glass news october 2015

For the second consecutive year, GGF Members’ Day was resounding success as 130 delegates filled Glaziers Hall, London on 1 September for a day of presentations, launches, awards and networking for GGF Members.

Brian Baker, GGF President commented, “It was honour and pleasure to co-host such a memorable occasion. I was particularly pleased to see so many of my fellow Members enjoying themselves and taking advantage of the many networking opportunities throughout the day. With a ranges of diverse speakers and interesting topics combined with Member engagement, this year’s Members’ Day proved to be one of the best ever GGF events.”

Nigel Rees, GGF Group Chief Executive added, “I was delighted with the success of this year’s Members’ Day and the feedback we have received from Members so far has been very positive. Our speakers and more importantly our Members have made it a truly memorable occasion.”

The second GGF Members’ Day consisted of a strong line up of keynote speakers from the worlds of politics, retail, broadcasting, market research, government and the public sector.

Lord Redesdale, former energy spokesman for the Liberal Democrat Party, opened the event with a speech on the energy sector and the issues that will affect the UK’s energy consumption in the future. This was followed by the first part of the conference which was focused on consumer issues with keynote speaker, Clare Rayner, the Retail Champion and television business commentator, delivering a thought provoking presentation on the way consumers are evolving and how businesses need to adapt to embrace the “new consumer” and meet their growing expectations.

Brian Smith, GGF Director of Home Improvement then presented the GGF’s consumer offering, highlighting the success of the GGF Conciliation Scheme and how consumer facing Members should use the unrivalled GGF Deposit Indemnity scheme to gain greater consumer confidence. In addition, Brian also explained the new GGF Consumer Code of Practice which all Members must adhere to.

Continued on page 4...

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BUSINESS & MARKETING

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3www.glassnews.co.uk | October 2015

OcTObER 2015The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper

A lot of activity this month and, amongst the many visits, two happened to be GGF events. The Members Day at the Glazier’s Hall in London was well organised and had a good variety of speakers on a number of salient subjects. I really think the GGF got it right. Short speaking slots such that some 7 speakers covered the pre-coffee break session of 90 minutes and another 4 in the 60 minute session before lunch. It meant that each speaker was well received and no boredom or yawns from the audience.

Of the many speakers, Lord Redesdale kicked it off well with an amusing delivery and plenty of digs at his fellow politicians and, of the others, Robert Palmer of Palmer Research with his ‘state of the nation’ talk and forecast for the future, stood out, as did GK Strategies’ Ethan Spibey who demonstrated his knowledge of the political arena.

All very interesting and worthwhile, as was James Lee’s presentation of GGF’s new public facing MyGlazing.com website. I thought there may have been more there but that may have had something to do with taking place the day after a Bank Holiday, although GGF’s James Lee made it quite clear to me that I was the only one a bit niggled at having to travel to London on a Bank Holiday Monday to be in place for the starting time!

The other event was GGF’s 25th Anniversary Annual Golf Tournament, held at Heron’s Reach, Blackpool. Well organised, well attended and the sun shone on the righteous. 32 players represented 18 different companies and a good time was had by all, and one to put in your diary for next year.

And talking of dates for the diary and, specifically golf, Dave Richardson of

Diamond Windows in Leeds contacted me to ask for some publicity for a very special Golf Event in aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust. It takes place on Friday 16 September 2016 at 12 noon, Cookridge Hall Golf Club, Leeds LS16 7NL. It’s am/am 3/4 handicap with 2 out of 4 to count. Entry fee is £150 per team of 4 with coffee and bacon sandwiches included on arrival and a post-event BBQ. There’s trophies and over £10,000 of goodies to be won and all for a very worthy cause. If interested, contact Dave on 07713 507298.

On to slightly more serious things and Document Q is upon us. Document Q comes into force on October 1, from when all doors and windows which offer direct access into new homes must meet official standards offering greater security to householders and reducing the risk of opportunistic break-ins. We have had a number of press releases from companies regarding Document Q and its implications and it’s worth thumbing through this edition of Glass News as a number of innovative solutions are available for specific applications.

There’s a nice buzz developing around the industry with FIT 2016 not being that far way. Many of the companies I have visited are already making plans for this industry event and I’m hoping that this augers well for our industry despite Robert Palmer’s rather depressing warning at the GGF Members Meeting of a flattening out of growth and maybe even a slight contraction in business heading into 2016.

Lots of good things happening in our industry but a warning from paLmer research

Chris

Got SomethinG to Say? Email Chris at: [email protected]

dOORS! See page 10

4 Front Cover Story4 Orangeries6 Conservatories10 Doors20 Windows26 Installer Focus32 Hardware36 Glass News Interview:

Brisant38 Women In Business40 Case Study41 Trade News68 Glass News Interview:

Avantis70 Voice Of The Industry72 G15 Awards

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FRONT cOVER STORY ORANGERIES

having only recently been introduced to the industry, interest in the new Built in Blind from oDL europe is already high, ahead of its official launch at this year’s first Build Show.

Mark Towers, Managing Director at ODL Europe explains: “We have had a great response so far from fabricators and installers looking to add value to high selling items such as

conservatories, orangeries, and bi-folding, French and patio doors. The great thing about the Built in Blind is that it can be custom sized for any requirement, making it ideal for exactly these applications.”

Manufactured in the UK, the Built in Blind is a cordless, integral blind system, which can be fitted at point of fabrication or installation. Unlike external window coverings, these blinds are protected internally from damage and dust, and have fingertip control and UV-stable slats. Crucially, they are also completely cord free by design, as recommended by child safety requirements of EN13120:2009+A1:2014, offering the safest solution for homes with small children.

“As well as the sellable consumer benefits,” continues Mark, “our fabricator and installer customers tell us that the assurance of UK manufacture by a company with 10+ years of experience in innovation, quality and added value - the same company which pioneered the TriSys glazing cassette for composite doors – was a major selling point. The glass units containing the blind meet EN 1279 standards and are available gas filled and with low-E glass for maximum thermal efficiency. What’s more, the blind is compatible with all profile systems, so whether you work with PVC-U, aluminium or timber, you can benefit. Point of sale material and training can be provided to those who require it, and we invite anyone who would like to see for themselves the benefits on offer to visit us on Stand B4/317 at the Build Show.”

If you would like more information about Built in Blinds by ODL Europe call: 0151 933 0299 or visit: www.odleurope.com.

INTEREST HIGH in the buiLt in bLind by odL europe

Continued from page 1...

At the end of the consumer presentations, James Lee, Head of Group Marketing provided a preview of the GGF’s new consumer website, myglazing.com and outlined the overarching objectives behind what was described as being “one of the most exciting projects ever undertaken by the GGF.”

James added, “MyGlazing.com will provide an online platform for the GGF and its Members to engage directly with consumers. The GGF trade site is visited by over one hundred thousand consumers each year and MyGlazing.com aims to communicate with homeowners in consumer-friendly language. Ultimately the new site aims to help consumers make the right choice for their glazing home improvements. The new site will also re-direct homeowners to GGF Members using the myglazing.com directory.

Other Member’s Day highlights included a presentation by Robert Palmer of Palmer Market Research on the state of the market, an update from GK Strategy on the GGF’s political campaigns and in the afternoon, presentations from seven Chairmen of the GGF specialist groups.

Finally, it was a very special day for one Member as GGF President, Brian Baker

accepted a special award on behalf of his company, Saint-Gobain to commemorate their 350th anniversary.

Nigel Rees commented, “The GGF felt it was only appropriate to make this gesture as Saint- Gobain is the oldest brand in our industry and have contributed so much to the GGF and the industry over many years. It

is particularly fitting that Brian as President accepted the award as his work with the GGF on so many fronts has been and still is exemplary.”

Brian commented, “It was a genuine privilege to accept this award to mark the 350th birthday of Saint-Gobain. It is extra special to accept it as GGF President on an occasion such as Members Day. On behalf of all at Saint-Gobain, sincere thanks to the GGF for this award.”

For further information go to: www.ggf.org.uk.

READER ENQUIRY NO: 1015/0003

ethan Spibey, GK Strategy. GGF President, Brian Baker. Lord Redesdale.

“myglazing.com will provide an online platform for the ggf and its members to engage directly with consumers. the ggf trade site is visited by over one hundred thousand consumers each year and myglazing.com aims to communicate with homeowners in consumer-friendly language.”


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cONSERVATORIES The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper

get our element of the job done to the client’s satisfaction.”

Aztec uniquely foils every component of its roof. The Aztec foiling process uses state-of-the-art technology, giving a consistent, durable, scratch resistant finish. The design of Aztec’s roof components means every element can be efficiently foiled through three dimensions- even the complex crests, caps and finials. As a result, a coloured Aztec roof delivers complete uniformity with every element of the roof perfectly matching, even in a woodgrain finish.

Complete external foiling is just one of Aztec’s unique features, which combine to make it the biggest independent conservatory roof system on the market. The system was developed by conservatory installers to overcome the

common issues faced in fabrication and fitting; as a result, the roof is simpler and faster to create and build- independent testing shows a 30% saving in time in the factory and on site.

As well as offering a roof with a raft of unique features, Aztec offers its fabricators unique benefits- including guaranteed areas of work without competition and no business taken direct. As a result, Aztec (www.aztecsystems.net) is now the leading independent conservatory roof systems company.


The performance standards and colour diversity of the ambience roof glass range from tuffX, combined with the company’s excellent support services continues to be a winning combination for many customers. The combination of high performance u-values, excellent solar control and design possibilities across the range continue to stimulate the conservatory roof glass market.

Andy Hayes, Sales Manager at Ambience believes that benefits of the portfolio including 82% Solar Heat Reflection with true self-cleaning coatings as well as a wide variety of tint options in up to 4000mm in length, continue to give the company a major leading edge.

Despite fluctuations in the conservatory industry over the years many TuffX customers have flourished, through inspiring design possibilities and the ability to offer year round living at a realistic price, to consumers who want premium living at affordable costs.

Andy Hayes comments, “Our customers are extremely selective regarding suppliers as they rely heavily upon dedicated Customer Service, performance and reliability to help further substantiate their business.

Greater performance guarantees, size and tint choices gives our customers business prestige, demonstrating our commitment to help them build stronger reputations for quality and reliability.”

He continues, “We care about our customers business, understanding both technical and physical aspects of the job. Completed Ambience projects look impressive, irrespective of size and this is reflected in the innovative approach we take with performance and diversity.

Consumers have grasped the dynamic design options they have open to them which not only improve their every day lifestyles but add to their property values.”

For more information on the broad range of products from the Ambience range please visit the website: www.ambiglass.co.uk or call 0845 3 400 200.

AMbIENcE cONTINuES TO WEATHER STORMS

in a series of exclusive previews, Ultraframe has revealed its latest campaign to support the continued growth of its network partners with the launch of The Range and the extensionPlus Collection, backed by striking, high Street-style, marketing tools.

With the most comprehensive roof range in the market today, Ultraframe has matched this market-leading position with the development of a suite of marketing tools that will enable its network partners to easily position its glazed extension range alongside a unique, yet consumer-friendly, thermal performance rating.

Ultraframe marketing director Steve McIntyre explains the background to this consumer-friendly approach: “Since we launched Loggia back in 2012 we made a firm commitment to our network partners that we would bring to market the most

thermally advanced roof systems, developed in line with detailed consumer insight. We’ve delivered on that promise with the development of LivinROOF, RealROOF and our most recent addition UltraSky – it’s now time to give our network partners powerful marketing tools to support the sales process.”

In response, Ultraframe has launched three core ranges, reflecting the broad needs of todays consumers – from cost-conscious home owners looking for a simple conservatory, right through to consumers looking for a fully-loaded, Building Regulations compliant extension.

The range is divided into three categories – Conservatory, Orangery and the ExtensionPlus Collection. The Conservatory Collection comprises two core designs including the Alston and the Houghton. The Orangery Collection

comprises the Portland, Hadleigh and Winchester and the ExtensionPlus Collection includes the Mottramplus, a glass roofed extension, Harlingtonplus, a solid/glazed LivinROOF extension and Tattonplus a real tiled roof extension all preapproved to comply with building regulations.

Each system clearly shows the Thermal Performance Rating enabling consumers to choose a system not only based on aesthetics but also allowing for an informed choice based on actual in-use performance.

As Steve explains, this rating allows retailers to use thermal performance as a clear upselling opportunity: “we’re supremely conscious that we’ve given our network partners a lot to work with over the last three years and now it’s about providing clear, consumer-friendly marketing tools that enable our network partners to clearly and easily differentiate each system.”

uLtraframe uses ‘high street’ approach to Launch the range & extension coLLection pLus


Thinking outside the box has delivered a ‘wonderful’ solution to uniting a £0.5m refurbishment and expansion at a Wirral nursing home.

Hoylake Cottage wanted to upgrade its century-old main original cottage hospital building, to improve the facilities and services available to older people in the area, including specialist services for those with dementia. The site layout meant the two buildings needed to be linked in some way, to allow dry access between the two for staff and clients, but the buildings were not directly aligned. Local conservatory roof fabricator CRS devised a quick and impactful solution- a glazed link corridor with two side sections.

The main roof is 12.5m long x 1.9m wide, with the two end sections being 6m and 4m respectively, all fabricated out of the Aztec conservatory roof system, with a golden oak exterior and white interior.

“It looks wonderful, it blends in nicely with its surroundings and was built very quickly as we had an Open Day arranged where the local community was invited to see the new facilities,” explained Hoylake Cottage chief executive Linda Cooke. “The link corridor means staff and clients can move between both buildings, and enjoy views of the garden en-route, with the added bonus of not getting wet!”

Added CRS’ Dave Frost, “The main contractor had been let down by his original roof supplier and was having problems because of the completion date coinciding with the Open Day. The Aztec system can accommodate even complicated designs, so we knew we could build the design easily enough. We then just re-organised our workload so we could accommodate time constraints and

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cONSERVATORIES The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper

The dynamics in the conservatory sector have fundamentally changed over the last decade, from the number of players throughout the supply chain to the number of new value added products launched. Chris Cooke of Prefix Systems explains the rationale.

The numerous small conservatories that once dominated the market in previous decades are now long gone and we’re now faced with a modern market for glazed extensions. We’ve seen several systems companies go by the wayside or quietly fade into the background, while the number of companies manufacturing conservatory roofs has fallen significantly. This is to the point where there is now less than ten businesses holding the important BBA Accreditation, or other quality standard, for roof fabrication.

The structure of the market has clearly changed, although this hasn’t hampered product development and the evolvement of the PVCu conservatory and related accessories. Complexity and average sizes have increased there has been a notable rise in the number of large-span openings created in conservatory designs. Homeowners quite simply have been seduced by the grandeur of bi-folding doors and the newer large span lift and slide patio doors, which have also had an effect on overall conservatory design.

These large openings presented us with the opportunity to develop our dedicated Bi-Span kits, which add further structural integrity at the eaves level over the openings to minimise

deflection and were one of our first forays into our own product development programme. This business process has also realised Retro-Fix posts for the replacement conservatory roof market and more recently our insulated, structurally proven tiled GardenRoom roof solution.

A decade has passed since polycarbonate suppliers were kings of the roofing materials with a market share in excess of 80% and yet today the roles have been reversed. We are in fact now installing more glass conservatory roofs than ever before, a surprising yet welcome statistic and we can now offer a single delivery for all elements above eaves height.

Considering that the market for specialist solar control conservatory roof glass is only really a decade old, we can see real innovation at work as there have been considerable developments over this short period of time from a technical perspective. U-values have

come down, solar control properties have improved, new tints have been launched, true self-cleaning properties have emerged and now warm edge technology is standard by and large, yet there are some highly exciting new technologies that are imminent.

Yet one of not the most exciting developments since the launch of the solar control glass for conservatory roofs has been the recent innovation of glass specifically for conservatory windows and doors and we’re proud to be one of the first companies in the UK to offer this.

Typical replacement windows are designed with an element of solar heat gain, something clearly unwanted in a conservatory environment and so this new range of glass is designed to combat solar heat gain and at the same time offer other upgraded features. These include increased security through laminated glass, 98% UV reduction to

protect furnishings and a true self-cleaning coating. We as an industry should be offering specialist glass for the entire conservatory, it provides us all with better sales opportunities and ultimately offers the homeowner a better and more temperate environment all year round by balancing roof and side frame glass.

In addition to the advances in glass, the appearance of conservatories has evolved with the introduction of the Orangery look and feel, yet at a fraction of the cost thanks to products such as the LivinRoom perimeter ceiling, which was the first of its kind and an important upgrade for style conscious homeowners, equally matched with the Cornice gutter shroud. We’re also seeing an increase in the number of brick piers in conservatories, which help make the conservatory compliment the fabric of the house rather than just an add-on. The development of our Residence 9 complete conservatory is also an important landmark as, when harnessed with the best solar control glass in the UK market, this represents the pinnacle for energy efficiency.

Given the life cycle of the conservatory market, it seems no surprise that the replacement market has become increasingly important as we see second time buyers looking for the new developments highlighted above or even for an insulated tiled roof such as our own proven GardenRoom development.

The dynamics within the conservatory sector and the new products we see have changed and evolved considerably over the last decade and I firmly believe that the market for glass roofed conservatories and the latest product upgrades will help satisfy consumer demand for the decade that awaits us.

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dOORS The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper

anyone in any doubt about blending contemporary styling into a traditional surrounding need only ask Paul Vajda. he’s one of apeer’s R&D engineers who not only worked on the original designs for the company’s modo contemporary door collection but has also had one installed into his own home in Ballymena, where it suits the traditional dormer bungalow style perfectly.

The modern composite door with its feature stainless steel glazing trim, contrasted by the choice of Chartwell green, gives the home a distinctive look compared with others in the area.

“The door is quite unique,” said Paul, “It is completely flush with a very contemporary feel that I really like. It also has a large glazed area so lets a lot of light into the hallway.”

Apeer Marketing Manager Linda Tomb added: “Paul’s choice makes the point perfectly that the clean lines of a contemporary door can look just as much at home in any surrounding whatever the style and vintage of the building. Paul’s home is a perfect example but there are many others, as many of our trade customers can testify.

The Modo collection is based on the popular Apeer70 composite door range and so offers the same assurance of weather resistance, energy efficiency and security. Apeer70 comes in two collections, Traditional

and Contemporary. Modo is a premium contemporary variant featuring the distinctive stainless steel glazing trim as an alternative to the more usual GRP trim.

Paul and his R&D colleagues are one reason why Apeer has kept ahead of the market through a string of innovative product launches, starting in 2003 with the best double rebate GRP composite door available, all the way to this year’s launch of the radically different seamless Lumi window and door system. Lumi, the brainchild of Apeer’s visionary Managing Director Asa McGillian has already proved to be a showstopper at its unveiling at Grand Designs Live in London with a repeat performance at the Birmingham event.

Further information at: www.apeer.co.uk/doors/modo-door-collection.

With the october deadline for Part Q compliance upon us, fast growing composite door manufacturer DooRCo is pleased to state that it has passed the latest round of security testing at Bm tRaDa with flying colours.

Whilst the company is naturally delighted with the results, they came as no real surprise, as DOORCO has been ready for the amended standard for some time, following an investment programme more than two years ago which focused on the production of a new breed of composite door. This new door design provides ultimate flexibility for the customer as it enables multiple door styles to be created from one design, but crucially, it also incorporates improved security features which stand up to the new standards.

Under the revised Part Q, either the PAS24:12 standard or Secured by Design accreditation covering the enhanced security of windows and doors becomes mandatory for anyone working on dwellings which are considered new build or conversion projects. Doors and windows must be able to resist physical attack by a casual or opportunist burglar in order to meet these standards. To do this they must be both robust and be fitted with appropriate hardware, which is true of the DOORCO range.

Dan Sullivan, Managing Director at DOORCO explains: “At DOORCO we pride

ourselves on being at the forefront of product quality and innovation, and the DOORCO door range, including fire doors, is one of the few foam filled composite door ranges which can pass key/key and key/thumb tests. It has done so numerous times at countless test centres, without fail. Our doors boast increased resistance to forced entry and violent attacks, and a more substantial feel with thicker, modified skins as standard across all products so their performance has been future proofed against anticipated standards. Customers tell us that this has really paid off for them as they are assured they are buying the best and most cost effective door available and as we continue to grow, more and more people are seeing the benefit of placing their business with DOORCO.”

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TIME TO HAVE A BREAK AND CATCH UP WITH

Enjoy this edition!

You can also read us online: www.glassnews.co.uk

Why not try your hand at one of our competitions, all with cash prizes? See pages 76 and 94.

Tel: 0800 014 2769 | Email: [email protected]

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Police Preferred Specification

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The trojan Group has just announced that its door hardware is now available in any RaL colour, including perennial favourites Chartwell Green, anthracite Grey and Cream. tony Chadwick, Group managing Director, says: “innovation is very important to us. The introduction of coloured door furniture means that homeowners can have a completely coordinated look with no compromises.”

The company’s entire range of external door furniture including hinges, handles, letterplates, knockers and composite door hinges is now available in colour. Tony says the company decided to introduce a coloured range in response to current trends. “We’re always monitoring trends to see where we can make a difference. More and more homeowners are choosing coloured doors for their home. Sometimes, the standard door furniture finishes don’t work with a non-standard colour. Rather than having to choose a colour they’re not completely happy with, our new range will help them create a perfectly harmonious and sophisticated effect.”

Tony says the range is already being appreciated in the marketplace. “We’ve already received feedback from our customers telling us that it’s a little thing but it makes a big difference,” he says.

When we think of innovation we tend to think of technical advances and it’s certainly

true that Trojan’s products are packed with these. But sometimes innovation can be something simple. Coloured door furniture is one of those simple ideas that nevertheless provides the perfect finishing touch. As such it’s the perfect illustration of why Trojan is one of the leading players in the hardware market – it’s a company constantly looking out for ways it can help its customers thrive.

Tel: 01922 713 933 - www.trojangroup.com

Following the great success of their recently launched Walnut colour Endurance® Doors are pleased to announce the latest addition to their colour range: Pearl Grey.

A light and classy shade of grey it is the perfect match for modern architecture but also compliments more traditional homes.

As anyone who follows renovation programmes such as Grand Designs will know, grey is a very popular choice at the moment. It can add a touch of warmth to a room when combined with a complimentary colour and it can help to add an air of sophistication. Endurance® Pearl Grey brings that option to composite doors.

Endurance® Doors carefully select the foiling they use on their doors and frames to ensure that they can promise a perfect match between the two.

Managing Director Stephen Nadin is excited with the new addition to an already wide colour palette. “Pearl Grey is an important addition to our range” he explains, “offering a neutral colour option for customers who prefer a lighter shade”.

To find out more about the Endurance® Doors range and the colours and designs on offer please call 01652 659259 or email [email protected].

Phoenix Doors, the complete door solution company, has launched its new website and customer on-line ordering portal - all designed to make life easier for trade customers, specifiers and homeowners alike.

With a clear, fresh and modern appearance, the combined website and customer online ordering system is simple to navigate and encourages users to explore the full range of uPVC and GRP Composite doors from Phoenix Doors, part of MASCO UK Window Group.

The new website – www.phoenixdoorpanels.co.uk - coincides with the launch of the ‘jewel in the crown’ of Phoenix’s composite door portfolio, the 70mm double-rebated Meridian Door range, which is featured prominently on the site. At the click of a button, enquirers can also request a brochure on this popular range that delivers outstanding weather, energy and acoustic performance.

The website also features latest additions to the rest of the composite door range - the traditional County Collection and contemporary Continental Collection – along with new glazing and style options for its extensive and ever-popular range of uPVC door panels.

“Our investment in online ordering demonstrates our commitment to ensuring that customers are not only equipped with an industry-leading range of products and marketing material,” explained Haydon Statham, Phoenix Doors’ Sales Director “but also the necessary support to enhance their business and sales opportunities.

“The new portal has been designed to ensure that the entire ordering experience is quick and easy, from bespoke design to quoting and ordering. It also allows customers to refresh their orders and transfer them from quotations to live orders – simply at the touch of a button!”

Within the website’s increased content, there is also a facility for installers to download the Phoenix Door Designer App. This useful tool enables consumers to visualise what their new composite or uPVC panel door will look like when fitted in their homes.

Commenting further on their new site, Haydon added: “We’re very proud of the extensive range we can offer, which also extends to Stable Doors, a Door and a Half and Twin Doors.

I cannot think of another composite door company in the UK market that has a range as broad as the Phoenix one.

“If you want to buy a composite door with a genuine 10-year guarantee, backed up by one of the largest groups in the UK, Phoenix has got to be the company to go to!”

For more information please call Phoenix Doors on 01487 740469, email [email protected] or visit the website at www.phoenixdoorpanels.co.uk.

TROjAN’S cOlOuREd dOOR FuRNITuRE RANGE SETS THE STANdARd FOR A PERFEcTlY cOORdINATEd lOOk

EndurancE® doors widEn colour rangE with PEarl grEy

NEW WEbSITE OFFERS MucH MORE for Phoenix Doors’ customers



“if you want to buy a composite door with a genuine 10-year guarantee, backed up by one of the largest groups in the uK, phoenix has got to be the company to go to!”



Tel: 0800 321 7284 | Fax: 01226 707 947 Email: [email protected]

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Sheerframe flood doors have been independently accredited and Kitemarked to meet the specifications of PaS 1188-1 (Flood Protection Products Part 1: Building aperture Products) for single and double doors.

At the respected test centre at HR Wallingford, inward opening Sheerframe PVC-U doors recorded “no leakage” at 0.6 metre external submersion under static test over 48 hours.

The doors also remained watertight under dynamic tests simulating waves and rapidly moving water. French doors are also approved with just 0.001 litres of ingress after 48 hours, which compares most favourably to the standard test pass leak rate of up to 1000 ml/m/hour.

Sheerframe flood doors not only hold water out but, unlike the alternative of flood boards, they function easily and look like normal doors. In addition, they are fitted with specialist hardware to provide near impregnable watertightness and achieve PAS 24 levels of security. When locked, the Sheerframe flood doors are fully primed to prevent water ingress and virtually airtight as well as watertight. The doors can be internally bead glazed to achieve exceptional U-values down to 0.9 W/m2K when fitted with 44mm deep triple glazing.

“There’s a real market demand for flood doors” comments David Strang, Group Key Account Director at Sheerframe Ltd. “It is said that UK properties are more at risk of being flooded than being burgled and over 5 million properties are considered at risk according to the insurance industry. In the

last 10 years there has been growing evidence that global warming has affected the nature of rainfall in the UK, with more intense rainstorms resulting in the worst floods in recorded history. Following the 2007 floods the Pitt report estimated flood damage cost in the UK as worse than anywhere in the world that year, with insurance industry costs of over £3 billion. Since then severe flooding has occurred in many parts of the UK with 2013 causing substantial damage, especially in the south of England.”

For further information contact Mark Schlotel on 01623 446207 or 07764 229694; email [email protected].

Composite door manufacturer DooRCo is urging fabricators to move up to its Farmhouse door range for improved aesthetics and higher security spec over its existing Cottage range.

Farmhouse was launched earlier this year as a major upgrade of Cottage with the addition of a moulded design and reinforced skin for greater integrity over the original machine grooved flush door.

MD Dan Sullivan said: “This gives it a much improved appearance and added security because they are designed into the manufacturing process. The Cottage door has been very successful for us and our fabricator customers so we are sure the Farmhouse will

be even more so – it is an altogether better quality door.”

The Farmhouse door can be seen in the DOORCO brochure in its best-selling Sunningdale and Belfry styles but is offered in many other styles and glazing options. The new door also meets the amendments to Pas 24:12, as part of Approved Document Q.

Dan continued: “We will continue to offer the Cottage range as long as a significant number of customers want it but we are encouraging them all to look to the obvious benefits of the Farmhouse range and make the change for the better. We have always been committed to producing the best quality doors and designs through continuous innovation and the introduction of the

Farmhouse is another major step in that direction and one that complements the rest of the DOORCO range as one of the most secure composite doors available.”

One of the UK’s largest composite door manufacturers, Vista, have lent their support as Nick Knowles and the DIY SOS team transform 62 empty houses on two Manchester streets into a new community for war veterans.

The refurbishment, which has been described as the most ambitious DIY SOS project to date, includes the building of a veteran walk-in support centre where military charity Walking With The Wounded will provide therapy, counselling, and employment opportunities.

When Vista heard about the plans to create a veteran’s housing community, they were eager to show their support and installed 14 quality composite doors to the newly refurbished properties during the first phase of the build.

Managing director Keith Sadler commented: “At Vista we recognise the importance of engaging with local community projects, and were delighted to show our support to such an important cause. Our commercial manager, John Pinder, was in the Royal Fusiliers and

his son is in the Household Cavalry Blues and Royals, and this was one of the more personal reasons we wanted to help with the refurb. I would like to say a special thanks to our GRP composite door leaf supplier, Distinction Doors, who worked with us to make our involvement possible.”

All XtremeDoors used in the project were in the solid Edwardian style complete with top lights. All included a triple sealed outer-frame for superior weather performance, a five point lock for additional security and chrome stainless steel hardware.

Keith concluded: “The DIY SOS team have done a tremendous job of bringing the community together and we look forward to seeing what a difference the new houses will make to the lives of war veterans.”

Two 60 minute episodes will be broadcasted on BBC1 in October 2015. In these two special episodes, DIY SOS will achieve its biggest build to date, renovating seven homes and rejuvenating the facades to all 62 homes. In addition these episodes will highlight major social issues while delivering big emotional stories, leaving a legacy to be proud of.

For more information call 01516081423 or visit www.vistapanels.co.uk.

SHEERFRAME dOORS can resist the fLoods

FAR bETTER FARMHOuSE – foR lookS AND SECuRitY

VISTA HElP dIY SOS IN THEIR MOST AMbITIOuS PROjEcT YET

For thE vEry latEst nEws visit: WWW.GlASSNEWS.cO.uk



Vista’s commercial manager John Pinder (right) with nick Knowles (centre).



DOORCO is a door company through and through. One of the fastest growing companies in an equally fast growing marketplace! We are looking for people like you to add value to our

already impressive team.DOORCO is looking to recruit for the following roles:

• Logistics & Distribution • Buying/Purchasing • Customer Service • IT • Finance

...think doors?

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...at every step?Telephone 01625 428 955Fax 01625 669 235Email [email protected]

DOORCO Limited, Unit 8 Mottram Way, Macclesfield, Cheshire SK10 2DH

A GREAT PACKAGE waits for you at DOORCO, Macclesfield!

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Forty percent of homeowners choose a composite door, making it the most popular door type in the UK. What that means is that there is a lot of opportunity but also a lot of competition.

Installers therefore need to have the right door in their portfolio to maximise their ability to secure the sale. Chantel Roach, Marketing Director of the UK’s largest composite door supplier, Distinction Doors, says, “A Distinction door has the advantage of being very secure, not to mention being the most thermally efficient on the market. But our customers tell us that aesthetics are the key to making a sale and what really sets our door apart is its stunning appearance.”

One of the keys to a Distinction door’s aesthetic difference is in the attention to detail. The woodgrain finish on a Distinction Premium GRP composite door was developed from oak tree grain, creating a beautifully authentic appearance. This woodgrain effect is carried through to the mouldings on the exceptionally slim glazing cassette, creating a seamlessly high quality and elegant effect, a detail that Chantel says the market really appreciates.

The Distinction Doors portfolio also offers a wealth of choice, so there is something for every homeowner no matter what their taste.

The company has a wide range of designs available in five standard colours and two woodgrain effects, plus a wealth of bespoke colours. To complement the doors there are over 12 glazing styles. Alongside the standard entrance doors, there are fire doors, 70mm doors, contemporary doors and bi-fold doors so installers can help their customers create a truly stunning building envelope.

When it comes to an entrance door, security and thermal efficiency are important. But the one thing that homeowners really care about is the aesthetics. And by choosing a Distinction door you can have a door that wins in all three areas and maximises your ability to take advantages of the opportunities in a booming market!

Tel: 01226 352265 www.distinctiondoors.co.uk

Polyframe has a new, specially developed online ordering facility, enabling customers to get their composite doors quicker and easier than ever before.

A simple one page scrolling format, the unique composite doors online ordering engine enables customers to select from all Polyframe’s options without having to go back through browser pages to make changes. When logged in, accurate pricing is updated as customers add selections to their order. There is also a live preview of the selected specifications, or a click will enlarge the preview and detail all technical data.

In addition to the ordering page, customers can also view previous orders, saved quotes and account details in the Door Dashboard section. Here, customers can manage their own details, amend orders, and quickly convert quotes to orders without having to go through the ordering process a second time.

Group Sales Director Peter Dyson explains: “It’s easier, faster and more powerful than any

other online ordering engine in the industry. If you order on the go, don’t worry, the site is fully optimised for mobile, tablet and PC. It’s easy wherever you are, whenever you want, with whatever device you use.

