Glass News June 2025

DYNAMIC DATA FOR DYNAMIC MARKETS

Markets are constantly churning. Add in Trump’s turbulence, and Black Swan events, those 1-in-100-year shocks that are happening more often than predicted. No wonder consumers lack confidence.

It’s harder to grow profitably in a churning market, but quality data reveals trends that help companies follow the money and avoid risk.

This month, Glass News features ‘Aluminium Market Intelligence’ the first of four excerpts from the 2025 WindowBASE & Tommy Trinder Window & Door report.

“Demand for windows and doors is down,” says Mike Rigby founder of WindowBASE, “and in the last two years some big firms have failed.

“Early this year a few Aluminium Syscos also changed hands. There are lots of them, too many for a healthy retail market so, expect more M&A activity. Putting it in perspective, 35 years ago there were over 80 PVCU Syscos. Now just a handful.

“But this is not a downbeat story about companies disappearing or being sold. It’s a regeneration story of business destruction and creation.

“Big firms hog the headlines, but thousands of changes in small and medium sized firms make the market.

“If you work offline, a list you downloaded some months ago will be significantly unreliable."

“Last year, 884 installers left the industry, but 1,156 new installers set up in business, a net growth of +2.7% in installer firms. Was that in the news?

“Three hundred and eight fabricators shut, while 286 opened their doors, a net drop of -0.6%. Dynamic, or what?

“Who’d start a business today? Larger firms that fail spawn new businesses as ex-staff start afresh.

“If you work offline, a list you downloaded some months ago will be significantly unreliable.

“Using old, incorrect data wastes time and squanders opportunities, even if you’re given a ‘free’ illegal copy. When you’re up against a competitor using up-to-date, quality data, who has a better chance of winning new customers?”

Please see the full industry report on page 48...

Mike Rigby, WindowBASE

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THE FIT SHOW HAS MADE IT A GOOD MONTH!

I really think that the 2025 FIT Show was one, if not the best of the shows, to date. The whole layout was inviting to the eye and the wide aisles were needed to accommodate the number of visitors. Some cynics may comment that the wide aisles covered up a lack of stands but I would strongly disagree. The space allowed for relatively easy movement and also meant that one could view the stands without feeling you were cricking your neck in a narrow alleyway! I don’t know whether the number of stands was up or down on 2023’s numbers but, whatever, there really was something for everyone. Nickie West and all her FIT Show team deserve to be applauded for organising a stunning show – as you can tell, I thoroughly enjoyed it while learning a lot, too!

You will find lots of coverage of the show in this edition of Glass News with reports from many companies on the success of the show, and it sounds as if the exhibitors were very happy with both the number of visitors and the quality of the interest shown. It’s always exciting to view new products and even developments of existing products. A good example is Made For Trade’s Korniche lantern which was always quick and easy to construct as can be witnessed from their demonstrations. Now the Mark 2 version is even easier with clever additions such as the formed channelling to direct silicone to specific areas. Neat! The beautiful aluminium conservatory from Sheerline caught the eye and the detailing was stunning. Quickslide was another ‘must see’ stand and their incorporating technology into their slider resulted in a constant stream of visitors looking for a demonstration. Machinery was well represented with Haffner’s Dave Thomas showing the impressive results gained from the Graf Synergy welder. And Gareth Green at Stuga was kept busy with a stream of visitors. Roseview Windows are not ones to sit on their laurels and continue to strive to innovate and now offer three different through horns on their vertical sliders. Dean Bradley was constantly busy at Glazpart and it was difficult to get a word with him! Selecta, too, had a busy stand and a successful show. The GGF stand was also really busy as was AluK. But if you want to talk ‘busy’ DOORCO was right up there and not just showing off 20 different doors but even a new door for the US market. They were serving Korean food – spicy and very good! – but were also running a bar and, arguably, the busiest stand on the extended Tuesday evening punctuated with the constant rumble of Guiness casks being rolled onto the stand!

Talking of that Tuesday night, that has to have been the best late night opening that FIT has staged and it wasn’t just DOORCO who embraced the whole idea of party night. Ian Short on the Morley Glass stand deserves a mention as does Hormann with their Oompah band. But so many exhibitors were offering hospitality that it was difficult to get round and see them all and it seemed

as if the visitors to the show were loathe to leave. If the same spirit and enthusiasm is displayed by both exhibitors and visitors in 2027 then the FIT Show 2027 should be a humdinger!

It's always interesting to note the topics of conversation when the industry gathers together and, naturally, Rachel from Accounts’ efforts to punish most sectors of the economy was high on the list of talking points as was energy, it’s cost, and Milliband’s obsession with getting to Net Zero in the UK while other industrial countries continue to spew CO2 into the atmosphere and keep their economies buoyant. Another topic was Cyber Security and I hadn’t realised how this had affected companies in our sector. While issues with M&S, JD Sports, TMobile, Dropbox and the like are well known, the use of ransomware within fenestration has also caused a variety of companies problems which are both very expensive and time consuming to sort out. The message is that everyone is vulnerable however large or small you may be. Cybernews has been pointing out that apps for mobile phones and even iPhones are a cause for concern. They suggest: Every time you install an app, it asks for access – to your location, your photos, your contacts. Most people just tap “Allow.” Don’t. Head to Settings > Privacy & Security and audit who’s got the keys to your digital house. If an app wants your location, ask yourself why. Spoiler: It likely doesn’t need it.

Update as if your privacy depends on it – because it does. Apple pushes out security updates for a reason. Hackers love old software. Go to Settings > General > Software Update and don’t let those red notification dots linger. The same goes for your apps: update early and often. Lock it down. Still using “123456” or your birthday as a passcode? Time to level up. Use a long, unique passcode and enable Face ID or Touch ID. If someone snatches your phone, you want it to be a brick, not a gold mine. Don’t trust – verify. Treat a new app like a stranger at your door. Check reviews, look up the developer, and think twice before granting permissions. Even the App Store’s walled garden isn’t weed-free. Clean your digital house. Delete apps you don’t use. Every extra app is another potential leak. Before deleting the app, delete the account you created for the service, if they don't have your data, they can’t leak it. Less is more. Stay sceptical. Phishing isn’t just for email. If an app asks you to log in with Facebook or Google, make sure it’s legit. And never, ever tap on sketchy links. Chris

GOT SOMETHING TO SAY?

Email Chris at: chris@glassnews.co.uk

‘TIME OUT’ WINNERS – MAY!

Sudoku:

Karen Jackson, Margate, Kent

Eye Spy:

Duncan Barker, Sherburn-in-Elmet, North Yorkshire

Spot the Difference: T Betts, Blakelands, Milton Keynes

Crossword:

Emma Lewis, Spennymoor, Durham

Congratulations to all our winners! Good luck in this months Time Out pages!

Christina Lazenby

Managing Director / Advertising Enquiries

M: 07805 051322

E: christina@glassnews.co.uk

Emma Champion

Advertising Manager

M: 07508 263262

E: emma@glassnews.co.uk

Justin Lazenby

Finance Director / Press Release Enquiries

M: 07711 828710

E: justin@glassnews.co.uk

Chris Champion

Editor / Editorial Enquiries

M: 07850 267223

E: chris@glassnews.co.uk

Kate Carnall Graphic Design

E: kate@glassnews.co.uk Deadline for copy: 16th of each month

IT’S ALL ABOUT YOU...

Where were you born and live currently?

I was born and bred in Manchester – I’ve flirted with the idea of leaving, but like any good Mancunian, I always come back. After all, it is the best city in the world, but not always if you’re a Red. Between the rain, the music, and the sarcastic humour, I’d struggle to find anywhere else that feels quite like home.

Your education and the subject or activity in which you excelled?

I studied Biochemistry at the University of Liverpool because, at the time, I thought I was destined for a white coat and a glamourous career in drug development. Turns out, I was really good at explaining complex stuff to people who didn’t ask – a skill that surprisingly comes in handy in sales. Group presentations? Nailed them. Lab reports? Slightly less exciting.

Your favourite sports or interests?

I’m a big fan of pretending I’m sporty without actually committing. I like going to the gym (mainly the idea of it), long walks that accidentally end at a pub, and anything creative – whether it’s painting, photography or trying to frame a day off as ‘wellness’. That said, my English Bull Terrier, Spud, keeps me healthy. She drags me up mountains on the weekends and definitely sets the pace. She has more stamina than I ever will.

Your biggest regret in life?

Spending £750 on Oasis tickets. I love them, don’t get me wrong –but I could’ve had a city break, a spa day and still had change left over for some chips on the way home.

The temptation you can’t resist...?

A double Kraken and coke or some good gossip. Ideally both at the same time, while I pretend I’ve only gone out for ‘one’.

THIS MONTH: Ella Brown, Area Sales Manager at RegaLead

From biochemistry labs to the fast-paced world of decorative glazing, Ella has taken an unconventional path into the fenestration industry. Now a familiar face at RegaLead and across the sector, she brings a unique blend of scientific curiosity, artistic flair, and infectious energy to her role as Area Sales Manager.

