DGB Magazine Edition 8

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ALUMINIUM ALUMINIUM

FINELINE ALUMINIUM FALL INTO ADMINISTRATION

The tougher economic environment appears to be beginning to bite as documents on Companies House show that Fineline Aluminium, part of the original Customade Group, has fallen into administration.

See Companies House documents here: https:// find-and-update.companyinformation.service.gov.uk/ company/12672039

Since the collapse of the original Customade Group at the start of the pandemic, it appears that there has been an attempt to put some space between the new Fineline Aluminium, which was incorporated in June 2020, and the reformed Customade Group.

There do appear to remain some links between the two, with their Linkedin link at the bottom of the Fineline Aluminium website connecting to the Customade Group Linkedin page. A search on Companies House also shows mutual persons of interest in recent history between Fineline and Customade Group.

It is not yet clear whether Fineline Aluminium will be reformed again. The current trading outlook is certainly not what it was in 2020 and 2021. With inflation, a cost of living crisis, an energy crisis and a predicted two-year recession, forming a new manufacturing company against that backdrop

would appear to be a very challenging task.

Looking at this from a wider perspective, signs are pointing to a probable rise in the number of fenestration companies likely to go bust in the coming year. With margins thinner than would be preferred at the fabrication level, even a moderate drop in demand could see a number of suppliers fall over.

In the connected construction sector, it is being reported that the number of building firms going bust is rising at its fastest rate since the 2008 financial crisis. You can see the Sky News report on that story here. Continuing price inflation is hitting margins within construction companies. Demand remains fairly solid according to reports, which makes the news of rising business closures worrying as this trend would only accelerate when demand begins to predictably slow when the recession really digs in.

Fenestration will not be immune from the same problems. Indeed, I have noticed growing commentary about the number of companies that have been going under in recent weeks. Demand in our sector certainly has slowed, and raw material costs remain high. 2023 looks set to be a tough environment to trade in.

NEW THERMAL EXCLUSIVE CUSTOMERS

Sponsored news from Sheerline:

Sheerline has launched a new Thermal Calculator exclusively for its customers so they can calculate Energy Ratings and U-values quickly and efficiently. It has been developed by the in-house R&D team to help customers meet Part-L regulations in line with the government’s 2025 Future Homes and Buildings Standard.

The proprietary software behind the solution produces Certass-endorsed results for U-values and Energy Ratings aligned to the Certass Thermal Rating Register. This gives customers peace of mind as the accreditation is legally recognised, reflecting the fact Sheerline has developed a simple yet effective system that demonstrates the energy efficiency of various profile and glass combinations across the entire Sheerline range.

This clever software enables fabricators to self-generate specific thermal ratings for all windows and doors within Sheerline’s Classic and Prestige ranges in as little as 30 seconds. It is easy to use, guiding users through the specific information that is required.

This includes the product range, sash feature, whether the product is a window, door or bi-fold along with the frame type. Once fabricators have input these details, they can check their Part-L compliance within seconds while creating labels for the products they are fabricating.

It is a legal requirement

that installers windows for purpose L compliant. instances required prove are compliant tool puts fabricators Under which UK’s carbon a mandatory for all other buildings to reduce by 27%. While Sheerline’s designed in mind, legislation were key the research phase. As a products compliance, and fabricators don’t expensive glazing foam efficiency. The window whether extensions, instance, replacements 2022, U-value for glazed or C for new builds limiting 1.6 for

THERMAL CALCULATOR TO SHEERLINE

CUSTOMERS

installers supply and fit windows that are not only fit purpose but are also Part compliant. There may be instances where installers are required to provide evidence to the products they supply compliant – this powerful puts that information at fabricators fingertips.

Under the new legislation, is designed to reduce the carbon emissions, there is mandatory 30% cut in carbon new homes. In addition, buildings, such as office buildings and shops, will have reduce their carbon footprint 27%.

While this is no easy feat, Sheerline’s products have been designed with these changes mind, meaning future legislation and sustainability key considerations during research & development phase.

result, all Sheerline’s products offer easy Part L compliance, so the installers fabricators they work with have to worry about expensive upgrades to triple glazing or adding additional fillets to increase thermal efficiency.

new rules apply to all window and door upgrades, whether for new builds, extensions, or renovations. For instance, all window and door replacements after June 15, must have a maximum U-value of 1.4 (energy rating B glazed windows and doors for single doors). While builds are subject to a limiting (maximum) U-value of for windows and doors.

Roger Hartshorn, Sheerline CEO, said: “As an installer and fabricator-friendly organisation, we pride ourselves on making life easier for our customers. The changes to Part L regulations are not insignificant, and it’s important we meet the new requirements head-on. That’s why we’ve developed our new Thermal Calculator to take the hassle out of generating thermal ratings and U-values.”

“It’s an invaluable tool for our customers, not only to

help the country reduce its carbon footprint but to help homeowners enjoy thermally efficient, warm homes. When customers choose Sheerline, they’re choosing compliance and all the benefits associated with it,” he added.

To find out everything you need to know about the latest Part L regulations, read Sheerline’s handy guide here:

https://www.sheerline.com/ready

Sheerline’s latest addition to the popular Classic range is the newly launched clip-in bead option. This fabricator and installer-friendly addition give Sheerline customers greater choice as part of its gamechanging aluminium window and door offering. Joining the existing high-security beadless Classic window.

Customers choosing the new clip-in bead version can still expect the same secure, ultra-slim, high-performance aluminium frames they are familiar with. But now with the added flexibility of being able to supply frames and glass separately.

However, those looking for the ultimate thermal performance will be delighted to know that U-values of 1.1 are achievable with standard triple-glazed units if required. A clear advantage over systems based on older, polyamide thermal breaks.

This is a huge competitive advantage for Sheerline users, as many legacy systems are unable to meet the newest standards easily.

With ultra-slim sightlines as low as 36mm for fixed frames and 59mm for openers, as well as a full range of dedicated authentic clip-on Georgian bars, Classic is the ideal aluminium window system for discerning customers looking for the best heritage-style window possible.

Other key selling points of the Classic range include the fact that every product is available with Secured by Design accreditation, valued by homeowners looking for extra peace of mind. Testimony to the fact that every Sheerline product is designed to be as secure as possible.

Using a simple clip-in bead based on the proven Prestige bead design, Classic eliminates the need for time-consuming wedge gasketing. There’s also no requirement to mill the beads during manufacture, keeping this latest development as fabricator friendly as possible. Available in the same two sash styles as the rest of Sheerline’s innovative thermally efficient range, Stepped and Contemporary, windows are available in two outer frame sizes, both available in flush fitting, or standard options to meet homeowners’ specific requirements.

Easily meeting the requirements of Part L with an A WER for 28mm double glazing, Thermlock® multi-chambered technology allows you to meet the newly introduced Part L building regulations without having to upgrade to expensive triple glazing or use foam inserts.

Sheerline CEO, Roger Hartshorn said: “Our new clip-in bead system is a game-changer for fabricators and installers who are tired of working with traditional aluminium frames that simply don’t offer the modern benefits that our systems offer.”

“One of our key aims for the Sheerline brand has been to overcome the weaknesses associated with traditional aluminium systems. We’re a solutions-focused business and the fabricators and installers we work with drive what we focus on. That’s why we’re striving to make aluminium as good as it can be.” he added.

To find out more about Sheerline’s clip-in bead solution, visit the website here: www. sheerline.com alternatively, call Sheerline on 01132 978000 or email: info@sheerline.com for more information. Follow @SheerlineSystem for the latest news and updates.

CLIP-IN BEAD OPTION TO ITS POPULAR ULTRASLIM CLASSIC RANGE

NEW PRODUCTS AND FACILITIES DURING CUSTOMER

Sheerline recently held several open days for its’ installer and fabricator customers at its’ HQ in Nether Heage, Derbyshire. It provided an opportunity for senior members of the team to highlight Sheerline’s achievements over the past few years and showcase its new products that will be available in early 2023.

This includes a new Prestige Lift & Slide Patio Door, which completes the Prestige door range. The technical design team have

This includes a new Prestige Lift & Slide Patio Door, which completes the Prestige door range. The technical design team have worked hard to ensure there is consistency across the Prestige range for fabricators and installers, therefore the U-values match every item within the Prestige range, achieving 1.0 triple glazing and 1.4 with double glazing. The new door also uses the same proven clip-in beads as the rest of the range – further evidence of Sheerline’s commitment to integrated system design.

It integrates seamlessly with other Sheerline products, so homeowners don’t have to worry about mismatched doors and windows. It is Part L compliant as standard, and as with all Sheerline products, providing exceptional thermal efficiency through Sheerline’s proprietary Thermlock® technology. In addition, it maximises the views outside by offering slim sightlines and is available in stepped and contemporary styles. With a choice of four threshold options, the option for triple tracked options that

“they’re dynamic, exciting, supportive, and they’ve got a fresh approach to the aluminium industry, but with years of experience to back them up”

“They’ve got high-performance U-values for every product within the Prestige range”

protruding pegs that can snag on clothing.

The team also took customers through the benefits of the new beaded option for the ultra-slim, ultra-secure Classic range as well as showing how fabricator and fitter friendly the new SBD option for the award-winning S1 lantern is.

Darren Pusey, Supply Chain & Technical Director, Lister Windows commented: “Lots of things have impressed us about Garnalex–they’re dynamic, exciting, supportive, and they’ve got a fresh approach to the aluminium industry, but with years of experience to back them up.”

“They’ve got high-performance U-values for every product within the Prestige range, which is a huge achievement and an excellent selling point for us. And because of Sheerline’s approach, they’ve brought to market a family of suited products that genuinely work well together, look good, and use interchangeable parts,” he added.

After showcasing its new products, the team provided a comprehensive tour of Sheerline’s state-of-the-art facilities to give customers an insight into the

manufacturing process. This included the company’s SMS HybrEx Press, which can extrude 4 tonnes of aluminium per hour. Garnalex prides itself on being one of very few manufacturers in the UK to extrude their aluminium in-house. With the most integrated production facility in the UK.

There was also an opportunity to see the in-house powder coating plant in operation, which has benefited from over £1.2 million in investment and was recently awarded full Syntha Pulvin applicator status. Aside from enhancing Sheerline’s quality control process, powder coating in-house means customers benefit from agile lead times.

Sheerline CEO, Roger Hartshorn said: “We’re delighted with the success of our customer open days and look forward to holding more in the future. It’s a great opportunity for us to showcase what we’re doing at Sheerline, which is pushing the bounds of what is possible within the fenestration industry by using technology to innovate and set ourselves apart from our competitors.”

For more information, visit the website here: https://www.sheerline.com or, to find out about the next open day, contact the team directly at: info@sheerline.com

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Tired of poor service?

Based in Cheshire VitrineAlu are a family run business with over 35 years’ experience in windows, residential and commercial doors, bifolds, patios, shop fronts, curtain walling, lanterns and rooflights. We pride ourselves on our quality, service and competitive pricing.

Cheshire's Premium Aluminium manufacturer that can do it all .

A true one stop shop for aluminium.

GGP INSTALLER AWARDS FINALIST FOR GLASS RECYCLING SERVICE

Sponsored news from Morley Glass:

Uni-Blinds® integral blinds manufacturer Morley Glass has been shortlisted for the ‘Best Installer Support Programme or Service Initiative’ award in the 2023 GGP Installer Awards.

The company, which is the UK’s largest manufacturer of IGUs complete with ScreenLine® integral blind systems, is in the running for the award for the free service it offers to installers and fabricators to help them save money on waste disposal costs, while at the same time raising money to improve the environment.

The service involves Morley Glass collecting the post-consumer glass that installers remove as part of window replacement work, and crushing this at its in-house recycling plant, before sending to Saint-Gobain Glass for the manufacture of new glass.

The service is free to installers and fabricators because the glass cullet produced through the crushing process is a valuable raw material in its own right. In addition, Morley Glass delivery vans are on the road delivering

Uni-Blinds® integral blind units to customers across the UK every working day, so they are ideally placed to collect waste glass from installers rather than returning to the Leeds HQ empty.

All the money raised through the production of cullet is placed into a fund called GreenVision which is ringfenced to offer £500 grants to micro-initiatives and individuals whose work will improve the local community, environmentally or socially.

Ian Short, MD of Morley Glass said: “We’re thrilled to be on the shortlist for a GGP Installer Award and look forward to the awards ceremony in March. From something that started out as a relatively simple idea to help our business save on waste disposal costs, our glass recycling initiative has grown to become a really popular service that our customers value and communities benefit from.

“We know from what installers are telling us that using our service rather than throwing glass into the general waste skip can save thousands of pounds a year. And thanks to the commitment and shared vision of Saint-

Using our service rather than throwing glass into the general waste skip can save thousands of pounds a year.

Gobain Glass, we are able to support those dedicated to improving their local community too through GreenVision, as well as saving energy and finite resources.”

