DGB Magazine January 26 by doubleglazingblogger

4 Baxi Joins BMBI Expert Panel As Expert For Heating And Hot Water Solutions

6 Fix Radio Prediction: Construction’s 2026 Recovery Will Stall Without Skilled People To Deliver It

8 New Windows And Doors Excluded From Govt Warm Homes Plan

10 AI And Automation Will Change The Face Of Our Sector

12 BM Group To Operate Under The Forterro Name Going Forward

14 Q&A With Dean Hodges, Sales Director At Forterro

16 Endurance® Doors Assures Customers Of Continued Exclusivity

18 Endurance® Doors Maintains Commitment To Customer Success

19 BDC Aluminium Adds Two Experienced Figures To Growing Team

21 BDC Aluminium Is The GoTo Solution For Flexible Interior Layouts

22 Design Made Clear: Three Aesthetics, Endless Possibilities 24 Endurance® Aluminium Boosts Installer Sales Support

EDITORS COMMENT

Well, that is another January out of the way. Dare I say it might have gone a little bit better than last January?

I am sensing the mood music within the industry is perhaps a notch more positive than in recent months. My conversations with others within the sector point to things perhaps starting to settle down. The strength of any upside remains to be seen, but I can definitely sense more momentum out there.

We should all have well and truly shaken off the festive slumber and worked our way back into our grooves. Determined to make 2026 better than 2025. I am starting to think this could be the case. Even better, we’re only a few weeks away from warmer weather, even longer days and the usual upturn in business activity.

It won’t all be plain sailing, however. There will be serious issues to navigate, as Fix Radio pointed out, with any recovery in construction held back due to a lack of skilled workers. We will all be familiar with that particular problem.

In this issue, we also look at how AI is going to change every bit of our own supply chain. Saint-Gobain announced that it is delisting from the London Stock Exchange.

We hope you enjoy this issue!

Team DGB

BAXI JOINS BMBI EXPERT PANEL AS EXPERT FOR HEATING AND HOT WATER SOLUTIONS

Paul Haynes, Product, Solutions & Marketing Director at Baxi, has been appointed as a Builders Merchant Building Index (BMBI) Expert, representing the Heating and hot water solutions category as the industry accelerates its transition to lowcarbon solutions.

The BMBI, a brand of the Builders Merchant Federation (BMF), and run by MRA Research using sales-out data from NiQ GfK’s general builders’ merchant panel, is the only reliable measure of Repair, Maintenance and Improvement (RMI) building activity in the UK. It brings authoritative insight into market trends, while giving leading brands the opportunity to represent and speak for their category.

Baxi is part of the €2bn-turnover BDR Thermea Group and a leading name in the British, Irish, and global heating and hot water industry, driving innovation and product design over the last century.

Since they were founded in 1866, they have maintained a manufacturing base in Lancashire. Today, they have over 1,200 employees across the UK and Ireland serving both domestic and commercial customers, providing comprehensive heating and hot water solutions and related services.

Their portfolio ranges from heat pumps, cylinders, and electric or gas boilers, to heat networks and

large-scale pre-fabricated plant rooms tailored to commercial requirements.

Committed to sustainability and social impact, they launched their Sustainability Pledge in 2020 and are founding members of The Construction Inclusion Coalition (CIC), working to improve equity, diversity, and inclusion in the construction industry. Their profits support the BDR Foundation, through which they promote STEM awareness in UK schools and colleges, partnering with World Skills UK, Primary Engineer, and other programmes to inspire the next generation of heating engineers.

Representing Baxi, Haynes brings a strong track record in product strategy, customer-led growth and large-scale transformation programmes.

At Baxi, he leads brand, product and growth strategy across both residential and commercial heating, with a focus on growing services around the products to deliver end-to-end solutions that work in the real world. His leadership approach has been shaped by experience at Amazon and Google, where he developed a sharp bias for action, customer obsession and data-led decision-making.

Paul is known for being pragmatic, straight-talking and people-focused. He is passionate about building strong teams, developing future leaders and creating cultures where ownership beats hierarchy.

Speaking about his appointment, Haynes said: “I’m delighted to join the BMBI Expert Panel. Heating, hot water and low-carbon solutions are at the heart of how the UK will meet its decarbonisation goals, and the BMBI provides an excellent platform to share insight, raise awareness and support greater understanding of what’s happening across our market.”

