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EXHIBITING AT FENEX 8-11 SEPTEMBER 2021

Welcome to the Digital Magazine EDITION 1

From the industry’s leading independent fenestration media

8 F E AT U R E D

Haffner Supporting Local Community Sport

New Glass As Hard As Diamonds Developed In China

Job Vacancies At Record And Wages Rise Sharply

UK Economy Grows 4.8% In Q2

UK Fenestration Must Do More As New UN Climate Report Warns Of Code Red

Ningbo Partial Shutdown Could Cause UK Fenestration Sector Problems

Decalu88 Achieves PAS24 On 3m Tall Door

ODL Europe Signs Up To FENEX 2023 Telford Exhibition

FIT Show Postponed

FENEX Expands Team With Client Relationship Manager

It’s Coming Home! FENEX Announces 2023 In-Person Exhibition At Telford International Centre

New Ultion 3* Security Solution With 2* Fully Suited Security Handle

Leka Systems Partners With Checkatrade

One Step Ahead With Onsite 7 Management Software

Double Glazing Blogger www.doubleglazingblogger.com

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CHARITY

Haffner Supporting Local Community Sport

Award-winning machinery supplier Haffner has been the club sponsor for its local football team, Stone Old Alleynians, for a number of years. In addition to the sponsorship, the company has recently funded two significant initiatives. Dave Thomas, Managing Director at Haffner, said: “We’re proud to be based in Stone and to be able to support our local community in this way.” The first initiative is a five-figure investment in new floodlights for the team’s ground, Kings Park. Dave commented: “Stone Old Alleynians currently play at step 5 in the Midland League Premier Division. The club’s long-term aim is to become a sustainable football club, providing a pathway for girls and boys to play football as high up the footballing pyramid

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as possible. The investment in the local community allows these ambitions to become a reality and will inspire the next generation of Alleynians.” Haffner also funded free football sessions for Stone’s children in the summer holidays. The scheme allowed hundreds of boys and girls to get into football and has led to the creation of over 20 new youth teams. Dave commented: “Exercise is really important for mental and physical health and wellbeing, perhaps even more so in light of the stresses and strains of the past 18 months. It’s great to see our support helping so many kids see the benefits.” Haffner was voted Machinery Supplier of the Year at the 2020 NFA Awards. It is the exclusive UK supply partner of Graf

Synergy, the only company to offer V-Perfect Technology that guarantees the perfect angle every time. It is the sole UK agent of Haffner Machinery, which designs innovative and high-quality engineered products and supplies a range of aluminium fabrication machines from worldwide machine giants, Fom Industrie. Haffner has been part of the Stone community for over 30 years. In that time, it has grown to become the industry’s leading supplier of cuttingedge fabrication machinery and now offers the widest range of machines. As its support of the local football team shows, the company is clearly proud of its community and delighted to be able to give back.

GM Fundraising Announces GMF100 Cycling Challenge Total GM Fundraising has just announced that its GMF100 Cycling Challenge has raised an impressive £55,000. The funds will go to Hope House Children’s Hospices, which provides palliative care for children with life-limiting conditions and support for their families, both on-site and in their homes. Gary Morton, GM Fundraising’s founder, said: “Finally, we managed to get an event over the line after a torturous 18 months of pandemicridden efforts. We wanted to help Hope House rebuild financially, and the GMF100 Cycling Challenge was created to show our continued commitment. A huge thank you to everyone involved in making the GMF100 Cycling Challenge happen: the riders, the supporters and to everyone who sponsored them. We are delighted to have raised this significant amount.” The GMF100 Cycling Challenge saw over 90 riders cycle 100 miles on Sunday 8th August from their factory or premises. Gary said: “What an event! Despite heavy rain in some parts of the country and a strong headwind, all the riders completed the challenge safely. Thank

you to each and every one of them.” The event was sponsored by Epwin Window Systems. Gary said: “Special thanks must go to Epwin Window Systems who came up with the event idea and became the headline sponsor too. Clare O’Hara, Managing Director of Epwin Window Systems, said: “We were delighted to support the GMF100 Cycling Challenge and even more pleased to see what a success it was in raising some much-needed funds for Hope House.” The mission of Hope House Children’s Hospices is to ensure that no one should face the death of a child alone. It costs £6.5 million every year to run its services and 86% of this is spent on care. Over 95% of Hope House’s annual costs are met through charitable donations and GM Fundraising is its largest single donor. Since it was established in 1995, GM Fundraising has raised over £2 million for Hope House Children’s Hospices. Gary said: “The atmosphere on Sunday was incredible with live team updates streaming across our social media platforms. After such a tough year for the charity, it felt great to finally begin fundraising for such an important cause. The money we have raised will do so much to help the children at Hope House.” The GMF100 Charity Cycle Challenge has received such positive feedback from all the participants that GM Fundraising has announced this will become an annual event. Gary concluded: “We have been delighted by the support this new event received and have now added this to our scheduled events for 2022.”

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Morley Glass & Glazing Makes Milestone Donation with GreenVision Fund Morley glass and glazing has

The CRUSH scheme that facilitates the GreenVision fund is an initiative between Morley Glass and Saint-Gobain Glass, where post-consumer glass is brought The integral blind company’s back to the Morley factory and generous fund uses money crushed into cullet. Saint-Gobain generated by the CRUSH Glass then pays for the bags of recycling scheme to benefit local communities and the environment. cullet and recycles it, using it in Each donation of up to £500 helps the manufacture of new float community groups or schools that glass. 100% of this payment goes to the GreenVision fund. wish to create green spaces or sustainable projects to bring their The process dramatically helps the environment, and since the ideas to fruition. scheme started in early 2020 it has The 10th beneficiary is Flourishing saved Families Leeds, which works to combat food pverty/poor nutrition, 158,000kg of CO2 from entering supports family literacy and helps the atmosphere and 450,000kg of virgin sand, and saved enough tackle the challenges faced by primary school-ages children living energy to power a home for 264 years* in deprivation through activitybased mentoring. Ian Short, Managing Director at Richard Colbrook from Flourishing Morley Glass & Glazing, said: “Sustainability is at the core of Families said: “Thanks to the our business values, and it is great donation from Morley Glass, our to give something back to local online family cookery clubs have communities whilst also benefiting hit 100% repeatability. In other the environment. The 10th words, every family taking part have gone on to repeat the recipes donation is a gratifying milestone, so that they have become a regular and we hope for many more.” part of their family meals. This means that we really are changing If you wish to apply for a GreenVision donation, please send the diets of families and, because the meals are affordable, now have your request to greenvision@ a sustainable and reproducible way morley.co.uk of overcoming food poverty. I’m Find out more about the fund and normally pretty excited with our the projects it has supported here: results (!) but this one has taken excitement levels through the roof. https://www.morleyglass.co.uk/ glass-recycling-leeds/ It is hugely significant.” made its 10th donation to local sustrainable projects with its GreenVision Fund.

Flourishing Families joins previous recipients from the local area including Longroyde Primary School, Incredible Edible Kippax and CATCH Leeds.

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Sponsored Content Morley Glass & Glazing

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The Growth Potential For Integral Blinds Rema Our sector, like others, always looks for new products and niches where we think there could be major potential for growth. Whilst it’s always exciting to be on the lookout for something new, it’s easy to forget what is already available and what existing products still have huge potential. For me, this is where integral blinds come in. These have been some of the biggest innovations in the IGU space over the past couple of decades, and the way I see it, there is bags of room left for it to grow.

Integral blinds in every home? Perhaps that’s a bit of an ask, considering how many homes there are in the UK. But the 32m+ homes that are out there are all potential targets. Many will be changing their windows over the next ten years, which means there is an opportunity for installers to upsell their offering to clients and include integral blinds in key areas of the home. For example, at our place we sell a lot of integral blinds that go into bi-folding doors, bathroom windows, kitchen windows, stable doors and other areas that require privacy such as landing windows that are overlooked by neighbours. The benefits are clear and simple to understand. No cleaning. No one likes cleaning blinds. It’s about one of the most tedious, dull jobs ever to be done. Obviously, integral blinds within the IGU cut that out. There’s no drilling into frames or walls to fit external blinds, removing damage. There are medical benefits too. For homes that have to remain as clean and hygienic as possible, integral blinds are a great way to provide privacy without adding something that could gather dust and germs. They do also have a wow factor. They look very neat and clean inside the IGU, but it’s the operation, the movement of the blind up and down which adds a degree of class to a window or door. Especially the motorized and solarpowered versions. I have the W-Smart integral blinds from Morley Glass in my new aluminium bi-folds and they’re pretty cool. They have touch-activated battery packs which control their closing and lifting, or you can programme them to a remote and control them that way. The solar panels are located in the top corners. I will post a full review on those in an article soon. But their action moving upwards at the touch of a button, ditching cords or magnetic lifters, it’s really slick. It certainly grabs people’s attention when they see it.

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ains Huge Huge growth market Although integral blinds have been around for a while, I still see this as a major area of growth within the wider fenestration sector. First, for the reasons stated above. They’re a good product with plenty of benefits. Second, they’re easily accessible. Major players in the market like Morley Glass already have a very wide reach across the UK, with room to expand their network in the years to come. Fabricators and installers can easily add integral blinds to their product portfolios. They are a simple upsell for installers too. Displayed in a showroom in some sample windows or bi-folds, or demonstrated online through videos and PDF brochures, these are products that grab people’s attention. As it did with a client I showed around the showroom today. After a quick demonstration as to how they work and their benefits, they are now putting the blinds in their new aluminium bi-folding doors and stable door that is going into the rear entrance. A great product that is easy to sell. Over the next few years, this is a product group that I think more of the industry needs to take advantage of. We’re going to be looking for ways to sustain business levels at this higher tier after experiencing a strong bounceback over the last 12-15 months. That will mean finding ways to sell more and increase average order values. Integral blinds are a great way to do it. Not that this sector isn’t doing well already. Sales of integral blinds have been rising at a strong and steady pace for years. But given the number of homes in the UK and various applications integral blinds can be used for, including in commercial settings too, it appears to me that there is major untapped potential in this corner of the market and we need to be building on the success of integral blinds in the coming months and years. Double Glazing Blogger

GLASS DGB MAGAZINE

OPINION “Under a microscope, the most detailed structures of the material appeared in order, just like crystals. But zooming out a bit would change the picture into a complete mess that looks like countles worms frozen in a dish.”

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NEW GLASS AS HARD AS DIAMONDS DEVELOPED IN

Scientists in China have developed a new type of glass, called AMIII, which is so hard it can leave a scratch on a diamond. We are used to saying this the other way round, that diamonds could cut glass. Well, this new type of glass can leave deep scratches in diamonds. It doesn’t look this this new type of glass is going to start replacing double glazing any time soon, but there are some commercial properties which will make it a potentially useful material in the years to come. AM-III glass The title of AM-III is a placeholder until a better name is found. But that’s all we have for now. However, AM-III isn’t glass as such, but it does have a yellowy glassy appearance, hence why it is being called glass. AM-III is made from carbon and is also a semiconductor. The fact that this new material can conduct will give it a whole host of other opportunities away from glass, such as use in weapons and other devices. It is said to be almost as efficient as silicone. In a hardness test, which is measured in gigapascals (GPa), it scored 113. Naturally occurring diamonds, for example, reach between 50-70. That gives you some idea as to how hard this new glass product actually is.

CHINA

As well as being a semiconductor, it is said that AM-III glass could be anywhere between 20 to 100 times stronger than the current crop of bulletproof glass products currently in use. This would make it an attractive product to those involved in the production of security glass, any business involved with the protection of high-level targets and personnel and of course highly secure buildings. All in the atoms The key to AM-III being so strong is down to the arrangement of atoms. In a diamond, for example, atoms are stacked and arranged neatly and tightly packed together. That is what gives a diamond its very hard quality. AM-III however is a mix of glass and crystals. According to Yahoo News:

any size or shape. This product is still in early stages, and from here there will likely be more research done into how AM-III can be put to work, how it can be made in larger volumes and then of course at what price the product would cost a company to buy and put it into commercial use. So if you’re in the part of the fenestration market that deals with high security or protection glass, keep an eye on this one as this might well be a game-changer in the years to come. Double Glazing Blogger

Under a microscope, the most detailed structures of the material appeared in order, just like crystals. But zooming out a bit would change the picture into a complete mess that looks like countless worms frozen in a dish.

That mix of order and disorder is what may allow AM-III to possess some of its unique qualities. To find out more about how it was made, click the link on Yahoo News above. AM-III can apparently be made into

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Why I Still Like Bi-Folding Doors DOUBLE GLAZING BLOGGER

Sliding patio doors have made a huge comeback in recent years. The evolution of aluminium has brought with it sliders with slimmer sightlines, bigger glazed areas and flush thresholds that vastly improve any room they’re installed in to. They have eaten into some of the growth in the bi-folding doors market, and it was a resurgence that perhaps many didn’t see coming. But in a bi-folding door vs sliding patio toss-up, I am still on the side of bi-folds.