Since Morley Glass installed its recycling plant in 2020, the company has generated over 1,000 tonnes of cullet. This has reduced the amount of sand needed for glass manufacture by almost 1,000,000kg and cut CO2 emissions by over 340,000kg.

All the companies on the shortlist for the GGP Installer Awards ‘Best Installer Support Programme or Service Initiative’ award have demonstrated how they have had a positive impact on the growth and success of window, door and conservatory installation companies.

The stand-out finalist will be presented with the award at a ceremony taking place on 16th March 2023 at the Midland Hotel in Manchester. Find out more about Morley Glass at www.morleyglass.co.uk.

CMA AGENCY LEAGUE OF THE TOP 20

Sponsored news from MRA Research:

With its win for the Best use of Research & Insight MRA Research has taken sixth place in the Construction Marketing Awards (CMA) Agency League of the top 20 agencies.

Points are awarded for shortlisted, highly commended and winning award entries and league spots are determined on a rolling four-year window of CMA results. The league, therefore, highlights the top 20 agencies that consistently deliver high-quality projects and growth for their customers.

Since 2002, MRA has won 22 CMA awards in a range of categories, including being named Agency of the Year twice and topping the league for five consecutive years.

Together with customer Toolbank, MRA Research won the Best use of Research & Insight award in December. With three phases of research and using unique proprietary diagnostic analysis tools, MRA Research challenged perceptions, identified key issues for Toolbank’s customers and recommended clear actions for the company to build and grow the brand.

The win also makes construction specialist MRA Research a five-time winner of the Research & Insight award – the only category that focuses on research and insight.

Yvette Kirk, Project Director at MRA Research, says: “To be in the top 10 in the CMA Agency League is a fantastic achievement. Having taken the decision in 2022 to focus exclusively on research, we’re delighted to win this award with Toolbank. Particularly as the research is based on our exciting new trademarked customer experience (CX) products, the powerful CX suite. Now out of marketing, MRA Research is discussing partnering with marketing agencies providing top-level research to make their customers’ marketing more effective.”

MRA Research is one of the UK’s longest-standing research and insight companies solely serving the construction, building materials and home improvement markets. Uniquely, because of the joint highlevel expertise of its directors, it is as accomplished in B2C (Yvette Kirk) as B2B (Mike Rigby) enabling it to research ‘end-to-end’, linking consumers, clients, and specifiers through retailers, merchants, distributors, builders and installers.

For further information about MRA Research, visit www.mra-research.co.uk or email yvette@mra-research.co.uk.

ALL EYES ON 2025

We’re still feeling the effects of the newly updated Building Regulations that came into force in June 2022. The main point of contention remains the implementation of trickle vents in replacement windows. However, we cannot remain fixated on the changes that have just happened. 2025 is going to see the implementation of the Future Buildings Standard in England.

In many ways, these updates to Building Regulations in a couple of years’ time will dwarf the effects on our industry we have seen with 2022 changes.

Why Future Building Standard matters

In 2019, the Government set legally binding regulations for the UK to become a net zero country by 2050. That meant the Government had to commit to major changes in all areas of the economy in order to be able to meet that goal.

The UK has some of the worstperforming housing stock in Europe. We have some of the leakiest and inefficient homes, with millions upon millions in desperate need of retrofitting in order to bring them up to scratch. The Future Building Standard will also aim to reduce carbon emissions in homes by 75% compared to current rates.

These are bold targets to aim for, and perhaps questionable whether they are achievable in the real world. Nevertheless, the Government has set its own rules and must therefore abide by them. And to be able to do so means taking some bold steps in the next couple of years to make sure that the products that are going into homes are able to meet these

stringent new targets.

For fenestration, the single most important area to keep an eye on will be the new minimum requirements for U-Values. At the moment the current minimum U-Value for windows and doors, as per the 2022 changes is 1.4W/ m²K. According to ongoing reporting, the new minimum U-Value for 2025 will be set as low as 0.8W/m²K – a reduction of 0.6.

This is a major shift in what is a relatively short time period. I understand that this is going to be the requirement for both new-build homes and replacement installations. The work required for our industry to meet this new level is going to be vast, and the work has to begin right now.

All change

To meet the new 0.8W/m²K U-Values, there are going to have to be massive changes to a lot of window and door systems currently in circulation.

There are some new products coming to market right now, both in the aluminium and PVCu spheres, which will meet the new 0.8W/m²K already, which is good news. But the number of new products won’t be able to replace all the various versions of all the current systems in circulation. Shelving them isn’t an option as too many fabricators both in the residential and commercial markets will rely on them.

It means there are going to have to be updates to all the PVCu and aluminium systems that syscos intend to keep online as the Future Building Standards are implemented. In short, that means money. Some

systems will need vast changes, and some will need a few tweaks here and there.

Although we’re only a couple of weeks into 2023, the R&D cycle runs typically 2-3 years. That means any new products that intend to be launched by systems companies really need to be started now. Ideally, that process should have started in H2 of 2022. It takes a lot of time to research and develop any product, let alone an entirely new window and door system, or at least one that has to be reworked to meet strict new criteria.

Positive opportunity

What I would hope is that our industry can respond in a much more positive manner to these Building Regulation changes than the last time. To be frank, our collective reaction and performance towards the 2022 changes were pathetic. Infighting, the inability of the sector to coalesce behind a singular position, and the incredibly poor uptake during the consultation period all combined to demonstrate to the Government that we’re unable to take these matters as seriously as we should.

The Future Building Standard, at least with the lowering of the minimum U-Values, I see as a fantastic opportunity to demonstrate to both the Government and the public that our products can help deliver on meeting net zero targets and make a tangible difference to the living standards of millions of households.

I’d like to think that we all agree on the general principle of progress and things going better over time and that our industry must do all it can to

DGB Magazine - Building Regulations

help homes become more efficient and reduce our carbon footprint. This should be a given. This then should also make for a fantastic marketing opportunity.

I think now would be a good time for the industry to start to talk to homeowners about the new regulations due to take effect in a couple of years. Education should start now, which will allow installers to sell products which meet the new regulations well in advance of 2025 as and when those products become available. Being able to advertise future-proofed windows and doors well ahead of new regulations would be quite an advantage I would think.

I don’t think we should underplay the significance of the changes coming down the road. Two and a half years is not that long to wait, and there is going to be vast changes to existing products and a whole host of new window and door systems coming online just to be able to meet the new minimum U-Values. It’s going to change the sector profoundly.

SIX MONTHS ON FROM MANDATORY TRICKLE VENTS

The implementation of the new Building Regulations was perhaps the biggest talking point of 2022. In particular, the introduction of trickle vents to every window installation.

There are few topics that stir the emotions of our like trickle vents. Considering the vast array of more serious problems we have to deal with I always find very odd but it is what it is.

I wanted to explore my own thoughts and opinions six months on after the biggest set of changes to the regulations in years.

Trickle vents for all

I began having conversations with my own clients a few months before the new regulations became law. Such was our lead time, orders placed in March were going to be fit in June so would have required to be sold with vents back then.

The way we handled it was simple. We explained the new rules to each client, the wisdom behind them in the eyes of the Government (which is very debatable) and that all our windows would be coming with them. Not a single one of our clients became animated over the issue. That’s not to say they were instant fans of the new rules either. But in our experience, it made very little difference in the decision to use us. The long and short of it was we didn’t make too big a deal of it and so it never became an

issue for us.

What we have begun to find, with the consumers who are a bit more aware of Building Regulations, is that requests for vents have actually gone up. Whether that is down to the mere knowledge of the new rules and so they are being asked for because they know they need them, or whether it is for specific ventilation reasons, I am not sure. But what I do know is that knowledge of the new rules is becoming more widespread, therefore resistance to trickle vents is becoming less strong.

I am speaking here from my own experience and the experience of our company. I read on various Facebook forums and groups where installers report different things. For me, it does come down to how you approach it with the customer. Whether you like the new rules or not, and whether you like trickle vents or not, is kind of pointless. The rules are the rules, so if you approach them in a negative way with the client, the client is going to lean into that negativity and rail against them as well. If you come at it from a practical point of view, as we have tried to do here, then you should meet a lot less resistance.

And what are the alternatives? Fitting mechanical ventilation systems in every room to be able to rid yourself of putting trickle vents in windows is very expensive, where few installers will have the technical

knowledge to do so, and where homeowners will likely not want to undertake extra work just to avoid a vent in the head of the window. The other option, which I still have doubts about the validity of, is to report to your installer scheme that you have only replaced 30% or less of the windows. On a full house replacement, that would mean registering a job multiple times just to avoid installing trickle vents. That’s a lot of extra admin.

Energy ratings

One of the other major changes in June 2022 was the lowering of minimum U-Values to 1.4. This was a 0.2 decrease from previous regulations. Although a major revision, many window products were already compliant to this level, so they caused minimal disruption in this particular area.

What is perhaps more pressing though are the expected changes in 2025 where we will likely see new minimum U-Values of 0.8. That represents a very steep drop from where we are right now. To achieve 0.8 a lot of products are going to need a lot of improvements, and that takes time. Years in fact. Preparations for those changes really need to be happening right now. The research and development time for new products is about 2-3 years if all goes well. I imagine systems companies and glass companies are already looking

at what they need to do to be able to achieve these potential new minimum requirements.

The other fact of energy ratings, which I believe still has to be addressed, are official energy ratings. It’s impossible to think that adding a trickle vent to a window would not affect the overall energy rating of a window. Even when closed, a vent will still impact the overall energy rating even by a small degree. As I understand it, current testing processes exclude the use of vents or at least assume that a vent would be fitted into an addon to the head of the window. That is disingenuous and the testing process really has to be altered to reflect the new regulations. Most vents will be fitted into sashes or outer frames, therefore the performance will be altered to some degree.

I know there has been some concern voiced over this, with current energy labels likely not representing the true energy performance of the product since the Building Regulation changes. I am not aware of any upcoming changes to the testing method of windows, but if there are not, there should be.

Overall, I have not experienced any major disruptions to our business or interactions with our clients over these rules. The odd groan about the products but certainly nothing that has put the client off from dealing with us. 2023 should be a year where we all crack on with the work at hand and keep our focus on productive and profitable activities.

THE TIME FOR COMPLAINING HAS PASSED

Seven months after the implementation of the updated Building Regulations, which have seen lower minimum U-Values and mandatory trickle vents to all windows, I am still seeing plenty of complaints and anger towards the new rules.

Whilst I can understand people’s frustration with the new regulations, I’m afraid I have to be blunt and say that the time for complaining and calling for action has long gone.

The truth of the matter is that any failure to influence the Government is on us. You are a product of your own environment, as the saying goes, and our industry is certainly guilty of inertia when it comes to engaging with authorities on new rules.

No collective voice

I was recently told that during the consultation period before the Government made their final decisions on the new regulations, about 85% of the respondents to that consultation were social housing companies and others similar to that. Only a fraction of those who responded was from our industry.

What do we expect to happen if we as a sector are unable to collect ourselves in significant numbers to coalesce behind a single position and communicate that to the Government? With such poor engagement in the consultation, we appear to the

Government that we simply cannot be bothered.

Our industry, as is always the case with these things, buried its head in the sand and hoped that someone else would do the work. Installers hoped their fabricators would respond. Fabricators hoped systems companies would respond. Turns out barely any of us bothered at all.

If we did not take part in the process, then we cannot complain about the end results. It’s like any vote or election in politics.

not engage with properly, the longer it will continue to look like we’re throwing the toys out of the pram and not taking ourselves seriously. I’ll be frank, it no longer matters whether you think the rules are right or not. There is no prospect of these new rules being revised or changed any time soon. We can kick and stomp all we want. It won’t have any influence.

If you did not vote or did not take part, then you can’t complain. It makes those complaints hollow.

We already know that the impression the Government has of our sector is very poor. The longer we continue to moan about something which we did

2025 is an opportunity

We complain that we’re often left out of Government schemes, like ECO+ and the Green Homes Grant. Until we shape up and act with cohesion and look like a professional sector to the powers that be, that won’t change.

However, we have a golden opportunity with the Future Building Standard being enacted in 2025 to show Government, and indeed the wider public, that fenestration is a forward-thinking and proactive industry.

As you may or may not know, the Future Building Standard, along with new revisions to Building

product with a tangible benefit, in a climate where there is an intense focus on energy bills and sustainability.

This is also a chance to show the Government that we can get on board with this. Not argue. Not fight to water it down. But to step up to the challenge, commit to proper investment

Regulations, are designed to reduce the carbon footprint of our homes and help the Government meet a series of climate goals by 2030. It will see minimum U-Values fall from 1.4W/m²K to just 0.8W/m²K. We cannot rely on the Government to back down and water this down in any way. As I wrote about earlier this week, there is going to be huge amounts of investment needed to bring our sector’s products up to speed with these new levels, as well as bringing new products to market.

