Window News July / August 2023

CONTENTS

W INDOWNEWS THE LATEST INDUSTRY NEWS

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Cover picture: How Deceuninck Aluminium Helps Spectral Remain Competitive. Read more on page 68

15 Million UK Households Encounter Problems With Contractors, Says Dispute Assist

62% of UK homeowners have had a problem with home improvements work in the past, according to new research from dispute resolution experts Dispute Assist.

This data, says the company, suggests some 15.4 million households in England and Wales have been affected by contractor issues based on the number of households recorded in the 2021 Census.

Disputes between a customer and a home improvement business are often unnecessarily resolved in the courtroom, racking up larger bills and taking

up swathes of time for both parties. But many homeowners remain in the dark about how alternative dispute resolution (ADR) can help resolve disputes quickly and at a lower cost than going down the litigation route, says Dispute Assist.

Examples of ADR include softer methods like mediation and conciliation, which involves a mediator facilitating a conversation between parties in dispute in the hopes they will reach a resolution on their own. Another ADR method, arbitration, sees an independent arbitrator review the case and pass a legally-binding decision.

There is also expert determination, where an expert well-acquainted with the field of the dispute will review the case and provide a legally-binding ruling without offering either party any notes behind the decision in the interest of saving time and thus cost too. This method can often obtain resolution in days rather than weeks, with the average time for a civil claim to get through the small claims court system currently standing at 51.2 weeks, says Dispute Assist.

Dispute Assist’s report, ‘The Future of Disputes in Home Improvement’, also found that more than two-thirds of homeowners (67%) don’t know what ADR is, and 49% have never even heard of the term. Only 9% of homeowners have used ADR to try and resolve a home improvement dispute in the past.

Those who had previously filed a court claim against a contractor said they had tried alternative routes, such as:

• To resolve directly with the contractor (51%)

• Filed a complaint with the contractor’s trade association (47%)

• Used ADR (33%)

• Applied for a refund with their payment provider (31%)

• Lodge a complaint under the consumer credit act (17%)

Of those surveyed who had used ADR to try and resolve a dispute, 93% found the experience positive and 73% said it had successfully resolved their dispute.

Ciarán Harkin, managing director of Dispute Assist, said of the findings: “Many home improvement contractors take great pride in providing quality work and excellent customer service, but our data shows there are some in the industry causing huge headaches for their clients. When left in the lurch by a tradesperson, it seems many customers are unaware they can resolve their dispute without ever having to step foot in a courtroom.

“Alternative dispute resolution offers customers, and businesses, cheaper, quicker and less stressful resolutions to their disputes, allowing customers to get their houses in order and leaving businesses free to move on to their next jobs. Through ADR, the resolutions are often just as effective as a court ruling and they’re easier to access than many might think.

“It is important customers are in the know about ADR so they can protect themselves in case communications break down with their home improvement contractor. And when picking a tradesperson for the job, be on the lookout for great reviews, open communication and association with an ADR provider for added peace of mind.”

You can read the full findings of Dispute Assist’s latest report here.

Industry Man Jason Bamford Purchases Regal Aluminium

Jason commented: “The slim sightlines of aluminium are in high demand. Our products offer some of the best solutions the market has to offer, all manufactured by our skilled team to the highest of standards.”

“Customer service is in the DNA of Regal. Combined with my own experience in the industry, it means we know the outstanding level of service the trade needs – and we’re proud to deliver it.”

Jason Bamford, one of the well-known names in the industry, has just announced he has purchased Regal Aluminium.

Jason, who has taken over the role of managing director, said: “I am delighted to be taking the reins at Regal Aluminium and am looking forward to supporting the industry with high-quality aluminium products, reliable service and proactive business support.”

Regal Aluminium, based in the East Midlands, supplies to the commercial, trade and domestic sectors. It’s a sister company to Regal Windows and Doors, a familyrun business with a history stretching back over 30 years.

Jason is one of the industry’s most familiar faces. He has been involved in the industry since his late teens and has worked for several successful PVC-U and aluminium businesses, all experience he brings to Regal. Jason said: “Having developed several businesses over my 34 year tenure in the industry, I am looking forward to working with our customers and helping them to maximise the market opportunities. A key focus will be to seek businesses wanting to become Regal partners and benefit from tailored marketing support and business development.”

Jason concluded: “If you want to open up the market opportunities aluminium brings, give Regal a call. We’ve got the products and the service you need.” regalaluminium.uk

Merchant Value Sales Fall Again In May

The latest Builders Merchant Building Index (BMBI) report shows builders’ merchants’ value sales down by -6.0% in May compared to the same month in 2022. Volume sales fell -15.1% with price inflation of +10.8%. With one less trading day in May 2023, like-for-like sales were -1.3% lower.

Eight of the twelve categories sold more this year than in May 2022. Renewables & Water Saving (+41.8%) grew the most, followed by Decorating (+10.2%) and Workwear & Safetywear (+5.9%). Landscaping (-13.4%)

and Timber & Joinery Products (-18.2%) were the weakest.

Month-on-month, total merchant sales climbed +12.4% in May compared to April 2023. Volume sales were up +14.1% while prices decreased slightly (-1.5%). With two extra trading days in May, like-for-like value sales were up +1.1%. All categories sold more with Landscaping (+18.6%) and Heavy Building Materials (+13.3%) growing the most. Workwear & Safetywear (+11.3%), Decorating (+10.7%), Timber & Joinery Products

(+10.6%) and Ironmongery (+10.3%) also hit double digit growth, while Plumbing, Heating & Electrical (+7.1%) and Tools (+7.2%) grew the least.

Total merchant sales in the twelve months from June 2022 to May 2023 were -0.3% lower than the same period a year ago, with volumes down -13.6% and price inflation of +15.4%. With five less trading days in the most recent period, like-for-like sales were +1.8% higher. Ten of the twelve categories sold more with Renewables & Water Saving (+41.0%) outperforming

the other categories by some margin. Workwear & Safetywear (+14.3%), Plumbing, Heating & Electrical (+12.2%), Decorating (+11.6%) and Kitchens & Bathrooms (+11.0%) also made double figures. Landscaping (-10.4%) and Timber & Joinery Products (-13.6%) sold less.

Mike Rigby, CEO of MRA Research which produces this report, said: “Britain celebrated the King’s Coronation in May 2023, but there was no cause for celebration in the construction industry this month for the steepest drop in house building activity since April 2009, with the exception of the disruption in the first couple of months of lockdown in 2020.

“The latest BMBI figures reflect the impact this slowdown is having further up the supply chain with falling sales volumes. Forecasts of a jump in monthly mortgage repayments of £500 for around one million households by the end of 2026 isn’t likely to kickstart the housing market any time soon either.

“But there is cause for optimism. While the cost-ofliving crisis continues, inflation appears to be easing and there is growing resilience in the market. Consumer confidence has been recovering according to GFK’s Consumer Confidence Index, with an uptick of three points recorded in both May and June. That’s still a negative -24 but 12 months ago it was -41.

“As ever, parts of the market are thriving despite the tough conditions. Homeowners without mortgages and with savings are still spending on repairs, maintenance and improvements, and builders and trades who serve them are booked well into the future.”

Mercury Agrees New Three-Year Supply Deal With Epwin Window Systems

Specialist trade fabricator Mercury Glazing Supplies has agreed a three-year supply extension with Epwin Window Systems to manufacture the Vertical Sliding Sash Window System.

Mercury is Epwin Window Systems’ longest standing vertical slider customer and both parties are delighted to have agreed the extension.

Steve Cross, co-founder and director of Mercury, said: “Our partnership with Epwin Window Systems stretches back over 20 years and we are pleased to be extending it. We choose to continue manufacturing the system because it’s a market-leading sash window solution from an industry-leading systems house.”

Katrina Earl, sales director at Epwin Window Systems, said: “Mercury was one of the first fabricators to manufacture the Spectus Vertical Slider system way back in 2002 and we continue to value their business today as much as we did then. We are delighted they have signed a new three-year agreement and look forward to further developing this longstanding relationship.”

The Vertical Sliding Sash

Window System from Epwin Window Systems was one of the first PVC-U vertical sliders to be introduced to the market. According to the company, ‘it remains at the forefront of the industry today because it combines authentic heritage aesthetics and outstanding thermal performance with no compromise’.

Mercury Glazing Supplies manufactures the welded and mechanically jointed versions of the Vertical Sliding Sash Window System and is part of its portfolio of feature-rich product solutions.

Mercury Glazing Supplies has achieved impressive growth in the past few years. The company currently operates from three manufacturing centres in Gloucester and employs a team of over 60 personnel with a customercentric approach.

Steve concluded: “The Vertical Sliding Window System is the perfect example of a product that continues to raise the bar in sash window design. Here at Mercury Glazing we are committed to doing the same. It’s helped to build a robust partnership that we’re proud to be continuing.”

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to grow further.

“We have always invested in bricks and mortar, and we are confident that this approach is the best way to continue building a business that is fit for the next generation of glass professionals,” Cornwall Group’s chairman Mark Mitchell said. “We’ve worked with our bank for 25 years, and we know that this model of investment for us works and is sustainable over a tried and tested period.”

Mark said that other finance options are typically short-term models of investment, which don’t currently complement Cornwall Group’s own long-term view of the industry.

Cornwall Group has committed to spending £20 million in new property, new machinery, specialist fleet vehicles, and other new equipment over the next two years, the glass company has announced.

Cornwall Group, which includes Cornwall Glass Manufacturing, Mackenzie Glass, and commercial glazing and retail arm Cornwall Glass & Glazing, has secured additional finance via its bank to enhance a stable base from which

“We’ve seen a huge influx of private equity in recent years, as investors targeted the UK glass market as a safe bet financially,” he said. “Now that returns are narrowing, will they try to fatten those companies up for sale, or even look to float them on the AIM?

“We, on the other hand, plough our profits back into the business, into people, machinery and buildings. We’ve got a very simple shareholder model, and we want to continue to grow a sustainable business, not one driven by shortterm growth.

“And we know this model works. During the pandemic, when we saw some glass companies go into hibernation as they ran out of supply, we were able to keep vital products supplied to our customers. That was thanks to continued investment on our part and a commitment that went beyond a short-term profit-andloss view of the market, along with partnering with the right suppliers, of course.”

Recent investment includes: a new fire saw, cutting line, and bevelling and processing equipment at Mackenzies; a new heat soak oven at the company’s site in Plymouth, which can handle large units up to 4.2m x 2.7m; and a new £1.5m Bystronic Sealed Unit Line at its St Austell site, which replaces a similar line that was installed 20 years ago.

“We have a rolling ten-year plan,” Mark said. “We are not driven by short term gain, like many private equity firms, so we have more money to invest back in the business. But this means always looking one step ahead to make sure that next piece of machinery or strategic investment is the right one.

“I think we are generally a cautious business, but you need to invest in the very best machinery – which need replacing when they come to the end of their natural life. And Cornwall Group’s policy is to invest in buildings, rather than take out, in some cases, onerous leases.

“And this approach we strongly feel will keep us going for the next generation.”

www.cornwallglass.co.uk

Free Grey On White Promo From Prefix

With demand for their new Sheerline S2 glazed roofing system already high, Prefix Systems has announced a summer promotion in the way of offering a free upgrade to the on-trend grey on white colour combination for all unglazed, PVCu roofs.

S2 is a new development that has been two years in the making and both Prefix and Sheerline believe that this will help re-ignite the glass roofing sector, thanks to a radical re-design that takes inspiration from contemporary design thinking, with added structural capability for larger spans. With a complete aluminium window and door offering under the Opal brand, there’s the option for a complete aluminium glazed extension package too.

An integrated bolster solution at the eaves and one that also seamlessly integrates with

the glazing bars, ensures that S2 is designed with larger projects in mind. There’s also the offer of thermally broken aluminium glazing bars, while further design credentials are realised with the internal pelmet and aluminium gutter shroud options.

Chris Baron, director at Prefix Systems commented: ‘While the response to the launch of S2 has been monumentally positive, this summer’s free upgrade to grey on white is a further incentive to specify the Sheerline S2 glazed roof. There’s also the benefit of an award-winning support programme from all of our branches including Pavilion Systems, regardless of project complexity.’

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Carl F Groupco Scottish Sales Region Sees Record-Breaking Growth

Hardware distributor Carl F Groupco is celebrating record yearto-date sales in Scotland. Pamela Wilson, regional sales manager at Carl F Groupco, said: “We are delighted to be seeing such strong sales. We’re seeing existing customers taking an increased range of products from us as well as brand new customers trusting us with their hardware supply.”

Pamela highlights three reasons customers in Scotland are confident in choosing Carl F Groupco.

The company has a strong Scottish presence. Carl F Groupco has a distribution centre in Cumbernauld and it offers a next day delivery service to everywhere in Scotland, including the Scottish

Highlands. Pamela said: “Our delivery service is a differentiator for us because we are a rapid and reliable supply partner for our Scottish customers.”

It has a strong team which is led by Pamela who has been with the company since 2001. It also includes Darren Gait, Depot Manager, who has worked for the company for 39 years, and Stuart Kelly, Warehouse Operative, who has been with the business for 12 years. Pamela commented: “Our customers value the depth of knowledge we bring. We also work hard to deliver the highest level of customer care and support, going beyond order processing to solve problems, offer advice and source hardware. We pride ourselves on the longstanding relationships that

we develop with our customers and work for them to find the best hardware solution.”

The company’s product range is at the heart of its offer. It provides an extensive range of premium quality window and door hardware and has long-standing relationships with Europe’s most innovative manufacturers including Cotswold, FUHR, GT Guardian, Hoppe, Kenrick, Maco, Roto, Siegenia and Yale. Pamela particularly highlights Roto in this list: “Roto is a leading brand for us in Scotland because its UNI Reversible window gearing, tilt and turn and espagnolette hardware ranges are perfectly suited to the Scottish housing stock.”

While Pamela is delighted by Carl F Groupco’s record sales, she’s also quick to point out the wider implications. She concluded: “These results aren’t just good news for us. Strong hardware sales also reflect strong sales in the wider industry, which is reason enough to celebrate.”

www.carlfgroupco.co.uk

From left to right: Stuart Kelly , Pamela Wilson and Darren Gait

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VR Technology Brings Epwin Window Systems’ Products To Life

Epwin Window Systems

installer Oswestry Windows and Doors Ltd has invested in the power of virtual reality technology to bring products to life in consumers’ homes. Owner Matthew Dunne-Smith says: “VR technology is proving transformational for us. We have secured several large-scale domestic installations because it’s given our customers a completely new dimension for visualising their home improvements that completely blows their minds.”

Virtual reality is the next-level in homeowner visualisation. Used in TV makeover programmes such as Your Home Made

Perfect, the technology creates a virtual scene of the completed installation. Every detail, including furniture placement, is featured, giving consumers the opportunity to walk around and see exactly how it will look from the inside and exterior of the property.

To illustrate the difference it makes, one Oswestry Windows and Doors customer reported: “We saw the drawings and they were absolutely amazing, but putting the VR goggles on brought the whole project to life and just made us say ‘Yes, we want to go ahead right now.’”

Oswestry Windows and Doors

provides refurbishment, renovation and construction services throughout Shropshire, Cheshire, North and Mid-Wales. It supplies an extensive portfolio of Epwin Window Systems products, including Optima PVC-U windows, PatioMaster Sliding Doors, Vertical Sliding Sash Windows, Flush Casements and windows and doors from Stellar Aluminium.

Matthew said: “The quality and range of Epwin’s portfolio is superb, and the product differentiation and visual appeal allow us to secure lucrative high-end jobs. Our investment in VR lets us take our design and customer services to the next level. Customers can really visualise how their home improvements will work because they feel as if they are in the room. We’re delighted to see the difference it’s already making to our sales and closure rates.”

IGU Manufacturer Padiham Glass Renews Investment With Super Spacer

Padiham Glass, part of the Emplas Group, has renewed its commitment both to its glass manufacturing facilities and to spacer supplier Edgetech, by investing in another automated Super Spacer application line.

Padiham has consistently invested in the business to ensure its customers receive exceptional quality products. In 2004, the company became one of the early adopters of warm edge technology when it purchased its first Super Spacer automated line, as part of a wider investment program that saw it greatly expand its manufacturing and warehousing

space and introduce its second toughening plant.

Additional investments were made when the Emplas Group acquired Padiham Glass in 2018,

Apeer Adds 50 Percent Capacity With Investment In Machinery

At a time when a lot of companies are still cautious about spending, Apeer, composite door manufacturer, isn’t holding back and has announced a combined investment of over £500K in a cutting centre, corner cleaner, and foam press. The addition of the latest foam press alone gives the company a further 50% capacity and allows the 120mm thick Residence Door Collection to have its own dedicated foam press.

Apeer’s managing director, Asa McGillian explains why the company has invested so significantly: “The Residence Door Collection has always

offered the market something special, but we are constantly looking for more ways to deliver excellence. This latest investment is no different. The new machinery allows us to grow our portfolio, boost output and fulfil the increasing demand for our ground-breaking 120mm thick, 0.51w/m2k u-value, Passive House Compliant, Residence Door Collection. It also supports our ongoing program of streamlining production to deliver the consistent high quality that our diligent customers have come to expect.

“We have purchased a Stuga PVC Sawing and Machining Centre that includes a software

and today the company operates an increasingly automated glass manufacturing facility, which has been further modernised by the installation of a brand new Forel vertical IGU Super Spacer application line.

“By constantly investing, Padiham is able to offer customers the highest quality IGUs, consistent lead times, and competitive prices,” comments managing director John Spiby.

“The new line will allow us to further expand our operations, and bring outstanding IGU products to even more customers around the country.

“We’d like to thank Edgetech for their support – Super Spacer plays an integral role in ensuring our units offer consistency, longevity and superb overall performance.”

www.edgetechig.co.uk

upgrade, an SCM Accord 25FX CNC Router with tooling and Jumbo Ergo vacuum lifter and jib crane, and an Urban SV530 CNC corner cleaner. All of which means we now have a total of ten CNCs and three foam presses to ensure we can meet the increasing demand for our unique offering. The collection of new machinery allows us the all-important ability to simultaneously cut both sides of the profile, as well as even greater accuracy, ease of use with advanced software, continued top quality production, and greater flexibility.

www.apeer.co.uk

New Ways To Offer Finance Deals, Says Listers

Listers now offers discounted rates on consumer finance, alongside a service that allows window companies to sign up without a Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) Licence, which creates more opportunities to win business and close deals, according to the national fabricator.

“Household budgets are squeezed, but the demand for windows doors, and other home improvement measures hasn’t gone away,” managing director of Listers Roy Frost said. “The key is to put yourself in a position to win the work that is available.”

Listers has partnered with Kanda to offer what it describes as a simple, hassle-free finance service for retail window companies. Once enrolled, you can be offering your

customers finance deals within five days, who will learn within 30 seconds if they are approved, and the full application only takes five minutes to complete, says Listers.

Window News has been told that via Kanda, you can offer your customers a range of products, including ‘buy now pay later’ (which will cost window companies just 4.25% of the order value). You can also choose the size of

the deposit, which is typically anywhere between 10% and 50% of the total order value.

“Offering finance has many benefits,” Roy said. “Not only can it help you close the deal with some very attractive rates, but you also get paid much quicker with Kanda – you get paid the full amount, minus fees, the day after the job is completed.

“Also, with the option of finance, homeowners can increase the total job value. So, not only do you win the work on price, but you also win larger and better jobs because customers can choose the premium options.”

Arranging finance through Listers is also better than going direct, according to the fabricator. The first is that you are technically an ‘introducer appointed representative’ of Kanda, which means you don’t need a special licence. Also, the discounts available to you as a Listers customer are significantly better than the market average.

“We searched long and hard to find the right finance partner,” Roy said. “Kanda is simple to use and has an excellent reputation. Also, the more window companies that sign up to the scheme, the better the discounted rate will be.

“Furthermore, we can help you create attention-grabbing marketing assets that will help you put your business head and shoulders above your competitors.

“Offering finance is often seen as something limited to the larger companies. With this offer from Kanda, you too could be offering those eye-catching finance deals that will win you more and better work,” Roy concluded.

Listers MD, Roy Frost

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Hurst Builds Composite Door Capacity With Six-Figure Investment

addition of the SFS Dynamic 2D-C Hinge, to Hurst’s composite door ranges.

Kevin Wheatman, general manager at Hurst Doors explained: “We currently cut all our composite doors, including our fire door range, down to size using the CNC as part of a single process in addition to machining window apertures, lock and hinge pockets.

“That generates a lot of aggressive dust which gets into the spindles and the bearings of the CNC, which overtime has meant we’ve had to replace parts, losing time and capacity in the factory and increasing overheads.

Hurst Doors has built on its composite door manufacturing capacity while simultaneously also driving up quality, with the addition of a new beam saw and two edge-banders to its stateof-the-art manufacturing facility.

Installed in the summer, the new beam saw moves door cutting-

to-size to a dedicated process, freeing up capacity across Hurst’s three pre-existing CNCs, also reducing wear and tear on parts.

The two new automated edgebanders, further improve quality and support product development including the

“The introduction of the beam saw to cut slabs to size, takes pressure off our CNCs and increases capacity but provides better quality.

“The edge-bander builds on that further, allowing us to improve our quality and finish, and provides a foundation for the evolution of our product offer, with the addition of the

Hurst sales director, Mark Atkinson

SFS easy-adjust Dynamic 2d-C Hinge.”

Alongside its PVC-U panel business Hurst Doors manufactures more than 500 composite doors each week, while it’s also a fully accredited manufacturer of composite fire doors.

It’s standard composite door offer includes a range of different door styles including Classic, Cottage, Contemporary and Hurst’s new premium Designer Collection, which will be available later this year.

With an OTIF of 99% or above across both its’ PVC-U panel and composite door ranges, it’s trade offer also includes comprehensive marketing support.

Automation of composite door edging means that in addition to standard white, edging will be offered in five different stock colours, plus any RAL colour on special order.

The addition of the PAS24 Dynamic 2D-C Hinge from SFS as standard, delivers enhanced aesthetics plus greater tolerance in installation with lateral adjustment of +/-3mm and vertical adjustment of +6mm/2mm, with a load capacity of 40kg per hinge.

Mark Atkinson, sales director at Hurst said: “Service and product quality on composites is key to our business and customers, the changes that Kevin and his team are making in the factory allow us to build both increased capacity into our composite door lines but also enhanced product quality.

“With new sales and marketing tools on the horizon, it’s a great time to switch to composite door supply from Hurst. “

www.hurstdoors.co.uk

Everest Announce Supply Deal With Veka

Everest 2020 Ltd, owner of arguably the UK’s most famous home improvement brand operating for over 50 years, has announced a new supply agreement with systems company Veka plc.

The deal will give Everest access to a portfolio of market leading products, enabling the firm to build upon its commitment to sustainability and carbon reduction, while providing the innovation and aesthetic appeal synonymous with Everest.

The firm chose Veka as their PVC-U extrusion partner due to manufacturing capabilities, technical specification and product innovation, but it was the systems company’s people, quality standards and green credentials that really stood out, comments the company.

Paula Chambers, CEO of Everest said: “Everest is a company committed to

meeting the Government’s Future Home Standards even for replacement windows, so we can help UK homeowners reduce their residential carbon emissions. Veka is committed to sustainability and it’s a perfect partnership based on shared principles.

“For over 50 years the Everest brand has been synonymous with premium quality and we aspire that every Everest window installed from the end of the calendar year 2023 will meet and exceed all new building standards for both new build properties and replacements.”

Everest has continued to expand its product range in recent years to give homeowners greater choice, and the agreement with Veka is said to enable the home improvement brand to build further on this initiative.

vekauk.com

everest.co.uk

Glazerite Expands Profile System Offering To Include Deceuninck

Glazerite UK Group has announced the addition of the Deceuninck 2500 range to its portfolio to meet the needs of its growing customer base.

From August this year, Glazerite will be manufacturing the Deceuninck bevelled profile, including casement and tilt & turn windows, and residential and French doors. Fabricated at Glazerite’s East Division, the new addition will offer commercial installers a high-quality and competitive option alongside the fabricator’s existing Veka, Halo and Residence Collection portfolio.

According to Glazerite, the 2500

range offers excellent insulation levels combined with high-security benefits and stylish aesthetics. Deceuninck is renowned for its reliability, long-lasting performance, and innovation in design, underpinned by strong sustainability credentials.

Jeff Dunn, Group sales & commercial director at Glazerite says: “We are delighted to be working with Deceuninck. The company is well respected and reflects our values of exceptional quality and service. The introduction of this new system offers our commercial installers an alternative price point to help them bid competitively for larger projects. We are committed

to reviewing and evolving our offering to support our customers with access to a wide product range, ultimately enabling them to perform in their markets.”

Rob McGlennon, managing director at Deceuninck, said: “We’re delighted to be working with Glazerite. It’s a nationally recognised brand, a great company and like Deceuninck, enjoys a superb reputation for service and quality.

“Like us, they also recognise the vital part colour, and new product development are playing in the marketplace today and their increasing importance as we move forward into 2024.

“We very much look forward to building on what is already proving to be a strong partnership and supporting Glazerite in delivering an exceptional service to its customers.”

www.glazerite.co.uk

(L-R) Glazerite sales and commercial director Jeff Dunn and Deceuninck MD Rob McGlennon

Modplan Commits To Business As Usual Amid Industry Changes

Veka trade fabricator Modplan has confirmed its position as Business as Usual amid the current industry changes.