Bi-folding doors and that wow factor

There is also the wow factor when they are being used. There is no denying that operating a bifolding door just looks way cooler than a sliding patio. The folding and stacking operation grabs your attention way more than the sliding operation does. On wide or tall openings, that folding movement looks even better. It adds a ton of character to a house and becomes a talking point when they’re being shown off in front of others. The argument that sliding patios win out because of the larger glazed areas is a valid one. If you have a stunning garden or view that you want to take advantage of and there is a 5m opening to fill, it would be quite possible to get a large aluminium two-section slider and minimise the number of times that view is obstructed. But then you can only use half of it. In my case, for example, I have just had a pair of French doors and sidelights replaced with a fantastic set of Declu88 bi-folds. It was a 2.4m opening, so I had a threesection bi-folding door installed. I actually have more glazed area now than I did before, and I am now able to open up my dining room into the garden way more than I could before. It makes both the room and the garden look bigger because of the open space. Indeed, because of the position of the garden and the doors, I can see all the way to the other end of the house from the top of the garden which makes the house itself feel bigger. I would not have been able to achieve the same effect with a slider.

There are some clear reasons why sliding patio doors have roared back in popularity. They’re a more budget-friendly option than bi-folding doors. They have larger glazed areas, which is key for making the most of a view. In aluminium, you can achieve some huge glazed expanses. Camden also do a PVCu slider that can achieve massive proportions. But, with a slider you will always have a portion of the door that remains fixed, therefore taking away the ability to open up the entire opening. Unless you have a huge 7m opening in your home where not being able to utilise the final third of the glass isn’t an issue, this is important. For most houses, where they might have an opening of 1.8m – 3m to play with, space becomes an important factor. This is why I still like the option of bi-folding doors. Yes they have to stack in or out, usually out, but once fully opened the homeowner has the entire opening to their Doors that defy logic advantage. So when the weather is finally good enough, you can make If you look at one of the core the most of the indoor/outdoor purposes of bi-folds, it is to feel with a bi-folding door. take advantage of the good

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weather outside and build a bridge between the indoors and outdoors. Great, if you have the weather. However we like in the UK, and the weather this summer hasn’t been all that great. Compared to 2020 this summer has been pretty poor actually. Yet, bi-folding doors remain popular. We don’t have a Spanish or American climate that would easily justify a product like this. But Brits are buying bi-folds in large numbers and there is no clear sign that this is going to stop any time soon. The reason being is down to what is described above. They have a wow factor. A level of prestige and desire. Homeowners want them despite the weather. They are something to show off to friends and neighbours. There is a luxury feel to them that is taken from shows like Grand Designs on TV and mega home tours on YouTube. This is where our industry could be making more use of the easy marketing around bi-folding doors. Instead of focusing on prices per leaf, command a better price by showing how amazing a home could look by installing the right bi-folds. This is an easy product to market and sell at a healthier price because demand is so good. Bi-folding doors remain a fantastic choice and there are plenty of benefits to them, which I myself are enjoying at the moment. Sliders also very much have their place and are a great product in a much-evolved industry. Though if it were a choice between the two, I would fall on the side of the bi-folding doors every time I think.

Job Vacancies At Record And Wages Rise Sharply DOUBLE GLAZING BLOGGER

More good news for the UK economy this week as it was announced that there are a record number of job vacancies in the country right now. The ONS says that in the three months to July there were 953,000 job vacancies. Unemployment also fell to 4.7%. It’s worth noting that previous estimates were predicting employment to be around 7.5%, which would have been at levels last seen in the aftermath of the financial crisis. Fenestration job vacancies The news about the record number of job vacancies is a signal that the bounce-back in the UK economy remains strong. Almost all lockdown restrictions are now lifted, with only the foreign travel industry affected. Most sector are all now fully open, and that means businesses are welcoming customers back. Those who shed jobs in an effort to keep the doors open, or had staff on furlough will now be looking to rehire to facilitate larger customers numbers. Of course in UK fenestration we have been in this position far longer than other sectors, with a huge upwards swing in business that we can trace back to the end of the first lockdown in May 2020. Since then the sector has enjoyed intense growth, with companies up and down the supply chain posting record numbers on a regular basis. The offshoot of that however is

This is what is happening right now when it comes to installers in UK fenestration. Job vacancies in this sector are across the board, but there is an acute need for more fitters at a huge number of installation businesses up and down the country. Installers have told me privately that the inability to fill their job vacancies and find the right skilled people is stopping them from growing further. We all know about the skills gap in this sector. Whilst we must do everything we can to rectify that situation, that is going to take time. Years in fact. But installers need fitters and they need them a supply chain that is crumbling now. So what is the solution? trying to keep up with demand, Offer more money. and acute labour shortages I am a member of a number of across the various levels of the forums on social media that are supply chain. Indeed, you only heavily populated by fitters and need to scour the likes of Twitter, installation companies and it is Facebook and Linkedin for a crystal clear that the fitting price minute or two before you start to per window and door is going see large numbers of companies, up and fairly rapidly. Installers big and small, advertising job are having to entice fitters vacancies. away from other companies by ONS figures also showed that using money as the main driver. wages rose a whopping 7.4% in Thankfully, installers have months annual growth. Though they did and months of work ahead so heavily caution that this spike in being able to afford to pay more wage rises is likely down to the fact that more staff and returning right now isn’t an issue, especially considering that the general to work back on full pay rather public seems willing to pay than furlough pay. Any future rises are likely to be smaller than more. And if you’re a fitter and looking at your options, you’re in that in the future. the driving seat. At this point in However, rising wages in UK fenestration is something to keep time, with installation companies buckling under work and needing an eye on. Especially as there is now a fight over the labour force to find installers fast, fitters can almost name their price to come that is currently available. and work for a new business, such Wages on the up is the incredibly stretched labour What happens when there is market right now. huge demand and not enough Ultimately, as fitting costs rise, people to service that demand? this will be passed on to the The competition for the available consumer. This is going to feed labour rises and usually, that ends into the overall inflation of home up with people being offered improvement products and will more and more money to come cost the homeowner more. How and work for them. It’s the same long that inflation continues principle when it comes to the supply and demand of materials. remains to be seen. But so long as demand remains high, and the When people want more of labour shortage stays, then this is something but there’s only so much to go around then the value a scenario that is going to be with us all for a while yet. of the limited materials rises. DGB MAGAZINE

Could The Fenestration Sector Be Forces To Be Looked For Alternatives To Steel DOUBLE GLAZING BLOGGER

Steel right now is expensive. Very expensive. To give you an idea as to how much the cost of steel has risen over the past year or so…

April 2020: $372.5 PT May 2021: $794 PT In percentage terms, the cost of steel per ton in the space of a year has risen 113%. At the time of writing the current cost per ton has eased back only slightly to $722.5 per ton. Around the world, the cost of commodities has skyrocketed as the global economy opens up and countries plough money into construction, infrastructure and home improvements. For example, the cost of lumber in the US rose over 200% in a short space of time due to shortages and not enough suppliers able to keep up with demand. Whilst there has been a sharp pullback and some joy at that, it doesn’t really make much of a difference. Steel is consumed by so much around the world, which is why this is the commodity that matters. The fact that the cost of timber in America has come back down doesn’t make all that much of a difference to anything. For UK fenestration, steel is a vital component to the reinforcing of many PVCu products and has been for a long time. However, the rapidly rising cost of steel has been one of the many contributing factors to our own rapidly rising costs in our own sector. Supply has also become strained as global politics and red-hot economies snap the material up at record rates.

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At this moment of reflection for UK fenestration, will it be forced to look at alternatives to steel?

Will steel still play a part? I found it interesting to read at the end of June that sales of Window Widget’s Webar product have surged: With supplies of steel across all manufacturing sectors still not yet stabilised from an availability perspective along with several price hikes, Window Widgets have experienced a surge in demand for Werbar, which is their dedicated range of RCM reinforcement sections for PVCu window and door systems. As companies have found it difficult and vastly more expensive to secure steel reinforcement, it appears a significant number have already been looking at alternative forms of reinforcement for their product. Whether these companies will return to using steel once prices and supply become more stable remains to be seen. But as is often the case, if you change habits for long enough, they tend to stick. Some may decide to stick with Werbar due to the price advantage and more stable supply. How long this trend lasts will depend on how long high prices stay and how readily available steel is going to be. There is a general thinking that high prices are here to stay. With consumers seemingly able to swallow up higher prices there is little motivation to let prices return back to levels seen in early 2020. Demand also looks set to stay high as the major nations across the planet invest heavily in

infrastructure projects and global consumption continues to rise. This does pose a question for our sector. For decades our industry has used steel to add strength to PVCu products and it has been used as a USP for fabricators and installers. But should rising steel prices and questions over supply continue, some manufacturers and indeed systems companies may feel the need to look at alternatives on a more permanent basis.

There are solutions, however. Carbon capture storage solutions for steel factories are becoming more mainstream, and the results are very positive. But the technology needs to be adopted across the world at speed to bring carbon emissions down enough so that there isn’t a big push back against the sector.

From a fenestration perspective that is slowly moving towards a carbon-neutral future, it’s probably not going to land on our radar all that quickly. Our Switching over to alternative apathy and lethargy towards materials however isn’t that change unless it’s absolutely simple. Many PVCu systems in the immediate means we’ll likely market have been designed and not scrutinise the production tested using steel reinforcement practises of steel for a while. within the products. There are Maybe never. products out there designed to meet certain standards and Recycling though is where steel criteria using specifically steel. It use is redeemed. Steel is 100% would not be that simple to just recyclable, which means any ditch steel and use something and all steel in use now can be else. There would be a process used over and over again. Like to follow and that takes time PVCu, the more post-consumer and money. Whether systems steel we can reintroduce into the companies are already looking fenestration sector supply chain at the 5-10 year journey and the better it would be for the pondering alternative methods of environment and ensure a more reinforcing in the future remains secure supply of the material. to be seen. But for the immediate and medium-term, steel is still Overall, I do not see steel being here to stay. dropped from UK fenestration any time soon. I do think more companies will start to look at Environmental alternatives though, like Werbar, impacts as some seek to cut costs and secure a more reliable supply of Steel production is not the reinforcing material. I think over cleanest process in the world. the next few years we’ll see a For every ton of steel produced, more varied and diversified menu 1.85 tons of carbon is produced. of options when it comes to how According to carbonclean.com, if our products are reinforced, steel steel production was a nation, it remaining one of the popular would be the 5th worst polluter options. on the planet. Not a great stat for the sector, and one that needs to be rapidly improved as the planet moves quickly to a zero-carbon future.

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UK Economy Grows 4.8% In Q2 DOUBLE GLAZING BLOGGER

In positive news for the UK economy on Thursday, it was announced by the ONS that UK GDP grew 4.8% in Q2 this year. This was under forecasts of 5%, but still represents a strong quarter as further lockdown restrictions eased.

UK economy continues to bounce back Q2 was always going to be a key quarter for the UK economy as more lockdown restrictions were lifted and the public was able to do more and spend their money in other places. The result was GDP growth in Q2 came in at 4.8%. It had been forecast at 5%, but that slight miss carries little significance in the bigger picture as the UK continues to bounce back from the pandemic lows faster than the rest of the G7 nations. The UK economy is now 4.4% below the prepandemic level. If the country can continue this rapid bounce back, the UK should be back above prepandemic levels at the end of the year, barring any

further economic shocks. In comparison to other nations, the UK is leading the pace of recovery among the G7. A successful vaccination programme has allowed the UK to peel back restrictions and open up the economy faster. The EU had well-known problems at the start of their vaccination programme, and the US also began slowly under Donald Trump and only really got going once Joe Biden became President. As is it, the UK got a head start on most other countries and is now one of the leading nations in terms of economic recovery.

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Inflation is key risk Whilst the pace of the economic recovery has been welcome, the byproduct of that has been rapidly rising inflation. The Bank of England estimates that UK inflation could rise to 4% by the end of the year. To be honest that still feels like it is underdone and could be higher by the end of 2021. Inflation is something we have to keep a very close eye on. When inflation rises faster than wages it takes real money out of people’s pockets. That disposable income is what UK fenestration and indeed the entire economy needs to keep feeding the recovery. Our sector knows all too well the price pressures that have been with us for the best part of a year. Prices in the fenestration sector have been on a constant rise since the end of the lockdown in May 2020 with demand far higher than most anticipated. This has seen the manufacturing supply chain struggle to keep up with demand and there are now well-reported delays in glass, hardware, foils and profile in some cases. Lead times have also stretched out to months, rather than weeks for installers. In pre-pandemic times installers would be on a rough 4-8 week lead time. Now, installer lead times are being measures in months, with many now fully booked to Christmas. The higher and faster inflation rises, the more pressure the BoE will be put under to do something about it. The key measure they can take is to raise interest rates to cool the market and try to cap off inflation. There will be a lot of hesitancy to do that given the size of the UK national debt and the extra costs this would place on people’s tracker mortgages and personal loans.