Someone or something that inspires you?

I’ve always admired Jane Goodall – a woman who quietly changed the world through sheer passion, patience and an unshakeable belief in the power of nature. Closer to home, my colleagues at Regalead inspire me daily. Their passion and knowledge of the fenestration world is infectious (in the best way, not the lab kind). Being around people who can still keep you laughing when times get hard is rare to come by.

YOUR CAREER...

When and how did you join this industry?

I fell into the industry the way most people do – accidentally and then somehow never left. I started at Regalead when I was younger, one of those classic ‘just for now’ jobs. I left to chase the science dream and worked in the Covid diagnostic labs, then found my way back to Regalead. I’ve been here since April 2022 and they can’t get rid of me it seems. Apparently, glass and colour were more exciting than nasal swabs. Who knew?

What is your job?

I’m an Area Sales Manager, with a passion for all things Urban Bar and Engineered Door Components. I get to talk to people all day about decorative glass, colour, and how to make windows and doors look fancy. It’s a lot more difficult than it sounds, and there isn’t a single day that goes by where I don’t learn something new. It’s fast paced, constantly evolving, and weirdly addictive.

Your greatest achievement?

Transitioning from pipettes to panels without a total identity crisis. But to answer the question properly, I’d say its building genuine relationships with customers and being someone they can trust to help them get the job done – and maybe even enjoy it along the way. If I’ve made someone’s day a little bit easier or helped them see a new creative possibility, that’s the real win.

AND YOUR FUTURE...

What would you like to do if you weren’t in this industry?

I used to say forensic science or clinical research, but now I think I’d be a travel blogger – jetting off around the world and calling it content. I mean, who wouldn’t want to be paid to drink cocktails in Bali while reviewing suitcase zips?

A particular ambition?

To be that person that walks into an industry event and knows everyone – ideally because I helped them with something useful, not because I fell off my stool at PIGs.

I’d also love to mentor young people coming into the industry – especially those who never imagined themselves in fenestration. If I can show someone that this world is full of creativity, innovation and real career growth, then I’d be pretty proud of myself.

The way you want to be remembered?

As someone who brought energy, humour, and told a few decent stories.

I want people to remember that I cared – about the job, the people, and making even the glassiest of topics a bit more fun. If someone one day says ‘she made a difference’ then I’ll know I at least did something right.

NEW DOOR STYLES

As the UK’s leading PVC-U door panel manufacturer, we offer a high-quality collection with diverse styles, colours, and glazing options. Now featuring seven new contemporary designs, our range is available with Securicore™ reinforcement - a proven PAS 24 compliant option which delivers enhanced security without compromising on style.

Discover the latest styles today.

KENRICK ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP WITH WINDOW WARE FOR AK TOUCH SECURE™

Kenricks has announced that Window Ware has become a national distributer of AK Touch Secure™, the new high-security Smart door locking system.

Window Ware’s decision to stock AK Touch Secure™ reinforces its commitment to staying at the forefront of smart product innovation. This strategic move opens up significant opportunities for the new and retrofit door market, offering fabricators and installers a smart, secure locking upgrade.

Vaughan, Product Manager at Window Ware, said: “AK Touch Secure™ fits seamlessly into our business providing our customers with a competitive advantage in the smart home space. We were impressed by how easy the product is to install, and we see massive potential in the retrofit door sector.”

AK Touch Secure™ is compatible with any door handle fitted with a Kenrick 3-Star locking cylinder. It offers multiple access options, including intuitive touchsensitive technology, an encrypted key fob, a secure keypad, a traditional key and voice commands via Google Home or Alexa. Via the AK Touch Secure™ app, users can control their doors remotely—lock or unlock them from anywhere, check real-time status updates and view detailed access logs to track who has entered or exited the property. The app also enables temporary, time-restricted access for guests or service providers.

Security is impressive with AK Touch Secure™ and features end-to-end encryption to ensure that all data and access methods are fully protected.

Andy Meakin, Sales and Marketing Manager at Kenricks, said: “We are delighted to partner with Window Ware. Their proactive customer-centric approach makes them the ideal distributor to bring AK Touch Secure™ to market nationwide.”

Since 1987, Window Ware has been a trusted supply partner for fabricators and installers across the UK, offering a vast range of window and door hardware, tools and consumables backed by expert service. This partnership with Kenricks builds on their reputation for delivering industryleading solutions that are both reliable and future-proof.

UAP LTD LAUNCHES INDUSTRY-FIRST KINETICA FREEZEGUARD 3-STAR EURO CYLINDER RANGE

UAP Ltd, the leading Greater Manchesterbased door and window hardware specialist, is today making its groundbreaking Kinetica Freezeguard range commercially available.

UAP is the first manufacturer in the industry to achieve the BSI KITEMARK TS007-1:2024 certification for the range’s 3* euro cylinders, developed in its in-house research and development hub.

The new range is certified according to the newest PAS24:2022+A1:2024 security test standard and accredited by Secured by

SECURITAS ON THE UP!

VBH, the hardware manufacturer, has advised that sales of one of its star products for aluminium window production is ‘on the up.’

The greenteQ Securitas Offset Security Espagnolette is a specialist product for users of slim aluminium casement windows from three of what VBH describe as the ‘most popular’ aluminium systems, including Sheerline.

These slim profiles have no Eurogroove to accept the locking system. Securitas Offset’s 16mm wide U-rail stainless steel faceplate is designed to be surface fit to account for this, and its offset gearbox ensures that the glazing area is not broached when fitted.

"2025 has seen sales continue to rise as we penetrate further into the aluminium sector. It really is one of our products that is “on the up."

Up to four pairs of bi-directional adjustable mushroom headed cams provide compression and security when in the locked position. The cam pairs locate into both sides of a greenteQ night vent striker plate to firmly hold the sash secure even in the face of a determined attempt at forced entry.

Nine lengths, starting at 320mm going all the way up to 1320mm, mean that even the smallest and largest casements can benefit from Securitas Offset

Gary Gleeson, marketing manager at VBH, says, “Securitas Offset is a major strand of our range of locking systems for outward opening single and double sash casements. We now offer thirteen different solutions across the greenteQ, Roto and Yale brands.

“We launched this product eighteen months ago and it proved so popular that the industry voted it Window Component of the Year last autumn. 2025 has seen sales continue to rise as we penetrate further into the aluminium sector. It really is one of our products that is “on the up.”

As well as being very quick to fit, VBH advise that Securitas Offset is approved for use on Q-secure

Design. These updated standards ensure locks can withstand extreme tampering, protecting against increasingly sophisticated break-in techniques including freezing, gluing, snapping, drilling, picking, and bumping.

While the industry continues to adjust to new requirements, UAP has already delivered fully compliant products that fabricators and installers can rely on.

Adam Dixon, Senior Technical Manager at UAP Ltd, said: “Our status as the first in the industry to achieve the new BSI Kitemark is testament to our team, who work tirelessly to develop products that meet and exceed security standards. The new Kinetica Freezeguard range shows our commitment to leading the way with proactive security innovation, giving our clients a competitive edge.”

PREMIUM installations, offering consumers the peace of mind that the popular hardware security guarantee brings.

As with all greenteQ products, Securitas Offset is supplied with a long guarantee; ten years in this case.

To find out more about Securitas Offset, or any other hardware in the VBH range, contact the company on 01634 263263 or via email at sales@vbhgb.com.

BRIGHTEN UP LIVING SPACES WITH BRETT

MARTIN’S NEW PYRAMID ROOF LANTERN

Specialist daylight solutions manufacturer Brett Martin has introduced a new addition to its glass rooflight range, the Pyramid Roof Lantern. This square, four-pane solution is available in both standard and bespoke sizes, providing additional design options for projects where maximising natural light is a priority.

With an attractive slimline profile, the new Pyramid Roof Lantern allows focused even light to penetrate buildings, creating a striking focal point in any desired space. The Pyramid Roof Lantern’s four standard sizes range from 1000mm x 1000mm, up to 2500mm x 2500mm, with a lead time of just three to five days.

The new addition adds to the existing range of four and six-pane rectangular roof lanterns as well as square, rectangular and circular flat glass rooflights, all of which are available with combinations of white, black or grey frames, inside and out. The glass can also be specified, with the options for clear or solar-control blue glass available for reduced solar gain and decreased internal temperature spikes.

As with the other products in the Brett Martin range, the Pyramid Roof Lantern is double glazed and complies with the guidance from the Rooflight Association which recommends that a laminated inner pane should be the first

choice for safety when specifying overhead glazing.

Tony Isaac, Sales Director at Brett Martin commented, “The launch of the new Pyramid Roof Lantern better enables us to help specifiers and installers to select the ideal roof lantern for their projects. Easy to install, it can be fitted from the roof and requires minimal silicon use – only at the kerb. As such it provides a fast and stress-free daylighting solution to transform living areas.”

For more information about Brett Martin’s glass rooflight range, visit: www.brettmartin.com/daylightsystems/our-products/glassrooflights.