Heidi Sachs, managing director at Modplan said: “The recent announcement of the growing partnership between UKWDG and Veka plc has sparked conversations across the industry. We are a longtime supplier to trade installers, trade counters and park home manufacturers across the UK and we know they may be concerned about the announcement and what it means for them. We would like to take this opportunity

to assure our customers of continuity in the face of these recent developments.”

Heidi continued: “We aren’t convinced this latest development is in the best interests of the industry, but change is inevitable. Here at Modplan our role is to navigate the situation while ensuring our service to customers remains unaffected.”

Heidi concluded: “We appreciate the trust our customers place in us and will continue to uphold it at all times.”

www.modplan.co.uk

Heidi Sachs

Investors In People Success For Thermoseal Grou p

Thermoseal Group has achieved the ‘Developed’ level of performance after being successfully assessed by Investors in People, proving that everyone working for the IGU component supplier “is committed to the values of the business and is striving to provide high-quality products and excellent service to the Company’s customers”, says the company.

“This is a fantastic result for Thermoseal Group,” MD and owner Gwain Paterson said. “The vision we have within the company to provide the industry’s best components for IGUs can only be realised if everyone within the organisation shares it.

“I am confident that following this excellent Investors in People report, we can continue to successfully grow our business to meet an expected uptick in demand, while growing our burgeoning export business.”

The report was compiled by Gordon Stopani, who interviewed about twothirds of Thermoseal Group’s employees to measure how well the company empowered its workforce.

Gwain Paterson

“There was very good understanding amongst interviewees about the Company’s plans and goals, all indicating that they were aware of the significant investments being made in new plant and equipment as a part of the Company’s growth plans,” he said. “As a result of this investment, a number of people are learning new skills and ways of working, helping to ensure that the Company remains highly competitive.”

According to the Investors in People report, survey sentiment is very positive and since the last survey in 2020, has improved across all nine of the Indicators of the Standard, showing excellent progress. Work is well-structured and organised, and the growing investments in new plant and technology is supporting the company to grow and thrive, with record levels of business performance being delivered. Interviews demonstrated that employees are very satisfied working for the company and see it as a fair and good employer. There has also been notable investment of time and money in training and learning which is providing much greater opportunities for employees at all levels, and which will serve to support the company’s talent management pipeline.

“We employ almost 150 people over three sites in Wigan and Birmingham,” Gwain said. “Thanks to the hard work carried out by our colleagues working in production, warehousing, testing, sales, distribution, technical support – among many other roles –we have become the leading supplier of IGU components in the glazing industry, and I am proud on everyone’s behalf that we have achieved this award.”

Ultion Cashback: Installers Can Now Earn 5% On Every Ultion Product Sale

www.thermosealgroup.com

Ultion has announced the launch of Ultion CashBack, an exclusive program that enables installers to earn 5% from the sale of any Ultion product to their customers for the next 12 months.

Ultion CashBack offers installers an opportunity to secure an ongoing income stream, says the company. By enrolling in the program, installers can earn 5% of the total sale amount for every Ultion product purchased by their customers, including extra keys, locks, trackable keys, smart locks and lubricant, or padlocks that work with the previously supplied key.

“When we heard about Ultion CashBack, we were excited about the opportunity it presented,” said Michael Dunne, at Gemini Windows.

“It encourages us to sell more locks and keys and provides us with a chance to earn

some money from it.”

Ultion says enrolling in Ultion CashBack is hassle-free. Each commission earned will be communicated via email, and installers will receive a monthly payment at the end of each month, conveniently deposited into their bank account. To monitor earnings easily, Ultion provides a user-friendly trade portal for installers to track their commissions.

We are thrilled to introduce Ultion CashBack and provide installers with an opportunity to unlock a steady income stream,” said Nick Dutton, CEO at Ultion. “This program empowers installers to maximise their earnings and reinforces our commitment to building strong relationships.”

For more information about Ultion CashBack and how to enrol in the program, visit https://bit.ly/3Dfih5l

Kömmerling And Profine Unveil New UK Design Centre

profine UK has opened a new design centre at their Huthwaite facility for the product brands of Kömmerling, Greenline (formerly Legend) and Warmcore at a recent international group board meeting.

Formerly opened by Dr. Peter Mrosik, owner and CEO of profine Group, the new design centre will be recognised by many from the impressive exhibition stand from the 2022 FIT Show, where existing elements have been re-utilised. The recycling of the exhibition stand is part of a wider sustainability programme for

profine and Kömmerling, to re-use and recycle wherever possible beyond the materials involved in manufacturing processes.

It’s a new environment to showcase the entire profine UK product portfolio, including a new Passivhaus studio and its use has been extended to Kömmerling and profine manufacturing partners and installation companies in the UK, and internationally.

This important international event, also attended by profine UK staff, provided several street

food vendors, a live band and an internationally recognised DJ for the evening, along with smaller table side entertainment. Much like the FIT Show, a carefully crafted cocktail in the new brand colours was also presented at the opening.

Robert Thiroff, managing director of profine UK and executive director international markets commented: ‘This was an opening on an international platform with key staff also taking part in the celebrations. It was great to be able to share this with a global audience, yet moving forward this is very much a super-premium space for all customers of this great business.

He continued: ‘It also marks the introduction of the re-branded literature which will be launched across the majority of product ranges in the coming weeks.’

www.kommerling.co.uk

Senior Keeps Sustainability In View With Low Carbon Aluminium, Says The Company

As one of the pioneers of energy-efficient aluminium windows and doors, Senior Architectural Systems can now offer customers a range of fenestration solutions that utilise Hydro low carbon recycled aluminium.

Senior’s full range of products, including the company’s patented low U-value Pure system, can now be extruded using Hydro low carbon recycled aluminium made from postconsumer scrap materials. As this aluminium is predominantly

produced in the UK, its lower carbon footprint made it the perfect choice for Senior who also manufacturers its full suite of aluminium windows, doors, and curtain wall systems at its dedicated facilities in South Yorkshire.

As all of Senior’s aluminium fenestration systems are fully recyclable, claims the company, the use of post-consumer recycled aluminium at the extrusion stage provides a ‘cradle to cradle’ approach and further strengthens Senior’s ongoing commitment to reducing the environmental impact of its manufacturing processes and products. Drawing on over 30 years of technical expertise, Senior has invested in its product

range to offer a wide choice of thermally-efficient and Part L complaint low U-value fenestration solutions. The company has also made several improvements to its main UK manufacturing facility such as grey water recovery, the greater use of electric vehicles in its delivery fleet and the investment of an in-house state of art waste reducing powder coating facility. Senior is also fully accredited to BRE Global’s BES 6001 standard which ensures all its building materials and products meet the growing requirements of sustainable construction, both in terms of their social and environmental impact.

www.hydro.com

www.seniorarchitectural.co.uk

The Residence Collection Proving Popular For Fentrade

to unquestionable marketleading design standards and deliver superior aesthetics that have become the gold standard for advanced window solutions.”

In January 2023, trade fabricator Fentrade expanded its operation by manufacturing the Residence Collection. Six months on, this has proven to be a wise business decision as Chris Reeks, Fentrade’s director, explains. “Having established ourselves as a reliable high-quality aluminium fabricator, we took the decision to expand into PVC-U fabrication with the introduction of the Residence Collection. As a result, our PVC-U division has grown month-on-month and our growing customer base and strong order pipeline demonstrate the strength of our offer.”

Fentrade manufacture the Residence 9, Residence 7 and Residence² Collections. Chris said: “So far, both Residence 9 and Residence 7 have been popular products for us, and we picked up several new business enquiries at FIT Show 2023. All systems are built

Fentrade has introduced the newly-launched concealed trickle vent cover from the Residence Collection which also acts as a head drip to divert water away from the window. Inline with the new Part F of Building Regulations and tested in accordance with BS EN 13141-1, the patent-pending trickle vents are designed to fit with R9, R7 and R² collections and the aluminium cover is available in a range of finishes to complement the window’s main profile including coated and foil finishes.

Chris said: “At Fentrade, we ensure the customer is front and centre of the operation. Customer feedback is especially important and it’s great to hear from satisfied customers commenting on our quality of manufacture and refreshing approach throughout the customer journey”.

Chris continued: “We help our customers at every stage including offering sample windows so they get to see the quality of our manufacture. It’s a small thing that can make a big difference.” www.fentraderesidence.co.uk

Kubu Works With IASME & Emplas To Set The Standard For Smart Security

Smart security specialists Kubu has been working hand in hand with multipoint lock manufacturer, Avantis Hardware, and fabricator, Emplas, to integrate their patented technology into a “groundbreaking new window lock that is truly worthy of such a prestigious partnership”.

The recent launch of the ‘Intellect by Avantis’ multipoint shootbolt window lock represents the culmination of

over 12 months of technical and technological advancement and helps to cement Emplas as a frontrunner in the ongoing smart journey in our industry.

To create this truly secure lock, Kubu says it was imperative to ensure not only first-class PAS24 accredited physical security, but industry-leading cyber security too.

According to Kubu, the world of smart devices is littered with

standards and accreditations, some more credible than others, that range from battery life expectancy to encryption strength – making it ever more difficult for an installer to know who to trust when choosing their smart partner.

The IASME Consortium is an independent accreditation body – officially recognised by the UK Government and Secured By Design – that works alongside a network of almost 300 expert organisations across the UK to advise and certify organisations of all sizes in both cyber security and counter fraud.

More specifically, the IASME IoT Cyber Scheme has been developed so that companies providing internet connected products and services – such as the Kubu smart sensors and app – can demonstrate their products have achieved the appropriate standards and that

their products and services have been independently assessed against all 13 provisions of the world-leading consumer IoT security standard – ETSI EN 303 645 – far exceeding the mandatory 3 provisions currently being legislated by the UK government, says Kubu.

Kubu claims it is the first product of its kind to secure IASME Level 2 IoT Accreditation (the highest level possible) for all devices, sensors and software, which perfectly complements the SBD and PAS24 accreditations already obtained for the Avantis ‘Works with Kubu’ door and window multipoint lock ranges.

Ryan Bromley, co-founder of Kubu Smart said: “It’s a testament to the integrity and innovation of both Kubu and

Emplas that we’ve taken such a solid stance against the unverified ‘smart standards’ that are currently being touted in the UK hardware industry.

“We conducted a lot of research into various accreditation bodies before selecting IASME as we wanted to ensure our systems were independently subjected to the most stringent tests available. We passed with flying colours, which just goes to prove that you can always be sure you’re secure with Kubu.”

Jody Vincent, sales director at Emplas, added: “We were the first company to introduce Kubu Smart technology to the UK market on our doors, and are proud to be continuing to provide our customers with incredible sales differentiators by being the first to add such

an innovative and fully cyber security accredited window lock to our range too.

“There have been various smart offerings emerging in the window and door industry recently, but it would have been reckless for us to put our customers at risk by choosing to integrate a technology that doesn’t seem to understand the importance of the risks associated with internet connected devices.

“Kubu has set the de facto standard for cyber safety in our industry, meaning we can be certain that our customers, and our customers’ customers are always fully protected.”

getkubu.com/trade/ emplas.co.uk

Quickslide’s ‘One-Of-Kind’ Machining Centre Begins Operations In UK

Quickslide has invested in a new bespoke machining centre that the company says will improve the quality, efficiencies, and lead times for its production of vertical sliders, along with enabling the flexibility to develop future product offerings, some of which are being kept firmly under wraps for now.

Said to be the only one of its kind in the UK, the £1.5m Schirmer machining centre, purchased through Winmac, arrived at Quickslide’s Brighouse HQ last month. It took three days and six large lorries to deliver the machine from Germany, followed by a week to assemble it and then a further four weeks to put it into commission. The machine is so advanced and unlike any off-the-shelf cutting centre that Quickslide’s software supplier, Business Micros, had to build reinforcing into their software. Now,

finally, the machining centre is set to be an integral part of production.

“This is our biggest investment to date,” says Quickslide’s managing director Ben Weber. “So many people have been involved at so many levels to get the machine here, and we’re delighted to be at the point now where it’s up and running, and quickly transforming production.

“The machining centre enables us to really optimise our material use, helping us address the rising cost of raw materials, particularly of steel that we’ve seen since covid, as well as having many other automation benefits for our production efficiencies. For example, we currently have six people employed on the manual reinforcing process – automating this means they can now be redeployed elsewhere where they

are most valuable.

“The machining centre comes with two milling stations as opposed to our one currently, which will really increase our capacity for truly authentic heritage VS – particularly when it comes to mechanical joints – without adding to our lead time.”

It also means Quickslide’s existing Schirmer cutting centre, bought only three years ago, will now be moved to PVCu casement production, where it’s expected to increase material optimisation by 12-15% by introducing dynamic batch optimisation through off cut utilisation.

“Automating these processes is better for us, better for our customers and better for the planet,” says Ben.

“We’ve always been clear at Quickslide – we’re not here to sell windows, we’re here to make sure our customers can. Investing in automated machines will drive repeatability of excellent quality, bring improvements to efficiencies and lead times, all of which have a direct and positive impact on the success of our trade partners.”

https://www.quickslide.co.uk

Comp Door Achieves PAS 24:2022

testing to be the first to comply with industry standards and remain competitive within the industry, and it is now reaping the rewards of this strategy. Going forwards, Comp Door have no intention of slowing down or changing course.

Comp Door has announced their success in becoming the first composite door supplier to achieve BSI Kitemark to BS 8529:2017 and PAS 24:2022, claims the company, a standard that demonstrates enhanced security against burglary or attack, as well as weather resistance.

What makes this achievement so significant is that despite the company’s incredibly young age, Comp Door has successfully designed and manufactured a product that has passed the extensive, rigorous testing that a product must undergo to meet all the requirements of PAS 24:2022. This new certification now means that Comp Door can supply all contracts, which have a requirement to comply with this standard for doors – opening up a vast new market in which Comp Door can operate.

The company says, since its inception in November 2021, Comp Door has concentrated its efforts on investing in rigorous

Comp Door’s technical director, Pierre Mifsud said of the achievement, “I think what really stands out to me about this certification is that it is achieved by such a new company. We’ve always concentrated on innovation, and I have always known that our team have an extensive amount of industry expertise, but achieving this has shown that our hard work is being recognised by those across the sector. We’re the first to achieve this, and I’m so proud of the fantastic team at Comp Door that made this possible.”

Lorraine Balch, certification manager at BSI has said “We are so happy for Pierre and his team who had applied for their Kitemark to differentiate their product in the marketplace in 2022. By applying the Kitemark to their doorsets they are demonstrating that they are wholly invested in providing their customer base with consistently performing quality products. It was fortuitous that the new version of the PAS 24 standard was issued just before their product testing was due to start as they were able to ensure that all the latest changes were included within their test regime. We look forward to working with the team as they continue to grow and develop their products”

www.compdoor.co.uk

With an ongoing commitment to helping its customers grow and succeed, trade fabricator Dekko Window Systems is celebrating the 50th anniversary of one of its most loyal customers – Dave Edwards Double Glazing.

Since 1973, the Lancashire based, family run installation business has supplied homeowners across Greater Manchester with high quality home improvement products, and is this year celebrating an impressive half a century of service and customer care.

Dave Edwards Double Glazing supplies a range of uPVC windows and doors, including Dekko’s Infinity flush sash window, and Residence 9 windows.

Dekko sales director Kurt Greatrex comments: “We’ve been proud to supply Dave Edwards Double Glazing with our strong and diverse product range, helping them serve homeowners with premium options and therefore stay ahead in what’s become a very competitive market. dekkowindows.com

Comp Door’s technical director Pierre Mifsud (right) and Ben Williams, business development manager from BSI (left)

Eurocell Wins Polyframe Partnership

Eurocell has welcomed Polyframe as one of their fabricator partners.

Based in Norwich and Stonehouse, Gloucestershire, Polyframe has been supplying fabricated fenestration systems for over 30 years and has chosen to join with Eurocell to ensure long-term security and reliability in supply and service. The transition will be a smooth and efficient changeover with minimal disruption led by Eurocell’s highly experienced technical teams.

As a Eurocell customer, Eurocell says Polyframe will benefit from Eurocell’s ‘Grow With Us’ ethos, receiving unmatched technical support and expertise from

dedicated teams, continual focus on investment in new machinery, services and products, as well as business development support to propel growth.

In addition to their existing offering, Polyframe, will now be able to offer a wider range of PVC-U with the Eurocell Logik System, which comes in a range of foil colour options, both in chamfered and sculptured profiles.

Eurocell’s PVC-U profiles contain high levels of recycled content; partners can benefit from the carbon savings this provides and are able to communicate these to customers – as part of their commitment towards a more

sustainable future, says Eurocell.

Phil Walker, Polyframe managing director, said: “Eurocell is a wellrespected and long-standing business with similar vision and values around service and support to that of Polyframe. We are delighted to be partnering with them to provide our combined benefits to our customers.

“Eurocell has a detailed understanding of the Future Homes Standard and other potential legislation changes, and we are well placed to work with Eurocell long into the future to provide our customers with sustainable and innovative systems.

“I can assure customers that Polyframe will offer the same high levels of product quality, consistency of supply and levels of service with the new Eurocell options – all delivered in an industry-leading time of five days.”

Andy McDonnell, Commercial MD at Eurocell, commented: “We are pleased to be starting this new partnership with Polyframe, a well-trusted leading fabricator in the fenestration industry that champions our values and dedication to high-quality product and service.

“Our best-in-class support means Polyframe will have the tools required for sustainable growth as part of our ‘Grow With Us’ ethos, and we can guarantee a smooth transition with minimal disruption so Polyframe can continue doing what they do best for their customers.

“Our recent investments in infrastructure and enhanced partnership approach mean we are well placed to continue to deliver value and quality to all of our customers whilst continuing to grow.”

www.eurocell.co.uk

Phil Walker and Andy McDonnell

The time has come to

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Working in close collaboration with our customers, we’ve been crafting and fine-tuning your favourite systems from our much anticipated HI collection, with even more updates arriving in the near future.

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Certass & TrustMark Partnership Opens Doors Of Opportunity For Installers

A new green pilot scheme built by TrustMark, has seen some of the High Street’s bestknown banks and building societies offer cash incentives for homeowners to improve the energy efficiency of their homes. It sees windows and doors included as a qualifying product, offering a great opportunity for installation companies.

Barclay’s Greener Home Reward scheme offers its UK residential

mortgage customers to claim up to £2,000 when they have installed a qualifying energy efficient home improvement measure.

Coventry Building Society has run a similar pilot, the Green Together Reward, which follows the same model of offering cash incentives for mortgage holders to improve the efficiency of their property.

Head of Member Services at Certass, Danelle Vanstone says:

“We think this incentive is a well thought out idea and creates a great opportunity for Certass members. The drive for energy efficient home improvement measures is really gathering momentum, and with the current cost-of-living situation, many are on the lookout for any financial support available to them.

“Whilst many schemes like this are only eligible to select homeowners, this particular pilot has opened up access to financial support to all homeowners with a mortgage product, so we can work together to improve the efficiency of our national housing stock.”

Homeowners may choose from a range of home improvement measures, including installing double and triple-glazed windows and doors. To qualify for the reward, homeowners must use a TrustMark Registered Business.

Danelle says: “We have a longstanding partnership with TrustMark having been strong supporters for over 15 years. Certass members can easily upgrade their certification with us online for just £5+VAT per month, making them TrustMark registered and eligible to carry out these green home improvement measures.”

Simon Ayres, CEO of TrustMark, the only Government Endorsed Quality Scheme in the UK covering home improvements, says: “These pilot schemes provide a way for homeowners who are not eligible for government-funded schemes to access support in installing much-needed energy efficiency measures to their homes. It also provides opportunities for TrustMark Registered Businesses and means that the homeowner and their lender have the assurance of quality work, carried out to the required standards, with protection in place.”

http://bit.ly/3DAEMlH

Homeowners Positive Over Timber In The Home, But Misconceptions Remain – Research

by those who may be considering replacing windows or doors in their homes or buying properties in need of renovation.”

Despite positive perceptions, research also revealed a number of misconceptions over timber windows as compared to alternatives:

Fewer than half (40%) believed timber windows offer high energy efficiency performance

Only 35% thought timber windows have the same U-value performance

More than half (57%) believed timber windows cost more to purchase and install 70% of homeowners believed timber windows have a shorter lifespan

New research from the British Woodworking Federation (BWF) reveals signs that timber windows and doors are viewed positively by homeowners, but that misunderstandings over their performance persist.

The survey of 1,500 homeowners unearthed the main factors guiding product choice. It found that, aside from cost, for both windows and doors energy efficiency was the main priority for homeowners when selecting products (50% for windows and 39% for doors).

When it came to windows, cost and energy efficiency weren’t the only significant factors for homeowners. Aesthetic appeal was most important to almost a third (32%), while the source and sustainability of timber was an important consideration for almost half (48%) of all homeowners, and

almost three quarters (73%) of period property owners.

For doors, aesthetic appeal was also a prominent factor, a top priority for 32%, with product lifespan (31%) and security features (24%) also important.

Encouragingly, 59% of homeowners felt that timber windows offered a wider opportunity for design and style options than alternatives, and 56% thought timber windows were more sustainable.

Helen Hewitt, CEO at the BWF, said: “The beautiful aesthetic of timber has always been its enduring appeal, whatever the property type. And with timber products being designed to be repaired rather than replaced, they are a naturally sustainable choice. It’s hugely encouraging that the benefits of timber are recognised

Helen continued: “With the cost of living and energy crisis ongoing, it comes as no surprise that cost and energy efficiency are the primary concerns for homeowners when selecting windows for their property. But while it’s encouraging that timber is viewed positively by many against these criteria, there are still some outdated assumptions over how timber windows perform.”

Discussing misconceptions over timber windows, Helen said: “When it comes to cost, the improved durability of wood window frames means they can last longer – when maintained properly – and therefore actually provide better value over their lifetime than alternatives. In terms of energy efficiency, timber has naturally insulating properties, meaning timber windows can offer improved thermal performance.

“We want to challenge these misconceptions and help show that whether a property is a new build, a period home or anything in-between, wood windows and doors are the natural choice and can add value for any homeowner.”

www.bwf.org.uk

AT Precision Recycles 50 Tonnes Of Material In Six Months

Customade Is Disability Confident Employer

Aluminium bi-fold hardware supplier AT Precision has recycled 50 tonnes of material since the beginning of this year, thanks to its new Recycled Thermal Reinforcement (RTR) system.

In January, the company introduced the RTR system to its production line, in line with a new recycling scheme at its Durham premises.

The scheme sees AT Precision picking up unused or unwanted uPVC materials from its customers, and processing these for use in manufacturing its own screw retention profile bars.

Sales director Michael Hewitt comments: “We found that many of our customers are left with unused materials following their production processes, and by introducing our new recycling scheme, we’ve helped them produce less waste. We are happy to collect this material directly from our customers, which we then grind and melt down to produce a screw retention profile bar.

www.atprecision.co.uk

As part of its ongoing commitment to inclusion and diversity, fenestration business Customade Group has been accepted as a Disability Confident employer.

The Disability Confident scheme was developed by employers and disabled people’s representatives to create a rigorous but accessible pathway to help employers recruit and retain great people.

The scheme aims to challenge attitudes; increase understanding of disability and improve employee morale and commitment by demonstrating fair treatment.

To become level one accredited Customade businesses demonstrated that they met the standards for: inclusive and accessible recruitment communicating vacancies offering an interview to disabled people providing reasonable adjustments supporting existing employees The manufacturer also agreed to

commit to offering people with disabilities work experience, work trials, paid employment, apprenticeships and job shadowing.

Will Gold, CEO of Customade, said: “We are committed to being an inclusive and welcoming workplace and are very pleased that this has been recognised with this first step on the Disability Confident pathway.

“Diversity can only improve us as a business and we will continue to be an inclusive and welcoming place to work.”

Rachel Rolfe, Customade’s HR Director, added: “The Disability Confident scheme demonstrates our commitment to ensuring we recruit and retain the best people from the widest pool of talent.

“This commitment does not stop here. We will, with the practical help offered by the scheme, look to take further actions to ensure that we are an inclusive employer.”

www.customade.co.uk

REHAU TOTAL70: Total performance & security

REHAU’s TOTAL70 window and door system can achieve a U-Value of 0.8W/m2K with triple glazed units. With this high energy saving performance, REHAU are preparing for changes to meet the Future Homes Standard 2025 and 2030 net zero targets.

The TOTAL 70 System is certified under the BSI Kitemark License, for the highest weather performance according to BS 6375-1, 2 & 3 and Enhanced Security PAS24, whilst also being accredited by Secured by Design.

Windows. Reinvented for modern life. window.rehau.uk enquiries@rehau.com Tel: 01989 762600

Glazpart’s New Partnership Programme

Glazpart has announced the official launch of “The Glazpartners Programme” –designed to promote the value of customer relationships in the fenestration industry.

The new initiative has already been embraced by a significant number of Glazpart’s customers, from systems houses to fabricators and installers through to distributors and trade counters.

Dean Bradley, sales director of Glazpart explains, “This is an exciting new marketing initiative for all companies in the supply chain. Our aim is to promote close customer relationships

and to highlight that by working together for mutual benefit, we can continue to develop and deliver products to meet the business’ needs and fulfil the market’s demands.”

The Glazpartners Programme offers the following benefits for all participating companies.

• Listing, logo and promotional article on the bespoke Glazpartners webpage

• Product display and branding on Glazpart’s stands at trade fairs and events (including FIT Show 2025).

• Joint articles for the trade and

regional media

• Use of the Glazpartners Logo

• Promotion via social media channels

Dean Bradley adds, “It is now more important than ever for companies to work more closely together to face the many challenges in our industry. In the glazing supply chain, where availability is key and compliant products are a must it is invaluable to collaborate and develop market solutions and opportunities. I am delighted that so many companies have signed up to be Glazpartners and invite others to join.”

