketing intelligence for housebuilders, local builders, main contractors and businesses in the glass and glazing industry. In total, Insight Data offers realtime data for over 80,000 potential customers across the fenestration and wider construction industries.
As the architectural landscape continues to evolve, staying ahead of design trends and building strong relationships is more crucial than ever. By leveraging the Insight Data Architects Marketing Database, manufacturers can bridge the gap between their products and the architects who specify them.
For more information contact Insight via email at hello@insightdata.co.uk
Epwin Window Systems Introduces 360º Showroom
Epwin Window Systems has introduced a new sales and marketing tool: an immersive 360º showroom tour that showcases its comprehensive product range.
Gerald Allen, head of marketing at Epwin Window Systems, said: “By leveraging the power of 3D technology, we now offer an immersive experience that allows our customers and prospects to explore everything our products have to offer.”
The tour is accessible on the Epwin Window Systems website and its online digital portal, Connect. It’s a 3D digital twin of the company’s new showroom at its headquarters in Telford, Shropshire. The platform provides users with a 360 degree capture of the showroom, with the ability to click on each product and view detailed specifications. Users can also book an in-person tour that includes the showroom, extrusion and finishing plants, warehouse and distribution centre.
Gerald explains: “We know that businesses prefer to conduct thorough online research before
reaching out to a prospective supplier. Our virtual showroom simplifies this process, allowing them to see the aesthetics and technical excellence of all our products in detail, anytime and anywhere. And when they’re ready to take the next step and visit in person, we’ve made that as easy as possible too.”
Besides benefitting prospective fabricators and installers, Gerald highlights how the immersive 3D tour will be useful for existing customers’ sales processes. He added: “The tour will be an invaluable sales tool for showing architects, specifiers and consumers how good Epwin Window Systems’ products look in situ.”
He continued. “Whilst nothing beats visiting our showroom in person, our virtual experience is the next best thing. It also extends the shelf life of any customer or prospect visit as they can go back and re-immerse themselves in the detail at a later date.”
Hallmark Doors Challenges Industry Conformity With New Website
The Consultancy has just completed one of its biggest ever bespoke website projects for Hallmark Doors and Panels –but has already started making changes to it.
That’s not because Hallmark don’t love the new website though or because it’s not doing a good job attracting visitors and generating enquiries, it’s because Hallmark take the view that their website is an ongoing process and not a oneoff project.
Hallmark Doors work in such close partnership with The Consultancy that the team there have become like an extension of their in-house IT and marketing departments, constantly honing the website and implementing incremental
improvements to the dedicated ordering portal and bespoke online door designers.
Hallmark commented: “We make big investments in our online presence and have no doubt about what [it] brings us in terms of return. We joined forces with The Consultancy in 2017 and since then we’ve seen remarkable levels of growth year on year. We’ve just been named on the list of the top 50 fastest growing companies in Yorkshire – and we’re set for another successful year of growth despite the tough trading conditions.
“We’ve also won three NFA Awards in a row. And that’s in part because our online presence, user-friendly website and online quoting and
ordering systems make us a really easy company to do business with – and frees our operational and customer service departments to deliver proactive improvements in our performance elsewhere.”
The new Hallmark website is deliberately more retail focused than the one it replaces – although all the trade-friendly portals and designers are still there. The reason for that is that Hallmark wants to increase the thousands of retail enquiries it already generates online every year and pass even more leads onto customers.
Hallmark added: “In our industry, there are a lot of businesses doing very similar things in their marketing, but we’ve always taken the view that we need to look beyond this industry in order to create stand out for ourselves and our customers. That’s why our entire online presence is benchmarked against retail and Blue-Chip brands rather than against any of our competitors.
“The Consultancy have always embraced our ambition and the new website is a really impressive
showcase for their creative ability and understanding of retail buying habits. The fact that they know this industry inside out is incredibly helpful because they totally understand all the key touchpoints for trade buyers and have all the specialist technical knowledge we need. However, they’ve still been able to create something which wouldn’t look out of place for a High Street retailer and gives us real stand out from what everyone
else is doing.”
Pete Lancaster, The Consultancy’s head creative, added: “We work with the Hallmark team virtually every day to deliver ongoing marginal gains which, over time, really add up. They track and report every trivial pinch point that customers experience, and we work on a solution for them.
“The scale of the Hallmark website and the investment it represents
NWD Exhibit At Housing 2024 In The Nix Of Time
When a late opportunity came up for Nationwide Windows & Doors (NWD) to have a stand at the Housing 2024 exhibition, it was up to marketing agency Nix Collective to design and coordinate the project with less than two months until show week.
Taking place at Manchester Central, the exhibition is the biggest event in the housing calendar for local authorities, housing associations, key partners and suppliers, government, housebuilders, developers, and the wider living sector.
Nix Collective, working closely with Nationwide, created a
contemporary stand design that featured the internal and external elements of a property in the style of an architect drawing.
It also included a 50/50 composite door from DoorCo with glazing courtesy of RegaLead, full Kubu smart security set up, and its very own cafe named Coffee With Kev, inviting visitors to have a beverage with Nationwide’s director of commercial sales, Kevin Caveney.