SHEERLINE SETS SIGHTS ON NFAS AFTER RECEIVING EIGHT NOMINATIONS

The team at Sheerline are delighted to share they have been shortlisted for eight National Fenestration Awards. This is just the latest good news announcement on the back of the system being recognised with a coveted King’s Award for Innovation 2025.

One of the reasons the NFAs are so important to Sheerline is the fact they’re peer-voted and speak volumes within the industry. This year’s awards look to be the most competitive yet, with Sheerline nominated in several sought-after categories.

This includes the title of Aluminium Systems Company of the Year, which Sheerline was thrilled to receive last year, particularly as 12 other well-known systems houses were in the running for the award. This year it will be even more hotly contested with 14 systems houses shortlisted.

Sheerline has been nominated in a broad range of categories covering

its products, services, and people reflecting its continued impact within the industry. The S1 Roof Lantern is in the running for Conservatory Product of the Year while the Fast Connect Hybrid Bead is up for New Product.

Other categories featuring Sheerline include Colour Specialists and Systems Company. The ‘U-values You Can Trust’ campaign is up for Digital Marketing Campaign, While Martin Hepburn is up for Sales Executive of the Year and Felicity Theaker is up for Social Networker.

Tony Basile, Sheerline’s National

JOHN FREDERICKS PARTNERS WITH HAFFNER FOR MACHINERY UPGRADE

Leading trade fabricator John Fredericks Plastics has invested in a new Graf Synergy SLS – Single Head CNC Cill Welder from machinery experts Haffner. The new machine delivers seamless, high quality welds reinforcing John Fredericks’ commitment to product excellence. Alan Barnard, Factory Director for John Fredericks, said: “We are delighted to introduce this advanced machine to our production line up. Its precision and efficiency perfectly support our drive for continuous improvement and ensure we can consistently deliver the superior product quality our customers expect.”

The team at John Fredericks wanted to invest in machinery that would help them increase output, save time and increase the quality for which they are renowned. After carefully researching the market, they contacted Haffner as the machinery supplier best placed to meet their needs on this project.

The Haffner team recommended the Graf Synergy SLS – Single Head CNC Cill Welder, the first and only single head CNC welding machine designed for the welding of bay cills. To finalise the details, Alan visited Graf Synergy’s headquarters near Modena, Italy, where the deal was agreed.

Like all Graf Synergy machines, the Cill Welder produces a perfect seamless weld which is free of excess sprue. This eliminates the need for post-weld cleaning or touch-ups, saving valuable production time and improving fabrication efficiencies. Further, only one operator is needed, boosting productivity. All profile tolerances are measured and recalibrated before welding, helping to reduce wastage.

The compact machine has a small footprint to save space on the factory floor. It can be used on profiles coated with any film or foil including painted PVC.

Alan commented: “The Graf Synergy Cill Welder will increase our production output and eliminate the need for sanding and polishing plain white cills and remove the need for penning in. It delivers a seamless, high-quality weld that will complement our Ultimate Collection™ product range.”

Sales Director, commented: “We’re not even halfway through the year and we’ve already won Best Technical Innovation at the GGP Installer awards (for the third time), received a King’s Award for Innovation 2025, and now we’ve been shortlisted for eight NFAs.” “2025 is shaping up to be the most successful year for Sheerline in terms of award wins and this is all while announcing our ambitious expansion plans and celebrating the 5th anniversary of our launch. If the previous five years are anything to go by, we’ve got a bright and busy future ahead,” he added.

A firm favourite within the industry, The NFAs are scheduled to take place on Saturday 25 October at Doncaster Racecourse. Voting opened at the beginning of May and will remain open until September 19, giving plenty of time to break last year’s voting record.

Find out more about the awards and vote for Sheerline here: www.fenestrationawards.co.uk/nfa25

This latest investment reflects John Fredericks’ ongoing strategy to drive manufacturing efficiency and product quality through advanced automation. By embracing the latest machinery innovation, the company will continue to reinforce its position as a leading name in UK fabrication.

The collaborative approach and technical insight provided by Haffner have been instrumental in shaping this next phase of investment. Both companies are also exploring further opportunities to partner on future machinery developments.

THE SOHO COLLECTION

INNOVATION TO ELEVATE YOUR OFFERING

STEEL-STYLE MEETS UNPARALLELED THERMAL PERFORMANCE POWDERCOATED IN-HOUSE

MANUFACTURED IN THE UK HIGHLY DESIRABLE INDUSTRIAL DESIGN

KEYSTONE MARKET RESEARCH PUBLISHES SPRING 2025 CONSUMER FENESTRATION TRENDS REPORT WITH FRESH INSIGHTS AND REGIONAL FOCUS

Keystone Market Research is pleased to announce the release of its Spring 2025 Consumer Fenestration Trends Report - an indepth analysis of the evolving behaviour, preferences, and frustrations of UK homeowners in the windows and doors market.

Key findings from the Spring 2025 Report include:

• Sliding Patio Doors Now Firmly Lead: Sliding doors have cemented their position as the UK’s most popular patio door style, overtaking bifold doors by a significant margin. This trend is consistent across all 12 UK regions, making sliding doors an essential offering nationwide.

Building on the momentum of previous editions, this latest report reveals subtle shifts in consumer priorities and offers an expanded regional analysis across 12 UK areas. This edition is once again made possible through the sponsorship of Endurance Doors, Epwin Window Systems, the GGF, Liniar, and VEKA, whose support helps ensure this essential resource remains accessible throughout the fenestration industry. Customers of these companies gain free access to the series that delivers consumerdriven insights that can shape sales, marketing, and product development strategies.

• Tilt & Turn Windows Gaining Momentum: While casement windows remain the dominant choice, tilt & turn styles continue to gain traction, with particularly strong interest in Northern Ireland where they ranked as the top preference. This suggests the UK market may be aligning more closely with European style trends.

• Homeowner Frustrations Are Growing: Satisfaction with current windows and doors has declined sharply—from 23% last year to just 11% today, signalling a ripe market for replacements. Find out which areas are impacting homeowners most in the report.

• Smart Home Technology Still Not a Priority: Despite the wider growth of connected tech, smart

FOR BETTER-LOOKING VENTILATION, TRY SHEERLINE’S GRILLE SHROUD

Sheerline’s Prestige Grille Shroud offers a host of benefits for fabricators and homeowners. It’s the ideal alternative to unsightly exterior plastic trickle vents that can warp over time and fade in the sun.

home compatibility continues to rank low among homeowner considerations for windows and doors – we will explore further in next quarter’s report.

Charlotte Hawkes, Director of Keystone Market Research, commented: “This report is about more than preferencesit’s about understanding the motivations behind homeowner decisions and recognising the subtle changes that can impact the

market to arm businesses throughout the supply chain with the knowledge to make informed decisions on everything from new product development through to marketing. Our regional breakdowns help businesses see the variations that exist across the UK and installers tailor their messaging more effectively for their unique area. I’m also delighted that access to the report continues to grow with the support of our sponsors, who share our commitment to equipping

Charlotte Hawkes

the industry with powerful, actionable data.”

Keystone invites industry professionals and companies across the supply chain to explore the findings and use the insights to strengthen their engagement with today’s homeowners. Businesses interested in supporting their customers, and the wider fenestration industry, with Keystone’s trusted consumer insights are encouraged to reach out as a limited number of sponsorship opportunities remain available.

For more information about the Spring 2025 Consumer report and Keystone’s research services, visit: www.keystonemr.co.uk.

WINDOW SUPPLY COMPANY ACHIEVES LIVING WAGE ACCREDITATION

employers who want to ensure their staff can live with dignity and security.

Perfectly colour matched with the frames, it blends in seamlessly with the rest of the window. It’s available in the full Sheerline colour range.

The Prestige Grille Shroud differs from traditional trickle vents as it runs the full width of the window, enabling its integral head drip to protect the edge of the sash that sits below. It also means they’re less likely to be damaged or cause damage to other frames whilst in transit. As well as being less obtrusive, Sheerline’s Prestige Grille Shroud is more aesthetically pleasing than standard options. It provides an architecturally refined yet practical solution, hiding the flat aluminium grille that sits under the shroud.

Jon Crohill, Sheerline’s Design Project Manager, said: “We’ve developed a discreet solution to a

divisive topic within the industry. Regardless of how you feel about trickle vents, many properties need them for Part F compliance, so why not choose the most stylish one.”

Find out more about Sheerline’s Prestige Grille Shroud by calling 01332 978 000 or emailing info@sheerline.com.

Leading West Lothian based window and door manufacturers Window Supply Company (WSC) has demonstrated its commitment to employees by becoming Living Wage accredited. With over 190 members of staff throughout the business’s head office, manufacturing, and trade counter operations, WSC joins over 15,000 businesses across the UK paying the real Living Wage.