If you are interested in becoming a Glazpartner, please contact Dean Bradley – Sales Director or visit the webpage Glazpartners | Glazpart.

www.glazpart.com

Dean Bradley

Framex Expands Reach To Deliver Nationwide Service

Now managing director, Tim Mooney, believes the time is right to expand the company’s reach and service customers UK-wide. He explains: “We have spent three years building our business and developing our products and services, supporting existing customers around Lancashire and the North with top-of-the-range aluminium solutions. Following recent investment into our capabilities and fleet, we are ready to support customers nationwide.”

Aluminium specialist Framex has expanded its reach to service customers across the UK. It follows investment into its delivery fleet and capabilities to meet growing demand for the firm’s aluminium windows and doors.

The Lancashire-based firm, which was set up in 2020, manufactures SAS aluminium windows, doors and commercial glazing as well as Korniche roof lanterns for architects, builders and property developers.

BM Aluminium And AMS Strengthen Partnership

Tim adds: “Our team carries out a rigorous 30-point check process on every product to ensure they are finished to the highest standard. We want to take the pressure off busy installers and save them time on site by having ancillaries already fitted onto our windows and doors.”

www.framexuk.com

the partnership between the two businesses has gone from strength to strength, with lots of training, machine links, updates and bespoke programming taking place over the years.

Damien Farrelly and James Murray from AMS sat down with BM Aluminium project managers Daniel Hodges and Simon Crilley to discuss the latest programming requirements and get the inside track from Daniel and Simon on the latest version of LogiKal (v12) launched at the FIT Show.

A team from AMS aluminium systems company, paid a visit to BM Aluminium’s Tewkesbury HQ recently to see some of the latest LogiKal software programming and validation taking place for products in the AMS database.

BM Aluminium started providing LogiKal software to AMS customers way back in 2008 and AMS made the switch to using LogiKal exclusively for all of its own fabrication and customer operations in 2014. Since then,

Damien said: “We have a great working relationship with BM Aluminium and, even in these days of Teams meets and remote working, we always see the benefits of meeting face to face. We’re able to share more of our plans and objectives for AMS, and we pick up useful advice on how LogiKal can potentially do even more for us.”

www.bmaluminium.co.uk

(L-R) James Murray and Damien Farrelly from AMS pictured with Daniel Hodges from BM Aluminium

Joining The Dots

Nicola John, Director of Fire Door Maintenance (FDM), discusses the impact of the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 on door manufacturers and why a joined-up approach is essential for fire door inspections.

Enforced in January 2023, the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 regulations set new legal duties for those who own or manage multioccupied residential buildings over 11m high. These include new procedures for checking fire doors to make sure they are still suitable after their original fire risk assessment.

The person legally responsible for a building’s fire safety, known as the ‘responsible person’ must carry out annual inspections on all flat entrance doors, and quarterly checks on fire doors within communal areas and which cross corridors. A responsible person is usually the building’s landlord or manager.

The overall aim is to ensure fire doors are in good working order, including checking for any defects which could undermine their ability to prevent fire and smoke from spreading.

The scale of the challenge

For owners and managers of larger residential portfolios, particularly social landlords, the new rules present many challenges. Currently, the majority of housing providers don’t have the in-house expertise or capacity to deliver and record the volume of inspections required. With hundreds, or even possibly thousands of doors to check, significant resources will need to be put in place to comply with the regulations.

In response, some social landlords have begun to adopt specialist software to assist with scheduling the checks and reporting. But that still leaves a gap in the process. Fire door inspections require

people on the ground with the knowledge and time needed to carry out the checks.

To plug this gap, a growing number of housing providers are turning to door manufacturers to help. Those supplying new doors for residential buildings are being asked if they can also inspect existing fire doors to help their clients comply with the new rules. However, this approach presents further challenges with many manufacturers struggling to allocate enough time and resources to meet these requirements.

Another key consideration is the quality of the inspection. Although the Government guidance states checks should be ‘simple and basic’ the importance of a more thorough approach should not be underestimated. To make sure a door is safe and futureproofed, sourcing the manufacturer’s primary test evidence is strongly recommended. In line with the ‘golden thread’ policy postGrenfell, this will confirm if the correct components have been installed on each door, and have not been substituted or changed.

For a new door manufacturer to undertake this task is near impossible as many existing doors are likely to have been produced and installed by a different company.

Continued on page 42

Continued from page 40

Raising standards

As the impact of these challenges starts to bite, FDM has been launched by UAP to help door manufacturers provide a holistic service to their clients and enable them to deliver inspections to a higher standard.

As a company with extensive experience of the door industry and with direct links to manufacturers across the UK, we can bring specialist expertise, training and people to the table. This includes the ability to source primary test evidence from manufacturers which may have installed doors several years ago. We can also work with software providers to incorporate this evidence as part of wider fire door inspection solutions.

To overcome labour and skills challenges, FDM can provide a pool of specially trained locksmiths as part of its service. This training has been developed based on our industry knowledge of fire doors and involves practical and theory-based learning. It can also be adapted to meet the specific needs of a housing provider. More than 300 locksmiths are currently available to deliver bespoke inspections to housing associations and local authorities across the UK.

Completing the jigsaw

With the new fire safety regulations now firmly in place, there is an urgent need for housing providers to develop a robust system for carrying out fire door inspections. This requires the appropriate resources, skills and knowledge to be in place across the entire inspection process. By working with a specialist like FDM, door manufacturers can join the dots for their clients, providing an integrated, efficient service which ensures fire doors are inspected to the highest safety standards.

Why Door Sales Count When The Going Gets Tough

Inflation has dampened down an over-heated home improvement market. Mark Atkinson, sales director at Hurst Doors, argues doors will still deliver sales.

“We need to recognise that the landscape has shifted. The things that inflated the market in the last three-years are now in the past and that has to be reflected in how we move forward.

Recognising change

“The UK housing market has so far showed incredible resilience. Despite rising energy costs and inflation the housing market continues to perform, even if activity has slowed.

“Annually average house prices are currently around 3.5% lower than they were at the same time last year but month-on-

month according to figures from Nationwide, climbed in June to £262,239, up from £260,736. This is despite the aggressive half-point increase by the Bank of England in base rate to 5%.

“This is something that we can and should take some comfort in, but we should also recognise that with homeowners coming to the end of fixed mortgage terms and interest rates at a 15-year high, the next 12-months will be financially tough for many.

What do inflationary pressures mean for window and door sales?

“With inflation finally starting to bite there is going to be a pressure on household budgets and that will inevitably translate into tougher trading conditions

for anyone involved in home improvement or who supplies into it.

“That means we need to think about who we target, and how we target them more effectively and which products will still resonate with the end-user at a time when their disposable income may be being squeezed.

The importance of doors in supporting sales

“We need to adjust to a new economic reality. Things are far from catastrophic, there are plenty of opportunities but home improvement companies will need to win them and to do that they need the right product and service offer from their suppliers.

“Hurst enjoys a reputation as the industry’s leading supplier of PVC-U panels. Despite the shift to composites, panels retain a place within the market. They are affordable and a fit-and-forget product and we continue to invest in our ranges.

“But we’ve also significantly expanded our composite door offer, launching new contemporary aluminium-style products to give our customers more flexibility to match our composite door ranges into mixed aluminium and PVC-U installations. More affordable than aluminium, it represents a growing area of opportunity for installers.

“An evolving offer from its

suppliers, underpinned by great quality and service, is going to assume far greater importance in the year ahead. People may not have the money in the bank to fund whole “house refurbishment, but many will still have money for single item purchases, something which we have seen already in the first half of 2023.

Design-led sales

“We know from our customers that homeowners have become far more discerning. If we expect them to part with their cash, we have to sell them something that they aspire to. Composite door design, colour choice, and smart technologies, are going to be increasingly important in winning business.

“There will be sets of homeowners still buying doors in the next 12-months: those who have to – distress purchasers; and those with a vision for how they want their home to be. If we’re going to target this second group effectively, we need to offer them products which meet a growing design-requirement.

“That means that our approach to sales needs to become more consultative and aspirational. We’re currently working on some highly innovative tools which we believe will support our customers in transforming the way that they sell to the end-user.”

www.hurstdoors.co.uk

Hurst sales director, Mark Atkinson

Epwin Window Systems – Supporting The Changes

June 2023 marks the twelvemonth anniversary of the update to the Building Regulations. But with the rise in Fensa assessment failures, there still appears to be confusion about where and how the new regulations apply. This is the view of Phil Parry, business development director at Epwin Window Systems, who commented: “The year-on-year increase in Fensa assessment failures is striking. In January to March 2023, 39% of Fensa assessments failed. In the same period last year, it was just 13%. What is more troubling is all 39% of this year’s failures were because they didn’t meet the evidence requirements of thermal efficiency of the new Part L of Building Regulations as well as other failures relating to Part F and Part C”.

Phil continued: “It’s fair to assume that following an update of Building Regulations, we’d naturally expect an uptick in the failure rate. However, the jump is unexpectedly

large, given the extensive industry coverage.”

As documented, windows and doors on a new dwelling must meet a ‘notional’ U value of 1.2 W/ (m2K) or a ‘limiting’ U value of 1.6 W/(m2K) for England and 1.4 W/ m²K for Scotland and Wales. The ‘notional building specification’ is a recipe approach that ensures compliance if all standards are met. ‘Limiting U values’ are the worst acceptable level of performance, but designing to these values is unlikely to result in compliance.

Windows and doors installed in an existing dwelling need to meet a ‘limiting’ U value of 1.4 W/(m2K) (or a minimum Window Energy Rating of B/DSER Band C).

Phil said: “The first confusion is over the definition of ‘new dwelling’ and ‘existing dwelling’. A new dwelling covers everything from a large-scale property development to a new extension on an existing dwelling. The figures for an existing

dwelling only apply when windows and doors are being replaced.”

He continued: “The second confusion is over how the U values are calculated. U values must be calculated as set out in the GGF’s Glazing Manual Data Sheet 2.3, which means the BS EN 14351 sample size of 1230w x 1480h must be an opening light next to a fixed light with a central divider, i.e., not a single opener”.

To help customers navigate the changes, Epwin Window Systems set out a series of Building Regulation downloads available from their Connect digital portal. And with over 1000 views, they have proven to be an essential source of reliable information.

Phil said: “As the UK’s largest manufacturer and supplier of PVC-U and aluminium window and door systems we have a responsibility to our customers to keep them informed and guide them, and their customers, through the changes. Our in-house technical experts can also provide additional insight or advice to ensure customers are complying at all levels.”

www.epwinwindowsystems.co.uk

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The Future Homes Standard Could Transform Glass And Glazing – Is The Industry Ready?

Edgetech managing director Chris Alderson discusses the Future Homes Standard – which is less than two years away from coming into force – and asks whether the industry is ready for the changes it could potentially entail.

UK glazing could be on the brink of one of the biggest changes in the history of its legislation. As an industry, we’ve not got long to prepare for the scale of what could be coming.

The key word is ‘could’. We’ve been preparing for the Future Homes Standard, the government’s policy to ensure British newbuilds produce 75-80% less carbon, since 2019. However, at this time we still know very

little about what the final Future Home Standards will include. Nevertheless, it is important to anticipate what it’s likely to entail and how we can adapt to it.

To serve the construction sector more generally, the Future Homes Hub (a group of 170 experts from more than 100 organisations) has been established. The group has produced a comprehensive report examining the potential requirements of the ‘future home’ – examining five different approaches to achieving dwellings that meet the government’s aims.

The first potential specification prioritises cutting carbon by at least 75%. The second aims to closely align with the existing Part

L but adds electric heating.

The third strives to balance low energy use with design flexibility. The fourth seeks to minimise the need for space and water heating, while the fifth is aimed at increasing fabric efficiency to the extent that heating systems aren’t needed.

Each specification uses a different mix of methods and technologies to achieve the desired result.

It’s the fourth and fifth of these hypothetical specifications that include triple glazing – and it’s these, if they were adopted, that would cause the biggest upheaval for the UK glazing industry.

It’s also these two specifications that are projected to offer the greatest reduction in carbon emissions – 98% and 103% respectively – and deliver the biggest cost saving for homeowners: over £400 a year for each specification.

This isn’t only because they incorporate triple glazing – these

Chris Alderson

specifications also feature a range of other technologies, including solar panels, mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR) and airsource heat pumps.

It’s arguable that these two specifications are the least likely of the five to be adopted, as they’ll inevitably be the most expensive to implement. It’s much more likely that ministers will choose to implement one of the other three specifications the Future Homes Hub present – all of which incorporate double glazing, and less costly energy efficiency measures, while still meeting or exceeding the 75% carbon-cutting target.

Engaging with the issues

It’s important to restate that these aren’t official proposals. They’re the Hub’s attempt to show what the final specifications may look like.

The government could choose any combination of the products and technologies mentioned – or follow a different path entirely. However, the possibility that the final Future Homes Standard might make triple glazing the norm for every new build in Britain shouldn’t be dismissed.

In the report, the Hub predicts that it would take twelve months for the glazing industry to scale up production and begin to offer the numbers of triple glazed units needed. This may be overly optimistic; the machinery alone could have lead times of twelve months.

However, I believe we still have time to prepare but it is essential to act now. As an industry, it’s vital we engage with the big issues, follow any developments that might give us more idea what the final Future Homes Standard will look like, and work together to deliver thermally efficient housing for the net zero age.

www.edgetechig.co.uk

Too Much Of A Good Thing?

The Window Company (Contracts) has warned against taking on too much work as the industry continues to battle with a shortage of skilled fitters.

Chair David Thornton explained: “For the first time ever, we have turned down the opportunity to tender for some of the CIF funded work available in schools over the summer because we don’t believe it will benefit our business in the short to medium term.

“We pride ourselves on being a good company to work for and our rates of pay and benefits package are amongst the best in the industry, but we would still find it challenging to find enough resource to cope with significant extra volumes at this point.

“All our existing teams are fully occupied with ongoing contracts and pre-planned schools work, and we won’t jeopardise existing work just for the sake of additional volume.

“It’s the old adage ‘turnover is vanity, profit is sanity’ and while it goes against every entrepreneurial instinct to turn down work, we think it’s the right decision for our business. Time and again we see good companies fail simply because they overstretch themselves and while there is insufficient skilled labour in the market, that could become a very real danger for some.

“We are arguably at just about the optimal size for an installation business at the moment, with a tightly knit senior team that can still oversee every project individually. We still have capacity for growth, primarily because we have invested in tech solutions which make us operationally efficient, but we are realistic about current state of the labour market, and we are becoming increasingly selective about the additional work we take on.”

https://thewinco.co.uk/

What’s So Special About Qualicoat 3.0?

By Angus Mackie – Qualicoat Chair

Architectural powder coating is seen by many as a simple impervious finish that, when correctly applied to aluminium systems, will offer years of service life provided a basic cleaning and maintenance regime is followed. Whilst it is true that powder coated fenestration can offer decades of serviceable life, it is not so ‘simple’ to achieve, as one may be led to believe.

Since 1986, when the Association was formed, Qualicoat Members have been at the forefront of technical advances in both coating technology and consistency in finish quality. Today, the Qualicoat Specification continues to evolve and is reproduced yearly with updates that all members across the globe will follow to the letter, by third party accredited by unannounced inspections and only then, be licensed by the Association to demonstrate compliance.

Changes to the Specification, which is freely available to download from the Association website, are brought about by Members across the globe collaborating together in work groups to research issues, develop new methodology and incrementally improve the Specification. Members include licensed powder coaters, powder manufacturers and pretreatment suppliers.

Key to any applied finish is the preparation of the substrate that it is being applied to. The Qualicoat Membership has done a great deal of work in this area over the last few decades. Chromate pretreatment systems, were once seen by many as the most robust pretreatment system to be used on aluminium; this does not hold true today. Carrying the coveted Qualicoat licence requires Members to have their coated aluminium samples independently tested to ensure consistency of quality. The results of these tests show that chromefree pretreatment systems now

offer an equivalent failure rate to older chromate based systems. These advancements in chromefree pretreatment technology are welcomed as chromatebased pretreatment systems will be banned in many industries, including powder coating, across the UK and Europe in September 2024.

There are however, a small number of sample test failures, that is samples that do not reach the very high levels of performance stipulated by the Specification. On retesting samples provided by the coater, often these samples pass without any issues. Studying the data in more detail revealed that something else was causing the test failure. There seemed to be a correlation between the increased use of recycled aluminium in profile extrusion which needed more in depth research. Whilst recycling offers a reduced carbon footprint by minimising energy consumption at the production stage, it was concluded that the quality of the recycled alloy had an impact on the durability of the coated aluminium.

A worldwide working group of Members began to develop a specification for the alloys used in extrusion for fenestration, namely architectural aluminium alloy grades of 6060 and 6063. The

resulting alloy specification, which now forms Appendix A13 of the Qualicoat Specifications 2023, requires these alloys to fall within the EN573-3:2019 Standard, which can be met using primary or secondary (recycled) aluminium. Compliance requires the following three tests to be carried out, Optical Emission Spectroscopy (OES), Anodic Cyclic Polarisation (ACP) and a metallographic study of the aluminium surface.

These tests need to be undertaken on samples provided by the aluminium extruder and passed by an independent test house before a Qualicoat 3.0 approval can be awarded for a specific project. By ensuring that the alloy is of the correct standard, with reduced inclusions and improved grain consistency, it has been demonstrated by Qualicoat that architectural powder coat finishes

can be further enhanced for sustainability, especially when used with Class 2 powders (superdurable) and Class 3 powders (hyper-durable).

At the moment aluminium extruders required to supply to a Qualicoat 3.0 specification are revising their extrusion process to meet the tightened alloy specification on a project by project basis. The aluminium industry is engaging with Qualicoat on a worldwide basis to see how standards can be rolled out on a more general basis for extrusion and potentially sheet products.

Appendix A13 of the Qualicoat Specifications, also freely available from the Association website, is aimed at specifiers who have large facade projects and wish to take advantage of the

additional protection and durability that comes from a ‘QUALICOAT 3.0’ Specification. Whilst the current Qualicoat supply chain includes powder manufacturers, pretreatment systems providers and architectural powder coaters, QUALICOAT 3.0 introduces for the first time the aluminium extruders into the Qualicoat powder coating supply chain.

Specifiers who wish to take advantage of Qualicoat 3.0 should in the first instance contact Qualicoat UK & Ireland for guidance on specification and help in choosing the correct supply chain. A Qualicoat 3.0 specification will require a coating Member to carry the ‘Seaside’ class membership as this is a prerequisite coating procedure for Qualicoat 3.0.

qualicoatuki.org

CAB State of Trade Survey ‘Back Into Uncertain Times’

By Phil Slinger – chief executive of the Council for Aluminium in Building (CAB)

The Construction Products Association (CPA) have recently revised downward their forecast for this year and next. They expect construction output to fall by 7% this year, the forecast was 6.4% contraction forecast at the start of May, with only a modest increase in 2024 of 0.7%. The forecast is based on the Bank of England interest rate peaking at 5.75% in 2023 Q4 but, as material supply stabilises and economic data is released, interest rates will have an impact on forecasts.

By far the biggest fall in construction output is in private housing which is forecast to fall by 19% this year with only a modest 2% increase in 2024. The slow down is partially blamed on high interest rates which is subduing demand for new homes. Despite the downturn in the UK construction forecast, CAB members remain fairly busy and optimistic despite uncertain times ahead.

Client decision-making in the current financial climate to enter into new construction contracts has slowed, whilst there is a lot of construction currently in the pipeline, there is doubt about how quickly this will come through into starts on site.

Whilst on net balance 45% of members have seen Historic Sales Volumes increase, this is in contrast to the wider construction industry which reported a -47% reduction in sales over the same period. Historic Sales Volumes – YTD shows continuous volumes increase, the wider construction industry values have dipped considerably compared to Q1 2023 results of just -7% on net balance of respondents.

Following a good start to the year where CAB members forecast on net balance an increase in sales of 77% in the first quarter, this has softened a little to 55% on net balance. This is in contrast to the wider construction industry, whilst positive in Q1 2023 dips to -21% on net balance in Q2 2023. The results clearly show that the slowing in the wider construction market brings down the forecasts of CAB members but still stays well ahead by 76% points compared to just 32% points

a year ago. This large variation could suggest market volatility ahead.

Although material supply has recovered well since Covid times, it is the financial aspect of borrowing and the increasing cost of materials that is bringing about instability and could create financial uncertainty for many businesses in the latter part of the year.

Sales Volumes – Quarter-on-Quarter for CAB members show a healthy increase with only 9% of firms reporting a decrease of less than 5%. 54% indicated an increase in sales over Q1 2023 with 36% reporting over 5% increase.

Historically, as new build slows, refurbishment increases and, as can be seen in previous downturns, aluminium fenestration is quick to transfer into refurbishment from new build, as building owners turn to put a new face onto existing property. This work is quicker coming through the pipeline.

The trend on Historic and Expected Unit Costs has clearly softened over the last year across the construction industry. Aluminium prices have reduced by 15% since a high early in the year, however, hardware and other materials continue to have an impact.

CAB Members report that wages and salaries are now the major Cost Factor with 91% of businesses responding. Energy costs as a Cost Factor has softened to 64% of respondent from a year ago

high of 100%. From a high of 78% of respondents in Q4 2022 reporting raw materials as a Cost Factor, in Q2 2023, no respondents saw raw materials as a Cost Factor.

Looking forward, CAB Members claim that the Likely Constrain on Activity Over the Next 12 Months remains demand with 82% of respondents claiming this as the major factor. This has remained steady over the last year. Labour availability is the second constant over the last year currently with 9% of respondents claiming this as constraint over the next 12 months.

CAB Members Capital Investment in plant & equipment and product improvement have always remained high with plant and equipment being the largest investment. In Q2 2023 the emphasis has now moved to product improvement as being the major Capital Investment. The challenge to meet higher thermal performance levels to meet future legislation is clearly a driving factor.

The full report placing CAB Members feedback against the wider construction products sector, produced by the CPA is a members only document. This together with other market data forms part of the support package for CAB Members. Should you wish to learn more about the use of aluminium, please contact CAB directly, or why not consider joining the Association and be recognised as being involved in supporting your Industry and helping to shape its future. More information on our website at c-a-b.org.uk

Does The BSR Hold The Answers For

Frustrated Installers?

of Certass, says: “This member feedback gives a clear position that our best-practice installers are fed-up with seeing poor installations and frustrated that companies who continue to cut corners are getting away with it.

“As we have discussed extensively at the recent FIT Show, and in our online webinars, the new Building Safety Regulator comes with new enforcement powers, never before seen in our sector. The involvement of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) means that there are adequate resources to target and prosecute non-compliant contractors and their work.

“There are many questions and much hesitation around the incoming regulator; particularly with tradespeople’s concerns on the impact that it will have on our sector. The evidence I have seen so far is that the BSR isn’t there to trip us up – but it will serve to make life difficult for those who carry out work without regard for the Building Regulations, or the health and safety of building occupants.

“At Certass, we welcome all feedback, however trivial it may seem, so we can make running your business easier for those who choose us as their certification partner. What was surprising was that most of the suggestions we received were targeted at the wider sector, as opposed to the nuts-and-bolts changes to BSR.”

A new survey of more than 120 installers has flagged some of the top issues facing them today. The data, collected from Certass member companies, highlighted the frustration felt by installers regarding illegal and unregistered window installations by ‘cowboy’ and ‘unregulated’ fitters.

Responses to the survey, which was open throughout

May, included comments such as: ‘Help us to identify illegal installations’, ‘Chase the Government on the unregulated fitter’ and ‘What bothers me is that there are so many window installers that are still not registered…and continue to trade without being fined’.

Does the new BSR hold answers for these frustrated installers? Jon Vanstone, chair

Other suggestions included building relationships with more manufacturers to help them offer better guarantees and higher quality products and pushing to make double glazing a soughtafter trade for young people. One respondent added: ‘I think a big name like Certass, who truly cares about the industry, could actually make something like this happen.’

Skills Shortages And The Future Of UK Engineering

According to figures from The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), less than half of new engineering recruits have either the necessary technical or soft skills needed for work within

the industry. Josh Goodwin, technical director for KallKwik Machinery, discusses how the sector can promote the next generation of engineering talent and invest in the future of the industry.

The engineering sector employs over 5 million people, that’s 7 percent of the UK’s population working in an industry that remains a mystery to most new workers. A 2020 report by Engineering UK recorded that almost half of 11 to 19-yearolds said they knew almost nothing about what engineers do.

This attitude doesn’t seem to only apply to the younger generations. Further figures

from the IET estimate a shortfall within Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths (STEM) sectors that equates to ten unfilled roles per business. This sort of disparity has not only left many firms crying out for new talent but has also limited how much companies are willing to reinvest in themselves to create the engineers of the future.

Although this has been a problem for several years, factors such as the COVID-19

pandemic have meant that the sector has suffered huge setbacks. More than 200,000 workers left the industry during the pandemic for a multitude of reasons, including a lack of steady work and uncertainty over their employer’s future.

Fifty percent of these workers were aged 45-55. The industry is actively losing some of its most experienced and skilled workers, and it doesn’t seem to be overly concerned about spurring on the people that will be leading the sector in the years to come.

A skill issue?

Alongside the huge numbers of individuals leaving the sector, there exists the missing millions of trained workers who are unable to find work within the STEM sector, as well as the ignored reserve of 50–64-year-olds who aren’t employed but want to be. There’s a well of talent and knowledge that remains untapped. However, most older workers leaving the industry will be unlikely to want to retrain in problem or higher-demand areas. Put simply, we need to focus on the next generation of talent.