“Customers can activate their account by visiting www.polyframetrade.co.uk, clicking the ‘Order your composite door’ link at the top of the home page and registering their details,” adds Peter. “Or they can call me and we’ll set them up with their pricing and log in details. It’s that quick and simple!”

To find out more call Peter Dyson on 07920 012423 or 01422 398969.

From September 2015 newly registering window fabricators will get free Doorset energy Ratings (DSeRs)*. new BFRC registered fabricators will need to sign up to an existing BFRC registered System house Simplified energy Licence (SeL) – but there is no minimum number of window energy ratings licences they need to purchase – and the DSeRs will be free for not just one month. or one quarter. But until 1st January 2017!

Fabricator SELs start from just £300 per year – and are capped at £840**.

The following System Houses all offer BFRC rated product through an SEL:-

Aluk (Beaufort), Aluplast, Door-Stop International, Duraflex, Eclectic Systems LLP, Eurocell, Halo, Halo Assure, Joedan Group, LB Plastics , Leitz Tooling, Liniar, Network VEKA, Rehau, Sapa Building

Systems, SBP Group Ltd, Schueco, Smart Systems, Steel Window Association, Synseal, VEKA, VEKA Assure, Whitehill Tools

If you are not with one of the System Houses listed get them to contact BFRC to sign up for the System House SEL.

“This is a fantastic offer for newly registering fabricators,” commented BFRC managing director Chris Mayne. “Not only do they get the benefit of selling BFRC independently verified

rated windows, free access to technical and marketing support, and a free listing on the new BFRC website. They can get all their doors rated for free as well.”

This offer is available from September 2015 until 31st December 2015 and applies only to fabricators that are not currently BFRC registered.

*Conditions apply. Full rate for DSeRs will apply from 1 January 2017. all costs quoted are ex-Vat. applies to newly registered fabricators only. Direct Debit payments only. System house audit rules apply. This promotion is available for newly registering companies and only applies to System house product already BFRC licensed.

**Direct Debit payments only.

For further information, please contact BFRC - 020 7403 9200 / [email protected].

Following the great success of their recent mayon launch along with the ongoing popularity of their ascent range of composite doors, endurance® Doors are extremely proud to announce the launch of two new solid and secure additions to the ascent range; the Stanley and the tyree.

Endurance® Ascent doors offer traditional style with a modern twist and these two new models continue this theme. Both feature the same vertical board effect with the Stanley featuring a small single window and the Tyree boasting a longer opening to let more light through. Both doors offer a great feeling of security and privacy whilst still allowing some light in.

Like all Endurance® composite doors the Stanley and Tyree are available with a wide range of fully suited hardware including stylish

stainless steel pull handles in three different lengths and a high security Yale Superior locking cylinder. They can be supplied in an exclusive range of sixteen colours including eleven with perfectly colour matched frame options.

Most Endurance® doors are available as FD30s fire doors and the Stanley and Tyree are no exception. Endurance® fire doors are tested to BS EN 1634-1:2008, the European normative standard for fire resistance. This makes them the ideal choice for safety, style and security.

Endurance® Doors only use the highest quality components on their doors. They start with a 48 mm thick 17 ply Metsa Wood core, add through colour skins and use frames from Rehau. All Endurance® doors are assembled in their Lincolnshire factory to strict

quality control guidelines to ensure that the finished product that arrives with the customer will surpass any standards.

To find out more about the Stanley and Tyree or any other Endurance® Doors products please visit endurancedoors.co.uk or call 01652 659259.

NEVER uNdERESTIMATE THE IMPORTANcE OF kERb APPEAl

ORdERING cOMPOSITE dOORS FROM POlYFRAME juSt got EASiER

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Polyframe’s Door Dashboard.




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The UK’s first showroom model of Kömmerling’s revered lift and slide PremiDoor 88 has been installed at CWG Choices customer, Crown tree investments at their Royale Regents high end showroom in Leamington Spa.

Set in an environment of premium home improvement products, the 4.3m wide x 2.1m high PremiDoor 88 takes centre stage, with an anthracite grey grained foil on white finish. For homeowners looking at bi-folding doors in their next project, the PremiDoor 88 is a genuine alternative and one that is capable of spanning 6.5m with a height of 2.9m in just two sashes, yet offers far more light transmission.

The PremiDoor 88 offers sound insulation values as high as 45db and has been tested by ift Rosenheim for its tightness against driving rain achieving a rating of 750 Pa. Kömmerling now believes that this is the best performing door of it’s kind in the UK market and there is also a new ‘Lux’ variant which does without the need for a fixed sash. Instead, it features a fixed mullion and large fixed glazing, fitted with aluminium glazing beads attached to the outside. The results are particularly slender sight lines of 95 mm in the side frame and true to its name, a greater passage of light.

Kevin Warner, head of sales and marketing for Kömmerling commented: ‘The PremiDoor 88 sets the standard for doors in wide span applications and I fully expect this product to take market share from bi-folding doors. There’s a wealth of colours and finishes to choose from, incredible technical performance and a greater passage of light.’

Jason Wilder, co-director of CWG Choices concluded: ‘We’re now actively promoting the PremiDoor 88 to our customers as we believe the design of the product and 8 colour options from stock will attract further customers for an alternative to a bi-folding door. While Crown Tree are the first to display the product off, there is already considerable interest from both installation companies and style savvy consumers.’

For further information on the PremiDoor 88 log on to www.kommerling.co.uk, call the sales office on 01543 444900, or add to their growing following on Twitter @kommerling_uk. For further information on CWG Choices log on to www.cwgchoices.com or call 01536 271940 for all trade enquiries.

manchester-based trade supplier Unique Door Panels is celebrating strong recent growth. andy Jones, the company’s General manager, comments: “The business has been going from strength to strength recently. We believe our success is down to our approach. We pride ourselves on providing flexible products and services and having an unrivalled ability to meet customer requirements.”

When Andy starts to talk about Unique Door Panels, it becomes clear what he means by his company’s approach and why it’s helped the team to achieve such success. Unlike many fabricators, Unique Door Panels offers a prep service, not just a full door set. The service includes prepping to a variety of locks for maximum flexibility and it’s something that Andy says his customers really value.

To ensure a rapid and reliable service, Unique holds a huge stock of slabs and has two CNC machines and a beam saw. Andy says:

“It’s important to us that we deliver quality products on a fast turnaround and we make the infrastructure investment that’s needed to deliver this – for example, we have recently invested over £250k in new machinery.”

Unique offers a wide range of composite doors, including stable doors and French doors, across three collections: Island, Paradise and Autograph. The company uses the Distinction Doors’ door slab, which Andy says ensures that they are using the best in the business. “Distinction Doors is the market leading supplier of composite doors for a reason and the aesthetic qualities of their slab and cassettes win hands down.” All doors are available in seven standard colours as well as any RAL colour.

To complement the doors, Unique offers a range of over 30 stunning glass designs, which gives homeowners the wealth of choice they want. Andy says: “Homeowners want to personalise their front door and our customers tell us that our

glass range is something that really makes a difference for them in the selling process.”

There is a lot written and spoken about what it takes to be a successful business. But, as Unique Door Panels’ success shows, the most essential component is delivering what customers need.

Tel: 01226 352265 www.distinctiondoors.co.uk

MANcHESTER’S uNIquE dOOR PANElS HAS

GOT A REcIPE FOR SuccESSA PREMIdOOR 88 dEbuT IN lEAMINGTON SPA



West yorkshire Windows is a four-branch trusted yorkshire installer that’s renowned for providing quality and value to its customers. it started installing composite doors with Brisant cylinders eight months ago. already they’re a clear selling point for West yorkshire Windows’ composite door range.

West Yorkshire Windows Sales Manager Joanne Bowles says: “All our composite doors have Brisant cylinders so we can be confident we’re selling top quality cylinders that provide customers with security that will last the life of their door. People don’t immediately think about their cylinder when they think about security, but we make sure

homeowners are aware of the difference a good quality cylinder makes.

“We have a Window Doctor service that advises homeowners what they can do to improve the windows and doors on their property, and that includes assessing the hardware in the door.” Joanne continues: “People

are security conscious, and being able to offer good advice as well as the product to back it up is a real selling point.”

Brisant CEO Steve Stewart comments: “West Yorkshire Windows is a good example of how security helps installers sell. Advice is key, but being able to offer the solution to a security problem is even more compelling to homeowners.”

For more information on West Yorkshire Windows visit www.westyorkshirewindows.co.uk.

Fabricators and installers looking to offer real security call Brisant Secure on 01924 455 444.

WYW + BRISANT = real security in yorkshire

Joanne Bowles, Sales manager, West yorkshire Windows.


Enjoy this edition!





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yorkshire based installer millennium Windows has stopped fabricating and is buying in from Polyframe. millennium Windows fabricated 150 frames a week. it is looking forward to growth after unplugging its machines and plugging into Polyframe.

“The main concern for us when we looked at stopping fabrication was our customers,” says Neil Wakeman, Operations Director at Millennium Windows. “It’s difficult to predict what effect this will have. Losing control of quality and timescale could affect the service level we give them. Relying so heavily on the efficiency of another business was a concern.”

Millennium Windows now buys in Rehau from Polyframe. Although a change in profile, the choice of eight PVC-U and Aluminium profiles offered by Polyframe means Millennium Windows can choose what works best for its customers, and will help its business grow going forward.

“The key for us was choosing the right fabricator to partner with,” continues Neil. “Polyframe’s excellent service means that we’re confident we can continue to offer the same quality, with the same service level to our customers even though we’re buying in. Fabrication inefficiencies were driving our prices sky high, so this will make a big difference.”

Polyframe Group Sales Director Peter Dyson comments: “We offer fabricators the opportunity to transform their business with streamlined long term growth. We make it easy for them to buy in from Polyframe with an extensive range of profiles and materials so our customers can expand without having to look to another supplier. We also ensure they benefit from comprehensive marketing support and great service with every order.”

Fabricators thinking of unplugging their machines and plugging into Polyframe should call Peter Dyson on 01422 398 969.

Internorm has released a suite of new literature for 2015/2016; including separate brochures on its windows and doors, a guide to the I-tec Ventilation system, plus ‘25 key reasons to specify Internorm’.

The Windows brochure for 2015/2016 has some new additions since last year’s edition, including the recently launched HX300 Panorama. There is also a new features section, which covers any questions you may have about the available combinations and colours of windows and enhancing your home’s security. It also has a checklist and further information on warranties to help you choose the right products for you.

Both the Windows and Doors brochures include a variety of images to help customers decide which option suits their style the most, as well as photos of the products in action to get a feel for how they would look once fitted. The new Doors brochure also has a section on service and additional features, including a checklist and an overview of their warranties.

Offering fresh air and energy savings, Internorm’s high performance I-Tec Ventilation system allows for a MVHR unit to be directly integrated into the window. In support of this, the I-Tec Ventilation brochure details the reasons behind installing the system, as well as the key advantages to customers such as; increased indoor air quality, the removal of unpleasant smells and pollutants and the added energy efficiency benefits. A technical information section in the brochure provides customers with an

market leading manufacturer of weather seals for the window industry, extrudaSeal, has developed a new high-quality foam gasket for timber, aluminium and PVC-u applications that delivers enhanced weathertightness and soundproofing performances.

The new self-skinned polyurethane gasket is softer, and allows for more compression than the regular ones, ensuring superior sealing for increased overall performances of the windows and doors. Due to greater flexibility, ExtrudaSeal’s foam seal doesn’t rip and will easily return to its initial shape after compression, delivering a consistently smooth operation of the window time after time.

The company is currently working with a number of clients on bespoke foam gaskets for timber and aluminium windows, and can supply the high quality seal in any type of shape in record time. “We are able to send a gasket sample in the bespoke design required by the client within 4 weeks,” said Chris Byers, ExtrudaSeal managing director.

“Our foam seal is made from a special compound, offering ideal compression

resistance and excellent thermal and acoustic performances. Aside from satisfying very high demands in terms of sealing, our polyurethane gasket is also more competitively priced than similar products available on the market,” added Chris.

The foam is currently supplied in black, and additional colours will be introduced in the following months.

“This has already proven a very popular product, due to its ability to deliver better insulation values than regular gaskets can provide, and we’re working on launching new colours that will complement a larger variety of applications,” added Chris.

This development follows shortly after the Birmingham based manufacturer has signed an exclusive partnership with the Spanish company Tecseal, becoming the sole supplier of the revolutionary Tri-Fin® in the UK. Aside from providing excellent weather tightness and soundproofing, the new wool pile is extremely sturdy, and won’t break, bind or stretch during fabrication or while in use.

“Our focus is to provide the best sealing solutions for UK manufacturers, helping them to improve the performances of their windows and doors, while reducing the production time and minimising waste. We have a large product portfolio designed to satisfy any sealing requirements and we’re constantly developing and adding new, innovative solutions to our range,” concluded Chris.

For more information on foam gaskets, or other sealing solutions for windows and doors, call ExtrudaSeal on 0121 3569733.

MIllENNIuM WINdOWS uNPluGS ITS MAcHINES ANd PluGS INTO POlYFRAME

NEW BROCHURES SHOWCASE INTERNORM SOLUTIONS

ExTRudASEAl lAuNcHES NEW high performance foam gasKet

millennium Windows.

understanding of how the system is installed and various considerations, including the planning process, retrofitting, and power consumption.

Internorm has also introduced its ‘25 Reasons’ brochure. From beautiful aesthetics, allowing for individual specification, to quality, there is an array of reasons to choose Internorm products – 25 of which are showcased in this brochure. Starting with the technical components that set Internorm’s windows apart, such as three long-lasting gaskets, glazing beads and concealed hardware, the literature also includes details about the coating options and Internorm’s dedication to high-quality, including its continued investment into research and development.

Download links to the new literature can be found here: http://www.internorm.com/uk/downloads/general-information.html

For more information on Internorm’s range of products, visit: www.internorm.co.uk.

TIME TO HAVE A bREAk ANd cATcH uP WITH

Enjoy this edition!you can also read us online:

www.glassnews.co.uk

Why not try your hand at one of our competitions, all with cash prizes?

See pages 76 and 94.


1015/0038



Surrey based Professional Window Contracting has just celebrated 25 years in business and 25 years as part of the REHAU family.

To mark the event, REHAU’s Southern Head of Sales Glyn Rogers and Marketing and Technical Director Gareth Jones visited the company’s Sutton headquarters to present founder and Managing Director Tony Longworth with an engraved trophy and framed certificate.

Glyn, who has worked closely with Professional for many years, said: “Professional Windows is one of only a very small number of companies who have been able to achieve real success across several market sectors.

“As well as its core window contracting business serving the new build and social housing sectors, it also has a highly successful retail business - Cheam Windows, with four show centres across Surrey and a thriving trade counter – Professional Building Plastics, based at its Sutton HQ. All three are continuing to grow and it’s a real pleasure for REHAU to still be supporting them all after a quarter of a century.”

Professional Window Contracting started out as a fabricator, manufacturing for 16 years as it also built its reputation in the commercial market as a social housing installer.

However, nine years ago, Tony Longworth took the strategic decision to stop fabricating and instead switched by buying in from REHAU trade specialist Climatec Windows in Southend. That proved an important move and meant Professional were able to focus on sales and installation,

expanding rapidly to achieve a turnover last year of more than £6.6m.

As well as acknowledging the fantastic contribution of his team and particularly his business partner Gary Hand, Tony attributes part of the company’s success to another important decision – choosing the REHAU brand at the outset and sticking to that for 25 years.

Tony said: “Fundamentally, what you get from REHAU is quality

and when you’re building your reputation, that’s what you need to rely on from your suppliers. REHAU has never let us down over 25 years and continues to provide us with valuable technical and planning support on many of our large scale social housing projects.”

Further details are available at: www.professionalwindows.co.uk



A wide range of Metal Technology products have been used in a state-of-the art teaching and learning centre for medicine at Glasgow’s Southern General Hospital.

The £27million scheme created by BMJ Architects in conjunction with main contractor BAM Construction features an internal street and social hub around dedicated centres on each side. The façade combines zinc shingles, glazing and base course block work.

Metal Technology’s System 8 low rise and System 17 high rise curtain walling have both been used in the scheme, with System 4-35 Hi Thermally Enhanced Casement Windows and System 5-20DHi+ Thermally Enhanced Doors completing this high performance glazing package.

System 8 low rise curtain walling is considered an optimum solution for expansive low rise glazed applications, while System 17 high rise offers limitless flexibility in design applications. Part of the suite from Metal Technology, System 4-35 Hi casement windows and System 5-20D Hi+ doors offer enhanced thermal performance through the use of bespoke thermal components, all of which help to achieve impressively low U values.

All products in the Metal Technology range not only offer engineered durability in use but high levels of structural integrity, weather and thermal performance. Used in conjunction for this project, Metal Technology’s suite of systems provided a cost-effective solution with no compromise on either aesthetic or performance.

www.metaltechnology.com

METAl TEcHNOlOGY PROducTS uSEd ExTENSIVElY AT SOuTHERN GENERAl HOSPITAl

REHAu cONGRATulATES PROFESSIONAl WINdOWS ON 25 YEARS

As part of the continuing development of its cladding ranges Freefoam has now launched a new smooth style 151mm wide shiplap cladding.

Available in bright white and an attractive range of traditional woodgrain shades including Mahogany, Light Oak, Rosewood and Black. Freefoam has also added a new more contemporary colour finish, Anthracite Grey, to meet the demands of a developing market.

neW CoLoURPVC-U woodgrain cladding is a popular low maintenance option often used for dormer extensions and detailing on external areas. Freefoam monitor trends in the marketplace and have responded to the growing popularity of grey windows and doors by adding a new Anthracite Grey woodgrain option.

minimiSe StoCK hoLDinGThe new 151mm Shiplap cladding features a modified right angle leg designed to fit perfectly with the new generic standard range of cladding trims launched earlier this year. Freefoam recognise the capital investment in stocking items with multiple trims so have developed an innovative generic range of cladding accessories that are designed to work with the complete range of cladding products from the narrow 100mm wide Open V cladding right up to the Fortex Pro 333mm wide double shiplap board.

PRoteCteD to LaStFreefoam work with world leading foil provider Renolit using the Exofol PVC film for all woodgrain products to provide a durable fade resistant product. Manufactured with two layers, the colour pigments in the base film use Solar Shield

Technology to protect the cladding against excessive heat build up and the upper transparent layer prevents against fading caused by UV radiation or other weathering effects. This technology allows Freefoam to offer a ten year guarantee on all woodgrain cladding products.

Colin St John, UK General Manager comments: “ The development of this new style of Shiplap cladding and additional Anthracite Grey finish are a welcome addition to our growing cladding range adding the final element to what is now a really comprehensive range. We’ve seen both sales of colour and cladding products grow year on year with an unbelievable 55% increase in 2014 so this new range will help our customers meet growing demands from installers”

www.freefoam.com

FREEFOAM lAuNcH NEW STYlE WOOdGRAIN SHIPlAP clAddING



WINdOWSThe UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper


CenSolutions, the leading consultancy and test facility for the window, door and glazing industries has been the partner of choice for the prestigious Green Building Store for the last 7 years, but this year the sustainable window company has also moved its third party window certification to CenSolutions’ CmS mark as well as received support with Secured by Design.

Chris Herring of Green Building Store says: “CENSolutions has helped us with EN14351, particularly Factory Production Control in preparation for CE marking, back in 2009, but the team have also supported us on various glazing related issues over a number of years. We are an SME and find the personal service and general responsiveness from a company like CENSolutions far preferable to dealing with relatively unresponsive and inflexible alternatives – it’s a refreshing approach. Because the team at CENSolutions are experienced industry colleagues, they can also offer technical support in areas peripheral to the main services they provide.

“This is precisely why we have also now moved our certification to their CMS Mark offering and received support with our SBD certified products. Our PERFORMANCE and ULTRA triple glazed timber ranges, which offer SBD certified and Passivhaus certified options, are an important part of our range for 2015 and beyond. Our window ranges have already been specified for a number of high profile projects including Erneley Close EnerPHit and Carbon Coop retrofits in Manchester.”

“It has been exciting to work with such a forward thinking and sustainable company as Green Building Store,” adds Wayne Rogerson of CENSolutions. “The very reason we established CENSolutions was to offer quality-focused companies like this all the support and advice they need from a team of consultants who know the industry as well as the certification they’re offering. This is exactly what we do for Green Building Store and hundreds of other companies across the window, door and glazing sectors.”

For more information on CENSolutions, call us today on 01785 716625, visit www.censolutions.com.

Sun trade Windows have recently announced the introduction of the new RehaU totaL70 five chamber system to their range of thermally efficient windows. The new system boasts greater versatility for both commercial and domestic projects by offering the very best in both window energy ratings and U-values.

The new Sun range, branded as ‘The Ultra System’, goes far beyond the standard A, B and C WER ratings and offers the very latest A+ and A* ratings.

Steve Graves, Head of Business Development for Sun, shared his belief in the new range. He said: “Since 2010 the market place has been flooded with end users often misinformed on product specification and on the accurate benefits of window energy ratings. Many companies who offer standard ratings do so by utilising basic components and achieving the bare minimum on the required energy index. In contrast, our Ultra System boasts energy index scores as high as 12, guaranteeing that the rating reflects the real benefit to the end user.”

Utilising glazing options from both Planitherm and Pilkington, Edgetech Super Spacer, REHAU TOTAL70 five chamber profiles and Mila hardware, the versatile new range is backed by the very best brand names in the industry. In addition to the new A+ and A* ratings, Sun’s new range is completed with their all new ‘Ultra 8’ offering. This features a 3.5mm bead housing a 44mm triple glazed unit and a perfectly crafted five chamber profile and has achieved a market leading U-Value of 0.8.

Steve Graves is keen to emphasise the additional benefits: “Discerning home owners appreciate the need for low U-Values and understand the real benefits they offer. This dynamic new product from Sun gives them the exceptional performance they demand, backed up by all the relevant testing and certification.”

The new Ultra System from Sun far outperforms the industry standards on thermal performance but it also does not compromise on aesthetics.

The profile has perfectly cut lines and a smooth high gloss finish making it ideal for both domestic and commercial applications. In addition, the range is available in as little as seven days with a wide choice of colours available.

To find out more about Sun or any of their products, contact Ryan White on: 01656 746650, email: [email protected] or visit: www.suntradewindows.com.

Fast-growing GT Window Products is not only taking twice the space at The FIT Show 2016, it’s also using the event as a platform for a major new product launch as well as a complete re-branding.

The Gloucestershire-based component supplier and G14 finalist has no doubts about the importance of the show, as General Manager Tony Hancock explained: “Our company has doubled in size since we first appeared at FIT in 2013 and we’re convinced our presence then and at FIT ’14 have been the biggest factors in that expansion.

“We have been doing trade shows for 21 years now but things only started happening for us after FIT. That is why this year we are going to make the most of it with a fully designed 24 sq metre stand, as against the 12sqm shell units in ’13 and ’14. We will also be using the show to launch an exciting new product for fabricators as well as our new logo and complete brand redesign.”

Part of the company’s growth has come from gaining new customers but most of it is from growing business with existing ones, including introducing them to an expanding product range, and Tony says the FIT Shows have been instrumental is all of those.

Also, of course, GT Windows has one other reason to be a FIT Show fan – the company has won both the photo competitions so far. Its Usual Suspects line-up won last year’s Face of FIT and in ’13 Tony’s “We’re going…” pic from Cape Verde also took the top spot.

GREEN buIldING STORE cHOOSES cENSOluTIONS

SuN INTROducES NEW fiVe chamber uLtra system

dOublE-SIZE GT dOublES uP FOR FIT ‘16

The Window Company (Contracts) has just launched its new website giving the industry a better insight into what makes the specialist commercial installer so different from its competitors.

With pages dedicated to its range of services and profiles of successful projects, the new website at www.thewinco.co.uk explains how the company’s relentless focus on efficiency translates into market leading levels of customer satisfaction.

There are detailed explanations of how the company’s style of project management and resident liaison services benefit customers and there is analysis of performance on projects across the social housing and commercial sectors.

More than this though, the website gives visitors a flavour of the character of the company with photos of all the team and a continually updated newsfeed giving details of the latest events, investments and success stories.

The Window Company (Contracts) is the G-14 Installer of the Year and the winner’s logo sits proudly alongside the many other

accreditations and memberships including CHAS, Trustmark, ISO9001 and ISO14001.

Now with more than 500 followers on Twitter (@Wincocontracts), the new website is a key part of the company’s commitment to further increasing its online presence.

new weBsite GiVes insiGht into the winDow comPany (contracts)








RaF Bicester was a major base for Bomber Command during the Second World War and served as a military airfield from as early as 1916. Largely intact, the well-preserved site is now home to Bicester heritage, the UK’s first centre for historic motoring and aviation, and its redbrick buildings are being restored and updated with help from Steel Window association member, The Cotswold Casement Company.

Working alongside the main contractor, The Cotswold Casement Company has, to date, authentically refurbished the windows in seven buildings, ranging from the old armoury to the motor transport and toilet blocks. Throughout, the emphasis has been on preserving as much of the original fabric of the pre war windows as possible.

Each of the windows was carefully removed and the resulting openings temporary glazed to allow the buildings to be used while the refurbishment of the windows was undertaken. The old frames were meticulously numbered and then taken to the company’s works where they were photographed to establish a record of each window’s condition at the time of removal. The windows were then deglazed and any fittings removed.

The frames were shot-blasted to strip all the old paintwork and any surface rust and then inspected to identify the works required. The team at The Cotswold Casement Company complete all necessary repairs. These included the replacement of sections that were too corroded to be saved using standard metal window (SMW) sections. Some frames needed to be straightened while worn or damaged hinges were replaced. Similarly, handles and other fittings were checked, overhauled or replaced with specially cast replicas.

Once overhauled, each of the windows was Korro primed to stop any further deterioration and then returned to site for reinstallation. Many of the windows were installed directly back into brick but some were into replacement wooden subframes made by The Cotswold Casement Company. Rather than using modern silicone beads, the new clear 4mm glass was puttied in as would have been done originally. To achieve a traditional look all the frames were hand painted by the contractor using paint colours appropriate to the period.

For further information on the Steel Window Association, please visit www.steel-window-association.co.uk or call 0844 249 1355.

Following The VeKa UK Group’s unique offering of the industry’s only BSi-notified, BFRC-certified window and door energy performance calculator last year, VeKa and halo customers are now being given the opportunity to generate their Window energy Ratings (WeRs) and Door Set energy Ratings (DSeRs) at a fraction of the normal cost.

Network VEKA’s independent, UKAS-accredited Competent Person’s Scheme, Assure provides a raft of benefits for its members, such as self-certification for Building Regulation-compliance, subsidised NVQ qualifications, assessment for Minimum Technical Competencies and more.

Bolstering its already comprehensive list of advantages, Assure’s latest offering enables VEKA and Halo customers to generate energy ratings at extremely competitive rates compared to those expected elsewhere.

Network VEKA’s Managing Director, John Ogilvie explains: “Since 2010 there’s been an obvious legal requirement for installers to prove that any newly fitted windows and doors exceed a minimum energy rating rating of ‘C’. In this day and age though, it’s rare to find businesses or homeowners satisfied with anything other than ‘A’-ratings in their installations.

“Verifiable energy ratings are therefore crucial for installers to be compliant and promote their products to the market. Assure has hit the mark once again with this provision. It’s a great facility for current Network members and an attractive proposition for those looking to develop their business through membership of the country’s leading installer support organisation.

“Austin and the rest of the Assure team are more than happy to discuss the details of the scheme - interested parties should give them a call or an email to find out more.”

To get in touch with Assure, call 01282 473 170 or email [email protected].

an ambition going back decades has led to the stunning restoration of a large, derelict Grade ii church into 82 studio apartments, many completely within the original early 18th Century church building, with more than 200 windows made from the Spectus elite 70 system.

Lyndon Forshaw of restoration specialists the Forshaw Group explained: “I’ve been driving past

the church for as long as I can remember, seeing it deteriorate over the last 20 years, and I always thought it would be great to be able to rescue and redevelop it.”

To the passer-by, the former Holy Trinity Church in the centre of Bolton looks as it has for nearly two centuries. The entire exterior has been kept virtually intact, including its highly ornate stained glass windows, with apartments created entirely within the original shell,

as well as many others in a bespoke modern building at the back of the church.

An integral part of the restoration is more than 200 high-specification windows using the Spectus Elite 70 bevelled system, which were used in both the restored church and the adjoining new building. Because of the unique construction of the building within a building, many of windows in the church actually look out onto the original windows from the inside. The white and grey casements were fabricated and installed by Jade Windows of Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, on the recommendation of main contractor Colbre Projects.

“It was a privilege for us to be involved with this restoration project,” said Ryan Fozard of Jade Windows. “The windows and doors we installed looked marvellous against the old building and make a feature on the envelope of the new modern build.”

Lyndon Forshaw, whose father was actually one of the bell ringers at Holy Trinity, concluded: “I always loved the church building in the first place and when we were offered the chance to acquire it only then began to look at how we could make it viable and the type of development that would work.”

www.spectus.co.uk

STEEl WINdOW REFuRbISHMENT HElPS PRESERVE HISTORIc RAF bIcESTERVEkA ANd HAlO

cuSTOMERS GET cOMPETITIVE PRIcES ‘ASSuREd’ ON WERS ANd dSERS

20-year Vision Leads to uniQue church restoration

RaF Bicester was a major base for Bomber Command during the Second World War and served as a military airfield from as early as 1916.



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The transformation of a Grade II listed Victorian mill in Burnley, Lancashire into the North West’s first University Technical College (UTC) has benefitted from a suite of windows from leading fenestration designer and manufacturer Senior Architectural Systems.

Fabricated and installed by Aire Valley Architectural Aluminium Ltd, Senior’s SPW600e windows were selected for the project as they offer a modern yet sympathetic solution that was in keeping with the look of the mill’s original windows. Specified to give an ultra-thin sight line of 35mm, the three chamber 75mm polyamide window system not only offers an impressive thermal performance but also exceptional weather resistance, making it the ideal choice for use on a period property that is located on the banks of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal.

The windows comprise a large number of small individual panels to replicate the Victorian style of the original architecture and unusually this has been created using aluminium rather than the traditional timber. This bespoke solution is testament to the design flexibility of Senior’s SPW600e system as well as the fabrication skills of Aire Valley. Owing to the uneven edge of the stonework around the openings, the installation team also scribed panels around the sides of the windows to the contours of the adjacent walls to ensure a high quality and elegant finish.

Chris Kilvington, sales director at Aire Valley Architectural Aluminium Ltd, said:

“It was essential that the specified window system would meet the dual requirements of complementing the original features of the Victorian mill whilst performing to the strict standards required of a modern educational facility. Having worked with Senior Architectural Systems on a number of other contracts, we have been impressed with the flexibility and high quality of the company’s range of glazing solutions and the use of the SPW600e range has proved to be the ideal fit for such a complex and high profile project.”

Kerry Booth, quantity surveyor at Barnfield Construction added: “The creation of the University Technology College is a major milestone for the regeneration of Burnley and the challenging project had to be delivered within the constraints of a very tight programme. It was vital that the supply chain not only worked well together but that the products specified were fit for purpose and we were extremely impressed with the work of Aire Valley and the quality of Senior’s glazing systems.”

Capita Symonds provided the design and project management services and Barnfield Burnley Developments Limited, a joint venture between Barnfield Construction and Burnley Council, have developed the site for the Visions Learning Trust. As part of the wider regeneration scheme of the Weaver’s Triangle area of the town known as ‘On the Banks’, the total repair, renovation and refurbishment of a 150 year old textile mill has been undertaken to provide an inspirational learning environment for college students specialising in construction and engineering studies.

For more information about Senior, visit www.seniorarchitectural.co.uk

senior’s windows REVOluTIONISE INduSTRIAl MIll


WINdOWSThe UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper

Running between 14th September and 27th november, internorm’s autumn promotion will give customers the opportunity to take advantage of enhanced energy efficiency and quality design. Free upgrades to triple glazing and aluminium cladding are on offer when customers buy selected products.

The free upgrade to triple glazing is available on any of Internorm’s UPVC, UPVC/aluminium or timber/aluminium windows or lift and slide doors. In addition, free upgrade to Internorm’s weather resistant aluminium cladding is available in all standard colours on almost all of the company’s UPVC windows. Not only does this offer homeowners an opportunity to enhance their home’s aesthetics, the weather resistant cladding protects the window system as well.

Andreas Simmer, MD of Internorm UK, commented on the promotion: “We ensure our customers receive great value for money, but now they can take advantage of our high performance windows for an even better price. Our free upgrades are available on a wide range of Internorm window systems so that the customer can choose the system that best suits them.”

Internorm’s innovative window systems can be integrated into any style of home, modern or traditional. Being the leading window specialist, Internorm provides customers with a comprehensive product range that is supported with extensive technical support and friendly customer service.

For further information on Internorm’s wide range of windows and doors, visit www.internorm.co.uk.