“We’re really pleased with how the stand looked, it made a big impact,” said Nikki Dunbar, founder of Nix Collective. “It was great to be given such an ambitious challenge to turn
is obviously not for everyone. But what I hope it demonstrates is the tangible commercial benefits that can be achieved if you really focus on making the most of your online presence, regardless of your budget – and put your trust in The Consultancy as your online partners.”
More details at: https://www.hallmarkpanels.com/ and https://www.theconsultancy.co.uk
around a project like this in such little time, but I had absolute confidence we could do it.
“Between us, we’ve had lots of experience in exhibitions over the years. Everything from liaising with organisers, stand builders, hospitality, suppliers, etc, comes as second nature to us, so it was quite easy really.
“Also, because we’ve got such a great knowledge of Nationwide, it enabled us to be on the stand and talk to visitors.”
Dave Gomersall, head of retail sales at Nationwide, said: “It was great having Nix Collective on the Housing 2024 journey with us, not just over the three days of the event, but over the couple of months leading up to it.
“From the initial briefing, to the stand design, and overseeing the stand build, they’ve just been amazing – and that’s before I mention the countless hours of conversations, messages and tweaking, to make sure everything was just right!
“I’d like to say a huge thanks to the Nix Collective team, especially Nikki, for being as incredible as ever in all things creative, for bringing the vision to life, and for putting up with me constantly changing my mind. We couldn’t have done it without you guys.”
www.nixcollective.co.uk
The Nix Collective (from left) Nikki Dunbar, Simon Owen, and Cassie Yardley-Horne on the Nationwide Windows stand at Housing 2024
Interactive 3D House Is Centrepiece Of New Website
By Saint-Gobain Glass
An interactive 3D render of a stunning home is the centrepiece of a new website launched by Saint-Gobain Glass. The new website www.saint-gobain-glass. co.uk combines the existing Tech Hub, Glassolutions and Saint-Gobain Glass websites into one seamless, user-friendly experience.
The interactive house helps visitors explore how glass can be used in both interior and exterior applications to create inspirational and comfortable living spaces. The innovative tool showcases Saint-Gobain’s glazing solutions in various design contexts, helping fabricators and installers sell the benefits of a wide range of glass products to homeowners in a visually appealing way.
Steve Severs, managing director at Saint-Gobain Glass, explains: “The interactive house features hotspots to showcase the different types of glass we recommend for windows, sliding doors, roof lights, mirrors, shelving, partitions and shower screens. You can also select different types of glass in application to visually see the difference between our available options.
“This new platform has been designed with our customers and end-users in mind, featuring integrated accessibility options to ensure a seamless experience for all users. For example, it includes features such as dyslexiafriendly text and ADHD focus areas, making it more accessible for anyone with specific requirements.”
The website will also serve as a central information hub for educational and marketing assets such as case studies, brochures, and product details.
The company’s sustainability efforts and its commitment to the Saint-Gobain Net Zero 2050 initiative plus its award winning Glass Forever glass recycling programme feature strongly on the new website.
Steve adds: “Glass makes up 70% of a window so it’s important that fabricators and installers understand its technical capabilities and the choices that exist for homeowners. Our new website, and the interactive house in particular, will help visitors make better, more informed buying decisions, as they look to create more comfortable, stylish and sustainable homes.”
Visit the new website here: www.saint-gobain-glass.co.uk
Take a tour of the interactive house here: https://bit.ly/4fguZTo
SafeGuard
Glass And Glazing Goes Posh, Announcing Two-Year Sponsorship
Deal With Peterborough United FC
SafeGuard Glass and Glazing is match-fit for the season ahead, scoring a two-year sponsorship deal and becoming an Official Club Partner at Peterborough United FC.
Nick Welsh, managing director of SafeGuard Glazing Supplies said of the deal: “We’re a business based in Peterborough and
even though we operate on a national scale, it’s important to us to continue to support sport in the local area. We can’t wait to kick-off our association with Peterborough United, the football club is at the very heart of the city and community we are delighted to support Posh in building on the success of last season.”
Roseview Backs Team Seasoar
In 3,000 Mile
Rowing Challenge
Sash window manufacturer
Roseview Windows is backing Team Seasoar in their quest to row across the Atlantic Ocean.
The team are taking part in The World’s Toughest Row, which starts in the San Sebastian de la Gomera in the Canary Islands on 12th December. It will then take at least 30 days to row the 3,000 miles across the Atlantic to the finishing line in Antigua.
Throughout the challenge the team of four will row for 24 hours a day, with each team member rowing for two hours and sleeping for two hours in rotation.
As part of the challenge Team Seasoar are raising money for Lyme Disease UK (LDUK). LDUK supports people living with the sometimes devastating effects of Lyme disease. They also provide support for affected families and
As part of the signing, SafeGuard will get its branding on the jumbo screen, the pitch side LED screen plus a spot in the printed fixture booklet. To seal the deal, exfootballer and now commercial executive at Peterborough United, Bobby Copping, visited the company’s HQ with the EFL Trophy.
Bobby said: “I’m excited to welcome Nick and the team at Safeguard Glazing Supplies on board as an Official Club Partner in a two-year agreement. We are looking forward to building a successful partnership together.”