We have to see 2025 as an opportunity. This is a chance for us to demonstrate to the public that we are ready and able to provide products that will help them reduce their energy bills even further and cut down on carbon emissions. It’s a fantastic chance to upsell to a better

in our products and for once, come together as a sector behind a common position and move forwards in a professional manner.

I sincerely hope that we do not do what we always do and fight against change and progress. Rather than pressure the Government to water down any of their new proposals, I want us as a sector to meet whatever the new targets are going to be set. It will mean investment, millions of pounds. Lots of time and plenty of effort. Something which in reality should have already begun, considering we’re only two years out from these new rules.

So let’s try and be a little bit more ambitious and a little less petty and perhaps we may begin to sway a few minds within the Government.

I think the sector can think of itself in a new era. There will be the pre-June 2022 era, before mandatory trickle vents, and the post-June 2022 era which we are in now, where almost all installations of new windows include trickle vents.

Seven months after the latest Building Regulations were implemented, our industry is still talking about the implications of trickle vents in our sector, and the various ramifications.

One of those ramifications is the effect on window energy ratings. If they are to continue with integrity, then they need to be updated to reflect today’s new realities.

No trickle vent testing

At the moment, window energy ratings (WERs) are assigned to windows that have been tested without trickle vents being included in the window itself. That was fine before June 2022. Although I will always maintain that U-Values are the more accurate way to measure the efficiency of a window or door.

However, since the new regulations came into force in June of last year, as far as I am aware, there have been no updates to the testing process on WERs. I am happy to be corrected on this if I am wrong, but I am reliably told that they

haven’t.

All of us have to be aware of the reality that placing a vent in a routed frame or sash, is going to have some level of impact on the overall efficiency of the window. By how much it is not clear. Manufacturers maintain that if they are used and fitted properly they should not have a detrimental effect on the efficiency of the window. Installers will testify that through their own experience and dealing with homeowners that this isn’t always the case.

At the moment, there is no sign from testing houses that there are any imminent changes to the testing process for window energy ratings. The sceptical side of me believes that the cause for this would be to prevent disruption at the manufacturing level. How strongly would they really feel about finding out about any major changes vents have?

In all likelihood, the inclusion of trickle vents will affect the efficiency of a window or door. How much we don’t know, but even if it’s small, it should be noted, if for any other reason than to be able to be transparent for the homeowner. As an industry we are obliged to fit these in the mass majority of circumstances now, therefore it would be admirable if we could provide the most accurate data on the products they are buying.

Dealing with reality

This isn’t a call abolition of either WERs. They are now, despite the ranging views on new regulations to be repealed or That opportunity more than two our industry actually chance to engage with the Government the consultation few of us made and therefore we complain.

What this does with though is a industry to improve of the trickle vents

For years the UK focused on the more than anything a quick look over in Europe and you’ll their approach puts over price. The result made vents that well. They look and they are incorporated into a product differently how we traditionally perhaps we could inspiration from and embrace the selling opportunity.

For example, it to see every single company have their concealed trickle system. Despite

ENERGY NEED TO BE UPDATED

with the new call for the either vents or firmly with us the very wideon both. The regulations are not going or changed. opportunity sailed on years ago when actually had a engage in mass Government during consultation process. Very the effort we don’t get to

does present us a chance for the improve the quality vents in use. UK market has price of a vent anything else. Yet, over the channel you’ll see that puts quality first result is betterthat perform very very different, incorporated differently to traditionally do it. But could take some from our neighbours the new rules as a opportunity.

it would be good single systems their own trickle ventilation the use of

vents for decades, there is not an abundance of concealed trickle vent options out there. Why?

I would like to see more vents come in an aluminium option, perhaps working in a thermal break of some kind. The build quality would be superior and I think we would see some improvement in aesthetics.

We also need to be using this as a chance to educate the client on proper ventilation. I keep seeing the argument online from installers about homeowners opening their windows if they really want to ventilate their houses. The reality is that in the Winter, most of us do not open our windows, even if we know we should. When it’s cold outside and raining sideways, we’re simply not going to open our windows. Therefore we won’t think to leave them on at least the night-vent setting. We have spent decades blocking up every breathable hole in our homes in an effort to keep heat inside, without giving the same amount of attention to ventilation. Homes still need to breathe and remove the stagnant air which can cause mould and harm health.

I think armed with better products and more choices, along with the installer community accepting their new reality, we can actually utilise this as an opportunity to help homeowners look after their homes and health better. We need to understand our products better and set aside preconceptions. That counts for

both sides of this debate.

We are where we are on this one. It will not change. We either use it to our advantage, or we can continue to fight against something we haven’t a chance in hell in changing. It’s our call.

Open letter from Deceuninck UK MD

Rob McGlennon:

The UK is in recession. The Office of Budgetary Responsibility downgraded its forecasts for the economy sharply following the Autumn Statement in November. Prospects for growth in 2023 have evaporated, to be replaced with a predicted 2% drop in GDP.

Rising energy and food prices have according to the OBR, ‘taken the wind out of the sails’ of the global economic recovery.

The OBR report is pretty depressing, but while uncomfortable reading, there are things that we need to note because it gives us a sense of the direction of travel for the UK economy and the window and door industry within it.

The first is wholesale gas prices. These are currently four times higher than they normally would be and the OBR expects them to remain high for at least the medium term.

This is an overriding reason for homeowners to invest in improving the energy efficiency of their properties.

Costing the economy £86.4bn, it is also unlikely that the energy price guarantee can be maintained (at least in its current form) beyond April 2023. The energy crisis is going to continue and the cost to the end user is likely to increase. Our energy calculator shows how increased energy costs are already reducing payback times on new windows and doors, with savings of up to £1,400 per year. That’s a step change. New windows and doors will pay for themselves in a 5-10 year period.

Ask yourself what would you rather do?

Burn cash – literally – or invest it in a home improvement, which will materially improve the comfort of your home, enhance its appearance

‘R-WORD’ AND WHY WE SHOULD STILL BE OPTIMISTIC

and security, and lower your carbon footprint?

Even if the energy price guarantee was retained in its current form, at £3,000 it still pushes average household energy bills to more than double where they were before April 2022.

Without it, energy analysts Cornwall Insights warns typical household energy bills would have topped £3,739 a year!

Energy efficiency will drive window and door sales in 2023 and into the medium term.

The flip side of rising energy prices is that along with food and other costs, it contributes to a squeeze on household incomes. This the OBR says will push the economy into a recession lasting around a year from Q3 2022.

The first point to draw out is that in this scenario, we’re already in recession and so far the market has held up. Things are perhaps marginally slower than they were but we need to remember that the baseline has been the two years of exceptional demand, driven by COVID and numerous lockdowns.

The OBR also acknowledges that recession will be far shallower than previous downturns and significantly less severe than the last – the 2008 Crash.

There is in my view another factor to consider here and that is household savings. It remains at historically high levels with UK households collectively making more than £140bn of forced savings during the pandemic. That’s around 10% of household income.

The OBR has suggested separately that those who can afford to, will access savings to maintain spending.

And this is the underlying point. Those with cash to spend will continue to spend it. In the decade preceding the pandemic, the top fifth of the wealthiest households accounted for more than half of all home improvements in the UK.

That is unlikely to change as we move forward.

It is also worth noting that the alarmist forecasts of a 15% or even 20% drop in house prices in 2023 in response to rising interest rates, are now being revised down to 6 to 8% Even in the dark days of 2008 and 2009 and the global banking crisis, house prices only fell by 15%.

The economic prospects that the UK faces in 2023 are nowhere near as severe as those we faced in 2008. A correction of the market of around 6% would go some way to correcting the record house price inflation that we have seen since Covid which brought average house prices to a record high in August 2022 at £296,000.

Mortgage interest rates are also dropping from the October jump in response to the rise in the base rate and are forecast to come back to around 4% at the start of 2023. This will still be a shock to anyone coming to the end of their 1.8% fixed deal but compared to historical interest rate levels, they remain low.

If we take it that energy efficiency will be the foundation for window and door sales in 2023 and 2024, we should also assume that those with money still to spend, will want products which enhance and add value to their properties. Heritage, colour, and flush

casements will continue to drive the market in the year ahead.

Having committed to the Science Based Targets programme and a pledge to cut our carbon footprint by 60% by 2030 from a 2021 baseline, and as the winner of the G22 Sustainability Initiative of the year, it would also be remiss of me not to mention sustainability.

It needs to be part of our offer, your offer and a collective offer from the window and door industry. Energy efficiency, carbon footprint and broader sustainability go hand-in-hand.

It is not ‘the’ reason to buy new windows and doors. Energy efficiency as we have said, and other evergreen drivers, appearance and security, will drive sales.

It is, however, a point of difference. And when the market is more challenging the ‘margins’ of your offer assume far greater importance.

Pre-pandemic in 2019 we were working hard. 2020 and 2021, and for much of 2022, new business has been served to us on a plate. Now we need to get back to working, marketing our products and our service offer, and start hustling again.

For more information about Deceuninck’s product and service offer please call 01249 816 969, email deceuninck.ltd@deceuninck.com or visit www.deceuninck.co.uk

MERCHANTS SEE NOMINAL NOVEMBER, WITH FALLING CLIMBING PRICES (+17.3%)

The latest Builders Merchant Building Index (BMBI) report reveals that builders’ merchants’ value sales were up +1.4% in November 2022 compared to the same month in 2021. This was inflation-led growth as volume sales tumbled -13.6% while prices climbed +17.3%.

Nine of the twelve categories sold more in November compared to the previous year. Renewables & Water Saving (+37.9%) was the standout category, while Plumbing, Heating & Electrical (+17.5%), Workwear & Safetywear (+16.6%), Decorating (+15.3%) and Kitchens & Bathrooms (+14.8%) also did relatively well. Timber & Joinery Products (-12.0%) was the weakest category.

Compared to November 2019, a more normal pre-pandemic year, total merchant value sales were +29.8% higher. Volume sales fell -4.1% while prices were up +35.3%. With one extra trading day this year, like-forlike sales were +23.9% higher. All twelve categories sold more with four outperforming Merchants overall: Renewables & Water Saving (+58.1%), Landscaping (+39.7%), Timber & Joinery Products (+33.2%) and Heavy Building Materials (+31.1%).

Month-on-month, total merchant sales dropped slightly (-2.6%) in November compared

to October. Prices went up (+4.9) but volume sales were lower (-7.2%). Despite the additional trading day in November, like-for-like sales were -7.0% down. Workwear & Safetywear (+11.2%) was the top-performing category, followed by Kitchens & Bathrooms (+10.0%). Seasonal category Landscaping (-13.1%) was the weakest.

Mike Rigby, CEO of MRA Research which produces this report, said: “November marked a period of relative stability for the UK after months of economic and political turmoil, but it’s too early to see the impact of Rishi Sunak’s and Jeremy Hunt’s steadier hands-on construction and UK growth.

“There’s been a slew of better news in the New Year. Interest rates are expected to peak sooner and lower than earlier forecasts; high energy and material costs are now not expected to be so extreme. We may be over peak Truss-shock and Autumn’s doom and gloom may have been overcooked, but there are plenty of challenges to overcome. It will take longer to repair the damage caused by the sharp rise in the cost of living, and a media focus on war with the unions will do nothing to lift the country’s wellbeing. Weak consumer confidence will continue to impact the housing and home improvement markets. High mortgage rates are cutting demand for new homes

and major builders have cut their build programmes. Older homeowners who are mortgagefree or mortgage-light, the Haves, continue to spend, but the Have Nots, many homeowners under 50 with smaller savings, whose outgoings have risen faster than their incomes, have delayed or cancelled their home improvements.

“Nevertheless, this could be the beginning of a return to normality which would be welcome news for consumers, tradespeople and merchants.”

Developed and run by MRA Research, the BMBI – a brand of the Builders Merchants Federation – is a monthly index of builders’ merchant sales, and the most reliable, up-to-date measure of Repair, Maintenance, and Improvement (RMI) activity in the UK. The index is based on actual sales from GfK’s Builders’ Merchant Point of Sale Tracking Data, which captures value sales out to builders from generalist builders’ merchants, accounting for over 80% of total sales from builders’ merchants throughout Great Britain. An in-depth review, which includes commentary by sector experts, is provided each quarter.

November’s BMBI report, published in January, is available to download at www.bmbi.co.uk.

GROWTH (+1.4%) IN VOLUMES (-13.6%) AND

12% JUMP IN 2022 TRADING UPDATE

As earnings season begins, Eurocell has reported a 12% jump in sales for 2022 compared to 2021. This is the statement in full that they provided to the markets:

Eurocell plc, the market-leading, vertically integrated UK manufacturer, recycler and distributor of innovative window, door and roofline PVC products, provides the following update the for the year ended 31 December 2022.

Trading Performance

Group sales for the year ended 31 December 2022 were £384 million, up 12% compared to 2021. Divisional growth rates were as follows:

strong comparative period. After a period of very strong demand, we believe the market is now returning to pre-pandemic norms.