INTERNORM’S AUTUMN PROMOTION

OFFERS FREE UPGRADE TO TRIPLE GLAZING



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INSTAllER FOcuS The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper

An overwhelming number of installers believe sales will rocket for them in 2016 as industry and economic confidence continues to grow. This was the headline finding from the 2015 installer report by the Consumer Protection Association (CPA).

The CPA commissioned Insight Data to carry out the extensive report which asked 12,000 installers across the UK a series of questions about their business performance.

In the survey 80% of installers questioned said they are expecting sales to increase in 2016 thanks to increasing consumer spending on home improvement products, due to continuing economic confidence.

Installers were also asked to rate their business performance in 2015 compared to 2014, with 47%

saying profits have increased, 33% saying they stayed about the same and 20% saying they have decreased.

It’s been suggested by media commentators that recent pension reforms will see a surge in spending, but the majority of those polled (66%) said it was too early to tell yet if the reforms are having an impact.

Installers were also asked about their expectations for the glass and glazing industry and the UK economy in general moving forwards.

53% said they expect the state of the UK economy to improve and 40% expect growth across the glass and glazing industry in 2016.

Alongside increased activity in the retail market, installers anticipate strong growth and increased projects within the construction sector, with 66% expecting more new construction projects to get the go-ahead next year.

When asked whether commercial work had increased in 2015, just shy of half (47%) said yes - suggesting a sure and steady revival in the commercial

sector, following a difficult few years.

Jeremy Brett, Director at the CPA, comments: “The annual installer barometer is the only one focused entirely on installers and gives them a platform to voice their hopes and concerns for their business and the industry.

“It’s great to see enthusiasm and optimism for the future of the UK economy and the industry, particularly for markets such as commercial which have been shaky over the past few years, but are now bouncing back and offering profitable opportunities for installers.”

The CPA is the UK’s leading provider of Insurance Backed Guarantees (IBGs) and has been in business for over twenty years. As well as providing guarantees and deposit protection, the CPA also offer marketing support, quarterly assessments, finance options, and support with business growth.

SAlES SET TO ROckET FOR INSTAllERS SAYS NEW REPORT


CPa director Jeremy Brett.


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Glazerite customer Frames Conservatories Direct is the first network VeKa member to have been awarded the BSi Kitemark for the installation of windows and doors.

The Kitemark means BSi (British Standards institution) has independently and rigorously tested both the products and the installation service of Frames Conservatories Direct and has confirmed that both conform to the British Standard. The BSi Kitemark is the oldest and most recognised trust mark today.

The application and approval system is very thorough and covers all aspects of the process from initial design, ensuring the window and doors supplied are correct for their intended use, through surveying, installation (including appropriate removal of the old door or windows), staff training, property

care, building regulation compliance and material quality.

By displaying the Kitemark symbol Frames Conservatories Direct is able to give its customers the assurance that the product and the fitting process conform to the appropriate British Standard and will therefore be safe and reliable.

Adrian Lewis, Managing Director, stresses the importance of the award: “Our customers invest money in improving their homes with replacement windows, doors or new fascias, soffits and guttering and the BSI Kitemark gives them the assurance that they are buying a quality product which will be fitted to a high standard.”

www.glazeritewindows.co.uk

The second edition of REHAU’s 360º newsletter has just been published and is available to download.

REHAU had a great response to the launch issue of the newsletter in the Spring and this edition contains the same mix of product, technical and customer news which proved so popular.

Designed to keep all those in the REHAU family

up to date with the latest developments across the business, the newsletter is called 360º to reflect the fact that it does cover the full circle of trade, commercial and retail sectors and to tie in with REHAU’s ‘Designed Around You’ marketing messages.

In this issue, for example, there’s a guide to Document Q for fabricators and installers, news of the opening of the REHAU Hub commercial exhibition space at The Building Centre and an update on the REHAU Authorised Partner scheme.

REHAU’s Marketing Communications Manager Irene Smith who is responsible for producing

the newsletter said: “Even in the days of social media, customers still tell us that they like to receive a newsletter with all of our news in an easily digestible format. They can read 360º online or get a printed copy if they prefer and of course they can tell us their own news and get it included in the next edition.”

The newsletter can be viewed at: http://www.rehau.co.uk/360newsletter

GlAZERITE cuSTOMER FRAMES cONSERVATORIES dIREcT AWARdEd FIRST NV MEMbER kITEMARk

REHAu’S POPulAR

NEW NEWSlETTER IS bAck



“read 360º online or get a printed copy.”

*Source Wickes webstore 2400x1200x55mm insulated plasterboard at £49.99 v standard plasterboard 2400x1200x12.5mm at £6.29. 31/5/2015.

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Glass News CSR Save Time and Money leaflet.indd 1 29/07/2015 14:3327www.glassnews.co.uk | October 2015

1015/0054



Dempsey Dyer, the trade fabricator of premium quality PVC-u and timber windows, doors and conservatories; recently teamed up with industry marketing specialists Purplex and launched a new video to help installers sell their ‘timber-look’ Beaumont window.

The video is aimed at end-users and features managing director Peter Dyer summarising the aesthetic, thermal and security benefits of the mechanically jointed PVC-u window, while also discussing the colour and hardware customisation capabilities. Later in the video viewers can see the window being made in Dempsey Dyer’s state-of-the-art factory in Yorkshire, and find out how Dempsey have combined their PVC-u and timber manufacturing skills to create a market leading product.

For installers who want that extra level of personalisation, they can have their logo included at the beginning and end of the video, something Dempsey Dyer have already done for Hampshire based KJM Windows, who heavily promote the Beaumont as part of their range.

Managing director Peter Dyer comments: “At Dempsey Dyer, we recognise the importance of providing our customers with the tools they need to promote the innovative features packed into all our products. We already offer a Beaumont brochure, and I wanted a new way to help installers explain the unique

features and benefits on offer. Video is the future of online marketing and considering our marketing partners Purplex can now offer this service, it seemed to make complete sense to go down this route. The video is expertly produced and I’m sure many of our customers will use it as part of their sales presentations.”

The Beaumont is made with the Deceuninck 2800 profile system and considering it is a ‘timber-look’ product, is only available in a woodgrain foil. The main selling point is the joints – unlike a PVC-u window which has welded corners, the Beaumont is mechanically jointed just like a timber window. It has been accepted in conservation areas and is ideal for consumers who like the look of timber but want a lower cost, lower maintenance product.

For more information call 01977 649641 or visit www.dempseydyer.co.uk.

not only does Liniar produce lead-free, innovative windows, doors and conservatories – it is delighted to launch a brand new range of high quality foam trims and colour matched installation products, available exclusively from Liniar fabricators.

Installers can be assured of a perfectly matching internal finish with Liniar’s foam trims, produced in-house from 100% lead-free PVCu foam and foiled using the same superior woodgrain and coloured foils as the rest of the products in the Liniar range.

Covered with the same 10-year guarantee as Liniar’s windows, doors and roofs, the trims, architraves and angles are available in all Liniar standard stock colours – offering consumers a single point of warranty for their installation.

In order to finish the job in style, Liniar is also proud to offer a range of silicone

sealants at cost effective prices. Carefully chosen to complement its foiled colours, there are ten Liniar Approved LNM silicones in the range, together with caulk and expanding foam.

Liniar Approved cleaners including glass cleaner, solvent cleaner and cream cleaner, in addition to glues and adhesives are also in stock now.

Completing the current range are window boards, fixings, glazing packers, touch up pens and installation tools – all geared towards making it simple for installers to pick

up everything they need from their Liniar fabricator.

You can’t buy the new range direct from Liniar – it’s only available to purchase through Liniar fabricators. Find your nearest now by visiting www.liniar.co.uk/find-a-fabricator.

You can discover more about Liniar Approved installation supplies and see the full range by visiting http://www.liniar.co.uk/installation-supplies now.

dempsey dyer Launch Video to heLp INSTAllERS SEll AT THE SHARP ENd

INSTALL IN STYLE WITH LINIAR



add the seal of approval with Liniar approved silicone.

WE MEAN...


Secured by Design


SBD


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Enjoy this edition!




F I T S H O W 2 0 1 6PEOPLE THAT DEFINE THE INDUSTRY

TELFORD INTERNATIONAL CENTRE | 12 - 14 APRIL 2016

REGISTER TODAY AT FITSHOW.CO.UK F I T S H O W 2 0 1 6 M A S T ER F I T T E R

C H A L L E N G E

F I T S H O W 2 0 1 6

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

IN 2014 THE FIT SHOW HOSTED 5,869 VISITORS, GENERATING OVER 20,000 LEADS FOR THE INDUSTRY

Now we continue to be the primary focus for the UK window, door and conservatory industry. Forging a bridge between the manufacturers and distributors of products, components and services

and the companies and individuals that fabricate and install them.

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entries oPen for rehau INSTALLATION OF THE YEAR

Weruwise has ditched silicone for the fast fitting, clean and energy efficient truFit®, the new expanding foam edge tape from edgetech UK, a Quanex company. The east Sussex installation company is now using truFit in all whole house installations.

“Customers like the neat finish they get with TruFit. There are no trims, bobbly silicone or paint lines and that’s got us a few word of mouth recommendations already,” says Steve Hugill, Partner at Weruwise.

“Our installation teams are impressed too. Because there’s no need for them to add a trim it saves them time as well as looking neater. They don’t have to use messy silicone or PU foam either.

“It’s easy to fit around the window and then it expands to fill any gaps between the frame and the surround. The fitters also like Edgetech’s specially designed belt to go round the roll of TruFit to keep it secure.”

Weruwise has used Super Spacer for 9 years, so when Edgetech brought out TruFit they were keen to try it. Steve adds: “We’re always on the

lookout for ways to make us more professional. TruFit definitely fits the bill. It’s the future.”

Tel: 08700 566844

installer and homeowner enquiries for Synseal’s innovative Celsius Solid Roof are now fully supported by an informative new sales brochure entitled “Quick to fit, strong and warm… the right roof for the job.”

This engaging and well-presented 24-page publication provides full technical details to illustrate how the product components are delivered to site in kit format to exactly meet project specifications and then swiftly fitted together to build a truly warm roof construction.

Celsius Solid Roof uses a skeleton of specially-engineered C24 construction grade structural timbers to form ridge and hip assemblies that neatly receive the Kingspan TEK Building System structural insulated panels and, because no aluminium is used, any possibility of cold bridging is eradicated. The brochure fully explains this fundamental technical

advantage along with sections outlining end-user benefits, speed of installation, key suppliers including Velux roof windows and Rapierstar stainless steel fixings, available building extension footprint styles, Synseal’s range of lightweight and interlocking Envirotile recycled roofing components and the crucial issue of Building Regulations compliance.

“Now that Celsius Solid Roof has secured full LABC registration and approval we have released this authoritative sales brochure which is designed to help installers discuss retrofit or new build solutions

with their homeowner clients,” comments Synseal’s Head of Marketing Mark Schlotel. “This publication stresses that local Building Control approval will be required for every solid roof installation and to ease the applications process we offer two ways of achieving compliance – via LABC as the public sector route or via ASW Consultants as an alternative private sector route. Guidance notes and full details on how to achieve technical compliance are provided to reassure both installers and consumers.”

Tel: 01623 446207

entries are now open for the 2015 RehaU installation of the year competition and RehaU installers are being invited to submit photos of their most exciting and inspiring domestic installations from the past 12 months.

A new website is now live at www.rehau.co.uk/competition where installers can see the criteria for submitting entries, post their photos and get lots of useful tips and advice.

REHAU is hoping to see as broad a mix of projects as possible in the entries – from tiny cottages to sprawling mansions, and from vertical sliders to multi-fold doors. New builds, renovations, replacements and extensions can all be included – the only restriction is that the projects should be domestic rather than commercial because REHAU is planning a separate commercial competition in the Spring of 2016.

Every company which submits an entry will get a prize from REHAU and the overall winner will receive a digital SLR camera as well as the prestigious title of ‘REHAU Installation of the Year.’

Kate Whitehead, REHAU’s Product Assistant, who is organising the competition says: “The response to our first ever competition in 2014 was great but this time around we want to encourage even more customers to take part. We’ve put together our top tips for getting the best pics on the website and we’ve even included some of the best shots from last year to provide some inspiration.”

The closing date for submitting entries to the competition is 23rd November, and four shortlisted projects will then be announced on 1 December, after which the voting will open on the REHAU website for visitors to choose their favourite. The winning project will be announced in January.

www.rehau.co.uk


WERuWISE uP TO bENEFITS OF TRuFIT

ENGAGING SALES BROCHURE DETAILS CELSIUS SOLID ROOF

Weruwise Side by side installation.

For thE vEry latEst nEws visit: WWW.GlASSNEWS.cO.uk




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HARdWARE The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper

Just weeks after its launch, avocet hardware has announced its first major success for atK – with SWC trade Frames making the switch to its new tS007 3-star rated and SS312 Diamond accredited snap secure lock.

Rhys Richings, operations manager of SWC, said: “It was a big decision to switch suppliers because of how loyal we are as a business, but we needed to do the right thing for our customers.”

“And the right thing in this instance is to offer the very best available lock as standard on all doors and not just as an optional upgrade. Security should never be optional when it comes to people’s homes and lives – aesthetics, yes, but security and quality? Never.”

ATK is designed to deliver the ultimate protection in the fight against lock-snapping and features Avocet’s patented locking cam system, which is proven to effectively secure against common forms of attack such as snapping, bumping and drilling.

The new range also includes one of the only Sold Secure and Secured by Design rated thumbturn locks on the market. Incorporating Avocet’s new click secure

system, it makes use of a positive click turn action, which means it can’t be bypassed with the wire tools that make a great deal of other thumbturns a major security risk.

ATK also comes with a standard key, which allows all leading locksmiths to produce them quickly and easily, and end-user registration isn’t required.

“The reasons for choosing ATK were plentiful,” continued Rhys. “It has proven technology taken from Avocet’s extremely successful ABS cylinder; spare keys can be cut on the high street, which reduces the cost and inconvenience to the end user of registered key systems; different locks can be keyed alike to enable customers to switch to a one-key home; the thumbturn is the most secure on the market; and on top of all that we are the first fabricator in the UK to offer this superb lock.”

SWC has also added to the appeal of ATK by offering five keys as standard as opposed to the industry accepted norm of just three.

“Our success over the years has been driven by the fact we don’t jump on bandwagons – we steer them,” added Rhys. “I’m sure it won’t be long before everyone else is leaping on-board and trying to follow the lead we

have set with the adoption of ATK as our standard lock across our entire range.”

Rob I’Anson, sales director of Avocet Hardware, said: “We‘re thrilled that ATK has been met with such enthusiasm by SWC Trade Frames and we’re looking forward to working with them in order to help improve home security across the country.”

For additional information on ATK and Avocet’s full ABS range visit www.avocet-hardware.co.uk or call or call 01484 711 700

To find out more about SWC Trade Frames visit www.swctradeframes.co.uk or call 01723 582666.

SWC TRADE FRAMES SWITCHES TO AVOCET’S ATK

There’s a new ‘Supahero’ in town with the launch of mila’s new Supa range of superior grade stainless steel hardware.

Mila is promising ‘Supa’ performance, ‘Supa’ reliability, ‘Supa’ strength and, above all, ‘Supa’ corrosion resistance from a new range developed in house by its own product design team and comprehensively tested and quality assured at every stage of manufacture.

The first products to be released are two sizes of door handle. Like the rest of the Supa range, which will be available in the Autumn, these handles are available in two grades of stainless steel – 304 with 18% chromium and 8% nickel for general applications, and 316 with 16% chromium, 10% nickel and an added 2% molybdenum for coastal regions and areas of high pollution.

It is the addition of the molybdenum which gives the 316 marine grade additional corrosion resistance, particularly when the surface becomes scratched and vulnerable to corrosion in chloride environments.

As a result, Mila is recommending 316 stainless steel for any applications within 10 miles of the coast or where pollution levels are high, and is even developing a new app which will enable installers to double check the recommended grade for any property based on its postcode.

Mila’s Managing Director Richard Gyde says: “Stainless steel is the latest ‘must have’ amongst hardware buyers because it offers an easy route to corrosion resistance – particularly in arduous locations. Mila has responded to the undoubted demand with the development of this impressive new ‘Supa’ range which we’ve made sure comes with the added reassurance of a 25 year surface finish guarantee.

“We can offer the guarantee based on our grade recommendations because we have worked so hard with our suppliers in the Far East on the superior specification and testing of the steel. Not only do we request a Certificate of Conformity from all our suppliers to guarantee the material grade is exactly as

specified, but of course we are also having the materials independently tested in UK laboratories to verify the results.”

Mila’s new Supa door handles are available in 220mm and 240mm backplate sizes to suit most UK locking systems with both sprung and unsprung door locks. They come with universal lever/lever or lever/pad options and with a neat clip-on backplate cover for the internal facing handle which

conceals the fixings within the handle design.

An anti-sag spring mechanism within the backplate also ensures that the lever consistently returns back to 90º

The handles have been independently tested for strength and reliability to BS EN 1670: 2007 Grade 5 achieving 200,000 cycles under load in the 100kg pull test and the 316 grade had achieved an impressive 1000 hours in a salt spray test.

As well as these door handles, Mila’s Supa range will also include high security handles, letter plates, door knockers and escutcheons enabling fabricators and installers to offer a complete Mila stainless steel package in four suited colours - polished stainless steel, polished gold, smokey chrome and brushed satin stainless steel.

Further details are available at www.mila.co.uk



MIlA lAuNcHES NEW SuPA STAINlESS STEEl RANGE

Gareth Mobley, CEO of DW3 Products Group, the dynamic new business grouping of Solidor, Nice Door Panels, Residence 9 and Window Widgets, has installed Ultion from Brisant-Secure on five doors at his own home.

“No one wants to be burgled, or know they’re vulnerable to a burglar who has learned how to snap locks,” Gareth explains. “But it’s a growing, serious problem, and I wanted to protect my family and home with a lock that can only be opened with its key. Now I’ve got it, and I’ve installed five Ultion cylinder locks on all my external doors, so we sleep easy.”

Ultion, the high quality, high security cylinder from Brisant Secure is anti-bump, anti-pick, anti-drill, anti-snap, and anti-burglar. It has passed the ultra-demanding real-life Master Locksmiths Association’s (MLA) Sold Secure Diamond (SSD) test. MLA skilled locksmiths are tasked with trying to break Ultion using any tool, at any angle, with any force, for any amount of time. They can stop the clock to think about the problem. They can even phone another locksmith for suggestions. They gave up after 2½ hours of no-holds-barred testing. The SSD test is brutal. If the cylinder breaks, it fails. If it survives, it’s Sold Secure Diamond.

“The SSD Diamond mark really means something,” says Gareth. “Now Solidor, the best composite door, offers Ultion, the best cylinder, as an upgrade to help Solidor customers sell even more composite doors.”

Visit www.solidor.co.uk or call 0845 314 2302. Fabricators and installers looking to sell Ultion security should call Warren Yates Brisant-Secure on 01924 455 444.

“I uSE ulTION ON MY OWN HOuSE,” says gareth mobLey

Gareth mobley chose Ultion.

making the switch – (l-r) Rob i’anson of avocet hardware and Rhys Richings of SWC trade Frames.



THE BEST RANGE OF QUALITY DOOR KNOCKERS IN THE MARKET

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HARdWARE The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper

Synseal’s range of hardware specifically designed and manufactured to the company’s exact specifications has been enhanced with the addition of a new patio door handle, which is offered exclusively to Synseal direct purchasing fabricator partners.

Available in popular White, Black, Chrome and Gold finishes with lever/lever and dummy handle kit options and a full range of accessories including external blank backplates, the new Synseal patio door handle provides a wider range of customer choice configurations. Kits have also been updated to ensure the cylinders are correctly coloured to match the handle, such as chrome cylinders now supplied with White handles and brass cylinders now supplied with Gold handles.

“Attractive styling coupled with ease of fitting were factors of paramount importance when designing this patio door handle range,” says

Hardware Category Manager Mark Frain. “The new handle features a more modern and contemporary design of grip, which is only for Synseal customers. We have also removed the star head screw on the rear of our handle (which had to be un-screwed to remove the lever) and replaced this with an Allen key. We have tested this extensively and are happy that it is a robust method and more user-friendly, especially when changing the handing from left to right which is no longer a difficult job. We chose 4mm for the Allen key head as this is a size which is commonly used to adjust door locks and other hardware.”

For further information contact Mark Schlotel on 01623 446207 or 07764 229694; email [email protected].

SYNSEAl’S NEW PATIO dOOR HANdlE IS AN EASY FIT national distributor for the trade, total

hardware, has recently announced the launch of its new, fully responsive website, www.totalhardwareltd.co.uk. This is the supplier’s first site and has been designed to offer extensive information on its range of products in a sleek, modern, and intuitive design.

Directors at Total Hardware might be more accustomed to doing business “the old fashion way”, but have also recognised how crucial an effective online presence is in today’s competitive market. Andy Cunningham, Total Hardware director, said: “We have a close relationship with our clients, which is what allowed us to ‘stay under the radar’ while turning over more than £12 million/year, but the new website is a necessary evolution that will enable us to expose our products and services to a whole new audience.”

Designed to streamline the way it is displayed for the best user experience on any device, whether a tablet, mobile, laptop or desktop, the website showcases Total Hardware’s range of market leading products in a straightforward layout, which makes it easy for the visitor to get to the desired item in only a few clicks. The website also provides in-depth information on the supplier’s exclusive range of premium hardware, Quantum and Quantum Stainless Steel. Combining great looks with functionality

and durability, the Quantum range has been designed to help fabricators differentiate their offer in the marketplace, by enhancing the looks, performance and longevity of their products with high quality hardware.

Andy said: “Quantum has been very well received by our long standing customers, and the market at large. Our new fully responsive website is a very effective tool, and will enable us to further promote the advantages of our exclusive range of products, as well as the rest of our portfolio and services, to new potential customers. We really wanted a website that was easy to navigate and had a consistent design throughout, and we’re delighted with the result. The platform also contains downloadable information on our products, and we’ll be adding more to it over the following weeks,” concluded Andy.

For more information call Total Hardware on 0113 2432255, or visit www.totalhardwareltd.co.uk.

TOTAL HARDWARE GOES FULLY RESPONSIVE WITH BRAND NEW WEBSITE

total hardware’s new website looks good on any device.



online | mila.co.ukphone | 01327 312 400 social | @milahardware_uk

A new, gently sweeping lever insp

ired

by th

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subtle contours of today’s prof le systems for modern homes. Always ahead of the Curve™

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GlASS NEWS INTERVIEW: bRISANT The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper

Steve Stewart, CEO of Brisant, talks to Glass News about his time in the industry and his views on the importance of security and proper accreditation.

how long have you been working in the window and door industry?

I joined Worcester Parsons in 85/86. Thirty years ago - that shocked me!

what is your background?

I did a stint in IT, before switching to hardware sales at Worcester Parsons. I have worked in sales since then, moving to Siegenia and Avocet, before moving into operations at Laird. I returned to Avocet as Group Operations Director. Then I set up Brisant.

why did you set up brisant?

I love locks! I had been in the industry a long time and identified a gap in the market for robust, good quality, high security anti-snap cylinders that really work. Brisant is about filling that gap.

what are your objectives for brisant?

We develop products that actually work and offer real benefits to customers. We’re driving for change in security perceptions by breaking through the bullshit, demystifying and clarifying what real security is, and how they can achieve it. Brisant is a robust and trusted brand commended by many for its service and ethics. I am and want to be immensely proud of Brisant.

how is brisant different to other lock manufacturers?

Most other manufacturers have an idea of what they think the market wants and then try to convince the market they are right. One of Brisant’s main principles when designing a product is to consider how the product will benefit our customers. That can be in terms of design, unique features, stocking, flexibility or profitability.

Our product design begins with looking at the market, assessing the problems and then finding solutions. I’ve found that product and business development are easy if you listen to your customers.

security is vitally important but many people are comforted by the terminology and standards e.g. ts007, pas24, secured by design and sold secure diamond. can you explain what they all mean, and the differences between them?

How long have you got! Don’t get me wrong. Raising standards is a good thing because it forces the market to make improvements. The issue is policing and ethics in the industry itself.

The Door Hardware Federation (DHF) developed and own TS007. They are the people who make doors and hardware, but door makers and hardware makers have their own agendas. For example, if I only make handles I want a handle to be a solution to the cylinder’s problem.

TS007 is a tiered system, so there is an opportunity for miss selling. You can ask for a TS007 cylinder, and you will get one, but it might be only a 1-star or 2-star. If you don’t ask, no one will tell you. TS007 relies on the end-user knowing what to ask for, but they won’t ask because the public doesn’t know anything about it.

TS007 is a 1-star and a 3-star cylinder solution offering supposedly different levels of security; 1-star tests cover picking, bumping and drilling; 3-star tests cover bumping, picking, drilling and snapping. This implies that if I buy a 1-star cylinder, I’ll get a cylinder that stops 75% of attacks. And if I buy a 3-star cylinder, I’ll get one that protects my home from 100% of attacks.

Of the cylinder attacks I have personally visited, had feedback from locksmiths or from the actual victims themselves the only attack method on cylinders has been snapping. Therefore, a 1-star cylinder with a kite mark will stop “ZERO” percent of burglary attacks. Surely, we should test 1-star cylinders for snapping, and test 3-star cylinders for snapping and the rest? If we did, 95% of the 1-star cylinders on the market would not keep their accreditation.

PAS024 is good because it tests a complete door as a security solution. The whole spec is tested and documented, but the spec is for a new door. It has nothing to do with replacement hardware, but people are using it anyway, and people sell “PAS024” handles or “PAS024” cylinders when there is no such thing.

If I were kind, I would say both TS007 and PAS024 rely on the experience of the tester to be effective. That may be why products achieve TS007 or doors achieve PAS024, but when experienced locksmiths replicate an attack method that an intruder is likely to use, they can disable them in less than 30 seconds with mole grips and a screwdriver. The BSI has evidence showing these test results. Even the nationals have written to BSI complaining that their in-house tests show TS007 3 star cylinders fail easily and repeatedly. So, why are these products still carrying their 3-stars and kitemark today?

Secured by Design is one of my biggest frustrations. You would think that if ACPO are involved there would be a rigorous testing and approval process, but it’s a badge the manufacturers can buy if they already have an existing accreditation. There is no extra security testing. Give them your cheque and they give you Secured by Design. What a great marketing ploy to have a pseudo police badge on your product. How convincing to be able to use the words “police approved” in your marketing and packaging.

People look for locks with BSI Kitemarks too, but it doesn’t imply that the lock has been subjected to any form of snap attack test.

Sold Secure Diamond (SSD) is a replacement lock standard owned and administered by the Master Locksmiths Association (MLA). A replacement lock standard owned and administered by the experts in retrofitting products. Testing starts with an analysis of the product by experts whose day job is breaking into or bypassing cylinders. The MLA testers consider every possible method of attack and try them out before they start the test. Their knowledge comes from years of experience, and over 350 lock experts are always available for advice on how to disable a cylinder. They spend their time fixing the locks on doors after burglaries. They know how intruders break into homes.

An intruder can’t disable a Sold Secure Diamond cylinder quickly or easily. When they tested Ultion, the MLA testers gave up after 2½ hours because they could not find a way to break it. You need a key to get into an Ultion! Recently, external testing found that two cylinders that had previously passed SSD were failing. Once Sold Secure and the MLA saw the evidence, they retested them and they lost their accreditation within days. Qualified testers and the MLA’s credibility maintain this real-life standard.

we know security matters and lock snapping is on the rise. why doesn’t the industry take security seriously?

There are several reasons. Cost is one factor. A part of the market wants to buy at the cheapest possible price. Selling doors is a business, and businesses need to make money. There is no legal requirement to sell a door that is secure, so it’s easy to sell the cheapest door as standard. If an installers’ customer keeps saying they want to pay less than a certain amount for a fitted door, then that’s what they’ll get.

Other parts of the market are aware of lock snapping so they do ask. It’s the same as WER ratings, triple glazing, and self-cleaning glass. If the market asks and insists on it, then the supplier supplies it.

Unfortunately, even if the market asks for an anti-snap lock, many just fit a lock with sacrificial cuts to say they have fitted an anti-snap lock. In reality, they may as well have fitted a standard lock, because sacrificial-only locks offer little lock snapping protection.

The good news is consumers are becoming increasingly aware of the issues. They are doing their homework and asking for Sold Secure Diamond locks.

A number of fabricators and installers are beginning to sell Sold Secure Diamond cylinders like Ultion as standard. Many more sell them as an upgrade option. The market is starting to take the time and effort to educate the end user about the reality of lock snapping, giving them the facts and the chance to buy a solution. When people know what a difference it makes, they are happy to spend a little more money to protect their families from intruders.

Fabricators and installers looking to sell Ultion security should call Warren yates Brisant-Secure on 01924 455 444.


SERIOuS AbOuT SEcuRITY? says Brisant’s cEo, stEvE stEwart


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The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper

Victoria Brocklesby, Coo, origin.

The COO of one of UK’s most successful manufacturing companies talks aluminium, being a mum and working in a male dominated industry.

Having studied physics and space science at university, Victoria Brocklesby moved straight to a career in manufacturing aluminium bi-folding doors – a far cry from her original plan to find a desk job in the city.

Neil Ginger, her cousin, had just started manufacturing bi-folding doors, and so Brocklesby, at the age of 22, went to help him with administration tasks and found herself at the beginning of her Origin career.

eVoLUtion oF oRiGin“I joined the company initially to help out; my father and Neil were working closely together to get the company off the ground and I could see that they were on the brink of something real, and I could be a part of it.”

Previously, Origin founder Neil Ginger had worked for his father and uncle helping to build swimming pools, with customers constantly requesting bi-fold doors to complete the look. Neil found it almost impossible to find anything of high standard in the UK, let alone to match the specifications, and some of the lead times for the doors to be delivered were six, eight or even 16 weeks. So Origin was born. The British company now designs, develops and manufactures the Origin Bi-fold Door and Window at its fast-growing High Wycombe facility.

Brocklesby started as a bookkeeper-cum-sales and accounts manager, but also did her fair share of manufacturing the doors. “There were so few of us to start with, I’d help make the doors and load the lorries – making the doors from scratch for someone’s home that you know they will love is very addictive.” Brocklesby soon became aware of the enormous opportunities to grow the operations side of the business. “I’m just one of those people who love a challenge” so she would put processes

in place to accommodate the company’s needs. “I completely grew the accounts department from nothing and did the same with HR, recruitment and business operations.”

As Victoria rose from admin manager to COO, so did the company, becoming one of the biggest UK aluminium manufactures in bi-fold doors.

Like its creators, Origin has evolved, now with an annual turnover of over £20 million, operations in Dubai, North America and Europe, currently employing 153 people at its UK headquarters.

BRinGinG in the BiG GUnSOrigin started trading in 2002, finding the economic crash worked in its favour by removing rogue competitors, Origin was soon inundated with orders. Recognising they didn’t know

which direction to take the business, Ginger and Brocklesby found a ‘very lovely angel’ who believed in Origin and changed the direction of the business.

Daniel Baker, who pushes the strategic focus of the business forward, helped devise a world class production system that enabled Origin to offer a ‘Your Lead Time, Not Ours’ service - essentially Origin are the first in the world to remove lead times from a bespoke manufactured product.

The company has flourished; alongside a period of financial growth, Brocklesby has led the expansion of business support services and engaged other departments ensuring that every employee understands Origin’s core values and the significance each person’s role plays in achieving the company’s goals. “It’s been an interesting learning process, and a great deal about listening to people and what they need us to do.”

ORIGINAl THINkING FROm ORIgIN


WOMEN IN buSINESSThe UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper

GiVinG BaCKWorking with, and helping people is a big priority for this COO; making time to speak to the employees and giving guidance helps her appreciate that product is product at the end of the day, and the people who work at Origin are the real assets to the business. “I try to talk to all employees each week, mentor and give advice. I believe in the power of giving back and if you help people, there will come a time when they can offer you help in return.”

Victoria is passionate about community spirit – “We have internally benefited so much from Origin’s success and we are always looking for ways to give back to the community via charity or local mentoring in schools. Stronger links between employers, schools and colleges, encouraging them to work together more closely will help young people consider all possible career options.”

People thought Victoria was crazy when she didn’t follow a scientific career in line with her degree, but chose to help run a manufacturing business her cousin had started.

She was one of the few women she knew of at that time working within manufacturing, especially in the doors and window industry. Brocklesby acknowledges that they are fighting societal norms, with women only accounting for 23% of directorships in manufacturing.

But she found she loved the business. “It was a complete buzz, producing a product from scratch and then seeing the things your company has made in use out in the world every day.”

