In this issue...
A fresh approach to ventilation Page 2
Aluminating the way forward Page 3
Premium price lockdown Page 3
Right Royal Flair! A warm welcome to the very first issue of On Point – Window Ware’s bi-annual bulletin packed with up to the minute news and information to keep you in the know and thoroughly kitted out with the latest and greatest hardware products, not to mention the very best supply service.
New Regal Hardware proves heritage handles aren’t just for period properties.
This February saw the unveiling of our brand-new range of key-lockable heritage style window handles, pegs and matching stays from Regal Hardware. In this article, On Point looks at what makes this collection unique and talks to two fabricators currently using Regal Hardware to differentiate their offering and respond to market needs.
Breaking the mould Due to profile incompatibility, traditional-style ironmongery has historically been limited to use on flush sash windows commonly installed in period properties. Regal Hardware changes all that! These authentic-looking monkey tail and pear drop handles are designed to work brilliantly on both flush casements AND 70mm standard profiles – the mainstay of modern homes.
So far 2018 has been a whirlwind of awards and product launches for the Window Ware crew! This newsletter gives us a chance to take stock of a terrific year and to highlight to our readers all the product developments we think address emerging trends in the industry and have the potential to fulfil their most pressing hardware needs. From a budget-friendly SBD-certified security window lock and a Yale Lockmaster multipoint lock built just for bi-folds, to heritage window hardware that fits modern 70mm profiles, we’ve listened to what our customers really want and brought new products onboard that fit the bill. What’s more, these brilliant products come backed by our renowned customer service which recently earned us an SME Bedfordshire Business Award and a place as a G18 Awards finalist!
Customers can take their pick from nine distinctive finishes, offering ample choice for homeowners looking to put a personal stamp on their properties.
Don’t forget, if you want to keep up with Window Ware news as it happens, check out our blog at www. windowware.co.uk/news. Alternatively, why not follow us on social media or join our mailing list to be first in line for special offers, technical updates and product releases. Sign up now at www.windowware.co.uk/signup. In the meantime, happy reading!
Since the launch, we’ve seen encouraging interest from fabricators looking to strengthen their product offering. Continued on page 2
Braced for Brexit
Sam Nuckey Managing Director
Window Ware voted UK’s best hardware supplier by YOU! In a recent industry survey, Window Ware was named the UK’s favourite hardware supplier! The independent study, conducted earlier this year by Insight Data, questioned a broad spectrum of door and window professionals across the country about their supplier preferences. Respondents told interviewers, they look for a supplier that can offer great relationships, staff expertise, fast response times and quality products. And when it came down to who they believed was the best, Window Ware was the clear winner! That’s brilliant news! Window Ware works hard to put customers at the heart of everything it does, so it’s great to see those efforts have paid off and earned us the enviable reputation as the country’s No1. fenestration hardware supplier.
Autumn 2018
Discover what we’re doing to ensure your hardware supply won’t suffer when we split from Europe. In response to recent customer queries, On Point would like to share with you Window Ware’s preparation plans for Brexit and reassure you that the team is taking every precaution to mitigate the risk of future supply issues should a no-deal result be reached. As a multi-brand distributor, we are in regular contact with all the key players in the market and this has afforded us considerable insight into how they intend to manage potential supply chain challenges. We’ll be working together closely ahead of Brexit to secure essential stock for our customers and maintain our reliable next-day service. We’ve already placed orders for those products which have longer lead times and built in contingency to allow for any delays post Brexit. Future-proofing our inventory and supply will remain the priority of our purchasing team throughout the next few months. Rest
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BREXIT 29.03.2019 assured, having to cushion supply shortages for our customers is by no means new to us. In fact, over this past year, we’ve successfully managed to maintain high outbound service levels despite product delays from some of the market’s biggest brands. We’ve become experts at correctly identifying when and where buffer stock is required to guarantee critical quantities and ensure fabrication lines are kept moving.
01234 242724
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Hero to the rescue! Mila’s newest range of essential hardware saves the day for price-sensitive fabricators We’ve always known that price and product quality are key factors for fabricators when buying window and door fittings, regardless of the scale of production. A recent independent industry study carried out by Insight Data on behalf of Window Ware only served to verify this assumption. The results confirmed our customers want high-spec, industrystandard products that do the job, look great and last but they don’t want to pay over the odds. With profit margins being continually squeezed due to increased competition in the market, fluctuating exchange rates and rising raw material costs, this has placed even greater emphasis on finding the ideal balance of price and product quality.