Follow the BMBI to stay updated with the most accurate and up-to-date UK RMI market trends. For expert commentary from Paul Haynes, and the Expert Panel, check out the latest BMBI report at www.bmbi.co.uk or contact MRA Research (mra-research.co.uk/) for more information.

FIX RADIO PREDICTION: CONSTRUCTION’S

2026 RECOVERY WILL STALL WITHOUT SKILLED PEOPLE TO DELIVER IT

Fix Radio’s key predictions for 2026:

• Modest growth will be limited by labour shortages, not demand

• Firms will turn down work due to a lack of skilled people and burnout

• Tool theft and rising costs will continue to undermine delivery and cash flow

• Businesses that protect skills, security and wellbeing will outperform those chasing volume

Industry forecasts suggest construction output could edge up in 2026, but Fix Radio’s view, shaped by daily on-air conversations with trades across the UK, is that growth on paper will not translate into jobs completed on site unless labour pressures ease.

The Construction Products Association (CPA) forecasts total construction output growth of 2.8% in 2026, with infrastructure expected to rise by 4.4% and private housing by around 4.0%.

(Construction Products Association, 2025)

Fix Radio’s prediction for 2026 is that the biggest challenge will not be winning work, but having the people, time and resilience to deliver it. Labour shortages, rising costs, tool theft and burnout dominated trade conversations throughout 2025, and those pressures remain unresolved heading into next year.

Trade research across the sector shows seven in ten tradespeople say skills shortages are stopping them from expanding, while 79% say rising materials and tool costs make growth

unviable even when order books are full.

(Checkatrade, 2025)

The labour picture remains tight. Screwfix warns the UK could face a shortfall of around 250,000 tradespeople by 2030, and reports that 25% of tradespeople plan to retire within the next five years. (Screwfix, 2025)

Security has become a parallel constraint. Direct Line research indicates almost four in five tradespeople (79%) have experienced tool theft at some point. (Direct Line Group, 2025) Each incident results in downtime, missed jobs and immediate income loss, particularly for sole traders and small firms.

Burnout is now part of the same delivery problem. Industry wellbeing research found 91% of tradespeople experienced work-related stress in the last year, with 56% experiencing it at least once a week. (IronmongeryDirect, 2025) Fix Radio’s view is that pushing longer hours on shrinking crews is no longer sustainable and is actively reducing output.

The impact is already visible to homeowners. A Markel Direct survey of 1,187 UK homeowners found nearly half struggled to find an available tradesperson, while 52% said they had been turned away by fully booked firms. (Markel Direct, 2025; Electrical Times, 2025) The issue is not a lack of demand, but a lack of capacity to take work on safely and profitably.

According to Louis Timpany, CEO of Fix Radio, 2026 will not be won by the firms doing the longest hours, but by those able to retain skilled people, protect wellbeing, secure their tools and plan jobs realistically. Skills, security and mental health are no longer optional; they are now fundamental to making work possible.

Fix Radio’s latest published audience figures show it reaches 833,545 weekly listeners, with listeners tuning in for an average of 27.9 hours per week. (RadioToday, 2025) Its prediction for 2026 is clear: demand may improve, but delivery will get harder unless the workforce is protected.

NEW WINDOWS AND DOORS EXCLUDED FROM GOVT WARM HOMES PLAN

Positive news today if you sell solar panels, heat pumps, home and heat batteries, smart controls, insulation and draught proofing as the Government has announced a new Warm Homes Plan, with plans to spend £15bn on improving homes across the country.

Bad news if you sell windows and doors, as they are not included in the list of measures.

Warm Homes Plan

This is part of a lengthy press release issued by the Government late yesterday:

Families across the country will see lower energy bills as a result of the government’s comprehensive plan to upgrade the nation’s homes.

The ‘Warm Homes Plan’ will deliver £15 billion of public investment, roll out upgrades to up to 5 million homes that could save them hundreds on energy bills and help to lift up to a million families out of fuel poverty by 2030.

The government has already taken immediate action on the cost of living at the Budget, taking an average of £150 of costs off energy bills from April. On top of this, around 6 million households will receive the £150 Warm Home Discount – a total package of £300.