“Recruiting more women into manufacturing is a challenge, but there are many opportunities as it is a huge and diverse industry. You can’t always believe the fiction that women can’t make the same money men make, or that there are fewer opportunities for women in manufacturing. Until we attract more female apprentices, graduates and other entrants, we will continue to see women under-represented at all levels in manufacturing.”

Brocklesby describes women as having a softer approach than their male counterparts and perhaps it is Origin’s ability to harness the gender balance in the boardroom that has been vital in securing the future competitiveness of Origin and being a successful British family business.

WOMEN IN manufacturing “To successfully cope with life, the thing working mums really

need is a good sense of humour,” states Brocklesby, mum of two sons, Henry and Edward, who is constantly juggling her busy family life with running Origin.

The business is a real family affair, 85% of the workforce has another family member working at Origin. Brocklesby accepts she might have had it easier than most, and since having her second child, she only works a three day week, but she’s quick to point out that’s just as stressful as she’s now cramming five days into three.

“Our determined approach together (as a family) means we care about the business. We can cope with change and the fast growth of the business because we are all striving for the same thing – complete success. We focus solely on two quality aluminium products, meaning we can provide what customers really want.”

Typically Victoria’s day starts at 6.00am, before the children wake at 6.30am and then there is pandemonium to get everyone out the door on time. Husband Ben, who also works at Origin, takes the children to school while Victoria goes to the gym for a personal training session, before getting into the office for 9am.

Her working day starts with emails, followed by back to back meetings and catching up with employees, not leaving the office until after 6.30pm.

Brocklesby concludes, there’s an army of working mums quietly but consistently doing just fine juggling of the work/life balance. She considers the assumption that any woman, who chooses to work their way to the top, will never see their children a ‘faulty narrative’ and her story shows that this view is an old-fashioned one!

MuMS IN buSINESS



cASE STudY The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper

David Walker, Chairman of Vulcan Commercial Glazing, has seen the building business he started in the early 1970s grow into a successful group of companies of which ‘Vulcan Windows Limited’ and ‘Vulcan Aluminium Limited’ turn over in excess of £10 million. Wise investments in machinery and in people have been at the forefront of David’s strategy for success.

Over the last fifteen years Vulcan Aluminium has become involved in larger and ever more complex projects, demanding high performance curtain wall, roofing and door systems. The firm has risen to meet the challenge and can now produce all of their own pressed metal work.

As the volumes and complexity of the products increased, Vulcan sought advice from elumatec on the most suitable enhancements to its factory systems. A £32k investment in a DG104 e355-6m double mitre saw has enabled the firm to deal with increased volumes together with more accuracy on compound cuts. The saw tilts left and right, enabling cuts to be made in either direction without the need to turn the work. External dimension cuts are possible for all cutting variants and this means that no complicated length calculations or

correction values are needed; a big advantage when cutting special angles and leading to a speedier process all round.

elumatec’s technical sales manager, Andrew Robson said “ In developing our machines we are able to draw on our decades of experience and we always keep practical issues at the forefront of design. DG104 is a prime example of a saw that solves many production issues for fabricators.”

Vulcan Aluminium has recently put the DG104 to the test in a prestigious job for Hull History Centre. This required a complex curved aluminium gutter that would accurately follow the lines of curved glulam beams. “The DG104 double mitre saw was more than up to the job,” said David Walker, “It delivers an outstanding product.”

ENHANCED PERFORMANCE from eVery anGle



TRAdE NEWSThe UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper

The company behind the FIT Show has been accepted as a member of the respected Association of Event Organisers (AEO), the industry body that promotes the event and exhibition industry to marketers of all kinds. As a result tangible benefits to FIT Show exhibitors are already being rolled out

The FIT Show 2016, the premier showcase for the glass and glazing industry, is already gearing up for the third event, at Telford International Centre on April 12-14 and Matthew Glover, Chairman of FIT Events Ltd says the company’s acceptance is a big step forward for the event and its exhibitors:

“This really marks a coming of age for the FIT Show. It demonstrates that we are now very much on the map in the world of exhibitions and it will also bring us many opportunities to share experiences with other UK exhibition organisers.

“The benefits to our exhibitors are immediate. Rather than stage our own training events as we have done for the past two shows, we are tying in with the AEO’s Exhibitor Masterclasses, after our Event Director Nickie West attended one herself earlier this year. The content is superb and delivered by leading experts on a host of subjects.”

Two dates are immediately available for exhibitors, the first at Liverpool’s ACC on

19th October with a further Masterclass to be held at the SECC in Glasgow on 26th November. Further dates are anticipated in the future but exhibitors are urged to take advantage of the known dates to be sure that they and their staff can take advantage of the benefits offered.

The Masterclasses cover such issues as on-stand selling techniques; the importance of choosing the right language to influence customers and of branding before, during and after the exhibition; and amongst other sessions, how to get the most from Social Media, especially for smaller companies or those with ‘quite boring products’. The usual charge of £150 per delegate has been waived for FIT Show exhibitors.

“The AEO Masterclasses are superb,” explained Nickie West, “and are designed by the exhibition industry for exhibitors to squeeze the most out of their exhibition stand and therefore to return again and again. We already have a number of exhibitors attending the Liverpool event and I urge companies to sign up now, wherever they are in the UK.”

Further details of the AEO Masterclass can be seen at http://tinyurl.com/qb468ku. Anyone wishing to attend the Masterclass at the ACC Liverpool on October 19th should email Nickie West: [email protected].

The Fabricator Installer Trade (FIT) Show takes place at The International Centre Telford on the 12th, 13th and 14th April 2016. Further information is available at http://www.fitshow.co.uk/stand-packages.

FIT SHOW JOINS EVENTS PRO BODY; LAUNCHES EXHIBITOR MASTERCLASSES


The UK’s largest independent trade counter network, national Plastics, has plans to open 17 new stores by the end of 2017, bringing its total number of stores to 50. to reflect the scale of its ambitions, the company has just appointed three regional operations managers, Bradley edmonds, Simon edmonds and alex Linnell, to help manage the growth on the ground.

National Plastics’ Managing Director, Geoff Foster, said: “As we continue to expand it’s important that our infrastructure grows with us so we can continue to offer exceptional service to our customers. Our regional operations managers form a vital part of that infrastructure and we’re delighted to welcome Bradley, Simon and Alex to the team.”

Bradley Edmonds, who is Regional Operations Manager for the North and Midlands, joined the company in February. Simon Edmonds, who covers the South West, joined in August. Alex Linnell, who covers the South, joined in July. All three have extensive experience in large chain environments – Bradley at Halfords, Simon at Screwfix and Alex at Argos – and all three are keen to use that experience in a rapidly growing business. The three are also delighted with the culture they’ve found at National Plastics so far.

Bradley comments: “The company is very ambitious

and has exciting plans but at the same time we’re encouraged to think outside the box and to run with our own ideas – it’s a very refreshing approach.”

Simon agrees, saying: “I wanted to work somewhere I could make a difference and be part of something exciting. I’m encouraged by the company’s openness to new ideas.”

Alex comments on the tight-knit nature of the team, saying: “I was interviewed by Geoff Foster and Paul Brough, the Managing Director and the Operations Director respectively, and it was great to feel I was being valued at such a high level in the company – it wasn’t an interview experience I was used to. I love the ambition the company has and I love the freedom I’ve been given to help us achieve it.”

National Plastics is renowned for being a one stop shop for

the trade. Its range covers everything from drainage to roofing and everything in between. Products are available at all price points, so there is something for every project, no matter what its scale. It’s a business model that has proved very successful: the company has grown substantially in the past five years, adding £9 million to its turnover.

Appointing three regional operations managers is undoubtedly a statement of intent and reflects the company’s determination to achieve sustainable, scalable growth while still maintaining its distinctive brand identity. So if you don’t already have a National Plastics store near you at the moment, you can be sure there will be one soon!

Tel: 0800 011 3503 www.nationalplastics.co.uk

NATIONAl PlASTIcS APPOINTS three regionaL operations managers

From Left to right: Simon edmonds, alex Linnell and Bradley edmonds.



Enjoy this edition!




TRAdE NEWS The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper

The canal theme continues as the industry’s networking group People in Glazing, or PIGS as it’s affectionately known, comes to Birmingham on 29 October.

The ever popular industry get together will be at the Pitcher and Piano in Brindley Place, just off Broad Street. “We’ve used this location before – and the whole of the downstairs has been booked for the exclusive use of PIGS,” says organiser Sarah Ball.

The two previous events in 2015 have been really well attended. Birmingham is expected to be as popular as there are so many companies in the industry on the doorstep.

To get the room for free a certain amount is guaranteed behind the bar. This comes from generous sponsors who dip in their pockets to make sure PIGS goes ahead.

“This year we’ve had brilliant support. We’ve seen several organisations sponsor all three events. The rest of the sponsorship is made up from one off donations and all money paid by sponsors goes behind the bar,” adds Sarah.

The organisers would like to say a huge thank you to the Birmingham sponsors:

• Avantis International

• Business Micros

• Central RPL

• Danvac Vacuum Lifting Equipment

• Dempsey Dyer

• Edgetech UK

• Emplas

• Extrudaseal

• FIT Show

• GGF

• Glass and Glazing Products

• Glass News

• Glassolutions

• Glazerite Windows Ltd

• GM Fundraising

• KJM Group

• MBA Associates

• MiGlass

• Network VEKA

• Quickslide

• Regalead

• Sealco

• Selecta Systems Limited

• Solidor

• Stuga

• Synseal

• The Consultancy

• The Fabricator Magazine

• The Installer Magazine

• UltraFrame

• Vast PR

• Window Ware

• Windows Active

• Yale Door & Window Solutions

As well as organising the events, Sarah also organises all the promotion free of charge. “We get exceptional help from all the magazines in publicising upcoming events. The editors support PIGS by regularly attending the events too. We want to reach as many people as possible in the industry. So we’re big on social media: we have Facebook, Twitter and a LinkedIn group.”

Because it’s in a public place the organisers ask for people to register through Eventbrite.

Tickets are free and it’s really quick and easy to do, go to http://pigs-birmingham-2015.eventbrite.co.uk

Registration is open now and remains open until the event starts.

Let’S maKe it a Date… Date: 29 October 2015 time: 5pm until late Where: Pitcher and Piano, The Water’s Edge, Brindley Place, Birmingham, B1 2HP.

if you’d like more information about attending or becoming a PiGS sponsor at a future event, please contact Sarah on [email protected] or ring 07540 049655.


PIGS cOMES TO bIRMINGHAM

Canadian-based 360 Innovations has been developing and supplying software solutions for window and door manufacturers since 2003.

Now widely used in the US – more than 1000 users in North America alone - Mexico and France (360 Innovations are based in Quebec) the UK is the company’s next natural step for expansion. And the fast-moving firm is using The FIT Show as its launch base having booked the very last location in Hall 1 – Stand 101.

The company’s name carries substance: 360 Innovations has a strong reputation in its current market arenas for showing an innovative approach to customer solutions and is highly regarded as a thought leader in the areas it currently serves.

360i offers a fully integrated ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) solution, which precludes the need for multiple software providers, also allowing clients to modify the software themselves, giving them autonomy. The software is designed to handle a great volume of data, as well as inter-company transactions, as a matter of course. The 360i package efficiently manages sales, production planning, manufacture, delivery and billing and, says the company, seamlessly grows with a business. Crucially 360i is ideal for handling a range of other home improvement



INNOVATIVE cANAdIAN SOFTWARE PROVIdERS cOMPlETE HAll 1 AT THE FIT SHOW

“the 360i package efficiently manages sales, production planning, manufacture, delivery and billing.”

products including garage doors, blinds, railings and others without the need for additional modules.

360i window and door manufacturing solutions are well established in Canada, the United States, France and Mexico and the company has recently received strong interest from window and door manufacturers in the UK. It has therefore identified The FIT Show in 2016 as the key industry meeting place through which to launch in Britain.

Stéphane Mondoux, President of 360 Innovations said: “I am extremely pleased to have the opportunity to introduce our solutions to manufacturers in the UK at The FIT Show 2016. In the last year we have met many stakeholders and manufacturers in the UK and it is clear that there is a demand for our solutions, especially where the ability to handle a large number of transactions is required.

“Having already identified a need for our products we are participating at The FIT Show to roll them out to larger numbers of fabricators by demonstrating how our existing customers use our products to drive their businesses.”

More information can be found at: www.360-innovations.co.uk.

The FIT Show takes place at The International Centre Telford on the 12th, 13th and 14th April 2016. Although more than 95% of the enlarged exhibition space has been sold, some excellent stands are still available but are continuing to sell fast. Further information is available at www.fitshow.co.uk/stand-packages.

a debut novel by a PR consultant in the glass and glazing sector is being published at the end of this month.

The Herbal Detective by first-time author Charlie Laidlaw (writing as Charles Gray) is the comic story of an eccentric publican and herbalist who sets out to discover if her husband is having an affair and to solve a murder – before she becomes the next victim. The book is available for pre-order from the publisher, Ringwood Publishing and, from mid-October, from Amazon and leading bookshops. Charles Gray, who is also a former Security Service officer and national newspaper journalist, has handled PR assignments in the glass and glazing industry for over 15 years. He lives in East Lothian and is married with two children.

Ringwood Publishing is a small mainstream Scottish publisher, based in Glasgow, dedicated to publishing quality works of fiction and non-fiction.

“I continue to enjoy working with such fantastic companies as Wrightstyle Limited, and to making the world of glass as interesting as I can to the design and specification communities,” said Charlie. “My book is, I hope, an interesting and entertaining tale of hapless misadventure and unintended consequences – although the only times glass is mentioned is when something is being poured into it,” he said.

Tel: 01620 844736

dEbuT NOVEl FROM GlASS PR SPEcIAlIST


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The Glass and Glazing Federation has released its annual Report for 2014 showing a highly productive year against the recovering economy.

GGF President, Brian Baker of Glassolutions Saint-Gobain stated: “Against this more stable economic climate and with signs of positive change, the Glass and Glazing Federation met its targets within a substantial strategic plan that saw significant progress on many fronts. The year saw steady growth in recruitment and delivery of several high quality technical products and services whilst on the marketing side the online metrics showed outstanding growth. Most importantly, the GGF achieved its operational objectives and remained in financially stable position.”

Nigel Rees, GGF Group Chief Executive commented, “Our Annual Report reflects a positive year for the GGF in which we enjoyed a high retention rate and our Membership once

again stood up to the trading pressures in yet another difficult year. Last year 30 companies joined the Federation, many of which are high profile businesses in the industry. It was particularly pleasing that we continued to be active and productive in many areas, notably in home improvement, marketing and technical with improved member support, new publications and online developments.”

The Report also highlights the GGF’s political activity with, the Federation’s continued progress with governmental departments across its numerous political campaigns including; the promotion of energy efficient glazing in the UK building stock, influencing developments on the Consumer Rights Directive and Consumer Rights Bill and at the end of the year, the GGF raised its campaigns and profile with a week-long exhibition and meetings in the Scottish Parliament.

The Annual Report highlights the Federation’s hard work on technical, political and legislative issues and shows outstanding online results from strong marketing and communications strategies, including a 21% increase (120,000) unique visitors viewing the GGF website www.ggf.org.uk and a 13% increase in unique page views (510,000).

Nigel Rees concluded, “This Annual report shows the GGF is fulfilling its promises to Members, reaching a wider audience than ever before and has more companies joining the Federation year on year. There are many challenges facing the industry but working together we can not only cope with the pressures but also grow. I thank all Members for their much valued input and continued support.”

All GGF Members were posted a printed copy of the Annual Report and a digital version is available for download from the GGF website.

For further information go to: www.ggf.org.uk.

GGF ANNuAl REPORT

HIGHlIGHTS FEdERATION’S PROducTIVITY

it has been announced that network VeKa meets all the requirements of the new international standard for operators of competent persons schemes.

Assure Windows and Doors is the UKAS-accredited, official competent persons scheme authorised by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) and operated by Network VEKA.

Technical and Compliance Manager Austin Greene

explains: “The Assure team are proud to consistently maintain exceptional standards and were pleased to hear from UKAS that the organisation has successfully completed the transition to the new international standard, with which all competent persons scheme operators must comply. This means we are now officially certified to ISO 17065: 2012.

“The accreditation further illustrates all the hard work put in by the whole Assure team, as well as

demonstrating the efficiency of our management systems.

“Since Assure was launched, we have always tried to stay ahead of the curve, when it comes to standards and legislation, in order to offer our installers and surveyors a straightforward support service that meets all their needs.

“It came as little surprise that Assure's installer numbers doubled last year. We're told that that members find Assure a straightforward

and cost-effective route to compliance with a host of benefits that aren't found with other operators.

“Provided they meet the necessary requirements, installers of any type of PVC-U window and door systems are welcome to join the Assure Competent Persons Scheme. This allows them to self-certify installations, instead of going through their Local Authority Building Control Department. As well as allowing for self certification,

Assure also enables its installers and surveyors to prove their MTCs with branded ID cards, access subsidised NVQs, update their industry knowledge through CPD training, benefit from Assure-branded literature and much more.”

Following The VEKA UK Group's unique offering of the industry's only BSI-notified, window and door set energy performance calculator last year, VEKA and Halo customers are also now being given the

opportunity to generate their own Window Energy Ratings (WERs) and Door Set Energy Ratings (DSERs) through the recently launched Assure Rating Register.

Find out more and see how you could offer homeowners the level of protection they deserve - by visiting www.assurewindowsanddoors.com.

ASSuRE GOES FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH WITH ukAS

a new Code of Practice which sets out the requirements for the design, specification, installation, commissioning, operation and maintenance of grid-connected solar photovoltaic (PV) systems in the UK is to be published this month by the institution of engineering and technology (iet).

The IET Code of Practice for the Grid Connected Solar Photovoltaic Systems has been published following widespread consultation. It provides solar PV system designers and installers with the information required to ensure that a solar PV system is designed, installed, operated and maintained to comply with relevant UK and international standards and good practice recommendations.

The Code of Practice updates UK industry practice to ensure safe, effective and fit-for-purpose installation of solar PV systems at all scales of application. Topics such as system earthing, fault alarms, fusing, connectors and fire detection, have been reviewed in detail, with key changes supporting good practice within the UK as well as aligning with international standards where relevant.

Supported by the BRE National Solar Centre as expert technical authors, the Code of Practice is aimed at ensuring safe, effective and competently installed solar PV systems. It will also be

of interest to a wide range of stakeholders, including customers, owners, investors, insurers and financiers of solar PV systems.

Ray Noble, who chaired the IET Standards Technical Committee, said: “The popularity of solar photovoltaic systems has increased in recent years to the point that a Code of Practice is essential to meeting the challenges of this maturing industry.

“Key stakeholder involvement is critical to this Code of Practice, and so the development of this document by a respected body such as the IET will increase consumer confidence, while also meeting the needs of solar PV professionals, users and owners.”

The IET would like to thank the technical committee members and industry experts who contributed to the development of this Code of Practice for their support, including representatives from:

• BRE National Solar Centre

• BEAMA

• Chartered Institution of Building Service Engineers (CIBSE)

• Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC)

• Department for Communities & Local Government (DCLG)

• Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA)

• Electrical Contractors’ Association of Scotland (SELECT)

• Energy Networks Association (ENA)

• Fire Protection Association (FPA)

• Health and Safety Executive (HSE)

• Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS)

• National Association of Professional Inspectors and Testers (NAPIT)

• National House Building Council (NHBC)

• Renewable Energy Association (REA)

• Renewable Energy Consumer Code (RECC)

• Solar Trade Association (STA)

• Wales Solar Action Group (Renewables UK Cymru).

The Code of Practice for the Grid Connected Solar Photovoltaic Systems is published by the IET on Monday 28 September.

If you plan to visit the Solar Energy UK show, please remember to visit the IET’s stand. We will be at stand J40c, Hall 3, Birmingham NEC (13 – 15 October).

www.theiet.org

new soLar pV code of practice PuBlisheD By the iet




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despatch. Then, every single component is carefully labelled and packed for ease of installation when on site.

Guardian Warm Roofs leave each manufacturing facility ready for installation, including all fixings and insulations. Guardian even offers full technical support and on-site assistance with new installers’ first installation.

“complete flexibility: perfect for new build and replacements”

The flexibility of the Guardian roof makes it as perfect for new build properties as it is for replacements or upgrades.

“with 20% annual growth in sales it all adds up!”

When we launched Guardian back in 2005 we became the UK’s first roof manufacturing company to make a simple promise: that we’d never fabricate a roof ourselves. And we’ve been true to our word. We have built partnerships with some of the UK’s finest fabricators. And their support, belief in the unique business model and hard work is now paying off in massive success for the brand.

We gave our word in 2005 on the way the business model would work for everyone - and we have kept to those principles right from day one. Now everyone involved is reaping the rewards. But this is only just the beginning. Our recruitment of installers continues. And we are also developing new and more exciting products for our fabricators to exclusively supply.

more information about team Guardian is available by calling 0808 281 9510 or visiting www.jointeamguardian.co.uk.

“the team guardian registered installer scheme: it’s the uK’s most vibrant installer community.”

Our fabricators and installers are the lifeblood of the business. That’s why we invest so much time on unrivalled support for them. In less than four years, The Team Guardian Registered Installer Scheme, operated from our Staffordshire-base, has already established a network of 21 fabricators and over 150 team guardian installers throughout the UK.

“the new guardian roof industry-leading seal of production quality and excellence guarantee.”

It’s new and we believe this is the most rigorous seal of manufacturing quality our industry has ever seen. It covers every

element of production, delivery and support to help manufacturers maintain the standards for which Guardian is renowned. Our new standard takes our entire supply chain to a new level and includes a comprehensive audit system to ensure that all manufactured roofs are consistent right across the country.

But it goes further than that.

The pioneering guarantee of excellence means our Team Guardian installers know they can count on any Guardian manufacturer quality. Not only do we guarantee that the product will be exactly as requested and described to exact building standards; but we also pack, label and supply all components specifically for ease of each installation.

“total peace of mind thanks to guardian roof pre-build.”

Before every Guardian roof leaves the manufacturing facility, it is built to completion prior to


We asked our UK installers why they chose Staffordshire-based Guardian Roof. Here’s what they told us…

“10 years of manufacturing excellence means guardian is the warm roof you can trust.”

Guardian Warm Roof is no longer the new kid on the block. Yes, Guardian was the first solid roof system with

LABC and LABSS approval. But now, our innovative solutions are backed by 10 years of delivering quality results time and time again.

And in that time, Team Guardian installers have sold over 15,000 roofs throughout the UK. We’re still as committed today as we were back in 2005 when the Guardian Warm Roof success story began.

REASONS WHY GuARdIAN ROOF IS THE uk’S/uk INSTAllERS’* FAVOuRITE WARM ROOF


The most popular tiled conservatory roof system in the UK.

Nationwide professional production facilitiesFast and efficient estimating & quote serviceBuilding regulations & documentation supportFull marketing tool-kit & ongoing help

Register today www.jointeamguardian.co.uk

0808 281 9510

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The GGF has launched a new website called MyGlazing.com, to help consumers make informed decisions when it comes to choosing the right windows, doors and conservatories for their homes, as well as the right companies and tradespeople to supply and fit glass and glazing products.

Nigel Rees, GGF Group Chief Executive commented, “It makes perfect sense for the GGF to introduce this online resource for homeowners. For many years the Federation has run schemes and produced literature to help and guide consumers, this new site aims to promote our work and our Members’ professionalism when dealing with homeowners.”

After witnessing growing online consumer demand for impartial advice on glass and glazing products and services, the GGF has decided to create this new valuable resource where people can get independent up-to-date information, advice and inspiration to help them improve their homes.

As well as providing easy to understand information around the benefits of installing energy efficient glazing, MyGlazing.com offers an interactive energy efficiency calculator to help homeowners work out how much they could save on their energy bills by upgrading their windows and doors.

Giles Willson, GGF Managing Director “MyGlazing.com is in many ways a necessary initiative by the GGF. With so much information now available online to consumers, it is only right that GGF as the leading authority in glass and glazing should offer consumer information on areas such as energy efficient glazing and condensation as well as guidance on protection and conciliation, all in one place.”

Consumer protection is another key feature highlighted on MyGlazing.com. The website features advice on guarantees, choosing a reputable installer and how to ensure your project is secured via a free deposit protection scheme which safeguards up to 50% of contract value or £12,500 - whichever is less (the best deposit protection scheme in the industry). Visitors will also be able to find out how they can take advantage of a conciliation service offered to those who are unhappy with the work carried out on their property.

Brian Smith, GGF Director of Home Improvement commented, “With the GGF doing so much work with Members to protect and help homeowners, it is only appropriate to launch a dedicated website such as MyGlazing.com. Not only will homeowners be able to find out how the GGF helps and protects them but they will also now have easy access to the best companies in the industry.”

Homeowners visiting the site will be able to browse a range of galleries – including images and videos – showcasing examples of different styles of windows, doors, conservatories and other glass and glazing products and services, to help inspire them for their own home improvements.

James Lee, Head of GGF Group Marketing and Communications, said: “Currently the GGF’s trade-facing website receives over one hundred thousand visits each year from homeowners looking for independent and practical advice on issues around glass

and glazing. In view of this, we felt it was important to communicate with homeowners on one consumer-friendly website. MyGlazing.com aims to help consumers make the right choice for their home, so their selection and installation, be it for windows, doors, conservatories, or any other home improvement glass products, runs as smoothly as possible.”

MyGlazing.com includes an easy search function to enable consumers to easily find a GGF Member company to supply and/or fit their new glass and glazing products.

GGF Members who are consumer facing will be listed on the site’s directory and will have their own profile page as well as being able to feature their promotions, news and case studies.

The new site will be supported by a long term consumer PR plan to highlight the best of the GGF to homeowners. In addition the GGF plans to send out new MyGlazing.com branded marketing materials to help its consumer facing Members promote the site.

MyGlazing.com was previewed at the GGF Members Day 2015, on 1st September 2015 and launched on 3rd September 12.00pm.

Visit www.MyGlazing.com.

For more information please contact the GGF Marketing Department [email protected].

GGF lAuNcHES NEW cONSuMER WEbSITE – MYGlAZING.cOM


49www.glassnews.co.uk | October 2015265X318 BISON INSTALLER SCHEME.indd 1 22/09/2015 09:35

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suppliers from across the board, supporting the event.

Customers had the opportunity to talk directly with the suppliers for any of their building requirements, such as fencing & decking, interior cladding options, Bowater composite doors, WarmCore Bi-folding doors as well as ancillary products.

National Plastics were also well represented for the VEKA Approved Installer Scheme, which is proving to be a very popular resource. Approved installers are able to display the

‘Approved Installer’ logo along with their own, on all of their marketing materials and also receive a certificate and an official plague to signal their ‘Approved’ status.

The Newport branch also boasts one of the largest cladding centers throughout the network. National Plastics now stocks one of the industry’s most comprehensive ranges of internal cladding.

Amongst other activities during the Open Day was a competition where customers had the chance to win a flat screen TV, a signed

In the past few years National Plastics, the UK’s largest independent trade counter network, has become a byword for a one-stop shop. And stocking such a wide range of products in its stores has paid dividends for the company.

Keeping in line with their growth plan,

National Plastics recently relocated their Newport branch to bigger and better premises, thus adding to their portfolio of acquisitions, new depots, refurbishments and expansion.

With additional depots now including Wednesbury, Worthing, Worcester, Horsham, Chichester, Christchurch, and the relocation of Newport, National Plastics are well within their target of opening a further 20 depots towards the end of 2017.

Glass News had the pleasure of attending the Newport Open Day, which was a raving success for the Company, attended by new and old customers as well as a celebrity touch with former snooker world champion, Steve Davis, taking on anyone who thought they could beat him at pool!

It was a warm, sunny day, celebrating the success of the network’s growth and with

The newport Depot, the latest edition to the national Plastics network.

national Plastics offer customers more, with the VeKa approved installer Scheme.

a Great turnout for the newport open Day. L to R: heidi Sachs, Geoff Foster, Steve Davis and David Burles.

“national plastics are well within their target of opening a further 20 depots towards the end of 2017.”


TRADE NEWSThe UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper

autobiography by Steve Davis, and many other fantastic prizes.

Keeping guests refreshed, customers also enjoyed a pork & crackling lunch along with bottled beers and wine. All in all, another fantastic depot opening.

It is interesting to hear that imports now play a part in the National Plastics portfolio. Year on year sales growth, the introduction of many new products and record sales reported

for both roofline and fabricated sales were also attributed to the success of 2014 with similar growth predicted for 2015.

Focus has also been placed on current routes to market, an extended offering on

READER ENQUIRY No: 1015/0089Nail Biting Stuff, Geoff Foster of National Plastics - is he just about to beat Steve Davis??

Final Shot and he’s a Winner! Another winner (not sure Steve looks too happy)!

The Largest Cladding Selection across the Industry.

Stocking products that customers want to see - Newport Cladding Centre.

“National Plastics are specialist suppliers of quality building products to the trade.”

the existing product range as well as major investment within individual trade depots, as well as further new branches outlined, vehicle fleets, marketing and staff training.

National Plastics are specialist suppliers of quality building products to the trade. Stocking thousands of superior quality products at extremely competitive prices, the extensive range consists of: uPVC windows and doors, conservatories, orangeries, pavilions and rainwater guttering, fascias and soffit boards, dry verge, external cladding, EPDM rubber roofing, PVC fencing. In addition they stock building tools, trims, consumables, work wear and accessories.

Geoff Foster, Managing Director of National Plastics comments: ‘The business has grown substantially over the last few years and in the last five years alone we have added £8 million to our turnover. Our continuation of the acquisition route via opening new depots and increasing sales to our customers by offering an ever wider range of products is tantamount to that success.”

For more details of how you can become a National Plastics Depot or to find you’re nearest depot, please call 0800 011 3503 or email: [email protected].


TRADE NEWS The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper

The GGF arranged three different Golf Days for 2015 and, as they said “what better way to enjoy the great outdoors than with a round of golf with fellow GGF Members, colleagues and clients!”

The London event had been held at Finchley Golf Club and the Scottish event at Cawder Golf Club in Glasgow and, on 15 September, it was the turn of the northern event held at Blackpool’s Heron’s Reach Golf Course.

In amongst pretty iffy weather, organisers Ann-marie Waugh, GGF’s Regional Executive and Toby Blamey, GGF’s Technical Officer, managed to pick out a sunny and perfect day and they were rewarded by an excellent

turn-out of 32 players from some 18 different companies and organisations.

From the comments heard in the bar, this was a great choice of venue. Rather than the courses used in the past at both Chorley and Bolton, Heron’s Reach offered great facilities and the opportunity to stay over at the on-course hotel.

Although playing in teams of four, this was an individual event played off full handicap, and was very competitive. Although his name had featured twice before on the winner’s cup, David Offland of Float Glass Industries, playing off 17, won again on a count back with 40 points – 21 on the back nine, pushing Alan Hyde of Thermoseal into second place.

In a count back for 3rd place, 8 handicapper John Grant from GG Glass pipped Jon Dorsett from Dorset Glass, playing off 11. Both scored 39 points with John Grant scoring 23 points on the back nine.

In a category for the over 20 handicappers, Glen Bicknell, MiGlass, took the honours with a score of 35 points. The Longest Drive was won by Duncan Tombs from Dorset Glass and Nearest the Pin was Steve Beck from AGC Glass UK.

It was good to see Lisa Liddle from Bohle taking part and Lisa was presented with a bouquet for being the leading, and only, lady competitor.

A thoroughly enjoyable day was had by all and special thanks must go to both Ann-marie Waugh and Toby Blamey for their hard work in putting together a most successful day.

READER ENQUIRY No: 1015/0090

Bison Frames has just announced its plans to introduce a new Installer Network scheme for its Genesis product range. Mark Tetley, Director at Bison, says, “Genesis has taken the market by storm and we’re keen to bring together a team of high calibre installer partners to drive the brand forward and reap the rewards of being an approved installer of such a high profile product range. The network will be live early 2016 and we are now taking registrations via our website at www.bisonframes.co.uk. My advice to any installer thinking of joining is to sign up early and get in on the ground floor of the scheme.”

The range started with the Genesis Vertical Slider. Its mission was to disprove the myth that PVCu and Conservation Areas don’t go and it has more than succeeded in that ambition.

With its stunningly authentic detailing and

traditional jointed construction the Genesis VS is a genuine alternative to the timber sliding sash.

Alongside the Vertical Slider is the Genesis Flush Sash, which is the PVCu alternative to early nineteenth century timber casements.

With its exquisitely authentic appearance it’s having a similar impact in the market to the one that the Genesis Vertical Slider is already having for timber sliding sashes.

The third product in the current range is the Genesis Fold and Glide bi-fold door, a stunning alternative to a French or patio door. With its best in class security and design it’s a key component in any forward-thinking portfolio.

The range is set to expand too. “I can’t say a great deal at the moment except - Bison Aluminium,” comments Mark, “But watch this space!”