The most effective way for companies to bolster their engineering teams and begin to address the problems within the sector is to begin re-investing in apprenticeships and provide jobs and opportunities for anyone who’s eager to start working within the industry. But why aren’t younger people entering the workforce?

Desk jobs and work in distribution centres often have a broader appeal than factory work. But in my day-to-day work with fabricators and customers, I see so much pride and attention to detail from the teams on the factory floor. It would be great to get the younger generations to experience this opportunity to work in our industry.

Change starts with us

Unfortunately, the kind of vocational education that a lot of us engineers went through is not what it used to be. Technical colleges are increasingly rare, even with the emphasis placed on STEM learning currently, and it’s becoming harder and harder for businesses to find younger people wanting to train for jobs in factories or manufacturing facilities.

How can we reinvigorate people’s interest in a career in manufacturing and engineering? We could begin to take a leaf out of the books of some of the country’s largest engineering firms. Companies like Rolls Royce, Siemens, and Toyota still have a broad appeal to younger people.

This isn’t just down to their prestige, but the fact that these employers are offering technical, hands-on training and work that will set their apprentices up for life.

As for KallKwik? We’re committed to hiring young talent that’s keen to get to grips with the industry. Take our apprentice, Elliott, who joined KallKwik after being unhappy that his previous role didn’t give him nearly enough time to learn hands-on with machinery. This was something we were keen to remedy, giving him the balance of training and hands-on experience.

None of us have all the answers, this is a complex issue, but it stands to reason that when there aren’t enough skilled workers available, we should take the initiative and start to invest in our own future. The bottom line is that the work is there, and people want to do it. By opening up the way we recruit, and being more proactive in how we engage young workers, we can start to turn the tides in our favour.

Opportunities Without The Investment

Choose your suppliers carefully to help win highvalue work, argues joint managing director of Mackenzie Glass Mark Herbert. We report.

“Many glass companies are currently geared to do as much as possible as cheaply as possible,” joint managing director of Mackenzie Glass Mark Herbert says. “But while this may benefit their customers in the short term, it stifles investment and innovation.”

The glass industry currently finds itself in a compromised position, with contradicting pressures making competing demands on it, Mark argues.

On the one hand, some companies have limited their ranges of glass products and are concentrating their efforts on high volume, low margin work, while on the other, much of the evidence suggests that demand is coming from

high value projects requiring bespoke products.

“We are at an interesting point in the economic cycle,” Mark says, “because increased supply from China and Turkey has driven down the price of some glass products. This is offsetting the welldocumented increased costs due to energy, labour and inflation generally.

“This is encouraging volume work – especially single toughened – because companies want their toughening furnaces to be kept busy 24/7, keeping costs down in the process.”

Mark explains that as a glass merchanting business, Mackenzie Glass steers away from volume work and towards specialist products, which puts its customers – especially smaller companies – in a far more advantageous position.

“Smaller projects ordering glass products that have gone through multiple processes require a service that volume producers struggle to offer,” Mark says.

“So while some glass products entering the UK market may be coming down in price, the current demand for specialist glass such as tints, etched, multi-coloured mirrors, antique silvers, heat and fire-resistant products, and bespoke restoration glasses require a specialist service.”

Mackenzie Glass cuts specialist glass to size, and

delivers orders to site in any quantity. This puts its customers at an advantage, Marl says, because not only do they have access to high value work with potentially high margins, but they don’t have to invest in stock that may sit unused in racks for months at a time.

“The choice can sometimes seem stark,” Mark says. “You either drive the volume side of your business, and compete on price, or you target lower volume work that carries more opportunities for increased margin, but you may have to tie that up that extra cash in stock.

“By working with Mackenzie Glass, you should find a reasonable middle ground. Also, because you are choosing what you need, you have a greater choice of products to work with, potentially expanding your customer base in the process.”

Ultimately, flexibility is key, and working with merchants like Mackenzie glass takes the sting out of sharp turns in the economy, Mark says.

“China and Turkey can cease supply tomorrow, which will impact glass prices in the UK immediately,” he says. “As will the rebuilding programme in Ukraine once the war ends.

“We’ve all seen the pictures of destroyed towns, cities and villages. Once the fighting stops, many European-manufactured construction products will be diverted away from the UK, limiting supply and pushing up prices.

“Mackenzie Glass sources products from around the world, and will be less dependent on European supply. Plus, the cost of shipping containers is falling, which is opening new lines of enquiry for us.”

Mark points out that Mackenzie Glass also continues to invest in machinery and infrastructure, such as a new fire saw and a new straight-line edger.

“We have invested well over £1.5m in upgrading the vast majority of our plant and machinery during the last four years,” Mark says. “Additionally, plans are in place to continue significant investment in the coming 24-36 months.

“As well as flexibility, we want stability, which is something we aim to deliver at Mackenzie Glass,” Mark concludes. “Ultimately, we want our customers to target prestigious high margin work, without the investment that could make it prohibitive.”

www.mackenzieglass.co.uk

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The Business Pilot Barometer

Quality not quantity as leads slow but sales hold

By Neil Cooper-Smith, Senior Analyst, Business Pilot

Business Pilot users are on average converting 43.9% of leads. This is a 3.3% increase on the already high June figure of 42.5%, and a whopping 26.3% increase on a year ago (July 2022). In February 2022 – 18 months ago – the average conversion rate was 32.8% and it has increased every month since then.

This is a fascinating statistic, and one we’ve discussed a lot recently. In my opinion, there are two key things going on. Firstly, you’ve got fewer tyre kickers. If you get an enquiry from a homeowner looking to replace doors and windows, then they are likely to be serious – they will have a budget, a source of finance, and a commitment to buying.

Secondly, they will have conducted some of their research beforehand, and are approaching fewer than three window companies for quotes. In an increasing number of cases, they will be approaching just one.

The go-to statistic for many companies when the Business Pilot Barometer is published is the ‘average leads’, and this month we’ve continued to see that month-on-month decline since the start of the year; at 89.9, average leads are 4.1% lower than last month.

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

But this is still 16.1% higher than the same period last year, and if you take into account the increased conversion rates (a higher conversion rate figure implies fewer leads) then it is less dramatic.

Supporting this view of the market is the average sales; at 44.8 – just 2.2% lower than June 2023 –sales are holding their own. They are also 31.4% higher than July 2022.

Window companies are clearly making every lead count and capitalising on every opportunity.

Meanwhile, the average order value in July 2023 dropped 8.2% to £4,123.47 when compared to June 2023. This is also 8.9% lower than a year ago (July 2022). Going through the data for the last three years there are clear seasonal changes to the average order value, and if the next two quarters follow a similar pattern to 2021 and 2022, then we should see average order values increase by the end of the year.

continue to fall overall – up to 5% lower over the course of 2023.

At 7.9%, inflation continues to fall, but it is still too high, and will put pressure on the Bank of England to raise interest rates at the beginning of August. At the time of writing, the base rate was 5% which, while still historically low, will put pressure on household finances where low fixed rate mortgage deals are coming to an end.

Inflation also reduces discretionary spend, and is likely to reduce the number of households looking to improve their homes.

At the same time, the housing market is sluggish. According to Zoopla, annual UK house price inflation slowed to just +0.6%. Significantly, annual falls of up to -2.2% were reported in southern England and markets with an average price of over £300K (affordable markets in economically active areas are still registering annual house price inflation of over 3.5%). Also, higher mortgage rates have reduced demand by 18% in the last two months, according to the property website.

Zoopla said it expected to see house prices

Combined, this says two things: there is less money at the lower end of the market for new windows and doors; but an increase at the upper end where homeowners are delaying moving because a) interest rates are too high and b) moving now would mean paying over the odds.

This scenario fits with the Business Piot Barometer’s figures: volume is down, but homeowners are investing wisely when they decide to invest, resulting in a net gain for window companies.

It is also worth noting that the interest in aluminium as a window material reflects this shift to the higher value activity; sales of aluminium increased while those for timber and PVC-U dropped (albeit modestly).

www.businesspilot.co.uk

Vista Sales And Marketing

Manager Appointed To The Board After 18 Years Of Service

Following 18 years of service with composite door manufacturer Vista Panels, sales and marketing manager Ian Smith has been appointed to the company’s Board of Directors.

Ian’s new role on the Board will see him bring in fresh perspectives and innovation, marking an exciting new chapter in his career.

“As an established industry leader in the uPVC panel and composite door markets, Vista has achieved

remarkable success over the years,” Ian says.

“I am thrilled to join the Board of Directors and work towards further advancing the company’s strong position in the market.”

Ian joined Vista in 2005 as a factory operative, before moving into the office as an order processor, and then into the sales team.

“I not only became interested

Ian Smith in the selling of the panels and composite doors, but also in the marketing side,” he said. “I have really embraced the creativity of being able to contribute to the design of the brochures as well as looking after all of our social media platforms.”

Vista’s managing director Keith Sadler comments: “Ian’s expertise and technical knowledge perfectly align with Vista’s company values and ethos, and having been with the company for nearly two decades, he’s a very welcome addition to the Board. At Vista, we have a strong team making up our board, all contributing to the strategic growth of the company – Ian perfectly complements this with his sales and marketing expertise. We are really excited to see the unique perspectives and contributions he will bring to the team.” www.vistapanels.co.uk

New Appointment At Modplan

Trade fabricator Modplan has further strengthened its sales management team with the appointment of Paul Tween as business development manager (South East).

Having worked directly within the fenestration industry for ten years, Paul brings a wealth of industry experience and in-depth market knowledge.

Commenting on his appointment, Paul said: “I am delighted to join Modplan. The company has a great reputation for delivering the products today’s installers and contractors need and proactively supports their customers with a partnership approach that adds further value. As a previous customer of Modplan, I have witnessed first-hand the level of product excellence and support

they provide, and I look forward to working with the team.”

Paul, who joined Modplan in May 2023, reports directly to Ian Lewis, Modplan’s sales manager. Ian commented: “Paul is well-known in the industry and having worked

A New First Point Of Contact

Jade Taylor has joined the team at web development and lead generation specialists The Consultancy as an Administration Assistant and is now the first point of contact for customers who call or log-in for a live chat about their account.

Jade’s appointment means Katie Phillips, who has been a one-woman customer service department for most of the past six years, has now been promoted to Operations Manager, focused on the day-today running of the business.

Jade has lots of experience in admin and office management

closely with him in the past, I know first-hand what an asset he’ll be to our customers and the wider business. We are pleased to find such a committed and experienced professional.”

www.modplan.co.uk

working for a multi-national beauty company and great customer service skills. She is already impressing The Consultancy’s 200+ customers with her ability to resolve queries quickly and efficiently.

Katie commented: “Jade is already making a big difference to our operation. She’s making sure existing customers get all the answers and information they need and freeing up others in the team to concentrate on growing the business and responding to the surge in demand we’re seeing for bespoke websites.

“We have big ambitions for The Consultancy this year, so it’s important that we have the right team in place. As well as her admin role, Jade will also be supporting our new sales and marketing campaigns.”

More info at:

www.theconsultancy.co.uk/

Left to Right – Ian Lewis and Paul Tween

New Technical Consultant For ISO Chemie

ISO Chemie, producers of foam sealants for windows and doors, has appointed a new technical consultant for east and central UK following continued expansion and growth.

Charlotte Davidson, who has more than 15 years’ experience in trade sales across the fire protection and wholesale market sectors, will be responsible for developing additional new business among window and doors fabricators, installers and specifiers for the company’s range of sealing solutions.

ISO Chemie specialises in the manufacturer of foam products from polyethylene (EPE), polypropylene (EPP) and polyurethane (PUR) using the latest production techniques. Its products are used for the fast and effective air tightness sealing of windows, claims the company, as well as other joint and gap sealing applications in the building, ecobuild and construction sectors.

www.iso-chemie.eu/en-GB/home

DoorCo Expands Sales Team

DoorCo has made further appointments, this time with the internal promotions of Sarah Hayes and Adam Sullivan into sales executive roles.

“Following on from the recent announcement about the appointment of Michelle Kirkham as customer service and order processing manager, we’re delighted to be able to announce that Sarah Hayes and Adam Sullivan have been appointed as our new sales executives, joining Mandy and Mark to create a 4-strong sales team, comments Dan Sullivan, DoorCo MD. “This is an exciting announcement for a number of reasons. Firstly, both Sarah and Adam are valued members of the team, and this promotion reflects their dedication and the great work they deliver.

“Sarah joined the business two years ago and has been a valued member of our order processing team, so thoroughly understands our backend systems and the processes in which we follow to ensure our customer’s orders are delivered accurately and on-time.

“Adam has been with the business for 7 years and leaves his position as warehouse manager to move across to sales. Having managed

the distribution side of the business for a number of years, and also worked in manufacturing in the past, Adam has a deep operational understanding of the business.

“Secondly, our sales team are a central part of our customer’s service experience. They are the face of DoorCo and play an essential role in making sure our customers are happy and abreast of the latest innovations we have available. With their backgrounds, Sarah and Adam bring a wealth of understanding, knowledge and drive to ensure that realistic expectations are offered, and lines of communication stay open and transparent

“It’s no secret that DoorCo has grown and evolved significantly, and we’re not done yet. We have big plans and we’ve been working hard behind the scenes to grow and shape our team with the right people to ensure we can achieve our goals. Our customers are central to these plans and the appointments of Michelle, Sarah and Adam into these new, customer-centric roles demonstrate that we are serious when we say our customers are at the heart of everything we do.

www.door-co.com

A New Technical Manager Joins The Arrone Team

Robert Mottram has recently joined the Arrone team as a technical manager.

Rob has more than 9 years of experience working within the door industry. He joins Hoppe from steel door manufacturer Robust UK where he was a research and development manager.

“My new role is focused on product performance and ensuring all fire-rated Arrone products have up to date fire test evidence to support certificates,” explains Rob.

“I have a lot of experience with fire doors and the associated hardware. In my previous role, I was involved in the preparation for the regulations that came into force in November 2019 regarding the CE marking of fire rated external doorsets.

“I’ll be working closely with test labs and independent third-party certification schemes, such as Certifire, as well as with door manufacturers to ensure we have the right hardware and test evidence for use with their products.

www.hoppe.co.uk

Team Changes At Bi-Fold Door Hardware Manufacturer

Bi-fold door hardware manufacturer Debar has announced two management changes that it says will help to strengthen and expand its operations.

Jim Lomax who has joined the team as Sales and Marketing Director brings 30 years’ experience from within the complex electronics and software industry. Whereas Neil Tordoff has received an internal promotion from New Business Account Executive to Technical Sales Manager for the South West.

The promotions come at a time when the Bradford-based company continues to build on its reputation for the highest possible levels of build quality, service, advice and guidance around any bi-fold door requirements.

As sales and marketing director, Jim will be responsible for raising Debar’s profile in both home and international markets while also ensuring that training and knowledge across sales and marketing is of the highest

quality.

Neil’s remit will be to cultivate the South West customer base by fostering strong relationships and delivering ‘exceptional customer service’ as well as staying ahead of industry trends to support both the company and its clients.

At Debar, customer focus is vital so the company says Neil will be making sure all customer needs are met and their own knowledge is developed so they can successfully engage with new and existing bi-fold products effectively.

Peter Sutcliffe, MD at Debar, said: “We’re pleased to welcome the addition of Jim to the team at Debar and we’d like to congratulate Neil on his promotion. Both are outstanding team players and will enhance our existing reputation for being a forward-thinking company which combines excellent technical know-how with a firm commitment to customer service.”

www.debarhardware.com

(L-R) Neil Tordoff and Jim Lomax

Glazerite Strengthens Sales Team With New Addition

The Glazerite UK Group has appointed a new Area Sales Manager as it seeks to strengthen its sales team.

Matt Dove, who has more than 10 years of experience in fenestration, will cover the North of England and Scotland as part of his role. He says: “I’m really excited to be joining Glazerite. I am looking forward to meeting our customers and working hard to support our installers with a fantastic range of products and added value services.”

Matt’s experience in construction and fabrication includes roles supporting installers operating in commercial, domestic and

new build sectors. He has also just completed a Business Management and Leadership degree while working full-time. He adds: “I love building and developing relationships with customers. I can’t wait to get out and about to meet our installers and help them grow in their own markets.

Glazerite sales & commercial director Jeff Dunn adds: “Matt has a wealth of product knowledge and commercial experience in fenestration, including Veka products. Some of our team has had the pleasure of working with Matt previously so we know Glazerite’s customers will be in safe hands. We’re delighted he’s joining us at a pivotal time for Glazerite following recent investment into our operations.”

www.glazerite.co.uk

Two New Faces Join The OWS Team

OWS specialise in the design, manufacture and installation of aluminium based fire resisting glazed systems. With over twenty years’ experience, the company continues its ambitious growth to become the centre of excellence in both internal and external fire resisting glazing.

As part of this growth, the company has employed two new members to their team.

Andy Skinner has joined as senior estimator. A City and Guilds qualified carpenter and joiner, Andy has worked as an installer, surveyor, contracts manager with Solaglass (Saint-Gobain), as well as an estimator within the fire resisting glazing industry. With over thirty years of experience in the window and fenestration industry, he brings a wealth of knowledge to strengthen the company’s estimating function, to support their growing customer base.

Kevin Hulin has been appointed as the specification sales manager. This appointment strengthens the technical sales team at OWS. Kevin has worked within the passive fire industry, in a variety of roles, including director, technical, sales and marketing, with an emphasis in fire resisting glazing and doors.

For nearly seven years he was the chairman of the Glass and Glazing Federation’s Fire Resisting Glazing Group, who produced a Best Practice Guide to FR Glazing which is referenced in Approved Document B.

www.owsfirerated.co.uk

(L-R) Kevin Hulin Andy Skinner

Alan Hockey Joins Mercury

Mercury has appointed Alan Hockey as its manufacturing manager. Alan brings a wealth of operational experience and expertise in fabrication, lean manufacturing, quality management, and Health and Safety principles. Steve Cross, director at Mercury, expressed his delight in welcoming Alan to the team and emphasized his value in supporting the business during its growth phase.

Alan has an extensive background in the industry, including seven years as head of production at Anglian Home Improvements, and is highly proficient in high-output manufacturing. He expressed his excitement about joining Mercury, which has experienced significant growth recently, thanks to the dedicated senior management team. Alan is eager to lead the

operational side of the business to enhance efficiency and achieve growth targets.

Mercury, based in Gloucester, has witnessed remarkable growth, leading to a 50% expansion of its production facility and the acquisition of its third

manufacturing unit. Despite some signs of a slowing market, the company continues to have a substantial pipeline of projects across domestic, trade, and commercial sectors.

For more information, visit www.mercuryglazing.co.uk

Chris Bailey Obituary

AN ANNOUNCEMENT FROM BUSINESS MICROS

15 June 2023

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of a much-loved colleague and wellknown industry figure.

Chris Bailey (aged just 42) succumbed to his illness in the early hours of this morning.

Many of you have been expressing your love and support for Chris, Ashley and their boys Cole (15) & Jake (11) over the past few months. We can tell you that has meant so much to all of them and to his wider family.

Chris was a valued colleague

at Business Micros for many, many years and made a huge contribution to the business. His skill set in understanding operational and machining complexities and ability to add real value for customers was widely acknowledged.

In his last few years, he extended that out into the marketplace working alongside customers and machinery suppliers both at home and abroad.

We will miss him, we will miss his humour, we will miss his casual observations often funny, often accurate and above all we will miss him for the kind, supportive person he was.

Rest in peace.

From left to right: Alan Hockey with Mercury Director Steve Cross

How Deceuninck Aluminium Helps Spectral Remain Competitive

We talk to Nick Rudd, Director at Spectral Windows, about how a Deceuninck Aluminium’s modern design is proving to be a winner with installers and homeowners.

Spectral Windows was established during the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 by Jason Wilder and fellow directors Nick Rudd, Phil Redfern and Scott McQueen, after being contacted by old customers who said they needed a premium product range from a local supplier.

After getting operations underway with two Deceuninck PVC-U lines – one welded and one fully mechanical – the team turned their attention to aluminium.

Nick explained that Deceuninck Aluminium was an obvious fit, because it was modular, robust and thermally efficient.

“The Decalu88 Bi-folding Door was new, and we started making it as soon as we could,” he said. “And it’s been a real hit with our installer database.

“For example, Deceuninck Aluminium was one of the first aluminium systems companies to launch a pre-gasketed system, which means there’s no timeconsuming feeding gaskets in on site.

“Also, you don’t get the problem with the gasket shrinkage, and you are literally knocking hours off installation time because there’s no gasket to manually insert.”

Uniform appearance

Deceuninck Aluminium is committed to developing a modular range of windows and doors, which share many of the same components. On the one hand, this is good for installers, because it is easy to create a uniform appearance across all glazing elements if you don’t

have multiple beads on site, for example.

And on the other hand, fabricators only need to stock four separate products. The complexity to stock more component parts for a similar style aluminium system takes up more space requires more detailed logistics, and ties up money in stock.

“As a modular system, it is great for stockholding,” Nick said. “There are far fewer parts to stock than other systems on the market, and the colour range is excellent.

“We also like the fact that most of the colours are the same price, whereas you tend to pay a big premium for non-standard colours with other systems companies.”

Spectral Windows also discovered

a significant pull-through in demand from homeowners who were focusing more on the energy efficiency of their home improvements, with window companies looking for thermal performance builtin, not accommodated as an afterthought.

“It’s an 88mm front-to-back system, so it’s got a bigger thermal break than a lot of the other systems on the market, and it can take up to a 60mm triple glazed sealed unit,” Nick said. “So, it’s a real winner when it comes to U-values.

“And the other reason installers like it is because it’s a slimmer sightline – 10mm slimmer than some other bi-folds on the market.

“Yet, it is still a heavy-duty door, so you can do much bigger, much wider and much taller panes.”

Bigger panes

Nick explained that a common bifold size is 3.6m wide, which means you would be looking at a four-pane door with most bifold systems.

“And the downside with a fourpane door is that you can’t have all the doors stacking the same way with a master door,” he said.

“And because a four-pane door costs more than a three-pane door, the beauty with the Decalu88 at 3.6m is that you can comfortably do a three-pane door, which is cheaper.

“And you’ve not got the problem of having one door going one way and three doors going to the other.”

Many of these advantages, Nick points out, rest (quite literally) on the heavy-duty roller system.

“It was one of the first aluminium bifold doors that I know of to meet the new regulations,” Nick said. “And you can put triple glazing in without having to worry about the extra weight, which means you can get it down to under a U-value of 1.0W/m2K with a 60mm triple glazed unit and not have to worry about the door dropping.

“And the fact that they’ve got a full suite of Decalu products now is a big winner, because if a homeowner wants a bifold door in aluminium, then the chances are they might want a flush casement or a casement window to match, and the Decalu88 range is constantly evolving to meet this need.”

Nick Rudd

Flush Sash Window

Shepley Launch New Visage Rio

Rehau trade fabricator Shepley Windows has added the new Visage Rio flush sash window to its extensive ‘Everything Rehau’ range of Visage windows and doors.

Rio flush sash windows feature Shepley’s timber-look fully welded corner joints, offering traditional timber detailing without compromising on strength or performance.

Ian Griffiths, managing director at Shepley Windows says: “Rio flush sash completes our ‘Everything

Rehau’ range of Visage PVCu windows and doors. Available in 20 off-the-shelf colours, this gives customers the flexibility to suite flush sash with casement windows and doors.”

“Using the same system across the whole Visage range of products enables us to offer complete consistency. It also makes life a lot easier for our customers, enabling them to offer more choice to homeowners without delaying their projects, and they can now get matching windows and doors all

on one order.”

The new Rio flush sash window is tested to PAS 24 and certified to BS 6375 for weather tightness.

“It’s a top performing product with a whole host of benefits,” continues Ian. “The choice of traditional or contemporary hardware, timber-look joints and Georgian bar options makes Rio flush sash a truly authentic timber alternative.”

www.shepley.com

Framexpress

Adds Triple Track PatioMaster To Its Range

Patiomaster fabricator, Framexpress, has added Triple Track Sliding Patio doors to its ‘Everything Better as Standard’ range.

Available now, Triple Track PatioMaster doors can be used to create openings up to six metres wide, an ideal, costeffective alternative to wide-span aluminium sliding or bi-folding doors, claims the company.

Stuart Green, director at Framexpress, says: “We are always looking for way to support customers and add more benefits to our Club Framexpress membership. This includes growing our product range to meet increased demand from homeowners.

“We are the official West Midlands PatioMaster Dealer, and our customers are already

familiar with the PatioMaster system, so Triple Track was the obvious choice to offer a widerspan PVCu patio door option.”

The new Triple Track PatioMaster door offers U-Values as low as 1.3 with double glazing, and 1.0 for the 36mm triple glazed option, thanks to its 60mm multi-chamber PVCu-aluminium composite outer frame.

Edge-located rollers enable easy on-site adjustment, and the system works with standard PatioMaster cills, posts and couplers for straightforward fitting. The doors use stainless steel tracks for an easy glide

opening and anti-lift sashes for extra security, claims the company.

Stuart adds: “At Framexpress, we are committed to manufacturing everything better as standard – that means using better componentry, offering better customer service and delivering everything on time, infull and spot-on.”

Framexpress is celebrating 25 years of manufacturing this year, and recently increased production capacity with a new 15,000 sq. ft. door facility, a stone’s throw from its Telford HQ.

Euroglaze Adds Rehau’s Rio Flush Door System To Range

Euroglaze has added the Rehau Rio flush door system to its range.