Price was the driver of sales growth in 2022. Whilst we continue to offset input cost inflation with selling price increases and surcharges, we experienced margin pressure in the second half, reflecting a lag on implementing some selling price increases. However, the cost of key raw materials does now appear to be stabilising, and in some cases beginning to fall.

Cyber Insurance Claim

As reported at the Half Year, we experienced a cyber incident towards the end of July, which resulted in some temporary disruption. The incident was efficiently resolved, with the business remaining operational throughout and trading normally from mid-August. We have now partially resolved our cyber insurance claim and expect to recognise compensation in excess of £1 million as an underlying item in our 2022 financial statements, primarily for business interruption. Work is ongoing with the insurer to resolve the remaining aspects of the claim.

Disposal of Security Hardware

Following a strong first six months of the year, new build, large contract and RMI project work continued to be robust throughout the second half of 2022. This was offset by the impact of the previously reported cyber incident and a slowdown in smaller discretionary RMI work experienced by our branch network and trade fabricators in H2, albeit against an exceptionally

To further streamline our business, in December 2022 we sold the trade and assets of Security Hardware, a supplier of window locks, hardware and spares to the RMI market with annual third-party sales of c.£3 million, to UAP Limited, a UK-based door hardware supplier. Going forward, UAP will supply hardware to all our branches.

As a result of the sale, we expect to report an overall loss from discontinued operations in

the 2022 financial statements of c.£2 million. This incorporates a trading loss for the period of c.£1 million (inclusive of costs incurred to prepare the business for sale), as well as the sale proceeds and associated asset impairments.

2022 Financial Results

Reflecting the factors described above, we expect underlying profit before tax from continuing operations for the year ended 31 December 2022 to be in line with market expectations, with the trading loss at Security Hardware of c.£1 million separately classified within discontinued operations.

Outlook and Cost Saving Programme

We are mindful of the uncertain macroeconomic background and its impact on our markets. The Construction Product Association’s latest forecast, published in November 2022, predicts declines in both the RMI and new build markets of 9% for 2023, before recovering in 2024, and we have experienced some recent weakness in those sectors.

In anticipation of weaker markets in 2023, we completed a restructuring programme in Q4 2022, which along with other cost-saving measures, will reduce operating costs by approximately £5 million per annum from the start of 2023. A charge of c.£2 million will be included as a non-underlying item in our 2022 financial statements in respect of the programme. We also intend to temporarily pause our branch opening programme until the economic outlook is clearer.

However, we continue to take market share

and have increased the run rate on new fabricator account acquisitions, with our pipeline of other potential new fabricator customers remaining healthy. Market share gains are further supported by the impact of maturing branches and a widening product range, all underpinned by very high product availability and increasingly efficient operations.

Our debt is low, our balance sheet is strong and we remain confident of continuing to outperform our markets.

Notice of Results

We expect to publish our results for the year ending 31 December 2022 on 16 March 2023, at which time we will provide further guidance on the year ahead.

LINIAR TEAM MEMBERS STEP UP TO THOSE IN NEED

The team at industry-leading PVCu systems company Liniar, a subsidiary of Quanex, donated a staggering 593 nonperishable food items during November. The much-needed items will be distributed by charity Salcare to people needing support in the Heanor area this Christmas.

Liniar has a strong history of supporting both local and national causes, and the company’s annual Food Drive is an activity that has been running for a number of years. This year, despite the cost-of-living crisis, the collection has seen the most generous results to date.

In addition to the Food Drive, Liniar’s team members have been choosing, wrapping and donating Christmas gifts for adults and children currently being supported by Derbyshire WISH, a local charity that offers advice, support and refuge for people suffering the impact of domestic abuse.

Liniar’s Group Managing Director Martin Thurley commented, “Charities are under more pressure than ever as household budgets are squeezed and donations fall. The cost-of-living crisis is being felt throughout our community, both physically and mentally. The sad fact is that families are having to choose between heating their

homes and buying food and unfortunately, this kind of pressure can also result in a rise in domestic violence.”

Martin continued, “I’m always proud of the way the Liniar team pull together to assist the local community. The food they’ve collected will help people stretch their money just that little bit further and the gifts, which could be the only present some receive this Christmas, will offer a small respite to those facing an uncertain future through no fault of their own.”

In addition to the incredible amount of food given by the team, Liniar, via its parent company Quanex and the Quanex Foundation has also donated £1,000 to Salcare.

Martin concluded, “As we approach the festive season, we need to remember those in our community who aren’t so fortunate. It is a tough time for everyone; energy, fuel and food price rises have hit every part of our nation – and yet I never cease to be amazed at the generosity of everyone at Liniar. I feel truly privileged to be a part of this great team.”

2023 WILL BE A TOUGH YEAR, BUT WILL HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TOO

First and foremost, a very happy New Year to you all!

I hope that you enjoyed some well-earned downtime over the Christmas and New Year period and that you suitably indulged as I did. Needless to say, the healthier food is back in the fridge and the beer is out of sight for a little bit!

2022 was one of those years where you breathed a sigh of relief. A very different market compared to 2021, fraught with all sorts of varying challenges and difficulties. Speaking to some of my contacts as the year ended, it was VERY hard work to end ahead of 2021.

The problems the UK, our economy and indeed our own sector faces are well known. Inflation remains a problem. We’re likely at the start of a prolonged recession. Energy bills continue to rise despite Government support. There are strikes all over the place. 2023 is going to be a hard slog, and there are going to be casualties in our sector as a result.

That being said, wherever there are problems there are also opportunities. It is during this recession that UK fenestration needs to read between the headlines and understand where there are avenues to pursue. In a separate post to this, I will explore some of the specific products that I think we should be focusing more on to exploit growth this year. But for now, I want to take a more generic look at where I think we can find some success this year.

Shouting the energyefficient message

2023 will be a year where

the cost of energy remains front and centre. Even with Government help, the cost of gas and electricity for homes and businesses continues to rise. Over the past few days, there has been a recent focus on falling wholesale gas prices, with costs dropping significantly. I hope that consumers will see the effects of that drop in the coming months.

Still, compared to 2020 and 2021 levels, energy costs have risen massively, which then put a focus on reducing costs for households where they can. The fenestration sector is in a position to be able to help. New energyefficient windows and doors can save hundreds of pounds per year by keeping valuable heat indoors. With the main part of Winter still ahead of us, our sector has to make the most of this valuable USP and target its marketing to consumers to emphasise the energy-efficient message. There are millions and millions of homes that are in desperate need of retrofitting to bring them up to scratch. Our industry has a major part to play in that effort and so we should find a lot of success down this particular path.

Falling house prices

Hear me out. Usually, our industry likes rising house prices as homes sold for major profits see those profits reinvested into new homes, often into home improvements like new windows and doors.

However, the market is turning, and there are some early signs that the drop in house prices is picking up speed and there is a small chance the reversal in prices could be quite sharp. So why is this an opportunity?

House prices have risen for so long and so sharply, that even with a hefty price reversal, homeowners will still be sitting on profits. But, falling house prices may force a rethink for some people on whether to move or improve what they already have? With at least 250,000 homes per year for the next few years facing higher mortgage costs, many may believe that investing in their current home, which is a cheaper endeavour than moving altogether in a lot of cases, is a better use of their money. If this scenario plays out, our industry can benefit from that. Again, we have to get our message and marketing right to make the most of this situation.

High-end resilience

Speaking on my experience from last year at our own installations business, we found the high-end market to remain the most resilient and buoyant despite the tough year we all had.

The self-builders and the wealthy tend to go for the luxury market. Aluminium, flush PVCu, bespoke aluminium entrance doors, bi-folds, large-scale glazed sliders etc. Standard PVCu won’t do for this type of client.

Despite the recession this year and possibly into 2024, the richer bracket of the population will continue to spend on themselves, their homes and their projects. Recessions and energy prices do not affect this demographic like others, so it would be wise for more of our industry to look to this part of the market to find profitable avenues.

The higher-end market has

always been more sheltered than other parts of the market. It’s not as easy as flicking a switch and suddenly selling a different way and a different type of product. It takes time, effort and money to alter your own business. After spending much of 2022 changing things at our place I can vouch for that. But the rewards are worth it, and even more satisfying when you know you’re growing in a down market.

2023 will be hard. I don’t think anyone thinks otherwise. But there are always ways to make a success of things, that is a certainty. It’s simply a matter of putting in the work and keeping focused on the end goal.

D Y N A M I C , S H A R P , A N D E N G A G I N G

D u r i n g 2 0 2 2 D G B i s s e t t o b e r e a d b y o v e r 2 5 0 , 0 0 0 p e o p l e , w i t h o v e r 2 0 0 , 0 0 0 o f t h o s e u n i q u e T h e y w i l l g e n e r a t e o v e r 3 5 0 , 0 0 0 p a g e v i e w s t h i s y e a r a l o n e D G B c o n t i n u e s t o g r o w a n d e x p a n d , c o v e r in g e v e n m o r e o f t h e d i v e r s e s e c t o r t h a t i s

U K f e n e s t r a t i o n . J o i n t h e i n d u s t r y ' s b e s t c o n v e r s a t i o n : w w w d o u b l e g l a z i n g b l o g g e r c o m

EUROCELL INVESTS NEARLY £3M TO SUPPORT GROWTH IN FABRICATOR NETWORK

Sponsored news from Eurocell: Eurocell has further demonstrated its commitment to its nationwide network of fabrication partners with significant investment enabling them to increase productivity, further expand their businesses and secure their long-term futures.

A total of nearly £3million has been committed by Eurocell. The investment has included allocations provided to onboarding new fabricators to the network, along with the addition of new machinery, software, and programming for existing fabricators to enable them to diversify their offerings and meet customer demand.

Meanwhile, investments have also been made into upgrades and maintenance for equipment currently being used by fabricators, so they can maintain and enhance their productivity and provide an optimised service to customers. In addition, logistics, engineering, and inventory support have also been given as part of the investment alongside lead generation and marketing services to help fabricators in building their businesses further.

The finance package for fabricators is part of Eurocell’s ‘Grow with us’ philosophy, which sees it provide ongoing investment and support to its sector-leading fabricator network to deliver growth and secure their long-term futures. This takes the form of marketing and showroom support, as well as assistance with specification and technical issues, and access to Eurocell’s world-class supply chain – all of which enables fabricators to provide best-in-class products and customer service.

The Eurocell fabricator network currently comprises fabricators ranging from small, family-owned businesses focused on

supporting trade installers, retail customers, new build developers and commercial specifiers.

The focus of the relationship is on sustained growth, through a truly customer-centric strategy encompassing innovation, new products and new routes to market. A collaborative and proactive approach to marketing allows both parties to harness new business opportunities, with new builds and garden rooms currently among the most prominent. Meanwhile, product innovation continues apace within Eurocell, enabling fabricators to regularly offer new, high-quality and supremely efficient systems to their customers.

Andy McDonnell, Managing Director at Eurocell plc, explained: “Our UK-wide network of leading fabricators remains integral. Every action we take is aimed to support their expansion and competitiveness.

“Each fabricator receives technical support from an account engineer to ensure they get the most out of their equipment, while an account manager assists them with strategy and business growth. They also have access to unrivalled technical and specification support – which is extended to any contractors and installers they are working with.

“We also help them by providing new business leads – from commercial, domestic, and new build clients. The aim is always to help them expand their offering through the delivery of high-added-value solutions for their local customers and to develop opportunities for new business. Through this, they can grow with us by means of a mutually rewarding, long-term collaboration.”

To find out more about the range of products and support available for fabricators from Eurocell, visit https://www.eurocell.co.uk/growwithus.

EUROCELL CEO SET TO RETIRE

In what has been a very busy start to the year in terms of people moving positions within the fenestration sector, Eurocell has announced that current CEO, Mark Kelly, is set to leave his role in the Spring of this year. This is the official announcement from Eurocell via their PLC website:

CEO Announces Intention to Retire in 2023 and CEO Designate Appointed

Eurocell, the market-leading, vertically integrated UK manufacturer, distributor and recycler of innovative window, door and roofline PVC building products, announces that Mark Kelly, Chief Executive Officer, has notified the Board of his intention to retire later this year. He will be succeeded as CEO by Darren Waters, currently Chief Operating Officer of Ibstock plc, who will join the Board of Eurocell as Chief Executive Designate this spring.

Mark has led the Group successfully since 2016, overseeing positive change throughout the business, delivering significant growth since then, as well as completing substantial investments to expand capacity and provide a strong platform for the future. To ensure a smooth transition, Mark will remain in his role until a handover period has been completed, following which he will step down from the Board and the position of Chief Executive at the Group’s AGM in May.

Darren has extensive experience and knowledge of the building products and fenestration sectors in the UK, both from his current role at Ibstock and from his previous position at Tyman plc, where he was the Chief Executive of UK and Ireland from 2012 to 2020. Prior to Tyman, Darren held senior management roles at Kenda Capital BV, Anglo American plc and RMC Group plc.