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What Our Sector Can Learn From Sim DOUBLE GLAZING BLOGGER

One of the biggest headlines from the Tokyo Olympics was the withdrawal from a number of Gymnastics events by American superstar Simone Biles. The highly successful athlete withdrew from competitions due to mental health problems. This was the first such occasion that such a high profile sports start would withdraw from the biggest event in sport. It drew huge amounts of attention, a lot of praise, and a fair dose of uneducated and ignorance. For UK fenestration, given the last year or so, there is a lot to learn from Simone Biles and the highly mature decisions she took last week.

Simone Biles and mental responsibility Last week was a shock to most sports fans. Simone Biles is one of the most successful athletes of all time. She has won endless Gold medals at World and Olympic championships. Wherever she competed she generally won. And not just win, but win incredibly well. The standard she set was incomparably high. She was strides ahead of her competition. Every tournament she turned up to she was expected to win, because it was Simone Biles. Through her intense dedication, talent and hard work, that was the reputation she built for herself. But it also creates a very high-pressure environment for her to work in every day. The expectations around her. Her fans simply expecting her to deliver 10/10 every time, win Gold every time, is a very harsh world to live in mentally. Through media hype and previous records, it is easy to forget that Simone Biles is indeed a human being, and is not infallible to strains of daily life.

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Just as her Olympics were getting going, she announced she was pulling out of a number of events to monitor her mental health. As an elite athlete and highly successful person in her own right, to have made that decision would not have been easy. But in my eyes, she made the absolute correct decision. If she was not in the right place mentally, then who knows what the outcome might have been if she had competed. If her concentration was not there she could have caused herself a bad injury. If her mind wasn’t in the right place and she came away from the tournament feeling worse, who knows what kind of additional mental damage that could have caused her. We have to remember that elite sports stars are human and they all suffer and deal with the same mental stresses and pressure we all do in our daily lives. We cannot expect them to be different from you or me. Not long after, England cricket star Ben Stokes also announced he was taking some time away from the game to look after his own mental health. I remember looking through social media reactions after both these announcements, and whilst there was a great deal of support for both Simone and Ben, there was also a fair dose of ignorance and abuse towards them as well. It is still very clear to me that there is more work still to be done to bring the importance of mental health to those who do not wish to be educated on it. What Simone Biles and Ben Stokes have done is to take responsibility for their own mental health, and I applaud them for that. It’s not easy to make these sorts of decisions

mone Biles when you’re in the public eye so much and with the careers they have. But what they have done is to set an example for everyone. Showing that no matter who you are, what profession you’re in, you must always take the time to look after yourself if it is needed.

What fenestration can learn I think we can draw some comparison to our own situation here in UK fenestration. Since May of 2020, the strain on our sector, on the supply chain, at the installer level and everything in between has been as relentless and intense as it ever has been. For months we have been battling constant product shortages, which are still ongoing. Record demand from the general public which has put a huge strain on both installation companies and suppliers. There has been no let-up. No dips. No time to rest and take stock. We have been overselling and running at 120% for at least 14 months straight and that is way too long a period of time to expect people to work at such intense levels.

the rest of us. If work has taken its toll, if you’re feeling depressed, if you know you are burned out, then take some time away from work to spend it on yourself. Even if that is a week or two at home doing some of the simple things that make you happy. Go see friends. Go see family. Cook. Go explore somewhere. Have a nice dinner out. Go to a spa. Or just put your feet up and delve into a Marvel movie marathon! We are human beings, not robots. We cannot be expected to operate at full tilt permanently without expecting some damage to be done. Whether that is physical or mental. Our sector has boomed over the past year and a bit, which is good news naturally, but we as people are experiencing the side effects of that boom. One that we were not prepared for and one we did not expect. So if you need some time away from work, be like Simone, take your own mental health into your own hands and do what needs to be done.

As a result, many of us are feeling stressed, tired, burnt out, depressed and generally unhappy. When I hear “well look at the money we’re making” it frustrates me. We know full well that no amount of money can make someone happy. With the number of public figures that we have lost to depression, we should know better than this by now. Rather than keep trudging on, battling each day, I think we can look towards the example Simone Biles and Ben Stokes have set for

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UK FENESTRATION MUST DO MORE A OF COD The most comprehensive climate change report to ever be published by the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change by the UN) has today warned that humanity is on “code red” and that some of the changes already taking place on the planet, like sea-level rises, are irreversible. As a sector, along with all other areas of business and society, UK fenestration has a huge part to play. This report makes for damning reading and should be the moment where everyone, including us in fenestration, understands the severity of the report and moves to rapidly increase efforts to reduce our footprint on the planet.

More to do I think most of us are fully on board with the concept of climate change at that humanity has had a massive impact on the environment. There are the odd vocal deniers, but from what I can see they’re in a dwindling minority. But just in case you need a reminder as to how much the planet it suffering, these are just some of the major weather events that have ravaged the globe so far this year: • Early 2021 – Madrid sees record snowfall • January 2021 – Storm Christoph in the UK produces the wettest three-day period for North Wales and North West England

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• February 2021 – big freeze in Texas sees temps drop to minus 13 degrees celsius and kills 210 people • March 2021 – worst sandstorm in a decade hits Mongolia and norther China • March 2021 – major flooding hits NSW in Australia • May 2021 onwards – major wildfires rip through Greece and continue to raze buildings and villages in major islands • June 2021 – Moscow hits record 34.8 celsius • June 2021 – record heat dome hits Northwest US and Canada and kills hundreds. Canada hits record 121 degrees Fahrenheit and incurs wildfires. Pacific Northwest US sets multiple records. Also suffers from wildfires which continue to burn. • July 2021 onwards – Western US suffers from intense megadrought and vast wildfires that continue to burn. Dixie fire in California is now the state’s second-largest in history and continues to spread. • July 2021 – devastating flooding hits Germany, Belgium and surrounding nations. Hundreds die and billions of euros of damage are done to vast swathes of the country. • July 2021 – major flooding hits China. BBC reports that it may be worst flooding in 1000 years.

That list does not in everything. As of n are burning in man countries, with the getting special atte the media. Siberia burning, as they re 30s. The western U megadrought cond continue to worsen in California burnin thousands of acres

Source: https://www.theweek. co.uk/news/environment/953574/ worlds-most-extreme-weatherevents-2021

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AS NEW UN CLIMATE REPORT WARNS DE RED

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been a number of huge recycling plants dedicated to the recycling of PVCu frames. Millions of frames are being kept out of the ground thanks to these massive facilities. But that is just the start. Moving on from here, we have to make sure that every single frame, be it timber, aluminium, steel or PVCu does not go into the ground but does go into the recycling economy. Every glass unit removed from a building also needs to be recycled. Basically, any post-consumer material has to go back into the circular economy and be reused. Nothing coming out of an existing building should be going into the ground. So, wherever possible we need to be using as much recycled material as possible. But we can’t stop there. We need to look at all areas of our operations. For example, the vehicles we use. Electric cars aren’t cheap, but costs are coming down. We need to be looking at using more electric cars that are used as company cars. Vans are also making progress in the electric space, but the costs remain high. Over time this will come and down and as they do, we need to be switching to electric vans. LGVs and HGVs are perhaps the biggest barriers to overcome when it comes to electric power, but I’m sure we’ll get there.

show how each energy provider supplies their energy to you. Going paperless is another area to improve on. the amount of tech and software that is available in our industry really does allow us to ditch a lot of the paper that we currently use. And for when we absolutely have to use paper, we need to make sure it is recycled each and every time. The same goes for any cans and plastic bottles where food and drink are consumed at work. That is just a flavour of some of the things we can all do as an industry to reduce our impact on the climate. And this isn’t something we can put off for a few more years. If even the medium-case scenario from the UN report is accurate, every one of us has to start right now and make major changes to our production d consumption processes. We are out of time. DOUBLE GLAZING BLOGGER

The buildings we work from should be sourcing energy from renewable sources. We can all choose to use suppliers that get their energy from sustainable options, such as wind and solar. These are relatively easy to find, and comparison sites, as well as company websites, should

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It’s Time To Flip UK Fenestration’s Approach To Attracting Youth DOUBLE GLAZING BLOGGER

Whenever the subject of attracting youth to the fenestration industry comes up, I always hear this: “what can we do to get young people to come to the sector?” At the moment, the push to attract new talent has been focused on talking about our industry. And I don’t even think we’re getting that 100% right either. For me, we’re getting the approach completely wrong. We have to stop thinking young people and those looking for a new career will come knocking on our door. We have to go to them. TikTok generation The simple fact of the matter is that the people our fenestration industry desperately needs for the next 10-15 years are consuming nearly everything that influences them on social media platforms. Especially TikTok and Instagram.

The school leavers that are approaching an age where they need to decide on what direction in life to go spend a huge amount of time on social media platforms. We know this. This is not new news. Yet, we’re doing absolutely nothing about it. Whether you like it or not, the next generation that comes into this sector will not read newspapers, they’ll watch very little TV and won’t read many books either. At least not paperbacks. Almost everything is consumed via a screen because that is the world they have grown 22

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up in. So why are we not using platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat and others to reach out to young people to raise the profile of our sector? It seems like such an obvious thing to do yet no one is doing it. There are millions of kids on these platforms, the same kids that we’re going to need in the next few years. We’re not going to improve and expand the image and profile of fenestration using traditional methods anymore. We have to go to the younger generations on the platforms THEY use, not ours, and show them all the positives of working in our sector can give them. We complain that we’re not finding enough young people, but the reality is that what we’re doing is wrong and we need to change that. It’s time to put aside whatever reservations or misconceptions of new tech platforms we have aside and understand that it is our job to keep up with the generations that we need to attract. We have to stop thinking if we talk aimlessly loud enough and for long enough people will come. They won’t. It’s a competitive jobs market out there and we’re not even close as a sector to doing enough to make ourselves heard above other industries, because we’re not doing it right. We need to be seeing fenestration companies up and down the supply chain embracing social media platforms. We need companies to be making videos showing what working in this sector is actually like, what the benefits are, what the opportunities will be if people put the hard work in. I don’t see any of that at the moment and we’re missing such an obvious way to get to the people we need to come work with us. Tech kids are hardworking I think I can assume that some of you who have just read the above have probably turned your

noses up at the idea already. You’ll keep sticking with the old current methods and hope things get better from here. If so, fair enough. But for the companies who embrace new methods, who always evolve and try different things, they will be the ones that will be better off in this industry in ten years time. The ones who dismissed new tech platforms like social media when it comes to recruitment will be the ones left behind. Then again, that is our industry in a nutshell. I also want to address the misconception that kids who base their life around their tech and phones are not hardworking. That is an unfair assumption and there is no way to prove such an accusation. There are tons of hardworking young people out there. They are just making their money in different ways. In fact, there will be a ton of young people out there right now who have built digital empires for themselves who are sat on a far bigger personal wealth than many who work in this sector. That doesn’t happen for free and it takes hard work and dedication to build such a position for yourself. The last thing our industry wants to be doing is saying

OPINION

Want To Attract Youth And The Right Talent? DOUBLE GLAZING BLOGGER It’s Time We Talked Money There’s a debate as to the best method in which to attract more young people and talented people to the UK fenestration sector. Career progression, inclusivity, rewarding work and more. All gallant and justified arguments. But there’s one thing I think we’re blindly missing from the debate and that is money. It’s time to talk turkey. Money matters People of a certain vintage were taught not to talk about money. My parents were taught the same thing to a certain extent. My demographic and younger, however, are getting more and more used to talking about money. What we earn, what we spend, how much we spend. The problem is, because there isn’t a huge number of people my age in this sector, the subject of money never really comes up when the discussion around the skills gap comes up. This has to change. If you’re a young person, or a person with skills and you’re looking for a new career, then you’re going to want to know that a move to the fenestration sector is going to be worth it. Yes, job satisfaction is important here, and no amount of money could ever replace happiness in a profession. But if you’re starting out in life and looking for a job that will help you grow into adult life, then you will want to know if that job is going to pay. Money matters, whether we like that idea or not. It matters in every job and people tend to be happier if they know that the hard work they are putting in is going to give them a decent wage in return. The good news is that UK fenestration is a relatively well-paid industry. Especially since the pandemic. The shortage of labour has meant wages of installers have gone up quite markedly over the last 12 months. You only need to look on some of the Facebook forums to see how much companies are willing to pay fitters per door or window. At some of those wages, it would be very easy to walk away at the end of each week with more than £1000. Now I would say that is a very good wage indeed. The truth of the matter is that UK fenestration actually pays quite well across most job roles. Installing yes, but also sales roles, admin roles, drivers, MDs and CEOs, even self-employed and freelance jobs. For the various faults this industry has, I don’t believe pay has ever been one of them. Which makes that one of our strongest tools in our toolbox with which to attract the right people to this sector. We just need to actually talk about it and make it more obvious to the outside world! Wider economic competition There is another more fundamental reason why we have to start talking about money, and that is because as the economy reopens and people go back to finding jobs, there is already a massive increase in competition from other sectors to attract workers. We read earlier this week that there were nearly one million job vacancies in the UK at the moment. This is a record. And these are positions in many other different sectors. We continue to face an acute skills shortage which looks like it will only get worse as the years go on unless something changes. It means we have to fight for the attention of those looking for work, and as I have stated above, one of our biggest advantages is that this is a pretty well-paid sector. If we are going to win out above other sectors we have to start using our pay as an advantage. Good rates of pay have to be coupled with career progression and job satisfaction. The other advantage we have as a sector is that job progression in UK fenestration is pretty good. In my time working in this sector I have witnessed many friends and colleagues make their way up the ladder. I have seen the creation of new businesses, and the acquisition of others. With hard work and determination, it is quite possible to make your way to the top in this sector. Something else our industry should be making more of a point of. As fenestration begins to compete with other sectors to attract youth and skilled workers, we have to shout louder about the advantages our industry has, and that is money. We need to stop being shy about it and become much more open and vocal about the opportunities that exist within this growing industry and show people that they can make a very good living out of windows and doors.