As an opening offer for local supporters, SafeGuard Glass and Glazing will also be giving Posh fans a 10% saving on orders of glass and glazing if they bring a copy of last season’s matchday programme with them to the Peterborough showroom, the offer is valid until the day of the first match of the 2024/25 Sky Bet League One season. www.safe-guard.co.uk/
raise awareness of Lyme disease in the UK.
Roseview heard about Team Seasoar at the G23 Awards, when one of their guests – well known industry figure Sam Weber –mentioned his participation.
Discussing the challenge, Sam said: “I’ve climbed Kilimanjaro and taken part in an SAS jungle survival course in the Amazon, but rowing across the Atlantic will be my toughest challenge yet! The World’s Toughest Row will push our physical and mental strength to the limit. We’re expecting waves that measure up to 20 feet high, and on average we’ll lose 12kg each, while burning 5,000 calories. By the time the challenge starts we’ll have been training for more than 18 months.”
www.teamseasoar.co.uk
www.roseview.co.uk
DGCOS Nominated As Finalist In The BIBAs Awards For The Second Consecutive Year
The Double Glazing & Conservatory Ombudsman Scheme (DGCOS), as part of QA Scheme Support Services, has announced their nomination as a finalist in the Leadership Team of the Year category at the Be Inspired Business Awards (BIBAs), Lancashire’s business awards. This is the second year running that the organisation has made it to the finals, last time in the Employer of the Year category.
Faisal Hussain, chief executive of DGCOS, expressed his delight at the nomination, “We are honoured to be recognised by the BIBAs, once again. This nomination reflects our commitment to excellence and the dedication of our senior leadership team and people-centric strategy. It highlights our focus on fostering a positive work culture and
enhancing operational efficiencies.
“Central to our approach is a strong emphasis on respect, integrity, teamwork, and communication at all levels of the organisation. Our success is built on the principle that a motivated workforce leads to superior service delivery, increased productivity, and ultimately, greater customer satisfaction. This all starts with the leadership team who have cemented this approach through targeted training and quarterly offsite senior management sessions.
“At DGCOS, it’s not just about business; we prioritise our staff’s wellbeing. We’ve implemented Mental Health Awareness Days and appointed three trained Mental Health First Aiders (MHFA) to support our team. Additionally,
we’ve enhanced employee engagement through personalised tokens of appreciation and teambuilding activities, which have significantly boosted motivation and reduced staff turnover.
“Customer satisfaction will continue to remain at our forefront, with high standards of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) in place to ensure effective service delivery. Our KPIs include maintaining an average wait time of less than 20 seconds for answering calls and responding to emails within two working days. These standards are upheld through rigorous quality control measures. For me, it’s all about being transparent and accountable.
“Being a BIBAs awards finalist is a massive honour, but it’s about recognising the effort our collective teams put in every single day. Winning would be the real validation of our commitment to making DGCOS a place where excellence thrives.”
installers.dgcos.org.uk
Faisal Hussain
Ecoslide’s Finest Showcased In Installation Of The Month Competition
Sash window experts Victorian Sliders have announced the relaunch of their popular Installation of the Month competition.
The thriving business is inviting its valued installers to submit highquality photographs that showcase
their latest Ecoslide installations.
Entries will be judged on their craftsmanship, attention to detail, and overall visual appeal.
Each month, the winning installer will receive a free window up to the value of £380 the next time
Latest Award Shows Innovation Is ‘Core Ethos’
they place an order of at least two windows.
For Victorian Sliders, it’s a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the exceptional work of its valued installer customers, and showcase its EcoSlide sash window.
“We’re thrilled to bring back our Installation of the Month competition,” comments Sue Davies, head of sales at Victorian Sliders.
“We take immense pride in the quality of our products, and seeing them expertly installed in stunning homes across the country is extremely rewarding.
“We’d like to encourage as many of our customers as possible to take part – it’s a great way to gain recognition for your expertise, and showcase your work to a wider audience!”
https://bit.ly/3WmnBwW
UAP Ltd takes home GAI Community Award for ‘major growth drive’ in company innovation
This year’s Guild of Architectural Ironmongery Member’s Day proved successful for UAP as the team took home the coveted Company Innovation trophy at the event’s Community Awards.
The accolade is reserved for companies that can demonstrate innovation through improvement in processes, which will in turn improve the company, its customers or the wider society. Speaking of UAP’s validation of this, the award judges said the hardware manufacturer was a “great entry that demonstrates innovation being a core ethos for the company; certainly on a major growth drive and putting it in the infrastructure, products and real estate to deliver it.”
UAP national sales director, Barry Halpin who collected the award said: ”It’s great to be recognised for our innovations as a business. I’m so proud of everyone at UAP, and another amazing achievement and recognition for the hard work the whole team put in.”
News of the award came shortly after UAP – and sister company FDM – were shortlisted for eight NFAs later this year, marking a grand start to 2024’s awards season. www.uapcorporate.com
Veka Celebrations
In ‘Top Gear’ For Independent Network
Members of Veka’s Independent Network celebrate partnership and success with an awards event at the Belfry hosted by special guest, Perry McCarthy a.k.a. ‘The Stig’.