Derek Mapp, Chair of the Board, said:

“As Chief Executive, Mark has been instrumental in Eurocell’s success and development as a new plc. He has led the Group through a period of very strong growth and navigated the exceptional challenge of the COVID pandemic. We are extremely grateful to Mark for his immense contribution to the Group and his commitment to ensure a smooth transition. On behalf of the Board, I thank him for his significant achievements and we wish him all the very best for the future.

“I am absolutely delighted that we have secured someone of Darren’s calibre. He brings a wealth of commercial and operational experience and the Board and I are looking forward to working with him to lead Eurocell through the next stage of our development.”

Mark Kelly, Chief Executive Officer, said:

“It has been a privilege to lead Eurocell through an exciting period of change, investment and growth. The business is now well placed, with the capacity both to take advantage of market conditions as they develop within the UK building products sector and further improve efficiency. Darren will be joining a great team who will support him as he drives the business forward. I would like to thank all my colleagues for their support and look forward to watching Eurocell continue to grow and prosper in the years ahead.”

I would like to wish Mark the very best in his new ventures and the best of luck to Darren Waters when he takes the helm later this year.

EMERGENCY SURCHARGES

Towards the back end of 2020 and all the way through 2021, the cost of global shipping costs went through the roof. Whether it was from China to Europe, the US to Europe or China to the US, container costs spiralled out of control.

The lifting of COVID restrictions around the world released consumer spending like a dam that had been 1filling up for months. As a result, demand for pretty much everything went nuts. Including demand for home improvement products like windows and doors.

As a result, suppliers in our sector, generally in the world of doors and hardware, began to put in temporary shipping surcharges to cover the additional costs of getting products to this country. For context, suppliers agree on prices weeks and months in advance on shipping. But in this particular circumstance, with demand out of control and only so many ships in the world to get things from A to B, that went out of the window.

However, we were told by various suppliers that these surcharges would be temporary and that they would be reversed as and when things settled. Well, as you can see via the chart below, prices have very much settled back near where they were before the pandemic. So will the fenestration sector begin to see these surcharges fade away?

Will surcharges be dropped?

The context, which I laid out above, is important to remember. Transport conditions were uncontrolled and the world was experiencing something it had not encountered before. Due to this, there was a lot of goodwill and patience within our supply chain towards suppliers. That’s not to say there were some vocal opinions on these surcharges to cover the extra shipping rates, but I would say in general our industry accepted what was happening and got on with the job at hand.

CRASH, SO WILL BE DROPPED?

We are in a very different market now. Things are slowing down, perhaps more quickly than most are ready to admit. Inflation has caused prices to consumers to rise faster than they have in decades. Profit margins are being squeezed. Any relief on the cost side of things is going to be very welcome, and news of shipping costs back down to pre-pandemic levels is going to sound like very good news to all of us up and down the supply chain.

So, as promised, will these surcharges be reversed. Will we see companies who put them in place reverse them as was indicated? In my view, no, we won’t. In my heart of hearts I never truly trust that surcharges that are meant as temporary ever come down. There are a couple of reasons for that I believe. First, if a company sees its customers as becoming comfortable with those higher prices, there likely isn’t much motivation to reduce them. Second, if other costs are rising too, it’s easier to justify keeping the surcharge in place to pay for other costs within the business.

That second point is what I believe we will see. Those shipping surcharges that were once meant to be temporary are now likely to remain in place. The reason that will be explained is that other rising costs, such as labour, gas, electricity, raw materials and so on mean that those price increases will have to remain in place. Given the amount of time that these freight surcharges have been baked into the price of our composite door products and hardware products, I find it unlikely that they’ll ever now be removed. They will be blurred into the general cost of the product from here on in.

Every little helps

The problem with stating in public that something is temporary is that people will hold you to account for that. So when door suppliers, for example, came out and said that these freight shipping surcharges wouldn’t last forever, the industry would remember. So as knowledge of vastly lower shipping costs spreads through the sector, there will be growing pressure to see those charges removed.

In other parts of the industry, we are seeing flexibility in additional surcharges.

The energy surcharge in the glass sector we have seen both rise and fall in recent months, with Pilkington announcing it would drop to 0.08p per kg. It had been a lot higher than that in recent months. The resin surcharge from VEKA has been gradually coming down too, which is good to see. So the industry is proving that it can be flexible.

For me, it’s important that we work towards a scenario in which all surcharges that were put in place due to the extreme circumstances of the pandemic years are gradually rolled back. In a retracting market, a recession we’re already in and a public that is cutting back on spending, every little helps. Any help to bring retail prices down for homeowners would be welcome both by customers and installers alike.

In more good news on the inflation front, wholesale gas prices have come way down in recent months. So much so that the predicted energy price caps are now falling, rather than rising. This is going to bring some welcome relief to homeowners and businesses alike who were perhaps thinking that it would be a very long time before we saw some stability return in that part of the market. But if it means fabricators can worry less about energy costs, at least some of those savings could be passed down the supply chain.

Not every surcharge will be able to be rolled back. Labour prices won’t come back down. The lack of skilled workers and high demand across all sorts of sectors, not just fenestration, has seen wages rise in a bid to attract the right people. Some raw material costs may never come back down to prepandemic levels. But surcharges that were intended to be temporary, and can now be rolled back, should be done.

“WE LIKE THE FREEFOAM PRODUCTS – ITS THE LITTLE DETAILS THAT COUNT”

Sponsored news from Freefoam:

Freefoam Building Products are delighted to launch a new video featuring Freefoam Registered Installer NCSA Contractors Ltd. The video features an interview with owner Leigh ‘Kelly’ Bennett and explains how Kelly’s business sees the popularity of PVC products as a key driver for growth in the coming years.

Based in the Blackwood area of South Wales, Kelly set the business up a couple of years ago. Having fitted Freefoam products for many years they were the obvious choice for his new business. NCSA Contractors are a general building company but are now specializing in PVC products including fascia, cladding systems, windows and doors.

Kelly explained “We started off in a small way in Blackwood and quickly grew, now working in the Barry, Newport and Cardiff areas. We like the Freefoam products – it’s the little details that count such as the fascia corners being bigger than other brands and the gutters and downpipes all come with protective film so they don’t get damaged in transit.”

With a growing workload, reliable supply and

delivery are essential, so NCSA have a longstanding close working relationship with local Freefoam supplier Building Plastics Wales. Kelly explained “Building Plastics Wales supplies us the full Freefoam range. If we need extra boards or have any problems, Building Plastics Wales is quick to respond. They deliver out to us on-site, and are always there for us.”

The new video features a large detached property with dormer windows, which have been refitted with smart contemporary grey Freefoam PVC cladding. NCSA has seen enquires for cladding increase and now regularly installs the Fortex Double Shiplap and Weatherboard range. Clients like the low maintenance and easy-toclean benefits and are using cladding to add a colour accent to their homes.

Colin St John, Commercial Director commented “This video is an excellent way for us to illustrate how our supply chain is working out there in the marketplace. To see local independent installers and stockists working together, both utilizing Freefoam products to grow their businesses is satisfying for us – their growth is our growth!”

VIEW VIDEO HERE

D Y N A M I C , S H A R P , A N D E N G A G I N G

D u r i n g 2 0 2 2 D G B i s s e t t o b e r e a d b y o v e r 2 5 0 , 0 0 0 p e o p l e , w i t h o v e r 2 0 0 , 0 0 0 o f t h o s e u n i q u e T h e y w i l l g e n e r a t e o v e r 3 5 0 , 0 0 0 p a g e v i e w s t h i s y e a r a l o n e D G B c o n t i n u e s t o g r o w a n d e x p a n d , c o v e r in g e v e n m o r e o f t h e d i v e r s e s e c t o r t h a t i s

U K f e n e s t r a t i o n . J o i n t h e i n d u s t r y ' s b e s t c o n v e r s a t i o n : w w w d o u b l e g l a z i n g b l o g g e r c o m

OPEN LETTER: GUY HUBBLE, JOINT MANAGING DIRECTOR AT REGALEAD LTD

Dear Jason,

I read your recent article regarding global freight prices with interest last week, and whilst I would not normally respond to an opinion piece of this kind, I do believe that this deserves a warranted answer from the perspective of a components manufacturer at the top end of the supply chain.

As you describe, the extreme cost increases in freight charges since 2020 have been a huge challenge for our sector. At one point, the cost for port-to-port shipping, which pre-pandemic hovered around the $1500 mark, hit highs of $20,000. This massive increase meant that most importer businesses had no choice but to implement surcharges, as you say in your article.

As a company that imports a lot of material into the UK, we have always maintained complete transparency regarding our freight surcharges, and on our website, we not only list the latest surcharge information, but also the method by which surcharges are calculated. You can find these here.

Surcharge calculations are based on the latest data we have to hand so that we can provide sufficient time for customers to prepare for the changes, and as global freight prices have decreased, we have watched our surcharges decrease month-on-month.

We use the data from Freightos Baltic Index (FBX) to work out an average for the month, which then creates the surcharge pricing for the

following month. For example: on 1 January, we work out the average freight surcharge cost for the month of December and the updated prices are then implemented from 1 February. It does mean there is a slight lag between the index number and the real-time cost, but this is the reality of the everchanging market. Based on the December freight prices our February surcharges will be back to zero and we do not expect them to return in the short to medium term.

We also need to remember that surcharges are a non-profit item – there is no margin for a supplier who implements them, they are simply a cost that has to be passed on. It may be that some suppliers have not given the right level of transparency or explanation behind surcharges, but we completely agree that they should be decreasing as freight pricing settles.

Of course, the next big challenge for us all is energy costs, and those companies who aren’t lucky enough to be in a fixed contract will see spiralling energy costs this year. The government’s support, albeit massively reduced, combined with falling wholesale gas prices, will help, but many companies are still likely to see a trebling of their energy costs this year. The industry should expect to see surcharges, especially from manufacturers who have high-energy usage, which again will be those towards the top of the supply chain – extrusion and systems houses, glass manufacturers and composite door suppliers. We have already seen

surcharges from at least one of the systems houses being announced in the last week, and now the government’s position has been clarified, and more are likely to be announced in the coming weeks.

I think if there is a lesson for the supply chain – it is to be completely honest and transparent about surcharges so that customers can see where costs are being passed on and have clarity on what’s changed when they eventually start to see savings.

The last 5 years have seen a raft of surcharges being applied as unprecedented increases in costs have hit. Some of these costs such as exchange rates are now proving to be more permanent and over time these have been included in prices.

Surcharges are a reaction to unprecedented cost increases that only come with the market uncertainty we have experienced over the last few years – who saw freight prices reaching those levels or energy costs tripling, even with Government support?

No one really knows what’s coming next, and the only way to overcome those challenges is by maintaining open and transparent relationships throughout our entire supply chain.

View original article here: https://www. doubleglazingblogger. com/2023/01/global-freightprices-crash-so-will-emergencysurcharges-be-dropped-too/

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SAFESTYLE UK APPOINTS NEW CEO

In a statement published just before Christmas, Safestyle UK announced that they had appointed a new CEO with immediate effect. This is the statement in full published on their PLC website:

Safestyle UK plc (AIM: SFE), the leading UK focused retailer and manufacturer of PVCu replacement windows and doors for the homeowner market, announces that its Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mike Gallacher, has stepped down from the Board today and will leave the business at the end of the year for personal reasons.

Rob Neale, who has been Safestyle’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for almost 5 years, has been appointed as CEO with immediate effect. Rob has made an invaluable contribution to the Group since his appointment and the Board has complete confidence in his ability to lead Safestyle through the next phase of its corporate growth, while providing him with their full support. The Company has commenced the independent search process for a new CFO and the Board will provide an update in due course. During his time as CFO, Rob has built and managed a robust finance team at Safestyle and will be ably supported during the transition process.

Alan Lovell, Non-Executive Chairman of Safestyle, commented:

“Since his appointment as CEO in Spring 2018, Mike has given exceptional service to Safestyle through some extremely turbulent and challenging times. I would like to thank Mike for his commitment to our people and our business and we wish him and his family well for the future.

As a result of our succession planning programme, I am delighted to congratulate Rob as he embarks on his new role. The Board is confident in Rob’s leadership ability and is looking to the future positively as the business continues to deliver against its strategic objectives.”

You can view the original source here: https://otp.investis.com/clients/uk/safestyle/rns/regulatorystory.aspx?newsid=1651956&cid=656

It has been a busy period within the industry with regard to new appointments and people moving to new positions, and with the market in an uncertain place, that trend may continue for a while.

Sponsored news from Eurocell:

EUROCELL BOLSTERS COMMERCIAL TEAM WITH NEW APPOINTMENTS

Eurocell plc, the leading provider of highquality PVC-U building products has announced it is bolstering its commercial team with two new roles enabling the continuation and evolution of its ‘Grow with Us’ philosophy across its growing network of fabricators.