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There Needs To Be More Competitio DOUBLE GLAZING BLOGGER

The scale and scope of the conservatory roof market over the past ten years have shrunk significantly. Product choice has increased to some degree, with solid roofs becoming a staple within the roof market as a whole, but the number of conservatory roof system manufacturers is nothing like it used to be.

Competition to drive innovation During the course of the conservatory boom a couple of decades ago there was a sleuth of conservatory roof system manufacturers. Demand was high and it was pretty easy to make good money during that period. Then that period ended, and demand rather dropped off a cliff somewhat. We even had one of our sector’s manufacturers reach the FTSE100. Those days are long gone, and so are the days of choice and variety. As the size of the conservatory roof market began to shrink, so did the amount of choice that was available in the marketplace. Now, one company owns a large singular portion of the market via acquisition, the rest of the market is then divided up by a handful of suppliers. Whilst that is an advantageous position for the company that owns the majority, it leaves little left for the others to compete for. That position however is beginning to change. Over the last few years, the product portfolio within the roof market has changed. The nature of conservatories have changed and so with it so has the product. Gone are the days of mass polycarbonate sales. Now, glass and solid roofs are the order of the day. And we have seen new companies spring up out of this new trend to help facilitate the growth of this market. The names of Supa Lite and Guardian being the most obvious, but new players on the market such as Leka, who boasts a 0.12 u-value on their solid roof, have been making waves recently and look set to continue doing so. The solid roof sector has been one of the biggest innovations in the roof market in the past 15 years and shows no signs of stopping. With millions of old polycarbonate roofs out there making for extremely cold or terribly hot rooms, there appears to be massive potential still. Every market needs competition. That’s what drives change and innovation. That’s what keeps progress moving forwards. So whilst there is a large portion of the market all tied up in one place, the smaller more nimble companies are the ones that can cause the greatest change and influence.

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on In The Conservatory Roof Market

Lanterns and roof lights One of the other major innovations in the past decade has been the glass lantern and flat glass roof light. They have provided installers a route to millions of flat roofs across the country and a simple and modern way to bring light into darkened rooms. The potential in this particular part of the market is massive. Again, one company has a huge footprint in this, but this niche is not without its disruptors. Take VitrineAlu for example. A brand new aluminium fabricator that is producing lanterns and flat glass roof lights from the Sheerline system from Garnalex. Although new on the scene, they are getting noticed and gaining traction. There is also Made For Trade with their popular Korniche lantern roof product. Made For Trade has made good progress in what is a market that continues to harbour newcomers into the industry. And this is a good thing. The more new companies that emerge in this particular market, and disrupt the status quo, the more competition there is, the better it is for the industry. It gives installers and fabricators more choice, allowing them to pick products better suited to their needs. Product quality generally rises as companies compete against each other, which is great for the end-user. No one company should have a monopoly on anything. This industry is big enough for everyone to have a share of the success. I hope that in the years to come we see more new players enter what is still a market full of opportunities and bring more choice and options to installers and of course homeowners. DGB MAGAZINE

NINGBO PARTIAL SHUTDOWN COULD CAUSE UK FENESTRATION SECTOR PROBLEMS Whilst the UK might be getting some level of control over COVID-19, much of Asia is gripped firmly by the virus once again. Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, South Korea, Japan and others are all experiencing record numbers of cases, hospitalisations and deaths. It is a reminder that even though things are improving in the UK, other parts of the world are still suffering.

not be worse, as this is the crucial quarter where global shipping builds up to Christmas.

UK fenestration also looks like it is going to be hit with issues which will be felt at the back end of the year. A number of components, including window handles, are sourced from that port. The effect of the delays is expected to be felt later on in the year. Those with good levels of stock already Meanwhile, in China, the growing may not suffer too badly. Those spread of the Delta variant is now suppliers who have struggled to causing problems once again with build up stock during the course its shipping facilities. This time the of the year may be affected more Ningbo shipping port is partly shut seriously. down, and it could again cause problems for UK fenestration. China operates a zero COVID Ningbo closure could cause policy. Meaning only a handful of shortages cases anywhere sees lockdowns imposed, mass testing and in this For some perspective, the port case, business facilities shut down. at Ningbo-Zhoushan is the thirdWhilst the Chinese economy can largest in the world. Although not cope with such measures, being fully closed, the partial closure the second largest in the world, is already causing problems and their actions and policies are the ripple effect it will create will having effects on other nations be felt in the weeks and months around the world. to come. The timing of this could

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In China, the growing spread of the Delta variant is now causing problems once again with its shipping facilities.

This news from China and Ningbo will be wholly unwelcome, as the fenestration sector continues to suffer from major shortages of other products and general delays affecting many other parts of the industry. At the moment, glass shortages are causing problems for many businesses, and profile and hardware are also strained. What this will do once again is bring into focus the argument for more of what we install in the UK to be made in this country. If only for the simple reason to

protect better our supply chain. This is a very good example of how problems overseas can have impacts on our businesses despite being thousands of miles away. Shipping prices still rising Away from port closures, the cost of shipping continues to have an impact on UK fenestration. High global demand, coupled with a tight supply of containers and ships, and them being in the wrong places at the wrong times, means the cost of sea shipping continues to rise. We are seeing the effect of this in rising costs and surcharges on items such as composite door slabs. Basically, anything that has to be sent in a container from overseas is going up in price because of the now extortionate cost to put it on a boat from another country. In some cases, the cost per container has risen ten or fifteenfold in a relatively short space of time. There are no signals that this situation is going to be resolved any time soon. The only way

that any kind of normality might return to this form of transport is when global demand cools and consumer spending begins to drop. But whilst there is plenty of spare cash in people’s pockets both in the UK and around the world, the chances of a tangible drop in demand any time soon are slim. For companies in this sector, the best thing to do is to continue to pass down the price increases all the way down the supply chain to the end-users. In our cases the homeowners. Remember that UK families are sat on hundreds of billions of pounds worth of spare cash thanks to lockdowns and the inability to spend disposable income in normal ways. The public can afford these higher prices and have demonstrated so over the past year.

We are seeing the effect of rising costs and surcharges on items such as composite door slabs. DOUBLE GLAZING BLOGGER

We need to keep doing that to protect the profitability of our businesses in the months to come. As pressures ease, which may come in the second half of 2022, we’ll be in a better place to plan for the future.

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ALUMINI Decalu88 Achieves PAS24 On 3m Tall Door Decalu88, the next generation bifold from Deceuninck Aluminium, has successfully completed PAS24 testing on a 3m tall door. Put through their paces by leading testing house Elements and accredited by BM Trada, testing was completed in June, with two configurations of the Decalu88 passing at the first attempt. Nigel Headford, Director, Deceuninck Aluminium, said the accreditation was an important addition to the Decalu offer. “The Decalu88 Bifold is a proven system. PAS24 gives us additional approval in new build applications. “What for me is the really exciting achievement is how we went through testing, with first time passes on two 3m high doors representing a very real achievement and evidence of how highly engineered this product is.” Launched at the beginning of 2020, the Decalu88 Bi-fold has gained a significant following among installers based on ease of installation. This includes glazing of each sash in as little as 5-minutes through the use of a co-extruded preinserted gasket, and two fully adjustable jambs, each offering up to 7mm tolerance, simplifying door squaring and setting. U-values are as low as 0.68W/m2, with each sash able to accommodate weights of 200kg and up to 3m in height, it also offers impressive design flexibility, while guaranteeing ultra-smooth running. Deceuninck Aluminium put two-door configurations through testing – a threepane 3800m wide open-in door in a 3-3-0 configuration, manufactured to a height of 2745mm. Sashes were 1210mm, with a reduced handle height on the opening door to emulate a 3m high product. It also tested a four-pane 4000mm wide openout door in a 4-3-1 configuration. “These are big doors – each sash was roughly 10ft high by 4ft wide”, added Nigel, “What it also gives us is testing against a complete set of configurations, which means going forward, 28

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our customers can offer a PAS24 tested door, regardless of configuration. “We know we have a highly engineered product offer, we know it has incredible reach in home improvement and new build sectors, and we also have test data. With the flexibility we can offer on colour including marine grade, dual colour and textured finishes as standard, it’s probably time to get in touch!” For more information call 01249 816 969, email deceuninck.ltd@deceuninck.com or visit www.deceuninck.co.uk Sponsored Content Deceuninck

IUM

Nordic Aluminium: Sheerline Is ‘Streets Ahead Of The Competition’

Manufacturer Nordic Aluminium says Sheerline’s aluminium window and door system will change the market. Nordic Aluminium is a division of the HWL Windows Group, which has been operating for almost 20 years. The company wanted to apply its experience and knowledge of selling highvalue PVC-U windows to an aluminium window and door system packed with unique benefits for customers. Graham Howatson, Director, Nordic Aluminium, says: “Windows are becoming more of a ‘boutique’ product and many homeowners want something different than standard PVC windows. We were blown away by Sheerline and think it will have a similar impact on the aluminium window market as Residence Collection had on the PVC sector. We were interested in the simplicity of the system design, the added value it brings to homeowners as well as it’s innovation and availability of stock. Sheerline will change the market, without a doubt. “Sheerline’s product innovation is streets ahead of the competition. It’s easier to manufacture, has improved material optimisation due to the design of the assembled profile, and its choice of colours will allow retailers and installers to simplify their product offerings and have greater control over the whole process. The U-Value performance is a huge factor as well. Sheerline exceeds current building regulations and is future-proofed against planned changes. “Sheerline’s design is clever, with fewer components and lower stock holding requirements. The patented thermal breaks are of major benefit and will Sponsored Content Garnalex

eventually lead to the roll-out of our own material, resulting in better optimisation and improved availability. The choice of standard colours has also been well thought out – we have found that Agate is a really popular finish, so it’s great to have that as a standard colour option. “Customer support always seems to be at the forefront of Garnalex’ thoughts. They go above and beyond and really see the importance of building longstanding relationships.” Founded in 2018, Garnalex’ innovative system Sheerline is the result of the company’s mission to revolutionise the aluminium windows and doors market. Sheerline’s first system, Classic, is an ultra-secure beadless aluminium window system packed with exceptional features that bring real benefits to fabricators, installers and homeowners. Its second system, Prestige, is Sheerline’s most versatile and thermally-efficient system with window U-Values as low as 0.9 W/(m²K) for triple glazing and 1.3 W/(m²K) for double glazed and includes

single and French doors. Roger Hartshorn, CEO of Garnalex, says: “We’re delighted to have such a fantastic response from a respected company like Nordic Aluminium. And I’m really pleased when customers say that we’re achieving what we set out to do – to transform the aluminium windows and doors market. Each step of the process, from product design to service and support, has been reinvented with fabricators, installers and, of course, the homeowner in mind. We’ve invested in innovation at every level to ensure customers receive the end-toend experience they want and deserve.” For more information about Nordic Aluminium, visit www. nordicaluminium.co.uk or www. hwlwindows.co.uk. You can also find them on LinkedIn https:// www.linkedin.com/company/ hwlwindowsgroup To learn more about Sheerline, visit www.sheerline.com and www.sheerlinevideo.com. You can also call 01332 883960 or email info@sheerline.com. Follow @SheerlineSystem and @ GarnalexSystems for the latest

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Deceuninck Aluminium Signs Up To 2021 And 2022 FENEX Shows