The real Living Wage is a voluntary wage rate independently calculated by economists at the Resolution Foundation on behalf of the Living Wage Foundation. The real Living Wage is based solely on the cost of living to account for essentials like housing, food, and travel but also small discretionary expenses that allow for a decent standard of living. The real Living wage is paid by employers who voluntarily commit to go further than the government national living wage to make sure all staff can earn enough to live on.

The real Living Wage is paid to all employees over 18 and currently stands at £12.60 per hour across the UK and £13.85 per hour in London to reflect the city's higher living costs. It is paid by over 15,000

Duncan Murray, CEO WSC says “As a responsible employer, we want to demonstrate our commitment to our excellent team who are the driving force behind this business. This commitment applies not only to directly employed staff, but also our third party contracted staff. By becoming a member of the National Living Wage Foundation, our team can earn a wage that they can live on - because their wages are kept at pace with the cost of living. It is extremely important to us to achieve this accreditation, not only showing our support for the initiative, but perhaps encourage others in our sector to follow suit’ WSC employee benefits package also includes life insurance, pension contribution, shopping perks, Health and wellness and access to 24/7 Employee Assistance Program.

DESIGN IN A PVCU PROFILE

VEKA plc, an innovative leader of PVCu window profile systems, is proud to introduce Feinstruktur – a premium new range of fine-textured, matt finish decorative foils to the market. Delivering aluminium-inspired aesthetic in a PVCu solution.

Responding to consumer trends and rising sustainability demands, Feinstruktur emulates the aesthetic appeal of powder-coated aluminium whilst providing exceptional durability and thermal performance of a PVCu profile.

According to the Keystone Market Research (Autumn 2024), the aluminium window market is increasingly on the rise as homeowners are looking to achieve a striking, modern aesthetic for their property. However, aluminium can prove to be costly both in the initial investment and subsequent maintenance costs, as well as the risk of corrosion and environmental wear. In recent years, aluminium prices have also been driven up by international tariffs and global supply chain pressures. PVCu provides consistent value, superior thermal performance and long-term durability without corrosion.

VEKA Feinstruktur delivers a contemporary, industrial look of aluminium with a PVCu profile. The surface effortlessly aligns with modern trends in colour and texture whilst maintaining VEKA’s signature reliability and performance, serving as a cost-effective, energy-efficient alternative to aluminium window systems.

Feinstruktur is available in eight elegant trend-led coloursanthracite grey, slate grey, basalt grey, umber, black, quartz grey, silver grey and traffic white - each carefully selected to complement modern architecture. The textured matt foil is weather-resistant and scratchproof, whilst the easy-to-clean, anti-fingerprint finish, ensures the windows maintain their visual appeal with minimal effort.

Designed with sustainability and cost-efficiency in mind, Feinstruktur is fully recyclable and manufactured using sustainable raw materials to minimise environmental impact, and can be processed using standard lamination machinery, requiring no additional investment or downtime.

Feinstruktur is ideally suited for OMNIA, VEKA’s awardwinning suite of PVCu double flush windows and doors. Presenting a truly flush appearance inside and out, enhanced by the aluminium look, while also giving optimal thermal efficiency, security, weather protection, and acoustic performance.

“As the aluminium aesthetic is growing increasingly popular with homeowners, Feinstruktur offers more than a contemporary visual appeal,” said Loredana Emmerson, Customer Marketing Manager at VEKA plc.

“It allows our partners to meet demand for aluminiuminspired design and performance benefits of PVCu systems, whilst staying true to VEKA’s commitment to sustainable innovation. Feinstruktur benefits architects, fabricators, installers, and homeowners alike, serving as a future-ready alternative to aluminium.”

Level up to the next era of window aesthetics with the Feinstruktur range, discover more at www.vekauk.com/feinstruktur.

FENTRADE ANNOUNCED AS DOUBLE FINALISTS AT THE NATIONAL FENESTRATION AWARDS

Aluminium fabricator Fentrade has been announced as a finalist in two categories at the National Fenestration Awards 2025: Aluminium Fabricator of the Year and BiFolding Door Manufacturer Of The Year.

Chris Reeks, Director of Fentrade, commented: “The National Fenestration Awards are decided completely by the participation of the industry, so it’s a real honour to be announced as finalists. Thank you to everyone who nominated us.”  The fast-growing aluminium fabricator brings a wealth of experience and a deep understanding of the it’s customers’ needs, qualities that’s reflected in its finalist status.

Chris said: “The vision for Fentrade has always been to be a leading name in high-quality, expertly manufactured aluminium products, underpinned by an exceptional service ethos. It’s a mantra that guides everything we do, from fabricated products to customer support. Being recognised as a finalist is testament to the dedication and hard work of the Fentrade team.”

The National Fenestration Awards is the industry’s fastestgrowing and most inclusive awards event. Now into its 12th year, the awards aim to be the fairest, most inclusive fenestration event, rewarding the very best of the sector.

Each year there is a nominations phase where people put forward the names of people and companies they believe deserve to be recognised. The industry then votes on shortlists in each category based on the nominations submitted, making it the only fenestration industry award built upon the industry itself.

Voting for this year’s awards is open now at www.fenestrationawards.co.uk/nfa25/ and closes on 19 September 2025. The winners will be announced at the awards ceremony on 25 October 2025.

Garnalex can officially announce it has received a coveted King’s Award for Innovation 2025 for its groundbreaking Sheerline aluminium windows and door range. With only 46 businesses being recognised in the innovation category this year it is testament to how game changing the Sheerline system has been.

This award reflects the significant contribution and advances the company has made within the fenestration industry.

Although Sheerline was launched during the global pandemic, the challenging external landscape has not stopped it from achieving success.

Two innovative aspects in particular were highlighted by the awards process. Firstly, Sheerline’s patented construction method, which not only reduces waste and locks in quality, but also results in better looking windows with less misalignment in frames for improved aesthetic appeal.

In addition, Thermlock®, Sheerline’s proven proprietary thermal technology was highlighted. Aside from offering greater thermal efficiency than legacy polyamide systems, easily achieving Part L compliance with competitive U-values, it also allows installers to fix through the optimum area profiles as it’s less brittle than polyamide.

Its Newport factory manufactures a full range of fenestration products, including bi-folding doors, from respected industry names including Aluk, VBH, Kestrel and Jack Aluminium.  Customers can expect reassuring reliability, with on time in full deliveries every time. Service is similarly impressive, with quotes returned within 24 hours, phone calls that are always returned and technical assistance always available. Quality is also at the heart of everything from incoming materials to finished goods.

GARNALEX’S SHEERLINE RANGE RECOGNISED WITH A KING’S AWARD FOR INNOVATION 2025

Thermlock® is also a key ingredient in Garnalex’s market leading agility and ability to deliver consistently on its 5-day lead-time promise, as it allows finished profiles to be assembled close to dispatch.

It has differentiated itself in a competitive industry by focusing on product innovation, its customers and first-class service, and delivering on its

promises. This approach has enabled it to blaze a trail where others have lost momentum.

Roger Hartshorn, Garnalex’s CEO, said: “It is a privilege and an honour to be able to share the news that Garnalex has won the prestigious King’s Award for Innovation. The fenestration industry has always been a competitive industry, where accolades such as this make a real difference.”

“Not only will it enable us to continue to stand out in an increasingly crowded space, but it highlights the far-reaching impact we’re having as a company. We look forward to celebrating and bringing even more industry-changing innovations to market,” he added.

The King’s Awards for Enterprise, previously known as The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise, were renamed in 2023 to reflect His Majesty The King’s desire to continue the legacy of HM Queen Elizabeth II’s by recognising outstanding UK businesses. The Award programme, now in its 59th year, is the most prestigious business award in the country, with successful businesses able to use the esteemed King’s Awards Emblem for the next five years.

To find out more about Garnalex and its innovative Sheerline aluminium range of windows and doors, visit the website here: www.sheerline.com. VEKA FEINSTRUKTUR DELIVERS ALUMINIUM-INSPIRED

APEER AIMS BIGGER WITH EVOLVING PARTNERSHIP CARL F GROUPCO ANNOUNCED AS NFA25 FINALIST

Door manufacturer Apeer Doors recently welcomed Blinds in Glass Group to its Ballymena based factory site for in-depth product training and strategy talks concerning the growing distribution of Apeer doors across the UK. As part of the partnership deal between the two companies, BIGG will help drive sales through its own network of window companies and facilitate the delivery of the product to areas within England and Wales which are still undeveloped by Apeer. Since establishing the partnership, BIGG managing director, Ian Woolley, along with son Ben, have worked closely with Apeer to ensure the positioning and marketing of the Apeer range of doors meets their mutual high standards in terms of performance and service. Their visit to Apeer’s factory highlighted how dedicated and committed the company and its workforce are, on a daily basis, to those very concepts.

“The market is tough at the moment, but that only gives companies such as BIGG, and Apeer, the opportunity to truly showcase a ‘best in class’ type approach,” commented BIGG’s Ian Woolley. “I was bowled over by what Apeer has achieved over the last 30 years, and as a relatively new kid on the block, we have set ourselves some BIGG targets. Apeer is the level of partnership we are constantly seeking to help us achieve those targets.”

