PAGE 06 - HOME SECURITY & HARDWARE FEATURE
For installers, reading the potential buyer is crucial to getting the sale and there understanding the current trends of the market is vital
PAGE 08 - SAFE NOT SORRY WITH ABUS X60 3* CYLINDER ABUS UK has launched a new version of its X60 3* lock cylinder that adds a reassuring extra layer of security at a reasonable price to any door.
PAGE 10 - FIND YOUR KEYS IN THE FIRST PLACE YOU LOOK! Leading UK security brand, Ultion, has unveiled a door key that uses the Apple Find My network to help locate an Ultion key when lost.
PAGE 12 - WE’RE CHANGING THE WAY WE DELIVER NEWS! As well as website exposure, social media posts and monthly magazine slots, we have added a new feature – Fenestration Digital News Flashes!
PAGE 28 - VITRINE ALUMINIUM GO FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH Vitrine aluminium - Cheshire’s premium aluminium systems manufacturer that can do it all, a true one stop shop for aluminium.
PAGE 33 - DEBORAH HENDRY & KOLORSEAL LTD - FINALISTS AT NFA22 Kolorseal Ltd has been recognised for consistently high standards with a nomination in the NFA22s for colour coating services to the industry.
PAGE 46 - EUROCELL SCORES ‘PERFECT 10’ NOMINATIONS AT NFA22 Eurocell plc has been nominated in ten categories in the prestigious National Fenestration Awards 2022.
PAGE 48 - ALUMINIUM BENDING SPECIALISTS EXHIBIT AT FENEX 2023 Aluminium Bending Specialists, have announced that they will be exhibiting at FENEX in Telford in April 2023.
PAGE 53 - MORLEY GLASS LAUNCH NEW INTEGRAL BLIND SYSTEM Morley Glass has launched a new system designed specifically for hospitals, medical schools and other health and social care facilities.
Trust pulls the fabric of society together and when trust in leadership at any level disappears, it affects every level of social behaviour causing vast amounts of social unrest.
Taking the current political scene, whilst many discuss the lack of trust issues that grew around Boris Johnson, caused by Partygate, as well as a lack of integrity regarding his Brexit protocol, in truth the goodwill of the public began to crumble after the Barnard Castle debacle.
Since then it was virtually impossible for Mr Johnson to recover - put Mr Hancock into the mix as well as the Tory by-election losses and it was inevitable that all faith naturally, disappeared.
Trust in leadership, both in business and government, has now fallen sharply again, with vast numbers of people taking distrust to an all time low.
The credibility of politicians it would seem is in crisis mode. It will take an exceptional statesman to rebuild the trust that has been lost recently. This seems to have had a knock on effect with some industries, as levels of distrust have infiltrated companies between individuals at all levels of a business.
Naturally, the economic circumstances do play a huge role in people’s perceptions and how badly they are affected by rising inflation and taxes. It can be argued that cynicism is an obvious product of the times. It goes without saying that in good times people will trust leadership far more than in bad times, when their trust levels will dramatically drop.
So with the great leadership challenge currently at fever pitch the need to balance everything has never been more pivotal for a new Prime Minister. Reflection and thoughtful decision making will need to be demonstrated as priorities with the way human and financial resources are handled. This too though, should be considered by business leaders looking to steady the economic ship across the country.
Over the last few years, massive changes have affected how we structure our lives and how authority is shared in this constantly changing world. When it comes to business the general public are disillusioned with declining service, almost unbridled levels of executive pay and bonuses, along with vastly differing wealth.
Looking at business itself, if there is a definitive hierarchy then it should understand that those at every level of the company probably know as much (or in some cases more) than those who manage them.
In times of crises people are motivated by meaning and trust and not just money. They want benefits, values and to feel appreciated for what they contribute. A working team will trust the company’s leaders for their adaptive skills and foresight, by influencing people and not controlling them.
There are several significant benefits of trust. Trust is desirable because it affects the perceptions, attitudes, and the performance of individuals and groups. High trust cultivates a culture of innovation, positive relationships, and interdependence that inspires cooperation for the greater good.
Trust is in every aspect of our lives from doctors and dentists to hairdressers and food suppliers. We need to know that we can trust them to bring benefits to our life. High trust companies that can adapt more quickly will attract and retain those with aptitude and flair for the business. Most employees rely upon the company’s leaders to keep the business afloat. They trust that and want meaning to their work and an employer they respect.
In general, conversations about trust and leadership have never been more relevant. As the world continues to evolve at a rapid pace, people need to feel that there will be an end to disruption and the huge leap in insecurity.
Looking forward at the moment there is a deep loss of faith in key figures across the world. There are endless reasons given as to why things are quite so broken and who sit to blame; so as we all face quite a lot of uncertainty, a new PM needs to stop feeding the negativity and find ways to fuel our hope across the board.
Whoever wins the hustings and the Conservative Party Member votes, the soon-to-be new Prime Minister must adopt the fundamental principles of leadership demanded of those in positions of power; and they are very much needed today
For installers, reading the potential buyer is crucial to getting the sale and there understanding the current trends of the market is vital. For example currently, the most popular doorknob colours are matt black, brass and polished chrome possibly because they give a modern or slightly sophisticated overall look.
As an installer or manufacturer, whilst it is prudent to remind homeowners about keeping their homes safe with regular evaluation of door and safety locks, there can be other areas of vulnerability that many don’t see.
Looking at another option that has become very popular over the last few years as an exterior rear entrance, the bifold door - whilst a beautiful product the hardware is one of the last things to be considered. It really does deserve to be more than an after-thought however, as the handles and locks do play a central role.
As a rear entrance they have to offer security and reassurance to the consumer, so when discussing door handles for bifold doors there are a number of options available. Internally these can be matched to decor with pull handles, flush handles, door knobs and lever handles all suitable options.
Naturally there are differences which will appeal to different home owners and each one has its own visual appeal. With security a focus, bifold doors open and close in a very different way from sliding patio doors or French doors because of the concertina action. Consequently, they need a unique solution to keep them closed.
Some consumers are unaware about highly secure the bifold door is at the back of a property. When installed correctly with appropriate locks, of which there are many options, they actually are one of the most secure rear door options.
There is an extensive range of bifold door hardware that can be used to provide security and reassurance regarding any potential burglaries. There are also bolts and drop bolts, which can be locked into the floor as well as the ceiling to provide a strong, resistant and secure option. Looking at the home in general, for internal renovation projects there is so much choice of hardware out there for homeowners.
Looking beautiful and adding to the decor will be priorities for consumers and generally the most common types of hardware will be either door knobs or lever handles in brass, chrome or other metal options.
For installers the exact size needed for the rose will depend on any damage that may have occurred when removing old door handles. Generally, on internal doors they don’t need to be secured, but there are exceptions with the bathroom, loo or simply privacy being main reasons to install locking internal doors. When it comes to replacement of previously installed locks, then bigger fittings will be needed to cover the cut-outs.
Securing inside doors whether for privacy or a mortice lock for security then thumb turn locks and escutcheons would be perfect for a beautiful internal look that blends with decor.
Whatever door furniture required by homeowners, then probably the hardest part will be choosing the right option for their needs. Obviously they can always be guided on styles, function and positioning to create a truly personal appearance.
ABUS UK has launched a new version of its X60 3* lock cylinder that adds a reassuring extra layer of security at a reasonable price to any door. The X60 holds market-leading accreditations and assurances with anti-snap properties on both sides, new sizes and versions, and a full ten-year guarantee. The launch will be backed by a full package of promotional materials and special offers for door and window companies, who can sell up door security and assure customers of top levels of burglar resistance on their doors using the ABUS X60.