Rapidly growing new aluminium systems company Deceuninck Aluminium have announced that they are joining the FENEX virtual events platform for 2021 and 2022. Deceuninck Aluminium will be exhibiting at the 2021 main event in September, and will also be attending the Aluminium Expo and the main event once again in 2022. The aluminium sector continues to grow at pace, and Deceuninck Aluminium offers fabricators and installers products that are going to shake up the residential aluminium sector. They offer faster fabrication times and products that will comply with the new revisions to Building Regulations that are going to come into force soon. This already puts their offering way ahead of the competition. For installers, the prospect of pre-installed gaskets, simple de-sashing and deep beads for specialist glazing make their aluminium windows and doors an extremely attractive prospect. Co-founder Jason Grafton-Holt commented: “Deceuninck Aluminium has certainly made waves in the world of residential aluminium and to have them on board with FENEX for both 2021 and 2022 is fantastic news. I am lucky enough to have their bi-folds installed at home and can vouch for the quality of their product. I can guarantee that both installers and fabricators are going to want to take a look at what Decalu have to offer!” Nigel Headford, Director at Deceuninck Aluminium, added: “we’re delighted to be joining FENEX for 2021 and 2022. They offer new ways for us to reach our target audience, and as a growing business, we’re excited to join a platform that is bringing excitement, engagement and new opportunities to us. We’re joining the rest of the Deceuninck team already exhibiting at FENEX and very much looking forward to showing fabricators and installers how Deceuninck Aluminium can bring them better business.” To find out more about FENEX, or to exhibit at the main event, visit www.fenex.co.uk or follow on social media to keep up to date with the latest news and announcements from the virtual expo. Web: www.fenex.co.uk Twitter: https://twitter.com/FENEX_2021 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FENEX2021 Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fenex-2021 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fenex_2021/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS0yColXGZvJkGHbFi6CuYA FENEX Main Event: Weds 8th Sept – Sat 11th Sept 2021 30

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The Construction Products Association (CPA) has released the results of its industrywide consultation on the new Code for Construction Product Information (CCPI). The 65 page report – downloadable at www. buildingsafely.co.uk – details feedback from 35 trade associations representing the views of many thousands of member firms across the supply chain, and 180 individual provider and user organisations of construction product information, including most of the largest companies in the industry. The new Code was developed to prevent some of the issues raised in Dame Judith Hackitt’s report ‘Building A Safer Future’, following the Grenfell Tower fire. The CPA was tasked by Dame Judith Hackitt and the Government with tackling the shortcomings identified in Chapter 7 of the report relating to product information. The consultation opened on the 1st February 2021 with an official closing date of the 31st March 2021. This was extended to the end of May to urge everyone who had a view to submit them, and to encourage the widest representation from across the industry. The highly-publicised consultation was undertaken for the CPA by MRA Research. It invited trade associations, manufacturers, distributors, specifiers and users of product information to comment on the proposed new CCPI and its eleven Clauses. A key requirement of the consultation was that respondents read the new Code 32

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CPA Publishes Results Of Industry Consultation On New Code

before completing their respective questionnaire or providing feedback. A number of additional and insightful comments were also submitted by provider and user organisations alongside their completed questionnaires. Feedback from the trade associations was detailed, expert and extensive, providing indepth comments and suggestions on behalf of their members. The findings confirm that the industry welcomes and supports the Code, and considers it a crucial step in the right direction. Comments confirmed that more clarity was needed in some areas of the Code, particularly around the training and competence requirements, and on what exactly was required to comply with the different Clauses. The MIG spent a further two months analysing and working through the Code so it reflects the massive amount of expert feedback from the consultation. Adam Turk, Chair of the CPA’s Marketing Integrity Group and CEO of Siderise says: “We are delighted with the breadth and depth of response received. The published results are slightly later than planned but given the

importance of the Code, we wanted to make sure all responses were included in the analysis. Strenuous efforts were also made in reaching out to organisations directly to ensure everyone across the industry had the opportunity to comment.” “The overwhelming support and constructive feedback has reassured us that the Code is absolutely the right step forward for the industry while also giving us a lot of insightful input to enable the MIG to review the wording of the Clauses in line with these detailed responses,” continues Adam. “Whilst changes have been made around the clarity and detail within the Code, I can confirm that the eleven Clauses remain principally close to those presented in the report.” Chief Executive of the CPA, Peter Caplehorn, adds: “We are extremely pleased with the progress that has been made with the CCPI and the enormous efforts of the MIG in driving it through. I truly believe the Code will achieve meaningful and permanent change in our industry, providing users of construction products with accurate information they can trust. “The CPA is incredibly focussed on improving

building safety and driving cultural change in our industry. We are involved in a wide range of initiatives to ensure tragedies like Grenfell never happen again, and the CCPI is just one of those. An essential counterpart to the Code is the activity of the Working Group 12 (WG12) – a sub-group of the IRG’s Competence Steering Group (CSG), led by the CPA. WG12 focuses specifically on the competency of those interacting with products and accessing construction product information. The CSG recognises that good product information on its own is not enough; those that use it must be competent to do so, to understand what they are reading and to be able to apply the performance information appropriately.” The Code has now been finalised, based on the extensive feedback from the Consultation, and is in the process of being handed to Construction Product Information Ltd (CPI Ltd) – a not-forprofit organisation with independent governance and management being set-up to administer the CCPI when it is launched later this year. Prior to the Code’s formal launch, the CPI Ltd will be carrying out pilot test cases and will also be recruiting a new Non-Executive Board of Directors to develop an independent governance structure. The industry can stay abreast of the Code and its launch at www.cpicode. org.uk.

Clean Bill Of Health For Masterframe Windows Sponsored Content Masterframe

Recently an audit was carried out by URS on Masterframe’s ISO 9001 quality management system and on their OHSAS 18001 Health and Safety system, enabling the transition to ISO 45001. This three day, in-depth audit took place via Zoom and was facilitated by Masterframe’s Technical & Compliance Director, Ray Rabett with all relevant documentation and proof of compliance being supplied by screen share on demand. Commenting on the audit, Ray says “I am delighted that we have been successful in having our certification continued with a successful audit, only receiving minor observations. ISO accreditations ensure that our business is run according to internationally recognised standards and guarantees consistency of production. By subjecting company practices to intense outside scrutiny, our customers are once again assured that not only are we working to our agreed processes, but also striving for continuous improvement.” Ray concludes “The standards for achieving and keeping these certifications are very high. It is the team effort made by all at Masterframe to comply with the terms of our policy documents that have enabled us to achieve a positive result in spite of the challenging times.” There are several other accreditations that Masterframe have achieved for their products such as the prestigious British Board of Agrément certification of performance; PAS 24/Secured by design for security and BFRC ‘A’ rated certificates for all their products. With solid evidence of the quality, longevity and security of their sash windows, Masterframe offers a full 12-year guarantee on the Bygone Collection available through an approved network of Bygone Master Installers and a 10-year Guarantee on the Classic Collection, available to trade and commercial partners. For more information please visit www.masterframetrade.co.uk, call us on 01376 510 410 or e-mail sales@ masterframe.co.uk.

Certass Joins Forces With Which Trusted Trader Sponsored Content Certass

Leading certification body Certass has teamed up with Which? Trusted Traders to bring extra benefits to Certass members and spread the message about the negative impact of door-todoor sales in our industry. Danelle Kaukau, Head of Member Services at Certass, explains: “Door-to-door sales are an outdated and poor industry practice that perpetuates the negative perception of our industry with consumers. “Just as Certass champions local installers and tradespeople, Which? is the consumer champion brand that is trusted by thousands of homeowners making this a perfect partnership, to help homeowners find trusted, competent tradespeople to carry out their home improvements.” As part of this new partnership, Certass members can get access to an exclusive new offer, to help promote their business and get leads from homeowners who are searching for companies through the Which? Trusted Trader website. Certass members with fewer than 39 employees can get 50 percent off the monthly fee for the first six months of Which? Endorsement membership. Although the Which? brand offers advice and guidance on a full range of topics, more than half of the 15 million monthly hits on the site are from consumers looking for advice on home improvements. The Which? Trusted Trader Code of Conduct includes a pledge to “Not undertake unsolicited visits to consumers’ homes”, which closely aligns with Certass’ aims to limit door-to-door selling and start to transform the reputation of the glazing industry. Raj Kakar-Clayton, MD of Which? Trusted Traders, said: “We’re delighted to be teaming up with Certass in a way that stands to directly benefit so many UK consumers. Which? Trusted Traders is built around working with traders that have rigorous high standards, and this relationship with Certass reinforces that ethos. “This represents another step in our continuing commitment to help drive up standards and set new service benchmarks for UK customers.” DGB MAGAZINE

GENERAL & PVCU

Deceuninck UK & VBH (GB) Host Seventh Annual Golf Day

Deceuninck UK and VBH (GB) hosted their seventh annual Golf Day in July, returning to the stunning Bowood Golf Resort in Wiltshire. After missing out in 2020 due to Covid, this year’s Golf Day was an extra special occasion, marking the first major industry social and networking event in more than 12 months.

The prize for the ‘Nearest the Pin’ competition was claimed by Matt Kelly of Bill Butters Windows, with the trophy for Longest Drive going to Window Warehouse team member, Dan Reader. The day concluded with a dinner, prize giving and evening drinks at the Bowood.

Bathed in glorious sunshine, beautiful Bowood set Chris Jones, Deceuninck Sales Director, the scene for a highly enjoyable – and closely commented: “It was absolutely fantastic to be able to get together with friends, colleagues and our co-hosts VBH for this year’s annual golf day. “After being forced to cancel last year, and following an exceptionally challenging period for us all, it was a real treat to be able to get together with friends and colleagues to enjoy the outstanding Bowood course once again.”

From L-R: Mark Hutchinson (Tradesmith) Adrian Phillips (Nolan uPVC) Brian Webb (Fenster) Jason James (Nolan uPVC)

Simon Monks, Managing Director, VBH, added: “Everyone has been under a huge amount of pressure since the start of the first lockdown in March last year, so we were delighted to be able to finally co-host the seventh annual Golf Day alongside Deceuninck.

contested – day of golf around the PGA Official Golf Course for the South West, with just five points separating the top three teams at close of play. First place honours went to Bristol Windows who finished with a total of 85 points, just three ahead of the second-placed team, Window Warehouse Quickslide & CEN Solutions

“The Bowood Resort is a world-class venue and the perfect setting for what is now an established and highly anticipated event on the industry calendar.”

From L-R: Will Parker (Birmingham Glass), Chris Jones (Sales Director Deceuninck), Wez Taylor (CB Solutions); Rob Judd (Birmingham Glass)

and M&S Windows, on 82. Coming home in third place was Garrard Windows with a final tally of 80 points. 34

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For more information, call Deceuninck on 01249 816 969, email deceuninck.ltd@deceuninck.com or visit www.deceuninck.co.uk, or call VBH on 01634 263263, email info@vbhgb.com or contact them via www.vbhgb.com Sponsored Content Deceuninck

Freefoam Sees 55% Increase In Cladding Sales In Two Years

Sales of Freefoam’s extensive range of cladding have grown exponentially over the past two years. The company’s top stockist customers saw an average growth of 55% in cladding sales between 2018 and 2020. Freefoam, the leading independent roofline, rainwater and cladding manufacturer, offers durable, low maintenance PVC cladding in a range of styles and finishes. The company launched its flagship Fortex cladding more than 15 years ago and has continued improving and adding to the range to meet customer demand. Two years ago, Freefoam launched X-Wood, a premium-grade foiled cladding range, to appeal to the same homeowners who can’t get enough of beautiful composite doors, colour and high-end flush windows. With a booming home improvement market seeing homeowners looking to make changes to their properties in the wake of the pandemic, Freefoam’s range of cladding offers an instant, low maintenance way for people to transform the exterior of their home. Managing Director Kieran Napthine of Edge Buildings Products, a Freefoam stockist who specialise in cladding, says Freefoam’s Fortex cladding “provides a cost-effective, lowmaintenance option for

anyone looking to make long-lasting, attractive changes to their property.” Freefoam attributes the rapid growth in sales to the customer benefits of its cladding, including its range of colours, which has become ever more essential to homeowners who want to refresh tired-looking exteriors or improve the insulation of their homes. Fortex cladding is available in 10 different colours to suit any design or home, while the X-Wood range of cladding is available six different woodgrain finishes. In fact, Chris McGrath of Freefoam stockist, Watts Roofing, adds: “Colour is important to customers and lots of others can’t source the colours that Freefoam can supply. We have a display in our Stevenage branch that shows off their range of colour options. Grey is popular at the moment, as aluminium seems to be taking off in a big way.” Colin St John, Commercial Director of Freefoam, says: “Cladding is the ultimate home improvement product and homeowners are appreciating the benefits of installing cladding to their homes. I can only see that interest continuing to boom. “Our customers have seen their sales go through the roof, as more and more homeowners discover the transformative effect of cladding. It’s durable, easy to fit and maintain and we offer a diverse range of colour options for all different types of projects. And our guarantee of up to 10 years offers ease of mind for our stockists and, of course, their customers.” Learn more about Freefoam’s products, service and support by visiting www.freefoam.com or calling 01604 591110. Follow @freefoam. Sponsored Content Freefoam

What Will The Top Window Colours Be In 2022 Deceuninck has created a free to download White Paper, summarising the findings of detailed consumer research on colour preference, and creating a series of forecasts for top colour trends in 2022. Released this month, the paper draws on data collected by leading consumer pollster YouGov as part of a Deceuninck commissioned study. It also pulls in data on national sales of foils and statistics from its own sales, combining them with analysis from other sectors, on key home improvement colour trends. Rob McGlennon, Managing Director, Deceuninck, said: “We tend to be a little ahead of the market in general in the colours we sell, so we’ve looked at that, the data we have from YouGov and wider market analysis, to pull it together, identify trends and make our prediction for where the market is going to go next year.” The study by YouGov, published earlier this year found that when asked about their colour preference white was cited by 43% of homeowners as their preferred colour choice. Greys, including Anthracite Grey, Agate Grey, and Grey, accounted for a combined 17%. Irish Oak and Rosewood polled 7% and 6% respectively. Greens, including Chartwell and Sage Green, recorded 4% and 1%; Black and Cream each recorded 4%. “They’re the headline findings but dig into and there are a host of other factors which are likely to influence colour choice going forward including age and type of property. We’ve pulled everything together into a single document, done some crystal ball gazing and made forecasts for the year ahead”, Rob said. Deceuninck offers 30 colourways in stock and 20 additional colours in just 15 working days, with on average Deceuninck fabricators selling twice as much colour as their competitors. To download your free copy of the White Paper please visit https://www.deceuninck. co.uk/en-gb/colourwhitepaper For more information, call Deceuninck on 01249 816 969, email deceuninck.ltd@ deceuninck.com or visit www.deceuninck. co.uk Sponsored Content Deceuninck

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Cladding Just Got Animated Sponsored Content Freefoam

Freefoam Building Products are proud to announce the launch of a new animation style video to illustrate how to fit cladding. In recent years Freefoam has seen a steady rise in sales of its PVC cladding range. However, in the last 18 months, with homeowners using disposable income to improve their properties, sales have skyrocketed. Freefoam has recorded a 55% increase in sales making cladding a fantastic opportunity for any home improvement company, builder or PVC fitter.