Upgrading homes is one of the best ways to bring down bills for good, and this plan is a vital next step in addressing the long-term issue of energy affordability for the country. Home insulation installations fell by more than 90% between 2010 and 2024, and millions of households have paid higher energy bills as a result.

The British people are currently showing record demand for home clean energy products like solar panels and heat pumps. The cost of these products continues to fall, but they are still out of reach for too many – and this plan will help bring these costs down so working people can benefit.

The ’Warm Homes Plan’ targets help at lowincome families, alongside a universal offer,

to ensure that working families can feel the benefits of products that can cut their bills.

Alongside this, the plan will support consumer choice for all households, so people can choose the technologies that work for them as and when they want. Homeowners will be able to apply for government-backed, low and zero interest loans to install solar panels –unleashing a “rooftop revolution”.

These loans will also be available for batteries and heat pumps, making it easier than ever for every home to access clean energy technologies that can lower bills. Low-income households and those in fuel poverty could receive support that would cover the full cost of having solar panels put on their rooftop, or insulation installed, alongside new rules to ensure landlords invest in upgrades to cut bills for renters and social tenants.

You can read the entire press release here: www.gov.uk/government/news/families-to-savein-biggest-home-upgrade-plan-in-british-history

Essentially, this looks like Green Deal 3.0. You’ll remember the previous two iterations under previous Governments failed through lack of communication and demand. Although companies in the aforementioned product segments will welcome this news, I suspect many will remain cautious about getting excited about this new scheme, given how poor the previous two versions were.

It is going to be another loan scheme, where low-income homes will be the target of low and zero-interest loans to help pay for home improvements. Although the scheme will be available to all homes.

The Government has announced this new scheme, but has said that it will only provide more detailed information on how it will work later in the year. It is imperative that this new scheme is both easy for homeowners to engage with and easy for installers of these products to operate within the scheme efficiently. Also, installers need to be paid swiftly by the Government for the work they do. One

of the biggest complaints from companies that took part in previous schemes is that they were very delayed in getting paid, which isn’t fair and certainly doesn’t encourage other companies to get on board.

Windows again excluded

It is disappointing to see that once again our industry has been excluded from a scheme such as this. We are all well aware in this industry what a massive difference to a home’s energy efficiency new windows and doors can make. It is one of the biggest heat-saving measures a homeowner can make to their property.

Yet, we have been left out. It is frustrating, especially when you look at some other costs included in the list, such as heat pumps. These are still very expensive measures to take, comparable to new windows, if not slightly more, depending on the installation.

We would need to contact the Government to ask why our industry was not included in this new scheme. Sadly, I believe there are two reasons. The first is we would likely be told that the cost to cover all these homes would be too much. Something I would challenge when you look at the cost of heat pumps.

The second is that I know, after being told numerous times from people with knowledge on the matter, that Government and Civil Service relationships with our sector are not great. We are not held in great regard because of our reputation, inability to work together as a sector to represent it as one voice, and previous behaviour in meetings with civil servants. We are more likely to be ignored because we are unable to look as professional when compared to other sectors. We have only ourselves to blame for that.

Unless the door suddenly opens to consultations with the Government, we’re not going to be looking to gain any direct benefits from this new scheme. It will be interesting to see how the scheme is going to work once more details are announced.

AI AND AUTOMATION WILL CHANGE THE FACE OF OUR SECTOR

Earlier this week, I was treated to a first-hand tour of the upgraded manufacturing facility at Endurance Doors. I have been before, a few years ago, just as they launched their marketing hub down the road from their production facility.

A lot has changed in those few years, especially in the assembly area of their plant, where they have invested significant sums of money in automating what was a very labour-intensive part of the process. State-of-the-art turntables have upgraded the way products are handled and the speed at which a door can be assembled. It was great to see.

As part of some general chit chat before we got going, we talked about AI. The consensus was that it was a good thing, and it was already being used internally for various processes at the business. We talked about how it’s going to change everything around us, and our industry will not escape that change.

Jobs will change

One of the major concerns around AI is that it will lead to job losses. And to be frank, yes, it will. But rather than react to that in a knee-jerk fashion, let’s look at the job market in a wider context.