Steve Miller is to become the new Head of Sales for Profiles, with industry stalwart Tony Morrison moving into a new Head of National Key Accounts role, enabling Eurocell to continue to offer a high level of service and support to fabricators through its ‘Our Team is Your Team’ approach.

Having joined Eurocell in 2019, Steve has been involved in several successful initiatives, including the launch of Eurocell’s new Garden Rooms solutions, and he brings extensive industry knowledge and experience in leading commercial teams to the role.

With 15 years of experience in the Eurocell business and his dedication to customer excellence, Tony was the ideal candidate to drive Eurocell’s focus on providing industry-leading levels of service and support to its fabricator partners.

Gary Driscoll, Sales and Commercial Director at Eurocell, commented: “The appointment of Steve and Tony into these roles enables us to continue to deliver on our strategy of providing customer excellence and supporting our fabricator partners to grow with us and meet their business growth ambitions.

“I am thrilled to be strengthening our commercial team at such an exciting time for the Eurocell business. Both Tony and Steve’s roles are pivotal in ensuring we deliver excellence to our fabricator partners, and we look forward to seeing them succeed in these new opportunities.”

OBITUARY ANNOUNCEMENT FROM GQA QUALIFICATIONS

Mike Morris, GQA’s Chairman since its inception in 2002 has passed away after a short illness.

With a background as a trained engineer working in the industry and then for a large part of his career working in education, Mike was perfectly placed to understand the huge value of training and qualifications in raising standards to support both the personal and professional development of individual employees.

Having become Chairman, he oversaw the sustained growth of GQA from a small singlesector awarding body to the organisation it is today, providing over two hundred industryrelevant qualifications delivered through over two hundred Approved Centres in sixteen sectors.

Commenting, Mick Clayton, CEO of GQA said:

“Everyone here at GQA sends our condolences to Mike’s wife, Jane, his two sons and his two grandchildren. He will be sadly missed.”

For much of the time that Mike chaired the GQA board, Justin Ratcliffe also served as a GQA Director. Justin was elected as Chairman when Mike retired from his role earlier this year.

EUROCELL Q&A: KELLY HIBBERT, COMMERCIAL SALES (PROFILES)

Kelly Hibbert is Head of Commercial Sales (Profiles) at Eurocell, in this Q&A she discusses how Eurocell will be supporting the growth of their fabricator network and be the firstchoice brand for specifiers across the commercial sector.

What role did you previously hold and what attracted you to this role at Eurocell?

I was previously Commercial Sales Director at Neo Group. This role at Eurocell intrigued me as it meant moving into a completely new sector which would bring fresh challenges. It also gives me the chance to be part of a highly respected and rapidly expanding plc business.

What is the main focus of your role?

The key initial focus is on resetting and then implementing a commercial strategy which will empower the Eurocell team to support growth within our nationwide network of fabricators. Our goal is to be the first-choice brand for specifiers across the commercial sector.

What are the biggest challenges you’re looking to help overcome for

Eurocell?

Reputation is vital in any business and sector, and one key challenge is to continue to strengthen the reputation of our commercial team within the fabricator network. Central to that is demonstrating how we work in partnership with fabricators, so they grow with us.

To deliver that, we must show them how we are able to provide the marketing, technical, and supply chain support to help them grow their businesses – enabling them to meet the demands of their customers and conquer the challenges of their own operating landscapes. The message to them is always that ‘our team is your team’.

What are your plans for achieving growth in the commercial sector?

A strategic approach is key but it’s not just about one single strategy. We need a strategy for each target sub-sector, such as social housing, as each one works differently. Ultimately, it’s critical that we provide the right support to fabricators in the commercial sector. That means developing a complete understanding of the specific challenges they’re facing and their customers face. That will allow us to collaborate closely with them to deliver the products and systems which they need to meet specific challenges within each market – keeping pace with build timelines, keeping within budget parameters, and of course playing our part in meeting sustainability targets.

What opportunities do you see for Eurocell in the next couple of years?

The opportunities for us as a business are enormous. Ultimately, we want to become the brand of choice in every sector in which we operate. That means offering not just best-inclass products and systems, but value beyond that. The expertise we have in the business is immense and we want to share that and help our partner network grow. One key element of our offering will be a truly consultative specification service, enabling our fabricator network to tap into the knowledge we have across the team to ensure the very best solution for each project.

Great opportunities are also offered by the Future Homes Standard. This requires homes built from 2025 to be ‘zero carbon ready’ –which means they won’t need any retrofit work to benefit from the decarbonisation of the electricity grid and the electrification of heating.

CO2 emissions from those homes will have to be some 75 to 80% lower than those built to current standards. As a manufacturer we are ideally placed to help meet that demand.

We believe our Modus range is the first fully integrated window and door system in the UK. It provides the high levels of quality, durability, and performance the market aspires to, as well as delivering on appearance with its clean look and slimmer lines.

Above all, though, it delivers sector-leading energy efficiency through a triple seal system ensuring unrivalled thermal performance and air tightness. That delivers U-values as low as 0.8 –exceeding even the highly stringent Passivhaus standards, what that ultimately means is a reduction of up to 27% in double-glazing costs.

There are eight systems in the range, covering every type of domestic door and window application. And with more than 30 colours and finishes, as well as multiple sash options, it’s ideal for any type and size of home.

Product advancements such as Modus demonstrate the level of innovation within Eurocell and our commitment to being the best for all our customers.

If you have any questions or would like more information then please contact the team: kelly. hibbert@eurocell.co.uk 07909233921

Original article here: https://www.eurocell. co.uk/blog/meet-kelly-hibbert-head-ofcommercial-sales-profiles

SAINT-GOBAIN DIVESTS ITS DISTRIBUTION BUSINESS IN THE UK

Saint-Gobain has announced that they have signed a binding agreement which will see them sell builders merchants Jewson to the Stark Group. This is a statement published by SaintGobain in mid-December:

Following a competitive sale process, Saint-Gobain has signed a binding agreement for the sale of all its merchanting brands in the United Kingdom – including the builders and timber merchant Jewson – to the Stark group.

The divested assets are expected to generate revenues of around €2.7 billion in 2022 with an operating margin of around 2%. They comprise 600 outlets and employ 8,900 people. The divestment is based on an enterprise value of £740 million, i.e. around €850 million.

This transaction is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2023 and is not subject to any external conditions. Saint-Gobain will then no longer have any distribution businesses in the United Kingdom.

It follows the divestment of specialist distribution brands in the United Kingdom over the last 18 months representing around €650 million of revenues at around breakeven in terms of operating margin, based on an enterprise value of around €200 million.

These divestments are part of Saint-Gobain’s continued business profile optimization strategy to enhance the Group’s growth and profitability in line with its “Grow & Impact” plan.

You can view the original statement here: https://www. saint-gobain.com/sites/saint gobain.com/files/media/ document/20221212_UK%20 distribution%20divestment_

VA.pdf

Jewson has also published a statement on its website:

Saint-Gobain, our parent company, has exchanged binding contracts with The STARK Group to sell all the businesses of SaintGobain Building Distribution Ltd (SGBD). This includes Jewson. The sale is expected to be completed in quarter 1 of 2023.

The STARK Group is among Europe’s fastest-growing retailers and distributors and is completely focussed on building materials distribution for the professional builder/ tradesperson. They are headquartered in Denmark, with operations in 6 countries in Northern Europe. The STARK Group has a complete focus on building distribution, values that are similar to ours, and like Jewson a strong focus on giving customers a great experience and being a responsible sustainable business.

The STARK Group is investing in SGBD/Jewson to support our plans for growth which are centred around providing a great experience and continuing to evolve our services with our customers’ current and future needs in mind

The planning for this transition is underway and our aim is to make sure that the transition is seamless and smooth for our customers.

There is no change for now. Jewson continues to operate and trade as normal and we remain on hand to support you with all your needs as before – no change.

For Suppliers:

There is no change at this moment. All order and invoice

processes remain the same. Please continue to follow these usual processes as normal. Any changes will be notified to you in advance so that changes can be made in good time.

You can view the original statement here: https://www. jewson.co.uk/jewson-news

About Saint-Gobain:

Worldwide leader in light and sustainable construction, SaintGobain designs, manufactures and distributes materials and services for the construction and industrial markets. Its integrated solutions for the renovation of public and private buildings, light construction and the decarbonization of construction and industry are developed through a continuous innovation process and provide sustainability and performance. The Group’s commitment is guided by its purpose, “MAKING THE WORLD A BETTER HOME”.

€44.2 billion in sales in 2021

166,000 employees, locations in 76 countries

Committed to achieving Carbon Neutrality by 2050

About Jewson:

We offer a wide range of supplies for all trades, including building materials, roofing and landscaping. From the everyday essentials to specialist equipment. You can also find kitchen and bathroom showrooms nationwide, as well as specialist Tool Hire. We’ve come a long way since opening our first branch in 1836 – you can now buy from us online. This means we can be there for you anytime, anywhere.

b ring light int o living

EXCLUSIVE NEW BLACK VENETIAN INTEGRAL BLIND SAMPLES NOW AVAILABLE TO ORDER

Sponsored news from Morley Glass:

Window and door installers can now see for themselves how the stylish new black ScreenLine® Venetian integral blind from Morley Glass can unlock creative potential for shading and privacy.

Slat samples are now available to order of the new B160 black integral Venetian blind, which has been made exclusively available in the UK to Morley Glass by ScreenLine® integral blind systems manufacturer Pellini S.p.A.

Morley Glass is the country’s largest producer of integral blinds featuring ScreenLine® systems, which ensures all its Uni-Blinds® integral blinds are built with superior engineered quality for optimum long-term reliability and visual appeal.

This latest colour option adds a new creative dimension to the provision of shading and privacy in PVCu, aluminium or timber windows and doors. The colour has seen a resurgence in its popularity for interior features and home décor in the past 12 months with its ability to offer a bold, timeless aesthetic gaining new appeal.

Achieving the most attractive look with black integral blinds has required Pellini and Morley Glass to ensure all the components within the blind unit are consistent. The finish of the slats ensures the colour will not fade over time, retaining its bold appearance, with perfectly matched colours for the cords, header and footer rails and sideguides used across the different Uni-Blinds® systems.

Ian Short, MD of Morley Glass said: “As home interior and décor tastes are continuously changing, we think it is really important for installers to be able to give homeowners the opportunity to choose from the widest range of colours for their Venetian integral blinds. That’s why developing a black option was an obvious next step as the colour is becoming increasingly ‘on trend’ and looks superb for both contemporary and traditional homes.”

With the addition of black, Uni-Blinds® integral Venetian blinds are now available in eleven colours, which also include the always-popular, exclusive anthracite grey (S159), beige, blue, green and cream. And a similarly wide colour palette is available for Uni-Blinds® pleated integral blinds too, with twelve

options available, along with eight colours for the recently launched pleated blackout integral blind.

Whichever colour is specified, installers and homeowners can choose from five different control systems for Uni-Blinds® integral blinds, including the cordless slider-controlled SV System, and its symmetrically designed sister the SV+, the smart-home compatible motorised MB System and classic corded C System.

And all Uni-Blinds® are supplied in the industry’s shortest lead times –manufactured to order in Leeds by Morley Glass in as little as 10-12 days, when an order is placed by 10am on Thursdays, with complimentary nationwide delivery.

To order a sample of the new B160 black Venetian blind slats or find out more visit www.morleyglass.co.uk.

KEVIN HARVEY JOINS BRISANT SECURE AS MD

Sponsored news from Brisant Secure:

Kevin Harvey has regrouped with his excolleagues Nick Dutton and Steve Stewart at Brisant Secure as Managing Director. Whilst Kevin’s 30 years in the industry have covered hardware, PVC profile and conservatories, the last 5 years have been in the composite door sector at Future Products.

Kevin said ‘The two CEOs have invited me back and having worked for both of them separately it’s such an amazing opportunity to work with the two of them together. The dynamics they have created within the business and the team they have put together affirms my belief that this is a tremendous opportunity to join a company that is driving the standards within the hardware industry.

I have a strong hardware background will serve me well with regard to the product range itself. I had almost 12 years in selling hardware. At Future, I have been using the products in a first-hand capacity for the best part of six years.”

With Ultion products due to expand even further in 2023, Nick Dutton says ‘Kevin is highly regarded in the industry and his joining our team is a big marker in Brisant’s evolution. Coupling this high regard with his understanding our quality ethos, knowing many of our team, suppliers, customers and products places him ideally to help us introduce the next wave of Ultion products and initiatives.’