But, as with any home improvement product, the success of a job, and indeed ongoing recommendations, depends on the quality of the installation. In order to help companies capitalise on this opportunity, Freefoam has now created a video animation to show all stages of the cladding fitting process. Whilst Freefoam provide detailed printed and online fitting instructions research has shown that fitting videos are incredibly useful and wellreceived by installers and DIYers alike. Visual aids ensure the whole process is easy to understand. The new video features a high-quality detailed animation to show every step of the fitting process. From fixing the initial battens and membrane to installing cladding boards and accompanying trims. With close up, details of key fitting points and on-screen instructions the video illustrates each step clearly and simply. Leigh Russell, Freefoam Technical Advisor commented “Freefoam cladding system is designed to be easy to fit whether you are a professional installer or a homeowner working on a DIY project. We provide detailed fitting instructions to ensure that installations are carried out correctly so that the cladding can perform as

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intended. For first time installers, getting to know the system can still be daunting. This animation offers users the chance to familiarise themselves with the cladding and demonstrates all the critical aspects of an installation. ” One of the most important aspects of any PVC cladding installation is ventilation. Creating a cavity (ideally a 5mm continuous gap) between the internal wall and the cladding, with a suitably sized, unobstructed, gap at the top and bottom, allows for air to flow freely through. This ensures minimal heat build-up and expansion and contraction of cladding boards. The video also highlights how to ensure every installation includes adequate ventilation by using Freefoam’s clever ventilated starter and closer trim. Freefoam Marketing Manager, Louise Sanderson, summarised “We are always looking for new ways to communicate with our audiences and help make our product range accessible to all. Working with a specialist digital agency and our in-house technical team we have created a very high-quality fitting video that we can use on all channels.

VIEW THE VIDEO HERE

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Instagram Inspiration From Endurance Doors Louise Sugars is the latest Instagram influencer to endorse Endurance Doors on her inspirational page @ myhomegarden36 where she states that ‘I love interior design and all things home.’ It’s an Instagram page packed with ideas and interior design influences for the modern home, where she’s benefitted from a new Pentland style door in Raven Black with chrome hardware from Endurance Doors. She’s already enhanced the front of her home with a matching Ring doorbell, along with a contrasting white rose featured wreath, as shown on her post from the 9th August 2021 which has already enjoyed 1,480 likes. Louise Sugars commented: ‘I wanted a door that was secure, looked great and that would provide years of maintenanceSponsored Content Endurance free enjoyment. I’ve certainly achieved this with my new Endurance Door and having done some research on the internet it’s clear they are top of their game. It’s made a remarkable feature to the front of our home, and it feels solid too.’ Scott Foster, Group Head of Sales and Marketing at Endurance Doors added: “Louise is the latest Instagram influencer to endorse a solid core Endurance Door and for good reason, as we believe it’s the best in the sector from a design and performance point view. Like all of our doors, this one has been manufactured carefully without the use of a generic door blank in our facility in Brigg, Lincolnshire with a great deal of expertise and skill.’ For further information on the Endurance Solid and Secure composite door range, including the latest colours and finishes, please call the sales office on 01652 659259, visit https://endurancedoors.co.uk, or e-mail marketing@ endurancedoors.co.uk. You can also add to the Twitter following @EnduranceDoors.

ODL Europe Signs Up To FENEX 2023 Telford Exhibition ODL Europe have become one of the first companies to sign up to the 2023 FENEX Show due to be held at the Telford International Centre. ODL Europe will also be present at the 2021 FENEX main virtual event in September of this year, as well as virtual shows during 2022. Nathan Barr, Managing Director of ODL Europe, commented: “After a positive first event in January, and the upcoming main event in September, the announcement that the fenestration sector would be returning to Telford in 2023 was fantastic news. The timing was ideal for us as a business, and the 2022 virtual calendar will ensure that ODL Europe is able to connect with new and existing clients across all available platforms. We look forward to seeing you all in 2022 and in Telford in 2023!” Responding to overwhelming demand from the fenestration sector to return to a venue that was much loved and had such a positive connection with the sector, FENEX recently announced that in April of 2023 their first in-person would take place at the Telford International Centre. The response to the announcement has been remarkably positive. FENEX co-founder Jason Grafton-Holt said: “ODL Europe were one of the FENEX launch partners when we started in 2020, and to have them on board for 2022 and in Telford for 2023 is fantastic news. They’re a smart business and can see the vision being built by FENEX, combining the best of the virtual and in-person platforms FENEX can now offer to exhibitors. We know they will have some fantastic products to demonstrate to new and existing clients, and visitors will be able to engage both virtually and in person over a number of shows. We are delighted to have them on board!” April 2023 is going to see the industry return to a much-loved venue, with a host of brand new products ready to demonstrate to a sector that will be in a much better position to facilitate growth and expansion. ODL Europe will be exhibiting at the main virtual event in September. To find out more about ODL Europe and the expansive range of products they offer, register to attend FENEX free at: www.fenex.co.uk/attend To find out more about FENEX at Telford, or to exhibit at the main virtual event in September, visit www.fenex.co.uk or follow on social media to keep up to date with the latest news and announcements from the virtual expo. To enquire about booking a stand please call Lee or Ben on 01924 911234 or 07427 854225 or email enquiries@ fenex.co.uk. Web: www.fenex.co.uk Twitter: https://twitter.com/FENEX_2021 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FENEX2021 38

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AWARDS & EVENTS Morley Glass Signs Up To FENEX 2022 & FENEX 2023 At Telford Britain’s biggest and leading integral blinds manufacturer, Morley Glass, have become one of the first companies to sign up to the FENEX 2022 virtual expos and the first at the FENEX in-person exhibition in Telford in 2023. The rise of Morley Glass over the past two decades has been one of the best success stories in UK fenestration. Operating out of Leeds, they grew quickly to become a major supplier of Pellini integral blinds to installers and fabricators. In 2016 they moved to a dedicated 50,000 square foot factory to help with their rapid expansion. They have not looked back since and have grown rapidly to become the UK’s largest integral blinds supplier.

Centre for their first in-person event which has already garnered a hugely positive response from the industry. To find out more about FENEX at Telford, or to exhibit at the main virtual event in September 2021, visit www.fenex.co.uk or follow on social media to keep up to date with the latest news and announcements from the virtual expo. To enquire about booking a stand please call Lee or Ben on 01924 911234 or 07427 854225 or email enquiries@fenex.co.uk. Web: www.fenex.co.uk

To help aid that growth further, and to cement the Morley Glass brand as one of the entire sector’s best, Morley Glass will be exhibiting at the 2022 virtual FENEX shows as well as the first FENEX inperson exhibition which will be held at the incredibly popular Telford International Centre.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/FENEX_2021

Speaking about Morley’s commitment to FENEX, co-founder Lee Clarke said: “to have a company of the calibre of Morley Glass join the growing FENEX platform is fantastic news. The Morley brand has become one of the most successful not just in the IGU and blinds part of the market, but in the whole of UK fenestration. We look forward to working with them in the years to come and to building a successful partnership that will most certainly be of benefit to everyone.”

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fenex_2021/

Ian Short, Morley Glass Managing Director also said: “we’re very excited to be joining the FENEX platform for 2022 and 2023. The new avenues and opportunities this is going to present to us, bringing together the best of both virtual and in-person, is tantalising and we cannot wait to get started and bring our fantastic range of integral blinds to even more of the UK fenestration industry!” FENEX is holding a full virtual expo calendar during the course of 2022, with hundreds of thousands of pounds of investment in market-leading virtual software and marketing campaigns that is going to create a huge impact during 2022. In 2023, FENEX will then return the UK fenestration sector to the very popular Telford International 40

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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FENEX2021 Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ fenex-2021

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/ UCS0yColXGZvJkGHbFi6CuYA FENEX Main Event: Weds 8th Sept – Sat 11th Sept 2021

& EVENTS

New Aluminium Fabricator VitrineAlu Signs Up To FENEX In 2022 & 2023

Brand new aluminium fabricator, VitrineAlu, based in Warrington, have signed up to exhibit at FENEX in 2022 and at the inperson event at the Telford International Centre in 2023. VitrineAlu is a new company with aluminium fabrication and has begun to make waves in this part of the market. Their extensive product range includes lanterns and glass roofs, using the Sheerline system. VitrineAlu has one of the widest product portfolios available in the marketplace, covering residential and commercial aluminium windows, entrance doors, patio doors, bi-folding doors, curtain walling, commercial framing and doors. VitrineAlu has links with some of the leading aluminium systems companies in the UK, including Garnalex with their Sheerline system, which has continued to shake the sector up since its launch. Speaking about VitrineAlu joining FENEX in 2022 and 2023, Director Lee Clarke said: “it’s fantastic to bring on board a new business within the fenestration sector, run by genuinely nice people who only want to achieve the very best for their business and staff. This is what FENEX is all about and we’re already looking forward to building a positive relationship with VitrineAlu and helping them along the way to what we’re sure is going to be a very successful journey for them.”

virtual event in 2023. The same goes for 2023, and they will also be attending the live in-person event to be held at the incredibly popular Telford International Centre. They have also signed up to sponsor a category at the National Fenestration Awards, with more news to be announced on that shortly. Paul Fradley, Director at VitrineAlu, commented: “we’re excited to be joining FENEX and a platform that is providing a huge number of opportunities across both the virtual and in-person spectrums. We’re a new business looking to take advantage of the growth in residential aluminium and joining FENEX at this time seemed the perfect time in which to do so. We have so much to offer the sector and we cannot wait to show people how we can help their own businesses in the years to come!” You can find out more about VitrineAlu and their huge array of amazing aluminium products via their website: https://www. vitrinealu.co.uk/

To find out more about FENEX at Telford, or to exhibit at the main virtual event in September, visit www.fenex.co.uk or follow on social media to keep up to date with the latest news and announcements from the virtual expo. To enquire about booking a stand please call Lee or Ben on 01924 911234 or 07427 854225 or email enquiries@fenex.co.uk. Web: www.fenex.co.uk Twitter: https://twitter.com/ FENEX_2021 Facebook: https://www.facebook. com/FENEX2021 Linkedin: https://www.linkedin. com/company/fenex-2021 Instagram: https://www.instagram. com/fenex_2021/ YouTube: https://www. youtube.com/channel/ UCS0yColXGZvJkGHbFi6CuYA FENEX Main Event: Weds 8th Sept – Sat 11th Sept 2021

VitrineAlu is going to have a major presence at FENEX over the next couple of years. The company will be exhibiting at the Aluminium, Glass & Machinery Virtual Expo as well as the main DGB MAGAZINE

FIT Show Postponed DOUBLE GLAZING BLOGGER

The almost inevitable news came on Monday that the FIT Show, already postponed once due to the pandemic, has been pushed back again to May 2022. Against a backdrop of high case numbers, a supply chain that is crippled in most parts and the surreal situation that no one really wants or needs new customers, the right decision has finally been taken just 8 weeks before the show was due to open.