UK PVCu supplier, Veka plc, hosted its annual Independent Network Awards on Thursday 18 July as part of a day-long event to celebrate the industry’s ‘best of the best’ window and door installers.
Founded in 1996, Veka’s Independent Network was created to put transparency and trust at the heart of the fenestration industry, with a commitment to the highest standard of craftsmanship and customer service, according to the company.
Businesses nominated in the highly acclaimed Independent Network Awards were selected on the basis of customer satisfaction and feedback in 2023.
This year’s winners included:
The Sales Award (£500k to £750k) – Michael McCoy M&M Windows Ltd
The Sales Award (£750k to £1m) – Stuart Boulton Goliath Home World Limited
The Sales Award (Over £1m) – Alex Dukes CRK Windows Ltd
National Customer Satisfaction (under £250k) – Mews Windows
National Customer Satisfaction (£250k – £600k) –Prestige Plastics
National Customer Satisfaction (£600K – £900K) –Yorkshire Warm Roofs Ltd
National Customer Satisfaction (£900K-£1.5M) –Carroll’s Windows & Door Solutions Ltd
National Customer Satisfaction (£1.5m-£3m) – West Norfolk Glass Ltd
National Customer Satisfaction award (£3m+) –Thistle Windows & Conservatories Ltd.
Long Service Recognition Award – (28 years) Heavers of Bridport
A host of businesses also made the prestigious Veka Independent Network’s ‘100% Club’ – meaning that they achieved 100% customer satisfaction in 2023:
Bahama Windows Ltd
Cambs Windows & Home Improvements
C & G Windows
D Cannon Windows Ltd
DJ Glazing LTD
Ffenestri Kevin Thomas Windows Ltd
Halls Property Services Ltd
K P Double Glazing Ltd
Mews Windows
My Room Bespoke Spaces Limited
Northfield Glass Centre Limited
Penrith Windows Ltd
Qualplas Ltd
R & G Glass and Glazing Limited
The Window Shop (Midlands) Ltd
Vantage Windows and Doors Ltd
Waterside Windows Ltd
West Coast Windows (SW) Ltd
Yorkshire Warm Roofs Ltd
Veka’s unique approach to customer relations defines its fabricators and installers as partners explains commercial director, Tim Taylor: “Our relationship with our partners is central to our success, and theirs.
“Together we grow and drive the industry forward, so it’s good to get together to celebrate Veka’s Independent Network and everything it achieves.”
“We are a family-owned business and that ethos spreads beyond the Veka walls and into our relationships with the incredible fabricators and installers we work alongside.”
Veka showcased its continued commitment to its customers at a luxurious event at the award-winning Belfry Hotel and Resort in Royal Sutton Coldfield.
Attendees were treated to brunch in the Belfry’s legendary Warwick Suite, before a welcome presentation and the Network’s Annual General Meeting. Leisure activities commenced shortly after with members choosing between a round of golf on the PGA course, a pamper session at the spa or a driving range lesson with afternoon tea.
In the evening guests enjoyed a champagne reception, with special-guest, British racing driver, best-selling author and original Top Gear ‘Stig’, Perry McCarthy, opening the ceremony – delivering a true highlight on the fenestration industry calendar.
The event also successfully raised an incredible £6750 for Pendleside Hospice, a charity close to Veka’s Burnley HQ, which provides an invaluable service to its patients and their families.
www.veka.co.uk
Caribbean Blinds Celebrates Victory At Prestigious Business Awards Ceremony
One of the UK’s best-known suppliers of luxury external shadings systems has taken top honours at a prestigious awards event.
Suffolk-based Caribbean Blinds has been manufacturing premium patio awnings, louvered pergolas and external blinds to residential, commercial and trade clients across the country since 1987.
The company was honoured for its work at the recent East Anglian Daily Times Business Awards 2024, where it was awarded Medium Business of the Year.
This year’s event, held at Kesgrave Hall, near Ipswich, was based around the theme of sustainability, and Caribbean Blinds rose to the challenge of proving their credentials by demonstrating how they prioritise this at their headquarters.
Recycling all waste produced, route optimisation for installations, transitioning to electric vehicles and future plans for solar power generation are just some of the proactive ways the innovative British manufacturer is making positive changes to its operations.
Since opening for business almost 40 years ago, Caribbean Blinds has been known for its commitment to quality through all levels of its manufacturing process, creating sought-after products that stand the test of time.
Stuart Dantzic, MD of Caribbean Blinds, said: “We’re delighted to have won this award, which pays tribute not only to our firm commitment to Suffolk, but also to the way we work and the quality of the products we offer. www.cbsolarshading.co.uk
‘Future Ready Together’ –Eurocell’s Fabricator Forum Serves As A Platform For Growth
‘Future ready together’ was the theme of this year’s Eurocell Fabricator Forum, which was attended by over 80 Fabricators determined to grow their businesses.
Eurocell’s message to its fabricator partners was one of unity, and that its market-leading technical expertise, innovation and vision will support fabricators with the knowledge, tools and products they need to grow.
The power of partnership and working together was highlighted throughout all the presentation sessions. With early signs of growth already visible and industry challenges beginning to ease, the potential for success is clear.