An analogy I like to use is cars vs horse and cart. There was a time before cars were invented. Many people got around on horses and carts, and that was the way of the world for a long time. Then cars came along, and people moved quickly to adopt that form of transport. As a result, trades

involved with cart production and horses faded into nothing. Jobs back then would have been lost, and people would have had to retrain or find other employment. And yes, I suspect back then people would have been concerned about job losses in that sector. But that is progress, and you certainly wouldn’t now give up cars to go back to horse and cart.

AI is just another evolution of industry, and the jobs market will change because of it. The nature of jobs will change in all parts of our sector.

Marketing departments are already adopting AI into photography, videography and imagery work. It is already being used in copy work and PR/ news article writing. I know it is already being used in manufacturing processes, to analyse data, product quality and logistical work. It is saving departments time and money, and making them more productive already. That momentum will continue; there is no doubt about that. Already, you can see job roles evolving due to the effects AI is having on the nature of their work.

What I will say is that it is the responsibility of companies to aid their staff through this period of transition. Adopting AI throughout a business is the right thing to do to keep any business on the front foot and ahead of its competition, but staff do need to be educated and nurtured through that process to ensure transitions are smooth and effective.

Use AI to get ahead

Many of us are probably using a host of AI tools in our marketing work. Grok, Gemini, ChatGPT and others are all great when it comes to content generation. But there are a whole host of applications where AI can help businesses up and down our sector.

At a manufacturing level, AI tools can be utilised to run along a production line. It can be used to find inefficiencies, find product quality problems, or help transport departments work out the most efficient routes for delivery.

I know that internally, some companies are already using AI to analyse internal data

and processes to help them make their own companies leaner and more productive.

As the saying goes, if you’re not moving forward, you’re going backwards. Companies that invest in AI and new technology now will find that they will move ahead of their competitors who have either failed to invest wisely or are too sceptical of AI to even try using it. It is the same with all forms of technology. Companies that invest in the latest machinery or software in our industry are able to offer better quality products, more services for their own customers and therefore win new business ahead of the competition.

The same goes for AI. There are already endless AI tools out there; the key is integrating them correctly into our businesses to allow us to exploit new revenue opportunities.

What’s more, the cost of AI tools is relatively cheap. The main recognised AI platforms that many of us use only charge a small monthly fee to access all the main AI capabilities. If a few quid per month can save hundreds of pounds per month in efficiencies, or win thousands of pounds of new business, then a few monthly AI subscriptions are definitely worth the investment.

I think we have already passed the debate about whether AI is good for humanity or not. So many of us are using AI in some form every single day, whether personally or in business. It is here to stay, whether you like it or not. The main question we should all be asking ourselves instead is how we are going to use AI to help our businesses this year and into the future. Those who learn it and embrace it will find themselves ahead of those who do not.

BM GROUP TO OPERATE UNDER THE FORTERRO NAME GOING FORWARD

New brand identity for BM products and digital solutions for windows, doors and facades.

BM Group, the UK fenestration industry’s leading software, data and web specialist, best known for products like Evolution, Evonet and Logikal, will operate under the Forterro name going forward and present all its digital software solutions within a unified brand identity. Having become part of the international software provider Forterro at the start of 2025, this step makes the BM Group’s affiliation with Forterro clearly visible and underlines the shared strategic direction.

The BM Group switch aligns with that of Orgadata, the Germany-based developer of Logikal, which was also acquired by Forterro last year. Both the BM Group and Orgadata product portfolios are being brought together under the Forterro brand to create clarity and consolidate the company’s strengths for the benefit of customers and partners. Established solutions such as Logikal, Evolution and Evonet, together with additional Forterro offerings, now form an integrated portfolio that supports companies digitally across their entire value chain – from planning and costing through to production and process integration.

Dean Hodges, Sales Director at Forterro, commented: “The new brand identity sends a clear message: we are no longer operating as a standalone company, but as part of a unified organisation with shared resources and a clear vision.”

Bernd Hillbrands, founder of Orgadata and Head of the windows and doors business unit within Forterro, added: “For all our customers, this means combining our deep industry expertise with Forterro’s international strength. This allows us to accelerate investment in cloud technologies,

expand support structures and develop solutions that simplify processes, grow alongside the business and ensure long-term competitiveness.”