FIT Show postponed This is the statement published on their website: FIT Show organisers have announced the further postponement of its September 2021 event until May 2022, in response to the ongoing uncertainty surrounding COVID-19. The fenestration industry’s flagship UK event will return to the NEC from Tuesday 10 – Thursday 12 May 2022. The announcement follows delays to the easing of COVID restrictions across the UK, a rise in UK cases and lack of clarity regarding restrictions for large-scale events. FIT Show event director Nickie West comments: “We have been monitoring the ever changing situation in relation to COVID-19 and, after careful assessment, we believe that it is best for our exhibitors and visitors if we postpone FIT Show until May 2022. “It’s always our priority to run a safe and successful event for our audience. The sharp rise in positive cases, coupled with the ongoing ambiguity surrounding what restrictions would need to be in place by September, created too much uncertainty. “We have worked closely with 42

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our stakeholders and the NEC and loyalty during these most to create a new timeline that we challenging times. Your support believe is both safer, and prois what FIT Show is built on. vides greater certainty for the As a team, and a business, we market. By postponing until the are extremely grateful. We look Spring of 2022 we believe that forward to seeing you all, facethe majority of the UK will have to-face, next May.” been vaccinated and large scale event restrictions will be less The new dates ditch the “installer ambiguous. Sunday” plans that were due to take place in September. There are “I remain steadfast in my bealso plans for a 2023 show, one lief that no other platform can year from May 2022. Consecutive compete with the power of live shows have been attempted in the events when it comes to conpast but was then rode back after necting brands with the market. the industry voiced its opinion. It has never been an option to These new dates put Fensterbau flip FIT Show to virtual, it just ahead of FIT, with the huge would not deliver what our European show set to take place market wants and needs – face- on Tuesday 29th March to Friday to-face interaction, and to see, 1st April. For some of the sector’s touch and compare all of the biggest companies that operate latest products side-by-side.” both in Europe and the UK, that may be an issue. “We will, however, be delivering our CPD approved learning pro- Within the statement, there is the gramme virtually in September now-familiar swipe at anything as a key touchpoint in our cam- other than “face-to-face”, which paign, to engage with our FIT you would expect. But with Show community between now this postponement, it may well and May.” add pressure on other industry events set to take place soon. If The majority of the brands who something like this has now been signed up to exhibit at FIT Show deemed unsafe or too risky, then 2021 will move over to the post- other organisers may well be poned May 2022 timeline. The looking at their own plans and new dateline will also present wondering whether going ahead, a more secure proposition for even with restrictions lifted, is the brands who may have been right thing to do. hesitant to exhibit in September. Following the postponement, For the next 6-12 months the FIT Show will maintain its bi- industry is going to remain ennial frequency, returning for focused on the two biggest its scheduled dates in May 2023 problems that are biting hard onwards. right now: crippled supply chains and acute skills shortage. These Nickie added: “As always, we are problems are immediate, they committed to running a safe and are causing major problems right successful event for the indus- now, and until there is a significant try when we return in May 2022. reduction in demand or dramatic FIT Show will follow Fensterbau, scaling up of production capacity making it the first UK flagship then these are problems that are event to reconnect the market. going to persist for the medium term. “I’d like to sincerely thank everyone who has demonstrated such resilience, determination

Sponsored Content Haffner

Haffner Supports FIT Show Rescheduling

Following the rescheduling of the FIT Show to May 2022, industry machinery specialist Haffner has said it’s in full support of the decision. Dave Thomas, Managing Director at Haffner, said: “We’re obviously disappointed the event has been postponed. However, it’s clearly the sensible thing to do and we’ll look forward to returning to face-to-face exhibiting in May 2022.” The show has been postponed until Spring 2022 when the organisers believe the majority of the UK will have been vaccinated, supply chain issues will have started to ease and there will be more certainty around large-scale events. Dave commented: “The safety of our industry has to be paramount. Despite the delay, FIT Show will still be the first UK flagship event to reconnect the market.” Haffner has already committed to the rescheduled show and will have the largest stand in the show’s history with 405 sqm of

exhibiting space. This will allow the award-winning machinery company to display its widest ever range at the show. Haffner has the largest and most comprehensive PVC-U and aluminium fabrication machinery portfolio in the industry. It has an exclusive supply partnership with Italian machine innovators, Graf Synergy, which is well-known for its world-class seamless welding technology and patented welding techniques. Haffner is also the sole UK agent of Haffner Machinery, which designs innovative and highquality engineered products at competitive industry prices and it also supplies a range of aluminium fabrication machines from worldwide machine-giants, Fom Industries. Italy’s Fom Industrie is part of the worldwide FomGroup and has an outstanding product range offering the widest choice of quality machines with competitive lead times. Dave concluded: “We see the FIT Show as a strategic partner to support our ambitious growth

strategy because it presents a unique platform to demonstrate our machines to as wide an audience as possible. We look forward to welcoming people to our stand next year and to showing exactly why Haffner Murat has become the industry’s go-to machinery partner.”

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Flat Glass Solutions To Exhibit With FENEX In 2021

One of the leading glass machinery companies in the UK fenestration sector, Flat Glass Solutions, are to exhibit with FENEX during the main event this September.

outstanding customer service.

This year we have chosen to join FENEX 2021 as an exhibitor to stay in touch with our existing customers and to reach out to new clients. We believe They join a growing number that creativity is crucial to of companies who are the continuing success of any taking advantage of the new company, especially the allopportunities being provided by encompassing organisation we the innovative platform, which is belong to in the glass industry. using market-leading software to Innovation is a complex companybeing new avenues of growth and wide endeavour and most brand awareness to the UK window well-established companies are and door market. executors of company processes rather than innovators. Flat Glass Flat Glass Solutions, based Solutions are innovators and in Suffolk, boast a wealth of we think that engaging with our experience in the glass machinery future through the fenestration market, with a huge range of sector’s first virtual exhibition machinery solutions to cater for platform demonstrates this. every type of client. We are looking forward to David Cahill, Managing Director discussing any projects that you of FGS gave FENEX this statement: are considering no matter how “Flat Glass Solutions are specialist big or small. Get in touch with us distributors and agents for glass throughout the exhibition on our machinery and offer the best virtual stand. Search our products advice and equipment to suit every and listen to our webinars, and application. As a leading UK glass feel free to contact us and ask equipment supplier we provide questions through the chat outstanding alternatives and options. We are really excited options from the mainstream glass about this event.” processing solutions with fresh ideas. FENEX co-founder Lee Clarke also commented: “we’re very More importantly, we fully happy to welcome Flat Glass engaged ourselves with each Solutions to the main event customer and believe that by in September and are looking both of us being totally invested forward to seeing what they have in the success of each project, to demonstrate on their stand. we are investing in the success of Flat Glass Solutions are a hugely each other. We offer experience, innovative machinery business expertise, knowledge and and provide a different facet to 44

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the fabric of the machinery sector in UK fenestration. It’s fantastic to have them on board this year and we look forward to building a brilliant partnership.” To find out more about the 2022 virtual schedule, FENEX at Telford in 2023, or to exhibit at the main virtual event in September 2021, visit www.fenex.co.uk or follow on social media to keep up to date with the latest news and announcements from the virtual expo. To enquire about booking a stand please call Lee or Ben on 01924 911234 or 07427 854225 or email enquiries@fenex.co.uk. Web: www.fenex.co.uk Twitter: https://twitter.com/ FENEX_2021 Facebook: https://www.facebook. com/FENEX2021 Linkedin: https://www.linkedin. com/company/fenex-2021 Instagram: https://www.instagram. com/fenex_2021/ YouTube: https://www. youtube.com/channel/ UCS0yColXGZvJkGHbFi6CuYA FENEX Main Event: Weds 8th Sept – Sat 11th Sept 2021

FENEX Expands Team With Client Relationship Manager customers and welcome all the new ones on board!” To find out more about FENEX at Telford, or to exhibit at the main virtual event in September, visit www.fenex.co.uk or follow us on social media to keep up to date with the latest news and announcements from the expo. To enquire about booking a stand at Telford in 2023 please call Lee or Hannah on 01924 911234 or 07427 854225 or email enquiries@fenex.co.uk. Fenex, the fenestration sector’s first virtual and hybrid expo, is happy to announce that Hannah Howdle has returned to fenestration and joined the growing Fenex team as Client Relationship Manager. Hannah was part of the trade counter team that built up Truemans in Sheffield. One of the great success stories of the last ten years in our industry. Hannah fronted the trade counter in Holbrook, Sheffield, and went on to remain front-of-house after Truemans was acquired by Stevenswood. After a brief fenestration hiatus, Hannah now joins the Fenex team and is reunited with past colleagues from the original trade counter line-up in Sheffield. With major expansion and plans ahead, there was a pressing need to appoint a clear point of call for all Fenex’s customer service needs.

Year as voted by the industry. I was excited for her prospects when I handed her that award and I’m even more energised now she has joined the growing team at Fenex. It’s such an amazing story.” Nicola Betts, Head of Marketing for Fenex adds: “I’m thrilled to be reunited with Hannah! We started working in fenestration around the same time many years ago and the bond we created has never been broken. We work well together and are keen to throw all our enthusiasm, connections and insights into things at Fenex. We’re so excited about the future.”

Twitter: www.twitter.com/ FENEX_2021 Facebook: www.facebook.com/ FENEX2021 Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/ company/fenex-2021 Instagram: www.instagram.com/ fenex_2021/ YouTube: www. youtube.com/channel/ UCS0yColXGZvJkGHbFi6CuYA FENEX Main Event: Weds 8th Sept – Sat 11th Sept 2021. Get your free ticket here – https://fenex.co.uk/ attend/

Hannah added: “This is a great opportunity for me to put my fenestration experience back to work and develop a customer care strategy. Nurturing, assisting, and helping customers grow and develop is important to me. I will Speaking about the appointment of Hannah to the team, co-founder also be assisting in the Sales and Marketing plans throughout the Lee Clarke said: “I’m thrilled to year, which is hugely exciting too, have Hannah on board looking especially with the hybrid event after all of our valued customers. in 2023. As a former NFA winner, I The industry knows her for her feel like part of the family already, enthusiasm at Truemans, and which is the working environment famously winning a National I’ve been craving. I honestly can’t Fenestration Award in 2014! Hannah won Young Person of The wait to meet all the current Fenex

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It’s Coming Home! FENEX Announc Exhibition At Telford International

This time it really is coming home! FENEX, the UK fenestration sector’s first virtual exhibition platform, is responding to clear demand and will host its first every inperson expo at the popular Telford International Centre in April of 2023.

who wish to attend an in-person event, there is now the FENEX Expo at Telford in April 2023. Although it is anticipated that the majority of exhibitors will take part in both the digital and physical shows.

Co-founder of FENEX Lee Clarke In previous shows, the UK said: “we see the show at Telford fenestration sector made the as a strategic part of our future Telford International Centre it’s plans to accommodate the need home. There was a lot of love for live and virtual exhibitions, and connection with the TIC. The now and in the years to come. industry took over the entire space. We believe the TIC really is the It had great travel connections. fenestration industry’s ideal It had great amenities and was choice. After many conversations affordable for those taking part with key industry figures, it was a and those who were visiting. There no-brainer to push forward with was a real community spirit when the sector’s first hybrid event.” the sector descended on Telford, and FENEX is going to bring that Fellow co-founder Jason Graftonback to the fenestration industry in Holt commented: “This is a major April 2023. step for FENEX and continues to build our vision of a trade The announcement of an in-person show that offers both virtual event at what is the spiritual home and in-person events. Telford of UK fenestration completes the was incredibly popular with both vision of FENEX. It was launched as visitors and exhibitors so it was a virtual platform in 2020 during the natural choice for us. It’s clear the pandemic and has continued there has been demand for a to grow ever since. But the beauty long time to go back to what is of having both virtual and innow seen as our sector’s spiritual person events means FENEX can home. FENEX is now the platform offer everything to everyone. that offers every option to every company and that is a very For those interested in just a exciting prospect.” virtual offering, there is the main event in September of this year, FENEX will be investing plus a full virtual events calendar significant sums of money in throughout 2022. For companies their programme of shows over 46

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the next few years, with £850,000 of budget going towards the marketing of the events, the trailblazing software used for the virtual exhibitions, and of course the Telford show in 2023. To find out more about FENEX at Telford, or to exhibit at the main virtual event in September, visit www.fenex.co.uk or follow on social media to keep up to date with the latest news and announcements from the virtual expo. To enquire about booking a stand please call Lee or Ben on 01924 911234 or 07427 854225 or email enquiries@fenex.co.uk. Web: www.fenex.co.uk Twitter: https://twitter.com/ FENEX_2021 Facebook: https://www.facebook. com/FENEX2021 Linkedin: https://www.linkedin. com/company/fenex-2021 Instagram: https://www.instagram. com/fenex_2021/ YouTube: https://www. youtube.com/channel/ UCS0yColXGZvJkGHbFi6CuYA FENEX Main Event: Weds 8th Sept – Sat 11th Sept 2021

ces 2023 In-Person Centre

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Kolorseal To Exhibit At FENEX 2021

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Kolorseal Ltd, one of the UK’s leading colour coating specialists will be exhibiting at the FENEX main online event in September 2021.

We are really looking forward to catching up with customers and meeting new prospects to show them the benefits of our range and services.”

The company is at the forefront of colour coating windows, doors and roofline products, being recognised for quality services to many market leaders in the fenestration sector.

Jason Grafton-Holt, FENEX co-founder added: “Kolorseal is a longstanding supporter of our industry and once again has demonstrated a forward-thinking approach by exhibiting at the show.