Approved Installers in the Genesis Network will benefit from homeowner leads resulting from Bison’s consumer advertising campaigns, as well as a wealth of other support to help them grow their business.

Installers interested in being part of the Genesis Network are invited to log into Bison Frames’ website at www.bisonframes.co.uk and register their interest.

Bison is one of the most exciting and innovative companies in the industry today and is enjoying extraordinary success as a result. The Genesis Network will allow installers to benefit from this success.

Tel: 0800 138 3838 - www.bisonframes.co.uk

BiSoN ANNouNcES iTS NEW GENESiS iNSTAllER NETWoRk SchEmE


GGF 25Th ANNivERSARy GolF DAy at Heron’s reacH, Blackpool

Lisa Liddle from Bohle receives the Ladies Prize from Toby Blamey and Ann-marie Waugh.

28 handicap winner, Glenn Bicknell of MiGlass receives his trophy from Ann-marie Waugh.

Toby Blamey and Ann-marie Waugh, GGF, present David Offland of Float Glass Industries (centre) with the winner's trophy.


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Colour-coded dark grey guttering marks another industry first for leading manufacturer and stockist of PVC-U building products, GAP.

PVC-U building product specialist GAP has responded to demand from Britain’s house-building and refurbishment sector for an even broader range of guttering colour options, with the launch of an Anthracite Grey rainwater system. It means customers who have opted for the group’s popular Dark Grey roofline fascia and soffits can have a colour matched gutter rather than being restricted to black or light grey.

The new Anthracite Grey range marks another industry first for Blackburn-based GAP; which distributes one of the

country’s most extensive ranges of PVC-U roofline products, windows, Rockdoors, bi-folds and ancillaries via its network of 36 local depots, as Founder Simon Bird explained.

“We’ve seen a massive surge in demand for our Grey products over the past 12 months, and have been working hard with our partners to develop a complimentary guttering range,” he said. “Once again, we’ve listened to our trade customers and taken action to give them even more options.”

GAP’s new Anthracite Grey range is now available to order across the GAP depot network for next day delivery. Visit www.gap.uk.com for more information.

When builder Colin Clarkson visited his local Eurocell branch in Wakefield to get a price on some roof tiles he did not expect to end up renovating his new home from top to bottom in products from one single source. Yet now his upgraded bungalow in the Stanley district features Eurocell-sourced products throughout: from the Tapco composite tiles on the roof and garage he was initially after; to Skypod skylights, Dales Collection composite doors, PVC-U windows – and even the rainwater goods.

“It all came together really well,” says Colin. “I’d recommend Eurocell to anyone – I got a good price on everything, the quality is 100 per cent and they’ve given me the absolute assurance that if there’s any problem they’ll change the product.” For Colin, the proof of the improvement made using Eurocell-sourced products came in the shape of five unsolicited offers on the house before completion – and despite it not being for sale!

The building itself was an early 1960s two-bedroom brick and block bungalow with a conservatory extension that had been owned by the same family since 1968 and was in a state of disrepair. Colin saw its potential and bought it to convert into a three-bedroom home with pitched dormers and a Skypod-roofed extension that matched the best of contemporary design and living standards.

“I first went to Eurocell because it was one of the few suppliers of Tapco composite tiles and they were well priced, yet then when I saw the Skypod skylights I wanted them: I had a conservatory before and knew this would sort the problem of freezing in winter and boiling in summer. And it all grew from there.”

Supplied with a 10 year guarantee, Skypod skylights are swiftly installed and bring the benefits of extra light and height without the penalty in conservatory heating costs as the double-glazed skylight has a U-value of 1.0. A wide range of frame and glass options complement any home while self-cleaning, temperature controlled glass keeps maintenance to a minimum.

Available in two-bar or three-bar pitched gable design, Skypod can be manufactured to fit any space with sizes up to 2.75 x 7.75m.

So the new home consists of mainly products either made by Eurocell or exclusive to Eurocell. They include Chatsworth entrance doors at the front and the back from The Dales Collection range of composite doors, PVC-U windows and patio doors from a Eurocell fabricator using the Eurologik profile; fascia, soffits, guttering and downpipes; Roomline internal PVC-U skirting boards; all the underground drainage and all the ancillaries necessary for the job were bought at the branch.

Available in a wide range of styles, The Dales Collection of composite doors enables homeowners to select the design that complements their property as each style can be ordered in a range of contemporary and classic colours including French Blue, Royal Magenta and Anthracite Grey.

Furthermore, the exterior finish of both the door and the frame can be carried through to the interior face, giving a fully co-ordinated look; and all The Dales Collection doors are available to Secured by Design (SBD) specification if required.

Andy Dawson, the Wakefield Area Manager for Eurocell, worked with Colin in sourcing and specifying the products for the house. He says the project made him proud. “I know the area and pass the bungalow when we visit my brother-in-law – and it gives me a boost every time I see it as it looks so good.”

For more information about Eurocell, call 0800 988 3049 or visit eurocell.co.uk.



After a day of capturing leads or making enquiries at next year’s FIT Show, exhibitors and visitors can take advantage of the newly developed Southwater events village that runs alongside the venue, The International Centre in Telford.

The first phase of Southwater completed back in September 2014 totally transformed Telford’s town centre. Now a fully established part of the overall destination, the new development is filled with restaurants and various other entertainment options, all just a short stroll away from The International Centre.

So if you’re looking for the ideal way to meet informally and socialise pre and post FIT

Show, why not grab a pizza at Pizza Express? Craving pasta? There’s both a Bella Italia and Zizzi. Or how about everyone’s favourite chicken eatery? That’s right, there’s a Nando’s.

Besides the food and entertainment the architecture is another good reason to visit. Winning big at this year’s Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Regional Awards, the iconic gold-clad Southwater One building was one of five winners of the Excellence in Architecture award while Telford & Wrekin Council won the RIBA West Midlands Client of the Year Award for Southwater One.

The architect behind Southwater One, Rupert Walshe of Associated Architects, triumphed at the awards also, taking home the gong for RIBA West Midlands Project Architect of the Year Award.

The FIT Show takes place at The International Centre Telford on the 12th, 13th and 14th April 2016. Although around 95% of the enlarged exhibition space has been sold, some excellent stands are still available but are continuing to sell fast. Further information is available at www.fitshow.co.uk/stand-packages.

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There’s always one star on the horizon and the windows and doors market is no exception.

Whilst some sectors are forecasting a slow down over the next four years, such as sliding and hinged doors, the demand for bi-fold doors is expected to grow by as much as 38% over the same period. Equally as important, is that the installed value is worth 40% more than patio or hinged doors in 2014, thus helping your profitability. Lastly, not forgetting bi-folds are expected to overtake both patio and hinged doors in market share by 2018, which shows the growth potential of this sector.

The rising popularity of bi-folds can be attributed to two main reasons. Firstly, the trend for open living spaces shows no sign of slowing down, and bi-fold doors can not only transform a property into a functional and open space for living, working and entertaining, they also bring the outside in. Secondly, outdoor living remains a growing trend, and when all of the door panels of bi-folds have been folded open, they create around a 90% opening that provides a seamless transition to the garden and surrounding area.

The research reveals that bi-fold doors are increasingly being used in new brick extensions, when homeowners want to improve rather than move. However, the opportunities for bi-fold installations are not just confined to new builds and extensions, as the demand for replacing traditional sliding patio doors is also growing. Indeed, 82% of the direct sell market for in 2014 was in replacements.

Also, with conservatories no longer perceived as a just ‘white box’, but the gateway to creating more living space within the home, there is a definite trend towards brick built extensions - often single storey, with bi-fold doors and conservatory lanterns incorporated into an otherwise solid roof.

Bi-folds are now a key consideration for any homeowner looking to extend or refurbish their existing patio or conservatory. Naturally, customers will need to consult with you regarding which type will best suit their home, their tastes, and their budget, so it pays to know your products well. Let’s consider some of the key issues surrounding bi-folds.

TrAFFIC DOOr: Bi-fold doors should provide a traffic door - a quick access door that allows for inside and outside access, without having to fold or slide any other panels. A traffic door is a door that can be operated independently and can function in the same way as any standard back door. These doors can

be hinged on either the outerframe, or indeed onto one of the opening doors to maximise styles available.

FLUSh FLOOr LEVELS: Many people are concerned about creating a trip hazard with their new patio doors, but most bi-fold door systems now offer low threshold options, which allow for the smallest of thresholds and reduced trip hazards. Ramped thresholds are also available.

COST: The cost of bi-fold doors is a common concern as they tend to be more expensive than traditional sliding doors. However, with demand increasing they are now more affordable than ever, and their benefits make it easy to upsell. Price will also vary on the different type of doors - aluminium, ali clad, wood or PVCu - and remember, no two installations are ever the same.

ENErGY EFFICIENCY: Due to increasingly more stringent Building Regulations, new build homes are required to be more energy efficient than ever before. Obtaining energy ratings on doors is harder than standard windows due to the larger profiles needed to ensure they are fit for purpose structurally, and able to withstand the angriest of kids slamming them shut! The options now available mean that you can still obtain an equivalent energy rating as the windows without the need to triple glaze the doors, you just need to have a supplier who offers you all the options.

SECUrITY: Most bi-fold doors offer multi-point locking systems - some up to eight points - with shoot bolts to ensure maximum security. Combined with toughened glazing, bi-fold doors are more secure than ever before, with many models conforming to Secured by Design.

If you’ve never installed bi-folds, why not add some to your range? As well as broadening your portfolio, it will create opportunities to upsell and boost your profit margins too. With many poorly designed early generation patio doors up for replacement, the opportunities are plentiful.

Also, by aligning yourself to a supplier who can provide a comprehensive ready-made range of leading brands in a variety of materials that you can showcase to your customers, and who can deliver first class service backed by expertise and advice, you’ll soon be opening the door to increased business.

By Steve Jones, SIG Windows.

For further information on SIG Windows, contact 01480 466777 or visit www.sigwindows.co.uk

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Glass News’ Editor reports from the launch of Nationwide Windows Ltd.’s new state-of-the-art, automated, Insulated Glass Unit manufacturing facility at Rugby….a party that will be hard to beat!

Nationwide Windows, based at Rugby, has always ‘flown beneath the radar’ as far as publicity is concerned, outside of the social housing and new build markets in which they operate. While being one of the UK’s largest fabricators with around 3,500 units per week being manufactured, Nationwide is a name you could be excused for not knowing.

Simply, Managing Director John Whalley and his team only manufacture for themselves because they are, arguably, the leading public sector and new build door and window supplier, with no supply to the trade at all. Additionally, while many fabricators specialise in manufacturing windows or doors, buying in other products as required, Nationwide manufacture everything they need, from PVCu windows and GRP

composite doors, to aluminium windows, bi-folds and sliding doors. This is a self-sufficient company that has quietly gone about their business, increasing their turnover in only 7 years from £9 million to around £32 million in 2015.

Although somewhat publicity shy, John Whalley; Operations Director, Daryl Cashmore; Commercial Director, Adrian Pavey; and Director of Commercial Sales, Kevin Caveney, know how to throw a party! When you’ve invested several millions of pounds in a new manufacturing facility for the production of Insulated Glass Units (IGUs), letting your customers know about it is probably a good thing. Laying on breakfast and His Worship the Mayor of Rugby, Councillor Richard Dodd and local MP, Mark Pawsey to officiate and

cut the ribbon, is probably par for the course. What was less than expected was the rolling up the shutters of this 36,000 sq ft facility accompanied by smoke, 65 amps of stage lighting and to be greeted by the amazing Siren Strings, a trio of beautiful and talented violinists from the Ken Arlen Orchestra. They are world renowned as an electric string trio and 200+ guests – customers and suppliers to Nationwide - were spellbound by the performance. Many commented and tweeted that the company had just made life for others in the industry extremely difficult by raising the bar for corporate entertainment to a level that may be hard to out do!

With food, drink and many stands manned by their suppliers, the ‘piece de resistance’ was the huge screen that allowed the guests to enjoy not just one, but two, of the Rugby World Cup matches being played that day.

Everyone was invited to tour the factory and view the new facility. Few had ever seen a factory colour co-ordinated with the company’s livery. The orange and purple company colours did not just adorn the RSJs and floors of the building but even the washrooms, too!

There was, however, a serious point to these outstanding festivities and it heralds the allowing of Nationwide Windows to further control the entire production process, in keeping with its existing status as a vertically integrated manufacturer and installer, but now additionally incorporating IGU manufacture into the supply chain.

Managing Director at Nationwide Windows, John Whalley, comments: “We had a fantastic day at the opening of our new IGU manufacturing facility. It was a great way to mark our 30th anniversary this year, to bring all of our customers and partners together to thank them for their support, and to officially open the new IGU plant. The facility will further ensure that we have full control over all of our processes, to the benefit of our customers, and it provides the capacity to produce 3,500 units per week, including toughened and laminated glass. All units are Argon filled and use the latest warm edge technology for optimum thermal efficiency.”

“The new space also means that we can future proof the business as a whole to allow for further growth and recruitment, with additional parking, office space and a training facility. We’ve worked hard with our partner companies to source the best machinery and equipment available to ensure that the fully automated facility was able to hit the ground running at point of launch. Watch this space for more updates in the coming months.”

NATioNWiDE WiNDoWS opENS iGu mANuFAcTuRiNG FAciliTy


Adrian Pavey, Commercial Director, Nationwide Windows with rugby's heineken Cup.

Mark Pawsey MP declares Nationwide’s new IGU manufacturing facility open.

Nationwide Windows & Doors Open Day.

L to r. Mark Pawsey MP, John Whalley, Managing Director, Nationwide Windows; his Worship the Mayor of rugby, Councillor richard Dodd; and Daryl Cashmore, Operations Director, Nationwide Windows, with Siren Strings.

Siren Strings perform for Nationwide’s 200+ guests.

John Whalley explains the new automated IGU line.

Windows & Doors

“This is a self-sufficient company that has quietly gone about their business, increasing their turnover in only 7 years from £9 million to around £32 million in 2015.”

Many commented and tweeted that the company had just made life for others in the industry extremely difficult by raising the bar for corporate entertainment to a level that may be hard to out do!”

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News of growth in construction has been a lot more forthcoming of late and it is an upward trend echoed in the experience of specialist new build fabricator, Norvik New Build, as Rob Stewart, Head of Sales and Marketing for the company explains.

The tide has been turning for the construction industry of late and February saw an unexpected further boost in growth with a four-month high. And although the Chancellor has been criticised for not doing enough to address the issue of a shortage of supply in the housing market, he has introduced a ‘Help to Buy ISA’ which will hopefully ensure the demand for new homes remains. Thanks to government involvement in affordable housing, regeneration is also on the up with more brown-field sites being developed and more existing social housing stock being renewed and modernised.

Norvik New Build specialises in the supply of made to measure windows and doors to new build residential and commercial properties as well as supplying Builders Merchants, and echoing the upward trend in the wider construction arena, has also seen sales increase.

LET’S BE rATIONALAs well as the organic growth in the sector, Norvik has recently been winning more contracts thanks to its ability to supply a wide range of products. This is as a direct result

of the trend towards vendor rationalisation where more companies are choosing to work with one trusted supplier rather than an array. The ability to supply a wide range also enables us to stay ahead of market trends. There is currently an increase in demand for more colours for example, so the wide palette of colours we offer for windows and doors are particularly useful for customers who want to stay ahead of these fast changing trends. Even more specifically there are trends with particular customers – within the housebuilding sector alone, one house builder will require more traditional products such as PVC-U vertical sliding sash and foiled woodgrain colour finishes that replicate timber, while another is looking for more contemporary coloured casement windows and Black-finish composite doors.

Regardless of the product we are supplying, we always make sure we are abreast of up and coming changes to legislation so that

we are always one step ahead on behalf of our customers. For example the Building Regulations Approved Document Q: Security, released at the end of March, makes PAS24:2012 or Secured by Design, the minimum standards for window and door security in all new homes. To that end we have already announced that our windows and doors can now achieve the Secured By Design accreditation.

IT’S ALL IN ThE DETAILBut of course establishing a long term supply partnership requires more than the right range. Service and attention to detail are also paramount.

That’s why at Norvik we ensure our support starts at the very beginning of a project with the “pre-start” meeting where we assess the drawings and discuss the requirements to identify any potential problems up front, throughout the project where we pay regular visits to the site and for example double check all measurements before manufacturing begins, and continues through to the very end with final quality inspections and formal reviews of the work.

Our lorries often leave the Norvik factory before the sun comes up to ensure deliveries are made to site early where needed, and the team in the factory start cutting at 5am to ensure products are ready for quality checking and loading on to the van for delivery the next day, in plenty of time.

All of this attention to detail is why we continue to win repeat business from our customers. In fact at the time of writing we have just secured our third big new build site in a week from repeat customers. EPIC SUPPOrT

To enable us to deliver on our promises and provide this level of attention to detail to our customers we need suppliers that afford us the same level of support. Synseal does just that. Not only do they supply us a wide range of profile and fully manufactured value-adding products so that we can meet all our customers’ requirements, they also offer epic marketing support. We have always taken advantage of their brochures, specification folders and promotional posters but most recently they have developed a new bespoke website on our behalf. And although we had a few teething problems with the website which is fully-responsive and therefore bang up to date to rank well on Google, the digital team worked well into the evening to put things right immediately.

Norvik has grown substantially in the last 12 months and has doubled its staff to stay ahead of the increased demand. With this investment in place alongside our expansive product range, expertise and understanding of the sector, we look forward to continuing to work closely with our customers to deliver quality properties to the new build market.

For more information, contact Norvik New Build Ltd on 01226 340182 [email protected].


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“Regardless of the product we are supplying, we always make sure we are abreast of up and coming changes to legislation.”


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Window industry specialists Purplex Marketing recently attended an event at Google’s London offices, exclusively for Google Partner agencies.

Two members of Purplex’s digital team were invited to attend the event at Google’s HQ, alongside paid search executives from other top UK marketing agencies.

The invite-only event offered Purplex the opportunity to work directly with Google. With exclusive training from Google’s leading AdWords specialists, the Purplex digital team were able to gain invaluable insight into the latest trends and developments in online advertising.

Purplex PPC executive, Edward Billett, comments: “Pay-per-click (PPC) campaigns, such as Google AdWords, help businesses get to the top of search engines’ results pages, making sure customers find you before your competitors.

Spending the day at Google’s offices provided us with valuable analysis on advertising strategies for a range of devices, including mobile. This helps us stay ahead of the curve in the constantly changing industry of online advertising.”

Google Partner status means Purplex have access to Google consultants, who help with business development, advertising account management, and give us exclusive access to Google products not yet available to other agencies. Working with Google consultants also means Purplex can create bespoke advertising strategies for high value clients, helping customers generate high quantities of leads through paid search advertising channels – even in competitive environments such as the fenestration and glazing industries.

Head of Digital, Adi Day, comments: “We work closely with the Google team to ensure that we’re offering our clients the most accurate and up-to-date services, and use regular performance reviews so that we continue to achieve the high standards of results that Google expect

from an affiliate company. This means we can provide maximum return on investment for our clients.”

The event follows Purplex becoming accredited Google Partners earlier this year, having passed Google-certified exams in paid search advertising. Being a Google Partner means that Purplex follows the best practices for advertising online, and gains exclusive access to new events and programmes which benefit our customers.

Purplex is a full-service marketing agency that helps businesses in the fenestration and glazing industry grow. We’re the leading marketing agency for the window, door, conservatory and glazing industry, and help build brands and drive customers to your door -whether you’re in the trade, commercial or retail sector.

In line with the corporate philosophy of providing excellence as standard, senior management at frameXpress have instigated a staff training programme for department heads at the company.

Managing Directors, Stuart Green and Mark Westbrook, who have also taken part in the training initiative, wanted to ensure that methods of constant evaluation and improvement were introduced across all departments.

The training addresses key management and leadership skills and encourages managers to review the way they handle and steer their teams within the different departments. Team leaders are then encouraged to identify strengths as well as to highlight areas for further positive development.

The course is run as a six day programme that is spread out over a six month period and covers key aspects of management including planning, communication, problem solving, understanding behaviours and creating viable solutions using a systematic approach.

Stuart Green Managing Director comments, “Balancing the roles and responsibilities of individual managers is key to moving the company further forward. T

he programme ensures that real life issues are discussed with gaps identified at every level of management and suggestions put forward for aspects of improvement.

It is a team building exercise but it also has opened up communications in all departments which ensures that we can give our customers confidence in our support services.”

The intensive, interactive programme includes group and individual exercises with the team identifying action points that require implementing before the next training session.

Angela Griffin, HR Manager comments, “This management training course is greatly helping all of us to understand each others management styles and the effect this has on others.”

“As a teambuilding exercise it is helping to boost staff morale throughout the company and we are developing ways to motivate and create action plans, to ensure our customers will receive the highest standards from ordering through to production and delivery.”

The course will be continuing for another four months and has been run in conjunction with The Professional Development Training Company.

PURPLEX DIgITAL TEAM INvITED TO gOOgLE HQ

FRAMEXPRESS INITIATES MANAgEMENT DEvELOPMENT PROgRAMME

Dan Alexander and Edward Billet.



Haffner’s Dave Thomas is celebrating an upturn in sales because of what it says about the health of the widow industry overall.

“When the industry is buoyant and confidence is high, businesses proactively invest in machinery to keep pace with demand. In recent months we’ve seen sales rocket for machinery across the board, with particular interest in the SMR-4 welder, the TT405 computerised saw, the SVK-2 CNC corner and transom cleaner and our SBA machining centre. It’s a really positive sign for the industry as a whole.”

Dave particularly highlights investment in the SMR-4 welder and says that all companies can see the benefits of increasing output from their welder and the extra profit that results. “As companies get busier they find their welder is continually stop-starting, with operators constantly changing support blocks and tooling to cope with different window variations and therefore slowing down production,” he says. “There are two solutions: invest in additional welders or switch to a welder like the SMR-4 that changes profiles at the touch of a button.”

Dave says interest in the Italmac range is also growing at pace among fabricators who work with both PCVu and aluminium. “The beauty of a machine such as the Turn 4 Axis is that it can handle both PVCu and aluminium, making it a very practical investment.”

Haffner is renowned for offering high quality machinery and excellent value for money, something that sees many customers returning to the company time and again. “The advice we offer is based on in-depth experience and what each customer actually needs, not what we want them to need – it means that fabricators can trust us to help them build their business.”

Alongside its new machinery range Haffner also offers a range of reconditioned machinery – often machines that have been part-exchanged for new machinery elsewhere in the business. Dave says: “Our reconditioned machinery offers a great deal at a great price: every machine is personally selected by me, has been fully stripped down and rebuilt and comes with a six month warranty with installation and training included in the price.”

Dave concludes: “Our sales of machinery at all levels of investment show the industry is gaining momentum – so much so that we’ve recently taken on more admin staff, engineers and salespeople to help us meet demand. We’re delighted to be helping so many businesses to achieve their goals.”

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1015/0106



now integrated the manufacture of glazed units within its factory management system.

Using a bar-code system to track each product every step of the way through the manufacturing process and giving its customers visibility of that process through the Emplas Customer Portal, Emplas has

driven improved quality by introducing new transparency throughout the production process.

Separately, Emplas is currently going through planning to increase the size of its shop floor by more than a third, also creating a new logistics centre and office space, with planned delivery before the end of the year.

Jody added: “As a business, we are very much looking to the future. We have seen some really solid growth in the first half of the year – we’re up by more than 24 per cent.

“But we want to keep growing and to do that we need to invest to make sure that we continually improve our already industry leading product quality and the service that we provide with it to our customers.

“This isn’t about us investing in new kit because we can, it’s about working towards delivering more to our customers because they’re the foundation of our growth, now and into the future.”

To find our more follow us on twitter #InstallerPartnership or @emplaswindows. For more information visit www.emplas.co.uk, email [email protected] or call 01933 674880.


One of the construction industry’s leading Pr and marketing agencies, Purplex, has stepped in to support the Construction Marketing Awards.

The event, held on 9th December in London, recognises marketing excellence across the Build Environment and is supported by the Chartered Institute of Marketing Construction Industry Group (CIMCIG).

Previous winners include Lafarge, Reynaers, Polypipe, and Carillion. Purplex CEO Andrew Scott, who started in the building products industry 25 years ago, is delighted to support the event;

“As a full-service PR and marketing agency Purplex is heavily involved in the build environment with clients in construction, building products and housing. We are looking forward to working with the CMA team to recognise talent and raise marketing standards across the industry. “

Purplex launched in 2004 and is one of the industry’s largest marketing agencies, with 42 staff specialising in PR, branding and design, web development, digital marketing and video. The firm has clients across the UK, Europe and North America.

“Purplex aims to support organisations operating across the build environment, raise their profile, and attract and retain more customers. Aligning ourselves with the Construction Marketing Awards is an ideal way of demonstrating this.”

www.purplexmarketing.com

Emplas has announced a multi-million pound investment in its shop floor as part of its continuing quality and service drive.

This includes half-a-million spend on a state-of-the-art Schirmer saw centre, alongside new welders and a digital measuring system.

The Schirmer, delivered to Emplas earlier this year, automates profile cutting and machining, with profile scanning technology to introduce ‘pin prick’ accuracy to positioning of cuts and routs to within 0.3mm.

This delivers improved product quality but able to convert a 6m bar length into a fully prepped frame within seconds, it also massively increases Emplas’ production capacity.

Jody Vincent, National Sales Manager, Emplas said that the Schirmer delivered a step-change in Emplas’ operational capability.

He said: “Our shop floor has always been pretty good and the quality of what the team pushes through has always been high but mistakes do still sometimes happen and we do occasionally get mis-measures.

“The cost of remaking that single frame is less significant than the potential disruption it can cause downline to a delay in getting the customer order away on time so accuracy is very important.

“Because the Schirmer is so accurate and positions each cut with absolute precision, it eliminates mis-measures almost entirely and if one does slip through, we can remake it far more quickly, heading-off any impact on the customer ahead of time.”

Emplas product quality is rated good or excellent by 98.7 per cent of its customers compared to an industry average of 79.2 per cent. Complete and on time deliveries similarly gave Emplas 99.3 per cent compared to an 84.6 per cent industry average.

The Schirmer brings new accuracy to straight and angled cuts; ‘V and Y’ notching; drainage channels; night vents plus screw location pip holes; pressure equalisation holes; window handle and lock routing and keep and hinge prep holes.

It also increases precision of preparatory holes for various locking mechanisms, including the defender restrictor door lock; handle and keep routing; door hinge preparation; and low aluminium threshold options in addition to gasket relieve milling.

Earlier in the summer Emplas announced that in partnership with Pilkington and following a two-year development programme, it had

SWISSPACEr, the leading manufacturer of warm edge spacer bars, has joined the Council for Aluminium in Building (CAB). The association is the largest in the UK in its sector, with well over 100 members. It brings together consultants, fabricators, installers, systems companies and more from across the aluminium industry.

Joining CAB is as an important opportunity for SWISSPACER to communicate the benefits of warm edge and Ultimate, its top performing spacer bar, to a growing aluminium market.

Justin Ratcliffe, Chief Executive of CAB, welcomes SWISSPACER and says: “It’s an exciting time for aluminium in the building sector. The latest CAB State of Market Survey for Q2, 2015 indicates that 87% net balance of our members expect sales to increase over the next 12 months. CAB itself continues to grow and we have been delighted to welcome a number of leading brands, including Swisspacer, into membership during 2015.”

“Interest in energy performance has never been greater,” adds John Cooper, Head of Marketing & Sales in the UK & Ireland. “Windows with our leading spacer bar Ultimate inside achieve a U-value of 0.14W/m2k. As a CAB member we can now reach out to a large audience of aluminium manufacturers and installers to communicate the advantages of warm edge and help them

achieve best in market performance with our leading products.”

To find out more about SWISSPACER call 0845 601 1265, visit www.swisspacer.com or follow @Ultimate_Spacer.

puRplEx STEpS iN To SuppoRT coNSTRucTioN mARkETiNG AWARDS

cuTTiNG-EDGE TEchNoloGy: EmplAS uNvEilS NEW SAW cENTRE

cAB WElcomES SWiSSpAcER

Andrew Scott.

For the very latest News vIsIt: WWW.GlASSNEWS.co.uk



John Cooper, SWISSPACEr head of Marketing & Sales (UK & Ireland).


TRADE NEWSThe UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper

As part of its commitment to giving its members the very best service and products, the Consumer Protection Association (CPA) has invested to upskill one of its senior team.

Tim White, who is National Sales Manager at the CPA, recently gained two Level 5 diplomas – one in Management and one in Principals of Management and Leadership.

Tim took the two QCF accredited courses over a two year period as part of the organisation’s continuous professional development programme – completing the modules in his spare time.

Alongside these two programmes Tim also brushed up on his English and Maths – completing Level Two functional Maths and ICT.

Jeremy Brett, Director, comments: “We are passionate about developing skills in house and investing to ensure our staff are the best they can be – because this means the best level of service for our customers.”

Tim comments: “I’ve enjoyed going back to school for two years but I can’t lie I am looking forward to my evenings and weekends now being free. It was an important investment to make, as it means I can now provide stronger leadership and work on commercial opportunities that will benefit CPA members.”

The CPA is recognised by consumers as one of the most trusted resources for finding accredited and vetted installers.

As well as Insurance Backed Guarantees and Deposit Protection, the CPA also offer its members a host of beneficial schemes such as marketing support, sales training help, and quarterly assessment reports that tell members what their customers think about the work they are doing.

Tim WhiTE GAiNS NEW quAliFicATioNS AS cpA iNvEST To BE ThE BEST

Tim White left with Nadine Dorries MP.



Enjoy this edition!



1015/0111



Chris Champion, Glass News’ Editor, joins a Trade Press gathering at Melton Mowbray based TruFrame to hear about the company plans for the future and find out more about their hand finished windows and doors.

A family owned company, TruFrame has succeeded in being not only one of the largest fabricators in the country but one with a unique selling point that is anything but cheap to offer… hand finishing. To see the small army of hand finishers on the factory floor, and what that means in additional wages, makes you wonder how the company can have grown to surpass the 3,000+ frames per week mark and still be competitive on price. But that’s exactly what they have done. While others have talked about static markets, TruFrame has continued their rapid growth in 2015, with a forecast increase in sales of £2 million, setting turnover for the 2015/16 year at around the £16.2 million mark.

It certainly isn’t a case of holding back on investment to increase profit, as the company has invested close to £4 million over the past 3 years, with its machinery being pretty much as good as it gets. The Urban 800 line, Wegoma “mini” quad welders and the Supercut 6 are all hard at work, and they need to be to cope with the 14.1% sales growth this year. Their owned fleet of vehicles, operated by their own in house logistics division, continues to grow and the range of 8 delivery vehicles is being added to with 4 more due for delivery in the next 4 months.

Quality is very much the watchword at TruFrame and, with the additional time taken in hand finishing, they still achieve an on time and in full percentage of 99.5% - of which they are justly proud. However it isn’t simply a case of having a great OTIF: TruFrame work closely with their customers to provide them with the tools to sell the product and investment in IT has been at the forefront of recent efforts. Their RemoteSatellite online ordering system, usable across all operating systems including mobile iOS and Android devices, is slick, easy to use and available 24/7.

Their installer network, unambiguously named the “Double Glazing Network”, is equally impressive and provides their customers with a strong online presence through their network website, whilst also providing access to crisp CGI images, explainer videos and an online pricing engine that generates qualified leads in volume. In 10 months they already have 20 customers using this service at a cost of £1,200 per annum, with all of them seeing value for money, having collectively generated 1,400 leads already.

Marketing Director, Patrick Firmager, commented, “TruFrame is all about service and quality. While we are happy to see the company grow in turnover and profit, working with our customers and knowing we are providing them with a hand finished

product that will stand up to any scrutiny, gives us the greatest satisfaction. We have long standing customers, many of whom stayed with us during our transition to the Liniar system, and have seen their own businesses grow as a result of this innovative, energy efficient and lead-free PVCu system. With the reputation of Liniar and, hopefully, that of our own, we have seen a steady increase in customers. We can sell with confidence in a great product, and knowing that we can supply the support to customers that is so important to their own growth.”

It isn’t just investment in machinery, vehicles and websites. When TruFrame talk of providing support on marketing, they take it very seriously. Just a look at the fully up-to-date studio with Graphic Designers all sporting the latest Apple iMacs, lets you know this is very real and not simply lip service. It is apparent, too, that they have boosted the

management team with skilful people, many of whom have come from other industries but bring with them knowledge and ideas that will drive this windows and doors business forward. It is evident that both David and Patrick Firmager are happy to source the right people for a job and let them use their ideas for the good of the company, and their customers. It is refreshing to see and you can sense that this sensible and modern approach will reap its rewards in the future.

And what of the future? It seems that there is no lack of ambition and, as David Firmager pointed out there is no guarantee of it coming to fruition, the futuristic plans for a brand new production facility covering some 17 acres and capable of manufacturing in excess of 10,000 frames per week have been tentatively drawn up and may not be just a dream…

And all 10,000 frames to be hand finished? “Absolutely!” said Patrick Firmager.