“The BIGG mindset and approach to doing business is what we are constantly seeking to instil across our trade installer network, and we are already seeing the energy levels increasing across the market,” added

Apeer’s CEO Asa McGillian. “In tougher economic conditions it is the strength of the supply chain that will help any business overcome adversity. Working with BIGG gives us confidence that the foundation we are building today will bear even more prosperous fruit in the future.”

Ian Woolley established BIGG during the height of covid in 2020, and has grown it into a solid £1.6m turnover business focusing primarily on integral blinds and composite doors. The company has created a solid operational framework for growth, and sees this partnership as a primary focus for growth, continuing high levels of service with minimal investment.

Carl F Groupco has been announced as a finalist in the Hardware Company of the Year in this year’s National Fenestration Awards. Owen Coop, CEO of Carl F Groupco, said: “The National Fenestration Awards are voted for by the industry, so being shortlisted is recognition of the hard work and dedication of our entire team.”

Carl F Groupco is one of the industry’s only independently-owned hardware distributors. The company supplies a complete range of premium quality window and door hardware from 57 brands including Roto, Siegenia, Fuhr, Maco and Yale. Its independent status means it can objectively offer the best technical hardware solutions without the constraints of prioritising commercial gain.

In addition to the strength of its hardware offer, Carl F Groupco is widely recognised for its exceptional customer support. For example, its testing service goes beyond advising on compliant hardware. The team provides end-to-end support, from hardware selection advice to onsite visits to support fit-ups and pre-test preparation, ensuring a smooth and successful process for its customers.

The company holds up to £5 million in stock at any one time and operates with a stringent ‘On Time In Full’ (OTIF) target of 98%. Notably this metric is measured by orders rather than by component part, setting a higher standard of performance. With distribution centres in Peterborough and Cumbernauld, Carl F Groupco offers daily, next-day deliveries, including to

CONSERVATORY OUTLET CELEBRATES CONTINUED SUCCESS AT THE WEST YORKSHIRE APPRENTICESHIP AWARDS

Conservatory Outlet has again been recognised for its success in training and developing staff at the West Yorkshire Apprenticeship Awards.

Held in Bradford for 2025, the annual event shines a light on those businesses and people who demonstrate excellence in vocational education. The company was singled out for the success of its apprenticeship programme, which has recently expanded to include degree-level qualifications and is also creating a manufacturing-specific course. As well as being singled out for praise for its industry-leading apprenticeship programme and constant elevation of staff through training, it was a night of success for three staff members who were recognised as amongst the best and highest-achieving learners in the region.

Those were Beth Cain (Advanced Apprentice, Level 3), Sarah Fox (Higher Apprentice, Level 4-5) and Joe Davis (Engineering & Manufacturing Apprentice).

Sarah, one of Conservatory Outlet’s key Account Managers, said: “Conservatory Outlet has been incredibly supportive.

The time was right for me to progress, and I’ve been able to do that personally and professionally by studying for and obtaining a Higher National Diploma. It’s an honour to be named as one of the apprentices of the year”

These fantastic achievements underscore Conservatory Outlet’s continued investment in career development and our strong support for vocational pathways within the fenestration and manufacturing industries.

The company operates a thriving in-house apprenticeship programme that spans various departments, including finance, marketing, operations, customer service and production.

This initiative is designed to nurture the next generation of talent, offering structured development plans, professional mentoring, and opportunities for long-term career progression within the business.

Scotland and the Scottish Highlands. This helps customers keep their stock holding low, reducing risk and improving cash flow.

Owen commented: “In a competitive market, we know it takes more than great products to earn long-term loyalty. That is why we focus on delivering exceptional service, technical expertise and reliability, giving our customers complete confidence in choosing us.”

The National Fenestration Awards are the industry’s most inclusive awards programme. Now in their 12th year, the awards are designed to celebrate excellence across the entire fenestration sector, recognising achievement through a transparent and industry-led voting process.

Voting for this year’s awards is open now at www.fenestrationawards.co.uk/nfa25/ and closes on 19 September 2025. The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony on 25 October 2025.

Joe Davis, one of the company’s lead Maintenance Engineers, says, “Conservatory Outlet has backed me, even when I wasn’t sure about myself. I never thought I’d achieve what I have. I’m blown away by the support I’ve received and the progress I’ve made over the years.”

The programme has received praise from local education providers and industry partners for its comprehensive approach and consistent results.

Apprentices are supported throughout their journey with tailored learning experiences and the chance to make meaningful contributions from day one.

As the company grows, its commitment to developing skills and creating career opportunities through apprenticeships remains at the heart of its long-term strategy.

“Apprenticeships are key to Conservatory Outlet’s success,” explains Conservatory Outlet’s Managing Director, Mick Giscombe.

“We have an established apprenticeship scheme that we’ve expanded recently to include degree-level qualifications. This means that we can provide tailored apprenticeships to everyone, from those leaving school or entering the industry for the first time to those who want to obtain degrees in fields such as Marketing, Engineering or Finance.

“That three of our apprentices were celebrated in this prestigious awards ceremony shows the value and success of our approach to training and development. And, of course, congratulations to Beth, Joe and Sarah. They should be very proud of their achievements.”

L-R - Alex Moore, Ian Woolley, Asa McGillian, Ben Woolley

SENSE BY MACO: LAUNCHING YOU INTO THE FUTURE OF SMART HOME TECHNOLOGY

Consumers are becoming increasingly aware of the benefits of smart home technology—such as the convenience of automation, advanced energy management, and enhanced safety and security. With 25% of potential home movers considering smart technology a “must have” and sharing that they would pay an average of 7.7% more (up from 6.5% in 2023) for a fully equipped smart home, we should be looking at ways we can assist this when it comes to building and renovating homes.

One of those ways is with smart window and door sensors. In the past smart window and door sensors have been complex and difficult to set up, providing little benefit to the homeowner, but all that is about to change.

Imagine coming in from a long day at work, on a cold, dark winter evening, you open your front door and in an instant your hallway light comes on, the smart speaker greets you with your favourite songs, and the heating is boosted for 30 minutes to get the chill out of your bones. Convenience, automated. Alternatively, your child arrives home from school, hot and flustered from their walk home, opens the window in their bedroom and the radiator automatically stops heating the room. Energy saving, automated. Or maybe you are a carer for a venerable person, wouldn’t it be great if you could set up a routine that alerts you if a door is unexpectedly opened during the

“Before Matter, each smart home device had its own “language,” but with Matter, all these devices can now “speak” the same language, making it much easier to set up, control, and integrate smart home devices.”

night, meaning you can check on things before a real emergency occurs. Safety, automated.

A restricting factor on the uptake and implementation of smart products to enable this sort of automation was the requirement to have an additional gateway hub to allow products to work in harmony within the network of the building. Anyone who wanted to create a fully integrated smart home with multiple smart devices, from a variety of brands would need several gateway hubs which then becomes costly, confusing and inconvenient. Thankfully the powers that be at corporations such as Apple, Amazon, Google, Samsung and others have come together to bring us the Matter Protocol.

The Matter Protocol is a mutual language that all devices can understand, that will simplify and streamline our experience, making the benefits of a Smart Home accessible to all. Before Matter, each smart home device had its own "language," but with Matter, all these devices can now "speak" the same language, making it much

easier to set up, control, and integrate smart home devices. This means you can mix and match devices from different brands without worrying about compatibility issues, leading to a more seamless and integrated smart home experience. It also removes the requirement for the additional gateway hub, and now this technology is available to you.

Introducing, ‘Sense by MACO’, the first integrated smart window and door sensors available in the UK to utilise the Matter Protocol. Available from MACO Door & Window Hardware (U.K.) Ltd and their network of suppliers, they can not only be fitted to new windows and doors during the manufacturing process, they can also be retrofitted seamlessly to existing MACO window and door hardware. ‘Sense by MACO’ removes the barriers of complexity and enables the benefits of smart security systems that can automate family life,

enhance standards of living, and offer additional safety measures, to be adopted by everyone.

It’s no longer about simply knowing if your doors and windows are open or closed, it’s about what this technology can enable in the challenging and stressful environments of the modern world. Technology, when implemented correctly, really does make Sense. The only ‘matter’ now is what you will do with it.

Find out more about ‘Sense by MACO’ by visiting www.maco.eu/sense

“‘Sense by MACO’ removes the barriers of complexity and enables the benefits of smart security systems that can automate family life, enhance standards of living, and offer additional safety measures, to be adopted by everyone.”

Sense by MACO Sensors for a smart home

With Sense by MACO wireless sensors you install the future. Make your windows and doors intelligent and smart home-capable in no time at all. The sensors reliably recognise the status – open or closed – and transmit it in the new, multi-sector Matter standard for smart home solutions. This makes them the basis for the automated control of other smart home products. For more convenience, more security and a bright future: Sense by MACO wireless sensors

Talk to your MACO sales partner and find out more directly at www.maco.eu/sense

DOORCO AWARDED BEST FAMILY BUSINESS AT 2025 MANUFACTURING AWARDS

The DoorCo team have scored a UK Manufacturing Awards hat-trick, recently being named Best Family Business – their third consecutive triumph at these awards.