The business unit’s strategic direction aligns with Forterro’s goal of providing comprehensive software support to small and medium-sized companies in manufacturing and skilled trades. With the successful acquisitions of both BM Group and Orgadata, Forterro has significantly strengthened its position in the windows, doors and facades segment. Under the Forterro umbrella, innovation is set to progress more rapidly, synergies will be leveraged, and customers across different markets will be supported in a more targeted way.

The transition to the new branding applies to BM Group’s entire product portfolio. All existing customer relationships and support structures remain in place. In this context, the Forterro brand stands for continuity and reliability, as well as a clear commitment to supporting companies in advancing their digital processes in a successful and self-directed way. More: www.forterro.com/ en/windows-and-doors

About Forterro

Founded in 2012, Forterro has grown to become a category leader in industrial software – with strongholds in Europe’s top production economies, as well as regional service hubs and development centres around the world. From more than 40 office locations, its 2,500+ employees provide and support software for more than 25,000 industrial businesses. Its products are deeply rooted in the demands of their local geography, and each is designed to strengthen and accelerate customers’ ability to operate efficiently and compete effectively.

Q&A WITH DEAN HODGES, SALES DIRECTOR AT FORTERRO

Dean Hodges, Sales Director at Forterro, answers all the important questions following news of the rebrand from BM Group to Forterro.

Does the switch to the Forterro identity mean that the Business Micros brand will disappear from the UK?

Effectively, yes. From now on, the BM group will be known as Forterro – as will Orgadata, the Germany-based developer of the Logikal software we supply in the UK, which was also acquired by Forterro last year. Together, we form the Forterro windows and doors business with shared resources and a clear combined vision, and the rebrand makes that clear to customers across not just the UK, but Europe and the US as well.

The Business Micros name had existed in the UK for more than four decades, so it’s probably sad to say goodbye to that, but the new identity definitely marks the start of an exciting new chapter.

What does it mean for customers?

Day to day, customers in the UK won’t notice any immediate changes. All their existing relationships and support structures remain in place, and all our products and services will be the same, albeit now called Forterro Logikal, Forterro MES, Forterro Evolution, Forterro EvoNet, etc.

The rebrand and repositioning are just the next logical steps in our journey with Forterro. The operation in the UK continues as normal, although I am confident that we will be able to deliver efficiencies in backend services as we leverage synergies with Forterro moving forward.

What are the likely benefits for customers in the UK?

The new windows and doors business brings together the combined expertise of BM and Orgadata. For Logikal license holders, that means we’ll be working even more closely with the programming team in Germany, while for customers using Business Micros products, we’ll have access to more resources to develop our products and support services.

Just as significantly, though, being part of Forterro means we can also offer customers some of their other best-in-class add-on applications from planning and costing to analytics and ERP, and benefit from Forterro’s wider international investments in cloud technologies and AI and the new branding reinforces that.

And what about Forterro TOUCH?

Forterro TOUCH continues to be our flagship end-to-end software platform, and we are continuing to invest in product development and building new system databases for that. In fact, we plan to launch the latest version of TOUCH in 2026 – with a new name and powerful new features.

Will Forterro be at Fensterbau in March?

Yes, we’ll be exhibiting as Forterro in Hall 1, Stand 525. We’d love to see lots of UK customers there to talk more about our plans for the future. More info at: www.forterro.com/en/windows-anddoors

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ENDURANCE® DOORS ASSURES CUSTOMERS

Endurance® Doors, the manufacturer of high-end composite doors, is assuring customers of its commitment to ensuring the continued exclusivity of its products.

To protect the premium quality levels which are a cornerstone of its offer, the business is refusing to adopt an increasingly popular industry model of allowing its doors to be produced by third-party fabricators.

Scott Foster, Marketing Director at the Endurance Group, comments: “On face value, one composite door can seem fairly similar to another, which is why we’ve sought to set our products apart through aspects such as their raw material selection, technical innovation, production methods and performance.

“To safeguard this positioning and the unrivalled consumer perception it has created, we are understandably protective about how our doors are made.

“Unlike many composite door manufacturers, we don’t sell slabs to fabricators for them to then produce doors which are sold under our name.