ABUS is the leading name in locks and cylinders in Europe and its X60 is a first-rate 3* cylinder suite with anti-snap, -drill, -bump, -pick and plug extraction properties built-in as standard. It boasts a full range of accreditation from Secured by Design, SoldSecure Diamond Standard status, TS007 certification and a Kitemark Approval. To prove its confidence in the X60 range, ABUS is offering a full 10-year guarantee and a £1000 anti-burglary cashback guarantee. This offers homeowners up to £1000 cash if a property is broken into as a result of a burglar managing to gain entry via the ABUS X60 3* cylinder that has been properly installed, used and maintained.
The ABUS X60 3* cylinder is the perfect choice for residential doors including composite and PVC-U, as well for apartments with multi-entrances. The ABUS X60 can be keyed alike across a whole property between the standard X60 ABUS cylinder, a rim cylinder version for night latches, a padlock for sheds and garages and even an ABUS Bordo bike lock to offer homeowners the ultimate in one-key versatility for their home security and door and window providers the opportunity to sell up and sell on extra products.
To back this new launch for the X60, ABUS has produced an unrivalled range of promotional and point-of-sale materials to help door and window companies to make the most of the sales opportunities that the X60 offers. Leaflets, posters, counter-top displays as well as freestanding display & merchandisers all help our partners tell the ABUS X60 “Safe Not Sorry” story to homeowners.
ABUS has been making locks since 1924 and the company’s lock-making expertise lies at the heart of the padlocks they are so well-known for. ABUS is a global manufacturer of high quality, innovative security, access and safety solutions with a nearly 100 years’ history of innovation. ABUS UK is part of a worldwide group of companies that supplies and distributes a huge range of both electronic and mechanical security products and systems for home, mobile security and commercial security
www.abus.com/uk/
Leading UK security brand, Ultion, has unveiled a door key that uses the Apple Find My network to help locate an Ultion key when lost. KeyTag can sit inside any Ultion key and benefits from all the features Find My has to offer, including notifying users’ iPhone, iPad, and Mac if the key has been left behind, or playing a sound to locate it when nearby.
With Find My pre-installed on iPhone, iPad, and Mac, or using the Find Items app on Apple Watch, it’s easy to keep track of your keys, andreduces the frustration of hunting for lost keys.
KeyTag technology is baked into the door key with a discreet and slimline design that’s just 11mm thick, and comes in five different colours, two of which glow in the dark, and houses an easy-to-replace 2032 battery.
The Ultion key location is relayed to the owner through one of the hundreds of millions of Apple devices worldwide, and when within Bluetooth range a sounder in the key can be activated.
The Apple Find My network is end-to-end encrypted and anonymous. Location and history are never stored on the device and are not accessible by Apple or Ultion. Only the Ultion key owner will discover its location.
KeyTag is supplied as part of a new door key and works with the millions of Ultion locks already fitted. By using the unique encrypted code engraved on Ultion lock owner’s existing key, KeyTag keys can be cut and delivered using secure next-day delivery.
Using KeyTag with the Apple Find My network helps ensure that no one needs to lose their door key ever again.
Fenestration Digital is the industry’s most innovative way of getting your most important messages across. Fenestration Digital wants to promote your brand, products, and latest news across the fenestration industry.
Unlike any other publication, Fenestration Digital is part of a family of brands, they pool their connections between themselves, The National Fenestration Awards and FENEX - Fenestrations Expo to maximize reach and impressions further than ever before.
All PR sent to Fenestration Digital will feature almost immediately on their, fully news focused website, optimised for web and desktop. The news will then be posted onto their social media platforms, generating interactions hourly. Around the last week of every month, Fenestration Digital publishes an online, fully digital magazine which includes adverts, videos, and news articles of all the news we received that month.
This magazine is the first of its kind for this industry, designed specifically for digital media, it is much easier to read than printed media, turned digital. Not only that, but the magazine is also interactive and can incorporate many other digital assets including gifs and videos.
As well as website exposure, social media posts and monthly magazine slots, Fenestration Digital have added a new feature to their offering – Fenestration Digital News Flashes!
This is a targeted email send which will be released within 24 hours of them receiving your news. These new news flashes feature your news only, a headline ‘flash’ with a link to your story. Fenestrations Digital uses the data at their disposal (event and voting data) to specifically target the right email addresses, ensuring a higher interaction and intention.
This new way of targeting the correct audience with the correct news was conceived in January of this year and put into beta testing straight way. With much higher opening and click-through rates, some reaching over double the construction average, the Fenestration Digital Newsletter gave way to the new ‘News Flashes’ in February. Since then, the current customers have been able to take advantage of this revolutionary service.
The Fenestration Digital news flashes and monthly magazine reminders are sent to over 15,000 matched and targeted email addresses!
Fenestration Digital can play host to a variety of advertising, sponsorship and promotional opportunities including:
Monthly online interactive magazine
Optimized for web and bringing all the industry news direct to the industry. The fully digital magazine is packed with the latest news stories, features, editorial and adverts from the fenestration industry. Interactive links in the magazine and on their website connect readers directly to you.
Unlike print, Fenestration Digital embeds videos from YouTube or Vimeo on the magazine and website. Fenestration Digital is also the digital home of FENEX - leading the way in unique trade show events.
Advertising - Promoting your latest product or service with Fenestration Digital can give you an instant link through to your own website. They have tailored advertising solutions including banner advertisements, interactive video news ads, site, channel, and video sponsorship.
Press Releases - Supply Fenestration Digital with your latest news stories, product features, new appointments, employee achievements, new contracts, etc. Fenestration Digital offers the viewer the latest news articles, videos, ads and downloading of brochures specific to the industry.
Targeted news flashes - Brings daily trade specific and super targeted news, Press Releases, and innovations direct to the right inboxes.
Case Studies - Allowing industry suppliers to share and showcase their products and services through the experience of their customers. Let Fenestration Digital know what your clients and customers think about you and Fenestration will tell everyone else.
Video - Give your products and services a personality and create a visual advert which will be automatically linked through You Tube. Video productions are a great way to deliver training sessions, product usage and updates to customers.
Browsing - Allowing viewers to find their own current and archived news. Sectioned into categories, web visitors can also search for their favourite brands.
Recorded results
Unlike other printed publications, where many confuse a distribution list for a readership list. Fenestration Digital magazines and news flashes can be tracked showing how many opens, clicks and reads they have had.
Fenestration Digital welcomes all in the Fenestration industry to advertise with us. It could be in any sector: aluminium, timber, pvc, doors, windows, conservatories, roofs, hardware, installation, manufacturing, or trade. If you are in the industry, we want to hear from you!
Email: info@fenestrationdigital.co.uk | Visit: www.fenestrationdigital.co.uk
The pvc-u colour coating options from Kolorseal Ltd, are proving popular with homeowners looking at renovating traditional homes that have colour restrictions. More rural properties can have limitations when installing anything ‘new’, but for those looking to make their home define their lifestyle, the company’s Farrow and Ball and Little Greene colour matches are ticking all the right boxes.