Founded by Dan and Jayne Sullivan in December 2007, DoorCo has been operating as a family run business for nearly 20 years and the values within this set up have been identified as some of the strongest in the industry in their recent win.

Speaking on the win, DoorCo Managing Director Dan Sullivan, says, “it’s always a great feeling to be acknowledged with an

award but we particularly look forward to the UK Manufacturing Awards as an opportunity to measure ourselves against the wider manufacturing industry, opposed to just our fenestration counterparts.

“We have previously won Fastest Growing Team and Most Innovative business at these awards, so we’re really pleased to add Best Family Business to that list.

“The fact we are a family run business from day one is part of our DNA. It shapes our morals and values as a company and paves the way for how our culture operates day to day. It felt natural to share our story as part of these awards and we’re really proud the judges have seen credit in how we work.”.

Talking further on the reason for choosing the Best Family Business award as their

nomination this year, Marketing Manager Ellie Pool, tells us: “We’re passionate about ensuring the awards we enter are a fair representation of what we’re focused on as a business.

“Our attention is always equally split between our products and our people. We’re proud of the awards we’ve won over the years that draw attention to our product development or manufacturing set up but

it’s equally important to us to celebrate our culture and values.

“Being a family business with Dan and Jayne very much still at the helm is a massive part of who we are. We’re proud of our roots and how it has shaped the dynamic of the business. To be recognised as the best in class for manufacturing businesses operating in this way is a real honour.”

DoorCo add the title to their growing list of accolades including other people awards such as UK Manufacturing Awards’ Fastest Growing Team and the Health & Wellbeing Award at the 2023 North Cheshire Business Awards.

For more information, visit: www.door-co.com.

SENIOR PLEDGES TO ‘BEE’ PART OF THE SOLUTION WITH NEW BIODIVERSITY INITIATIVE

There’s a buzz of activity at Senior Architectural Systems’ Rotherham manufacturing facility – and it’s not just from the factory floor. The leading manufacturer of aluminium doors, windows and curtain walling has installed its first on-site beehive, marking another step forward in its commitment to sustainability and biodiversity.

The hive is the latest initiative to take flight as part of Senior’s comprehensive sustainability strategy, which has seen the company make significant investment in the use of low-

carbon aluminium, operational efficiencies across its two main UK manufacturing facilities, and the development of an extensive range of Part L compliant fenestration products. Located at Senior’s dedicated Thermal Improvement Facility in Rotherham, which has boosted the production capacity

of Senior’s patented PURe® range of low U-value aluminium windows and doors, the beehive is also helping Senior support local biodiversity and national environmental goals set out under the Environment Act 2021.

Bees play a vital role in global food production and the maintenance of healthy ecosystems, with a significant number of UK crops relying on pollinators. By providing a protected, managed habitat onsite, Senior is taking a proactive step to help counter the rapid decline of bee populations and protect the local environment.

The initiative forms part of a wider Biodiversity Policy being rolled out across Senior’s UK sites under the guidance of the company’s newly appointed UK Sustainability Lead, Luke Osborne.

Commenting on the new beehive initiative, Luke said: “Helping nature thrive is essential for a more sustainable future, and we’re proud to be playing our part. The new beehive at our Rotherham site may seem like a small step, but it reflects our wider ambition to support the recovery of nature and embed biodiversity

FREEFOAM BUILDING PRODUCTS BRINGS SUPERIOR PRODUCT KNOWLEDGE TO YOUR FINGER-TIPS!

Freefoam Building Products is excited to announce the launch of its newly updated Product Training Module, designed to provide essential knowledge on PVC building products for industry professionals, stockists and merchant suppliers.

Whether you’re looking to expand your expertise or need a refresher on key products, the updated module offers an engaging and user-friendly learning experience.

With a fresh new look and additional product insights, the module covers a wide range of PVC home improvement products, including fascia, soffit, cladding, window trims, and skirting boards.

Key features of the training module include:

• Product Overviews – A deep dive into Freefoam’s core product range.

• Colour Options Guide – Learn about the variety of finishes available.

• Fitting Information – Essential tips for correct installation and fixing distance.

• Product Guarantees – Understand the guarantees and benefits Freefoam offers.

• Self-Assessment Quiz – A short quiz to test your knowledge.

Designed for maximum convenience, the entire training module can be completed in just 15 minutes, making it an ideal tool for merchants, installers, and sales teams looking to boost their product knowledge quickly and efficiently.

into how we use and manage our land. Sustainability isn’t just about carbon – it’s about ecosystems, communities, and resilience.”

For more information, please visit www.seniorarchitectural. co.uk or search for Senior Architectural Systems on LinkedIn andFacebook.

Freefoam UK Sales Director Richard Jackson recognizes the value of the updated Freefoam Training Module to help suppliers stay ahead in the market.

“We understand the importance of having the right knowledge when it comes to recommending and installing PVC building products. This updated module makes it easier than ever for merchants and independent PVC Suppliers to build product knowledge for their whole trade counter team and offer the best solutions to their customers.”

The Freefoam Training Module is now available. Visit: qrco.de/bftUQQ.

INNOVATOR, OR IMITATOR? HOW TO TELL THE DIFFERENCE

One of the key claims made by exhibitors at shows is that what they are showing is innovative.

Not a surprise, given the fact that often exhibitions like the FIT Show are often the first-time installers and fabricators will have had a chance to ‘kick the tyres’ of many products. It’s the ideal place for systems houses and manufacturers to showcase their newest ranges and ideas.

But is it possible the word ‘innovation’ is being bandied around too much? In an increasingly competitive marketplace, it’s worth asking: what does true innovation look like? And what are the markers of real innovators?

HOW TO SPOT AN INNOVATOR

THIRD-PARTY RECOGNITION

Simply saying you’re announcing the latest innovation or labelling yourself an innovator isn’t enough – anyone can say whatever they like. But true innovators will be able to provide tangible evidence to support their claims.

For example, third party recognition in the form of awards are a great indicator of what the industry really thinks of a product, initiative, or training programme. We recently received a King’s Award for Innovation 2025 for our Sheerline system. This is unarguably one of the most

prestigious awards a business can receive. But that’s not all.

Did you know Sheerline has won Best Technical Innovation at the GGP Installer Awards three times now? And we’re finalists in eight NFA categories for 2025, on the back of winning Aluminium Systems Company of the Year 2024.

These awards not only reflect the work that goes into our products, but the whole Sheerline experience. We’re committed to achieving excellence in aluminium by redefining the expectations of our customers.

PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT

Companies genuinely innovating regularly launch new products and updates. For us, this is what a commitment to continuous improvement means. Sheerline was the first to introduce a pre-gasketed bead – and we’ve followed that up with the introduction of our Fast Connect Hybrid Bead recently. We pioneered straight forward Part L compliance across all our products, allowing our customers to comply from day one. No fuss, no foam. Backed up by publicly available proof in the form of our freely available U-value reports.

Another way to decipher between what’s just marketing spiel and what’s real innovation is patents. Or rather, the number of patents a company holds is a clear indication of how much time it is investing in research and development.

From our modular cills and ancillaries, which were introduced to reduce stockholding and waste, to our patented corner construction and the Thermlock® technology that sits at the heart of every Sheerline product – every innovation offers tangible improvements over legacy aluminium systems. Backed up and protected by patents to maintain the advantage our customers have in choosing Sheerline as a business partner.

MARKET REACTION

Finally, the way to gauge what’s real innovation is to assess how the market has changed since its launch. We’d argue that before Sheerline, the aluminium sector was stagnating, with little innovation and limited focus on improving customer experience.

The way Sheerline operates now and how the business was initially set up was intentionally with growth in mind. That’s how Roger turned his vision for a vertically integrated sustainable UK manufacturing business into a reality.

What we’ve proven in the five years since the Sheerline system was launched is that

there is plenty of scope for improvement within the aluminium sector. It’s not just about the awards we’ve won, but the feedback we’ve received from fabricators who’ve switched to us.

Another sign we’re doing something right is the number of products imitating our designs – the S1 Roof Lantern in particular has gained competitor attention. But claiming you’re innovating when in truth you’ve just copied someone else’s idea is either dishonest or delusional.

TO SUMMARISE

There are lots of ways to tell the difference between an innovator and an imitator. It’s less about what a company says and more about what they do and what trusted thirdparty sources think. In the (not too far away) past, companies could say whatever they wanted.

Although some still take this approach, it’s becoming less of an option. Not just because of legislation such as the Future Homes Standard (FHS), but because customers expect honesty. Telling the truth isn’t just good business, it’s about having integrity and principles.

Being a genuine innovator means pushing the boundaries, which in turn forces the industry to change how they do things, which ultimately makes things better for installers, fabricators, and consumers.