That’s where the new hero range comes to the rescue. Specifically designed by the experts at award-winning hardware manufacturer, Mila, this cost-conscious collection of window and door handles provides fabricators with highvolume hardware essentials they can rely on to meet the latest performance, quality and testing standards at the best possible price.
Hardware with a handle on high volume Every hero product boasts sleek styling, brilliant features (like the easy-fit patented slide-on colour-coordinated screw cover caps), surface finish guarantees and a 10-year mechanical guarantee as standard. Intelligent packaging, clever design and careful material specification not only serve to keep costs low, but also cut waste, reduce damage in transit, and optimise deliveries and stock holding for fabricators. The range includes inline and offset left- and right-handed key-lockable espagnolette window handles, plus a long backplate door handle available in lever/ lever or lever/pad combinations. All items come in 5 popular finishes to appeal to most tastes including, white, black, polished chrome, satin silver and gold. What’s more, these products are available in box, carton and pallet quantities to accommodate every scale of production.
Right Royal Flair! Going down a storm at Design Windows
Adding authenticity at Dekko Window Systems
One of our first adopters of Regal Hardware is Essex-based fabricator, Design Windows. Their sales reps have taken to the road each armed with a smart-looking sample case. Production manager, Robin Funnel, reckons the demo boxes do a great job of selling the product and showcasing the different handle styles and finishes. He says, “They allow prospective customers to get ‘hands-on’ with the product, so they can see and feel the quality for themselves.”
Premium fabricator, Dekko Window Systems, has chosen Regal Hardware to enhance the heritage appeal of their popular uPVC Infinity Flush Sash casements. Sales Director, Kurt Greatrex explained, “Infinity is designed to not only meet the demands of the market but also provide customers with a high-end flush sash that is capable of providing a contemporary solution for luxury new-build projects and an accurate timber replacement in period properties.”
It’s a practical approach which seems to be working for Design Windows, as they’ve recently taken their first order. Robin said, “Our customers really like that these handles can be locked by a standard key, rather than a fiddly Allan key which is often employed by this traditional type of fastener. The inclusion of a dummy window peg is another unique selling point which helps to broaden application and increase appeal.” www.design-windows.co.uk
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Sleek styling & easy-fit screw cap covers 10-year painted surface and mechanical guarantee Cost conscious Keep your quotes competitive & win contracts
www.dekkowindows.com
A fresh approach to ventilation Big on airflow; small on aggravation, Glazpart breaks the mould on traditional trickle vents Creating a trickle vent that ticks the boxes of architects, fabricators, installers AND homeowners alike is a big ask, but that’s exactly what the engineers at Glazpart set out to achieve when they began designing their newest through-frame window vent – the Link Vent MK2 2500 – which arrived in the Window Ware warehouse earlier this year.
Thumbs-up from the trade For fabricators and architects who are struggling to satisfy building regulations on room ventilation, the Link Vent MK2500 provides a fail-safe solution. Each vent is LABC approved & guaranteed to meet the minimum requirements of Part F1: 2010 of building regulations. Window manufacturers and fitters can also wave goodbye to fiddly installation and the long leadtimes often associated with sourcing coloured window vents. The Link Vent MK 2500 can be clipfitted in seconds (or screw fitted if you prefer) plus the unique design does away with end caps, so that’s
Trickle vents that tick all your boxes! Handles that tick all your boxes!
“Regal Hardware extends the quality and the heritage aesthetics of our Infinity Flush Sash offering and presents an even stronger opportunity for our customers to win new business. What’s more, partnering with Window Ware has been a great fit for us with our shared passion for quality and customer service.”
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Reduced routing prep Fast, flexible fitting options Guaranteed to meet building regs Same airflow as vents twice the size Huge choice of finishes
one less component to break or lose. The impressive 2500 EQA is also delivered through a small 204 mm x 13 mm slot, which helps to reduce routing time and cut waste. As for solving sourcing headaches, the Link Vent MK 2500 comes in a wide choice of colours from stock, including on-trend tones such as Chartwell Green and Anthracite Grey, as well as black, brown, tan, cream and white. And there’s an even bigger range of plain or realistic woodgrain finishes available to order without lengthy turnaround times or unwieldy minimum order quantities.
Contented occupants Despite its unique compact, aerodynamic design which protrudes just 25mm from the frame, the Link Vent MK2 2500 manages to achieve the same airflow performance of a vent twice its size. That’s great news for homeowners who don’t want to interrupt the sleek lines of their stylish new windows. The firmseal closure plate is not only super easy to use, it also shuts out rain and draughts as well as reduces noise by 51 Db when closed – satisfaction guaranteed for even the most discerning, sensitive resident! The Link Vent MK2 2500 delivers a winning formula of choice, performance, aesthetics and convenience, creating a go-to trickle vent capable of meeting most ventilation requirement even on premium profiles and custom finishes.