“The reason for this is that it can lead to too many variances and result in a degradation in quality, in turn damaging customer satisfaction and our brand.

“We ultimately want installers and homeowners alike to know that if a product carries the Endurance® Door’s logo, then it has been manufactured to one harmonised and incredibly high standard, enabling it offer certain assurances as a result.”

This uncompromising commitment to excellence gives Endurance such confidence in the quality of its products that it backs them with an industryleading 10-year guarantee.

It has also continued to be a core message

in Endurance’s consumer-focused marketing activity.

Endurance positions its doors not as a functional necessity, but as an investment aimed at the mid to higher end of the market and catering to the needs of the most discerning homeowner.

The manufacturer has been highly effective in delivering on this brand promise, enabling it to secure over 3200 reviews on Trustpilot, of which 88% award it a maximum five out of five stars. That’s more five-star reviews than any other large composite door manufacturer.

In addition, and in keeping with its qualitycentric approach, Endurance has also made the conscious decision to not supply online retailers.

This prevents its doors from being listed with a ‘supply only’ price and avoids them becoming a commodity product where prospective buyers can shop around on the internet with the aim of finding the cheapest possible price.

As well as helping to maintain the exclusivity of Endurance doors, this protects the margins of the manufacturer’s installer partners.

“At Endurance® Doors, we take our responsibility towards our installer partners incredibly seriously. The premise of our offer centres on offering endto-end quality – from the raw materials we use and how our doors are produced through to the way our doors are installed and handed over to the consumer.

“It would be remiss of us to expect exceptional standards from our installers and then to deviate from that as a manufacturer.

“Ultimately, our uncompromising approach may seem Draconian, but it’s about more than that. It’s about protecting quality levels for the sake of our brand, our business, our installer partners and the homeowner.”

ENDURANCE® DOORS MAINTAINS COMMITMENT TO CUSTOMER SUCCESS

To ensure new and potential customers can reap the full benefits of its continually evolving offer, Endurance® Doors has strengthened its sales function.

The manufacturer of premium composite doors for the discerning homeowner has appointed Thomas Stockton as a new business development manager.

Thomas joins Endurance with extensive sales and account management experience. He has previously worked for leading and global companies operating across a number of industries and markets, including the automotive sector, commercial catering and audio branding. He has proven expertise in commercial development, product specification and relationship management.

Thomas will be responsible for a territory covering northern England. His remit will entail supporting and growing Endurance’s installer partner network within this region. He will ensure

customers are aware of and can easily access Endurance’s comprehensive portfolio of products and extensive support package, which includes assistance with marketing, lead generation, showroom materials and product training.

Commenting on his new role, Thomas said: “The chance to join Endurance® Doors was a genuinely exciting opportunity, especially given the brand’s standing in the market and the quality of its product range.

“I am looking forward to building on these achievements and to delivering added value to installers within my area, helping them to grow and succeed.”

Nicola Clark, national sales manager at Endurance® Doors, added: “On behalf of everyone at Endurance, I would like to welcome Thomas to the team.

“His unique mix of skills and experience will ensure he’s a real asset – both to our business and those of the customers we work with.”

BDC ALUMINIUM ADDS TWO EXPERIENCED FIGURES TO GROWING TEAM

Since their acquisition by Rocal Group in early 2024, BDC Aluminium has already seen significant growth.

The Essex-based business, founded in 2008 and specialising in the fabrication of aluminium windows and doors for both commercial and domestic markets, recently welcomed two new additions to its expanding team in Witham.

Part of Rocal Group’s plans to build on the existing success of BDC Aluminium and capitalise on the exciting market position they occupy, their two new hires bring a wealth of industry experience.

Joe Stewart joined BDC as a Technical Support Lead. With over 20 years of experience in the window industry, he brings a wealth of knowledge and hands-on expertise to the team. In his role, he supports both our internal teams and clients by ensuring that every product we deliver meets BDC’s high standards of quality and performance. He works closely with the factory to align production with client expectations, providing valuable training and sharing his extensive industry insight to enhance product outcomes. He also plays a key role in customer service, offering on-site support to resolve any installation or postinstallation issues efficiently and effectively.

On his new role at BDC Aluminium, Joe said: “I’ve spent 20 years in the window industry and consider myself an all-rounder. I’ve worked my way up – starting as a fabricator and fitter, then moving into service engineering, order processing, sales, purchasing, technical support, and contracts management.”