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Attention to detail at hand finishing.

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From left to right, Patrick and David Firmager.

On the shop floor,READER ENQUIRY No: 1015/0112

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1015/0113


GlASS NEWS iNTERviEW: AvANTiS The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper

As Avantis Hardware get set to make a real splash with their new Floating Mushroom Technology (FMT) security window lock Glass News’ Editor, Chris Champion talks to Sales and Marketing Director, Jon Walker, about the company….much more than just another hardware manufacturer

So, here’s a choice, Jon. Jet skiing on the Trent and Mersey canal at Rugeley or in the warm waters of the South china Sea that flow into the Straits of Malacca?

Difficult choice! It has to be Rugeley so I’m close to my wife and family but it is a standing joke at Avantis that when anyone goes out to our factory in Penang, they are just five minutes away from the beach and being able to Jet Ski!

The fact that you say ‘our factory’ is significant. This isn’t a factory that you use but your very own, wholly owned, facility…

It is. With just eight people in the UK it puts the 300+ workforce in Penang into perspective. They are the ones who fulfil the promises we make. Mark Bromley's philosophy is one of total transparency, such that the whole supply chain is visible to the customer and there is total understanding on both sides - of research and development time, raw material acquisition, testing, manufacturing, and transporting and delivery. It’s all about working together and this philosophy works very well indeed.

Avantis is fast approaching its 10th anniversary but the trade knows of Mark bromley because of his long history in hardware. Was Avantis a culmination of Mark’s ambitions in the hardware sector?

Mark’s experience in hardware is probably as great as anyone else in the industry. However Avantis is much more than purely hardware. Mark’s vision is to let the UK window and door industry have the opportunity to access the benefits of Asia manufacturing in a safe and secure manner – in other words use Avantis’ knowledge and experience to get the best in the form of quality and price. The Asian environment can be a minefield for the unwary! With Avantis owning its manufacturing facility in Penang, combined with UK based R&D, technical support and project management, we are able to offer localised service and support, while giving customers the benefits of purchasing from Malaysia.

It isn’t just hardware, is it?

No it’s not. Avantis is a supply chain solution for metal stamping, zinc die-casting, plastic injection moulding, die bonding and printed circuit board assembly. Having control of the entire supply chain is crucial for any customer. Avantis

is all about transparency with customers able to inspect the facilities and carry out their own ‘due diligence’ on our company. We are open with them: and our customers are open with us. Some may think we are a ‘front’ for an Asian manufacturer but of course we are not.

I have to admit that when looking at the website and looking at the pictures of the owners and

directors, it was great to see Mark and the other Directors together. How did the partnership come about?

While I understand your using the word ‘partnership’, Mark Bromley actually owns Avantis. It was one of those fortuitous meetings that was meant to be. Mark met Ly Khor and Yap Soon who were ex Sony and had set up a manufacturing unit in Penang but, like many clever people who are technically brilliant, they were struggling and didn’t recognise that a vital ingredient was missing….a sales arm! So Mark became that sales arm, bought the company and formed Avantis with all the Malaysian’s technical knowledge and experience. With Mark bringing his experience from his time building the Millenco business, the hardware division was born. This was combined with a Design and Technology Division, as well as Mechanical Process, Electronic Process and, of course, Assembly.

Definitely much more than hardware then?

Avantis makes components for many companies who are household names throughout the world which we are not allowed to mention, but these are in fields such as pharmaceutical and healthcare, construction, and water filtration and management.

Let’s get back to hardware as this is the aspect most relevant to our industry. The Avantis locks for both windows and doors are well known plus there are cylinders, window and door handles, door hinges and keeps and strikers. What are the differentiators that set you apart from others in the market?

From rugeley to Penang... AND A woRlDwIDE mARkET

Floating Mushroom Technology.Manufacture in Penang.

Yap Soon, Ly Khor and Mark Bromley.

Jon Walker at rugeley.


GlASS NEWS iNTERviEW: AvANTiSThe UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper

1015/0115

We’ve already talked about our work philosophy and the whole supply chain issue but, as far as hardware is concerned, it is obviously about high performance and security. For instance the Floating Mushroom Technology (FMT) security window lock that we have developed provides accredited levels of security and enhanced tolerances, making manufacture and installation significantly easier.

Innovation is an equally important differentiator; our unique FMT design

transfers the bi-directional locking feature from the espag into the keep/striker design itself, engaging with the lock’s floating security mushrooms, to effortlessly deal with window drop and therefore eliminate avoidable service calls. Of course the FMT is available in both 20mm and 22m back sets to accommodate all profile systems.

In the case of the multipoint door locks we uniquely provide unparalleled compression performance in the middle of the door through a direct drive chamfered 25mm

throw centre dead bolt, combined with strategically positioned deep throw chamfered hooks to give optimal compression, operation and security performance. With variants for Composite, Timber, PVC and Aluminium doors, we have ensured that the Avantis multi-point door lock is suitable for very wide reaching residential door applications.

It is this development and exhaustive testing that sets us apart. With customers also able to customise product designs to create their own exclusive hardware and furniture, effectively

‘repositioning their opposition’ and this is all part of our end to end supply chain solution.

You have a number of premises in the UK….

We have premises in Rugeley, including a test facility and warehousing as well as the design studio, plus another test facility in Essex. But it’s Penang where the manufacturing magic happens. As I said before, they’re the ones who make us look good! Avantis isn’t just manufacturing for the UK market: we have a worldwide market and the company is ambitious as well as being innovative.


Manufacture for other industries, worldwide.

Jon Walker shows the FMT location.

Penang facility.Security cylinder with SBD cylinder guard.

Not just hardware....


voicE oF ThE iNDuSTRy The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper

The voice of the Industry question for October’s edition of glass News is:

“How are you addressing the skills shortage and is it affecting your business?”

wHat’s your opinion?VO

ICE

of

tHe

ind

ust

ry

The reason that the construction industry is struggling to get the right people is that we are in a period of growth and demand for workers and by default building products is high.

But this doesn’t detract from the fact that recruitment of good people can be a challenge, or that as a whole, the sector and government, has failed to invest in the skills of a new generation of construction workers.

We have managed the challenge through a two-fold strategy. It starts with people. Our staff turnover is exceptionally low. We have invested in their training and development, embedding a focus on quality and service.

The second element has been about investment in our factory floor, in new equipment – we have invested the best part of a million this year, integrating our frame and glass manufacturing systems, so that we have end-to-end visibility of the production process. This allows us to manage quality more effectively and to work with members of the team if they require additional training.

Epwin Window Systems has recognised the skills shortage in the industry and has recently embarked on a journey to secure the Investors in People accreditation. The investment is a major statement by the business in its quest to be the undisputed market leader in every aspect of its performance, from manufacturing quality to customer services and marketing support to logistics.

Investors in People provides a framework which enables businesses to channel resources more effectively and harness the talent of its people towards achieving the organisation’s goals. Training programmes are an integral part of developing the skills of employees, and the journey towards Investors in People will allow staff to broaden and develop their skillsets to deliver improved customer experience.

We are embarking upon a significant investment in manufacturing and associated infrastructure within the company and it does not make sense if we do not also make a significant simultaneous investment in our people.

Obviously ours is a highly skilled, highly specialised business so we have to train and develop our own staff – there aren’t any shortcuts. We’ve certainly got very good in recent years at identifying people with the potential we’re looking for though and, once they are trained, we do all we can to make sure that they stay with us so that we are shielded from the worst of the current shortage.

We have long recognised that our team are our most valuable asset, so our priority is always to treat our staff well and give them lots of opportunities for career progression.

As well as paying decent salaries, we give all our employees a profit share bonus, we give them extended holiday allowances, provide private health and HSA cover, pay generously into their pension schemes and review all salaries annually and increase by a % either in line with or above the inflation rate.

As a result, we continue to attract good quality applicants, we have a very low level of staff turnover and our staff remain highly motivated. In turn, it means we are able to give customers the continuity which is so important.

In many ways, the current skills shortage is being brought into sharp focus as it coincides with what is one of the industry’s most exciting periods.

Technological advancements such as the growth of BIM, increasing awareness of the need to develop more sustainable manufacturing techniques and ground-breaking product innovations have all been made possible by looking ahead and investing in the future.

Successful businesses must also adopt this forward-thinking approach to recruitment. For our part, Senior Architectural Systems has long been an advocate of developing young talent and our commitment to taking on apprentices plays an important role in our recruitment process and the future success of our business as a whole. We’re also keen to engage the next generation of workers at grassroots level through our work within the local community and with schools and colleges.

By raising awareness of our industry and opening our door to young workers at the earliest opportunity, a career in the fenestration sector can become a real consideration, not an afterthought.

We saw sustained growth throughout the downturn, which meant that we have continued to recruit - growing from 60 to 80 people in the last two-years alone.

The recruitment campaign took place in the very early stages of recovery when jobs were still comparatively scarce, which has meant that we have been able to bring some high calibre people on board, strengthening our experience and our expertise.

Our training programme is also geared to making sure that our team can work across our different lines. We manufacture bi-fold and inline sliding doors in aluminium and PVC-U, composite doors, and windows, so there is variety for our staff and that supports retention, plus flexibility in our operation to cover holidays or illness.

We also continue to invest in home grown talent. We have recently identified a requirement to grow our IT team and have recruited a school leaver to an apprentice scheme, which we’re delivering in partnership with Business Micros and a local college. For us it’s been about a mix, retention and the creation of what we hope is a pretty decent working environment and the recruitment and development of talent.

ryan Johnson Managing Director, Emplas

Clare O’hara, Managing Director, Epwin Window Systems

Graeme Bailey, Managing Director Business Micros

Michelle Damms, Operations Director Senior Glass Systems

Ian Longbottom Chairman, Sliders UK

There has been much talk about the skills shortage across the whole construction industry including our own windows, doors, glass and hardware sections.


voicE oF ThE iNDuSTRyThe UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper

There is a shortage of quality, driven, dynamic individuals in the industry. During the tough times caused by the recent recession we’ve lost the next generation who have looked elsewhere for their careers and this coupled, with people leaving the industry due to redundancy and companies going out of business has left a hole.

Many applicants have been ‘round the block’ a few times and frankly the names become repetitive; there are few opportunities to recruit new blood. Our pay scales have increased to try and attract the best applicants available. We have also looked outside the industry and we have been successful in doing so: Vic Goodes, our new production manager, has spent the past 15 years as an operations/general manager in food manufacturing, for example. We have taken on a couple of apprentices - Oliver Bailey works in our purchasing department at Bolton and has been shortlisted for the Fenestration Awards 2015. We are working with Network VEKA to utilise their recently launched academy which offers courses that provide both practical work experience and recognised qualifications for workers in the fenestration industry.

At Carl F Groupco, we place great store on service and people are at the core of our business. however, finding the right personnel is an extremely demanding process.

As a long-standing hardware distributor, we can advise that the challenges of recruitment have presented themselves throughout our history.

It is particularly hard to find people with the relevant skill sets, and motivation, to fulfil the demands of the roles required to provide a customer-centric, rapid response hardware supply service. However, by drawing on professional assistance provided by HR specialists and recruitment agencies, combined with major investment in time in the recruitment process by our managers, I am pleased to report that we have a large number of long-servers on the Carl F Groupco workforce.

We have a number of boxes to tick when we recruit, but we also take account of ‘gut feel’: you have to ask will this person work with the established team and go the all essential extra mile.

Since the highly successful promotion of university education for all anything less than university is seen as being second-class in Britain.

Whereas once the cry was ‘get yourself a trade lad’ to go into trades as an apprentice or following an NVQ is now seen as second class and we have to redress this poor state of affairs.

The old adage that if you find a decent builder get them to move in with you extends to every trade now, including window and door fitters, the lack of which constantly undermines our installer customers’ growth as well as our own commercial installation activities in and around London.

We need to promote trades as being respectable again; they are more valuable to us presently than any number of graduates and the shortage is worsening

Jason Thompson Director, Glazerite Ltd.

John Crittenden, Managing Director, Carl F Groupco

Danny Williams Managing Director, Pioneer Trading Company

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1015/0116


G15 AWARDS – 27 NovEmBER 2015 The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper

Hampshire window, door and home improvement specialist, KJM Group has made the finals of the G15 Awards.

The fourth time the installer has made the finals, KJM Group has fought off competition from more than 7,000 installation businesses nationwide, to be shortlisted in the Installer of the Year category.

KJM was recognised by judges for its commitment to customer service and the way that it managed the installation process from the initial discussion with the customer through to installation and aftercare.

Mark Pearce, Owner and Managing Director, KJM Group, said: “We’re having a tremendous year so far and this is another piece of really good news. Our primary focus is always our customers but to have that recognised by a panel of industry judges, is a really fantastic achievement and a reflection of the hard work and commitment of the whole team. We’re delighted.”

Going into its thirty-fourth year in business

and employing 27 people including eight fitting teams, KJM Group has seen continuing growth throughout 2015, relaunching its website www.kjmgroup.co.uk, in the spring.

The company has also expanded its range to offer a complete home improvement service. This includes and extensive range of low maintenance and energy efficient windows and doors, including casement, tilt and turn and vertical sliding windows and doors in PVC-U, timber and aluminium. This includes energy saving triple-glazed windows with U-values as low as 0.8W/m².K.

KJM Group also supplies a new generation of

highly insulated and high specification conservatories, sun rooms and orangeries are giving homeowners far more flexibility and year-round living space. It also supplies atrium or ‘lantern’ roofs and bi-folding doors.

Mark said: “We have gone through change as a business, adding new products to our service, the launch of our new website but we still hold onto to a lot of traditional values.”

“That’s a focus on customer service, craftsmanship and although a little bit of a cliché that if a job is worth doing, it’s worth doing well.”

The G-Award finals will be held on 27th November at the Hilton, in London’s Park Lane.

For more information visit www.kjmgroup.co.uk email [email protected] or call 01264 359355.

hANTS homE impRovEmENT SpEciAliST ShoRTliSTED AS G15 AWARDS FiNAliST


Emplas has been shortlisted as one of just three finalists in the G15 Awards Fabricator of the Year category for the second year in succession.

The accolade comes following the launch of the Emplas Installer Partnership last year, with significant growth and investment in its state-of-the-art, Northamptonshire manufacturing facility.

Ryan Johnson, Managing Director Emplas, said that the company had ambitious plans for the future but that Emplas’ continuing partnership with its customers was integral to its success.

He said: “We’re clearly delighted to be going back to the G-Awards. The team here put in a lot of hard work and it’s great that that’s been recognised.

“But clearly we wouldn’t be here and we wouldn’t be making the investments across the business without the loyalty of our customers.

“We continue to see our growth as going hand-in-hand with theirs, which is why we are introducing new products and new services so that they can continue to win business now and long into the future.”

In addition to its finalist spot, Emplas scooped the Customer Care Initiative Award at last year’s gala for its innovative Customer Information Manual. T&K, its’ retail operation, which Emplas say is the foundation of its industry leading customer support package, also claimed the Conservatory of the Year title, having won the Installer of the Year category in 2012.

Emplas has seen exceptional growth throughout 2013 and 2014, and is up 21% in the first six months of this year. This has

been accompanied by sustained investment in its operation, including a £ half-a-million spend on a state of the art Schirmer Saw Centre, alongside new welders and a digital measuring system in the first quarter of this year alone.

Following a two year project, Emplas also announced this month that it had successfully integrated glass supply with its own factory bar-code system in a pioneering partnership with Pilkington, so that the company can plan its own production and delivery schedules more efficiently, and at the same time make sure that those benefits are passed on to Emplas customers”.

The fabricator is also about to start work on a major extension of its operating facility, which will increase the shop floor by more than a third, and will also create a new logistics centre and provide additional office space.

Ryan continued: “It’s been an incredible year. We have seen some great growth, through our own hard work and as well as that of our customers. As a business, we are very much looking to the future and planning for the long term and for us, that’s all about service and innovation.

“We have some very exciting new products on the horizon, which we’re confident will give our customers a real competitive edge. It’s great to have just a little bit of time now to reflect on what’s been achieved to date and to say thank you to everyone who has supported it.”

The G-Award finals will be held on 27th November at the Hilton, in London’s Park Lane.

To find out more follow us on twitter #InstallerPartnership or @emplaswindows. For more information visit www.emplas.co.uk, email [email protected] or call 01933 674880.

emPlas shortlisted as g-awards

faBricator of tHe year


“We have gone through change as a business, adding new products to our service, the launch of our new website but we still hold onto to a lot of traditional values.”


Enjoy this edition!



Lincoln based PVC-u and aluminium fabricator, Sternfenster, has been shortlisted as a finalist in this year’s G Awards.

Launched earlier in 2015, the fabricator’s new range of PVC-u windows and doors, StyleLine, is up for the prestigious New Product of the Year category.

Managing director, Mike Parczuk, commented on the good news: “We’re delighted to have been nominated, especially as this is the first time Sternfenster has entered the G-Awards. This year we’ve seen a number of great new products being launched, and we’re truly honoured, and very excited, to have been shortlisted amongst the best with our StyleLine range.”

The advanced PVC-u windows and doors are the result of Sternfenster’s commitment to innovation and continuous improvement. Combining state-of-the-art manufacturing machinery with highly skilled work force, and the best components available on the market, the StyleLine range is pushing at the boundaries of PVC-u, by enhancing all aspects, from aesthetics, to security, strength and durability.

The exclusive range is perfectly positioned to appeal both to PVC-u and timber buyers. Mike said: “The unique, high quality finish,

and superior features of the StyleLine brand, are available in several profile systems, opening up unrivalled cross-selling and upselling opportunities for our retail partners. Our relentless investment strategy enables us to offer our installer clients the very best products, giving them a strong competitive edge in the marketplace.”

Mike concluded: “This kind of recognition is incredibly rewarding, and everyone at Sternfenster is thrilled with the G15 nomination, which comes as yet another seal of approval for StyleLine. We look forward to a great evening in London on November 27th, when all winners will be revealed.”

For more information contact Sternfenster on 01522 512525, or visit www.sternfenster.com.

Profile 22 has been nominated as a finalist in this year’s G Awards in the hotly contested Promotional Campaign of the Year – Trade Category, for its ‘Fabricator in Focus’ promotion.

The ‘Fabricator in Focus’ campaign set out to add value to Profile 22 customers’ businesses and share their successes and development. Running between September 2014 and May 2015 it was based upon insights into what makes a truly rewarding customer/supplier relationship.

It was delivered through a series of trade press advertisements featuring quotes from Profile 22 customers and extensive social media activities that included short videos, all of which celebrated the success of the brand’s customers.

Profile 22 Brand Manager Katie Leese explained: “Customer loyalty is

often taken for granted but for Profile 22 that couldn’t be further from the truth. Loyalty is an incredibly valuable asset and the Fabricator in Focus campaign isn’t just a promotion of our best and greatest, it’s an insight into what makes a truly rewarding customer/supplier relationship. We allowed our customers to explain the relationship, as we believe that is a more compelling approach.

“We are very excited to be nominated and the G15 Awards evening will be a very tense time for us; we would love to win the category as the rubber stamp on what has been a very exciting and successful campaign for Profile 22; and of course our customers!”

Further information on Profile 22 can be found at www.profile22.co.uk.


G15 AWARDS – 27 NovEmBER 2015The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper



TruFrame have been nominated as a finalist at the G15 Awards in the hotly contested Fabricator of the Year category, as the company continues to innovate in manufacturing, product and service initiatives to the delight of their customer network.

The G15 Awards are very much the ‘Oscars’ for the glass and glazing industry, rewarding those companies who truly excel and TruFrame is a shining example of a window manufacturing operation that doesn’t overly rely on the support of their systems supplier. They carry out all of the product testing and accreditation in house, whilst their new product development programme has spurned the Refine™ product, which is a fully mechanically jointed window with period features.

Nor is the company afraid to be early adopters, as their change to the six-chambered Liniar EnergyPlus system back in 2010 represents and today TruFrame are able to offer one of the most energy efficient casement windows in the UK market. With each and every frame also hand finished using a unique 4-step process, customers benefit from a better quality and more exacting

product and the re-assurance that TruFrame have carried out the testing and accreditation processes. These were some of the key points highlighted in their comprehensive entry.

David Firmager, managing director of TruFrame commented: ‘We’re absolutely thrilled to be in the final three in the Fabricator of the Year category of the G-Awards. It’s a reflection on us as a business, the customers whom we serve and our loyal and committed staff and I look forward to a fantastic evening.’

For information on TruFrame log on to www.truframe.co.uk for product downloads, or call the sales office on 01664 410140. You can also add to their growing following on Twitter @TruFrame.

TRuFRAmE’S A G15 FiNAliST!

pRoFilE 22’S ‘loyAlTy’ cAmpAiGN REWARDED bY g AWARDS NOMINATION

Ballymena, Northern Ireland–based door and window manufacturer Apeer has been chosen as a finalist in this year’s G Awards, the prestigious and highly sought after window and door industry ‘Oscars’.

Selected in the popular New Product of the Year category by the judges for its Lumi window and door system that was launched earlier this year, Apeer’s managing director Asa McGillian says that word spread ‘like wildfire’ through the factory when the news was announced: “The hearts and souls of everyone at our factory have gone into Lumi,”

said an ecstatic Asa. “This is the first time that we have entered the G Awards but I have watched people go up to collect their Awards on the night and wondered what that must feel like. I hope I will find out but I imagine it must be nerve wracking waiting to hear!”

Lumi is a groundbreaking new range of customisable, matching frameless windows and bi-folding, patio and residential doors. The secret to Lumi’s superb aesthetics, performance and strength is the triple glazed units that are bonded to an internal core of high-strength glass reinforced plastic (GRP) frames, the external pane of which offers uninterrupted, edge-to-edge glazing. The system is a radical new approach for residential windows and doors.

The winners of this year’s G-Awards will be presented at the highly popular, glittering ceremony, which will take place on November 27th at the Hilton Hotel in London’s Park Lane.

www.apeer.co.uk

ApEER’S lumi WiNDoW AND DooR SySTEmS iNTo ThE G AWARDS FiNAlS

STERNFENSTER’S STylEliNE iS NomiNATED FoR NEw PRoDUcT oF ThE YEAR


For the very latest News vIsIt: WWW.GlASSNEWS.co.ukREADER ENQUIRY No:

1015/0119


GlASS NEWS iNTERviEW: liNiAR The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper

A few months down the line from the Quanex purchase of HL Plastics and Wegoma Machinery Sales, Glass News’ Editor, Chris Champion, catches up with Roger Hartshorn to find out how things are progressing under the new ownership.

There seems to be lots going on at HL Plastics, not least a raising of the profile with a number of television appearances that we highlighted on our front page in September. Is this a specific strategy or a case of ‘right place at the right time’?

That’s just how we work at Liniar!

It appears to be the case that success breeds success, and having links to organisations such as the Chamber of Commerce, winning awards and being actively involved in the local community has all helped to raise the company’s profile.

BBC Radio Derby asked for an interview last year, which we put on our website, and the BBC News research team found us by searching online for manufacturing companies exhibiting growth.

We do have a video marketing strategy, as it’s a great way of showcasing our product range and encouraging the sharing of content, but the television coverage is more about making the most of opportunities as they arise.

It’s only a few months since June when Quanex acquired Flamstead Holdings, with HL Plastics and the Liniar brand, but has the acquisition made any significant difference to the running of the company?

The changes we’ve seen since the acquisition have only affected the finance team, as we’ve had to change our reporting deadlines and ensure that financial reporting falls in line with US requirements such as the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

Otherwise, the day to day running of the company has remained the same, with our strategic objectives being executed as we planned.

Has this curtailed your ability to make decisions, bearing in mind that, in the past, you were the one who made things happen?

Not at all. We’re continuing to make capital investments to support our strategic plans…there’s just an extra level of approval to go through before sign-off.

As Quanex has a flat structure, similar to our own, we haven’t experienced any delays there, and the day to day decision-making remains firmly in-house.

I know the corporate scene does not hold any fears for you but does this mean more red tape, and effort, to abide by SEc rules?

As before, we’ve had to restate some of our financial reports, but as we already had very tight financial controls in any case, we haven’t had to change things drastically.

You retained a number of companies, namely Tarpey Harris Ltd and Flamstead Investments Ltd., and are you actively ‘working’ these or are they there as vehicles for you to go back to when you feel the need to exercise your entrepreneurial flair again?

Tarpey Harris is very much an active company, with a strong client base and a workforce of 100 staff. As a manufacturer of specialist tooling and injection moulds, the company didn’t fit with the core Quanex business, which mainly centres around window products – so I retained ownership to continue to help it to grow under the existing management team there.

Flamstead Investments holds the properties of all the sites, for which a commercial rental charge is made to HL Plastics and Tarpey Harris, amongst others.

bill griffiths said at the time of the acquisition: “We plan to work with Roger and his team to take the Liniar and Wegoma ranges to the next level through innovation and collaboration.” can you share some of those plans with us?

I know Bill would like to look at exporting some of both Liniar’s and Wegoma’s products to some of Quanex’s home markets. Quanex

also holds several exciting patents for manufacturing even higher thermally efficient products, so watch this space!

You said: “My commitment has always been to launch new and exciting products for the benefit of our customers, and to generate employment opportunities to stimulate the economy – and with Quanex resources behind us, we will unlock the potential to achieve even greater success.” Has this started yet and what does it look like?

A good example is the new 175,000 sq ft warehouse we’re building, which is due to open in 2016. The new warehouse will enable us to take on an additional 200 staff over the next few years and to develop more innovative products for the benefit of Liniar customers, as well as launching a training facility for installers.

We are also going to have a large machinery showroom stocked with all of the latest fabrication machinery from the various suppliers that Wegoma represents so that all fabricators can look at all options before they buy. Rest assured Liniar has plenty of plans in the pipeline for the next few years!

hl plASTicS’ RoGER hARTShoRN

– still smilinG!

Liniar Chief Executive roger hartshorn (centre), with Brent Korb, Quanex Chief Financial Officer (left) and Bill Griffiths, Quanex Chairman, President and CEO.

ready to take the market by storm - Liniar’s impressive new installation supplies range.


GlASS NEWS iNTERviEW: liNiARThe UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper

You have launched a trade supplies range. can you tell us more about it and whether that was already planned prior to Quanex’s arrival?Yes, the new range has been part of our plans for some time. We’ve all seen the changing environment when it comes to the rise in trade outlets stocking windows for local builders to install, which leads to the erosion of margins as fabricators compete with each other on price.

At Liniar we want to help our fabricator customers to compete on a level playing field, so the new range enables them to offer a ‘one stop shop’ to their customers and prevent them from having to go elsewhere. The Liniar foam trims are made from the same lead-free, high quality uPVC as our windows, providing installers who use them with a perfect colour match and a single point of guarantee to offer to homeowners.

And the same with the website…I know that work has been going on for some time but have Quanex now had influence on your internet plans?

Not at all – the new Liniar website was planned and developed before the acquisition and Quanex haven’t influenced the content or the design at all. As I’ve stated before, Quanex recognise our success is down to the products

and the people at Liniar, and they want us to continue exactly as before.

The market cap of Quanex has dropped since the acquisition….not that I’m suggesting HL Plastics or Wegoma have anything to do with

that! You are now reliant on a parent company so does the fickleness of the market hold any fears for your own, and Quanex’s plans, for Liniar?

As the stock exchange saw an upturn in the Quanex share price following the news of

the acquisition of HL Plastics and Wegoma Machinery Sales, I won’t take it personally! (See http://www.nasdaq.com/article/quanex-nx-hits-52-week-high-on-hl-plastics-acquisition-analyst-blog-cm491803)

Regarding the fickleness of the market - having launched a brand new window profile in the midst of the biggest recession in modern history, I learned that you can’t worry about what anyone else is doing. Of course we pay attention to market trends and take on board customer feedback, but I firmly believe that as long as we have a great product, team, customer base and strategy, there’s no reason to think our success can’t continue.

As one would expect, there were big smiles from brent Korb, bill griffiths and yourself in press photos released on 17 June. Are the smiles just as big today?

Of course! I’ll actually be visiting the States as you go to press, so I’ll be able to see some of the Quanex operations first hand as well as attending the Glassbuild exhibition in Atlanta. What’s not to smile about?

Having run your own businesses for some years, is there anything you regret doing or wish that you had done or achieved?

There never seems to be enough time to do absolutely everything that I’d like to do, but I definitely have no regrets.

READER ENQUIRY No: 1015/0123Nikki Dunbar (left) and helen Noble, from Liniar’s marketing team, introduce roger to Titan the robot at a recent hL Plastics event.

roger and his managerial team play host to PM David Cameron and local MP Nigel Mills.


compoSiTE DooRS The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper

Although there are primarily only three composite door slab suppliers in the UK market, Mark Richmond, Sales & Marketing Director of Selecta Systems, recollects a recent experience where he firmly believes that “not all manufactured composite doors and suppliers are the same!”

Mark explains, “I recently purchased a new build property in the south west of England which had been built by a large multi-national housing development company. A nice modern, detached property with the usual expected refinements of which I was generally pleased with, until just a few months ago when I had issues with the front entrance door.”

Mark recalls, “I’d started to have trouble locking the door at times but I was more concerned with other areas of the doors inadequacies than the sticking lock! The door was starting to look tired and aged, after only 12 months with the screw cover caps on the glazing cassette were unsightly, raised and exposed. There was not edging strip on the lock side or a hinge strip on the other edge and the slab looked ‘untidy’ round the edges. The hinges were non-adjustable, so any expansion and contraction could result in locking difficulties. The drip bar was cheap looking and the screw heads exposed, whilst also being crudely cut and fitted. The letter plate and handle were cheap and cheerful and had already started to show ‘age’ with the letter plate showing signs of failure of its mechanism. But most of all, the compression when the door lock was fully engaged is shocking to see!”

“I was able to fit my iPhone 4, which is 9 to 10mm thick, between the slab and the frame all around the door, all four corners and even just 8 inches above the handle. As a composite door manufacturer and supplier ourselves, we wouldn’t dare provide such a de-engineered door although there is obviously a market there! This door was no ‘cheap’ door either and I’m not running the competition down but this caused a huge debate within the office but the final outcome was that Selecta do indeed manufacture and supply a quality, affordable composite door!”

Mark continues, “I think first and foremost the quality of the composite doors we supply are excellent! We use a quality Nan Ya slab encased in a beautiful 70mm Selecta purposely extruded frame. The composite

doors are safeguarded with a choice of the ERA Vectis cylinder free lock or the ERA Trimlock, which are Secured by Design. Our hinges are fully adjustable and the Fab and Fix hardware oozes quality and gives the composite doors that final finishing touch. So you can see that these doors have not been de-engineered to suit a particular market. We make sure that every composite door that leaves our factory looks the part, even down to the packaging, where I very much doubt you’ll find another composite door so well packaged!”

“Although now you can buy a composite door from a number of suppliers and the slabs may be the same or very similar, I can you assure you from first-hand experience that not all manufactured composite doors are the same!”

CONTINUED INVESTMENT IN SELECTA SPECIALIST DOOrSThe last six months has seen Selecta invest in all aspects of the Specialist Doors Department. A recent recruitment drive has seen Selecta employ a new Business Manager for the South West, a new Production Manager within the factory unit and more recently the employment of Simon Packwood as Commercial Composite Door Manager. Mark Richmond explains further.

“We have recruited a number of key staff in core areas of the business and Simon is the latest addition to the team. Local Authority and Housing Association approval for Selecta Composite Doors is the next part of our plan. This will assist customers wanting to break in to this area and also improve the brands credibility. This is an area we are fully committed to improving relations and supply and one we are fully prepared for.”

Since the turn of the year Selecta Specialist Doors have undergone a series of expansions and investments from moving to a purpose built factory, installing additional machinery and purchasing extra vehicles. Selecta are confident that customers will not be dissatisfied with these innovative and forthcoming developments of Selecta Specialist Doors. So why not visit www.selectaspecialistdoors.co.uk and register for Door Manager and try Selecta out for yourself. Don’t forget to take advantage of the £25 off your first online composite door order! As Mark reminds us “Not all manufactured composite doors are the same…”


not all manuFactured compoSiTE DooRS ARE ThE SAmE!

“I think first and foremost the quality of the composite doors we supply are excellent!”

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1015/0126


compoSiTE DooRS The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper

Composite doors continue to sell in growing volume but with more fabricators and installers tapping into growth, Glass News’ Editor, Chris Champion, asks Ian Longbottom, Chairman of Sliders UK, whether they run the risk of becoming a commodity sale.

If a single product has upheld the fortunes of the window industry, the composite door is it. Just 19 per cent of the total market as recently as 2007, composite entrance doors took 38 per cent last year and will be half of it by 2017 (Palmer Market Research).

Taking the biggest single share of entrance door material type to overtake PVC-U in 2012, the composite door sector hasn’t looked back. But therein, analysts suggest, lies a risk – differentiation.