This year’s forum was Eurocell’s biggest to date, taking place in June at Pride Park Stadium in Derby. The system house launched a number of products,
initiatives and exclusive benefits for its fabricator partners as well as running through its strategic vision.
This included the recently announced ‘Eurocell Grow’, an industry leading fabricator partner programme, to help fabricators grow their business and stand out in their markets.
CEO, Darren Waters, who delivered a presentation on Investing for the Future at the forum, believes the event highlighted the power of collaboration and the resilience of the industry, he said;
“It was a fantastic day and there was a real buzz and energy. The response we’ve had from partners indicates that they feel we are on the same page and all working together to drive innovation, share best practices, and ultimately support the success of our businesses and industry following a tough period.”
The forum featured several key sessions including
• Gary Driscoll, sales and commercial director at Eurocell and host for the forum, kicked off the proceedings with a detailed snapshot of the market and shared updates from the Eurocell Technical Panel.
• Ian Kernaghan, head of new products, design & development at Eurocell, spoke on ‘Innovation and Sustainability,’ detailing upcoming sustainability initiatives.
• Martin Benn, head of new build at Eurocell, presented ‘Adapting for Tomorrow,’ discussing the changing regulatory landscape and how Eurocell is prepared to meet these challenges.
• Sean Bunyan, head of commercial operations at Eurocell, shared insights on ‘Inspirational Lifestyle Products,’ highlighting growth opportunities in Garden Rooms, EurXtensions,
The marketing team, James Bosley, senior marketing manager
Eurocell CEO Darren Waters speaking at Eurocell’s Fabricator Forum
and Kiran Slater, marketing manager, officially launched the new Eurocell Grow Programme for fabricators and shared the benefits on offer to Fabricators.
Nick Trueman, general manager at fabricator, Direct Window Supplies, who attended the forum, said the event was a great chance to network; “It’s good to see industry colleagues outside the typical day-to-day, share ideas and go back with opportunities to reinvigorate the business to drive sales and growth heading towards next year.”
Robert Waller, southern sales director at Lister Windows, also felt the event provided real value to his team, he said; “It’s very important for our business to have community, to talk innovation and taking the time to get people together is absolutely key to success.”
• External speakers were also in attendance at the forum and included:
• Alex Lewis and Leon James from Renolit, who discussed upcoming colour trends.
Michael Butterick, marketing director at Saint Gobain-Glass, provided insights from the Energy House 2.0 project, featuring Eurocell Modus windows in state-of-the-art, real-world testing environments to assess thermal, air tightness, and noise reduction performance.
Gary Driscoll added: “We are ready to provide our fabricators with forward-thinking products, tools and initiatives, as our announcements demonstrated during the event. Future-ready together underpins our support for our partners and we are all excited about bringing success to our fabricators in the coming months.”
www.eurocell.co.uk. Highlights of the event are available on this video.
New Introductions At Deceuninck VBH Golf Day
Eighty customers of Deceuninck and VBH enjoyed wall to wall sunshine at this year’s annual Golf Day at the Bowood PGA Golf Course in Wiltshire in July, with a team from Window Warehouse winning the team prize.
Guests were also introduced to Deceuninck’s new general manager, Darren Woodcock, who has picked up the reins from Rob McGlennon. Rob has stepped into a new leadership role as commercial director.
Returning to the clubhouse, golfers reported that the recent heavy rain had slowed the course, which made competition tough.
With 94 points, a team from Window Warehouse took the top prize: Remi Cake, David Heath, Mark Russell and Daniel Reader.
Remi Cake also won the individual prize with 40 points, while Daniel Reader won Nearest the Pin on the 17th. Andrew Lewis recorded the longest drive on the 3rd.
A team from MB Frames won second place with 87 points:
And a team from Spectral Windows and Central Windows took third place with 86 points: Gary Morton, Tom Redfern, Phil Redfern and Trevor Rodwell.
Prizes were presented by Dries Moors, Deceuninck’s European managing director.
Golfers also faced an extra challenge on the 2nd hole, where they had to navigate a series of trick shots presented by professional Dean Davis, including high tee-shots and bouncy ball antics.
“As with previous years, The Deceuninck VBH Golf Day is a highlight of the social calendar, and I’m glad that so many people could join us to celebrate another successful year,” Rob said. “While some business was conducted, the Golf Day is also a great opportunity to unwind and catch up socially.”
www.deceuninck.co.uk
Paul Young, Phil Purnell, Andy Burns and Tim Drewery.
Deceuninck Highlights Big Shifts In Consumer Behaviour
New research by Deceuninck has highlighted significant shifts in enduser behaviour and purchasing decisions in the post-covid era.
The study commissioned by Deceuninck and conducted by leading pollster YouGov, pinpointed significant changes in attitudes to home improvements and the companies that homeowners choose to work with.
Previewed exclusively to Deceuninck customers at its annual Customer Day, findings highlighted differing priorities for spend for homeowners defined by age and property type.
Rob McGlennon, managing
director of Deceuninck, said: “What’s clear is that a lot of homeowners delayed spend in the second half of 2023 as household incomes were placed under pressure by high inflation.