Want to discover true innovation? Contact Sheerline by emailing info@sheerline.com or calling 01332 978 000.

By Dave Wigley, Sheerline’s Head of Marketing

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LATEST REHAU MANUFACTURING DATA SHOWS

FLUSH FIT GOING FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH

Recent manufacturing data from polymer solutions leader REHAU reveals an ongoing trend in the rise of flush fit windows, highlighting their continued appeal for residential and commercial projects.

REHAU sold over 358,000 meters of Rio sash in 2024 – a 14% increase on 2023 –while demand for the Rio door launched in 2023 grew by 70% in 2024.

“Rio’s success can be put down to two complementary factors,” says Clare Higgins, Senior Product Manager for REHAU UK. “Firstly, that well-designed frames will always find their place in the market, especially when they offer outstanding aesthetic and energy-efficiency benefits and have plenty of accessories and customisation options.

“But beyond this, Rio’s success demonstrates the enduring popularity of flush fit windows among homeowners and commercial specifiers alike, who are prioritising clean lines to ensure minimal impact on a property’s exterior.”

The new data demonstrates both a continued and recent rise in the number of Rio frames supplied and fitted. Since its launch five years ago, the number of Rio window frames manufactured has grown from 11,666 in 2019 to 89,657 in 2024 – an almost eight-fold increase.

“Demand for the Rio flush fit window frame continues to soar and it is great to see its door counterpart experience similar success,” Clare concludes. “The aesthetic versatility of the Rio range and its ease-ofmanufacture have helped facilitate this rise, and we’re confident that both the window and door frame will be similarly successful this year and beyond.”

https://shorturl.at/dZByM

FREEFOAM BULDING PRODUCTS RETAINS ECOVADIS SILVER MEDAL

Freefoam is proud to announce that we have successfully retained our Ecovadis Silver Medal for 2025, placing us in the 94th percentile of all companies assessed globally. This recognition reaffirms our unwavering commitment to sustainability and responsible business practices.

Ecovadis is a globally recognised sustainability ratings platform that evaluates companies on their environmental, ethical, labour and human rights practices, as well as sustainable procurement. Freefoam’s achievement places us among the top 6% of all companies assessed, reflecting significant progress since our first evaluation in 2023, when we ranked in the 78th percentile.

“We’re thrilled with our performance this year,” said Kevin Cronin Chief Operating Officer. “Achieving a 75/100 overall score – a six-point improvement from last year – and increasing our scores across all four assessment themes is a testament to our team’s hard work and dedication to continuous improvement.”

Highlights of Freefoam’s 2025 Ecovadis results include:

• Increased scores in Environment, Ethics, Labour & Human Rights, and Sustainable Procurement

• A 6-point overall score increase, reaching 75/100

• Above-average performance in both general manufacturing and plastic product manufacturing sectors

With the gold medal threshold just one percentile away, Freefoam remains committed to further enhancing our sustainability efforts and advancing toward even higher standards in the years ahead.

“We would like to thank everyone across the organisation for their contributions to this achievement,” added Kevin Cronin. “Sustainability is a collective effort, and this recognition is something we can all be proud of.”

Spot three differences. Fill in your answer and your contact details below and send your competition entry to: FAO: Christina Lazenby, Glass News Competitions, 19 Heather Close, Tickhill, Doncaster, DN11 9UU or Email: christina@glassnews.co.uk. Entry deadline: 20/06/25.

At Coastal Group, we don’t just supply hardware – we engineer solutions. Our in-house Research & Development team works side-by-side with door and window manufacturers to turn ideas into fully realised, precision-engineered products.

Bespoke

If you can imagine it, we can design, prototype, and manufacture it. Every challenge is an opportunity – and our team is ready to make your vision a reality.

Let’s create something together.

LINIAR & WPR-TAKA: COLLABORATING TO RAISE THE BAR IN LAMINATION EXCELLENCE

John Stark, Liniar Lamination Production Manager, works closely with profile wrapping technology and adhesive specialist WPR-TAKA and is currently coordinating a bespoke training programme as part of Liniar’s continuous improvement culture.

John discusses how environmental conditions at Liniar’s Lamination Hall are meticulously controlled to help ensure every foiled product meets exacting British Standards Institute (BSI) standards, and how he is excited to work with members of the WPR-TAKA team for their upcoming collaboration – the Academy sessions.

CREATING THE PERFECT CONDITIONS

Leveraging the financial strength of parent company, Quanex, Liniar consistently invests in its facilities. This commitment ensures their manufacturing equipment remains at the forefront of technological advancements.

John explains, “Two crucial factors in creating optimal conditions for laminating are humidity and temperature. After consulting with Humidity Solutions back in 2022 we invested in a high-end system which allows precision control of humidity. To my knowledge, Liniar was the first systems house in the UK to install this technology.

“Our humidity and temperature-controlled environment means we can guarantee consistent adhesive application and bonding quality all year round,” explains John.

“It’s this investment in process stability that underpins our 99.94% conformity rate. But we’re not stopping there — we’re always looking for incremental improvements, which is why we signed up for WPR-TAKA’s Academy sessions.”

SCIENCE-BACKED BEST PRACTICE

Discussing the WPR-TAKA Academy, Area Manager Davide Viero says, “The programme offers structured modules including plant audits, operator training, and advanced sessions for supervisors and quality engineers.

“It’s not just about showing teams how best to run a foiling line, it’s about empowering team members to understand the ‘why’ behind each step.

“In our experience, when people have a better understanding of the science behind our specifications for applying and curing adhesives, best practices become easier to follow,” he adds.

John explains, “The initial intake of Liniar team members is already underway, with plans for a 2026 intake too. I have over 35 years’ experience of managing wrapping processes, however, passing on this knowledge to the next wave of lamination operatives is a crucial part of Liniar’s futureproofing strategy for ensuring expertise stays within the business for the long term.”

Davide adds, “John and his team have a huge amount of expertise, and still tell us they learn from our collaborations. It’s great to see Liniar has a plan for protecting the continuity of collective industry knowledge and experience present in its current team.”

A PERFECT FINISH EVERY TIME

Lamination Manager John concludes, “We’re extremely proud of the standards we’re upholding in our Lamination Hall, but never rest on our laurels. We test to BSI 7722 for adhesive bond strength, and by continuing to seek out incremental gains our goal is always to improve consistency and eliminate any potential for quality concerns.

“This enables us deliver products that perform perfectly from fabrication and installation, to standing the test of time as stylish finished products in buildingsproviding customer satisfaction along the entire supply chain.”

To find out more about Liniar’s full range visit: https://www.liniar.co.uk/

John Stark

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FIT SHOW 2025: RECORD-BREAKING ATTENDANCE, INNOVATION

FIT Show 2025 has firmly established itself as the UK fenestration industry’s mustattend event, delivering its biggest and most vibrant edition yet at Birmingham’s NEC. Spanning four halls and drawing thousands of visitors, this year’s show has not only set new records for attendance but also raised the bar for innovation, networking, and sector collaboration.

FIT Show director Nickie West comments: “FIT Show 2025 performed strongly compared to 2023, with pre and onsite registrations increasing by 7% - no mean feat given the challenging backdrop the industry has, and continues to face. Overall attendance grew by 7.5%, with day one showing the most significant improvement at 13% more visitors than in 2023. We also experienced a notable rise in repeat visits on days two and three, reflecting that there’s now so much more to explore at the show. It’s clear that one day simply isn’t enough to take in everything FIT Show has to offer.”

UNPRECEDENTED SCALE AND ENERGY

With close to 300 leading brands and a significant number of first-time exhibitors from more than 20 countries, FIT Show 2025

& INDUSTRY MOMENTUM

“The show floor was alive with product launches, from new door and window systems to the latest in software, hardware, and service innovations.”

offered a truly international showcase. Visitor registrations surpassed all previous editions, with the opening day alone exceeding 2023’s numbers and the halls buzzing with energy and anticipation. The event’s expanded footprint meant professionals from every corner of the supply chain could see, touch, and compare thousands of products and solutions under one roof.

Nickie adds: “We worked incredibly hard to expand both the footprint of the show, as well as broadening out the show proposition. This included an increased representation of machinery, with the Haffner Machinery Village occupying a significant footprint, as well as securing support from more glass brands than 2023

including the likes of Pilkington Glass and Clayton Glass to strengthen our offering for IGUs and fabricators.

“The introduction of the timber trail, led by FIT Show newcomer, the Timber Joinery Network, saw 50 of its members put on a fantastic display for both fabricators and installers looking to broaden their portfolios by incorporating this material.

“Similarly, a huge objective for 2025 was to meet the demand from 2023 visitors to see more systems houses represented on the show floor.

“We took this number from three in 2023 to seven for this edition, which included Selecta Systems, ALUK, Cortizo, Residence Collection, Aluplast, Smart Systems, Exlabesa - this was incredibly well received by visitors!”