D Y N A M I C , S H A R P , A N D E N G A G I N G

D u r i n g 2 0 2 2 D G B i s s e t t o b e r e a d b y o v e r 2 5 0 , 0 0 0 p e o p l e , w i t h o v e r 2 0 0 , 0 0 0 o f t h o s e u n i q u e T h e y w i l l g e n e r a t e o v e r 3 5 0 , 0 0 0 p a g e v i e w s t h i s y e a r a l o n e D G B c o n t i n u e s t o g r o w a n d e x p a n d , c o v e r in g e v e n m o r e o f t h e d i v e r s e s e c t o r t h a t i s

U K f e n e s t r a t i o n . J o i n t h e i n d u s t r y ' s b e s t c o n v e r s a t i o n : w w w d o u b l e g l a z i n g b l o g g e r c o m

Sponsored news from Haffner: Haffner Ltd, the award-winning machinery supplier, has announced a strong start to 2023, with several sales of Graf Synergy machines already confirmed. Matt Thomas, managing director of Haffner, comments: “As the sole UK agent for Graf Synergy machines, we have seen a sharp increase in demand for their cutting-edge machine technology. The high-end aesthetics of seamless welding is helping our customers to meet the demands of a changing market with several large-scale orders already confirmed for 2023.”

The patented Graf Synergy machines take welding quality to the next level, giving a superior visual finish when compared to a standard PVC-U weld, claims the company.

Matt comments: “Demand for high-end, feature-rich products was increasing in 2022 and looks set to continue throughout 2023. Graf Synergy machines help fabricators deliver the outstanding quality these products need every time, eliminating costly remakes and helping secure premium prices with more affluent consumers.”

The technically advanced machines are also suitable for driving efficiencies in high-volume casement output too because they deliver high levels of automation throughout the entire fabrication process.

Matt says: “The worker shortage is already having an impact on many fabricators. Unfortunately, it’s a situation that’s likely to get worse before it gets better, especially as production volumes increase. Automation via machine technology helps fabricators manage worker shortage and fluctuating volumes, all without compromising quality or lead times.”

Haffner says customers also get the best in technical and on-site support. The company has been in the market for over 30 years and brings a wealth of experience and expertise to every conversation. Matt comments: “We work hard to understand every customer’s unique requirements and develop the fabrication setup that meets their needs in the short, middle and long term.”

It’s an offer that has seen the company grow rapidly in recent years. And with fabricators increasingly choosing to invest in seamless welding technology from Graf Synergy its growth looks set to continue – as the strong start to the new year shows.

www.haffnerltd.com

HAFFNER ANNOUNCE STRONG START TO 2023

THE IMPORTANCE OF TIME OFF

I was lucky enough to spend most of December not at work. I went on holiday on December 1st to the Dominican Republic with my family and in-laws for two weeks. That was our first major holiday since January 2020. We did have a week away in Greece in August for my brother’s wedding but that was a pretty busy week so we didn’t get much downtime.

By the time we got back home and I was in the office, there were only three working days left of the year and then we broke up for Christmas.

Prior to that, I had taken very little time off during the year. I worked every day, pretty much every night and weekends as well. Despite telling myself that I won’t work myself to death at the start of every New Year, it’s very easy to slip back into that habit of turning the laptop back on to get one or two more things done.

The reality of that habit is that you work every single hour you can, giving

yourself no time to decompress, relax or spend more time doing the fun stuff you actually work for.

Going on that two-week holiday, and then diving straight into Christmas allowed me to gain some much-needed perspective on what is important in life. We work to live, not the other way around.

Mind and body

I said it on Twitter and I said it here, working yourself into the ground is not big and it’s not clever. It actually works against you. Being drained and burned out affects your productivity and creativity, as well as damages your own mental health. That time away in another country and Christmas actually allowed me to get some creative flow back. I’ll be honest and say that publishing my own articles was a big struggle at times on DGB in 2022, but I know why.

2022 had been a big year for our family-run business. We had decided at the start

of the year to make major changes to our product portfolio, as well as marketing options, and we built two brand new showrooms for the new products that we are selling. These are major tasks and consume a lot of time and energy. Then you factor in the day-to-day selling that I normally do. It meant that when it came to writing articles for DGB, that process was not as easy. Thankfully, most of the changes at our installations business are nearly complete, which leaves me more time to be creative on here.

After a year of focusing hard on major changes in the family business, that time away at the start of December was very much needed. For the first time in a long time, I managed to get away with all my work complete. I turned on my out-of-office replies and was able to switch off mentally. No laptops. No work talk on messages. No windows. No doors. Just precious family time, the beach, the pool, sunshine and plenty of food and drink. Being away from social media actually felt like a blessing!

It was a fantastic two weeks. The better weather was good for me physically as well as mentally. And because I was able to switch off from the day job, I actually found my creativity and ideas coming back towards the end of the holiday. I had been that tuned into work that it actually restricted my own productivity. By the time I was ready to come back, I had ideas falling out of my head and a renewed sense of productivity for when I got back to the office properly. Sometimes taking a step back is better for you in the long term.

Priorities

By the time I came home, I only had three days left in the office before we broke up for Christmas. Those last few workdays before the end of the year are always a bit hazy and full of nothingness. You spend them sorting out loose ends and clock-watching until the end of the day.

I then had from December 21st to January 2nd 2023 off work. More time I got to spend at home with the family. Christmas has always been very special to me, but even more so since I have had kids. Spencer is old enough now to fully understand Christmas, so to watch him get progressively excited was nice. Rose is only 9 months old so she is happy just playing a box at this point!

The time I spent away from work reminded me of what is truly important in life. Health and family. Everything else serves to protect and nurture your loved ones. It’s OK making lots of money, but if you have neither your family or your health, you literally have nothing. You could have nothing from a materialistic point of view, but if you have your loved ones around you, everything is fine.

I am sure all the parents out there have had this same thing. Having your toddler or child beg you to stay at home and not go to work. It happens a lot. And it cuts deep. Work is important, but not as important as they are.

2023 will still be an important work year for me. As in 2022, I will be solely focused on growing our own family installations business, as well as expanding DGB and bringing you original industry opinion and analysis. But that is it. Nothing more. I will be spending more time on holidays with my family, taking more time off during the year to enjoy the fruits of my work with the only people that matter.

Time off, whether at home or abroad, is important. It’s important for you as a person, and it’s important for your family. It allows you to look after yourself. Working every minute of every hour of every day when you don’t really have to is not a badge of honour. Get that balance right and make time for you and those close ones around you, as they are the only ones that matter.

WORK ANXIETY: I GET IT

At the start of the New Year, I noticed more than a few people hint in social media posts that they were less than keen on getting back to work.

Whilst some are chomping at the bit to get back into their routines and back to work, some are not. One account was speaking of their anxiety about going back to the office and confronting the daily pressures of running their own business.

Work anxiety is a thing, and I’m here to say I get it. I’ve been there. And I am there.

Intense pressure

Our sector is a high-pressure one. We deal with the general public, who are more demanding year after year. Our supply chain has had years of disruption due to COVID and the subsequent bounce-back which almost toppled the sector over.

We have lived through an incredibly intense period, and I don’t believe we have truly had a chance to take stock mentally of what we have all had to work through. We have not had the time to decompress or really comprehend the intense pressure we all went through as the UK opened back up after COVID. The truth of it was, despite the increased revenues, the stress was not worth it.

Let me as you this, through the screen: have you dreaded going to work over the last few years? Be honest with yourself. I have, and no one would blame you if you did too. Fixating problems out of your control. Creating lists of tasks that only get longer and never shorter. Eating poorly. Drinking far too much. Finding other things to do rather than

focusing on the most immediate issue to fix. Sounding familiar? I’ve been there. I get it.

It’s anxiety and it’s poor mental health. I’ve been through it and I’m still managing it. I get those days when you’re mentally paralysed by it all. Fixed on your screen but unable to do anything productive despite your willpower and intention. Anxiety is just that. It stops you like a brick wall and can wipe you out for days. I’m coming out of the other side of a couple of days like that, and it does feel like your head clears when it does.

From my experience, it can be triggered by even the smallest detail. It could be an email from a supplier letting you know you’re not going to get what you ordered on time. It could be hearing from a string of clients that you have not got the business. It could be trying to solve a dispute. From there, it can spiral into something bigger, you fixate on it, and then you go around in circles in your head overthinking and sending yourself inwards.

It’s an awful thing to suffer from, and I believe there is more of it in the industry postCOVID and after the mammoth consumer bounce-back. I believe it can be found at all levels of our sector, whether it’s MDs and CEOs, fitters, fabricators, drivers and sales reps.

How I cope

Speaking from experience, there are things you can do yourself which can help put your mind in a better place. January can be a tough month. The weather is dull, the festivities

of Christmas are booze we all drink period can leave imbalanced and prone to bouts and anxiety.

So first things first, sort the diet out. physical and mental, What you put in down on the booze better. Beer is my I have kept away weeks now. Trust have also tried to as the old shirts are getting a tad better will give you and have you feeling in the space of even

Try to cut down media. My personal towards social media have soured over years. Pretty much are vacuous, and mentally harmful. designed to create jealousy. Especially like Instagram tend to see is perfection, we know in the real does not exist. In I did not have to work I would not all. But we are where these things are in daily life. Cutting their use though your mind. I have do it myself. Trying endless scrolling, in by what others It’s not a healthy you’re in marketing to use it for work, be able to avoid But if you are going and block either people that you annoy or aggravate have to use it, at make it a nicer place

are over and the drink over that leave us chemically become more of depression first, it’s time to Your body, both mental, is an engine. in it matters. Cut booze and eat my weakness and from it for a few Trust me, it helps. I to eat healthier and suit jackets tad snug. Eating you more energy feeling more alert even a few days. down on social personal feelings media in general over the last few much all platforms soul-sucking harmful. All are create envy and Especially platforms where all you perfection, which real world simply In all honesty, if to use them for not use them at where we are and now engrained Cutting back on though can help clear have been trying to Trying to stop the scrolling, being taken others are posting. healthy thing to do. If marketing you will have work, so you won’t avoid it completely. going to use it, try the content or feel can either aggravate you. If you at least try and place for you to

be.

Spend time doing something else. As I wrote about last week, work is not life. We work to live as the saying goes. Learn to put the phone down, turn emails off, close the laptop and get out there and do something else. Go for walks, get on your bike, eat out, and organise something with your kids. I have been trying to spend more time on an evening and weekends with my own kids. They’re a perfect distraction from the pressures of daily life. I would much rather watch Encanto with my son four times a day than scroll endlessly through my emails!

Focus on a single task at a time. That to-do list might be long. Trust me, mine is never clear. But rather than attempt to tackle four things at a time, focus solely on one job at a time. It could be trying to complete a quote for a homeowner, or writing a PR piece, or even just responding to an email. Doing one thing at a time helps you build a rhythm and you actually end up getting more done.

Following on from that, try and remove distractions around you. Put phones away in your desk, and close tabs on your laptop you’re not using. Keep your workspace clean and tidy. I even put on headphones to drown out the noise around me if I feel I can’t focus. I choose some music and then get on with the job at hand. It does help keep the mind clear.

Finally, this is one I am trying to do more of but find the hardest: stop giving a shit about what other people think. That sounds blunt, and it’s meant to. Sometimes our anxiety and worry stem from focusing on what others think of us and what we’re doing. The only person that matters is you, and if you find yourself constantly trying

to please other people, then perhaps ask yourself why, and whether that is something you really need to be doing. Putting others at the expense of yourself all of the time is incredibly unhealthy and can cause massive amounts of stress, and leads to you not looking after yourself as much as you should. Over the last 18 months, I have tried to become less attached to trying to please others and remind myself that I work for myself and my family. This is easier said than done, and most people like to make others happy, but a large part of that involves being concerned with what others think of us. Social media has not made this any better, indeed, it’s made it far worse. Try and learn to detach and put yourself first more often. Leave work at work and reserve some time for you at home.

The points I make above are derived from my own experiences, and hopefully something others can relate to if they have found themselves in a similar place. However, if you feel like you need professional help and support, the good people at the construction industry charity The Lighthouse Club are on hand to provide support: https://www.lighthouseclub.org/ There are other great bodies and charities out there to lean on should you need help from time to time, such as Mind and Andy’s Man Club.

FOR HOUSE INSULATION MEASURES, BUT NOTHING FOR WINDOWS AGAIN

Another Government brings with it another new initiative to try and spur work in insulating the leakiest of Britain’s homes. This time, there is a fresh wave of £1bn being thrown at homes which are classed as the most poorly insulated.

Within the range of products that homeowners will be able to earmark that grant against are items such as loft insulation and cavity wall insulation. The amount of money each household will be able to claim is around £1500. Customers will have to contact their energy provider or council to see if they are taking part in the scheme.

As for the inclusion of windows in the scheme. Not a chance. Again.

Windows not included

Despite replacement windows being one of the most significant energy-efficient upgrades you can make in a home, they have once again been left out of Government policy when it comes to retrofitting people’s properties.

There are a couple of reasons for this. The first is that the cost of replacement windows versus the cost of insulation is wildly

different. Insulation is very cheap to produce and install. Windows on the other hand are not. With a single, modest house costing thousands. I have to be honest and say that I find it very unlikely that at any time in the near future the Government is going to be able to find the billions that would be required to retrofit the millions of homes that need new energy-efficient windows.

The other reason is something we have long been at fault for and is the same reason we often get overlooked by Government is that we continue to be divided amongst ourselves.