The Barnsley based trade fabricator says it can already claim to have probably the widest selection of Rehau products in its range – from vertical sliders to fire rated windows – and it can now make that claim for flush sash products as well.

Euroglaze is offering the Rehau Rio door as either a single open-out door or as double open-out French doors, both with discreet butt hinge hardware. It is a perfect match for Rehau’s Rio flush windows, allowing buyers to choose the same chamfered or sculptured frame options to achieve a consistent look across their

property.

Like the Liniar flush sash and Liniar Resurgence systems that Euroglaze also offers, the Rehau Rio range is designed to appeal to premium buyers in both traditional and more contemporary properties.

Euroglaze’s managing director Martin Nettleton commented: “Aesthetically, they are proving more than a match for the timber and aluminium flush sash alternatives and, of course, they come with all the inherent benefits of PVC-U in terms of value and efficiency. We’re supplying our new Rio doors in a full range of inside and out colours and finishes and with variety of furniture options to suit any type of home.”

https://bit.ly/3pYGRES

Nationwide Windows Set The Standard With PAS2030 Installation

Nationwide Windows Limited (NWD) has shown its commitment to being at the forefront of innovation and best practice by completing its first pilot PAS2030 property installation – the revised standard that ensures projects are ready to meet Government, industry and client requirements.

Sponsored by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), this PAS standard is for the specification for the installation of energy efficiency measures in existing dwellings and insulation in residential park homes.

The primary objective of PAS2030 is ‘the provision of a robust, uniformly applicable EEM (Energy Efficient Measure) installation process that will assist installers that comply with its requirements in full to demonstrate that their installation processes are capable of providing installation to specification and in accordance with the Client’s expectations.’

“We had already been certified to the previous PAS2030 standard that was linked to the ‘Green Deal’,” says Chris Costall, compliance director at Nationwide. “However, the fundings model

for that initiative did not work for fenestration at the time.

“Kev Caveney, (director of commercial sales) and myself saw the importance and potential of the revised standard very early on. We became certified early in 2022 and completed our first pilot PAS2030 property installation in April. We’ve now started the main phase of works, with multiple EEMs being installed as part of the scheme, including external wall insulation.

“We are also assisting multiple existing and new clients with our in-depth knowledge of the PAS2030 standard and working with them on projects, from conception to design and delivery.

“By being PAS2030 accredited, clients have the peace of mind that they are working with a contractor that is certified and competent, also satisfying the requirement of a turnkey solution dictated by Government funding streams.”

Rapierstar

Offers Fastener Guidance For Profile-Switching Fabricators

Fabricators who are switching PVCu profile systems, either as a forced change or through choice, must ensure the fasteners they use every day in window and door assembly are suitable for the new systems being introduced.

That’s the message from Rapierstar, who work with fabricators to ensure their suite of window screws is optimised to enable them to deliver finished products in a safe, efficient factory environment.

As part of their support to the industry, the Rapierstar team advises on which fasteners to use in all areas of PVCu window and door manufacturing, from attaching door hinges on outer frames and casement friction stay screws to frame coupling and mechanical jointing. Their technical guidance is particularly beneficial to fabricators when they are switching to a new and often unfamiliar profile, as it cannot be assumed the screws that worked well on their previous systems will be equally effective

on the new one.

Andy Holland, technical and marketing manager at Rapierstar says: “It is easy to think the same screws will work across different PVCu profile systems, but this is often not the case. Achieving the high standards you’ve set yourself when manufacturing with a new profile may require screws in certain areas of assembly to be a different length, diameter or head form – or even a completely different type of fastener.

“Changing a few types of screws may seem like a very minor change, and one that could perhaps be regarded as a relatively low priority when you have an extensive list of things to consider when going through the process of switching profile. But, as we’ve seen in our work with numerous fabricators

over the past three decades, reviewing which fasteners are needed and making changes before you go into production using a new profile can make a huge difference to factory productivity, operative safety and quality.”

Rapierstar’s team of technical consultants can provide fabricators with specialist guidance which can pay dividends thanks to their decades of experience and the company’s new technical centre at its HQ and distribution centre in Cheshire. This facility is equipped with state of the art technology where testing can be conducted using different profile and hardware combinations in order to demonstrate the improvements possible by changing from one screw to another.

A comprehensive review of fastener use is also provided to PVCu window and door manufacturers through Rapierstar’s fastener health check service. This is a complete audit of the fasteners used throughout assembly for all window and door styles, as well as how workstations and stock management systems are set up, on which the team can make recommendations for improvements and even reduce the number of different products needed through fastener rationalisation.

Fabricators can also access guidance through Rapierstar’s Recommended Fixings Manuals (RFMs) which are produced for all the main PVCu systems, including Eurocell, VEKA, Liniar and Deceuninck. These detailed technical documents which show the correct screws to use for specific systems are available free to download at Rapierstar’s website.

Everglade Windows Launches New Steel-Look Internal Glazing System

www.rapierstar.com

Everglade Windows has launched a new steel-look internal doors and screens system to its customers, expanding on its already impressive portfolio of products.

The West-London based fabricator launched the new products at its recent annual Trade Customer Conference – Evolve 23, along with seven other additions to the product range.

As the industry is seeing a meteoric rise in the popularity of steel-look glazing and ‘broken plan’ living spaces, the launch of the steel-look internal doors and screens received a huge amount of positive feedback from those in attendance at the conference.

Jay Patel, director at Everglade Windows says, “We’re excited to add this new trending product to our collection, and the opportunities it presents to our customers are fantastic.

“Our installer customers can now make the most of this trend by offering homeowners a stunning, effortlessly modern system, with timeless appeal. More than this, it’s a great way to upsell and offer them more than they thought

possible.

“We’ve already had an amazing response following the launch at our customer conference. In fact, we had some incredible feedback on all of our new products, especially our new range of aïr products, but our steel-look systems really attracted lots of interest, which shows how much demand there is from homeowners for this type of product.”

The new steel-look internal glazing systems are available as fixed screens, hinged doors, and sliding doors – offering the perfect replica for steel-look glazing, and the product was launched after months of careful research from the Everglade Windows’ team.

“When we launched the products at this year’s Conference, we didn’t just do it because we felt it was time for a refresh. Every product we launched was the result of careful and meticulous process of researching market trends to give our customers the best chance of thriving, something which we have a great track record of at Everglade Windows.”

www.evergladetrade.co.uk

Mila’s Supa Stainless Steel Range Selected By Select

Mila’s Supa range of stainless-steel door hardware is helping Walsallbased Select Windows provide a raft of benefits to its trade, retail and commercial customers, at minimal additional cost.

Select, a long-time fabricator in Liniar, switched to Supa from Mila’s ProLinea door handle and letterplate last year and now supplies stainless steel hardware as standard on all its doors, complete with a 25-year guarantee on both mechanical operation and finish.

For Select’s customers, there are significant benefits in terms of being able to promote the long-

term durability of the hardware, the fact that it is more sustainable than the zinc alternative, and the vastly reduced risk of remedials, says the company.

Mila’s Supa range is available in either SS304 extreme for mainstream use or SS316 marine grade material for coastal and high pollution areas. The entire range has been independently performance tested for corrosion resistance to BSEN1670 Grade 5 and has sailed through more than 1000 hours in a salt spray test.

Nigel Court, Select’s operations director, commented: “When Mila

offered us its Supa range at minimal additional cost, we saw a great opportunity to significantly upgrade our standard offering and give our customers a real USP in an increasingly competitive marketplace. We now offer everything from the standard Supa door handles and TS008 letterplates to the Supa pull bars and escutcheons and SupaSecure and SupaSafety versions of the handle.

“In characteristic Mila style, the marketing team have gone the extra mile and helped us produce a bespoke brochure for the new products, which makes it easy for our team to explain the benefits of all the different stainless-steel options and win new business.”

Nigel Court added: “We rely on Mila to help us identify products which will benefit our business – whether that’s by speeding up fabrication or generating new sales opportunities. The Supa range is a great example of that, alongside easy to fit and easy to sell products like the Yale friction stay and the new Mila Heritage window and door hardware.”

“The Mila products are a great fit with our Liniar profiles too. The Heritage range complements Liniar’s Resurgence Flush sash really well and, as one of the first fabricators to take on the innovative new system, we are already talking to Mila about designing and testing costeffective new hardware solutions to work with Liniar’s Zero90 Passivhaus certified PVC-U window system.

“We get excellent service from the whole Mila team. As well as our sales manager Karen Paskin, there are onsite technicians available to give expert advice to our retail customers on hardware adjustment and lots of logistical and testing support on commercial contracts.”

www.selectwindows.co.uk

https://bit.ly/3OvYqFx

Brisant Secure Launches New DDA Door Handle

Ultion has announced the launch of a new door handle shape that combines cutting-edge design with DDA compatibility. This new design offers a sleek and modern aesthetic while ensuring adherence to the strict requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA).

One of the standout features of the Sweet DDA Door Handle is its impressive 20-year anti-corrosion guarantee. With multiple coatings of brass and nickel, this handle is claimed to maintain its pristine appearance, even when exposed to harsh conditions such as saltwater for over 8000 hours. Remarkably, says Ultion, this exceeds the flagship EN 1906:2012 corrosion standard by an astounding 30 times.

In addition, the Sweet DDA Door Handle boasts a distinctive curved backplate, elevating the aesthetics of any door. With its unique ‘edgeless’ design, Sweet is said to blend into any home decor, be it contemporary, traditional, country-style, or urban cool.

The Sweet DDA Door Handle ensures easy installation

with most UK doors. Furthermore, customers have the freedom to choose from five colour options, including gold, silver, black, satin nickel, and white, allowing them to personalise their door hardware to suit their style.

According to Ultion, what sets the Sweet DDA Door Handle apart is its exceptional build quality. While many handles undergo testing for the standard 100,000 cycles, Sweet exceeded expectations by continuing to operate flawlessly even after an astounding 360,000 cycles. This endurance ensures that Sweet will reliably serve homeowners for years to

dimensional adjustment: +6mm/4mm lateral adjustment, +5mm/5mm vertical adjustment and +1.5mm/-1.5mm compression adjustment. The hinge has also been designed with fabricator friendly advantages to ensure increased efficiencies in production.

Suitable for PVC-U doors, the Quantum Rapid Fit Hinge is available in sixteen colour finishes. A 10-year surface finish guarantee is available on all powder-coated finishes, and a 5-year guarantee is available on plated finishes.

Total

Hardware Launches New Quantum Rapid Fit Door Hinge

Window and Door hardware specialists, Total Hardware has just launched its new Quantum Rapid Fit Door Hinge.

Commenting on the introduction of the new hinge, Chris Pell, general manager at Total Hardware, said: “Our Quantum hardware range is a very popular choice, and we are delighted to further

enhance the collection with our new Rapid Fit Hinge. The hinge offers modern and elegant aesthetics, and its front ‘slide-on or lift-off’ design ensures simple fitting and adjustment with no reveal limitations. Early customer feedback has been extremely positive.”

The hinge features three-

The company says, as with all Total Hardware products, the hinge has undergone some intensive testing to ensure that it meets or exceeds all the necessary corrosion resistance and operational durability requirements. This included testing to BS.EN:2007 Grade 5, PAS24:2016 security requirements and Secure by Design certification.

The Quantum Rapid Fit Door Hinge is now available from stock. https://bit.ly/43G06AQ

Yale Launches Lockmaster 25mm Backset Multi-Point Lock

Building on the success of the Lockmaster bifold range, Yale has launched a 25mm multipoint lock variant that has been specifically designed to suit slim low sightline aluminium systems.

The new Yale Lockmaster 25mm backset multi-point lock fits into slim sightline profiles. It features a combination of Lockmaster signature hooks, an anti-lift pin and compression rollers for greater security, along with smooth operation, tolerance and ease of use, says the company.

Paul Atkinson, managing director for Yale, comments: “The UK homeowners’ desire for bifolding doors is understandable, enhancing the lifestyle aspect

and utilising outdoor space. The market having gained strong momentum, shows little sign of

abating.

“Our new 25mm bi-fold door lock obviously delivers a high level of security, meeting the requirements of PAS 24, but it also allows for slimmer profiles and slimmer sightlines, complementing modern interior design trends. It is available in both active and passive solutions.”

Yale’s 25mm backset multipoint lock has been rigorously tested in the UK to deliver the highest levels of performance and can help assist fabricators in achieving PAS 24 compliancy, claims the company.

yaledws.co.uk

Hardware Solutions Support Heritage Aluminium Growth

Hardware distributor Carl F Groupco has reported an upturn in demand for hardware solutions to support the growing trend for aluminium doors and internal screening systems.

John Crittenden, managing director at Carl F Groupco, explains: “Systems such as the SD70 TruEnergy Door from Jack Aluminium that replicate art-deco or industrial style have grown in popularity. And the hardware that such solutions require has seen a similar growth in interest. These

slimline solutions have very specific hardware requirements, and our high-quality FUHR multisafe 856 multipoint locking system complements these aluminium heritage door products.”

The FUHR 856 lever-operated door lock offers shootbolt locking for single and French aluminium doors. It is available with large back set centre cases of 55 – 65mm that are perfect for aluminium heritage doors, while the flat 16mm, 20mm or U-Rail faceplate options also suit most

aluminium profiles. The locks can be used on left- and rightopening doors for versatility and reduced stockholding. The door locks have been tested to at least 200,000 operations and there are robust handle mounts to ensure the lever handle remains in the correct horizontal position. John concluded: “We pride ourselves on delivering the highest level of customer care and support. That includes having a comprehensive understanding of current trends and stocking the hardware solutions our customers will need to capitalise on market growth. The stocked FUHR range from Carl F Groupco is the perfect example of this ethos.” www.carlfgroupco.co.uk

Endurance Doors Embraces Current Colour Trend

Endurance Doors is enabling design-conscious homeowners to enjoy exterior doors in a new and highly sought-after colour, says the company.

The business, which already offers customers a choice of 85 unique door designs in a palette of 19 different shades, is now manufacturing products in an attractive and on-trend claystone

hue.

Russell Hensman, group marketing manager at Endurance Doors, explains: “At Endurance Doors, we’re proud to manufacture composite doors with a whole host of added and innovative features.

“These features include a profile that’s up to 10% thicker than most other composite doors for greater

security and energy efficiency, a more sustainable solid timber core, and a unique moisture barrier system that prevents water ingression at the foot of the door which can cause it to swell and warp.

“But our focus isn’t just on practical performance. We also recognise that form is every bit as important as functionality. The introduction of our doors in a new claystone colour reflects that, as well as our wider appreciation of interior and architectural design.”

According to acknowledged colour experts, including interior designers and major paint manufacturers, the latest colour trends include basic neutrals, warm shades, and vintage inspired hues. These colours are all proving popular due to their ability to make spaces feel welcoming, calming and comforting.

Other en vogue colours include brown, beiges, and clay shades. These colours, because of their earthy tone, provide a sense of stability and a connection to the natural world. They can add vitality and help make a space feel both cosy and energetic.

Summing up, Russell adds: “The impact exterior doors can have on a property’s overall aesthetic and level of kerb appeal cannot be overstated. As the part of a building which provides access to and from the interior, they are a natural focal point with a major role to play in creating a good first impression.

“Given this importance, Endurance Doors remains committed to expanding our portfolio and to offering homeowners levels of creative freedom that are second to none. We want to ensure we can offer customers the perfect composite door to suit their property, its surrounding area, and their own unique tastes.”

www.endurancedoors.co.uk

Swift Frame Adds Veka’s Imagine Patio Door

precision-engineered sliding mechanism to ensure seamless and quiet opening and closing.

It also offers 8-point locking as standard, as well as toughened glazing options.

With an extensive range of finishes, colours, and hardware options, the Imagine door is said to offer ‘a superb balance of style and performance’.

Norfolk fabricator Swift Frame has added Veka’s Imagine Patio Door to its product range offering.

Veka’s advanced thermal

barrier technology is claimed to minimise heat transfer, reduce energy consumption and lower utility costs.

The product also features a

Swift Frame sales director Jason Scrivens comments: “Many people associate Swift Frame with the fact we extrude our own profile system – and that’s been an integral part of our success for over three decades.

www.swiftframe.co.uk

The primary colour.

ecotech. More sustainable. No compromise on performance.

Alunet Systems Launches New Residential Range

Alunet Systems were back on the scene at this year’s FIT Show 2023 for their 4th debut at the show, where they introduced their new range of products known under the residential brand of Aluna.

The Aluna range hopes to appeal to prospective new clients and homeowners as a recognised doors and windows range. The new Aluna products on offer include the smooth Bifold system, the French door, the range of Entrance doors, the Glazed door, the Sliding door, the Aluna Window and the Flat

Roof Light – all of which are PAS 24 certified and have U-Values ranging from 0.68 U/m2K – 1.4 U/m2K. Although some of these products are familiar systems from Alunet, they now include new slimmer sightlines and slimmer interlocks. What sets Aluna’s apart is its exclusive use of aluminium in the products, a material that is renowned for its strength, durability and security. The hard-wearing nature of aluminium means the products can be maintained for decades, which is why Aluna offers a 10-year guarantee, says the company.

Steve Kendrick, managing director of Alunet Systems, was keen to share his excitement about the new launch. Steve explains, “The whole team have been working incredibly hard to expand our product offering, with a full-service residential range. Building on the success and industry trust of the BF73 system, we have partnered with the highest quality suppliers from around Europe to offer our sliding

door system, flat roof lights and a brand-new entrance door range, as well as launching our own aluminium window system. Our clients can now offer their customers this full product suite, safe in the confidence that they will be getting the same levels of service and quality that we are renowned for at Alunet Systems.”

The team also caught up with some of their existing customers at the show. Pete Gray from Prime Glazing said of the range: “As a fabricator and manufacturer of Alunet’s products, it’s exciting to see the Aluna range. It’s great to be able to view it, and we are looking forward to getting started with the new range and getting it out to our customers.”

www.alunetsystems.co.uk

CDW Systems Expands

AluK Range With 58BW/BD Window And Door System

Specialist aluminium fabricator CDW Systems has introduced AluK’s 58BW/BD (HI) window and door system to its product range.

The Part L compliant system is said by CDW to be the perfect choice for residential or commercial projects, offering a cost-effective, high-performance solution in a wide range of configurations while delivering the 1.4 U-Values required for new or existing buildings other than dwellings and replacement homes.

Part of the East Manor Group which includes sister company Clearway Doors & Windows, CDW Systems’ AluK product lines include the BSF70 bi-fold system and F82 bi-fold system and all three of the product ranges have been improved with AluK’s HI version, enhancing the overall energy efficiency and performance of each system.

Expanding its AluK product offering has ensured compliance and CDW’s group chairman,

Jeremy Phillips explained: “We’ve taken on a bit more product from AluK and adopted their HI versions very early on to make sure we were compliant as they are designed to meet and exceed the highest industry standards.

“After trails and training we have now got our first orders through for the F82 and we are pleased to announce the addition of AluK’s 58BW/BD (HI) Window and Door System as it supports are ongoing commitment to compliance.

“One of the things customers have always been guaranteed when dealing with CDW Systems is that all our products meet the correct industry standards and regulations, and we are committed to continuously improving our product offerings,” added Jeremy.

“These new additions will enable customers to achieve and crucially demonstrate compliance with the latest industry standards when fitting AluK products with ease.”

www.cdwsystems.co.uk

PatioMaster Enhances Its Credentials

The high-quality credentials of the PatioMaster PVC-U Sliding Door System from Epwin Window Systems have been further vindicated following enhanced weather performance testing carried out by Element, an independent global provider

of testing, inspection and certification services.

Based on a two-pane sliding door with heavy-duty steel, the PatioMaster Sliding Door has achieved 300pa water tightness Class 7a, 600Pa air

tightness Class 2 and 1600 Pa wind loading Class A4. This market-leading wind loading performance reflects how sliding patio doors are used today, which, says Epwin Window Systems, means PatioMaster is the superior solution for coastal or high-rise properties.

Phil Parry, business development director at Epwin Window Systems, said: ”For us, it’s not just about passing these tests, but ensuring that we uphold the highest standards and deliver consistent product

performance to give our customers a market-leading advantage. This latest test achievement demonstrates the technical superiority of the PatioMaster door and coupled with latest product developments, it is a PVC-U sliding door system that is leading the market.”

The PatioMaster PVC-U Sliding Door System is claimed to be 33% stronger by design due to its reinforcing capability, while an intelligently-designed interlock prevents intruders from prising open the panes to gain entry. The system offers ‘exceptional’ thermal performance and its sash profile increases the variety of glazing options to 28mm and 36mm (which is triple glazed).

In terms of aesthetics, the

door’s interlock sightline perfectly aligns with the opposing sash. And colour options are next-level too. 19 stocked foil finishes cover the industry’s favoured shades, including Sage, Claystone and Pebble Grey, plus 30 Made to Order colour options with ontrend hues covering heritage classics, contemporary colours and natural palettes.

In what Epwin Window Systems describe as unique in the market, there are five complementary base colours: white, tan, brown, cream and grey, which are used with single coloured foil options. It means that the high-end aesthetics remain when the doors are open, because there isn’t a stark disparity between the foiled colour and the white base interior. This allows fabricators

Business. Done.

and installers to secure higher value sales and tap into consumer demand for high-end products, says the company.

All doors are fitted with the Yale 6 point lock as standard and Epwin Window Systems will be introducing a new Yale 10 point PAS 24 locking system shortly. This high-security locking system delivers the equivalent of a standard lock plus additional shootbolts at the top and bottom of the sash for maximum security benefits.

Phil concluded: “PatioMaster has always held an exceptional market pedigree and its enhanced weather testing performance demonstrates is class-leading technical credentials too.”

Solid Roof Promises Speedy Installation, Says Warm Roof Pro

Warm Roof Pro 0.1 Solid Roof is a SIP Panel based solid roof is not just a roof system, it can be used for complete conservatory refurbishments including walls and single-storey extensions.

The Structural Insulated Panels (SIPS) system has been designed to deliver a highly efficient solid roof, offering a U-value of 0.1 W/ m²K as standard. Its quick and easy installation method saves time on-site for installers and minimises homeowner disruption, claims the company.

Warm Roof Pro 0.1 is supplied to installers in a pre-prepared flatpack format, making it easy to handle when access is limited. It comes complete with Tapco or Metrolite tiles, membranes, and fixings, as well as a comprehensive easy-tofollow installation guide.

Ian Cowling, commercial manager at Warm Roof Pro 0.1 commented “Warm Roof Pro 0.1 Solid Roof is designed to provide the easiest possible installation for tradespeople. The roof doesn’t require

ventilation, as tiles can be fixed directly to the SIP panel, so there are no costly drainage mats or ventilation spacers to fit, meaning that the roof is usually water-tight within a few hours.

“The prepared and cut SIP panels are attached directly to a C24 Structural Timber frame and insulated plasterboard can be fixed directly to them with no need for battening. There’s also no aluminium, so the risk of cold bridging is avoided. This means less time on-site and an easier installation process.”

“Energy efficiency is high on the agenda for homeowners choosing a new conservatory or glazed extension, and roof systems need to be uncomplicated and easy to install,” said Ian. “Warm Roof Pro 0.1 Solid Roof has been designed to deliver both for installers.”

Sheerline’s S1 Lantern

SheerVent: A Flush Intelligent Roof Vent For

as well as opting for custom or dual colours depending on their needs.

SheerVent is currently being manufactured in-house by Sheerline to ensure the company’s stringent quality processes are met before it is rolled out to fabricator customers across the country. There is already a waiting list in place for customers who wish to supply the product.

Also revealed at FIT Show 2023 was Sheerline’s new 3 Way option, which adds even more styles to the S1 roof lantern. It includes the same aesthetic style and appeal of the 2 and 4 way designs but gives customers an option for wider roofs that don’t rely on jack rafters.

Sheerline has announced the launch of SheerVent, a revolutionary roof vent for the S1 lantern. It claims to offer an innovative approach to ventilation that doesn’t compromise on the stylish and modern aesthetic associated with the award winning aluminium glazed roof.

Designed to enhance Sheerline’s award-winning S1 roof lantern, SheerVent can not only be specified on new projects but can even be retrofitted to existing installations. With a sleek minimalist design, the intelligent roof window sits flush with S1’s rafter bars unlike alternatives that the company says sit on top of the bars, creating an almost invisible roof vent when closed.

Customers have the option to upgrade to powered actuators to create an automated intelligent ventilation system. This can be further enhanced by discreet sensors, which can be installed away from the lantern

to monitor for rain, wind, and light, giving customers peace of mind if the weather suddenly changes.

Sheerline says that unlike traditional vents, SheerVent does not require the use of muntin bars and offers reliability without the risk of leaks and water ingress. The product is fully thermally broken and uses the same high-performance 28mm glazing as the S1, ensuring spaces are cosy in winter and cool in summer.

This enables customers to create bright, airy living spaces with a consistent aesthetic throughout the home – a trend that has grown in popularity over the past few years and continues to be an attractive option for both renovation and new build projects.

Another popular feature SheerVent offers – as with all Sheerline products – is colour choice. Customers can choose from a standard colour range

According to Sheerline, S1 includes in-built security features as standard, is stylish with clean, crisp lines and deep internal rafter and ridge bars to create the popular architectural aesthetic, all while offering exceptional thermal performance.

Roger Hartshorn, Sheerline CEO, said: “SheerVent was hugely popular when we unveiled it at FIT Show 2023. It’s the next phase in the evolution of one of our most popular products – the S1 roof lantern. Customers often ask us about ventilation options that don’t compromise on the overall quality and look of the roof lantern.”