“My main aim is to ensure the factory staff are trained to the highest standard and everything goes out to the client at the highest quality”. Kieron Baker stepped into the role of Materials Manager. He brings a strong background in processing, after-sales, and purchasing management. Throughout his career, Kieron has worked extensively with both PVC-U and aluminium systems, gaining broad expertise

across a wide range of products and materials.

His deep understanding of multiple systems and supply processes positions him to streamline operations and ensure efficiency across BDC’s material management functions.

Kieron commented on his new position at BDC: “I believe that by putting the right processes in place and working with the right people, we can ensure the factory is always supplied with the materials it needs, while also making smarter, more efficient purchasing decisions.”

Scott Foster, Marketing Director, said: “Welcoming Joe and Kieron to BDC is part of our continued and considered efforts to build the business, doing so by investing first and foremost in good, experienced people.

“I’m confident that they will contribute greatly, both in terms of the day-to-day running of our operations, but also as part of our wider efforts to better our offerings and provide the best experience possible to our customers.

“Our growing team will prove instrumental in driving further expansion in BDC Aluminium, as we attack an exciting space that we occupy in a growing sector of the fenestration market.”

With the additions of Joe and Kieron, the company continues to invest in infrastructure and team, ensuring it’s best positioned to deliver highquality aluminium products.

BDC ALUMINIUM IS THE GOTO SOLUTION FOR FLEXIBLE INTERIOR LAYOUTS

Internal aluminium screening has become a popular inclusion in both residential and commercial developments, as designers and specifiers search for flexible systems that maintain bright, open environments while enabling the definition of zones throughout a property’s interior.

Driven by a change in design priorities and shifting client demand for modern, light-filled interiors, internal glazing has become a core feature of both new-build and refurbishment projects. Architects and developers are increasingly turning to solutions that offer slim sightlines, contemporary styling and long-term performance they can rely on.

Smart’s internal screening is leading the way. As an experienced fabricator of Smart’s AluSpace Internal Doors and Screens, Essex-based BDC Aluminium supports developers, installers and architects with high-quality aluminium systems engineered to deliver stunning aesthetics with outstanding durability.

Manufactured from high-strength aluminium, the AluSpace system achieves visually pleasing slimline profiles without any bulky reinforcement, allowing for larger glazed panels and more subtle sightlines. Modular profiles and intelligent fixing details also contribute to significantly reduced installation times compared with traditional partition systems.

Precision-manufactured, factory-accurate

components ensure cleaner finishes, fewer onsite adjustments and minimal rework – enabling contractors to deliver on demanding timelines with consistent results.

The AluSpace range includes single and double internal doors, fixed screens and bespoke configurations to suit a range of interior needs. Suitable for both contemporary housing and commercial environments, the system enables the division of open-plan layouts, the option to section off home offices or the definition of meeting and collaboration spaces without compromising natural light intake or internal flow.

Scott Foster, Group Marketing Director at BDC Aluminium, commented: “Internal screening has moved beyond a design trend – it’s become fundamental to the way modern spaces are planned and used. AluSpace introduces structure and partition without sacrificing the openness modern interiors demand, while its engineered aluminium profiles allow us to offer a system that is visually refined and practical to install at scale.”

BDC Aluminium values good service, providing fast quotations and clear technical guidance to make specification and ordering straightforward. Combined with precision-engineered components and a streamlined installation process, they continue to support trade partners with a reliable supply chain, market-leading Smart systems and the expertise required to deliver consistently high-quality projects.

DESIGN MADE CLEAR: THREE AESTHETICS, ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES

In today’s design-led market, homeowners are presented with more choices than ever before. While bespoke products offer the ultimate in flexibility and personalisation, limitless options can often feel overwhelmin,g which can sometimes lead to homeowners postponing or delaying projects. In the current economy, Origin wanted to remove any obstacles and ensure that no sales are left on the table. To therefore kickstart the homeowners’ journey, in December, Origin introduced three distinct styles – Soho, Gallery and Georgian – to bring clarity, inspiration and confidence to the customer, and help convert interest into intent.