As well as vertical sliding sash and casement windows, new composite doors have helped to make a real difference on older homes, with many recent projects incorporating pastel colours from the Kolorseal range. The best in thermal performance and guaranteed security are always top of the list for traditional cottage owners, however the design and style and particularly colour helps to maintain standards. Naturally, matching windows and doors are frequently supplied in the same colour, although the interiors can be sprayed different colours if there is an internal colour scheme to complement. Adhering to planners or architects’ specifications is extremely important on heritage properties so attention to detail is essential.
Additionally, for properties, located in exposed areas, then the windows and doors have to be carefully finished to ensure that the finished appearance will provide excellent performance once colours have been applied. This not only complies with any stipulations but also guarantees peace of mind for those homeowners wishing to complement the existing style of their home.
Deborah Hendry, Managing Director, Kolorseal Ltd comments:, “There are important things to consider when colour coating windows or doors on heritage homes. Additional treatments are applied in areas where weather extremes are frequent.The Kolorseal options ensure that style and overall appearance will meet the needs and specifications of homeowners and planners or architects. Recent projects demonstrate that the Kolorseal brand is recognised as one of the most advanced on the market today and will help fabricators and their customers to build their reputations.”
After considerable investment in larger facilities and new technology, Kolorseal offers excellent choice with one of the largest colour portfolios in the country. Both domestic and commercial projects have seen a steady increase recently for the team, with comprehensive support for customers that ensures they gain advantages over any competition.
Deborah concludes, “Our customers state that the consumer is looking to make a statement with strong visual aesthetics and added value. By supporting our fabricators with unique options, we are providing clear advantages that are helping them to reinforce their reputations and improve their sales margins.”
To learn more about Kolorseal’s latest projects or to discuss bespoke projects, go to the Kolorseal website: www.kolorseal.co.uk. Alternatively do call 01924 454856 to talk to one of the team about specific services available.
GQA Qualifications is a multi-industry awarding body writing vocational based qualifications to support a wide range of career paths.
If you are looking to retrain for a new career, or looking to develop your skills to open up opportunities why not consider practical training in window and door installation
Learn about Building Regulations, working safely on site, how to remove windows and doors from buildings and replace with new ones
All courses fully accredited and could contribute towards NVQ Qualifications
With further assessment and achievement, successful candidates can go forward to achieve CSCS Cards to enable them to work safely on site
Training delivered in Sheffield in a fully Covid secure environment
For more information on training contact sayhello@buildingourskills.co.uk
For more information on vocational qualifications and CSCS cards contact info@gqaqualifications.com
www.gqaqualifications.com
Collaboration currently underway with a new trade association is demonstrating the practicality of GQA’s ‘Bespoke Qualification Service’. GQA, the awarding and qualifications-writing organisation is assisting The Balustrade and Balcony Suppliers and Installers Association (BABSI), a new body fully launched in May 2022.
GQA’s Bespoke Qualification Service is aimed at employers who wish to be able to offer those staff undertaking very specific roles the opportunity to work towards gaining a qualification where one does not already exist. The service is perfect for niche, specialist areas, which do not lend themselves to meeting the required content of a standard regulated qualification.
In close consultation with BABSI, GQA is developing three one-day essential knowledge courses leading to a GQA/BABSI skills card in addition to a new NVQ Level 2 in Balustrading and Railings. The three courses include:
* Essential Knowledge of Balustrading Installation
* Supervising Balustrading Installation Projects
* Designing & Specifying Balustrading Installation Projects
The Essential Knowledge of Balustrading Installation course will cover topics such as an overview of the industry; product range; quality standards; building regulations relating to the industry; installing the product; and identifying problems with installations.
Representing designers, manufacturers, installers, raw material suppliers, distributors, contractors, component and specialist product and service suppliers throughout the sector, BABSI’s mission is to be the recognised voice of the balustrade and balcony sector. The organisation aims to establish stringent standards of quality and service in order to set a professional benchmark for the industry.
Commenting on the collaboration with GQA, BABSI’s CEO, Justin Ratcliffe said: “Qualifications are a standard against which everyone can be benchmarked equally. GQA’s Bespoke Qualification Service is helping us to prove competency not just through the development of specialist courses, but through the end-of-course testing procedure. We are anticipating that the new, bespoke qualifications will be available from quarter four this year.
“By joining BABSI and getting involved in the courses and the qualifications they offer, members are demonstrating their commitment to best practice, collaboration and improving the quality and understanding of the value of balustrades and balconies for their customers.”
Commenting on the Bespoke Qualification Service, GQA’s EQA/Technical Officer, Martin Sadler says: “It is disappointing when people in specific, specialist job functions are not able to develop their careers by working towards achieving a qualification because a relevant regulated option is not available. This is where our Bespoke Qualification Service can help. Developing a qualification tailored specifically to them, which carries the approval of GQA, means that employees can fully prove their competency, and employers can put into place for them a career progression route. Once developed, the qualification is exclusive to the employers concerned.
Mick Clayton CEO of GQA Qualifications added “Both our Accredited Training and Bespoke Qualification services are proving extremely popular. They demonstrate the need for a flexible approach to training. Here at GQA we have close to 200 qualifications covering a broad variety of sectors. The balustrade and balcony industry, just like any other, needs training solutions tailored to its specific needs. I’m proud that we are helping to facilitate this and contributing to raising standards and assisting in shaping careers.”
More information on GQA is available at www.gqaqualifications.com.
METICULOUSLY
BY
Graf Weld or Fully Mechanical
PAS 24 and Secured by Design
Energy Rated ‘A’
Our trade sales team is proudly made up of time-served industry experts. We're your local one-stop-shop for competitively priced, quality assured fenestration supply across Kent and the South East
When it comes to home security systems, professional installation would surely be the best way to go?
Consultations and expectations as well as discussions on budget options are all crucial, with installers able to give the reassurance needed for homeowners or renters who are investing.
Many home security companies offer consultations that include focus on security requirements and realising expectations. Product packages, bundles and industry knowledge will ensure that installers gain advantages when it comes to discussing with the end user years of industry experience to put you at ease.
While some security systems have adopted cellular mobile technology, there are definitely advantages to dropping a mail shot through a few letterboxes to gain some enquiries from homeowners who prefer to leave it to the professionals.
It is obvious that the installation fee may be considered a disadvantage by some, but the huge advantage of not having to do a thing about the installation is a very attractive prospect to many. For many consumers the thought of handling this type of installation is not the best solution for a new home security installation.
Offering the right equipment for the right project is probably more important that looking to build the sale. If the installation is of the highest quality then it will bring its own rewards with new referrals. Highlighting the home security systems benefits of different products will help greatly as they all have different tiers of services and prices. While those on a budget might consider DIY it is important to point out in a pitch that safety should never be compromised.
Evaluating budgets, will boil down to cost and any regular fees that may be attached. A professional installer would be best to highlight the monthly payments required for monitoring and the single cost of the equipment. Installers would be wise to read all the small print with the homeowners or the renting parties, before signing any security system contracts. Cancellation charges will undoubtedly apply after an initial trial period, while a house move will bring added fees for moving the equipment and re-installing.
Adding a security system to any home provides extra security and the reassurance that homeowners have another layer of protection against intruders. Sadly with crime statistics on the rise in just about every major city, whether owning or renting a property it is a sensible time to market installation skills.
varied support staff on hand, both hard support and soft support All of our team are incredible experienced which helps them get to the support requests, promptly and
support team work in the background, providing technical updates, monitoring and security checks. This very best service levels are for our customers.
support team, deal directly with our helping them through product providing quick demonstration even tailoring their software to individual business needs.