“With SheerVent, we’ve achieved this thanks to our continual investment in both our equipment and products. We’re committed to overcoming the issues traditionally associated with aluminium products to ensure Sheerline keeps its’ competitive edge, and our customers remain happy,” he added. www.sheerline.com

Made For Trade

Releases Korniche Flat Rooflight

An article by Made for Trade

Since inception, the Korniche brand has always represented a new era in the field of fenestration design; with a quality-led focus on clever engineering applied from other industries to bring with it benefits for the installer, re-seller and homeowner. That same list of attributes and USPs has now been applied to the third item in the range; the new Flat Rooflight.

The unveiling at FIT Show 2023 brought about not only a huge amount of positive feedback from trade installers keen to capitalise on a product that can offer benefits for the homeowner as well as saving time and money for the installer, but also notable positivity from the glazing industry in general; seemingly keen to use a solution that applies Korniche’s USP’s to a flat glass rooflight installation.

Fabrication of the Korniche flat glass is expected to commence this September, and Made for Trade’s contemporary and innovative new system once again incorporates features derived from precision engineering alongside marketleading manufacturing, research & development to really stand out in an industry that can so easily just focus on the outright minimal cost. Much like the Korniche Bi-folding doors and Roof Lantern, the flat glass system is impressively quick and simple to install for the trade partner with unrivalled efficiency, whilst offering the superior quality at a competitive price point.

Number one in the Korniche’s list of USPs remains ease of

installation, and with the design of the Flat Rooflight, that fussfree fitting remains second to none. The installer just needs to position, fix, seal and clip the fastener-covering fascia’s into place for the perfect finish, taking just a matter of minutes: truly ‘Fit, Glaze & Go!’

The aesthetic appeal is another quality which mirrors that of the Korniche Bi-Folding doors and lantern, via the use of a sleek and ultra-slimline profile design that uses high strength aluminium along with thermally-broken polyamide frame components to ensure the highest thermal efficiency; something that has never been so paramount as in 2023. To that end, the Korniche Flat Rooflight can also be easily specified with either 28mm double or 44mm triple glazing thanks to its innovative outer subframe, whilst the glass tints on offer included blue, neutral and clear.

Naturally, those tint shades can be complemented by a choice of frame colour options as well as countless standard and bespoke sizes from 600x600mm, right up to a maximum length of

3000mm and width of 1800mm (subject to overall glass area), and suitable for between three and five degree roof pitches. Security comes as standard with all Made for Trade products, and with PAS24:2016 approval, the Korniche Flat Rooflight delivers the correct peace of mind needed for protecting your home. Furthermore, with industry-leading short lead times and a one-drop delivery service, the time taken from order to a secure and complete roof is at its absolute minimum with Korniche.

Finally, one unique aspect of the new product – that is akin to

that of the multi-award winning Korniche Bi-Folding door – is a design step in place to allow glass to be replaced without hassle or compromising the main system. This is achieved on the Flat Rooflight via a new patent pending feature that allows glass to be changed without any disturbance to the interior finish, decoration and plaster line – nor any damage to the outer system should any glass damage occur in years to come.

Of course, the Flat Rooflight comes backed by the same ten-year warranty as all Made for Trade products, as well as industry-leading customer support and service to safeguard purchases for the future. The flat glass will soon be available to order via Made for Trade’s automated ‘Kwikquote’ online ordering tool, and the systems are available both fully assembled and also in kit form – both complete with the easy to understand graphic installation instructions that have become synonymous with Korniche products.

Wendland Lantern Internal Aluminium Suite

The Wendland Lantern is now available with a thermally broken aluminium internal finish. The low profile square-edged design is claimed to create a modern look and feel on every size and style in the range, including the square Wendland Lantern.

Commenting about the most recent enhancement to the Wendland Lantern, Craig Keighley, Business Unit Head – Lanterns and Skylights, said: “The architectural look offered by aluminium products continues to become more popular and so we are thrilled to offer thermally broken aluminium internals on the Wendland Lantern. For fabricators, these new off-the-shelf parts have

been designed to offer very easy fabrication with square cut parts and internal ridge covers that click into place with no extra work for the fitter on site. The new internal aluminium suite is the same price in grey, white, and black and available on a 10-day lead time to installers – allowing Wendland customers to be competitive on both price and product availability.”

Along with the Wendland Lantern, the slimline roof vent is also now available with an aluminium internal finish. The powder coated components of the new aluminium internal suite offer a hardwearing, long-lasting finish and are available in white, black, and grey from

The S2 Launch Has Been A Revelation, Claims Prefix

stock on a 10-day lead time, with bespoke RAL colours available on request, says Ultraframe.

Concluding, Craig said: “We are sure that Wendland Lantern users will be pleased with this latest improvement to our already popular lantern. By continuing to offer new features on the Wendland Lantern, our customers can ensure they stay at the top of the game with the products that homeowners demand.”

https://bit.ly/3DyDS92

Chris Baron, director at Prefix Systems commented: “For the last 15 years we’ve seen the focus of product development shift from glazed roofs to the solid roof sector and we’ve been part of this shift with our awardwinning WARMroof system. Yet at the same time the research and development into glazed and conservatory roofs has remained stagnant and so S2 is set to change this.”

Following the preview of the new S2 glazed roof from Sheerline at the FIT Show by Prefix Systems, the company is reporting an overwhelming response to this new product development that has been two years in the making.

Based on the proven and reengineered K2 conservatory roof system, S2 has benefitted from a substantial research and development programme.

Architectural influenced square top cappings, a smaller end boss as part of a slimline approach to product design, box section eaves beam including integrated bolster for large span openings, and the option of thermally broken aluminium cappings are all part of this ‘next generation’ roof. There is also an aluminium gutter shroud and internal pelmet to offer a further perspective on glazed extension design.

He continued: “The proven chassis of K2 was impressive, but the design credentials of S2 go way beyond any other current glazed solution with improved looks, greater structural integrity and a design fit for today’s and tomorrow’s more demanding market for extended living space. It’s been a design programme from the ground up as an integrated system and in short space of time, our customers are already thrilled to be part of this revolution.”

www.prefixsystems.co.uk

New Feature In The Performance Calculator Provides Users With Embodied Carbon Values Of Glazing Configurations

Guardian Glass has introduced a new feature to its Performance Calculator tool. The feature allows users to calculate the embodied carbon for the glazing configurations they select. This means architects, specifiers and glass processors can better understand the environmental impact profile of the facades they design through the glass products they specify, allowing them to make more informed choices at a very early design stage.

The current Guardian Glass Performance Calculator is an online tool for modelling the thermal and optical properties of glass substrates, coatings and interlayers. The existing tool is part of Glass Analytics, a comprehensive suite of engineering and analytical tools from Guardian Glass that help demonstrate the benefits of highperformance glass in building facades.

The new Performance Calculator feature provides an estimate of the embodied CO2 equivalent for a wide number of glazing combinations, as it is available for any float glass, coated glass, laminated and coated laminated glass products produced by Guardian Glass in Europe.

How

does it work?

Using the Performance Calculator, the user configures a suitable glazing make-up for their project and can view the corresponding performance data. The glazing can be virtually any construction, ranging from monolithic glass to multiple layers of glass, coatings and interlayers. In addition to the extensive performance properties generated by the Performance Calculator, the new feature provides an estimate of the embodied CO2 eq. for the configured glazing (only for the glass components manufactured by Guardian

Glass, not for additional components in the build-up such as spacers or frame). Multiple glass configurations and options can be compared, allowing the user to better understand the impact of, for example, additional layers of glass or the incorporation of a high-performance coating or laminated layers (where the data is available).

The embodied carbon data is the CO2 equivalent in kg per square meter of glass (CO2 eq.), emitted during the glass production (Cradleto-gate*). The calculation is an estimation based on the material’s Embodied Carbon Factor (ECF) derived from the Regional Environmental Product Declaration (EPD), third-party, independently verified document that communicates transparent information about the lifecycle environmental impacts of a product.

Access to Glass Analytics and the embodied carbon calculator feature is via the Resource Hub on the Guardian Glass website https://bit.ly/474lDWK

Pilkington Launches

High Performance

Anti-Reflective Glass In The UK

Pilkington OptiView Ultra, an anti-reflective and highly transparent glass by the NSG Group, has launched in the UK to support architects specifying for the retail and leisure sectors.

The high performance anti-reflective glass is claimed to reduce visible light reflectance to less than 1%, compared to 8% typically provided by standard glass. The neutral colour of the coating provides a more natural view through the glass, improving clarity and preserving the true colours of the viewed area.

The glass is said to be ideal for high light environments where visibility is crucial, including retail display, and entertainment and cultural venues. It’s also suitable for technical applications, such as digital signage and touch screens.

Pilkington says OptiView Ultra is highly robust, making it easy to process and work with. It can also be laminated and toughened making it suitable for internal and external use for a variety of demanding applications.

Pilkington also says that the product has proven to retain the intended true colour when printed or painted, and can also be bent, allowing the glass elements of a project to match the intended aesthetics.

Craig Bain, VA sales manager at Pilkington United Kingdom Limited, part of the NSG Group, said: “The product delivers excellent aesthetics and a superior level of clarity and vision through the glass, while retaining the durability and processability found across thePilkington OptiView range. There are numerous sectors and applications that can benefit from using the glass, from retail to residential, and we’re excited to help customers take advantage of its unique properties to meet their design challenges.”

The glass is now widely available in the UK in various thicknesses from 4 mm to 10 mm, both single and double coated. The product is stocked in St Helens and is available for distribution directly to customers or through the Pilkington UK branch network.

For more information please visit: https://bit.ly/3YdMPhQ

Kolorseal’s Colour Spraying Services Attract Attention

At the FIT Show this year, colour coating specialist, Kolorseal, returned home with good results after some positive discussions held during the entire event.

Deborah Hendry, managing director considered this was due to people becoming aware of how easy it is to incorporate a diverse choice of colours into a business model.

The company took a different approach by producing an alternative option on a popular colour by colour coating a window in Light Grey 17, from the Farrow and Ball chart. Visitors to the show were attracted by the aesthetic and could see how broader colour choice could create potential new business, claims the company.

Deborah comments, “Being able to demonstrate how to make projects, renovations and new builds more outstanding so that they will gain greater recognition for a business made the whole FIT experience very worthwhile. Moving forward, the clever customers know that offering something bespoke will suit the needs of the homeowners who consider colour as important as style of product.”

Additionally, Kolorseal’s fast turnaround and delivery options provide greater reassurance when it comes to project deadlines, which proved an important consideration for those who spoke to the team, says the company. www.kolorseal.co.uk

Vertik-Al Secures GSB International Master Seal

Vertik-Al continues to be the exclusive applicator in the UK and Ireland holding the GSB International Master Seal for Approved Coater Aluminium, claims the company. The recent successful completion of its latest audit has solidified its position as a powder coating specialist,,, which has been upheld since 1994.

The GSB International confers quality seals of varying levels, and recipients are subject to annual assessments to ensure adherence to the prescribed quality standards. The company states, Vertik-Al has consistently met the rigorous demands of GSB QR AL 631 for aluminium coating companies.

“Being the only coater in the UK to hold the GSB International seal is a great honour. In a challenging market, it gives us the edge over our competitors as businesses seek competent and reliable supply chain partners,” comments group managing director, John Park-Davies.

“Quality seals such as this promote confidence. All participants in

the supply chain are assured of the quality and performance of the coating. By demonstrating compliance our customers know that they can trust our coatings for many years to come, a fact that can be shared and appreciated by everyone involved – from architects and façade designers to facilities management and maintenance teams.”

The comprehensive annual audit examines all aspects of the powder coating process, encompassing pre-treatment, coating, stoving parameters, and final testing. The coated items undergo stringent testing, including mechanical, pressure cooking, and acetic acid salt spraying (AASS) tests. Additionally, the finished coating must meet specific criteria for appearance, thickness, and gloss level.

In addition to the GSB International quality seal, Vertik-Al has held the Qualicoat quality label since 1994. The company is an active member of the Aluminium Federation (ALFED), serving as the secretariat for Qualicoatt UK & Ireland.

www.vertik-al.com

How To Take Manufacturing To The Next Step, Says First Degree Systems

FIT Show was all about putting customers first, argues First Degree Systems’ sales manager Greg Beachim, with new products promising to boost efficiency further. We report.

For many window fabricators, Window Designer from First Degree Systems is a beating heart – the engine that drives production by linking orders to the factory floor and through to dispatch.

According to sales manager Greg Beachim, the company’s presence at FIT – as part of software powerhouse Cyncly’s stand –was about taking that model and supercharging it.

“Window Designer was designed with the customer’s needs in mind,” Greg says, “and that philosophy hasn’t changed in all the years we have been operating in this sector.

“Now that we are part of Cyncly, we can put the customer in the driving seat like never before, and open up a whole new world of ways to increase efficiency, minimise error and reduce waste.”

Greg explains that on the Cyncly stand at FIT Show, there was a wide choice of products from First Degree Systems, SoftTech, FeneTech, and contractERP that can not only save time and money within the fenestration space, but also build in more margin and create profit.

“The Cyncly banner gave visitors the opportunity to come and see each product, and to see which one would potentially best meet their needs,” Greg says. “We discussed the challenges that each customer faced, and then helped build a structured approach for that product to help them meet their goals.”

FIT Show also provided the perfect opportunity to unveil Window Designer Enterprise, which brings together a flagship ERP software product from First Degree Systems’ sister company FeneTech and offers its powerful management tools to the wider UK window fabrication industry.

“We’ll be launching Window Designer Enterprise later this year, which will offer some very highend features that give owners of larger window fabricators greater control over all aspects of their businesses,” Greg says.

Window Designer Enterprise was designed from the factory

floor up (not from the front office down) and gives greater insight into the manufacturing process than ever before. Features include simplified and consistent pricing and quoting management; easyto-track communication; efficient materials management; production scheduling; business intelligence (BI); optimisation across materials, manpower, machinery and time; invoicing; shipping; and much more.

“Window Designer is a very capable and powerful product that suits so many businesses in our industry,” Greg says. “But Window Designer Enterprise is designed for those companies that really want extra control over their operations – BI integration, the ability to instantaneously map out production centres, and manage transport options – which comes from having a bigger and more integrated system.”

Greg says that bringing together several businesses gives Cyncly the ability to develop greater integration across multiple platforms. This then gives companies in the window, door and glass sector greater control over the running of their businesses. They can assess the needs of their operation and choose the most appropriate software product.

“What we have is a group of businesses, and we can bring different innovations from each of them and offer them to a whole new customer base.

“Ever since we united under one brand in September 2022, we’ve been looking at how we can help our customers be the best they can be. Window Designer Enterprise is the first significant step on that journey for the window, door and glass industry in the UK, and we will be developing even more opportunities in the months to come.”

www.firstdegreesystems.com

Greg Beachim

Selectaglaze Chooses Haffner For Its Latest Machine Investment

Bespoke secondary glazing company Selectaglaze has invested in an FMC 340 CNC Machining Centre from Fom Industrie which is said to be already adding value to the company’s operations.

Duncan Saunders, head of production at Selectaglaze, said: “Selectaglaze aims to have the best quality machinery that makes manufacturing efficient and ensures consistent quality throughout the whole fabrication process. The new FMC 340 CNC Machining Centre with fume extraction hood is an impressive machine that exceeds our expectations.”

When it became clear that Selectaglaze’s existing CNC machine needed upgrading to the latest fabrication and software technology, Duncan was tasked with finding the replacement. The team needed a machine that could fabricate all Selectaglaze profiles

and bring the latest technological developments to the company.

Selectaglaze initially considered five different machine manufacturers, then narrowed these down to two. Haffner was selected as the machinery supplier of choice because of the support the company received during the research phase.

Duncan commented: “We were impressed with the way the Bryan Dando and the wider Haffner team handled the initial enquiry and the overall support on offer. Haffner gave us the best service and technical advice, helping the team to decide which machine best suited our needs.”

Haffner worked closely with the team at Selectaglaze throughout the project, liaising extensively with Duncan and Selectaglaze’s managing director Keith Mercer. The close communication gave the Selectaglaze team confidence in

the choice of machine and how it would benefit the business. This included live Teams meetings with Fom Industrie’s software specialists who could answer all the team’s questions for peace of mind.

Thanks to meticulous planning, the FMC 340 CNC Machining Centre was in production and operational within three days. The machine can handle all Selectaglaze profiles, and the team are in the process of transitioning all programmes to it. Duncan commented: “It is already delivering a better quality of cut and, once the transition process is complete, will also help efficiency.”

Bryan Dando, commercial director at Haffner said: “The FOM Industrie FMC 340 CNC Machining Centre is an incredibly impressive machine. It has four controlled axes and has been designed to carry out drilling and milling operations on aluminium or steel profiles. Features include multi piece loading, X Flow and a tool integrity system to streamline operations and enhance quality. It was the perfect machine solution for Selectaglaze and we are delighted they are happy with the purchase.”

Jade Engineering Steps Up To The Mark For Royal Warrant Holder Selectaglaze

Bespoke secondary glazing specialist and Royal Warrant holder Selectaglaze has continued its relationship with Jade Engineering with the purchase of two bespoke punch tools to process the company’s heavierduty profiles. Designed to repeat precise operations with consistent accuracy, one of the tools is installed on a bench designed and manufactured to match the height of the company’s existing transfer tables.

Previous commissions by Selectaglaze included an initial single punch tool, followed by an end miller that replaced a previous machine from another source that became increasingly unreliable. All of the machines have been commissioned to continue the philosophy of head of production for Selectaglaze Duncan Saunders,

who believes that high quality preparation during the early stages of production of the company’s secondary glazing, ensures consistent quality throughout the manufacturing process and even during installation.

“Selectaglaze is the UK’s leading specialist in the design, manufacture and installation of secondary window systems, with particular expertise in providing sensitive and effective solutions for historic and heritage buildings,” explained Duncan. “Precision is a crucial element in all of the processes of the company.”

Duncan, who had worked with Jade Engineering previously at other firms, is impressed by the company’s commitment from initial enquiry and overall support, to commissioning of the

equipment: “Once again Jade Engineering didn’t disappoint,” said Duncan. “Suk Singh, Jade’s engineering technical manager, proved very knowledgeable and offered helpful technical advice in a process that also involved input from Selectaglaze operators from day one. This ensures that they are satisfied with the selection and how the chosen machinery makes their work easier and with consistently high quality.

“Jade’s team are proper engineers, hands-on, and service all the way through has been spot on with good advice, good knowledge. Service, machines and back up all excellent – we supply a specification and drawings of what we want to achieve and Jade designs the tools and machines around that. Drawings returned, samples sent and tested and when agreed, machines and tools supplied – a painless operation,” concluded Duncan.

jade-eng.co.uk

Development of two of Jade Engineering bespoke punch tools, included input by the company’s operators.

Tradeglaze Invests In CNC Sawing And Machining Centre From Stuga

ultra energy efficient windows and doors for our customers, way ahead of when new building regulations take effect.”

“This new investment also allows us to manufacture brand new window styles in our factory such as flush casement windows which have been rapidly increasing in popularity across both the domestic and commercial markets.”

Tradeglaze managing director Jeremy Wetherall said: “We are excited to add yet another high-tech machine to our manufacturing capability. Our teams at Tradeglaze and Jackson Windows pride ourselves on our five-star reputation for the quality of our products as well as the knowledge and expertise of our employees.”

“We are fully committed to investing in Tradeglaze so we can continue supplying the latest technology windows, doors and curtain walling for our customers”, concluded Jeremy Wetherall.

Tradeglaze has taken delivery of a new, fully automated CNC sawing and machining centre. The new Stuga Autoflow-2 MK4 is a historic investment for the fabricator. Capable of prepping and cutting on a wide array of PVCu profiles, the Autoflow-2 MK4 enables Tradeglaze to manufacture windows and doors to Passivhaus-standards, claims the company.

Tradeglaze production manager Kenny King said: “The new, fully automated CNC sawing and machining centre is a gamechanger for us. Capable of

producing all saw cuts including arrowheads and espags on either side of profile, it optimises and further improves the precision of our fabrication process. It will also decrease wastage of profile, meaning we will be able to further reduce our impact on the environment by sending less material for recycling.”

“It is widely anticipated that Part L Building Regulations will require far lower U-values windows installed in new homes from 2025. Our forward thinking and focus on innovation means that we will be able to produce

Ed Williams, managing director of Stuga Machinery Limited – now a wholly owned subsidiary of Stürtz Maschinenbau GmbH –said of the investment: “This has been a true partnership from the outset and securing this piece of business with such a forwardthinking fabricator such as Tradeglaze has been testament to Stuga’s professional sales approach; the enhanced features of the new Autoflow machine and our UK-wide service.”

The new Stuga AutoFlow-2 MK4 sawing and machining centre is the fourth addition to the fabricator’s portfolio in the last 12 months. The upgrade follows on from the recent CNC machining centre that the company’s Aluminium factory took delivery in February earlier this year.

www.tradeglaze.co.uk

KallKwik Machinery Maintenance Plan

The skills gap has been highlighted again by the latest figures from The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), showing that fewer than half of new engineering recruits have neither the necessary technical nor soft skills needed for work within the industry.

For fabricators, having the right skilled support in place is vital to keep machines running, and that is where KallKwik says its team’s combined industry experience of more than thirtyfive years comes into its own.

Josh Goodwin, technical

director at KallKwik, explains: “Our maintenance plan offers fabricators the opportunity to outsource the everyday tasks of tooling and machinery management. Our team is focused on getting the best performance from machinery for fabricators, and our specialist maintenance plans are by far the easiest way to ensure the smooth running of machines, offering assessment, planned maintenance and emergency cover.”

The plan offers a consultation and audit to assess the performance and tooling

requirements of machines, ahead of any required cleaning or repairs. While the ongoing plan focuses on improving productivity within the factory setting, as well as the quality of the output. By suggesting machinery upgrades, adjustments in software, or a more streamlined production layout, the KallKwik team can get the best possible performance from every machine, says the company.

Josh adds: “Fabricators need the specialist skills, but with a shortage across the board of suitable candidates, having access to a highly trained and experienced team through our maintenance programmes, gives customers the security they need.”

https://kallkwik.uk.com/

We’re

So

New Merck Biotech Building

Opens On Shores Of Lake Geneva Featuring Eyrise Dynamic Glazing Facade

Merck, the German science and technology company, has opened its new Biotech Development Center in Switzerland featuring an Eyrise dynamic glazing facade.

Located in Corsier-sur-Vevey on the shores of Lake Geneva, the building’s architecture is integrated into the landscape,

following the contours of the natural environment.

The Eyrise engineering team worked alongside Swiss architect firm Patriarche Architekten from the inception of the project to ensure requirements for sustainability, energy efficiency and optimum use of daylight were achieved.

The 15,700 m2 commercial building will create space for 250 Merck employees previously spread across different locations. The interdisciplinary team aims to advance the company’s biotechnology research and development capabilities, creating the next generation of biotechnology drugs for clinical trials.

Eyrise’s s350 dynamic liquid crystal glazing facade allows natural light to flood the interior. 456 triple glazed rectangular modules, totalling 1,670 m2 of solar shading glass, give

occupants a continuous unobstructed view of the outside environment. Each module can be tinted within seconds to reduce glare and keep solar heat to a minimum. This will have a positive effect on energy consumption, as it reduces the need for air conditioning and lighting.

“When designing the Biotech Development Centre, the focus was not only on stateof-the-art technological and digital solutions, but also on sustainability,” said Dr Michael Grund, CEO of Eyrise. “Our

liquid crystal glass lets a lot of daylight into the interior, which promotes the well-being, motivation and creativity of employees. In addition, the glazing makes an important contribution to highly efficient energy management.”

Transparent privacy glazing is installed inside the building. 142 Eyrise i350 switchable privacy glass partitions allow individual areas to be transformed into private rooms instantly, while still achieving maximum natural daylight.

“Our new Biotech Development

Centre in Corsier-sur-Vevey is of strategic importance: it aims to contribute to bringing more medicines to more patients faster, particularly in the area of cancer,” said Belén Garijo, CEO of Merck. “It will help secure our leadership in the increasingly complex, but highly promising biopharma development space.”

Eyrise is a subsidiary company of Merck KgaA Darmstadt, Germany.

Here is a short video showing the new building and landscape: https://bit.ly/3Km9gLK

Sash Windows From Epwin Window Systems Completes A Period Farmhouse Renovation

Harewood Estate farmhouse in Chapel Wold in Kearby, Yorkshire has been sympathetically restored and converted into a luxurious family home by a local developer, Andas Homes. When it came to the vertical sliding windows for the project, the Vertical Sliding Sash Window System from Epwin Window Systems was chosen, fabricated by award-winning Yorkshire manufacturer Quickslide.

Andas Homes has worked with Quickslide on several heritage projects for a number of years. The Vertical Sliding Sash Window System brought the heritage and luxury that such a prestigious project required, while Quickslide’s expertise and experience brought even more value, says the company.

Andas Homes’ designer Holly Simpson said. “Chapel Wold is a luxury, sensitive renovation, which draws out the character of the existing buildings and breathes new life into their timeless traits. We love the quality and performance of Quickslide’s sliding sash windows, in particular the run-through sash horns which make the frame so authentic.”

Andas Homes opted for a bespoke colour frame for the project. Quickslide worked with colour coating specialists Kolorseal, to achieve the required hue, which was a specific shade of light grey that would complement the pinky tones of the property’s traditional Yorkshire stone walls and slate roof. Kolorseal’s expertise

ensured outstanding colour quality and accuracy on every frame.