Origin Doors and Windows have always been completely bespoke, made to order and tailored to each individual project, and the introduction of these three aesthetics does not change that. Instead, they act as curated design frameworks, helping homeowners visualise what is possible and providing a clear starting point for creative exploration. By filtering inspiration through defined themes and case studies, customers are guided but equally, are empowered to combine aesthetics if they wish.

Bespoke Design, Simplified

Too much choice, too early, can stall progress. Origin’s three styles are designed to simplify the design process without diluting individuality. Each aesthetic presents a coherent design language that brings together features, hardware, finishes and overall feel, allowing homeowners to quickly identify a direction that aligns with their taste and architectural context.

Importantly, the final choice always belongs to the customer. Because Origin products are truly bespoke, elements from across the Soho, Gallery and Georgian styles can be combined to create a solution that is entirely personal. The aesthetics are not fixed styles, but inspiration tools – helping customers move forward with clarity and confidence.

For trade partners, this approach offers a valuable advantage. Customers are no longer faced with a blank canvas, but with a visual lookbook that shows what their product could look like. This gives homeowners a clearer sense of direction, allowing partners to have more meaningful conversations and move projects forward with confidence and no hesitation or delays.

Three Aesthetics, Three Narratives

Each aesthetic has been carefully developed to resonate with different lifestyles and spaces: Soho is designed for interiors with an effortless contemporary edge. Prominently featuring as a design statement, Soho-style products offer a steel-style and industrial look.

Gallery is created for spaces with views that deserve to be admired. This aesthetic places emphasis on minimal sightlines, light and openness, allowing the outside world to take centre stage.

Georgian is intended for spaces that infuse a subtle sense of the past. It balances heritageinspired detailing with modern performance, appealing to those who value character, symmetry and timeless appeal.

Together, these aesthetics provide a structured yet flexible design language that customers can immediately relate to – and that partners can confidently present.

Elevating the Origin Brand

Beyond customer inspiration, the three aesthetics form part of a wider, consistent design language that runs across every Origin touchpoint. When adopted by partners, this consistency creates a powerful brand synergy. From showrooms to marketing assets and digital platforms, the result is a more premium, cohesive sales process.

A Tool for Inspiration, Conversion and Growth

The three aesthetics are more than a design initiative; they are a commercial tool –helping homeowners feel inspired rather than overwhelmed, and enabling partners to initiate buyer readiness. By offering clarity, consistency and visual storytelling, Origin supports its partners in standing out, selling smarter and building stronger brand alignment.

Don’t miss your chance to be a part of it. Open an account with Origin today and give customers a clearer path to bespoke design – backed by a brand that leads with inspiration, consistency and partnership.

Soho Georgian Contemporary

ENDURANCE® ALUMINIUM BOOSTS INSTALLER SALES SUPPORT

As part of its commitment to its installer partners, Endurance® Aluminium has boosted its already comprehensive package of sales support.

The business, which fabricates a wide range of aluminium windows, doors and internal screens, has begun offering customers bespoke versions of its heritage and bifold door configurators. These configurators are now available to individual installers, free of charge and customised with their own logo and corporate colours.

The bespoke configurators can be either embedded within the installer’s existing online presence or hosted remotely by Endurance, with the installer’s site linking to it.

Endurance® Aluminium launched its bifold and heritage door configurators earlier this year. Both versions allow homeowners to explore the different products within the ranges and to see how these products would look in various colours and formats, as well as when combined with different hardware options.

Having created a design that perfectly suits their

individual tastes and property style, homeowners can then submit full details of their desired product combination to obtain a quote and to receive further information.

The introduction of the new bespoke branded configurators adds to the existing sales tools offered by Endurance® Aluminium, which include showroom materials, sales literature and social media templates.

Speaking of the new customisable configurators, Russell Hensman, group marketing manager at Endurance, said: “Since their launch, our heritage and bifold door configurators have proven to be highly successful lead generation tools.

“They are incredibly effective in engaging homeowners, helping them to visualise their potential new investment and encouraging them to take a step further in their buying journey.

“We’ve introduced our new customisable versions to help installers capitalise on these potent benefits and as part of our ethos of offering our installer partners unrivalled levels of support.

“As always, our focus remains on ensuring that ‘Together, we grow’.”

QUALITY CONTENT

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