CAN EVEN ASSIST
7 SYSTEM
Luke Smith
Director | The Green Room Building Co
honesty it was di cult to find a fault with the and understood the reasoning as to why developed. It simply helps a trade business to its best and has certainly helped us evidence of the quality of our work, keep jobs and have comfort in being able to see footage/notes and photos being taken from site installations if we as company owners are not physically there ourselves.
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That’s a bold statement I know. PVCu still makes up around the majority of the residential market. For example, there is around double the number of PVCu fabricators compared to aluminium fabricators. I believe that the status quo is beginning to change. The pace of change within the sector is happening at a rapid pace, and against a backdrop of recession, the sector is very quickly seeking new ways to win new business. With the PVCu market bearing the brunt of price increases and stagnant innovation, aluminium is best placed to dent the dominance of PVCu in the next decade.
At the end of last year, it became clear to those that were not letting themselves get carried away by the previous 18 month’s worth of boom that things were changing. Inflation, which I had long been warning would become a problem, was becoming a problem. The cost of living was spiralling out of control and has since become worse. It was clear the boom was coming to a fairly robust end.
2022 has been a very different year from the two previous. Various industry reports show that leads are down and down hard. Price inflation is now skewing figures, with sales, in general, slowing down significantly. Away from social media, private conversations with some candour and honesty paint a rather tough picture for the coming 12-18 months.
However, one area that continues to perform strongly is aluminium. One company I spoke with last week is doing so well that they are investing vast sums into online and social media advertising to press home an advantage they already have. In fact, if you look at platforms like Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook, they are littered with aluminium companies making the most of a huge surge in interest in aluminium entrance doors and internal doors, aluminium windows as well as bi-folding doors and sliders.
In my experience, it is also the wealthier bracket that is most interested in these products. For the duration of 2022, our own installations businesses have made a concerted effort to promote products like aluminium bi-folding doors, sliders, aluminium windows, as well as flush PVCu windows and Spitfire entrance doors. We could see the change happen at the end of 2021 and we knew this year would be very different to last year and that the types of people buying windows and doors over the previous 18 months would slam the brakes on spending. As it turns out we were right, and we were also right to focus more on the very high-end part of the market. The part of the market where the demographic of people is not swayed by a crisis or high inflation. This strategy is paying off. We are part way into a three-year plan and we’re ahead of where we need to be.
It’s worth noting that volumes and leads are down comfortably on last year at our place, but the types of contracts and the average contract value is significantly higher which is driving our growth. And almost all of that growth is via the products I have just mentioned. We are also constructing two brand new showrooms all dedicated to aluminium and bespoke aluminium entrance doors, such is our belief in the potential growth of this part of the market. It’s going to be a hell of an experience for the client to be able to sit down in these stunning spaces we’re building.
If you take a look at all the latest data, wherever you get your industry reports from, you’ll see how fast the growth in aluminium sales and fabrication is, and how sustained the decline is in PVCu fabrication. Installers are flocking to aluminium to tap into a residential market that continues to explode in growth.
Fabricators that were once solely PVCu people are now adding aluminium to their portfolios. I will make a bold claim here: within three years we shall see another PVCu systems company either acquire an aluminium systems company or develop their own aluminium systems to sit alongside their PVCu ones. Deceuninck is one of the first to have a fully-fledged aluminium system alongside their PVCu one. Eurocell has an aluminium bi-fold option, but it stops there.
As for fabricators adding aluminium to their wider product offering, this would be a prudent move in a market that continues to cool and with the raw number of fabricators in the UK declining. If you can keep your installer customers all in the same place, and reduce dual-sourcing as much as possible, you stand to gain more growth from your existing clients than having to go out and find new ones.
Aluminium bi-folding doors and sliders are boosting growth in the aluminium window market. At the start of the resurgence of residential aluminium, it was led firmly by bi-folding doors and sliders. Since then, roots in the market become deep and strong, with aluminium windows quickly growing more popular. That popularity seems to be contained to the upper part of the market, for now. I am seeing evidence of it bleeding through into wider parts of the market, not classically upper end, and I think that trend over the longer term will continue.
I also think more and more of the market believes that this is the direction the sector is going in. It almost feels like there is a rush to join the aluminium bandwagon now before it becomes too full and the early opportunities have gone. So many fabricators are pushing aluminium now, and installers are doing the same. Social media advertising is crammed full of aluminium products, with some brand new companies appearing that only deal exclusively in aluminium.
Do I think aluminium will overtake PVCu totally? No. There are more budget parts of the market that simply won’t entertain the higher price bracket that aluminium sits in, even in the cheaper systems. The mass housing market will also stick with PVCu as it’s the most cost-effective option for them. You might get some smaller niche builders which may offer it in the future, but not on mass.
But do I think residential aluminium will end up taking a decent chunk out of the market dominance of PVCu in the next 5-10 years? Yes. There is a clear market move towards it, the data backs it up, and anyone with any form of social media platform will already be seeing the trends.
If you’re a PVCu fabricator that still hasn’t thought about adding aluminium as an option, I would start thinking about it sooner rather than later. The market has cooled off massively and new ways to generate revenue are going to become very important very quickly. The same goes for installers that as of yet are too hesitant to decide to add aluminium to their own offerings.
Vitrine aluminium - Cheshire’s premium aluminium systems manufacturer that can do it all, a true one stop shop for aluminium.
The business has already outgrown its premises twice since inception, they are currently recruiting more staff and investing in more machinery. Growth, as steady and sustainable as this, required some very long hours from Duane and Paul. Duane’s wife, Sarah, has also helped, along with Paul’s dad John, and brother, Geoff, whose support has been invaluable in getting to where they are today.
Vitrine Aluminium is now looking forward to settling into their new premises and adding more products to their current offering.
When it’s time to choose the right aluminium products for your business or home needs, you can count on Vitrine Aluminium for quality products that will fit your budget. They guarantee you receive only the best quality products in Cheshire delivered to you in no time and totally hassle free.
Existing products
• Bi fold doors - With sleek sightlines.
• Lift & slide/inline sliding doors - Boasting an impressive 47mm interlock and a range of paint finishes (colour matched hardware available).
• Bespoke curtain wall designs - Built to suit all projects both residential and commercial.
• Roof lanterns - The most stylish and secure roof lantern on the market.
• Flat roof lights - Stunning aluminium framed rooflights.
• Commercial doors and framing - With excellent thermals and hardware range.
• Aluminium windows - Beautifully finished flush to the inside.
• All expertly fabricated.
New products
Vitrine Aluminium is pleased to announce that after a successful System 1 FPC Audit, they are now able to manufacture multiple solutions to EN12101-2 NSHEV AOV requirements.
Their all-new commercial doors and ground floor treatment have been a real hit - with its enhanced thermal insulation and a lowlevel Part M compliant threshold as standard. The quality of the product and the wide range of hardware is very impressive A brand-new window profile is due to be launched mid-August/ September boasting lovely slim sightlines and impressive thermal qualities.
Vitrine Aluminium are proud to have partnered up with several names in the fenestration industry and have recently installed one of their fantastic lift & slide patio doors in an impressive showroom environment.
Although this showroom is filled with premium product brand names, Vitrine Aluminium’s standout from the rest boasting a slim 47mm interlock and finished in textured matt black. This has proved to be a hit with their customers. Vitrine’s products will also feature in another showroom in Cheshire and one in Wakefield in the coming months - so watch this space! Vitrine Aluminium feels that their customer focused attitude alongside their unique product offerings keeps the Vitrine brand growing, and more industry recognition means more exposure than ever before.