For Deborah Hendry, Managing Director, exhibiting at FENEX comes at a time when the industry needs an avenue to discuss market issues and evaluate new potential for business. Deborah comments, “Given the turbulent nature of the industry in general at the moment, FENEX seems the right platform to bring everyone together to show new developments all round within the market. Also, this online option will allow people to explore the changes and issues that everyone is having to face right now. With real-time shows continuing to be cancelled, FENEX allows us all to find a way to get together to talk about news, innovations and to see the changes for the better that we hope are on the way for the industry. For Kolorseal, we will be able to highlight the new corporate colour palette we have introduced, for those looking to brighten up their installation or building projects.

FENEX provides the ideal platform to promote a company’s benefits and Kolorseal has many. I am positive they will be one of the main attractions at the event, with lots of installers keen to look at how their business will benefit from using Kolorseal as a supplier.” FENEX is the UK fenestration industry’s firstever online expo platform, and as such, people exhibiting can benefit from taking part in an exhibition that is an industry benchmark. With enhanced interactivity, quality lead generation, highly detailed data reports and ROI that is measurable we work with our customers to help improve their bottom line.” The FENEX main event is taking place online from Wednesday 8th September – Saturday 11th September. To find out more about the expo and how to take part visit www.fenex.co.uk, email enquiries@fenex.co.uk, call 01924 911234 and follow on Twitter: @FENEX_2021

Years of research has gone into developing our own paint selection, which is now recognised nationally for its hardwearing and colourfast properties; so this will be one of the highlights on the stand.” Having won the Colour Specialists Award at the 2019 and 2020 National Fenestration Awards, it is hoped that FENEX will allow the Kolorseal team to build on its successes. A broader choice is now available from the company with coatings available for plastics, metals or other materials. This ensures that customers can colour match all products on new projects from windows and doors to roofline products. Debbie continues, “FENEX will enable us to highlight why we were chosen as Colour Specialists at the National Fenestration Awards.

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National Fenestration Awards Dual Winners Event To Take Place In November

The National Fenestration Awards have announced that they are to hold a dual Winners Event on November 6th 2021. It is due to be held at the popular Doncaster Racecourse, which is set to host the final flat race of the 2021 season. This is a marquee event in the horse racing calendar is going to be broadcast on two television channels. The dual celebration will recognise the 2020 winners with their own trophy ceremony at the start of the day. Then, after the racing has been completed, for the first time ever in the history of the NFAs the winners of the current 2021 calendar will also be announced. In 2020, the National Fenestration Awards were the only industry event to continue throughout the pandemic, thanks to the awards being conducted online. They were the sole bright spot for the sector in what was one of the toughest periods the sector had endured. Now, in 2021, the NFAs remains the largest and most inclusive fenestration industry awards, with nominations in this year’s competition already in the thousands. As always, the competition for companies to make the shortlists phase is high, so the more nominations that are submitted the better the chance is of your chosen people and companies to make it to the final stage. 50

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With the event due to be held on November 6th, this has meant some date changes to the 2021 calendar: NOMINATIONS CLOSE: 10pm SUNDAY AUGUST 29th SHORTLISTS ANNOUNCED: 9pm TUESDAY AUGUST 31ST VOTING GOES LIVE: 10am FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 3rd VOTING CLOSES: 11pm THURSDAY NOVEMBER 4th WINNERS ANNOUNCED: 2021 WINNERS EVENT – SATURDAY NOVEMBER 6th

Director Jason Grafton-Holt said: “after the pandemic forced us to postpone our usual festivities in April 2020, it’s fantastic to be able to announce an event that will recognise both the 2020 and 2021 winners. This is our first dual event and the first where we’ll be announcing the current calendar year’s winners at a dedicated live event. It’s set to be a packed day and night, with wonderful entertainment and service provided by the brilliant team and venue at Doncaster Racecourse. We’re looking forward to seeing everyone there!” Information on tickets, venue and hotel hire will be live on the NFA website later this week. People can follow the National Fenestration Awards on Twitter: @NatFenAwards or Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NatFenAwards for all the latest updates on this story and as the 2021 campaign progresses. The nominations phase of the 2021 National Fenestration Awards remains open until 29th August at 10pm, and all those still wishing to take part can visit www.fenestrationawards. co.uk/nfa21/ to submit nominations.

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HARDWARE

Brisant Appoints Head Of Sales And Customer Service Brisant Secure has appointed a new Head of Sales and Customer Service to help the company lead the way in customer service as it continues to lead in product innovation. Carrie Young brings with her 21 years of experience in customer service across a variety of different sectors. Since joining Brisant, she has introduced new systems and ways of working to provide the best and most efficient service for customers. Carrie is responsible for a team of 11 people and is part of the senior management team.

wU Fultion lly 3* -Su Se ite cur d S ity ecu So rit luti y H on a W

Carrie says: “Brisant Secure is growing rapidly and we are handling a lot of calls and emails. To support that growth, it is important that we get the service right for customers and refresh the operations within the department. “I had what Brisant Secure needed in terms of skills and experience and I am already working closely Sponsored Content with the team, who are keen to provide support Brisant Secure for customers and just need some guidance to make the customer experience even better.” In just a few weeks, Carrie has promoted two advisors to team leader positions as well as creating two new roles to create a strong customer services team. Carrie adds: “We are the hub of the business, the face of the company. It is our responsibility to provide a service that stands out for all the right reasons. We want to ensure that we are gaining a great reputation and helping to retain business. No one expects perfection, but by providing quick and efficient service, we can make our customers’ lives as easy as possible and exceed expectations whenever we can. “When you are leading the way, as Brisant Secure is, you’ve always got people biting at your ankles. I find that exciting and I want to do everything I can to make sure that the company remains ahead in the industry, in terms of customer service. “In the near future, I would love Brisant Secure to achieve the Customer Service Excellence Award, which will demonstrate to people just how good we are at what we do.” Nick Dutton, CEO of Brisant Secure, says: “As our business continues to grow and thrive, we need to have the right customer service to back up our ground-breaking products. Carrie is a tremendous asset to our team and is already making strides to make improvements and implement procedures that will help take the service we provide for our customers to the next level. She is already positively influencing her team and creating a sense of passion and achievement in the department.” Brisant Secure has been raising standards in the door industry since it burst onto the locksmith scene in 2013 with its ultra-secure Ultion family of locks and Sweet, its suite of beautiful corrosion-resistant hardware. The company featured in the annual Sunday Times Virgin Atlantic Fast Track 100 for the past two years as one of the UK’s fastest-growing businesses. Discover more at www.brisant-secure.com, call 01924 410 200 or email contact@brisantsecure.com. 52

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an Wi dle th

ARE Brisant Secure is redefining security standards again with the launch of a groundbreaking Ultion security handle, part of a new threestar security solution. The all-new Ultion 3* security solution features the new twostar security handle with an Ultion one-star to achieve truly exceptional security and beautiful looks.

The first of its kind, Ultion’s security handle has unique seamless curves to prevent burglars from using tools to get a grip on it so they can rip it from the door. The fully-reinforced Ultion handle can’t be crushed by mole grips either, and the fixings thread perfectly through-hardened steel bosses to stop twisting. Inside the handle, a molybdenum cylinder shield – 25% denser than iron – protects against drilling and lock-snapping, the most common form of attack. Uliton’s security handle not only looks great but it’s designed to last. The handle’s stylish curves repel the elements and thanks to six coats of corrosion protection, it looks great after a year in the weather test chamber. Most handles just about manage 10 days. Perfectly suited with Ultion’s Sweet door furniture, homeowners can choose from a range of seven popular finishes to make an immediate and lasting impression: anthracite, white, gold, stainless steel, black, chrome and rose gold. When combined with the Ultion Star lock, this two-star handle achieves the maximum three-star Kitemark security, a Police preferred specification and is backed by Ultion’s £2,000 security guarantee. Nick Dutton, CEO at Brisant-Secure, comments: “Most people would be horrified at how flimsy most door handles are. With the right tools, they can be ripped off the door in a few seconds, leaving the cylinder exposed to break-ins. Until now, very few consider using a security handle because they are expensive, unsuited, bulky, and weather badly, which is why few

people use them. “The launch of our new two-star security handle is a game-changer. There are no weak points – we’ve designed them out. And there are no compromises with looks or corrosion resistance either. For the first time, homeowners and installers don’t have to choose between security and looks. Now they can have an ultra-secure door handle that withstands violent attacks – have a look at this Master Locksmith doing all he can to break in https://www.ultionlock.co.uk/security-handle – and looks beautiful. After watching the locksmith wear himself out, look at the Augmented Reality visualisation. You can see the handle from all angles and in detail: this is no ordinary handle!” Ultion’s new two-star security handle will be available from October 2021. Sponsored Content Brisant Secure

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New Non-Exec Chairman Joins Brisant Secure To Support Future Growth Sponsored Content Brisant Secure

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In the first half of 2021, the industry has seen hardware house Brisant Secure assemble three key elements of its future growth engine. The first was achieved when Brisant secured a milestone investment from the British Growth Fund, and Seb Saywood, a BGF Investor, joined the Brisant board as a non-executive director. Then Brisant recruited Clive Burnett, a highly experienced Finance Director from outside the industry with a 20-year track record of supporting organic growth. Lastly, to complete its transformation, Tony Clarkson joined the board as non-executive Chairman. He has an impressive top-level track record internationally, and in the UK, in construction and other industries. As one of Britain’s fastest-growing businesses, Brisant Secure appeared in the annual Sunday Times Virgin Atlantic Fast Track 100 for the second consecutive time this year. Its meteoric growth has been driven by two things. One is a series of innovative products that have overturned industry standards and transformed expectations for security, looks, and corrosion resistance, and two is its outstandingly effective marketing. It’s not unusual for companies to grow fast when they’re relatively small but maintaining a fast rate of profitable growth gets progressively harder the bigger you get. Brisant recognised that to achieve its ambition to become a leading hardware house and maintain its momentum it would need (1) significant funding, plus (2) sustained effort and the knowledge and expertise to avoid or overcome the obstacles to growth.

“Brisant is a great business, I was immediately impressed by the quality and integrity of its product range and the hard-working entrepreneurial spirit of its people,” says Tony. “I’ve always been keen on products and product development and Brisant has an impressive track record and ongoing commitment to continually developing its range into the future. It’s deservedly a fast-growing business and I’m really looking forward to helping that continue over the coming years.” Nick Dutton, CEO of Brisant Secure, says: “We’re delighted to have Tony as our Chairman. He has the knowledge, expertise, and experience to help us avoid or overcome the inevitable challenges and obstacles in our path to enable Brisant Secure to become a leading hardware house. He’s a very good fit.” Brisant Secure has been raising standards in the door industry since it burst onto the locksmith scene in 2013 with its ultra-secure Ultion family of locks and Sweet, its suite of beautiful corrosionresistant hardware. Discover more at www.brisant-secure.com, call 01924 410 200 or email contact@brisant-secure. com.

With a strong background in highly engineered products, Tony has successfully led and grown businesses in Building Products, Automotive Components and Oil and Petrochemical related industries targeting a global marketplace. He has managed business operations in Europe, North America, The Middle East and China. As MD and major shareholder of Pegler, an international heating, ventilating, and plumbing products business, he significantly grew sales and profits through rapid product development resulting in a tripling of business value. Since 2008 he has chaired a succession of businesses in kitchens, bathrooms, air conditioning, roller shutter doors and lighting systems.

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Leka Systems Partners With Checkatrad Leka Systems has just announced a partnership with Checktrade giving Leka installers access to an exclusive Checkatrade membership discount. Leka Systems’ Managing Director, Rhys Hoddinott, said: “We’re delighted to be announcing this partnership because it will enable our installers to secure even more jobs with the UK’s number one trade directory. As a Leka installer and a Checkatrade member you’re really setting your business up for success.” 13 million homeowners used Checkatrade trades last year and homeowners are 3 times more likely to search with Checkatrade than a similar provider. It means Checkatrade helps its members get a steady stream of leads and allows installers to build a reputation as a company that homeowners can trust. Rhys commented: “Checkatrade membership is just another example of the way we support our installers. We also offer marketing, lead generation and area support all designed to deliver quality leads to a business and help make the most of the

market that’s available. And of course, there are our cutting-edge roofing products!” Leka’s range of roofing products includes the Leka solid roofs which offer exceptional thermal efficiency and are up to 40% lighter than other replacement roof solutions. As a result, in most retro-fit projects, the existing conservatory frames are able to take the weight of the Leka roof system without needing additional reinforcement. It means Leka solid roofs are easy to install, typically taking just two or three days, including removing the old conservatory roof. This is around half the time it takes to install a traditional solid roof replacement. The company also offers the Leka Xi modular system. It’s a fast-fitting system that allows installers to tap into the trend for thermally efficient home extensions or freestanding garden rooms. And the Leka orangery roof taps into the growth for light-filled conservatory rooms. Becoming a Leka Systems’ installer was already a compelling proposition. But having teamed up with Checkatrade, it’s just become even more appealing.

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