FIT SHOW

Pilkington Planar

Supplied For Major Retail Park

When the owners of one of Britain’s biggest out-of-town shopping parks decided to undertake a site-wide refurbishment, they wanted to marry a state-of-the-art customer experience with outstanding environmental performance. Choosing the right glazing system was crucial in achieving these twin aims. The centrepiece of Fosse Park in Leicester, a Crown Estate-owned scheme, is a retail terrace which is anchored at each end by a 90,000 sq. ft major retail store. Its whole length features double-height glass shopfronts, giving maximum uninterrupted views in and out by having no opaque framing or other support below 2.7 m in height. The towering wall of glass was made possible thanks to Pilkington Planar™ structural glazing, which uses low-profile stainless-steel bolts and glass fins to hold double-glazed units in place without the need for a traditional framing system.

The quality of the views was further improved by using low-iron glass – Pilkington Optiwhite™ – to give an almost completely colourless appearance to both the face glass and the 15 mm thick supporting fins.

The scheme also features a stand-alone Next store which is the third biggest in its portfolio and a major flagship for the brand. The extensive glazing ensures that daylight is visible from any point in the store.

As well as creating a stunning, modern shopping experience, the client also wanted the whole project to represent the highest standards of best practice in terms of sustainability.

For example, the park features 172 cycle spaces to encourage greener transport choices and

its external lighting is powered by 500 photovoltaic panels. Of course, the extensive glazing would have a major bearing on the buildings’ ongoing carbon footprint, so the solution needed to deliver excellent energy performance.

For that reason, double glazed units were used throughout the scheme with a combination of air-filled and argon-filled cavities to improve the levels of insulation achieved by the glazing, avoiding excessive heat loss during the colder months of the year.

For the southerly glazed areas of the scheme that are exposed to direct sunlight, glass with either solar-control coatings or laminated interlayers were used.

The double-height glazing that fronts the main terrace also features a Pilkington Suncool™ 70/40 coating. This means that 70% of visible light is allowed through the glass but only 40% of the sun’s energy can pass through, claims the company. ing effect of sunlight on the interior of the building is significantly reduced, minimising the need for intensive air conditioning to create a pleasant climate for customers during the summer.

The Fosse Park development covers a large site made up of many different building units, so using Pilkington Planar™ throughout the scheme lends a uniformity of design that helps to deliver a consistent look and feel right across the park.

The two largest elements of the redevelopment were also designed by different architects. The Fosse Park West area, which includes the main retail terrace and the flagship Next and Flannels stores at either end, was designed by Corstorphine & Wright, while the Food Central food court was designed by DunnettCraven Architects.

Paul Williams, managing director at installer Vitrine Systems said: “The two parts of the scheme are very different in design because Food Central is an enclosed dining area featuring many hospitality units while the retail terrace is outdoors. The consistency of the glazing ensures a visual continuation between the internal and external areas.

“The Pilkington Planar™ system allowed us to deliver the architects’ vision for the scheme while maximising sight lines, bringing natural light into store interiors.

“Carrying out the installation during the disruption caused by the pandemic, and the need to always operate in a Covid-safe manner on site – made this an unusually challenging project, especially given its large scale. Despite this, we delivered the project successfully, on time and budget, and I’d like to take this opportunity to thank our partners at Pilkington UK for their dedication and support in helping to make this possible.”

Lee Shaw, Pilkington Planar™ business development manager at Pilkington United Kingdom Limited, said: “This is another project that demonstrates that Pilkington Planar™ is the system of choice for applications that call for unobstructed views without compromising on structural strength or energy performance.” www.nsg.com

Profile 22’s Optima Specified For New Build

Development In Harrogate

the external face to tie in with the development’s subdued material palette that reflects the surrounding communities. The internal face was white to provide an understated look that would complement any interior design.

Over 1,700 Optima windows and doors from Profile 22 were installed in a £38 million tenure-blind new build housing development in Harrogate, North Yorkshire.

Skipton Road is a new build development from Home Group built on former agricultural land in Harrogate. The scheme comprises of 214 apartments, detached, end terrace, linked detached, mid terrace and semi-detached homes with two to five bedrooms. Sixty percent of the homes are for private sale and 40% for affordable housing, which is split across affordable rented and shared ownership properties.

A primary aim of the development was to create a tenure-blind community, with no discernible difference between private and affordable homes. This would ensure that all parts of the site are equally attractive and would contribute to greater community cohesion.

The aim meant the project’s specification was critical, with every element needing to provide exceptional quality and good value. The windows and doors specified for the contract were Optima from Profile 22, which had all the credentials required.

With the project needing over 1,700 casement and flush casement windows, residential doors and French doors, it was awarded to experienced Profile 22 Approved Contractor Kingfisher Windows, a leading manufacturer and supplier of windows, doors and conservatories. Kingfisher Windows is an experienced commercial window contractor used to working on large scale new build developments. The company liaised closely with the main contractor and all the other trades on site to ensure fabrication and installation ran efficiently. As the project took place during the Covid-19 pandemic, the company also put in place additional health and safety measures to protect the health and wellbeing of all staff.