“Without product differentiation price can only really go one way”, says Ian Longbottom, Chairman of specialist door manufacturer Sliders UK. He continues: “Up until now that’s actually been a driver of growth in the composite door market.

“The price point of composites was too high and in bringing it down, end user appeal has increased in line with affordability and increased product range. But there is also a point where without differentiation you drift into sales on price alone.”

As a specialist door manufacturer, Sliders UK has neatly side-stepped this issue through its association with Secured by Design. It became the first manufacturer of an inline sliding SBD door in 2008, followed by the first SBD PVC-U bi-folds in 2011 and in 2013, the UK’s first SBD aluminium door – all part of the fabricator’s Ultimate Range.

This also includes its Ultimate Composite range. Launched by Sliders UK in 2013, Secured by Design accreditation is by default a fundamental part of its specification.

“When we were creating our composite door range there was never a moment of doubt that we would offer Secured by Design as standard as part of our Ultimate Range because it had been such a fundamental part of the strategy for our trade offer across our bi-fold and inline sliding patio ranges”, says Ian.

He continues: “It’s given us and our customers differentiation and the opportunity to upsell against their competitors, achieving higher margin sales as a consequence. Translation of that proven strategy to our composite door offer was just common sense.”

Sliders UK’s standard and Ultimate Composite doors are available in a choice of 20 specially selected classic and contemporary styles. This includes a full range of dual-glazed, half-moon and mid doors, tops and mid-doors, half glazed, oval doors, 9 and 8 panel doors through to cottage doors and contemporary 4lite doors.

They’re manufactured by Sliders UK using the market leading 44mm Nan Ya slab, with its high insulation foam core and robust through-coloured GRP facings. This is combined with a choice of the fully reinforced Duraflex and Eurocell 70mm PVC-U outer frame and slim, low line aluminium thresholds with twin seals.

A choice of double or triple-glazed options, mean that GRP composite entrance doors from Sliders UK, achieve U-Values as low as 1.0Wm2.K. They also feature an easy adjust system, delivering a high level of tolerance without compromising weather sealing.

“This is something often overlooked, but that additional onsite flexibility can save a huge amount of time on site or on call backs”, says Ian.

But it’s the choice of enhanced hardware options which deliver the key differentiators to its offer. This includes a choice of three high-security multi-point locking systems as standard, the new Ingenious composite door lock, designed in conjunction with Nigel Hutchinson of Ingenious; the Winkaus

Trulock with its enhanced tensile steel hook design and AV2 self-locking variant; and the Winkhaus Heritage lock for traditional and contemporary door designs.

“More than half of all break-ins are done so through doors and windows. That’s a pretty poignant message to any householder” says Ian.

“SBD and its association with the police delivers really positive brand association and our customers use it to sell at higher margin across our Ultimate Range.”

He argues that differentiation aside, changes in Building Regulations provide a no less compelling rationale for the specification of SBD doors. Part Q comes into force this month [October], introducing a new minimum requirement in new build that all doors and windows must be manufactured to the new and more rigorous PAS24:2012 standard or Secured by Design.

“A lot of manufacturers and installers are going to be unable to supply new build at a time at which the sector is expected to see double digit growth. Given this, SBD is not only a differential but it or a PAS24:2012 accredited product has actually become a prerequisite to market entry”, adds Ian.

Steel faced doors were the market leader in new housing up until 2010 but are predicted by Palmer to represent just nine per cent in 2017. “Steel’s loss has been the composite sector’s gain”, continues Ian, “as developers recognise the retail appeal of fenestration products. A high security door is an important contributor to end user appeal. Composites help to sell houses.”

Ian concludes: “There are a lot of composite door suppliers out there but there is huge variation in product specification and also the service that underpins it.

“We supply a composite door range which, in common with our other products, has been developed to open markets but also once there, to sell effectively against those of other manufacturers and our customers’ competitors. As a door specialist, the delivery of market leading products which deliver differentiation in a retail environment is core to our strategy.”

For more information about Sliders UK’s Ultimate Range of PAS24:2012, SBD and Part Q complaint bi-folding, inline sliding and composite doors, contact [email protected] or visit the website at www.sliders-uk.com.

ARE compoSiTE DooRS BEcomiNG A commoDiTy iTEm?


Ian Longbottom.


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1015/0128


Products from the TuffX Processed Glass portfolio continue to prove the right choice for many commercial and domestic applications. Customers are gaining ground in a competitive market due to the diverse choice available to them.

Firmly established as one of the UK’s leading specialist glass manufacturers, the company offers a comprehensive range of toughened glasses which are all manufactured in-house to the highest European Safety Standards.

With nearly twenty years industry experience in the production of toughened safety glass, the specialist range is used across a broad spectrum of applications including, curtain walling, balustrading, glass canopies and furniture as well as glass partitions and doors.

Recognised for its quality TuffX manufactures Toughened, Low Iron and curved glass in 6 – 19mm thicknesses with tinted glass available up to 10mm and mirrored glass from 4 – 6mm. The toughened laminated glass option is frequently specified on prestigious projects nationwide in11.5mm – 39.5mm applications, with triple laminated glass panels also available.

To accommodate architects more dynamic designs and specifications there are a variety of specialist glass processes available including screen printed, sand blasted and heat soaked glasses as well as RAL coloured options.

Using the most modern engineering technology, TuffX continues to dominate the sector focusing on customer requirements, diversity and product quality with the range manufactured to BSEN 12150 which is suitable for all commercial and domestic applications.

Recent projects that have TuffX processed glass incorporated include John Lennon International Airport, Kent County Cricket

Club, Manchester Town Hall, MTC and The Shard. There has also been an increase in bespoke and domestic projects for the company, which have included balcony terraces and staircases in private homes as well as customized ornamental ponds and underground cellars.

A 18 vehicle fleet provides a nationwide delivery service with a 4-5 working day turnaround for standard deliveries, or alternatively an express service is available if required to meet the needs of customers on tight deadlines.

For more information on the TuffX brand please visit website www.tuffxprocessedglass.co.uk or alternatively call 0845 3 400 200 to discuss project requirements.


GlASS The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper

MASTErGLASS from Saint-Gobain Glass is a contemporary range of six design glasses with geometric patterns for applications that may be subject to the rigours of higher commercial personnel traffic such as hotels and offices, but in which sophisticated design remains a powerful prerequisite.

SGG MASTERGLASS offers patterned glasses that provide privacy and which work to capture and shape light with striking aesthetic effects. The product is manufactured by casting and rolling the glass between two moulded cylinders, a precise process that

leaves a crisp, textured effect on one face with the other smooth. Crucially all patterns may be laminated, toughened or silvered, further extending the range of applications.

Designs, with six geometric patterns, are exclusive to Saint-Gobain Glass, offering clients a high degree of individuality. Effective obscuration is provided for privacy and screening whilst maintaining high levels of lighting. The product has been so well received that the latest design, MasterSoft, won a Best of the Best accolade in the Red Dot Awards which are established internationally as one of the most sought after quality marks for excellent design. Held this year in Essen the judges made the award for SGG MasterSoft, citing ‘top quality and ground-breaking design’.

SGG MASTERGLASS has been purposely designed and developed for applications that typically include interior fittings and decoration; shop fitting including shelving and countertops; partitions; floors and stair treads; doors both framed and unframed; windows and facades; balustrading; shower screens; and even street furniture.

For more information about Saint-Gobain, visit www.saint-gobain.com or www.saint-gobain-glass.com and the twitter account @saintgobain.


The latest in the SGG MASTErGLASS range, SGG MASTEr-SOFT has brought with it a new approach to textured glass, one that takes its inspiration from other fields such as luxury goods and furniture. That was the approach of its designers SGG’s Savinel and rozé: “We wanted to get away from traditional cold and clinical aesthetics and took our inspiration from other fields to create a softer, mellow effect.” Whatever the inspiration may have been it was enough to win over the highly demanding international jury for the red Dot Design Award, which awarded SGG MASTEr-SOFT the coveted Best-of-the-Best distinction.

SGG MASTER-SOFT brings a matte, velvety effect to the SGG Masterglass range with a structured, quilted pattern with a fine grain. The material has a soft, flexible surface, very finely engraved and structured by two diagonals. The effect is surprising, revealing clearly drawn small 3D patterns. This has the desired effect of obscuration but moving images and people are blurred, creating a novel graphic effect whilst offering adequate privacy. SGG’s R&D teams invested in brand-new matrixes to print the glass and with fine-tuning of every stage of the production process to achieve the precision of the pattern.

SGG MASTER-SOFT offers a new choice to architects and designers as it is ideal for combining such elements as furniture with indoor and outdoor architectural elements,

doors, partitions, shower walls and bath screens, windows, balustrades, etc.

Like other glass in the SGG MASTERGLASS range, SGG MASTER-SOFT is highly technical: it can be toughened and curved. The 8 mm thick version can also be used to design frameless glass items such as for showers and partitions. It may also be lacquered to extend designs to include colour. SGG MASTER-SOFT is a patterned glass that complies with the requirements of standard EN 572-5.

ABOUT THE RED DOT DESIGN AWARD 2015: This year, the expert jury for this major international design award which has been highly prized ever since its creation in 1956, examined 4928 products, presented by companies from 56 countries. Prizes were awarded in 31 categories including “Materials and Surfaces”, the one in which SGG MASTER-SOFT was competing.

SAiNT-GoBAiN GlASS mASTERGlASS BRiNGS STylE To oBScuRED GlASS iN commERciAl ApplicATioNS

RED DoT WiNNiNG SGG mASTER-SoFT: BRiNGiNG A NEW pREciSioN AppRoAch To TExTuRED GlASS



TuFFx cuSTomERS ARE SPOILT FOR cHOIcE


Enjoy this edition!




GlASS AlumiNium


Products from the TuffX Processed Glass range again proved the preferred consumer choice for a new, luxurious, private home in Oxfordshire.

The company supplied 62m2 Clear Toughened Laminated Glass as part of a modern staircase on a three storey property. Shapes and rectangles were manufactured in 21.5 mm glass which were then installed as a main feature in the grand property, located in a sought after area near Oxford.

The specialist glass manufacturer’s portfolio has been making steady headway across both domestic and commercial markets over the last few years. Homeowners and architects have been impressed by the stunning difference that can be made installing products from the TuffX range, particularly on home improvement and modernisation projects.

TuffX Processed Glass manufactures high performance toughened safety glass in a variety of thicknesses and styles including balustrading, stairs, glass canopies and curtainwalling as well as glass furniture. For more details on the range please call 0845 3 400 200 or visit the website www.tuffxprocessedglass.co.uk.

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Aluminium Bi-Folding Doors, Sliding Doors and Windows

t: 01706 260700 e: [email protected]

www.alufolddirect.co.uk

ALUMINIUM

130x320 ALUFOLD.indd 1 17/09/2015 14:28


Jack Aluminium’s curtain walling and thermal doors have been used to create an impressive, efficient and secure shopfront at Asda’s busy Harrow store.

The eye-catching glass shopfront, spanning 33 x 4.2 metres, is the latest result of a long-standing partnership between Jack Aluminium and IDF Aluminium Ltd.

Jack Aluminium’s versatile low-rise curtain walling system was chosen to deliver excellent weather performance and high energy efficiency. The aluminium system features a PVCu profile to enhance thermal performance. It also makes installation faster.

IDF Aluminium also chose high security Jack Door TD68 doors fitted with louvers for the project to achieve PAS24 standards. A colour matched pressed aluminium sign panel was required which Jack Aluminium was able to supply.

William Woods, Director at IDF Aluminium Ltd, says the Jack Aluminium curtain walling system’s excellent U-Value performance and high thermal efficiency make it ideally suited for high footfall entrances.

He adds: “When you’re tight on space like this in a busy high street, the clip-in plate and ladder fixing system on the curtain walling makes it quick and simple to install.”

SUPERMARKET

SWEEP FOR JAcK ALUMINIUM

“A colour matched pressed aluminium sign panel was required which Jack Aluminium was able to supply.”

1015/0134


BuSiNESS & mARkETiNG The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper

GLASSOLUTIONS’ commercial sealed unit customers are amongst the first to benefit from the company’s £600,000 investment in a new FORS registered Crossrail standard vehicle fleet which makes site deliveries safer and more efficient.

Five new liveried trucks have been commissioned by GLASSOLUTIONS Peterborough which gives even greater flexibility to accommodate the wide variety of site access situations. And with vehicles featuring mounted forklifts, these new trucks eliminate the need for customers to hire a forklift on site. Ranging from the small 7.5

tonne truck to 26 tonnes in size, the open-backed vehicles facilitate easy deliveries on site, plus drop sides to enable forklift access.

These new vehicles are operated by GLASSOLUTIONS’ personnel exclusively out of the Peterborough factory, which is centrally located for deliveries anywhere in the country. Fitted to the Crossrail safety standard, they comply with the FORS (Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme) Bronze standard and are integral to the company’s move towards the enhanced Silver accreditation.

This scheme is vital to make fleet operations safer, more fuel efficient, more economical and cutting vehicle emissions in the process. In practice this means all the vehicles operating out of the GLASSOLUTIONS Peterborough factory are fitted with audible warning systems to warn cyclists and pedestrians of manoeuvres, as well as cameras to allow drivers to spot risks before incidents could occur.

Ian Croft, operations manager at GLASSOLUTIONS Peterborough says: “In commissioning these new vehicles we listened carefully to customer feedback to see how we could make changes to the specification and design to suit the multitude of site arrangements that we experience daily. But we also wanted to ensure we keep improving efficiency and safety along the way – hence why we’ve invested in amongst the best vehicles available in our sector.”

Commercial glazing customers of GLASSOLUTIONS Peterborough are based right across the UK and every project requires loads in different sizes and quantities of glass. That is why flexibility in the vehicle fleet is so important to cope with between 15 and 50 drops every day, including Saturdays where required.

Find out more about GLASSOLUTIONS at www.glassolutions.co.uk.

gLASSOLUTIONS iNvESTS £600k iN SAFEST, moST EFFiciENT DElivERy FlEET

One of the new vehicles in the fleet operating out of the GLASSOLUTIONS factory in Peterborough which services commercial sealed unit customers across the UK.


Leading specialist glass processor, TuffX has made further investments in advanced technology with the installation of a new Intermac master 33 cnc centre.

As demand for the company’s premium processed glass range continues to increase, senior management have increased production capacity and efficiency with an eye on the developing glass market.

The new equipment is highly adaptable and allows the company to achieve greater manufacturing parameters of up to 4000mm on a variety of glass from 6mm to 25mm.

Graham Price comments, “As design and performance continue to become more dynamic across the glazing and construction industries, it is imperative that we can meet and exceed customer expectation. Technical investment for TuffX enables us to give our customers greater business scope. We believe that as a market leader we must continuously evaluate the market and adapt production methods accordingly to meet demand. This investment helps us to further establish the TuffX brand.”

For more information on the TuffX range of specialist glasses then please visit the websites www.tuffxprocessedglass.co.uk www.ambiglass.co.uk or call 0845 3 400 200 to discuss your product needs.

TUFFX MAKES FuRThER iNvESTmENT TO MEET gROWINg DEMAND


Industry-leading systems supplier The VEKA UK Group has launched its brand new Group website, with an easy-to-navigate new style and a host of technical information including informative videos, technical downloads and up-to-the-minute news.

Sales and Marketing Director Colin Torley explains: “The team have been working extremely hard to ensure that the new website offers a valuable, interesting and informative user experience.

“In our industry, with so much information to convey, it can be difficult to keep websites from looking cluttered or overwhelming, but I think we've achieved it with www.vekauk.com. It includes a wealth of technical info, installation videos, news stories and more, but it retains a simple, welcoming, clean style throughout. To make it easy to use, and simple to search, the website has been split into three sections for trade, commercial and homeowner clients.

“Last year saw mobile internet usage overtake that of traditional laptops and desktop computers for the first time, so it was important to us that the VEKA UK Group site should be easy for all our customers to view

'on the go' on whatever type of device they choose. It automatically re-sizes to offer the best user experience on phone, tablet or PC etc - maintaining its ease of use across all platforms.

“Visitors can navigate by selecting their chosen brand, system or window style - or simply use the 'search' facility to quickly find the information they require. All wall charts, along with technical and fabrication manuals, have been made available across the site for customers to download.

“The Technical Support section offers a valuable resource for fabricators, installers and specifiers to find the in-depth product information they require. When it comes to product development and technical innovation, The VEKA UK Group has always been ahead of the curve - so we were determined that our new website should reflect our industry-leading status.

“Here at The VEKA UK Group, the feedback of our customers is invaluable to us, and informs each new project we undertake. The new website will be constantly updated, and we're looking forward to hearing what our customers have to say about it.”

Tel: 01282 716611 www.vekauk.com

THE vEKA UK gROUP UNvEILS INNOvATIvE NEW WEbSITE



Enjoy this edition!




Its marketing package has no rival“Deceuninck’s support makes switching easy - we’re taking full advantage.

Eight of our installer customers already have their own MyBrand brochures.”

Mike Bryant, Managing Director. Geoff Beck, Business Development Manager. Merlin Network. Call Geoff on 07969 977370 or 01383 821182

www.MerlinNetwork.co.uk

Building your brand, builds ours

WHY DECEUNINCK?

Follow @DeceuninckUK

Call Sales Director Rob McGlennon 07818 383 385

www.WhyDeceuninck.com

Merlin Ad for Glass News.indd 1 18/09/2015 12:12:40

1015/0138



Vista, one of the UK’s largest and fastest growing composite door manufacturers, has invested £100k in a new CNC router, increasing their capacity to 1,000 doors per week on a single shift. As managing director Keith Sadler explains, an increase in demand for Vista’s market leading product, XtremeDoor, prompted the Merseyside based fabricator to implement the next stage of its investment strategy.

“We’re currently making around 700 composite doors per week on a single shift, which is close to our current maximum capacity, so decided to invest in new machinery in preparation for future growth” Keith explains. “The CNC incorporates a dual head so will allow us to meet the increased demand and continue to offer the high level of quality and service our customers have come to expect.”

The new CNC, which was supplied by the world leading manufacturer SCM

Group, is just the latest in a long line of investments made by the industry leading company. Last year Vista purchased a saw, welder and corner cleaner, and in 2013 invested in an edgebander, beam saw and paint spray booth. “Regular investment is an integral part of our strategy and means we can retain our position at the very forefront of the composite door market” Keith adds. “We acquire new machinery to improve production but we also invest in regular product updates, giving our customers new features to sell every year.”

Recent additions to the XtremeDoor range includes a selection of long stainless steel handles, a heritage lock and a selection of new glass designs. Vista have also extended their colour range, and can now offer both the door slab and outerframe in any shade in the RAL spectrum.

XtremeDoor is a high specification composite

door that offers the very best in thermal performance, security, weather tightness and aesthetics. It incorporates a five point lock, anti-bump, snap and pick cylinders, stainless steel hardware, a 3D adjustable hinge, triple sealed Eurocell outerframe and a UV stable GRP skin. XtremeDoor can be ordered online and is available with a five day turnaround.

For more information call 01516081423 or visit www.vistapanels.co.uk

On August 31st the Bohle Group launched its brand new Online Shop.

At www.bohle-group.com visitors to the site from all parts of the world can order almost any out of more than 12,000 products of the Bohle portfolio around the clock.

“The online business has gained significant importance at Bohle. This is why we are constantly investing in this distribution channel and the latest relaunch offers our customers a completely new Online Shop which is even more clearly structured than before, and very user-friendly”, Dominik Hinzen, head of the Marketing and Direct Sales Germany Departments at Bohle, points out.

The Haan company is also keeping up with the times as far as digital devices are concerned: The new Bohle Online Shop works equally well on all devices. Whether you are working with a desktop PC, a tablet or a smartphone, the website automatically adapts to the respective device. Therefore having to download an app becomes unnecessary. “Our website is visited by an increasing number of mobile devices. The new Online Shop takes this trend into account and consquently offers our customers the opportunity to access the site at all times from any mobile device”, Dominik Hinzen explains.

CLEAr STrUCTUrE, INTELLIGENT SEArCh FUNCTIONWhen developing the new Shop the greatest importance was attached to a clearly structured overview and the advanced searchability of products. In this way visitors to our site are always presented the most recent product innovations, the best offers and the latest news. A slide show with large images in the centre of the start page gives customers an overview of the Bohle product worlds. The images are also directly linked to the respective product site. An intelligent search function which can work both with

product numbers and names quickly guides the user to the desired products. After login, customers can add the products to their shopping cart directly out of the search function. The new Bohle Online Shop stands out due to its clear and well thought-out structure. Apart from large images, detailed product and availability information and prices, customers can also download drawings, flyers, data sheets, lists of set contents and videos. In addition, alternative products and useful supplementary articles are displayed.

USEr-FrIENDLY FEATUrES, MANY ONLINE BENEFITSShopping carts can be saved in case the customer does not yet want to place the order. The Shop offers the option of creating as many shopping carts as you wish and save them under a freely definable name. The cart contents can be ordered partially or completely at a later date. “This feature is ideal for customers who often order the same products”, says Hinzen. All orders are displayed with their current status in the customer account – regardless of whether they have been placed online or offline. The customer can also choose products out of this order history and add them to the current shopping cart again. In case orders have already been sent, the tracking code of the forwarder is also shown, so that the current position of the goods can be seen at any time.

As usual, logged in customers can see the corresponding

prices together with special conditions which might have been agreed previously. Further advantages for online customers in Germany: There is neither a minimum order value nor a minimum quantity surcharge for small orders. With changing online offers and especially low-price clearance products in the “Clearance Lines” section, Bohle gives price-conscious customers reasons to continue shopping online in the future.

BESPOKE OFFErS FOr SPECIFIC MArKET SETTINGS The new Online Shop ideally adapts itself to the specific demands and the different product ranges of international markets. The website “realizes” which country the user is in and automatically displays the corresponding country website which the products available for each. In line with this relaunch, for the first time Bohle America has been connected to this global platform. The US subsidiary has been running its own online shop up to this point. This makes the Bohle Online Shop available in 14 versions all around the world. “We are happy about the wide acceptance the Online Shop has gained in the meantime in the different market settings”, Marketing Director Hinzen says. “We are convinced that we will be able to convince more and more customers of the benefits of using this ordering channel.”


£100k investment INcREASES vISTA’S SINgLE SHIFT cAPAcITY TO 1,000 DOORS PER WEEK

oRDER moRE ThAN 12,000 PRoDUcTs ARoUND ThE clock

Keith Sadler, managing director of Vista.

Purplex Marketing has launched a new brand to reflect its growing position as an international PR, marketing and digital agency.

Purplex is the window industry’s largest marketing agency with clients across the UK and Europe, and the new brand marks the next stage of the company’s expansion plans.

The firm recently purchased a state-of-the-art 4,500 square foot office just outside Bristol and has announced plans for a new London office. It employs 42 staff spanning PR, design, web and digital marketing, and video production.

Purplex was founded in 2004 by Andrew Scott who has 25 years’ experience in the glazing industry and has acquired, built and sold several companies including fabricators, installers, glass companies and trade-counter networks.

He said; “with an army of marketing experts who know the window industry, we hit

the ground running and our clients see immediate results. Our strategy is simple – we focus on helping our customers grow and use the best mix of channels to achieve this. We’ve brought together the most talented people in each marketing discipline, taught them the glazing and building industry, and set them loose to work with our clients.”

The new brand includes a unique ‘icon’ designed to reflect a power button, to highlight the company’s strapline ‘Power your Marketing’.

A new website will be launched shortly to showcase the full range of services provided by Purplex www.purplexmarketing.com.

wINdow INdustry MarketINg ageNcy gets BraNd Makeover!

Purplex’s new logo.




1015/0142



Zurich, Switzerland – H.B. Fuller (NYSE: FUL) has officially opened its Lüneburg Adhesive Academy in Germany, the company’s newest technical centre of excellence, to help its customers respond more quickly and effectively to market trends, industry challenges and opportunities.

Combining state-of-the-art equipment with the collective knowledge of experts drawn from H.B. Fuller’s global network, this unique facility will be a focus for adhesive R&D excellence. Drawing on specialist knowledge from different industry sectors,

the academy provides an environment to work in partnership with customers to solve problems, and create new solutions, more rapidly than ever before.

“Our new adhesive academy is a perfect example of what we mean by ‘connecting what matters.’ It brings together everything necessary to connect customers to innovative adhesive solutions that will give them a competitive edge,” says H.B. Fuller’s President and CEO, Jim Owens. “From the academy, we will strengthen our commercial partnerships, solve some of the world’s toughest adhesion challenges and develop market-ready solutions to help drive

customer and industry performance.”

Nick Lehman, R&D director, adds, “By bringing together adhesive specialists from different sectors to share expertise, transfer technologies between markets and stimulate ideas, we are confident we can accelerate adhesive innovation. Furthermore, we are providing those experts with first-class offices, laboratories, technical facilities and machinery to ensure they have the best possible environment in which to think and to create.”

Covering 2,300 square meters, the Lüneburg Adhesive Academy includes dedicated areas for packaging and converting, hygiene and durable assembly adhesive technologies. It is purpose-designed for related functions, such as conducting experiments, running demonstrations and training customers. The investment in the site also reinforces H.B. Fuller’s commitment to the local community.

Alistair Inglis, UK Sales Manager for illbruck, writes about the way the company has invested to meet changing market needs.

As a long-established manufacturer with an international reputation and a comprehensive product range, illbruck has now reached the point where it has produced enough impregnated tape to circle the planet three times over; an achievement that is in sharp contrast to some products and the companies producing them.

It is a fact that, in order to combat increasing extremes of weather caused by climate change, the glazing and facades sector has moved on from its reliance on ‘silicone only’ fixing systems and now employs more advanced impregnated tapes and compatible technologies to provide good weather resistance and control air permeability.

illbruck not only offers premium product and service performance; the company has achieved strong growth despite the tough times experienced by many parts of the construction industry.

Contractors realised that they could not afford to make mistakes in sealing and bonding, and so opted for a proven solution. In addition, they turned to us because we had invested in the UK market by training our staff, and gained the certification they were seeking for peace of mind.

A fit-and-forget solution was ideal for the recession and is even more relevant now that contractors are so busy. No one wants to go back to jobs to do remedial work.

Unfortunately, some manufacturers have entered the market with products which lack the depth of research and development or third party testing which underpins our offering.

In a bid to raise awareness and standards, we are represented on various technical committees of major trade associations thereby influencing where sealing guidelines could be improved to raise some of the standards in building construction, especially in

terms of weather and air tightness.

We are totally committed to the UK market and have accelerated our investment in testing and certification. For example, we have a range of BBA certifications which we feel are crucial to giving customers confidence when using the products. It is in areas like this that we lead the way and show we are prepared to invest in supporting our products and systems.

In addition to developing advanced product technologies, we are also keen to explore and support their integration into new sectors: for instance offering housebuilders the opportunity to benefit from systems previously confined to commercial contracts.

As an example, our A-Rated Windows campaign which was launched last year and showcased at The Fit Show, helped bring home the message to the domestic contractor and OEM producer. In essence, the communication centred on existing, common ‘silicone-only’ fixing practices proving inappropriate for the high-technology, A-Rate windows being specified to meet Part L Building Regulation requirements. As a result, we are now starting to make real inroads into the domestic windows market.

One of the major differences between illbruck and its competitors is the level of service and technical support on offer. Our people are our main asset and are on site every day. Quite often, they have worked with the architect to specify a solution and they are then on site to talk through the solution with the sub-contractor; they give ‘tool box talks’ to the operatives on how to apply the product.

In addition to unrivalled laboratory research and third party testing, product quality is constantly scrutinised at the main production plant in Germany.

Overall, we feel it is crucial that contractors and consultants should not believe that all impregnated foam products are essentially the same. Significantly, we

can reference real life testing of products in a variety of climates and situations going back more than 20 years for our top-selling TP600 (formerly Compriband 600) product.

This testing is rigorous; third party accredition has shown TP600 maintains its

600 Pa weather-tightness two decades after being first installed. We also test materials against the competition and have identified big differences in installed performance, even over a much shorter time period.

As the business continues to grow, we are also expanding our product lines with the introduction of a Building Protection range, aimed at solving the problems faced trying to find compatible products to seal the building envelope.

Sourcing products that work together to provide airtightness and moisture management solutions can be a headache. We have, therefore, done the work on bonding and compatibility on a range of breather membranes, vapour barriers, tapes and sealants so that they can be relied upon to perform where it matters – on-site. It represents a logical extension to our windows and façades range given that the question we are most often asked about is product compatibility.

The future is bright for us in the UK market: with a raft of BBA certificates in place and widespread recognition of the need to provide the best possible sealing and bonding of windows and façades across the construction market, illbruck’s heritage and experience is serving it well.

For further information on tremco illbruck, please visit www.tremco-illbruck.co.uk.

h.B. FullER ADhESivE AcADEmy To AccElERATE cuSTomER iNNovATioN

illBRuck - oFTEN imiTATED, NEvER EQUAllED

Signing the city book with the mayor.

Unveiling the plaque.


READER ENQUIRY No: 1015/0144Tech Center 04-06-2015 Mod klein.

“by bringing together adhesive specialists from different sectors to share expertise, transfer technologies between markets and stimulate ideas, we are confident we can accelerate adhesive innovation.”

Alistair Inglis.


DocumENT qBuSiNESS & mARkETiNG

National Plastics has seen astonishing growth in the past five years, adding £9 million to its turnover by extending its product range, opening new sites and making acquisitions.

We talked to the managers at six of the most recently opened National Plastics stores to find out what it’s like to be part of the UK’s largest independent trade counter network.

The Worthing, Chichester and Horsham stores were acquired from the small regional chain of Churchley Builders Plastics. It is National Plastics’ policy to keep staff in place following an acquisition to maintain continuity and customer relationships, so the managers of the three stores have continued in their roles and all report similar experiences of being part of a national chain.

Mike Long, manager at the Worthing store, says: “It’s great to have the structure of a bigger chain and our customers really appreciate the wider range of stock, the better availability and the more competitive pricing. We’ve enjoyed a greater level of investment than previously too. The company is running a £6k local advertising campaign this month, which will really help raise our profile.”

Paul Legrange, manager at the Horsham branch,

agrees, saying: “National Plastics’ buying power has made a big difference. Our customers comment that we’re much cheaper now and they appreciate us carrying a wider range of stock.”

Rodney Stinchcombe, manager at the Chichester store agrees with Mike and Paul, adding: “National Plastics is an ambitious chain and it shows in their approach.”

It’s a similar story for Sharon Thomas, manager of the Wednesbury National Plastics, which used to be PAL Supercentre. “We went from being a single store to being part of much bigger chain,” she says. “We’ve got much better availability as a result.”

Over at the Worcester store, which used to be a Silplas store, manager Jon Wells echoes the advantages of being part of a bigger network. “The better availability than before is a real advantage. We’ve also seen investment made – we’ve had new racking installed which has made the place look a lot smarter.”

While Mike, Paul, Rodney, Sharon and Paul all appreciate seeing their stores become part of a bigger chain, for Tony Hart, store manager of the new Christchurch store, it’s the relative smallness of the chain that appeals. He came to National Plastics from a much larger company and he says he really notices the difference. “You’re a name here, not a number, which means that everyone is accountable. It’s almost a family feeling and it makes it a really good place to work.”

National Plastics intends to grow its network of stores to 50 by the end of 2017. From talking to store managers across the country it is clear that becoming part of the network is a positive move. It is also clear that the wide stock range and excellent availability is valued by staff as much as it is by customers.

Tel: 0800 011 3503 www.nationalplastics.co.uk

Following the initial launch of the mysterious new brand, räum, speculation has arose in the glass and glazing press questioning which well-known company is behind it. Installers in particular have expressed an interest in räum, with hundreds registering with the holding page website www.raumdesigns.co.uk.

With the industry anxious to know more, a spokesperson for Räum has confirmed that the official launch is imminent. The spokesperson commented: “Following our teaser campaign in the press, we’ve had a surge of registrations from installers looking to gain an advantage in the competitive home improvement market.

“We’ve been working hard in the background preparing for the launch and I’m pleased to announce all will be revealed very soon. We are very excited to be only a few weeks away and we urge anyone not yet registered to get in touch if they want to gain a serious edge over the competition.”

Räum is a collection of premium products designed to help fabricators and installers capitalise on the most profitable areas of the high-end home improvement market. The name Räum is influenced by the German word for ‘space’ and it encapsulates the stand-out aesthetics of the high performance products within the brand.

If you would like to be one of the first to know about Räum, visit www.raumdesigns.co.uk and leave your details.

For more information visit www.raumdesigns.co.uk.

THE NATIONAL PLASTIcS’ experience

cOMPANY bEHIND RäUM SOON TO bE REvEALED



As part of their commitment to independent product specification and accreditation, TruFrame have for some time offered products with PAS24 and Secured by Design and this means that their customers have been ready for Document Q for some time.