Ben Weber, Quickslide’s managing director, said: “This luxury development at Chapel Wold is just the latest example of how our sash windows are transforming home design. Glazing elements are now so much more than just building products. They add value and personality to the very fabric of home building and are an integral and crucial consideration in the internal and external design of a home.”

Katrina Earl, sales director at Epwin Window Systems, concluded: “Our Vertical Sliding Sash Window System is renowned in the industry for its ability to combine outstanding heritage aesthetics with modernday thermal efficiency and security. This project epitomises the quality of our system combined with the manufacturing expertise of the Quickslide team to transform this stunning property.”

www.epwinwindowsystems.co.uk

The Residence Collection Helps Complete A Home Renovation Project In A South Yorkshire Village

the ‘clay’ colour option for the external of the windows and ‘grained white’ internally. The externally flush windows were completed with trickle vents and Regal pear drop handles in Pewter Patina.

The Residence Collection ensured that whilst aesthetically replicating these period designs, the functionalities and performance of modern-day windows were nevertheless delivered, providing a blend of old and new.

In terms of functionality, these windows use Timberweld jointing and 28mm decorative glazing bead. They also boast A++ energy ratings, an important factor to consider in the current energy crisis, and options of double or triple glazing.

A stunning property nestled in a South Yorkshire village has been transformed with high-quality windows from The Residence Collection.

Premium window and door designer, The Residence Collection, along with installer K Glazing and fabricator HS Trade, updated this home with 19 new windows and three French doors, giving the attractive Yorkshire abode an even more aesthetic finish.

The homeowners were looking to refresh and brighten their place

whilst authentically replicating historic timber window designs. To achieve this they chose The Residence Collection’s R9 range incorporating Georgian bar and Regal hardware alongside multiple colourways to add traditional character to the home. This character is expressed both internally inside the residence and externally to passers-by, increasing the property’s curb appeal.

The owners of the property took advantage of The Residence Collection’s offering of 23 different colour ways, choosing

Commenting on the transformation, the property’s homeowner said: “When choosing our windows for our home renovation we were keen to upgrade the performance of our windows to save on energy and modernise our property ever so slightly, whilst retaining the period-feel. We have immediately noticed the benefits of the thermally efficient design of our windows and can see that our investment into upgrading our windows will pay off as a result of the outstanding quality of manufacturing by HS Trade.

“Our new windows have added a subtle elegance to our property that wasn’t seen before. The traditionally tasteful flush exterior and stylish decorative interior create that classic aesthetic that complements the traditional Yorkshire stone, thanks to the creative eye of The Residence Collection. Our Installer, K Glazing also made sure that the installation process was seamless for us, reducing the stress of renovating alongside our busy family life.”

https://bit.ly/3DBW4P2

Ultraframe

Supplies Roofs For Spectacular

USA Country Club Wedding Venue

Ultraframe has recently been commissioned to design and manufacture eight glass roofs which together form a spectacular new 315 sqm wedding venue at the prestigious Eagle Oaks Golf & Country Club in New Jersey, USA.

The award-winning venue which

boasts a Jack Nicklaus-designed 18-hole golf course, restaurants, outdoor pools, and tennis courts, wanted to create the ultimate luxury wedding venue and approached local company NJ Sunroom Additions (NJSA) to help.

NJSA is run by Peter Burley

who works alongside project manager Andy Bucko and chief designer Brian Adams. Peter and Brian previously worked for Anglian back in the UK. In close collaboration with their supplier LivingSpace Sunrooms and the team at Ultraframe, they set to work designing the new structure.

Explaining further about the project, Ultraframe export manager, Darryl Houghton Smith, said: “This was a hugely complex project to work on which really demonstrates the flexibility and strength of our Glass Roof system and I was thrilled to say ‘I do’ when asked if I could assist LivingSpace with this remarkable

conservatory wedding venue. The roofs we supplied helped to form a walkway from the existing clubhouse into a very large 21m x 15m lantern conservatory. Due to the complexity of the main lantern and the entrance gazebo, we pre-built five of the roofs in our factory here in Clitheroe to ensure that the installation would go without a hitch. It’s incredible to think that those same roofs are now installed in such a prestigious complex so far away in the USA.”

The main lantern-topped function space features an air conditioning and heating system, designed to cope with the extreme variations of the

New Jersey climate and ensure a comfortable space at any time of year. Around 350 individual panes of high-performance glazing in the roofs also help to control the interior climate.

Concluding about the new Eagle Oaks wedding conservatory, Mike Francis, sales director of LivingSpace Sunrooms, commented: “Having worked at Ultraframe many years ago, I knew that they would be the perfect partner on such a mammoth project. NJSA has been our Dealer of the Year for the past eight years and has thousands of satisfied customers. Their goal is to receive a 5-star review every time, and we are sure that they will be receiving another one from Eagle Oaks following the completion of this project. We are proud to have been part of the team involved in creating a truly stunning space that will form the backdrop for special occasions for many years to come. The precision and strength of the Ultraframe system were perfectly demonstrated when all eight roofs came together with our portal frame system without any issues.”

https://bit.ly/3CcBlRd

Senior Brings A New Outlook To Warrington’s Latest Residential Scheme

Senior Architectural Systems, one of the UK’s largest privately owned aluminium fenestration solutions manufacturer, has supplied the windows, curtain wall and commercial door package for a new residential development in

Warrington, Cheshire.

Located on a former brownfield site, the Academy Street residential development offers a mix of one- and two-bedroom apartments set across three

tower blocks which gradually rise from five, to seven and then nine storeys.

To provide exceptional energyefficiency, claims the company, Senior’s patented low U-value Pure aluminium windows have been installed to the individual apartments. The main façade and communal stairwells have also been opened up with the use of Senior’s SF52 aluminium curtain wall system which offers attractive slim sightlines to maximise the use of natural light. The aluminium curtain wall system has been fabricated and installed by Senior’s supply chain partner Aire Valley Architectural Aluminium Ltd to create both standard and sloped elements.

For safety and security, Senior’s robust SPW500 aluminium commercial doors have been used throughout, with the development’s opportunity for ground-floor commercial units enhanced by the use of the SFG aluminium shop front glazing systems with integrated SD commercial doors.

The stunning new residential development has been created by Land End Developments and designed by PRP Architects. It boasts a prime location in Warrington, close to both the Times Square development which comprises a market hall and civic centre, and the popular Bridge Street retail quarter.

www.seniorarchitectural.co.uk

Epwin’s Vertical Sliding Sash Window System Selected For Conversion Project

When a historic mansion was redeveloped in North Yorkshire, the Vertical Sliding Sash Window System from Epwin Window Systems fabricated and installed by Yorkshire manufacturer Quickslide was the preferred choice of the developer, Brebur Ltd.

Featherstone Hall is an imposing mansion, recorded in the Domesday Book, which sits in the village of North Featherstone near Pontefract in Yorkshire. The hall and its surrounding lands have become the site for 15 beautiful period family homes. The hall itself has been converted into three homes, while the sympathetically restored coach house has been transformed into a charming detached three-bedroom home. Eleven new family homes, each designed to complement the hall, have been built in the grounds.

Featherstone Hall is a famed local landmark, so the conversion needed to be sympathetic and in keeping with its history. When it came to the window contractor for the project, Brebur chose specialist fabricator Quickslide,

which manufactures the Vertical Sliding Sash Window System from Epwin Window Systems.

Award-winning Quickslide, manufactured 245 vertical sliding windows for the project, which were installed over a period of two years. All the windows were manufactured in anthracite grey to bring a touch of modern style to the heritage project. As well as benefiting from the mix of heritage and modern aesthetics, the homes also enjoy the security and thermal efficiency of Epwin Window Systems’ vertical slider, says the company.

Ben Weber, Quickslide’s managing director, commented: “A project like Featherstone Hall showcases all the authentic quality of the Vertical Sliding Sash Window System from Epwin Window Systems coupled with the elements we excel at. Quality, contemporary windows that bring all the benefits of modern PVC-U to the traditional, beautifully aesthetic window designs of the past.”

www.epwinwindowsystems.co.uk

NBP Increases Customer Support Levels

Northern Building Plastics is strengthening its level of customer support with a new online ordering system and the expansion of customer support teams at all of its depots.

The new ordering system not only includes free next-day delivery but gives customers ultimate flexibility in ordering what they need. This extends to NBP’s, dedicated customer support teams, across all four depots, who are on hand throughout the day to guide customers to what they need when they need it.

Stephen Jones, sales director at NBP says: “We’re always

trying to make life easier for our customers, and streamlining our online ordering process was a bit of a no-brainer for us.

“This is why we’ve upgraded our online ordering system to make it easier for traders to get whatever they need. We offer free next-day delivery on all our orders, and you can order up until 10 pm and still get it your products the very next day!

“We know that everyone has their schedules in place, but when things don’t go to plan, or you need something quickly, having an option to help with last-minute disruptions will save our customers so much

hassle. Our orders are packed overnight, ready for delivery first thing, saving you time onsite and keeping your project running smoothly.

“More than this, we’ve also expanded our customer support teams at all of our depots. We now offer support to traders from 7:30am to 5pm Monday to Thursday, 7.30am to 4.30pm on Fridays and 8am – 12pm on Saturdays. Our advisors are on hand to help with product advice, quotes, or simply taking orders.

“We are committed to making things easier for our customers, no matter where they are or what they need, and this is one of many steps we are taking over the coming months to ensure our customer service is a valuable resource for all of the tradespeople we work with.”

www.nbp.co.uk

Upgraded Online Experience From Whitesales

Whitesales, the rooflights and daylighting specialist, has updated its website to make it easier for different types of customers to find exactly what they are looking for .

Merchants, contractors, architects, homeowners and

fabricators now just select from a drop-down menu to access the relevant products and technical and purchasing support.

Alex Gallop, Whitesales’ marketing communications manager, explained: “If you’re a homeowner browsing for

a rooflight system for your home, you need very different information from an architect who’s specifying a continuous rooflight system for a hospital.

“We’ve reorganised the website so that there’s an intuitive online journey for every type of customer – taking them directly to the products and support they need.

“For instance, the merchant pages feature the product catalogue, access to our merchant support package and RUFUS, our online rooflight configurator, while for fabricators, there’s information on our partnership proposition, how-to installation guides and a focus on our new roof lantern.

“Visitors can obviously choose to browse the whole website; this is just the latest example of how we make it easy to work with us.”

The updated Whitesales website is at: www.whitesales.co.uk

Shepley Windows Launch New Door Designer Update

Following several new additions to its Visage composite door range, including the new Modernist range, new colours and glass options, trade fabricator Shepley Windows has launched a comprehensive upgrade to its online door designer to help streamline the ordering process for its customers.

The new upgraded door designer allows Shepley customers to design and order doors from across the entire Visage door collection via its online ordering portal.

Ian Griffiths, managing director at Shepley Windows, says: “We’ve made a lot of changes to our popular Visage composite door collection recently and we’re delighted that our customers are now able to order these directly on

the Shepley door designer.

“The new online updates help streamline the ordering process for our customers, as they can design and place orders in just a few clicks.”

The new additions to the Visage composite door range include new glass designs, new colours and the new Modernist collection, which

features bold styles and colours for homeowners looking to make a statement with their entrance.

Ian adds: “We’re always reviewing and updating our product range to ensure that we’re at the forefront of current trends, so that our customers can offer a vast selection of door designs to homeowners.

“The Modernist range is the perfect example of this. We knew there was an opportunity for installers to sell more eye-catching composite door options to homeowners looking to make a statement with their home. Featuring striking colours such as Colza Yellow and Purple Violet, Modernist doors are the perfect way to create a truly impressive entrance.”

www.shepley.com

Contractors Enjoy More ‘Appy Days With Building Superstore

Online builders merchant Building Superstore has seen a significant increase in orders placed via its mobile app over the last three months, as more contractors choose the convenience of finding and buying building products and materials at a time and place to suit them. The recent rebrand from CMO Trade to Building Superstore has supported this shift, with nine times more orders secured on the mobile app in the three months up to June 2023 when compared to the same period the previous year.

As part of CMO, Building Superstore is the company’s dedicated trade service and trade professionals can open an account to order on the

website, by telephone or via the popular mobile app. This flexible approach is helping Building Superstore respond directly to its customers’ changing needs, providing a 24/7 service to a new generation of trade contractors who want to be in greater control of their time and money, says the company.

Commenting, Rob Martin, head of trade at Building Superstore said: “We are seeing an increase not only in the number of customers choosing to purchase products via our trade app, but also in the frequency and size of orders, and the level of repeat business. This shows us that convenience and flexibility of ordering materials online and on the go is just what our customers want.”

“As well as checking availability to source urgent products for next day delivery and being able to quickly source multiple materials for a range of different tasks, our account holders also have access to a number of exclusive features that will help them keep track of their orders, and create quotations for future jobs. We know that a lot of this necessary admin needs to be done after hours, as well as urgently on site, and the level of control and convenience this offers is definitely something that seems to appeal to our customers.”

Users of the new Building Superstore app will also be supported by the merchant’s customer service, with advisors on hand by phone or live chat to assist with orders from start to finish, including producing invoices for trade users to send to their own customers. A Building Superstore Account can either be cash or credit and as all of Building Superstore’s products come directly from the supplier.

Listers

Launches New Plug-And-Play Gallery44 Composite Door Designer

composite entrance door designs.

These replicate traditional timber doors with highly defined mouldings and woodgrain finish, plus a wide choice of decorative glass options and door furniture.

It also includes a range of contemporary door styles, supplied by Listers in a choice of either woodgrain or smooth finishes and 46 different colour options.

Dedicated door framing options are from Veka and Eurocell, with ultra-secure Ultion cylinders, and Kubu smart-equipped locking fitted as standard, with Secured by Design and PAS24 options.

Listers has created a new customer website door designer tool for its Gallery44 Composite Door Range.

With three ranges to choose from – Traditional; Contemporary Grained; or smooth finish Urban options –the Galery44 range has been carefully curated by Listers to offer maximum design flexibility to installers.

Its new Gallery44 Door Designer Tool pulls different door styles, colour options, glass and hardware specifications into a simple-to-use online configurator.

“It’s a plug-and-play solution for our customers, so there are no big development costs,” explained Listers’ Managing Director Roy Frost.

“Installers can sit down with

a householder and show them exactly what options are available and how those options will look, based on their choice of colour, finish and hardware.

“It’s an own-branded door designer on their website with minimum fuss but a big impact, as a fantastic point of sale or lead generation tool.”

The Gallery44 Range includes 19 of the most popular

In addition to its Galery44 composite door range, Listers has also added a new aluminium entrance door range. This features three different options: a 44mm thermally efficient aluminium panel door, manufactured by Listers in Sheerline; plus 65mm flush; and 95mm premium options.

Roy said: “We’ve developed a very comprehensive entrance door offer with a carefully selected range of the most popular composite door designs, including period and contemporary options.

“Our new 44mm aluminium entrance door range is matched into our Sheerline offer, so our customers can offer a perfect match to Sheerline windows and doors.

“It’s part of our integrated strategy for aluminium, composites and PVC-U, which is maximising choice and flexibility for Listers customers as a single source for window and door supply.”

www.listerwindows.co.uk

Listers’ MD, Roy Frost

Selecta Systems

Add Business Micros Touch To Marketing Support Package

Selecta Systems are one of the first PVC-U systems companies to go live with Business Micros’ new Touch lead generation software, as they step up their sales and marketing support for trade customers.

The Touch window and door designer, complete with the clever Home Visualiser tool, is now live on Selecta’s new homeowner focused website at: https://advance70.co.uk/. This professional sales lead generation tool is also available for fabricators and installers to add instantly to their own websites via their newly upgraded Connect customer portal.

Mark Walker, Selecta’s marketing manager, explained: “This is a move specifically designed to help our customers to win more business. The window and door designer has the complete range of Selecta products on there for retail buyers to choose from, all based on our BM dataset.

Homeowners can also upload a picture of their own house to see exactly how their chosen design will look. When they submit their enquiry, we send the lead out to our customers in that area.

“If Selecta customers want to generate those leads for themselves, they also have the option of adding a branded version of our Touch system window and door designer to their own website. We had several customers sign up in the first week of launch and the feedback has been so positive that we’re seeing many more following suit and registering.

“We demo’d Touch at FIT Show and customers told us that they really liked the versatility of the system. It works 24/7 generating leads online or, if you prefer, it can be used face to face with customers in sales presentations. There is also the option to add in quoting and pricing to speed up the sales journey, adding that final

professional touch.

“For fabricators, they can take confidence from the fact that the software specialists at Business Micros have designed the first truly end to end solution for this industry. That means over time, they’ll easily be able to integrate Touch with other Business Micros Group products.”

The launch of Touch is a key element in Selecta’s sales and marketing support package for customers. This also includes the option of customers being able to have a brand new themed and branded website created by the team at Business Micros Group company The Consultancy, who are key to the operational roll out of Touch. With the ability to integrate the Touch window and door designer and home visualiser within the themed website, it offers Selecta’s customers the complete online marketing package, whether it be for trade or retail.

Mark Walker added: “We’ve worked with the team at The Consultancy on various web projects for around 10 years and have built a really useful partnership. They’ve given us loads of support in implementing Touch – even creating a bespoke step by step guide for customers so that they can deploy the branded mode to their websites in just a few minutes.”

Richie Thornton, director at The Consultancy, added: “The timing of the Touch launch probably couldn’t be better for Selecta. Touch is just about the perfect user-friendly tool for generating online enquries and, with signs that the retail market is getting tougher, it’s exactly what fabricators and installers need right now to give their lead generation efforts a boost.”

More details on Touch at: store. bm-touch.co.uk/ and Selecta at: selectasystems.com/

Kömmerling’s New Colour Programme Now In Print

Under the new corporate design that was unveiled in 2022, Kömmerling have just produced a new eight-page colour programme detailing the latest proGrain and proSmooth finishes including both stock and special order options. Other profine brands including Greenline and Warmcore versions will also follow shortly.

With over 65 options in total and including a RAL 7016 base grey material for the C70 and flush sash – this equates to one of the larger colour and woodgrain selections in the PVCu window and door industry. In addition, there are detailed delivery classes and further ordering details highlighted for Kömmerling’s

Cutting-Edge Website Makes Life Easier Than Ever For F.H. Brundle Customers

One of Britain’s leading component suppliers has unveiled a state-of-the-art new website.

Family-owned F.H. Brundle, which will celebrate its 134th birthday in 2023, has never let its age get in the way of innovation.

The company says Its new website will make searching and ordering from its vast range of fencing systems, stocked gates and handrailing systems easier than ever.

According to F.H. Brundle,

embedded with the latest AI technology, it delivers accurate and intuitive search results, instantly filtering 10,000 stocked product lines.

The site will also provide customers with price comparisons, allowing them

network of manufacturing and installation partners.

Kevin Warner, sales and marketing director of profine UK and Kömmerling commented: ‘This new colour programme represents what we believe is a strong product proposition across all of our PVCu and hybrid window and door systems. The proSmooth and proGrain options reflect current design trends alongside a number of distinctive luxury foils too. This information has been carefully presented in a useful format for customers and is the first in a complete new range of literature that is being rolled out across the next few months.

For further information please visit www.profine-uk.com e-mail enquiries@profine-uk.com or telephone 01623 579200 for a free copy of the 2023 colour programme. There’s also a dedicated site for KÖMMERLING at www.kommerling.co.uk. You can also follow them on social media platforms @profineuk and @kommerling_uk.

to make quick, well informed purchasing decisions.

Managing director Michael Brundle comments: “After the pandemic, companies in our sector are buying online more than ever – and at F.H. Brundle we want to offer them the most streamlined, user-friendly buying experience possible.

“We’ve invested extensively to create a state-of-the-art new website that delivers exactly that.

“We’ve never seen our ranges presented in such a concise, easy to understand format, and we’re confident it will help our customers quickly find the system or component that they’re looking for.”

www.fhbrundle.co.uk

AluK Hosts Social Media Workshop

As part of its ongoing fabricator support package, AluK has just hosted two free workshops on ‘Demystifying Social Media Marketing’. The response from customers to what were billed as ‘beginner’s masterclasses’ showed that, even though lots of fabricators are active on social media, many still feel they can benefit from some truly specialist help and advice.

The marketing team at AluK joined forces with the social media experts at Spaghetti Agency to give customers guidance on how to make the most of the various social platforms in this sector – from growing your audience to avoiding the most common mistakes.

There were plenty of helpful tips like using fixed content pillars to come up with ideas for posts and incorporating video as much

as possible, and some really useful insight into the algorithms that dictate when and where content will appear in feeds.

Antoniya Stoycheva, AluK’s digital marketing and communications manager commented: “This really was a masterclass and every one of the AluK customers who came to both workshops said they found it valuable. There was help for commercial fabricators concentrating on LinkedIn, especially around using polls and creating carousels to increase engagement and real expert insight into the benefits (or not) of using scheduling tools. And there was lots of practical advice for trade and retail fabricators on using reels on Instagram and Facebook and addressing misconceptions around hashtags.”

One of the most common

responses from the fabricators who attended the workshops was that it had given them the confidence to show more personality online. One said: “I’ve realised that we would get more followers and better engagement if had a bit more fun with our social media, showed our human side a bit more and didn’t look so corporate.” Another added: “Learning about content pillars made me realise we should stop dabbling and have a proper plan which includes devoting time to capturing video footage of the team behind the brand.”

There was though widespread recognition that where social media has the biggest impact in terms of generating enquiries and driving sales is in the B2C market.

Graham Todd from Spaghetti Agency added: “I was really impressed with how willing the fabricators were to embrace the opportunities that social media gives you to build your brand in a new and exciting way and how many of them acknowledged that it is about so much more than just generating likes.

“What came through loud and clear though is how dependent fabricators in the trade market are on their installers to create and share content of finished installations and how many of them were planning to share what they had learned on the workshop with their own customers.”

The success of the masterclass for fabricators and the feedback on the B2C opportunities has prompted AluK to stage a followup online workshop for installers. This will focus on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok and will be live on Tuesday 4 July, with a recording available to view afterwards.

uk.aluk.com

DoorCo Sponsors Macclesfield FC

of the growth of our local team, so sponsoring the club for the 2023/24 season was a really easy choice for us to make.

“The decision had many layers to it. Our advertising message is focused around recruitment and using our place within the ground as a space to share our brand with local people who may be interested in starting a career with us. However, this is more than a sponsorship deal and our partnership with the club has allowed us to offer some fantastic opportunities to our existing employees too.”

Composite door manufacturer DoorCo has announced its recent sponsorship deal with the Northern Premier League team, Macclesfield FC. Reborn in 2020 under the leadership of local businessman Robert Smethurst and former Premier League and Welsh international footballer Robbie Savage, the club has gone from strength to strength

in recent times with back to back promotions and now being crowned league champions.

Ellie Pool, marketing manager at DoorCo explains: “We’re all really excited about our new partnership with Macclesfield FC. This sponsorship is a really natural fit for us as a business. We’re big football fans and really proud

Dek Wright, head of HR at DoorCo continues “We’re truly delighted to see our relationship with the team at Macclesfield FC start to grow. The benefits of the sponsorship that we’ve been able to pass on to our employees are as important to us as the advertising opportunity itself. Partnering with a local sports organisation has allowed us to focus on health and wellbeing opportunities for our staff”

www.door-co.com

New Window To The World For ADSA

The Automatic Door Suppliers Association (ADSA) has launched its new website, boasting improved functionality with a brand-new look and feel.

The site has been produced to maximise user experience, with slicker mechanisms for booking courses and events, a member search facility with postcode and mapping features for customers to find products and service providers.

The association’s online presence has been developed to reflect its current activity: extensive learning and development content, industry news and updates and independent compliance assessment services.

It offers a fresh new look, with a

rolling home page and enhanced connectivity through third party app integration for improved booking/payment processes. It also incorporates social media feeds.

The site has greater clarity and is more intuitive: the online membership application process has been fully digitised and course/event bookings have

a Microsoft Outlook calendar interface to allow users to sync events with their own diaries.

ADSA has also included a shop… by public demand. Members asked the association to produce a range of branded workwear which can be personalised with company/name alongside their ADSA credentials.

The clothes range, which includes tee shirts, polos, shirts, fleece jackets and work trousers, has been produced using environmentally friendly/ sustainable materials. Profits from the sale of branded merchandise will be reinvested into learning development – benefitting members in all respects.

www.adsa.org.uk

Morley Glass Agrees Leeds Knights Title

Sponsorship For Next Two Seasons

Leeds-based integral blinds manufacturer Morley Glass has signed a deal to extend its sponsorship of ice hockey team Leeds Knights for at least the next two years.

The company will continue to be “Title Sponsors” of the team who were crowned the Planet Ice NIHL National Division Champions this year, and expectations are even higher for the 2023-24 season which begins in September.

The officially named “Morley Glass Leeds Knights” describe the sponsorship agreement as ‘pivotal’ as it helps to reinforce

their ambition to be one of the established sporting brands in Leeds – starting with the defence of its title. The funding will enable the club to include new and upgraded branding within the rink and the Morley Glass logo will be prominently positioned on its new jersey design for the 2023-24 season.

Warwick Andrews, managing director of Leeds Knights said: “We are delighted to have extended our deal with Morley Glass; their investment for the next two years provides us with the confidence to build for the future. Morley Glass have been instrumental in supporting the

growth of the club and it will be a pleasure to work alongside them as an integral part of our team.”

Ian Short, MD of Morley Glass added: “It has been amazing to see the work that everyone involved with Leeds Knights puts in, which is reflected in how much they’ve achieved in such a short period of time. We’re proud to support the team and wish them the very best of luck for next season.”