Premium price lockdown! New Sinidex security window lock delivers PAS24 & SBD certified performance at a price that’s right Offering impressive security and quality credentials without the steep price tag, the new Sinidex twin cam window lock – just arrived at Window Ware – provides window fabricators with a cost-effective way to upgrade the security of their products even when margins are tight.
keep alignment during assembly. With options to suit most PVCu windows, the lock is available with 20 or 22mm backsets, 7.7 or 9mm mushroom cams, and an expanding range of security keeps to fit popular profiles.
In a bid to offer our customers MORE of the products they really want, Window Ware has just added two new aluminium product ranges to its portfolio. These include industry-leading Caldwell folding openers (of which we’ve been appointed an official distributor) plus Duco bespoke louvre vents.
High-tech & hassle-free
CALDWELL
Sinidex’s cutting-edge twin floating mushroom technology and self-locating keeps help to guide the cams into optimum position to reduce component wear, increase tolerances and ensure the lock engages firmly every time with ease even if the sash drops by up to 6.5mm! That should mean fewer call backs for installers and happier homeowners.
Caldwell’s versatile aluminium folding openers
can be fitted to most timber, PVC-U, aluminium, steel and composite windows to provide flexible, secure locking and ventilation solutions for a range of casement configurations including outward opening and top hung applications, plus bottom hung window vent designs and more. In addition, these folding openers work equally well on fully reversible and pivot windows.
The Sinidex security window lock is a cinch to fit too, as it conveniently fits a standard espag rout and rods come ready marked to aid
Duco louvre vents
New Lockmaster for bi-folds is the business! Yale brings its best-selling multipoint locking technology to bi-fold doors
Quality is a given Quality-made in Britain, the newest member of the Lockmaster® family offers everything you’d expect from Yale’s best-selling lock including: • Hook and anti-lift pins, a deadbolt centre and pre-compression roller cams for superior security, slick operation, robustness and optimal weather sealing.
With our latest range of highly-specified aluminum folding openers & louvre vents We’ve seen a definite shift towards aluminium products among fabricators and installers looking to meet increasing consumer demand for slim sightlines, modern aesthetics and premium performance. What’s more, that growth is likely to ‘reach a 17-year high by 2020’ according to recent figures released by Palmer Market Research.
This brand-new twin cam window lock, developed by leading manufacturer Cotswold, is both PAS24 and Secured by Design approved to afford customers every possible crime-busting assurance. It’s also corrosion tested to EN1670: Grade 4 and backed by a 10-year guarantee, proving this lock is designed to last despite its budget-friendly price tag.
Lockmaster loyalists will love the latest addition to the Window Ware range – a new slim 28mm backset Yale Lockmaster® multipoint lock, which is specially designed to fit the narrow sight lines of modern aluminium bifold doors. The lock comes in two variants: a standard 16mm euro groove option which fits Smarts and Exlabesa profiles, plus a 24mm u-channel model to suit AluK aluminium systems.
Aluminating the way forward
• Rigorous quality and security assurances. The locks are PAS 24: 2016 compliant, corrosion resistant to BS EN 1670: 2007 Grade 4, and protected by a 10-year mechanical guarantee and Lifetime Security Guarantee. The UK fenestration market has seen a huge growth in bi-fold doors, and according to Palmer’s Domestic Glazing 2017 report, that business is only set to increase by up to 28% over the next 3 years. By bringing on board this new product, Window Ware are primed and ready to support door manufacturers with a comprehensive choice of industry-leading bi-fold hardware capable of meeting rising demand head-on.
by air management specialists RW Simon are custom designed to provide intensive ventilation primarily in non-domestic buildings. Precision-manufactured from strong extruded aluminium, they come with a wide range of blade types and frame choices, which make them perfect for integrating into window systems or installing separately as stand-alone louvres.
These two new product ranges are just part of our wider aluminium growth plans. Earlier this year, we introduced a new slim back set version of Yale’s popular Lockmaster multi-point door lock which is designed to work specifically with Smarts, Exlabesa and AluK profiles. Team this with Yale’s platinum 3* Euro profile cylinder and stainless-steel door handle and you’ve got a super-secure bi-fold locking system. We’ll be bringing more products to the mix to enhance our current range of locks, handles, hinges, and airflow solutions like RW Simon’s TTF Slimline through-frame vent, which are all specifically designed for aluminium bi-folds and casements to meet our customers emerging hardware requirements.