Document Q will have an overwhelming impact on the new housing sector for the glazing industry and will have a direct effect on the installation of both windows and doors. Specifically, Approved Document Q sets out reasonable standards for doors and windows to resist physical attack by a casual or opportunist burglar by being both sufficiently robust and fitted with appropriate hardware.

TruFrame are able to satisfy this requirement on standard casement and tilt and turn windows, while they have become one of the first companies in the UK to be able to offer a flush sash window to PAS24 with Secured by Design. In addition, residential doors, French doors and composite doors are all offered to this important security standard.

Patrick Firmager, marketing director of TruFrame commented: ‘We’ve always been a firm believer of independent product testing and accreditation and so the new legislation will only have a positive effect on us as a business, as our products already carry PAS24, including the new flush sash. Our

customers have the reassurance of a company that manufactures and tests all products prior to launch and then harnesses unique production methodologies to each and every frame and that’s part of the TruFrame difference.’

For information on TruFrame log on to www.truframe.co.uk for product downloads, or call the sales office on 01664 410140. You can also add to their growing following on Twitter @TruFrame.

TRuFRAmE’S READy FoR q



With Document Q impacting on new apartment buildings, Jack Aluminium Systems has made it easy for commercial fabricators to meet the new regulations with its fully compliant TD68 thermally efficient doors.

In response to feedback from customers for a high security, energy efficient doorset, Jack Aluminium invested early in designing and testing a door that would solve the problem of lock tampering and forced entry on vulnerable doors and achieve the stringent security standard. It has paid off for customers and now they’re ahead of the game for the latest building regulation changes on 1 October.

Jeff Pearson, Sales and Marketing Director at Jack Aluminium adds: “The TD68 Door suite enables fabricators to deliver energy efficient doorsets with enhanced security benefits whilst remaining competitive on price in the market.”

The TD68 Anti Panic, Mag Lock and Standard Hook Lock Doors are fully Document Q compliant and can be manufactured to meet the requirements set out by Secured by Design.

DocumENT q AND No WAiTiNG FOR JAcK ALUMINIUM cUSTOMERS



DocumENT q The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper

With the October deadline for Part Q compliance upon us, fast growing composite door manufacturer DOOrCO is pleased to state that it has passed the latest round of security testing at BM TrADA with flying colours.

Whilst the company is naturally delighted with the results, they came as no real surprise, as DOORCO has been ready for the amended standard for some time, following an investment programme more than two years ago which focused on the production of a new breed of composite door. This new door design provides ultimate flexibility for the customer as it enables multiple door styles to be created from one design, but crucially, it also incorporates improved security features which stand up to the new standards.

Under the revised Part Q, either the PAS24:12 standard or Secured by Design accreditation covering the enhanced security of windows and doors becomes mandatory for anyone working on dwellings which are considered new build or conversion projects. Doors and windows must be able to resist physical attack by a casual or opportunist burglar in order to meet these standards. To do this they must be both robust and be fitted with appropriate hardware, which is true of the DOORCO range.

Dan Sullivan, Managing Director at DOORCO explains: “At DOORCO we pride ourselves on being at the forefront of product quality and innovation, and the DOORCO door range, including fire doors, is one of the few foam filled composite door ranges which can pass key/key and key/thumb tests. It has done so numerous times at countless test centres, without fail. Our doors boast increased resistance to forced entry and violent attacks, and a more substantial feel with thicker, modified skins as standard across all products so their performance has been future proofed against anticipated standards. Customers tell us that this has really paid off for them as they are assured they are buying the best and most cost effective door available and as we continue to grow, more and more people are seeing the benefit of placing their business with DOORCO.”

www.door-co.com

Shepley French doors with aluminium low threshold are among the very first in the industry to be awarded PAS 24 status – right on cue to meet new building regulations on home security.

It means leading REHAU fabricator Shepley has what it believes is one of the only products on the market matching up to the new Document Q requirements on security, as well as the existing Part M criteria for disabled access.

Document Q comes into force on October 1, from when all doors and windows which offer direct access into new homes must meet official standards offering greater security to householders and reducing the risk of opportunistic break-ins.

Most commonly, the PAS 24:2012 standard awarded

to Shepley’s aluminium low threshold French doorsets will be the standard used to class a product as a secure doorset under Document Q.

Tim Walker from Shepley says: “French doors remain right on trend, but the aluminium low threshold required for Part M disability access has proven exceptionally difficult to combine with the necessary level of security demanded by PAS24 and Document Q.

“So at a time when the majority of new build developments are asking for French doors, this is a major breakthrough and right on time to meet the deadline.”

The French doors - available in REHAU frames with a choice of 13 foil colour options - can now be added to Shepley’s extensive Secured By Design range of products bearing the kite mark KM 569507.

To help customers prepare for the changes to building regulations, Shepley is offering a handy free expert guide to Document Q, which details the precise requirements for doors and windows designed and constructed to resist physical attack by a casual or opportunist burglar.

To download the free ‘Right On Q’ guide, which applies to new homes in England and some in Wales, go to: http://www.shepley.com/CustomerCentre.

WiTh pASS AFTER pASS DooRco hAS SEcuRiTy covERED

RIGhT oN Q! ShEplEy’S FRENch DooR loW ThRESholD SETS NEW STANDARDS


Solidor is ready for Approved Document Q when it comes in on October 1st. Solidor is also ready for the revised, more demanding PAS24 security test when that comes into effect later in 2015. Document Q, which applies to new build and extensions, requires all doors to have achieved PAS24.

Solidor Managing Director Joe Martoccia explains: “In an independently conducted ‘dry run’ to confirm its readiness, Solidor passed the newest, more difficult test with honours. In fact, Solidor surpassed it with a huge margin to spare. But the new test will create disruption in the market. As currently specified, many composite doors fail the existing PAS24 test. They also fail the new more demanding PAS24 ‘cut test’. We know because, as you’d expect from the leading quality composite door manufacturer, we tested Solidor against composite doors representing two thirds of the market. Other doors are simply not ready for Q.

The revised PAS24 test gives composite doors three minutes to survive an attack using two chisels (a 6mm and a 25mm) and a Stanley knife. If, using just these

tools, the tester can cut a 50mm square hole through the door in less than three minutes, the door fails. If he can’t, it passes. Why 50mm? It’s just large enough to squeeze a hand through to turn a key or thumb turn and open the door from the inside.

After removing the tough outer thermoplastic skin, the Tester could not cut through Solidor’s unique hardwood timber core. Despite the violent attack, damage was superficial, and it was clear it would have taken much longer than three minutes to get through Solidor’s solid laminated-timber core.

“Other doors failed the test in less than 1½ minutes,” continues Joe. “But the thick timber core in a Solidor stopped the tester in his tracks. It would have taken hours to get all the way through, and no burglar is going to do that!

“According to research by Manchester University, when homeowners buy a door, security is their chief concern,” adds Joe. “So, it’s reassuring for the trade and consumers to know that Solidor is almost certainly the most secure composite door on the market. By a long way. Now everyone understands why Solidor is a solid door. It’s why Solidor has both style and security in spades!”

For more information about Solidor visit www.solidor.co.uk, follow @SolidorLtd or call 01782 847 300.

SoliDoR iS ‘REAl-liFE’ SEcuRE & ready for document Q

Solidor is ‘real-life’ secure.



“Why 50mm? It’s just large enough to squeeze a hand through to turn a key or thumb turn and open the door from the inside.

It’s about now, when the seasons start to change, that you begin to realise just how good a solid tile roof is.

Not that we have had much of a summer this year, but when the temperatures start to change and it becomes colder, if you have a conservatory or an orangery with a solid tile roof the transition becomes less of an issue.

You no longer have to think about the conservatory as that room on the side of the house which you won’t use for the next six months – far from it; it is now the room from which you can watch the changing of the seasons – into autumn and then winter – and enjoy every minute from the comfort of your home.

It is also exactly the reason why the sale of solid tile roofs continues unaffected by the seasons, and why it is such a great product to have in your portfolio as an installer. As more and more people choose to stay in the homes they are already in preferring to upgrade rather than move, their spend is put towards items which are going to enhance their living experience, and an all year round product

such as a conservatory or an orangery with a solid tile roof is becoming higher on the agenda of an increasing number of people.

Solid tile roofs have become one of the real ‘star’ products of the industry in the last couple of years and they are set to continue growing in popularity with installers – driven by a rapidly growing demand from consumers.

Installing a solid tile roof creates an amazing transition on someone’s home – and at the same time ensures that the transition in the seasons becomes barely noticeable.

Steve hacking is Operations Director for Supalite Solid Tile roof Systems, one of the leading products of its type in the UK.

Tel: 03339 20 69 59 - www.supaliteroof.co.uk


SoliD RooFSThe UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper


iT’S NoW you START To REAliSE ThAT SoliD TilE RooFS ARE AN All yEAR RouND pRoDucT


REcRuiTmENT The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper

Phoenix Doors has recruited Karen Sandford as Operations Manager to oversee production at the company’s two PVC door panel and composite door manufacturing sites.

Karen brings more than 30 years’ broad manufacturing experience to her new position, including a recent similar executive role in the security and fire doors sector.

Her key responsibilities include planning and implementing process improvements to align with MASCO UK Window Group policy, ensuring that the business continues to move forward offering the best up-to-date quality products delivered on time, every time.

Commenting on her role, Karen says: “I’m relishing this new challenge and we’re starting to see improvements already. As we continue to increase efficiency and further enhance our operations, Phoenix has the potential to become a World Class Manufacturing company. Achieving this status is the long-term goal.”

Another priority is planning for a dedicated second production line to cope with demand for Meridian, Phoenix’s 70mm double-rebated premium composite door range, which is proving popular with installers and homeowners alike.

Says Haydon Statham, Phoenix Doors’ Sales Director: “Having grown at

phenomenal speed this year, we’re getting smoother and slicker. Karen’s manufacturing knowledge, expertise and approach is already making a positive difference to our production schedules and customer deliveries.”

For more information, please call Phoenix Doors on 01487 740469, email [email protected] or visit the website at www.phoenixdoorpanels.co.uk.

ISO-Chemie, one of Europe’s leading producers of impregnated foam sealants, has appointed a new technical advisor for the north of England and Scotland following continuing expansion and growth.

James Robinson, who has more than 25 years’ experience in the UK fenestration sector, will be responsible for developing further new business among window and door fabricators, installers and specifiers for the company’s range of advanced sealants.

James has gained significant experience of the fenestration market, having previously worked as area sales manager for Spectus Windows Systems, sales director for KBE GmbH and business development manager for Deceuninck in Belgium.

ISO-Chemie specialises in the manufacturer of

foam sealing products from polyethylene (EPE), polypropylene (EPP) and polyurethane (PUR) using the latest production techniques. Its products are used for the fast and effective air tight sealing of windows as well as other joint and gap sealing applications in the building, eco-build and construction sectors.

Mr Robinson said: “I’m delighted to have joined a world class company such as ISO-Chemie, which has an excellent reputation for products and service. When I saw the job advertised I jumped at it. I am looking forward to the challenge and to help ISO-Chemie grow in the UK and become as recognised here as they are in Europe.”

Peter Thompson, ISO-Chemie’s UK general manager, added: “James’ knowledge of the fenestration industry will be of great benefit as we

look to promote the energy efficiency benefits of foam sealed windows particularly in northern England and Scotland where these products are particularly applicable.”

“James understands the issues involved when it comes to installing products onsite and the easy-to-use, added value product solutions customers require to improve installation times and quality.”

ISO-Chemie’s UK technical and distribution operation is based in the North East of England, supported by a dedicated logistics service to ensure customer orders are completed as quickly and efficiently as possible (usually next-day delivery).

More at www.iso-chemie.co.uk or email [email protected]. Tel: 01207 566874.

See more positions online at: www.glassnews.co.ukREcRuiTmENT

If you are looking to recruit, contact us today for prices! Email: [email protected] or Tel: 07805 051322

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Phoenix doors names its new oPerations manager iSo-chEmiE

ExpANDS TEchNicAl ADviSoRy TEAm


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Surging growth in demand from customers, coupled with a major product development drive during 2015 has led to the creation of a further new Management role at KAT.

Since the beginning of 2015, KAT have introduced four new products to complement the existing range of bespoke windows and doors, namely: KATpod Lantern Roof, Timber Front Doors, Aluminium Front Doors and the Knightsbridge PVCu Flush Casement Window.

Gary Mullin joins the team as Purchasing Manager, based at the Head Office in Macclesfield. Gary brings a wealth of experience, having been Purchasing Manager for over 20 years before spending time with his family living and working in both France and South Africa. Having recently returned to the UK, Gary said “I have known David Richards, Chairman at KAT since 1998 and have always

found KAT to be an innovative and vibrant manufacturing company. I am delighted to be joining the company at a time when new products have recently been launched”.

KAT has 4 manufacturing facilities in Macclesfield, Hazel Grove and Newhaven and is the only UK Manufacturer of window and door systems in 3 major materials, Aluminium, PVCu and Timber. We have a dedicated fleet of vehicles comprising 5 large 8.5 tonne FAME vehicles and 3 small fleet vehicles for local distribution. Whether your project is for bifold doors, patio doors, residential entrance doors, box sash windows, flush casement windows or Lantern Roofs, KAT offer a bespoke ‘Life Engineered’ Solution.

Tel: 016125 439666 or E: [email protected]

PRODUcT LAUNcHES IN 2015 cREATE NEW MANAgEMENT APPOINTMENT AT KAT



REcRuiTmENTThe UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper

Bi-fold door and conservatory roof supplier Made For Trade have added to their expanding team with the appointment of an in-house Graphic Designer.

With the task of rebranding the company and marketing their growing product range, Ian Bousfield has also been kept busy with the introduction of a brand new website as well as the addition of solid roof systems into the supplier’s portfolio.

Ian was also a key figure in helping to make the company’s Solid Roof Open Day in July a huge success, designing the eye-catching banners that were displayed and professional media packs that were available on the day.

About his new role at Made For Trade, Ian said: “After discovering more about the company’s phenomenal growth in the industry, joining the team was an exciting prospect and I hope to develop the brand’s potential further.”

With a background in both freelance and agency design as well as experience on commercial, B2B, and public sector projects, Ian is currently in the process of redesigning and rebranding marketing materials, including adverts in trade publications.

He explained: “Brand and national recognition are high on the agenda and I feel

my experience is a good fit for the business. We already have new products and exciting plans on the horizon.”

Made For Trade has seen rapid demand and growth in recent years, with significant factory space added in 2014 and constant increases in staff numbers. 2015 has been a similarly busy year, with the addition of aluminium patio doors and the Celsius solid roof into the company’s product range.

Managing Director Bradley Gaunt said: “We hope to develop the brand further and establish ourselves as a company with top-range, quality products while making maximum savings for our customers.”

He added: “With over 700 regular customers in our database and further expansion expected, we have proved ourselves to be a force to contend with in the industry.”

To find out more about Made For Trade’s products and services, visit their brand new website at: www.madefortrade.co.

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GRAphic DESiGNER JoiNS made for trade team

CENSolutions, the leading consultancy and test facility for the window, door and glazing industries has continued to see a growing demand for its certification and consultation services and as a result is pleased to welcome Mick Laney as its 9th dedicated independent consultant.

“As with all CENSolutions’ consultants, Mick joins us with extensive technical and glazing industry knowledge,” says Mike Gaillard, Joint Managing Director of CENSolutions. “Unlike some of the larger generic certification companies operating in our industry we are specialists, which is why we bring added value to our customers. An auditor is an auditor but industry knowledge and experience only comes from years of working in the industry. This expertise and passion is what makes CENSolutions stand out from the competition and why so many companies are making the switch.”

Mick adds: “I’ve had a couple of positions in the glazing

industry in operations but most of my career was spent at a large trade fabricator – working on the line, as Quality Assurance Controller and General Manager. The latter two roles included writing procedures for the toughening plant process, managing the testing process for our sealed units and working directly with companies like CENSolutions.”

“I’ve had personal experience of being a customer of both a generic and a specialist certification supplier and I know which I would choose every time! So when the opportunity arose to work for CENSolutions and offer this more personal, helpful, advisory certification service, I was thrilled to take it.”

“I’m looking forward to bringing my own knowledge and expertise to the already established team and making a real difference to customers’ businesses, as CENSolutions made a difference to my business when the roles were reversed.”

“We’re thrilled to welcome Mick to our team,” concludes Mike. “While all of our consultants have a close working knowledge of the industry as a whole, each of us also has a particular technical specialism. This means if one of us doesn’t know the answer to a question, another member of the team will, so as a collective we can provide all the support our customers need. Mick adds yet another dimension to this already formidable mix of knowledge and skills and we look forward to working with him to provide our unique offering to even more companies across the UK.”

For more information on CENSolutions, call us today on 01785 716625, visit www.censolutions.com.

PVC-U building product specialist GAP has bolstered its Main Board and signalled the next phase in its aggressive growth strategy with the appointment of former national news journalist Paul Sowerby as Director of Group Sales and Marketing.

After 15 years in the North of England’s crime hotspots covering stories ranging from the Yorkshire Ripper to the Hillsborough disaster, Paul turned his back on mainstream journalism in favour of PR. His Harrogate-based marketing and communications consultancy went on to earn him the title of Britain’s Outstanding Young Entrepreneur. A Rugby fanatic, he was capped four times for Scotland as a youth.

Joining GAP after 6 years as head of Global Sales with the Australian arm of mining giant CAT, his appointment comes at an exciting time for the group, which has earmarked locations for its next 50 trade depots.

GAP Founder Simon Bird said, “Coming off the back of strong growth in recent years, we knew we needed a heavyweight to take our business to the next level, but didn’t imagine we’d need to go as far as Australia to find one!” he said. “Paul comes with a vast range of skills and experience which will allow us to move forward further and faster.

Paul Sowerby added, “Crime and mining aren’t the most obvious sources of sales and

brand development skills, but between them have given me a great insight into the huge power of effective communication and relationship management. And as any effective salesman will appreciate, that’s about all you need to be as good as you can be.”


cENSoluTioNS WElcomES 9TH cONSULTANT TO THE TEAM

FORMER cRIME JOURNALIST TO MASTERMIND gAP SALES gROWTH

Paul Sowerby, Group Sales and Marketing Director.


As Corporate Patron of the rennie Grove hospice Care charity, this Sunday 27th September, the Origin team are participating in a Muddy Mucker challenge. Various members of the Origin team are taking on a 5km or 10km obstacle course challenge and will be getting very muddy along the way.

This is a fundraising event in aid of the charity and all funds raised will go towards improving the quality of life for terminally ill patients residing at the hospice.

Please visit our team fundraising page to make a donation. We greatly appreciate the support of our partners and suppliers and any money raised will go directly to the charity.

On behalf of everyone at Origin, thank you for your support. Any photography from the day will be added to our social media pages so keep a look out.

The British weather was once again kind for Edgetech UK, a Quanex company’s fifth annual Dealership golf day at De Vere Staverton Park Golf Club.

Golfers prepared themselves for a day of friendly competition on the course by tucking into bacon sandwiches and coffee at the clubhouse. The 19 teams then tackled the championship standard 18 hole golf course set in the Northamptonshire countryside.

Speaking at the event, Adrian Barraclough, Renaissance Window Systems said: “The Edgetech golf day has become a feature of the calendar. It’s been great every year. All heads of the industry talking and doing business in a relaxed atmosphere and just enjoying it. That’s what makes the day so fantastic.”

At the evening meal, trophies were presented to the winning teams and individuals. Gareth Edwards from Synseal, Joe Hague from Promac, Jeremy Kemp from Padiham Glass and Andy Jones were presented the trophy for winning team.

Richard Oakes from Oakland Glass took home the individual first place trophy. Mark Stacey from Vision took second place and third place went to James Keeling-Heane from Senior Architectural Systems. Alan Moreland from GlassTeq won nearest the pin and Andy Burns from MB Frames picked up the trophy for the longest drive.

Every year Edgetech chooses a charity close to the industry to support at the golf day. This year it approached Nick Gibbons, Operations Director at Customade UK Ltd to ask if it could support The Spring Centre which Nick’s daughter accesses. The charity helps children with special needs throughout Gloucester.

29 companies donated prizes to the charity raffle and auction. Prizes included Euro 2016 tickets, a 50 inch Sony TV and Champagne tea at the Ritz. One of the biggest lots of the night was a Van Vault filled with tools worth £1,000 donated by Ace Fixings. Tina Moorhouse from Oakland Glass bid highest for this impressive prize.

“We had a record turnout of people joining us both in the day and evening,” says Andy Jones, Managing Director at Edgetech UK. “The generosity of our guests meant we raised £8,835 for The Spring Centre. It was a great day all round.”

For more information on the important work The Spring Centre does please visit www.springcentre.org. For more information on Edgetech Dealership Plus and its range of products for IGU manufacturers, fabricators and installers visit www.edgetechig.co.uk.


chARiTy NEWS The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper





Five determined members of the team at Truemans Windows recently took on the 24,5 mile-long hike on three of Yorkshire’s highest peaks in a bid to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support. The five - Joe, Ash, Karen, Dave and Adele, set off on their expedition and, after battling through the physical and mental exhaustion that the mountains demand, have successfully completed the challenge and raised an impressive £2,140 for the charity, more than doubling their proposed target.

MD, Joe Trueman, commented: “At Truemans, we recognise the importance of engaging with our CSR and giving back to those who need it most. We chose Macmillian Cancer Support as our charity for 2015 due to the amazing work they have done for so many individuals and families that have been affected by cancer. Having the opportunity to complete the Yorkshire Three Peak Challenge in aid of this charity was a great experience and we are very pleased to have smashed our target of £1000, raising a total of £2140.”

The Yorkshire Three Peak Challenge takes on the mountains of Pen-y-ghent (691 metres), Whernside (728 metres) and Ingleborough (723 metres) and aims to be completed within 12 hours. The Trueman hikers started strong, however, close to the second check point, group general manager, Ash Warburton, suffered a serious knee injury and decided to finish his journey, allowing the others to carry on.

After twelve and a half hours the first members of the group crossed the finish line, closely followed by the rest of the team. Having had the chance to reflect on their achievement, the five agreed that, although it was one of the hardest challenges they have ever undertaken, facing cancer alone is immeasurably tougher. The money raised for MacMillian Cancer Support means more families won’t have to face cancer alone.

For more information, visit www.truemanswindows.co.uk, or call 01282 504 704.

Carl F Groupco warehouse supervisor Tim Groves has tackled his longest cycle ride to date to raise money for the Sue Ryder Hospice charity.

The Chiltern Cycling Festival, which was over 100 miles, included four of the tour of England’s biggest climbs. Team Sky’s support car was out front to give the riders a boost and lead the cyclists on the first quarter of a mile of the endurance event.

Prompted to do the challenge by the recent loss of a few close friends and a family member, Tim and friend Karl Richardson have to date raised £1,150.

A third of the money has been donated by Tim’s generous work colleagues at Carl F Groupco. Tim maintains cycle fitness by completing a 17 mile round trip to work every day.

Anyone wishing to donate can visit justgiving.com/timgroves

Tel: 01733 393330 www.carlfgroupco.co.uk

TRuEmANS FivE coNquER yoRkShiRE ThREE pEAk chAllENGE FoR mAcmillAN

FiFTh DEAlERShip EDGETEch GolF DAy RAiSES £8k FoR chARiTy

oRiGiN GETS muDDy FoR chARiTy

From left to right: Adele Warburton, Ash Warburton, Joe Trueman, Karen Webster and Dave howarth.

Carl F Groupco warehouse supervisor Tim Groves (left) with friend Karl richardson complete a 100 mile cycle challenge for the Sue ryder charity.

“The chiltern cycling Festival, which was over 100 miles, included four of the tour of England’s biggest climbs. Team Sky’s support car was out front to give the riders a boost and lead the cyclists on the first quarter of a mile of the endurance event.”

Alan Fielder (2nd left) presents the trophy to the winning team of Gareth Edwards, Synseal; Jeremy Kemp, Padiham Glass; Joe hague, Promac and Andy Jones, Edgetech UK.



FAcE To FAcEThe UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper

iT’S All ABouT youWhere were you born and live currently?I was born and bred in Bolton, just 10 miles from Manchester and have never moved more than a couple of miles away from the street I grew up in.

your education and the subject or activity in which you excelledI did really well at school, loved maths and science. I took my GCSE maths a year early and went onto college, gaining Geography, Maths and Physics A levels.

your favourite sports or interestsI am a big sports lover, football, cricket, golf and a bit of formula 1. Up until two years ago I played cricket for a local club every weekend. However, due to family commitments at home, these days I just try to play golf as much as possible and watch my beloved Bolton Wanderers play, along with being a regular gym goer!

your biggest regret in lifeI don’t think I have any regrets if I’m honest, I am very happy with my life and the way it has turned out.

Someone or something that inspires youI would have to say my children are my main inspiration. To be able to provide the best start in life for them inspires me to do my upmost in life and be as happy and as healthy as I can, other than that being a keen golfer you get an understanding of what it must take to become a world class player and the level of commitment required. Therefore in a sporting sense I draw inspiration from some of the greats like Jack Nicklaus & Arnold Palmer.

The temptation you can’t resistChocolate! Which doesn’t help me with my gym efforts! Other than that I can generally resist most temptations.

youR cAREERWhen and how did you join the industryI actually started at pearl in 2002. Knowing nothing about the industry at that time, I gained the basic skills and knowledge here. I then moved onto another window manufacturer, spending the best part of 12 years there gaining the majority of my industry knowledge through a lot of hard work and determination and finally gone full circle, back to pearl around 6 months ago to head up their bespoke division.

The job you do in 25 wordsI ensure the smooth running of admin and production, making sure we provide an outstanding customer service and the best products on the market.

your greatest achievementOther than my wonderful family, business wise it would have to be getting to the career stage I am currently at by the age of 30. Knowing that all my hard work is paying off.

The mistake you’d like to correctI am a firm believer in learning from your ‘mistakes’ and that everything happens for a reason. I know I would not be where I am today without the lessons I’ve had along the way. Every ‘mistake’ has brought me to this point and given me the experience necessary to do the role I have now. So on that note there are no mistakes I would like to correct.

The talent you’d like to enhanceWell I’ve been playing golf now for the past two years and would love to play more seriously and get some coaching to help bring my handicap down as low as possible.

AND youR FuTuREWhat would you like to do if you weren’t in the industry I would have probably gone onto university to gain a degree in physics and hopefully became a scientist.

A particular ambitionI want to continue to help Pearl windows’ bespoke department to grow and become one of the countries biggest and best suppliers of composite, bi folding and inline patio doors.

The way you want to be remembered As a dedicated, hard working and loyal family man, who gave his best in everything he did and enjoyed life to the fullest.

ThiS moNTh: Mathew Knight, bespoke Development Manager, Pearl Window SystemsThe new bespoke Development Manager for one of the UK’s largest Liniar manufacturers in the window & door industry, Pearl Window Systems! He is a dedicated and enthusiastic professional with over 14 years’ industry experience and an appetite for challenges...

If you would like to appear in ‘Face to Face’, or would like to nominate someone else to be featured, simply email [email protected].


TimE ouT! The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper

pRizE!

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win £30 casH priZe!!Fill in all the answers in the grid from the clues below, fill in your contact details below and send your competition entry to: Fao: miss christina shaw, glass news competitions, 12 sunderland street, tickhill, doncaster, dn11 9QJ. entry deadline: 31/10/15.

spot which page the image below appears on and enter to be in with a chance of winning!

name: tel:

address:

Postcode:

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Across

7 having deteriorated badly at the greyhound stadium perhaps? (4,2,3,4)

8 a countrywide or worldwide outbreak of a disease (8)

9 Politicians are after me, the little devils! (4)

10 a discourse about one’s residence perhaps (7)

12 send up flare in a wild state (5)

14 an electric cable carrier (5)

16 Put folk in stitches in the theatre (7)

19 the fog-like vapour was not noticed it seems (4)

20 it’s no light matter (8)

22 Brief and pleasant (5,3,5)

Down

1 Bring coal up and have a drink (4)

2 an offer to be gentle and loving (6)

3 this is the highest (7)

4 Far from thin and not too bright (5)

5 i caved in and got some guidance (6)

6 otherwise known as aubergine (8)

11 Blatant overcharging is this kind of robbery (8)

13 raise to a higher standard (7)

15 a demonstration of public anger (6)

17 children own up a bit and find fame (6)

18 it’s most suitable i lead, strangely (5)

21 got rid of that garden hut we here (4)

win £10 casH priZe!!Fill in all the answers in the grid, fill in your contact details below and send your competition entry to: Fao: miss christina shaw, glass news competitions, 12 sunderland street, tickhill, doncaster, dn11 9QJ.

entry deadline: 31/10/15.

win £10 casH priZe!!Fill in your answer and your contact details below and send your competition entry to: Fao: miss christina shaw, glass news competitions, 12 sunderland street, tickhill, doncaster, dn11 9QJ.

entry deadline: 31/10/15.

1 3 2

4 2 1 3

1 3 4 8 6

6 1 2

9 6

4 9 8 1

9 5

7

7 3 9 4

name: tel:

address:

Postcode:

email:

name: tel:

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answer:

compiled by Tony Lazenby


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The ‘Call Saul’ column in Glass News is brand new and, unlikely as it seems, we have a lawyer in the shape of Philip harmer who is giving his advice to our readers, free of charge! If you have any questions or queries about the column subject, Philip is happy for you to contact him by ‘phone or email and he will impart his wisdom absolutely free. So please, take Philip up on his offer. The ‘Call Saul’ column will try and bring you news and views on current and impending legislation to help you keep ahead of the game.

And why ‘Call Saul’? Those aficionados of TVs Breaking Bad will understand!

Chris Champion Editor

lImITATIoN oF lIABIlITY clAUsEs

Legal EAGlE

cAll sAUl...

PHILIP HARMER

aBout philip harmerPhilip Harmer is a Business Lawyer and partner at Stormcatcher Law specialising in employment and business legal services.

His real world experience in construction and property as well as car sales, repair centres, and finance and leasing, give him a true commercial outlook to the business of law pertaining to commercial and company law including employment, anti-bribery, competition and ethics, anti-money laundering , consumer law and trading standards, for the small and medium sized businesses, as well as PLCs and large firms.

contact PhilipTel: 0333 700 7676 [email protected]

Limitation of liability clauses have long been commonplace in the T’s & C’s of standard term commercial contracts.

The usual terms seek to restrict indirect losses, consequential losses, or loss of profit suffered by the installer to the original invoice price of the goods.

Challenging these terms can be costly, largely because it is for a Court to decide whether they are “unreasonable” under the Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977. The notoriously nebulous reasonableness test is decided based on the specific facts of the case and has historically been upheld, providing the clause doesn’t seek to exclude liability and the customer has “some remedy.”

However, the recent Saint Gobain case has caused manufacturers to shift uneasily in their seats. The finding was that capping liability to the invoice price in circumstances where the installer will incur additional costs in excess of the cost price, for example where the glazed unit has been fitted to a frame and installed, is unreasonable.

As a result and reading between the lines, it is likely that manufacturers will have to increase their limitation of liability to 150% of the invoice price to be considered “reasonable” especially when contracting with small businesses & companies.


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uSEFul NumBERSBritish Plastics Federation (BPF) tel: 0207 457 5000

British standards Institution (BsI) – standards & Publications tel: 0208 996 9001

BsI – Assessment & certification tel: 0845 080 9000

BsI – Product certification & Testing tel: 08450 765600

BBsA (British Blind & shutter Association) tel: 01449 780444

Building Research Establishment (BRE) tel: 01923 664000

council for Aluminium in Building (cAB) tel: 01453 828851

Dekura tel: 01952 201631

Door & hardware Federation (DhF) tel: 01827 52337

Double Glazing & conservatory ombudsman scheme (DGcos) tel: 0845 053 8975

Fenestration self-Assessment scheme (FENsA) tel: 0207 645 3700

Get Britain Building (GBB) tel: 0870 162 0936

Glass & Glazing Federation (GGF) tel: 0207 939 9101

GQA Qualifications (formerly Glass Qualifications Authority) tel: 0114 2720033

health & safety Executive (hsE) – Glass & Related Industries Phil smith, hm Principal inspector tel: 01782 602300 david appleton, hm inspector tel: 0115 9712800

Proskills – head office tel: 01235 833844

Proskills – Glass & Related Industries neil robinson – tel: 07917 015 322

Recovinyl (via Axion consulting) tel: 0161 355 7618

The Glazing ombudsman (TGo) tel: 020 7397 7200

Uk Green Building council tel: 0207 580 0623

veka Recycling tel: 01322 38721

waste & Resources Action Programme (wRAP) tel: 01295 819 900

wood window Alliance (wwA) tel: 0844 209 261

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NEED To TARGET iNSTAllERS?We distribute to trade counters, as well as posting copies to a database of installers.

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glass news october 2015

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