The NIHL National Division, in which Leeds Knights play, is a professional ice hockey league formed of 11 teams nationwide and is the second tier of ice hockey in the UK. Leeds Knights entered the league after the Covid pandemic, following the opening of the new 2000-capacity Planet Ice Arena in 2019.

www.leedsknights.com

www.morleyglass.co.uk

3E Makes Its Debut In The Uk With The Support Of Insight Data

European software providers, 3E, have successfully launched in the UK fenestration market with support from data specialists Insight Data.

With headquarters in Germany, 3E provide high-performance software solutions to window manufacturers and dealers enabling an efficient end-to-end digitalised process.

Teaming up with Insight Data has equipped 3E to take advantage of real-time prospect data and marketing expertise. Thanks to this, they have launched highly successful email campaigns to a specific audience within the glazing industry.

3E’s head of sales, Heiko Steffens, praised his experience with Insight Data. He shares: “As a newcomer to the UK market, we were looking for a competent and reliable

partner to help elevate our email campaigns.

“Their support helps us qualify the success of our lead generation. Not only have 3E benefited from an expansive pool of accurate and direct email contacts, but we’ve even forged contacts with key-

decision-makers.

“The Insight Data team have been fantastic in their work throughout the campaign preparation and in their follow-up.”

Aaron Solomon, Insight’s sales manager, added: “We’re incredibly proud of the results we have provided 3E. Their success exists as a prime example of how important real-time prospect data is in achieving successful prospects and reliable success.

“Once again, our expert email team have crafted a superb campaign that has delivered a staggering number of leads for a company who are looking to break ground in the UK market.”

Alongside detailed prospect data, Insight Data says it also provides several highly efficient proactive means of marketing for businesses across the construction and glazing industry.

www.insightdata.co.uk

Partners Group Celebrates

35 Years Of Supporting UK Door & Window Industry

milestone with the appointment of a new Senior Account Manager, Cherelle Jones, who joins the agency this month with experience spanning construction and healthcare industries, along with PR work for companies including Polypipe.

PR specialist The Partners Group is celebrating 35 years of supporting businesses in the door and window industry.

The Yorkshire-based communications agency was established in 1988, and has a client base largely comprising building product manufacturers, particularly those in the fenestration industry including

Glassolutions,

Granada

Secondary Glazing, Morley Glass & Glazing and Saint-Gobain Glass.

Partners has extended its reach in the sector, also working with manufacturing, engineering, food processing, and property and construction companies throughout the UK.

The Partners team is marking this

Speaking at a client event to mark the firm’s 35th anniversary, Partners director Monica Green said: “This is an exciting time for our business, and we are thrilled to welcome Cherelle to the team. Her skill set is a perfect match for us, and her wealth of experience will help us continue delivering results for clients in an ever-changing business and PR landscape.

“PR has evolved significantly over the decades, and we’re seeing more and more forward thinking manufacturers adopting solid PR strategies to help them grow their business.” partners-group.co.uk/

Aaron Solomon, sales manager at Insight Data

(L-R) Hannah Trinder, Leanne Terry, Karen Tinkler, Monica Green, Cherelle Jones, Joe Richardson, Ellie Bilton (York Minster in the background)

Roundtable Debates Move Away From Cheap Work

met over lunch at the start of July to discuss how glass companies were overcoming some of the challenges they were facing.

“The theme of the day was ‘is it time to move away from cheap work?’,” managing director of Bohle Dave Broxton said.

“On the one hand, glass is a technologically advanced building material, which can help bring many benefits to a home improvement project, a newbuild development, or a commercial project. On the other, glass processing companies often feel the need to compete on price, which erodes margin and delays investment – which is needed to help the industry adapt to changing demands.

More needs to be done by government to incentivise sustainable ways of working, and to support those companies that are already modernising the way they work. This was one of the key points raised by attendees of a round table event hosted by

“It turned out to be a very informative debate, and there were many points of agreement, even though the companies operate in different fields from each other.”

On the issue of sustainability,

Angela Worgan, managing director of Cardiff-based Abbey Glass, Tracey Saunders, managing director of Cambridge-based Go Glass, Natalie Little, commercial director of Stroud-based Truhouse, and Paul Rogers, nonexecutive director of Glaziers Hall,

Angela said: “We are seeing demand for sustainability increase from customers, and are actively working to improve the sustainability of operations and products. But, when it comes to delivery, we still come up against some resistance in terms of cost, and we sometimes have to come up with alternatives.”

Tracy said that she felt it was important to be seen to be doing the right thing, but this still leads to positive results.

“For example, we haven’t bought a new pallet in years,” she said. “We pick up used pallets from companies in and around Cambridge – diverting them away from scrap. But when it comes to products, we see less of a demand from consumers, and even trade customers see sustainability as a box-ticking exercise.”

Tracy said she would like to have more tools to help incentivise customers, including support from government – otherwise price becomes the default point of differentiation.

“Sustainability requires a longterm view from government, and a level of leadership,” Paul argued. “But that should remain light touch so industry can respond as it sees fit, and run with ideas. Unfortunately, history has shown that government doesn’t do

enough to support industry.”

Natalie agreed that incentives were better than penalties, but the right market will still reward innovative products.

“Our products are sustainable and energy efficient, and we don’t want to cut corners,” she said. “And we target the middle and upper end of the market because we know that they appreciate those features, and are not swayed solely on price.”

On the issue of labour, Paul argued that a skilled workforce is key to the success of a business.

“Yet, over the years we’ve seen technical colleges disappear, and people move away from apprenticeships to university courses,” he said. “But we need more training because the quality of your staff gets more important as products get more technical.”

In-house training, investment in machinery, and additional employee benefits were all tools that Tracy and Angela said they employed to attract talent and keep quality high.

Tracy also said Go Glass was ‘embracing’ AI, and that it formed part of its approach to Lean Manufacturing, which led to a lively debate.

“We use AI as part of our email

service, where we can automate certain procedures and reduce the amount of manpower involved,” she said.

Looking to the future, all delegates agreed that quality and USPs were key ingredients for success.

Tracy, whose business helps create accessible homes in Cambridge, said: “All customers have budgets – even the affluent ones. What is important is letting them know they are getting value for money.”

Truhouse is currently trialling a franchise model, whereby it hopes to recreate its success across the southwest.

“If you focus on your core elements and do them well, that will help you get a good profit margin,” she said. “By developing a franchise model, we can help other people concentrate on what they are good at, and be successful in the process.”

Angela Worgan explained that Abbey Glass was also developing new ideas for growth, which effectively involved diversifying and expanding the company’s brand – although it was too early in the day to give details.

“You’ve got to believe in what you do,” she said.

Dave said that day was informative, while laying the foundations for new partnerships.

“Four people from different corners of the country and industry came together to share their experience,” he said. “And everyone left feeling enthused and energised. What we didn’t predict was that new business opportunities would emerge from this event, and I’m pleased to say that two of the delegates will soon be working together on new projects.”

www.bohle.com

Emplas Celebrates Inaugural ‘Emplas Open’

The golf got underway with a shotgun start at 11am, and 19 teams of four set out to compete for several prizes. In addition to the team and individual prizes, there were trophies for Longest Drive, Nearest the Pin, and Beat the Pro (Chris Foster on the 16th).

The course was dry and well kept, but challenging approaches to greens, including trees, bunkers and narrow fairways, meant that even the best golfers had their work cut out to achieve a good score.

The inaugural ‘Emplas Open’, held at Hanbury Manor in Hertfordshire on June 8 was declared a success by the fabricator, after more than 80 customers and suppliers enjoyed wall-to-wall sunshine, 18 holes of golf, and a three-course meal with football manager and former professional footballer Dean Saunders providing the entertaining after-dinner speech.

“We wanted to get our customers together for a celebratory day to say ‘thank

you’ for their continuing business,” Emplas Group MD Ryan Johnson explained. “And because we knew they liked a game of golf, and a beer or two in the evening, we thought a golf day would be the perfect solution!

“We also took the opportunity to support GM Fundraising, which we’ve done for a long time now. Fortunately, the day was perfect and the course was beautiful, which meant a great day was had by all.”

After a three-course meal in Poles Hall in Hanbury Manor, prizes were awarded to the following:

• Best Dressed – Padiham Glass

• Longest Drive – Richard Manser (5 Star Windows)

• Nearest to the Pin – Gary Morton (Central Windows)

• Beat the Pro – Matt Stephens (Install Direct)

• 1st Place Team | Paul Cahill, Jamie Cahill, Anthony Cahill, Robert Evans (Glazeview) – 102 Points

• 2nd Place Team – Lee Stephens, Matt Stephens (from Install Direct), Aaron Tuner, John Tuner (from Window Projects) –99 Points

• 3rd Place Team – John Spiby, Jeremy Kemp, Ben Sorrell, Wayne Wright (Padiham Glass –98 Points

• 1st Place Individual – John Turner (Window Projects) – 46 Points

• 2nd Place Individual – Paul Cahill (Glazeview) – 45 Points

• 3rd Place Individual – Anthony Cahill (Glazeview) – 44 points

Emplas’s chosen charity for the day was GM Fundraising. Eighteen suppliers had sponsored the individual holes, raising £4,500 in the process, and the Beat the Pro competition on the 16th (Chris Foster) raised £780. A charity auction in the evening raised a further £3,450, with guests digging deep for lots including an electric golf trolley, Test Match tickets, and VIP tickets to see Arsenal play.

“There were definitely some challenging conditions on the course, but some of the golfers posted excellent results,” Ryan said. “It was definitely the day to get your driver out. If you could keep to the fairway, then the balls were travelling a fair distance.

“Thank you to everyone who helped make it such a memorable day, especially for helping us to raise a grand total of £10,000 for an excellent cause. And we can’t wait to see everyone at the next event!”

www.emplas.co.uk

Trick Shots At The Deceuninck VBH Golf Day

Eighty customers of Deceuninck and VBH dodged the rain for the annual Golf Day at the Bowood PGA Golf Course in Wiltshire in July, with a team from Hanley Trade Frames winning the team prize.

Golfers were also treated to an early evening trick shot performance by professional golfer, Dean Davis, who had previously set up extra challenges on the second tee, including high tee-shots and bouncy ball antics. Some of the results can be found on a video compilation of the day at www.youtube.com/ watch?v=3Y6yoCZ8Jpk.

“The weather may not have been quite so kind to us as in previous years, but everyone came off the course at the end of the day having had a great day of golf,” Deceuninck’s MD Rob McGlennon said.

“The Deceuninck VBH Golf Day is now a well-established date in the industry’s social calendar, and we are proud to invite old friends and welcome new faces. The team at Bowood always put on a fantastic

day for us, and we all enjoyed a fantastic meal and a chance to network in the evening.”

With a total of 91 points, Steve Thomas, Harry Thomas, Dan Thomas and Ryan Aitkin from Hanley Trade Frames won the team event, with Remi Cake from Window Warehouse winning the individual prize with 41 points.

Richard Lee from GAP won the Nearest the Pin competition on the 12th, while Rick Reed from BDC Aluminium won the Longest Drive on the 3rd.

Tony Buttery from Flair Windows had a mixed day, winning the wooden spoon on one hand, but coming closest to the pin in the Trick Shot Challenge on the 2nd.

“Congratulations to all the winners,” Rob said. “The Golf Day is a perfect opportunity to unwind a little and catch up with our friends in the industry. Thank you to everyone who joined us, and we look forward to doing it all over again next year.”

Building Our Skills To Launch Bespoke

Fenestration Industry Careers Fairs

Building Our Skills has commenced consultation with its advisory panel and wider group of supporters to discuss the potential of launching a series of bespoke industry careers fairs in 2024.

The aim of these fairs would be to engage directly with the education sector in its widest sense, to raise awareness of the industry, and to support the longer term aim of creating a workforce for tomorrow.

It is intended that two pilot events will run early in 2024 in partnership with the local education authorities in Greater

Manchester and South Yorkshire to coincide with National Careers Week. After this, the programme will be rolled out to other areas of the country.

Commenting on the initiative, Building Our Skills’ partnerships manager, Mark Handley says: “We have begun a process of consulting closely with both fenestration industry and local education authority representatives, and the latter have confirmed that there is a strong appetite for bespoke careers fairs organised by Building Our Skills.

“We’ve been making great

progress in getting education departments to recognise the industry as an excellent source of varied, long-terms career opportunities, and this is a sensible and ambitious next step for us. The fact that we can help careers professionals in schools to realise their curriculum goals makes this a win-win for all parties.”

Morgan Fisher, marketing executive of Kubu, an active member of the Building Our Skills Advisory Panel adds: “Bespoke careers fairs could be invaluable to us. We would be very enthusiastic to be part of such an initiative.

“We all have to pull together in order to ensure that the skills shortages that have dogged the industry for years become a thing of the past, not just immediately but in the long term as well. The more we can all do to get youngsters talking to us and considering a career in

fenestration, glass and glazing the better.”

Further details of the new industry-bespoke careers fairs will be available following the conclusion of the consultation process, but it is expected that up to twenty companies would be invited to attend each event. These will include a mix of ‘enablers’- organisations that can advise on training, qualifications, routes to industry, apprenticeships and other pathways to employment; national companies that can

inspire and excite youngsters about the industry through technology, innovation, environmental advances etc; and local companies who can offer follow-up ‘Inspiration Day’ visits to their factories and facilities in the area, work experience and potential job opportunities.

Anyone interested in getting involved in the programme of industry-bespoke careers fairs should email sayhello@ buildingourskills.co.uk or pick up the phone to Mark Handley

Leitz Launch In-Person Seminars And Training Packages

on 07860 844296.

For the remainder of this year, Building Our Skills will continue to attend other cross industry careers fairs, and would welcome industry representatives who wish to be involved in these also to get in touch. Venues include Liverpool, Sheffield, Rotherham, Truro, Leeds, Bradford, Doncaster, Derby, London, Manchester, Stoke and Barnsley. The dates for each venue can be viewed at https://bit.ly/45bG7uR

is a growing issue for joinery firms, with some facing large fines.

Simon Liddell, managing director at Leitz UK commented: “Previously, our manufacturers could only access our training programmes through a live broadcast from our partners in Germany. Increasing customer demand for specialist training has made our resources available to our customers who couldn’t attend the live seminars.”

Leitz UK is bolstering the skills of UK businesses with the launch of its new seminars and on-site training packages.

Their bespoke in-person seminars have been designed to train staff in custom tooling solutions and process optimisation to help owners drive higher levels of profitability. The courses cover everything from technical information about tooling as well as advice on implementation, handling

practices, and performance limits. Leitz also offers training in improving tool life and error detection, with a range of online seminars to be launched later in the year from their new studio in Germany.

Their on-site training includes consultation on optimal tooling selection and optimisation, including how you can use a service package to lower overall tooling costs. Leitz is a specialist in tackling dust and noise, which

The new platform will be available for all Leitz customers. Simon added: “Our courses on Tool Handling and Tool Application allow workers to develop their skills and knowledge in a practical session that prioritises real-world knowledge and helps to develop your workforce’s skills and expertise in many scenarios.”

Alongside their online training platform, Leitz UK has recently launched an e-shop and a new suite of Tool Information Management packages, which are already supporting businesses in managing their facilities and boosting productivity, claims the company.

leitz.org/en-gb/services/training

Debar Employees Offered Internal Apprenticeship Opportunity

Debar, a manufacturer and supplier of bi-fold hardware, is actively providing brand-new apprenticeship opportunities to its existing team members. Anthony Martin and Liam Scott, who have been valuable members of the Bradford-based firm for several years, have been selected to gain new skills and hands-on experience at the Debar headquarters.

At Debar, creating growth opportunities for current and new employees is a top priority, ensuring they can develop within

the company and set themselves on the right track for the future. Apprenticeships align perfectly with Debar’s vision, making them an excellent fit for the company.

Anthony is currently working towards a BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Advanced Manufacturing Engineering (Electrical & Electronic Engineering) through Bradford-based training provider Appris.

This is Anthony’s second apprenticeship, the first beginning when he was 18.

Anthony comments, “I worked in CNC (computer numerical controlled) machining with a previous employer. From the age of 25 I wanted to do another apprenticeship, but I didn’t think I’d have a second chance.

“Debar agreed to take me on, which I’m grateful for, and it shows that apprenticeships aren’t just for school leavers.

“My overall experience has been fantastic. The knowledge and skills I have gained with Debar and Appris have been exceptional and helped me to further my career in engineering.”

Liam however is studying a BTEC Level 2 Diploma in Advanced Manufacturing Engineering, discussing his experience he said: “Although it’s been

Liam Scott (left) and Anthony Martin (right)

a steep learning curve, I’m incredibly grateful to be given the opportunity to complete an apprenticeship.

“Debar has been so supportive throughout the whole process helping to make things much easier and I’ve actually enjoyed my day to day role much more as a result.”

Peter Sutcliffe, managing director at Debar, said: “Providing apprenticeship opportunities for existing team members, like Anthony and Liam, means we can upskill others with a passion for this industry. It’s also a great way to encourage commitment, loyalty and dedication among our workforce.

“Through this apprenticeship programme, our aim is to secure the best new talent while continuing professional development for our existing employees, promoting job satisfaction and motivation which in turn increases productivity.”

The apprenticeship program at Debar aims to develop various skills, including working collaboratively with colleagues at different levels, demonstrating confidence while working independently, and participating in team projects.

Anthony added: “I would recommend an apprenticeship at Debar because of the help and support I’ve had, and the amount of progression gained. Debar also has a great pay scale and structure for the apprenticeship programme.”

Debar is actively searching for another apprentice and is also hiring for a fabricator and Mechanical Maintenance Engineer. If you or someone you know is interested in these opportunities, get in touch with the team today by emailing sales@debarhardware.com

Merseyside Manufacturer Commits To Job Creation Through Strategic Partnership With Workforce Development Organisations

Warwick North West, Merseyside’s largest trade manufacturer of windows and doors and a strategic partner of the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce, has joined forces with two separate workforce development organisations, Nobody Left Behind and Inside Connections, in an effort to address the persistent skills shortage plaguing the manufacturing sector.

Nobody Left Behind uses sport to build positive mindsets among young unemployed people, before providing industry specific skills training in preparation for sustainable and meaningful employment.

Warwick North West director, Greg Johnson Inside Connections, meanwhile, is a community interest company providing support and training for prison leavers and young people at risk of offending, making a positive impact on individuals, families and communities.

John Burton, founder of Inside Connections, said: “We are proud to be working with Warwick North West on this exciting initiative. We are dedicated to changing

lives by providing opportunities to gain important skills leading to employment, which can play a significant part in diverting young people from crime and reducing reoffending.”

Through these partnerships, Warwick North West will help support comprehensive training programmes tailored to the manufacturing industry, providing the necessary skills and knowledge required to thrive in the sector.

The company also aims to absorb a significant number of qualified people into its workforce, enabling them to apply their newly acquired skills and contribute to the company’s overall growth.

Warwick North West director Greg Johnson explains: “Not only are we proactively seeking solutions to the industry’s skills shortage, but we are trying to do it in a way that gives back to the city and community. As an employer, we genuinely care and want to provide employment opportunities to people in the manufacturing and fenestration industry.”

www.warwicknorthwest.co.uk

www.nobody-left-behind.co.uk and www.insideconnections.co.uk

King Expresses Admiration For Shelforce At Buckingham Palace Awards Dinner

The King expressed his admiration for a Birmingham manufacturer at a prestigious Buckingham Palace awards dinner to celebrate the “best of British businesses.”

King Charles met winners who received The Kings Award for Enterprise, which recognises outstanding achievements by UK firms in four categories and the event was also attended by the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.

Birmingham-based window and door manufacturer Shelforce

received the award for promoting opportunity through social mobility and business manager, Howard Trotter, was there to represent the company, which employs 30 people, of which 75% have a disability, and was one of a handful of businesses who had a private audience with the King.

“His majesty knew all about Shelforce and our employment model and absolutely loved the whole idea and principle behind the company, one of battling to overcome adversity,” said Howard. “I also spoke to the Duke of Edinburgh and the Duke of Gloucester about what

we do, and what was apparent was everyone I spoke to knew all about Shelforce, which was fantastic.

“It was a wonderful evening and everyone at the Palace, from the King down, made us feel so comfortable and like we were the most important people in the room.”

It is the awards’ 57th year but the first after the scheme was renamed following the death of Queen Elizabeth II and some 148 businesses were honoured across the four categories, which also include innovation, international trade and sustainable development.

Shelforce will be able to proudly use the King’s Awards emblem for the next five years on their products and to promote their services.

www.shelforce.com

Edgetech’s Success Celebrated At Quanex Awards

For Quanex (the billion-dollar, US building products powerhouse that owns Edgetech, Liniar and other leading brands), celebrating success is an integral part of the culture.

This is why the Houston-based firm is proud to hold an annual internal awards event – and this year, Edgetech’s unwavering commitment to safety was singled out for praise.

Edgetech Coventry received a Safety & Stakeholder Emerald Award for its rigorous safety processes and for the exemplary conduct of its employees.

In addition, Jason Blundred, Edgetech Coventry’s long-serving head of operations, received the President’s Service Award for his

decades of outstanding work at the company.

Edgetech managing director Chris Alderson comments: “At Quanex, we passionately believe that highlighting and celebrating our successes is a vital part of sustaining a world-class business.

“Recognising the incredible contribution made by thousands of Quanex employees around the globe makes us proud of everything we achieve.

“For me, it’s especially gratifying to see Edgetech’s tireless efforts to maintain a safe, efficient working environment be recognised in this way.

“I’m also extremely pleased for Jason. His commitment to the company is incredible, and we’re extremely fortunate to have him.

“I want to take this opportunity to thank all our fantastic employees. Without their hard work and dedication, none of what we do would be possible.”

Edgetech employees gathered to watch the event, streamed from Quanex HQ in Houston, Texas, while enjoying fish and chips and ice cream from a van hired especially for the occasion.

www.edgetechig.co.uk

integrity, teamwork and communication are the core values that we embrace across the business, from the top down. Without them, we wouldn’t be the organisation that we are today, and I am delighted that this has been recognised through Lancashire’s business awards, the BIBAs. To be nominated as a Finalist in the Employer of the Year category means a lot to the entire team.”

DGCOS Team Nominated As Employer Of The Year In The BIBA Awards

The Double Glazing & Conservatory Ombudsman Scheme (DGCOS) service company, QA Schemes Support Services, has been nominated as a Finalist in the Employer of

the Year category at the BIBAs, Lancashire’s premier business Awards.

DGCOS chief executive Faisal Hussain, comments: “Respect,

“There has been a focus within the company in recent years on creating a positive working culture which has a direct impact on almost every aspect of the business operation. This is based on the simple logic that a happy workforce will show commitment to, and enthusiasm for, the job, which in turn leads to the best service levels, greater productivity and to a high standard, which ultimately benefits members”.

www.dgcos.org.uk

Glazerite Golf Day Raises Thousands For Kelly’s Heroes Charity

The Glazerite UK Group welcomed the sunshine along with 136 guests to its annual Pro-Am golf day on Friday 7th July. The sweltering day at Wellingborough Golf Club didn’t put the fabricator’s guests off their game however, with the hotly contested event also raising thousands of pounds for the Kelly’s Heroes charity.

pink for Kelly’s Heroes

A host of Glazerite customers, suppliers and employees joined in the event, now in its 17th year, which raised an incredible £12,000 for Kelly’s Heroes. The mental health charity, previously known as We Mind & Kelly Matters, was set up by former Glazerite chairman John Hewitt following the death of his daughter in 2018.

Winners on the day were Symphony Windows, with Mews Windows in second place. Veka Plan UK finished in third, with Veka Group owners Elke and Andreas Hartleif flying over from Germany to join their UK counterparts and

Glazerite for the day. The event, which was praised by attendees as the best yet, saw 34 teams of 136 golfers take part as well as compete in the ‘Nearest the Pin’ and ‘Longest Drive’ challenges.

Alongside Glazerite’s customers, suppliers including Veka, Avantis, Brisant, Haffner and Masterframe took part, while DoorCo and Window Ware supported with sponsorship. Peter Mews of Mews Windows conducted the evening’s fundraising auction, which saw some incredible prizes, including a Tiger Woods Commemorative Plaque and an Ian Poulter Ryder Cup signed print up for grabs.

After the golf, guests joined Glazerite employees for a fun garden party, where Kelly’s Heroes CEO, Sherry Adams, was presented with the £12,000 cheque for the charity.

Sherry says of the event: “Kelly’s Heroes was wonderfully supported by Glazerite throughout

the day and our new logo was everywhere, from the golf balls to the advertising boards. Even Glazerite’s employees were wearing pink, which was Kelly’s favourite colour.

“The event will help us to continue to support those suffering with their mental health, as well as those affected by bereavement by suicide. We were thrilled by the amount everyone raised; £12,000 is astonishing. A huge thank you to everyone who took part and helped raise so much for Kelly’s Heroes!”

The money raised will support Kelly’s Heroes’ ‘Listening Ear’ initiative, which offers support from 6pm-9pm, 365 days a year, for anyone who needs help.

Rob Brearley, group managing director of Glazerite adds:

“We’d like to thank the PGA and Wellingborough Golf Club for hosting the golf and the party, as well as all those who took part and helped us to raise an incredible amount for such a worthy charity. We love to welcome customers, employees and suppliers to the Glazerite annual Golf Day and celebrate with us afterwards. The feedback is always positive, and we look forward to hosting it again next year!”

www.glazerite.co.uk

Glazerite’s Jeff Dunn presents Sherry Adams of Kelly’s Heroes with the fundraising cheque from the golf day

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