“That’s been reflected in the industry in tougher trading conditions at the end of last year and into this.
“The flip side of that is that with easing inflation and cuts in the best rate likely from this summer, trading conditions are improving and that is likely to lead to a release of latent demand in the second half of this year.
“Understanding what makes
the end-user tick, what they’re looking for in terms of product, service and supplier – and how age impacts that – gives anyone operating in a retail environment a distinct advantage.”
Deceuninck will be releasing the findings of its latest survey later this summer.
Chris Jones, sales director at Deceuninck, highlighted its continuing dominance in colour and the growth of flush casements, which account for 62% and 40% of its sales respectively.
He argued that anthracite grey remained dominant, within the 196 colour pathways it supplied last year. Deceuninck currently offers 30 plus colour and finish options from stock.
Darren Woodcock, operations director, highlighted Deceuninck’s continuing investment in its UK manufacturing operation.
This includes the addition of a brand new exelliq Manufacturing
4.0. DIGI.LINE automated digital extrusion line. Installed in March and April this year the leadingedge solution gives the UK, what is described as Europe’s most advanced co-extrusion line, significantly increasing capacity while bringing even accuracy to manufacture.
Deceuninck has established a lead on sustainability based on its’ commitment to the Science Based Targets (SBTi) programme, with a headline pledge to cut the CO2 emissions from its own operations (Scope 1&2) by 60% by 2030 from a 2021 baseline.
As part of this commitment Darren
said that Deceuninck had also installed 2,200 solar panels on the roof of its Calne facility. This will generate 895,762 kWh of clean energy a year and saves almost half a million tons of CO2.
He said that Deceuninck had also upgraded its existing water chilling system, reducing its carbon output by 550 cubic metres per year in the process.
Customers were also given an overview of how changes under the Future Homes Standard were likely to impact the industry from the GGF’s Kevin Jones, as well as an update on Deceuninck’s digital marketing toolkit.
Quickslide Customer Days Heralded a Resounding Success
Quickslide, has just wrapped up a two-month tour across the UK, bringing informative events directly to customers in their local areas. Throughout April and May, Quickslide hosted engaging workshops in South London, North London, Birmingham, Leeds, Bristol, and Glasgow.
Adrian Barraclough, chairman of Quickslide, shared his enthusiasm: “Supporting installation businesses is crucial, as they are right on the front lines and often rely on the support
of proactive suppliers. With our focus always firmly on people, we wanted to offer that support face to face and give our installer customers a rare opportunity to get together with their peers, as well as learn about new products and marketing support from the Quickslide team.
“The events were a huge success, attracting an average of 30 attendees each, with a total of 180 participants from 93 different companies. Customers were particularly captivated by Quick-
This gives Deceuninck customers including fabricators and installers, access to a wide range of marketing collateral including imagery, brochures, a ready-to-go CRM system and lead generation dashboard.
“The market is a little tougher but the investments that we’re making – in our product and service offer, infrastructure and support – put our customers and their customers in the best possible position for the inevitable return to growth as latent demand is released later this year”, Rob concluded.
www.deceuninck.co.uk
Glide, our innovative slide and fold door system, and the refined Legacy vertical slider featuring the new slim midrail. The firsthand demos of the Legacy OnScreen web tool were met with excitement, and based on the positive feedback, we’re already planning something similar for Quick-Glide.”
Adrian concluded: “Installers are busy people, so taking time out of their working day needs to be worthwhile. With new products on display, market insights, marketing support, peer networking, Q&As with our service engineer, and of course a breakfast roll to boot, we made every customer day valuable and enjoyable. But don’t just take my word for it – I’ll leave the final word to one of our customers.”
Director at Crystal Clear in Bristol, James, said: “Quickslide as a group are almost like an extension to our family. Everybody’s always helpful and everyone wants to deal with us to get it right. This morning’s customer event has been great in terms of fantastic products coming up, a new window we really, really love, and the software is amazing.”
www.quickslide.co.uk
Building Our Skills Hails Training Success For Eighteen-Year-Old
Eighteen-year-old Oliver Wells may only have been in the fenestration industry for a couple of years, but already he has been awarded a Distinction upon passing the Apprenticeship Standard in Fenestration Installation Level 2. ‘Ollie’ – as he is known to friends and colleagues – is on track for more success thanks to a great work ethic and thirst for training and career progression.
The young Fitter at Harveys Windows & Conservatories in Leicester is being supported by employers who are keen to nurture his talents and help him develop and attain the skills and qualifications he needs to forge a successful career in the industry.
Sally Roberts, one of the directors at the company says: “Huge congratulations to Ollie. He’s a great example of someone who is going places in the fenestration industry. Here at Harveys we’re committed to staff development, and we strongly believe that training and the achievement of vocational qualifications is the way
Apprentice
forward in this regard.
“That’s why we’re advocates of the work being done by Building Our Skills and why we’re very pleased to be representatives on their Advisory Panel.
“We strongly recommend other companies in the industry get on board and support Building Our Skills’ aims of attracting new talent to the fenestration industry and nurturing those employees we already have.
“We need to see more young people like Ollie going down the apprenticeship route so that we can all help to safeguard high standards in the industry.”