The project is due to complete in March 2022 and Sean Egan, Home Group director of development, commented: “This is a prime site in a very popular town where there is a high demand for housing. We intend to deliver high quality homes which will be sought after by those wanting to live in the area.”

Force 8 and hardware manufacturer J Banks & Co Ltd.

FIT Show event director, Nickie West comments: “We really have hit the ground running this year and I am delighted to see so many exciting brands, both new and returning, added to the floorplan in recent weeks.

FIT Show Flies Into 2022 With Record Breaking Industry Support

“The lifting of UK restrictions and delay of Fensterbau have boosted both exhibitor and visitor enquiries, making the UK a safe haven for those looking to connect their brand with the market, en masse, via a trade show. We’re proud that FIT Show will be the first major European trade show for the entire industry, post-pandemic. “In the coming weeks we’ll be running an online exhibitor enhancement day to ensure that all of the brands that have shown their support by choosing to exhibit will be armed with all of the information they need to drive the best possible return on investment.

FIT Show organisers have announced record levels of industry support for its delayed 2021 event, which is due to return to the NEC Birmingham from 10 – 12 May, 2022.

Visitor registration is currently 50% above the same point in the campaign for FIT Show 2019 show, whilst a total of thirteen brands have signed up to exhibit or increased their stand size in the month of January alone.

When FIT Show returns in May it will be the first live European trade show for the glass, glazing, windows, doors, conservatories, hardware and components industry in three years.

Organisers have reported that there will be an exciting line-up which includes a combination of brand leaders, new and exciting start-ups, FIT Show first-timers and some well-known brands who will be returning for the first time in years. In January, machinery giant, Haffner increased its space to 610sqm, making it the largest stand in FIT Show’s history, in order to be able to showcase more running machinery such as the Graf Synergy Range. Fenestration industry recruitment experts, Chase Taylor have also taken more space at the show, as did composite decking supplier, Ronjack.

Debut FIT Show exhibitors who have signed up in recent weeks include bespoke metal door manufacturer, Strongdor and modular steel outbuildings manufacturer, Telluria. They’ll be joined by FIT Show first-timers ICB Fabrications, sustainable merchandise supplier, Media HUT, Checkatrade, the online portal for finding tradespeople and Solar Calibre Doors.

Returning brands to join the lineup include machinery experts, Emmegi who are joined by bespoke timber window, door and fire doorset manufacturer, West-Port Timber, window and door manufacturer, “We’re working hard behind the scenes on our learning programme, which is taking shape at pace. We’ll be delivering the very latest information about key industry issues, including presentations about the Approved Documents F, L & O covering the upcoming changes to Building Regulations, which are to come into force from 15th June.

“We’ll also have content that helps installers and fitters to do better business – from managing their supply chain and improving efficiencies through to growing their portfolios to increase profitability.

“Our focus from March onwards will include building on the fantastic visitor pre-registrations that we have already amassed over the last few months. We’re excited to start the visitor campaign in earnest ahead of welcoming our entire community back to the NEC in May.”

Win An iPad Each Day

At ODL Europe’s Stand At The FIT Show

Visitors to the ODL Europe stand at this year’s FIT Show will have a chance to win a 10.2-inch 64GB WiFi-enabled iPad each day. Andy Meakin, head of sales and customer services at ODL Europe, said: “We’re giving away an iPad because it’s a reflection of the quality we deliver as a business. Using an iPad on site visits makes a great impression on customers, not to mention reducing admin time because you enter information straight into the system. Plus, it is great for personal use too.”

To be in with a chance of winning the iPad, visitors to ODL Europe’s stand will choose a key and use it to try to unlock a special composite door. The person who selects the key that unlocks the door wins the prize. The promotion is running on each of the three days of the FIT Show.

As well as being in with a chance to win an iPad, visitors to ODL Europe’s stand will also be able to see the company’s vast range of composite door and specialist products. The cornerstone of the range is the Capstone composite door slab, which offers an outstanding pedigree. There is a huge range of composite door designs across contemporary, heritage, classic and specialist collections, many of which are exclusive to ODL Europe. Also on display will be a wide variety of unique decorative glass options that have all been carefully designed to work with the door styles, as well as a glazing cassette range that includes the TriSYS® system. Completing the line-up will be the Blink® Blinds + Glass.

Andy Meakin concluded: “We’re looking forward to showing visitors how ODL Europe can help secure a competitive advantage in the composite door market – and to the anticipation of seeing which mystery key unlocks our door too!”