Vitrine Aluminium are very proud of their National Fenestration Award for ‘Bi folding Door Manufacturer of The Year 2021’. Director Duane Rogers credited his business partners and family, as well as the support from his suppliers after collecting the trophy at last year’s winners event. Duane commented: “It’s taken a lot of hard work to get to where we are now, and we want to thank all who voted for us”.
The idea for Vitrine Aluminium has been in the pipeline for nearly 15 years, since Duane and fellow director, Paul Fradley, met at a large independent fabricator in Altrincham where they both worked and soon became good friends, aged just 16. After working together and separately for many years, and gathering a plethora of experience along the way, Vitrine Aluminium was finally born.
In the 2022 National Fenestration Awards, Vitrine has once again made the shortlist for Bi folding Door Manufacturer of The Year and Aluminium Fabricator Of The Year awards. You can vote for them here: www.fenestrationawards.co.uk/vote/.
Vitrine Aluminium are looking forward to showcasing their products with a stand at the FENEX Telford 2023 trade show, which will be held at the International Centre Telford. From signing-up, Vitrine Aluminium has been supported by FENEX every step of the way. With FENEX’s customer focus and help in tailoring their offerings to suit Vitrine’s business needs. Vitrine are looking forward to dipping their toe into the world of exhibiting in 2023.
For more information on Vitrine Aluminium and the whole product offering please visit their website www.vitrinealu.co.uk. Call 01925 387099 or email them at info@vitrinealuminium.com.
Vitrine Aluminium will also be exhibiting at FENEX 2023 at Telford in April. Get your ticket to meet them in person here.
Kolorseal Ltd has once again been recognised for consistently high standards with a finalist nomination in the NFA22s for colour coating services to the industry. Recognised as a consistently reliable supplier to the UK fenestration sector the company has reached finalist stage in two categories: Colour Specialist Of The Year and Director of the Year.
With customer services kept as priorities for the colour coating specialists, the awards acknowledge excellence in the sector. They require both nomination and voting for by peers in the industry to reach finalist stage.
Deborah Hendry, Managing Director believes that to have been nominated again reflects incredibly well on the whole team.
She comments, “There is evidently great belief in the services and standards we offer, which is the best recognition a company can achieve. To have been nominated and reached finalist stage this year is a real accreditation to the team; and this for the 4th year in a row.
I personally, am extremely humbled by the finalist nomination which is such an incredible acknowledgement from the fenestration sector.”
With the National Fenestration Awards being industry led, this reinforces the reputation of the company in a fair and open way, Deborah Hendry believes.
Deborah continues, “The NFAs has gained such recognition now and demonstrates the high standards of the industry. It is such a boost for everyone.
The real dedication given by the whole team makes us all very proud indeed to have been acknowledged. It is so very encouraging to see all the hard work we provide to customers is reflected by the NFA finalist nominations.”
For more information on Kolorseal or to discuss project requirements please call 01924 454856 or alternatively visit the website www.kolorseal.co.uk to view the services offers.
Those wishing to take part in the voting can do so here: www.fenestrationawards.co.uk/vote/
Whatever style, size or configuration of conservatory your customers require, Eurocell can supply the components to create the outdoor room of their dreams.
Our latest contemporary conservatory design uses a combination of our exclusive pilaster system, our slimline roof system and our modern highline gutter to create a conservatory for the 21st century.
Our bespoke conservatory solution enables you to fabricate any conservatory design, or you can choose from our range of classic styles, including Victorian, Edwardian, gable-ended and contemporary conservatories.
Sheerline have invested over £1 million in a new state-of-the-art powder coating plant, bringing the most important secondary process that happens to aluminium profiles in house for the first time. This further investment in their fully vertically integrated, single site UK manufacturing facility helps strengthen Sheerline’s ability to offer its customers the very best service and quality possible. Ensuring that every Sheerline profile has a beautiful, consistent and blemish free finish.
Greg Grabski, Garnalex’s Powder Coating Plant Manager explains, ‘In the past, we have relied on third party suppliers to powder coat our products, - using well known and well-respected companies to keep up with the growing demand for the Sheerline range. Traditionally this has meant transporting mill finished profiles from our warehouse to the powder coaters, waiting for them to process it, then collecting it back, before it’s put into stock. This obviously racks up mileage, increases the products carbon footprint, and unavoidably introduces an extra incremental opportunity for damage to occur.
By investing in our own powder coating facility, housed next door to our Hybrex aluminium press we have built in efficiencies and significantly reduced stock movement – taking up to 5 weeks out of the process involved in putting painted profiles into stock. This added agility, ensures we can fulfil customers’ orders on time and in full, as well as giving us direct control over quality checks, with the ability to rectify any issues in hours rather than weeks. I come from the automotive industry – where I gained my experience in running quality obsessed painting operations. I will be using these skills and the higher quality expectations that automotive supply chains work to embed the correct processes and procedures into our operation - ensuring Sheerline’s powder coating is best-in-class.’
With one of the very best seven stage chrome free pre-treatment systems and a GEMA Magic Cylinder fast colour change system at the heart of their painting facility, the powder coating plant has been sited adjacent to their incredibly efficient modern aluminium press to optimise production flow, ensuring they keep up with their customers appetite for the award winning Sheerline range.
‘Our intention is to exceed the standards defined by Qualicoat as a matter of course. Qualicoat is primarily a commercial specification standard, that is less appropriate for residential aluminium windows and doors. Visual acuity checks that are based on a 3m viewing distance may work for large commercial contracts but leave many homeowners understandably disgruntled. Lots of windows just can’t be viewed from that distance internally. As we bed our new operation in, we will be looking to tighten these standards to offer a better service to customers and more peace-of-mind for homeowners.’
As one of only a handful of systems companies that extrude and paint themselves, Sheerline already stands head and shoulders above most of the competition. However, their truly unique edge in the market is how the new inhouse painting capabilities combine with their unique Thermlock® thermal breaks. The way Sheerline has been designed enables profiles to be rolled quickly to meet each customer order – enabling them to offer any dual colour combination, from a standard 12 colour range in just 10 days. This agility gives customers the confidence to use colour and service levels as a key selling aid against rival systems.
All Sheerline systems are available in a range of 12 colours. Pure White, Anthracite Grey and Jet Black in matt as well as Hipca Gloss White, alongside Cream, Agate Grey, Squirrel Grey, Pastel Turquoise and Chocolate Brown and three anodised metallic effects. Coupled with an efficient bespoke colour service that only adds an average of a week to orders, Sheerline customers are well placed to keep up with the latest colour trends to ensure they meet their installers and homeowners needs.
To learn more about Colour by Sheerline, visit www.sheerline.com/colour. You can also call 01332 978000 or email info@sheerline.com. Follow @SheerlineSystem for the latest news and updates.
This might be the very first time you are considering changing your sash window supplier. Or, perhaps you just want to try an alternative award winning sash window specialist to offer your customers a wider choice. Either way, we would like to help you to increase your VS sales.
With 32 years focussed on manufacturing high quality timber alternative sash windows, we are true specialists and confident that our products will impress your customers. We have also earned a sound reputation for always providing an exceptional level of personal service and our entire team are committed to delivering this.
Our new specification launched in 2019 featuring exclusive new Masterframe Systems, standard with patented Timberweld® technology and we would welcome the opportunity to take you through the improved product offering and delighted to quote.