Ollie adds: “Getting the qualification has been really good for me. I had coursework to do where I learnt all about building regs, health and safety and risk assessments – things you wouldn’t necessarily learn about just being out on site. Then, I had to have my practical work assessed too. It’s been a great experience and I
think training and qualifications are the way to go for me. I just want to keep on learning. Maybe one day I’ll then have my own business!”
Ollie’s training was provided by Glass & Fenestration Training Solutions (GFTS). A range of courses offered by GFTS includes an introduction to fenestration for beginners, window and door installation, curtain wall and glass technology, intermediate and advanced programmes, along with specialist opportunities and surveying, in addition to theoretical training options. GFTS’s practical training centres offer handson, real-world training in the fenestration industry.
Samantha Tinker, GFTS’s director of business and quality who also sits on the BOS advisory panel says: “Congratulations to Ollie from us here at GFTS too. It’s great to see Harveys supporting its staff through apprenticeships. Qualifications and good-quality training are a means of helping learners to carve out a career in the industry and help business managers to retain their staff and compete competitively. We’re very pleased to be part of Building Our Skills’ network of training providers.”
www.buildingourskills.co.uk
Oliver (Ollie) Wells
Refresh For ADSA Academy
The ADSA Academy – the online learning platform for members of the Automatic Door Suppliers Industry – has undergone a radical revamp with improved levels of functionality and personalisation.
The site, which boasts more than 60 courses – free of charge and pay per click, is now easier to navigate and will enable the Association to create and host more industry-specific content.
The changes have been implemented to give learners “greater ownership” and features a personalised dashboard to support continuous professional development and aid navigation. There is also a new look and feel –bringing the Academy in line with ADSA’s corporate identity and design style.
The upgrade will also enable ADSA to streamline in-house processes: the platform boasts enhanced security features to support the management of member data, records and course bookings.
ADSA MD Ken Price said that the decision to improve the facility came about as part of a continuous review of ADSA processes and output. The Academy was first launched in 2019 and although additional course content was added over the years, it remained “fundamentally the same”.
“It was time for us to refresh the platform and technology advancements have given us a chance to make fundamental improvements which will also support future growth and development,” he said.
Conservatory Outlet Continues to Expand Its Apprenticeship Programme
Conservatory Outlet is celebrating the continued success of its apprenticeship programme.
After investing a six-figure sum into developing the skills of young professionals in West Yorkshire last year, the firm has seen the number of apprenticeships and those undertaking official training within the company grow by 25%.
The firm has also recently created two brand-new positions for two young graduates, Sam Allen (Finance Assistant) and Ben Bradbury
(Order Processor) who have recently passed their AAT Level 2 and Business Admin Level 3 courses respectively.
Karen Starkey, head of HR at Conservatory Outlet, commented: “As one of Wakefield’s largest employers, we believe it is critical to offer new opportunities and development pathways for our staff and the local community.
“As we continue to grow and evolve as a business, we look to the future. Apprentices are the best way of doing this and we actively promote our apprenticeship programme to
The new Academy will launch this month (July) with a roll-out of enhancements over the next few weeks. For existing users, new login credentials will be issued but learning records and certifications will be migrated to the new site.
In addition to improved personalisation – including user learning history and performance records – the site also has better configuration on mobile devices.
Over the past five years, more than 3000 people have used the online platform – completing an average of three courses per person, totalling in excess of 9000 completed courses.
Added Ken: “As our membership has grown, so has use of our Academy. We have seen a growth of over 20 per cent, year-onyear, since its introduction. Many members now consider its free of charge content to be essential CPD for their teams.”
For more information of ADSA membership contact: membership@adsa.org.uk
Karen Starkey, Conservatory Outlet’s head of HR
existing staff, school leavers and new starters alike.”
www.conservatoryoutlet.co.uk
BDC Aluminium And Industry Partners Unite For Children’s Hospice Charity
A group of companies from across the fenestration sector have come together in aid of a children’s hospice charity. In a collaborative effort instigated by BDC Aluminium, the businesses – which also included Smarts, The Window Company and Window Projects – have supplied and installed new windows and doors at the Little Havens children’s hospice in Rayleigh.
The only dedicated children’s
hospice in Essex, Little Havens provides specialist care and support to babies, children and young people from across the county and surrounding areas who are living with complex or incurable conditions.
The support it delivers includes day stays, which give children a change of scenery and the chance to take part in enjoyable activities with other youngsters; overnight stays, which provide
respite and recuperation time for families and carers; and emergency stays to help families accommodate unforeseen events and circumstances.
Little Havens also cares for children and young people approaching the end of their life, and for their families. As part of this care, families can stay in a private bereavement suite, known as the Woodland Suite, when their child has died and receive specialist support and counselling.
The aluminium windows and doors supplied by the industry partners have been employed in this bereavement suite. They have been used to replace wooden framed products and offer multiple advantages including better aesthetics, reduced maintenance requirements and improved energy efficiency.
Speaking of the donation, Su Harrison, a key patron of Little Havens, said: “Little Havens can only exist because of the generosity of individuals, organisations and the wider community. Every week, it must raise over £124,000 to be there for
everyone who needs it.