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Meet our Area Sales Team
Going the extra smile
Window Ware customers always get the personal touch!
When it comes to wowing customers, we’ve got credentials!
A seasoned crew of dedicated area sales managers brings convenient, timely, local sales support direct to the door, while expert phone sales assistance is provided by a capable team of experienced internal sales advisors back at our Bedford base. Each ASM works closely with their designated office-based counterpart to offer customers in their region regular, reliable twin points of contact to take care of every hardware requirement and ensure there's always someone to answer your query.
Say “h-alu” to Richard Fraser Richard Fraser joined the Window Ware sales team in the summer as our new Business Development Manager for aluminium products. He comes to us from Building Profiles Ltd and brings over 30 years’ experience of providing quality window and door hardware solutions. He’ll be looking after customers across the country who specialise in aluminium fabrication and liasing with aluminium system houses to develop a range of compatible products.
Products are just part of the perfect supplier equation. Quality tools or hardware can easily be let down by late deliveries, inaccurate or missing orders and unhelpful sales staff. As one of the UK’s leading hardware suppliers, we want our customers to be able to speak highly of, not just our competitively-priced and comprehensive product range, but also our experienced, friendly sales teams, our top-notch delivery service and our accommodating processes. It’s exactly these kinds of attributes which we think create close working relationships, build trust, encourage recommendations and keep customers coming back again and again. We could write reams about the systems and methods we use to ensure our customers get the very best purchase experience every time, but we know it’s the results that really matter. And we’re only too pleased to provide our customers with definitive proof that tells them their hardware orders are safe with us. Here are the facts… Reliable deliveries – Every month so far this year, we’ve achieved over 97% OTIF (orders received on time and in full). This proves you can count on Window Ware to get the tools and products you need to you just when you need them almost every time.
Left to right: Tim Plant, Karl Williamson, Demi Whitbread, Richard Adams, George Esler, Dan Gilson
Tim Plant – Bristol-born Tim shares with customers in the West Midlands, South West of England and Wales the benefit of experience gained during 30 years in the fenestration industry. There isn’t much he doesn’t know about the manufacturing and production of windows.
Richard Adams – our longest-serving ASM, Richard (a.k.a. Rick) has looked after customers for us in the South East for almost two decades, so he really knows his stuff!
Karl Williamson – works across the country delivering a specialist service to trade counters and stockists for our range of tools and consumables. Having worked as both a fitter and a fabricator in the past, Karl knows what window and door professionals really want.
George Esler – armed with vast technical knowledge and 23+ years’ experience in the door and window industry, George delivers the very best support and advice to our customers in the north of the country.
Demi Whitbread – has worked her way up through the company over the last six years to command her current position as area sales manager for the Home Counties and Central England. Demi's primary passion is always her customers.
Dan Gilson – this year, Dan celebrated five years working for Window Ware. Dan strives to meet each and every hardware need of customers in East Anglia and the Midlands.
Satisfied customers – Half of our customers have traded with us for 10 years or longer. What’s more, we’re rated as excellent on TrustPilot with an average score of 9/10 or higher based on more than 670 reviews! Voted No1 – In a recent independent study conducted by Insight Data, Window Ware was named the UK’s best hardware supplier! According to respondents, we came out on top thanks to great relationships, staff expertise, quick response times & excellent product quality. Award-winning Service – Window Ware recently won the Service Excellence category in the 2018 SME Bedfordshire Business Awards and became a finalist for customer care initiative in the G18 Awards.
Our customers get the last word We’ll leave our parting words for this issue to our customers and brand partners who will tell you in their own words why it’s great to work with “The sales team are always friendly, personable and Window Ware! knowledgeable, and on the rare occasion there's a problem with an order, they will go out of their way to put things right!” "We can still count on Window Ware to deliver cracking service, competitive prices, and have the leading brands we like..." Scott Law - Managing Director Express Trade Frames Ltd
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Lee Matassa - Purchasing Manager Thermaseal Windows Systems Ltd
“...top-level performance to fulfil our customers' needs.” Kevin Whiting - Managing Director MACO Door & Window Hardware (UK) Ltd
"With a solid reputation as a respected distributor, our decision to work with Window Ware was a no-brainer!" Paul Atkinson - Sales & Commercial Director Yale Door and Window Solutions
Window Ware , Telford Way, Cross Park, Bedford MK42 0PQ Sales: 01234 242724 | Trade Counter: 01234 242734
L to R: Robert Vaughan, Laura Mooney, Beverley Matthews, Nick Goodier
www.windowware.co.uk