No matter the size or design of a home or project, if sash windows are required then we can help. If a specialist solution is needed for a conservation area, modern development, school or historic building our sash windows add the right amount of authentic styling to either fit seamlessly into original settings or set the property apart from other new developments.
To see the choices, including patented Timberweld® corner design, download our new brochures here.
Some of the advantages we offer as standard:
10 year guarantee for peace of mind
Made in Britain for continuity
BBA Approval on standard window sizes for longevity
Energy Savings Trust recommended for energy efficiency
Specialist solutions for challenging projects that require matching new to original designs
Free and safe UK mainland delivery
Quotes with non-priced customer proposal
CAD drawings where required
Expert technical support
Free 47 page professional conservation guide
Free product training
Call our friendly sales team on 01376 510410 or email for a quote here.
Building Our Skills - Making Fenestration, Glass and Glazing a Career of Choice has received a further boost to its campaign to take the industry to the education sector as the starting point for creating a workforce for tomorrow. Four members of the technical team from GQA Qualifications have enrolled to be a part of the ‘Inspiring the Future’ programme that Building Our Skills is promoting alongside the Education and Employers Charity.
Setting a great example to employers in the industry, the team from the fenestration industry’s leading awarding and qualifications-writing organisation has signed up to support the campaign by volunteering to visit schools to help inform youngsters about the possibilities for their future careers, and what they could achieve if they join the Fenestration, Glass and Glazing industry.
Inspiring The Future has been designed to connect young people with the world of work through volunteers. It is seen by Building Our Skills as key in helping to acquaint school age children and their teachers with the industry, and to communicate to them the broad range of job roles and career paths it offers.
The campaign connects volunteers to state primary and secondary schools via its free match-making platform. Volunteers are asked to give just one hour a year to the programme, although they can choose to do more if they wish in order to help inspire children. The first step is to register on the website of Building Our Skills and complete a very simple application form. Teachers who have signed their schools up to the programme can see details of the volunteer, where they are based and the industry they are in, and then invite them to talk to their school about the job they do and the industry they do it in.
Invitations for in-person school visits are based around volunteers being local to the school in question. Virtual visits can also be delivered from anywhere in the UK. Volunteers are supported by the Inspiring the Future team and are given access to training videos as well as training webinars and forums should they wish.
Building Our Skills has highlighted the Education Sector as the single most important area for the industry to focus on to raise awareness of the opportunities it offers and to inspire future generations to look to Fenestration, Glass and Glazing as a career of choice.
Mark Handley, Building Our Skills’ Partnerships Manager, says:“I’m delighted that GQA’s technical team has agreed to support the Inspiring the Future campaign by volunteering. We’re now well on the way to achieving our primary objective of securing 50 industry volunteers. I’ve been very pleased with the response, but I urge the fenestration industry to acknowledge the need to get more involved with schools and colleges. Working with Inspiring the Future is a great approach to attracting new talent to the industry, and teaching youngsters about the sheer breadth of roles it has on offer. I think anyone volunteering would find it all very rewarding.”
Those interested in volunteering can do so by clicking here. Or for more information on this campaign and Building Our Skills - Making Fenestration, Glass and Glazing a Career of Choice - visit www.buildingourskills.co.uk
GQA Qualifications is a multi-industry awarding body writing vocational based qualifications to support a wide range of career paths.
If you are looking to retrain for a new career, or looking to develop your skills to open up opportunities why not consider practical training in window and door installation
Learn about Building Regulations, working safely on site, how to remove windows and doors from buildings and replace with new ones
All courses fully accredited and could contribute towards NVQ Qualifications
With further assessment and achievement, successful candidates can go forward to achieve CSCS Cards to enable them to work safely on site
Training delivered in Sheffield in a fully Covid secure environment
For more information on training contact sayhello@buildingourskills.co.uk
For more information on vocational qualifications and CSCS cards contact info@gqaqualifications.com
www.gqaqualifications.com
Our trade sales team is proudly made up of time-served industry experts. We're your local one-stop-shop for competitively priced, quality assured fenestration supply across Kent and the South East
As technology becomes more intertwined into our every day lives, our priorities are changing. Sustainability, Energy Efficiency and connectivity are now becoming increasingly important in building design and renovation.
Without sensors, microchips and smart technology that collects data about usage, homeowners have no real measure about heating, lighting, electrical expenditure or security.
These automated systems are now very much in focus for the consumer, with optimising space and evaluating how to gain the most cost effective way to run a household or office space major priorities.
Improving performance by reducing energy use, minimises any building’s environmental impact. Without updating, homes will remain pretty much as they were for decades - a shelter from a storm.
Sustainability is a priority with well-being and human/robotic integration now important as remote monitoring provides greater reassurance. As the world has changed so have we, with the desire for truly usable and traceable spaces now an essential for many. The inter-connected, smart building uses technology to control building usage including lighting, heating, air conditioning and security, which remove the challenge associated with estimating building maintenance costs.
Being flexible and adaptable is a choice many people want in their home as an extension of the simplicity provided by today’s digital technology. We all want easier and healthier lives and smart buildings provide that.
Lighting sensors, for example, can monitor occupancy of a room. Smart systems for heating such as HIVE can assist in setting different temperatures for different rooms and so much more. Devices and smart systems can be connected to each other so that all things can be monitored from one smart phone.
This growth is a reflection of the desire for improved health and reduced energy consumption which are the main drivers. Naturally, the main IT companies have started to engage in the idea with Google, Microsoft, Amazon etc looking at products that will help us manage the varying demands of the different buildings we live or work in.
There are wired and wireless options out there, so we have a wide variety of digital solutions for renovation projects or new builds, with large variety available to suit most budgets.
Wireless technology will undoubtedly continue to grow and adapt to our changing needs with the advancement of the IoT and the desire to incorporate smart systems into building and home automation.
METICULOUSLY
Graf Weld or Fully Mechanical
PAS 24 and Secured by Design
Energy Rated ‘A’
Eurocell plc, the leading provider of high-quality PVC-U building products has been nominated in ten categories in the prestigious National Fenestration Awards 2022.
These ten nominations recognise the excellence achieved over the past year, with a focus on the innovation and development of new products, including the specially designed Kyube Plus Garden Room range, and the continued success of Eurocell recycling.
The awards, which are now in their tenth year, are designed to be allinclusive with the winners of the awards decided by other individuals working in the UK fenestration industry. The independent awards recognise all areas of the industry, rewarding the very best businesses, products and individuals within the sector. Eurocell has been shortlisted in an impressive ten categories, an incredible accomplishment for the company and the most nominations Eurocell has received at the NFAs.
The list of nominations covers a range of different aspects across the business, from New Product 2022, Conservatory Product of the Year and PVC Systems Company of the Year to Digital Marketing Campaign and Young Person of the Year. Andy McDonnell, Managing Director of Eurocell plc commented; “It’s a huge achievement to be recognised at the National Fenestration Awards 2022.
The awards celebrate excellence within the industry and all the team and I are extremely proud of being nominated in ten different categories. The varied nominations recognise the commitment and dedication from all the teams and departments within the business.”
Over the past year, Eurocell has continued to create sustainable and highquality products, as well as provide professional and helpful services to both installers and homeowners, with the expansion of the branch network across the UK.
The award nomination in the ‘Recycling Company of the Year’ category highlights this continued advancement of services and product development. Eurocell is proud to be the UK’s leading specialists in PVC-U recycling, collection, and extrusion, recycling over 2.4 million window and door frames last year, the equivalent to 3700 double-decker buses. Together the advanced recycling system, expertise in the industry and award-winning recycling plant are helping to shape the future of recycling in the industry.