Visitors to FIT Show 2022 can find the ODL Europe team on stand D11. www.europe.odl.com

Veka Recycling: ‘PVC-U Recycling Has Come A Long

Alex Hamilton

Veka Recycling is using the FIT Show to engage with installers, fabricators and other systems brands to communicate the importance of recycling PVC-U and how it can help sales and profits at every level of the supply chain: “Veka Recycling processes end-of-life PVC-U window and door frames irrespective of original manufacture,” says Alex Hamilton, the firm’s head of sales and marketing. “We need all the frames that we can get to put back into the system, especially new window and door profiles. And we also want to encourage installers not only to recycle old frames, but to understand the importance of doing so responsibly and through licenced recyclers. And of course, to use the fact that they are recycling their customers’ old frames to reassure them that the material is being used to make brand new products, including frames.”

Way Since The Last FIT Show’

Alex added: “So much has changed in PVC-U recycling even since the last FIT Show, including the opening of our new plant in Wellingborough and we want to talk to as many visitors as possible about how they can use recycling to close sales and add to their bottom lines, whatever level of the industry they operate at.”

Veka Recycling’s brand-new PVC-U recycling facility in Wellingborough opened at the end of 2020. It was built specifically for the re-processing of end-of-life PVC-U window and door frames, together with sending virgin offcut material back into the system. Significantly, the new plant allows the complete reprocessing of old frames in-house, with no further movement to other sites for refinement.

Do you sell Conservatories or Orangeries? Well, now RoofWright has brought the latest of its promised developments to market, the RoofWright Lite tablet app. At the touch of a button salespeople and installers now have a fully functioning design studio at their fingertips, and users are already seeing a noticeable rise in conversion rates. Operating from a tablet the new ‘Lite’ app offers users the opportunity to design and customise their proposals directly in front of the customer, allowing them to input into the process, and to see their dream home including all their personal preferences come to light right in front of their eyes.

New RoofWright Lite Tablet App wishes of the homeowner. Victorian? Double Edwardian? Lean-to? Users can choose the type of roof glazing, pitch, finials, doors and windows and more. They can give the homeowners the most realistic view of what their new room will look like. Just using the design features alone will dramatically improve sales conversion rates, but RoofWright Lite goes even further. Users can use their tablet to take a picture of the customer’s house and overlay the conservatory design they have just created to show them exactly how it will look when it’s installed. Speaking about the launch, Dave Blakeman, managing director of RPS Software who produce the programme said “RoofWright Lite is the latest in a long line of developments we are going to put into the market. We are on a really exciting journey which will also see us launch Augmented and Virtual Reality design software during 2022. We can’t wait to show our programmes at the FIT Show in May (Stand R65).” In the meantime, anybody who is interested in the RoofWright Lite app is invited to download the fully functioning dongle-free software for a trial. They can use it and love it for 14 days to see just what an impact it can make on their business. For more information visit https:// bit.ly/3sO3hXW

With a tap of your finger users can choose a Conservatory style then customise it to the exact

Emplas Gets Cyber Certified

before and after

Emplas has achieved Cyber Essentials Accreditation recognising the steps towards securing its IT systems against cyber-attack as part of a quarter of a million-pound investment in its IT systems.

The Government-backed National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) scheme is designed to support businesses in protecting themselves against cyber-attack including ransomware and viruses.

Following an eight-month programme of investment including a major upgrade of its network, servers, power supplies, virus software – and most importantly cultural change – Emplas was awarded the accreditation in December last year [2021].

Stuart Chadwick, head of IT, Emplas, said: “Our business and the service we offer to our customers is built around our IT infrastructure, connecting our portal EVA and the tools our customers access daily to our production systems, our factory floor and right through to distribution.

Stuart Chadwick

“Protecting that against a backdrop of a growing number of cyber-attacks, including many on our own industry, including us, is incredibly important in safeguarding our business and our customers’ supply chain.”

According to the NCSC 2021 annual review the number of ransomware attacks – where hackers extort organisations for the return of stolen data – was three times higher in the first quarter of 2021 than in the whole of 2019.

This included Emplas, which was among a high-profile window and door businesses to be targeted in a ransomware attack in March 2021.

Although contained within a 12hour period Emplas lost workstations and access to data, providing even more impetus to a programme which started in late 2020. The NCSC scheme provides a great framework through which press can be measured.

“Everything has been rebuilt from the ground-up. It’s new. Every server, every computer is running current anti-virus software, the latest versions of software and all the latest patches” Stuart said.

“The cultural change has been equally as important. We have far better password discipline, two factor authentication, automatic locking of computers. Colleagues now constantly demonstrate alertness to threats such as email attachments etc.

“It’s about striking a balance between not inconveniencing people or putting things in the way so that IT becomes an obstacle versus the need for high levels of security.

“The Cyber Essentials Scheme is very useful in working through things in a very practical way while delivering a step change in security.”

According to figures from the NCSC Cyber Essentials accredited certified companies cut their risk of cyber-attack by 98.5%.