“The hospice is based in a large and expansive building with dozens of wooden framed windows and doors, the majority of which could benefit from replacement due to their age.
“The cost of this renovation is expensive and the donation of the new windows and doors for the Woodlands Suite, along with the time and labour to install them, has conserved vital funds that will help the hospice to continue its invaluable work.
“This is hugely appreciated not only by the team at Little Havens but also by the many young people and their families who are able to benefit from its care and support, now and in the future.”
Russell Hensman, group marketing manager at BDC Aluminium, added: “BDC Aluminium has supported Little Havens in a number of ways over the years thanks to our previous managing director, David Green who became aware of the hospice and its important role.
“Our involvement in this latest project continues that relationship. It’s been great to see businesses at every stage of the supply chain pull together to provide the new fenestration products for the bereavement suite which is a place no parent ever wants to find themselves.
“There is still much to be done however and we’d like to see all of the windows and doors at the Little Havens replaced and in a way that enables the hospice to continue providing high quality care and support.
“That’s why we’re hoping other companies from the fenestration industry will get behind us and donate further products and expertise to such a truly important and worthwhile cause.” www.bdcaluminium.co.uk
Stuga’s Gareth Green Joins The PiGs Kilimanjaro Team
Gareth Green, technical director at UK machinery company Stuga Machinery has signed up for the PiGs Charity of the Year Challenge to climb Mount Kilimanjaro for Kelly’s Heroes.
With not long to go until the team leaves on 12 September 2024, Gareth is the fourteenth person from the glazing industry and joins a committed team of climbers. He’s no newcomer to the industry, he worked alongside his father who first set up Stuga in 1986 – in fact Gareth is the ‘ga’ in Stuga, with his brother Stuart making up the first three letters.
Gareth said: “I’m climbing Kilimanjaro for the adventure, the challenge, and to meet new people. Plus, I hear the Wi-Fi is terrible up there, so it’s a good excuse to avoid emails for a while. On a serious note, it’s all for Kelly’s Heroes, which adds a noble cause to the thrill of this mad escapade.
“Kelly’s Heroes means a great deal to me, especially as a parent of four. The fact that suicide remains a shocking statistic is deeply troubling, and it’s a stark reminder that mental health needs as much attention as physical health. Kelly’s Heroes is doing incredible work by supporting those struggling with mental health issues and ensuring that help is available before it’s too late.
“As a father, I know how crucial it is to be present and supportive for my children, and I want them to grow up in a world where mental health is talked about openly and addressed compassionately. Climbing Kilimanjaro is my way of contributing to this
cause, raising awareness, and hopefully encouraging others to practice good mental health. If climbing this mountain means we can help even one person or one family avoid the pain of losing a loved one, then every step is worth it.”
Living in Norfolk, hill training is not so easy, but Gareth has put an extensive training programme in place to get himself climbing fit – including lots of cardio, strength training, and walking up all the Norfolk low ranges, topping out at Beacon Hill, West Runton at 105m.
Like most of the team, Gareth is not looking forward to the altitude sickness. However, when asked about what he was most looking forward to, he replied: “The sense of achievement from just being brave enough in taking the first steps and also being involved with something meaningful, with no other motivation than kindness.”
And you can’t argue with that! To donate to Gareth’s page, go to https://bit.ly/46m2Iqz
Hurst Doors Gets Muddy For Charity
Colleagues from Hurst Doors recently participated in the ‘Get Caked’ event – a challenging fivemile muddy obstacle course – to help raise funds for Dove House Hospice, a local charity dedicated to providing vital care and support to individuals and families facing life-limiting illnesses, bereavement, and loneliness.
Charlotte Towle, business support assistant, commented on her experience of the event; “I loved taking part in the Get Caked event! The Dove House team cheered us on all the way.
“My favourite obstacle was the makeshift water slide, especially because we were all caked in mud from the previous challenge. It’s great that the team are getting involved in these events this year and also knowing it’s all to support a great cause.”
Hayley Barker, group head of marketing at Hurst Doors, said: “Our partnership with Dove House Hospice allows us to not only raise funds but also foster a sense of purpose and unity among our team. We are honoured to support such a
deserving cause.”
Jonny Bottomley, partnership development fundraiser at Dove House Hospice, said: “Hurst is doing it in the right way. They’re picking the right things to get that engagement and getting the most out of the partnership.
“Having a company like Hurst associated with us is a great endorsement for the business community, showcasing their commitment to local charities and community welfare.”
In addition to the ‘Get Caked’ event, Hurst Doors recently hosted an in-house Bake-Off competition, followed by a Bake Sale, which contributed to the company’s fundraising goal of £2,500.
Looking ahead, members of the Hurst team are gearing up for the Hull 10K in June, a 12-mile pub-to-pub walk in August (which Hurst is also sponsoring), and a fire and ice challenge in October, where participants will walk over fire, ice, and cut glass. All funds raised will go towards the charity which has to raise over £10 million annually to keep its vital facilities and services running.
To show your support for Dove House Hospice, please visit our main Just Giving page: https://bit.ly/4ftokW6
THE SECRET IS OUT...
Our new advanced hardware technology stops the spread of 99.9% of infections, so you can keep your germs to yourself.