Voting for the NFA 2022 is now open, if you would like to cast your vote, please visit: www.fenestrationawards.co.uk/vote/
Whatever style, size or configuration of conservatory your customers require, Eurocell can supply the components to create the outdoor room of their dreams.
Our latest contemporary conservatory design uses a combination of our exclusive pilaster system, our slimline roof system and our modern highline gutter to create a conservatory for the 21st century.
Our bespoke conservatory solution enables you to fabricate any conservatory design, or you can choose from our range of classic styles, including Victorian, Edwardian, gable-ended and contemporary conservatories.
One of the leading fenestration shaping companies, Aluminium Bending Specialists, have announced that they will be exhibiting at FENEX in Telford in April 2023.
Based in Nottingham and with over 27 years of experience, ABS are set to demonstrate their range of awe-inspiring curved aluminium solutions. There is nothing else like this in the market and product like their curved and shaped doors and their aluminium bending fabrication are set to wow visitors when the doors to the Telford International Centre open next year.
With demand for aluminium growing rapidly in the residential part of the fenestration market, so will demand for shaped aluminium products too. Installers looking to make the most of the rise in demand for aluminium will want to make sure they visit Aluminium Bending Specialists over the three days.
Lee Clarke, Director of FENEX, commented: “Aluminium Bending Specialists are a unique and fantastic company to bring on board with FENEX. Their expertise in the aluminium and bending markets within fenestration are going to make them a must-see for all of our visitors over the course of the show. Products like their porthole windows, bay windows and curved shaped casement windows are going to be major attractions and we can’t wait to see what else they will bring to the show!”
Rob Gavin, Sales Director at Aluminium Bending Specialists said: “it’s an exciting time to be coming on board with FENEX. Demand for aluminium is rising and so is the requirement for shaped frames within aluminium. ABS are the best placed to bring our dedicated services to the fenestration sector and we’re looking forward to meeting new and existing clients and helping them open up new opportunities.”
FENEX is bringing fenestration back to it’s spiritual home of the Telford International Centre in April 2023. With exhibition space quickly being snapped up, it’s set to be a festival of fenestration, hosting endless new products, tackling the sector’s biggest issues through an extensive seminar programme, and with dedicated areas for installers, tech and fabricators.
To find out more about FENEX and to enquire about exhibiting, go to: www.fenex.co.uk. You can find out more about Aluminium Bending Specialists and their wide array of products and services, visit: www.absltd.co.uk
16x more rigid than reinforced PVC-U, Sheerline’s aluminium composite door frame eliminates door ‘bounce’ and is the perfect way to provide a premium feel to your installations. Perfectly matching the rest of the Sheerline range. Frames are available in 44mm and 48/49mm sizes to cover most popular composite door blanks.
varied support staff on hand, both hard support and soft support All of our team are incredible experienced which helps them get to the support requests, promptly and
support team work in the background, providing technical updates, monitoring and security checks. This very best service levels are for our customers.
support team, deal directly with our helping them through product providing quick demonstration even tailoring their software to individual business needs.
CAN EVEN ASSIST
7 SYSTEM
Luke Smith
Director | The Green Room Building Co
honesty it was di cult to find a fault with the and understood the reasoning as to why developed. It simply helps a trade business to its best and has certainly helped us evidence of the quality of our work, keep jobs and have comfort in being able to see footage/notes and photos being taken from site installations if we as company owners are not physically there ourselves.
ONSITE7.CO.UK
60
Quotes available in 60 minutes
Ideal for vision panels in doors, the Uni-Blinds® ScreenView® integral blind system provides the perfect solution for balancing patient confidentiality and privacy with observation and monitoring. Being permanently encapsulated within the double glazed units in windows, doors and partitions, this unique blind system is safe, easy to use, hygienic and maintenance-free, whilst enabling privacy in an instant.
morleyglass.co.uk
The UK’s leading integral blind manufacturer Morley Glass has launched a new system designed specifically for hospitals, medical schools and other health and social care facilities.
ScreenView® balances the need for patient privacy and observation, allowing for easy switching between the two at different times of the day. Unlike any of the Venetian or pleated blinds available in the current Uni-Blinds range, ScreenView® has two layers of wide slats arranged in a ladder style, which move up and down to provide an open view for observation or complete closure.
The blind is perfect for door vision panels and other windows that separate a healthcare facility’s communal or public areas from private spaces such as treatment facilities, consultation rooms, operating theatres and patient rooms. Unlike vision panel flaps and externally mounted blinds, ScreenView® blind requires no cleaning or maintenance, other than routine cleaning of the control know, and it is protected from the daily knocks and accidents that can easily damage blinds in busy public environments.
Being permanently sealed within the glass unit, the ScreenView® blind is never exposed to dirt or germs, so it stays pristine over its lifespan. And, as an additional safeguard, the blind’s control mechanism is protected with a Sanitized® antimicrobial coating to help with infection control.
Safety is optimised further when ScreenView® is coupled with certified fire rated glass in insulated glass units. One of the benefits of specifying integral blinds from Morley Glass is having the flexibility to choose from different types of glass to meet different performance goals, and that includes enhanced fire resistance through the company’s partnership with Pyroguard.
This means ScreenView® blinds can be specified to provide passive fire protection, with assured performance of 30, 60 or 120 minutes, depending on the building requirements. It all adds up to a privacy and shading system that is hygienic, practical and fully compatible with designs in line with Approved Document B in England & Wales, as well as the equivalent regulations in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Ian Short, Managing Director of Morley Glass said:
“ScreenView® gives specifiers and facilities managers a new option for controlling privacy and shading in healthcare environments that allows other important design objectives such as fire safety, hygiene, infection control and aesthetics to be met. We can provide specialist specification and design guidance to help achieve the right solution using ScreenView®, as well as the other integral blind solutions in our Uni-Blinds® portfolio.”
As with every product in the Uni-Blinds range, ScreenView® is manufactured by Morley Glass in Leeds using the world-renowned ScreenLine® integral blind systems from Italian pioneer Pellini S.p.A. The system is also available in the industry’s shortest lead times – just 10-12 days when ordered by 10am on Thursdays. To find out more visit www.morleyglass.co.uk.
Cheshire based Vitrine Aluminium have partnered up with several large companies within the fenestration industry to showcase their products in all their showrooms.
Vitrine Aluminium are proud to now supply a large supply and fit, consumer company in Cheshire who pride themselves in offering high-quality products with unbeatable service and fast turnaround on all their products.
Vitrine Aluminium is an award-winning manufacturer of aluminium windows, doors, patios, bifolds, rooflights, lanterns, curtain walling, commercial doors, and framing systems. Their most recent award was the 2021 National Fenestration Award for bi-folding door manufacturer of the year.
One of Vitrine Aluminium’s fantastic lift & slide patio doors has been installed in an impressive showroom. Although this showroom is filled with premium product brand names, Vitrine Aluminium’s stands out from the rest. Boasting a slim 47mm interlock lift & slide patio door finished in textured matt black. This impressive door has proved to be a big hit with all their customers.
Lift & Slide patio doors are the perfect integrating element that connects rooms or gardens with external spaces. They provide a convenient exit to the balcony, terrace, or garden, and truly bring the outside in. Unlike the ever popular bi-folding door, when in the open position, the lift & slide patio door does not take up space inside the room. This is particularly important for the interior design of the room, and the exterior space, which is often overlooked.