As we saw during the implementation of the latest revisions to Building Regulations, we are completely unable to find a common position on things like trickle vents and energy ratings. The trade bodies are unable to work together and I do not foresee a time when they do. During the height of the debate around trickle vents, I saw opinions from both sides within the installation and fabrication sectors within fenestration.

Logically, when a sector can join as one around a single position on an issue, that produces a more powerful, influential and effective voice when it comes to negotiating with civil servants. After the Building Regulations episode, I am told that the opinion from within the Government of our sector is laughable. And to be honest, I don’t blame them. Decades of poor practices have generated a bad reputation that still lingers. Ego and self-interest erode good decision-making at all levels. Trade bodies that represent us cannot present a united front. It should be said that there are one or two that I know have made attempts to bridge gaps in the past but to no avail.

So long as we look and sound like an industry that does not take a totally professional approach in all capacities, we should

not expect to be included in Government schemes to retrofit homes.

Uniquely positioned USP

the more effective it will be.

We have missed out again as a sector, but with endless tools at our disposal, it doesn’t mean we have to miss out on growth in the coming years.

During the majority of the pandemic years, fenestration found itself in the very lucky position that it was one of the few very accessible sectors where the public could spend their money. Travel was off. Hospitality was closed for a very long time. Retail was hammered. But one place people could spend their money was in home improvements. People ploughed a lot of their saved cash into renovating their homes whilst they could no do much else. It may seem a while ago now, but we were very lucky to be in that position.

Even as we enter a long recession, we find ourselves once again in a position where we can not only benefit as a sector but also make a material difference in the lives of people. Our products, replacement windows and doors, can have a massive impact on the energy efficiency of people’s homes. In a period where fuel bills continue to rise and a cost-of-living crisis is weighing on consumers, the urgent need to make homes as efficient as possible has never been so pressing.

So although we’re unlikely to be left out in the cold when it comes to Government schemes, we have a very useful and important USP in supplying energy-efficient windows and doors. We have to be as loud and visible about that as we can over the next couple of years. That single unique selling point is going to be pivotal for many families weighing up whether to invest in their homes or put off that spending for another year.

It is imperative that we communicate the advantages our products bring when it comes to keeping homes healthy and efficient. That messaging has to come from all parts of the sector, not just installers. Fabricators and systems companies have to get in on the act too. And not just marketing within the industry, but outwardly to the general public as well. The more connected our message is,

PVCU AS PART OF THE SUSTAINABILITY CONVERSATION

highly energy efficient, use low carbon heating solutions, and, ultimately, be zero carbon ready.

Alongside emerging energy efficiency policies and new regulations, pressure also remains on housebuilders to use more sustainable building methods and informed product choices.

Consumer sentiment, fuelled by escalating climate concerns, means they are scrutinising businesses more closely than ever when it comes to how they act and operate. As a result, the environmental impact of product choices continues to be a key priority for housebuilders and associated supply chains.

Martin Benn, Head of New Build at Eurocell, outlines how recycled waste used to produce new high-performing, thermally efficient and aesthetically pleasing PVC-U window and door product solutions can support housebuilders as they strive to satisfy new and important environmental responsibilities.

Changes to Part L of the Building Regulations came into effect in 2022. A key objective of the new regulatory landscape is to ensure all new homes will produce 31% lower carbon emissions by incorporating renewable energy technology solutions.

This is a critical step on the journey to net zero and comes ahead of the Future Homes Standard which will be introduced in 2025. At that point, the requirement will be that all new homes are specified and constructed to be

PVC-U is already playing its part in helping the sector meet important environmental and regulatory obligations. Set against other potential product choices such as aluminium or timber composite, PVC-U offers longterm durability and high performance, attractive aesthetics to support design visions, cost-effective value and, through important initiatives such as Eurocell’s industry-leading recycling processes, a truly sustainable solution.

Compared with alternative choices for windows and doors, PVC-U is proven to deliver enhanced thermal performance. Combined with effective glazing solutions, buildings can be better insulated and use less energy with PVCU’s ability to offer a lower u-value for a lower cost.

For large-scale housebuilding developments, the option to achieve excellent thermal performance results through a cost-efficient product choice without compromise is a reason why PVC-U solutions containing high levels of recycled content are becoming the proven sustainable product choice for many.

SUSTAINABILITY

PVC-U validation

To further substantiate the sustainability credentials of PVC-U product solutions, Eurocell worked with the Faculty of Science and Engineering at Manchester Metropolitan University to review an array of data sets and modelling emanating from peerreviewed publications. This would establish a life cycle assessment of the use of recycled PVC-U in the company’s manufacturing operations.

Eurocell requested the scientists interrogate the set estimates for overall CO2 savings that can be achieved from the use of waste PVC-U and determine an accurate statistic to prove the environmental benefit of using waste PVC-U within recycling operations.

Thanks to the validated scrutiny undertaken by the academics, Eurocell is confident that sharing important data and conclusions can better inform and help underpin the sustainability objectives of the housebuilding sector.

Tangible CO2 Savings

For example, a typical semi-detached house comprising seven windows and a pair of French doors will see an average weight of post-consumer PVC-U waste within the eight products plus cavity closure of 122kg. Therefore, a housebuilder constructing on average 2,500 units of semi-detached houses will save around 627 tonnes of CO2 equivalent per year by specifying recycled windows and cavity closures versus product choices using full virgin PVC-U windows.

Housebuilders have access to highperforming, thermally efficient, secure, and aesthetically pleasing PVC-U products.

But crucially, they now also have

the verified knowledge that a choice of PVC-U window and door solutions manufactured using recycled material is proven to reduce CO2 emissions, drive efforts to improve the future sustainability of houses and help to tackle the ongoing climate emergency.

If you have any questions or would like more information then please contact the team: Martin Benn, Head of New Build, martin.benn@eurocell.co.uk, 07721 746886

Tired of poor service?

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A BACK SEAT AMID THE COST-OF-LIVING CRISIS

In February 2022, a study of 2000 UK homeowners showed that although they cared about sustainable windows and doors, it wasn’t enough to pay more. Nine months on in, the midst of an energy fuel crisis and imminent recession, the Double Glazing Blogger requested that VEKA repeated the OnePoll research to see if opinions had changed. The results show that price continues to supersede sustainability when it comes to homeowner decisions on home improvements.

Whilst 75% of respondents still consider sustainable windows and doors to be important, only 26% of homeowners are willing to pay more for recycled products – which is a 5% drop since February. This worrying insight could have an adverse effect on sustainability efforts to date, and we need to take action to ensure that more homeowners are choosing sustainable windows and doors.

Speaking at the Cop27 summit, UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres warned that the world is “on the highway to climate hell with our foot still on the accelerator”. He continued, “Today’s crises cannot be an excuse for backsliding or greenwashing.” The UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak supports this view, which means that all UK businesses have a responsibility to get to net zero by 2050 – it is not something that we can ignore.

Interestingly, in terms of the

product, installation process and/or removal of old products, more conversations are taking place between homeowners and installers. Back in February just 20% of those that had new windows and doors fitted discussed sustainability, whilst in October, this increased to 37%. 76% of respondents said that sustainability is important when it comes to their homes in general, and 49% of those people are concerned about the impact on the environment.

Once again, the research showed that when it comes to decision-making, price, quality, and looks, were all considered to be of higher importance than a product’s environmental credentials.

VEKA Commercial Director, Tim Taylor said, “The results are not surprising to me, I totally agree and strongly believe that systems houses have a huge part to play when it comes to sustainability. It has always been a priority for VEKA to support our fabricators and installers in getting these messages across to homeowners, which is why each year we publish a UKspecific CSR report.”

Our research once again shows that homeowners believe that sustainability should be a given, which is why they are reluctant to pay a premium for the privilege. At VEKA we don’t believe in ecoranges, we believe that every product we produce should be manufactured in as sustainable and ethical a manner as

possible.

This ongoing commitment and partnership with sister company and Europe’s most advanced Recycling Centre, VEKA Recycling means that in September 2022, VEKA included the highest percentage of recycled content ever recorded – 33%. The average for 2021 was 19%, with the year-todate average for 2022 raising substantially to 29%.

Closing the loop on PVCu recycling is now necessary to build on this success. We need our installers to support us by ensuring that old windows and doors are returned to UKbased recycling companies, so that they can be recycled, reprocessed, and returned to the UK market, protecting their supply, and strengthening their own sustainability story.

LEKA SYSTEMS EXPECTING SALES SURGE

Sponsored news from Leka Systems: Leka Systems, the innovative manufacturer of lightweight, tiled conservatory roof systems, is preparing for a busy 2023 because its products help homeowners create more energy-efficient homes. Rhys Hoddinott, Managing Director of Leka Systems, said: “Sky-high energy prices mean more and more homeowners are looking at ways to make their homes more energy efficient. The Leka Warm Roof and the Leka Orangery roof are perfect solutions for upgrading failing or thermally inefficient conservatory roofs and helping to reduce energy bills. As a result, we are already seeing a strong upturn in consumer enquiries.”

Leka’s roofing solutions transform conservatories that are too hot in summer or too cold in winter because they have U values as low as 0.10W/ m²K, helping to make homes more thermally efficient as well as create more useable living space.

They also offer numerous additional benefits.

The GRP construction of the roofs means no aluminium or timber components, so there is no cold bridging or risk of rotting or condensation. It also means the roofs typically weigh little more than a traditional glass roof, so no additional reinforcing is needed, helping to keep installation time and disruption to a minimum.

There is a near-unlimited range of styles, which gives installers an additional upsell opportunity. There is also a range of internal finishes and external roof tiles options for

consumers to further personalise the appearance.

And all Leka components come with a 40-year warranty, giving homeowners peace of mind.

The products are MFA-approved, which allows building applications to be fast-tracked in most cases. Installation usually takes just two to three days, helping installers see a quick return.

Certified Leka fabricators and installers receive full training and support to help them make the most of the potential of the products. Leka Systems has also teamed up with Checkatrade to offer installers exclusive Checkatrade membership discounts.

Rhys concludes: “Leka roofing solutions offer huge opportunities for fabricators and installers right now. If you don’t already have our products in your portfolio, give us a call today to get started.”

LEKA XI DEMONSTRATES ITS APPEAL TO HOMEOWNERS

Sponsored news from Leka Systems: Leka Systems has reported continued growth for its Leka Xi modular conservatory walls and base system with little sign of market demand slowing in 2023. Rhys Hoddinott, Managing Director of Leka Systems, said: “Homeowners can see the big benefits of the Leka Xi over a traditional conservatory build. As a result, the benefits are translating into sales as more and more homeowners value what the Leka Xi has to offer and installers appreciate the added value benefits of the product.”

The Leka Xi provides a warm, sustainable alternative to a traditional block or brick-built conservatory base or wall. Rhys highlights two areas where the Leka Xi has benefits over a traditional conservatory build. The first is the larger internal footprint. The second is the faster installation time.

The wall thickness on a traditional conservatory build required to comply with energy efficiency regulations can reduce the size of the internal footprint, which translates to a smaller living space. In contrast, the Leka Xi uses highly thermally efficient boards, which are slimmer by design. This means homeowners can maximise the amount of living space they have. Rhys comments: “Every homeowner wants to make the most of the space they have available. The Leka Xi is the best way to do this.”

The innovative, lightweight and

modular construction of the Leka Xi means it can be installed much more quickly than a traditional brick-built extension. A conservatory built using the Leka Xi base and wall system and a Leka roof can be installed in days not weeks because it’s typically installed on concrete pads. Rhys says: “There is less disruption and less mess with a Leka Xi. It’s particularly good for homeowners with limited or no rear access to their property because no heavy excavation work is needed. And for busy installation teams, it’s a huge advantage.”

The Leka Xi is the perfect example of the innovation Leka Systems brings to the market.

The Leka Warm Roof and the Leka Orangery Roof are lightweight, tiled conservatory roof systems that turn conservatories into comfortable, yearround living spaces. Rhys comments: “Our products are perfect in an era of rising energy costs. Their lightweight GRP construction means they offer exceptional thermal efficiency, helping homeowners to take control of their energy bills.”

It’s why the company is seeing a sales surge with more homeowners asking for Leka by name.

QUALITY CONTENT

T a c k l i n g g e n u i n e , t h o u g h t p r o v o k i n g

U K g l a z i n g i n d u s t r y i s s u e s o n a d a i l y a n d i n d e p e n d e n t b a s i s

FAR REACHING

S e t t o b e r e a d b y o v e r a q u a r t e r o f a m i l l i o n p e o p l e , c r e a t i n g o v e r

3 5 0 , 0 0 0 p a g e v i e w s ( e s t i m a t e d 2 0 2 2 s t a t s )

R e a d t h e m o s t i m p o r t a n t b r e a k i n g n e w s , f e a t u r e s , o p i n i o n a n d P R l o n g b e f o r e y o u ' l l s e e t h e m i n p r i n t