Innovative and practical, their aluminium patio door systems are an alternative to a set of French or folding sliding doors. The narrow profile faces create a dramatic removable wall that provides uninterrupted views to the outdoors. Fabricated by Cheshire’s premium patio door supplier. These doors still enable good contact with the environment which further increases comfort within the room. MB59LS gives you great possibilities in applications of lift & slide patio doors and is the optimized solution in terms of construction and dimensions of its profiles and frames.
With its high thermal and sound insulation, combined with excellent water and air tightness, MB-59LS meets all the requirements for energy conservation and environmental protection. In terms of thermal insulation, MB-59LS profiles have two different variants: ST and HI. The range of available profiles include 2- and 3-rail frames, and leaves that are adapted to two heights of rolling devices. A wide range of glazing enables both double and triple glazing units, including safety and sound insulation units.
Due to its characteristics, the MB-59LS can be used in various types of buildings: individual buildings, hotels, or apartments. With its low sightlines and slim appearance, installing these doors makes the most of every view in every situation. Vitrine Aluminium has also secured another two showroom partnerships with some fantastic companies one in Cheshire and another in Wakefield who are keen to put several of their products on show so watch this space for more news in the coming months.
Vitrine Aluminium’s customer focused attitude alongside their unique product offerings mean the Vitrine brand is growing, and they are quickly gathering more notoriety and affirmation from the fenestration industry and beyond. Duane Rogers, co-founder, and co-owner of Vitrine Aluminium concludes “We’ve worked hard to get Vitrine Aluminium where it is today. It has taken a lot of work for Paul, me, and our whole team, in these last couple of years but it is exciting to see the fruits of our labour skyrocket our brand higher and higher. We’re excited to form more partnerships and create more sales for ourselves and our partners in the near future”.
For more information on Vitrine Aluminium and the whole product offering please visit their website. Call 01925 387099 or email them at Info@vitrinealuminium.com. Vitrine will also be exhibiting at FENEX 2023 at Telford in April. Get your ticket to meet them in person here - fenex-2023.reg.buzz/.
More possibilities to cut shapes and free forms on laminated glass. Can be integrated into an existing line, or as stand-alone machine. This compact machine uses synchronised turning cutting heads, providing precise results that match the cutting plan.
• Automatic cutting of free forms in laminated glass
• Can be used as part of a cutting line or as stand-alone machine
• Laser foil separation can be installed at a later date
This might be the very first time you are considering changing your sash window supplier. Or, perhaps you just want to try an alternative award winning sash window specialist to offer your customers a wider choice. Either way, we would like to help you to increase your VS sales.
With 32 years focussed on manufacturing high quality timber alternative sash windows, we are true specialists and confident that our products will impress your customers. We have also earned a sound reputation for always providing an exceptional level of personal service and our entire team are committed to delivering this.
Our new specification launched in 2019 featuring exclusive new Masterframe Systems, standard with patented Timberweld® technology and we would welcome the opportunity to take you through the improved product offering and delighted to quote.
No matter the size or design of a home or project, if sash windows are required then we can help. If a specialist solution is needed for a conservation area, modern development, school or historic building our sash windows add the right amount of authentic styling to either fit seamlessly into original settings or set the property apart from other new developments.
To see the choices, including patented Timberweld® corner design, download our new brochures here.
Some of the advantages we offer as standard:
10 year guarantee for peace of mind
Made in Britain for continuity
BBA Approval on standard window sizes for longevity
Energy Savings Trust recommended for energy efficiency
Specialist solutions for challenging projects that require matching new to original designs
Free and safe UK mainland delivery
Quotes with non-priced customer proposal
CAD drawings where required
Expert technical support
Free 47 page professional conservation guide
Free product training
Call our friendly sales team on 01376 510410 or email for a quote here.
As the saying goes, the bigger the boom, the bigger the bust. 2020 and 2021 were major boom years for the fenestration sector, as the public invested their spare cash into their homes.
Now, as rampant inflation spirals out of control, and a cost-of-living crisis hobbles consumer spending, our industry faces perhaps the most prolonged period of difficulty since the Great Recession of 2008/2009.
Do not wait until it’s too late
Last week we got a huge dump of data and predictions from the Bank of England. It was essentially confirming what we all knew was happening in our economy already, but it spelt out clearly the problems the UK economy faces in the next 18 months. These were the key points from the Bank of England forecasts:
• UK to fall into recession by Q4 of 2022
• BoE predicts recession to last until end of 2023 – some estimates say 7 quarters of recession are possible
• GDP set to fall by 1% in Q4 of 2022
• Inflation expected to peak at 13.3% according to the BoE, some estimates go as high as 15%
• Inflation is expected to stay near 10% throughout much of 2023
• GDP is forecast to fall 2.25%
• Unemployment is forecast to rise from 3.7% to 6.3% in three years
That is about as grim a set of bullet points as you could wish to see. Be that as it may, that is the new reality we now face as a sector. We have spent the last two years enjoying unprecedented demand. This is the hangover.
We have been enjoying the public investing in their homes for a prolonged period. Now we’re looking at the public scaling back home improvements over the next couple of years. There is a genuine chance that the progress and expansion made during the last two years will be unwound.
But here’s the thing about forecasts; they’re meant to be broken. If we know what is coming down the road, we can adapt. We can change things. Try new ideas. Invent and innovate. The progress we have made will be given up only if we let it. We must work even harder to maintain the ground we have gained.
New products key to success
2023 and 2024 are going to be hard. Easily the biggest period of instability since the Great Recession of 2008. Although the drop in GDP won’t be the same as back then, the public is
going to feel this perhaps even worse. During the 2008 crisis, there was no cost-of-living crisis, no war in Ukraine, no rampant inflation. There was the Lehman Brothers bankruptcy and the financial crisis that followed. But the personal cost of the problems back then was not as acute as they are right now.
This is the new reality of upcoming trading conditions. The silver lining is that we know what is coming down the road. You won’t get much honesty in the PR that goes out to the press, but the honest conversations I am having indicate that the downturn is in full swing in a general sense. The advantage we have here is that we know what we’re facing so we can begin to act immediately rather than wait until conditions deteriorate further.
New products will be the key to finding new success in tougher times. It’s what we did during the last recession and it worked well for those who committed to that investment.
Both fabricators and installers need to be looking at what more they can offer. For example, fabricators that only currently produce PVCu products really should consider adding an aluminium offering. There is huge growth in this area and there will be for a while to come. Rather than have installers dual-source or look elsewhere for their aluminium needs, fabricators who can offer both will ensure their existing installer clients are spending as much as they can in one place.
Installers need to be looking at what they are offering the homeowner. I have mentioned aluminium, but other parts of fenestration are growing well, such as flush windows, lantern roofs, and high-end entrance doors. Although certain demographics are going to struggle in the coming years, others won’t.
All companies up and down the supply chain need to be expanding what they offer. New products open up new opportunities, and as well as trying to give existing clients more to sell, finding new clients is going to be very important in the coming months as well.
Make no mistake, there is a lot of hard work ahead, and there may be some tough decisions that plenty of us have to make. But nothing is set in stone, forecasts are indeed only forecasts and we have all the tools we need to make the most of any new opportunities that come our way.
Our data allows you to target your prospects directly, helping you win more sales, more effectively.
So if you need more fabricator, installer or trade counter customers, we’re the only database supplier that’s 100% dedicated to the window, door, conservatory and curtain walling industry.
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