Crowded in the aisles

At the Installer Demo Zone

The Residence Collection

INNOVATION ON DISPLAY

The show floor was alive with product launches, from new door and window systems to the latest in software, hardware, and service innovations. Many brands timed their launches to coincide with FIT Show, giving visitors exclusive first access to cutting-edge solutions.

The Installer Demo Zone, sponsored by Smart Systems and back by popular demand, provided handson demonstrations of machinery and installation techniques, allowing attendees to experience products in action and gain

practical insights from participating brands including ALUK, Soudal, Bereco, Brett Martin, Kenricks, Keylite Roof Windows and the Timber Joinery Network.

Nickie adds: “Attracting roofing and construction professionals was a big objective for our 2025 campaign. Features such as the Installer Demo Zone and Marketplace allowed us to incorporate new brands and product offerings, with the likes of Gutterplus delivering handson demonstrations for people looking for new and innovative ways to not only install roof lights and lanterns, but the ancillary products to support these.”

A MARKETPLACE FOR THE MODERN INSTALLER

A standout new feature for 2025 was the Marketplace, where visitors could purchase tools, services and ancillaries directly on the show floor.

Located alongside the Installer Demo Zone, this area gave tradespeople immediate access to the latest innovations, making FIT Show not just a place to discover but also to equip and upgrade in real time. Participants included Blakeley Construction, ER Certification, CT1, Camel Clamp and Xpert Tools who created a starter bundle for glaziers.

The GGF stand was busy

Lots of interest in the new conservatory on the Sheerline stand

Sandra Berg and Adrian Barraclough show off their vertical slider at Quickslide

Russell Yates hosted the trade press on the AluK stand

Vast PR’s Paul Godwin - he didn’t want to but the temptation was too great!

Stuga’s Gareth Green gives a demo

Soudal

Emmegi

Demonstrations of the Door of the Future on the DOORCO stand

Extrudaseal

Glazerite

Finstral

Glazpart

Now a choice of three different run through horns from Roseview Windows

Passivglas

HWL Windows

Insightdata

Glazpart’s Dean Bradley and RISA’s Dave Mechem... but what were they looking at?

The stunning conservatory from Sheerline

Winkhaus

Selecta had a successful show

Supalite

Joinery software

EDUCATION, LEGISLATION, AND CPD

FIT Show 2025 also cemented its reputation as the industry’s leading learning platform. The CPD-accredited seminar programme, delivered in partnership with GGF & FENSA, drew impressive crowds with sessions covering everything from new building regulations and sustainability to AI, security, and future homes standards. This content was free to all visitors and designed to keep the industry up to speed with the latest technical and legislative developments.

Ben Wallace, GGF managing director comments: “I’ve attended many FIT Shows during my time at the GGF, and this one was by far the best for us. The GGF stand was absolutely packed for the majority of the show. It gave me a moment to step back and appreciate the progress we’ve made. We were able to showcase a lot of the hard work and various workstreams the team has been focused on over the past couple of years, and we received some really strong feedback.”

NETWORKING AND AFTER-HOURS BUZZ

Beyond the stands, FIT Show’s networking opportunities were second to none. On-stand entertainment, exclusive giveaways, and the much-anticipated Late Night Wednesdaywith its live music, themed food and drink, and relaxed atmosphere-fostered meaningful connections and a real sense of industry community. For many, these after-hours events were as valuable as the show itself, enabling business relationships to flourish in a more informal setting.

On the Selecta Stand

The joinery network

Lots of hardware to see

Demonstration at Winkhaus

A blast from the past... the Gladiator's Wolf meets Emma Champion

An Oompah band at Hormann

Dan and Jane Sullivan on the ever busy DOORCO stand

Mike Bygrave gave Glass News a tour of the Roseview stand

Lots of interest in the demonstrations of how quick and easy it is to fit the new Korniche Roof Lantern from Made For Trade

You can’t keep him away! Anglian’s Roy Frost

Ella Brown and Guy Hubble on the RegaLead stand

INDUSTRY ENDORSEMENT AND LASTING IMPACT

Feedback from exhibitors and visitors alike has been overwhelmingly positive. “I’m absolutely thrilled with the energy and attendance on day one of FIT Show 2025, which has already surpassed our 2023 edition in terms of visitor numbers,” said FIT Show director Nickie West.

“The halls at NEC were absolutely buzzing with thousands of visitors discovering the very latest in windows, doors, glass, hardware and roofing products from close to 300 leading brands and exciting new exhibitors.

“Our expanded Installer Demo Zone was a real highlight, giving visitors hands-on access to live product installations and the brand-new Marketplace area.

“A big thank you to the FIT Show team for delivering such a well-run event.”

vital this event is for driving progress and collaboration across the sector”.

Exhibitors echoed this sentiment, with many reporting strong engagement, highquality leads, and enthusiastic responses to new product launches. The show’s ability to unite the industry, foster innovation, and provide a platform for learning and business development was clear throughout.

Elton Boocock, managing director at Business Pilot comments: “We launched Business Pilot at FIT Show 2019 to huge success. This year, I launched thinkivity (AI training for glazing) and GlazingBot at the show. Once again, the right decision! The number of leads off the bat will ensure a solid foundation for both new companies. And for Business Pilot, 2025 FIT Show is already proving to be the most successful yet.”

Mark Powell, sales director for Direct Trade adds: “Attending FIT Show 2025 was a highly rewarding experience for our team and a fantastic opportunity to connect with the wider UK fenestration industry.

“The CPD-accredited seminar programme, delivered in partnership with FENSA and GGF, also drew fantastic crowds, with sessions covering everything from future homes standards to the latest in security and AI. It was inspiring to see so many connections being made, deals being done, and innovations unveiled - FIT Show is all about bringing our industry together, and the atmosphere at FIT Show proves just how

“The exhibition brought together several key players and it was clear that innovation and sustainability are driving the sector forward. We had valuable conversations with suppliers, customers, potential customers and fellow professionals, and the quality of engagement was exceptional throughout.

“A big thank you to the FIT Show team for delivering such a well-run event — we’re proud to be part of such a dynamic industry and look forward to future opportunities to showcase our expertise.”

LOOKING AHEAD

With the next FIT Show scheduled for two years, returning in 2027, this year’s event was a unique opportunity for the sector to connect, learn, and source solutions that will shape the industry’s future.

FIT Show 2025 has set a new gold standard for trade events in the glass, glazing, and fenestration sector-proving that when the industry comes together, progress and innovation follow.

FIT Show returns to the NEC, occupying the same four halls, from Tuesday 18 to Thursday 20 May, 2027.

Ultion on display

Dave Thomas showed us around the vast Haffner stand and a frame produced by the GrafSynergy welder

GGF’s Dave Broxton with Emma Champion

Emma Champion and Christina Lazenby at the Glass News, Fenestra Build and Improve stand

Glass News’ Christina Lazenby thanks Ian Short for the hospitality on the Morley Glass stand

The Korniche stand by Made For Trade

Award-winning for its true authenticity, featuring the slimmest 35mm midrail, putty-line profiles, mechanical joints, deep cills, and a 1.2 W/m²k U-value – the Ultimate Rose sets the standard for conservation-grade sash windows.

ONE TEAM, ONE DREAM FOR DOORCO AT FIT 25

DoorCo put socialising at the centre of this year’s FIT Show operations and the concept proved a success as the team enjoyed a successful 3 days at the industry’s infamous exhibition.

Ellie Pool, DoorCo’s Marketing Manager, gives us a whistlestop tour of the weeks’ events: “The team at DoorCo are absolutely thrilled with the success of this year’s FIT show. The event was a long time in the works and required a huge amount of input from across the business, so to see it all come together and be so well received was a real win.

“We enjoyed a steady stream of visitors across the three days with an influx of guests throughout Wednesday, late into the evening. We set out to put socialising at the centre of our stand as big believers that when the conversation is flowing easily, the business comes naturally, and we really saw this ethos come to life. We had four live cooking services across the three days and these sessions were absolutely packed. It was amazing to see guests flood from across the event and then stay on the stand well beyond finishing their food to enjoy conversation with our team.

“Surrounding the ONE Bar was our four product hubs, one for each of our brands, plus stands to showcase the FLiP cassette system on either side. The hubs provided each brand its own space to really demonstrate the individual brand identities we’ve created and of course, the unique selling points of each product range.

“Each hub was packed with products and innovation including:

• ORiGINAL: We had a full-size Eaton door on display, with all the prepped variations this slab has to offer with a Knightsbridge and Tatton on show too. We also showed off the designs available with our revised ¾ lite blank, as well as our much-loved purposebuilt stable door which was painted pretty in pink for the occasion.

• BRiTDOR: Our British born and raised solid timber core range was on display with our two exclusive blanks, Enzo and

Glenman, taking pride of place in their best-selling prepped styles. We also showcased the stunning Irish Oak thermoplastic skins and an eye-catching side panel display featuring the Duck Egg blue skins and Skyscraper glass.

• FiRECORE: We had the full range of our FD30 slabs on display to really give guests a feel for just how this product has captured both style and substance with its wide range of designs and permutations, as well as video footage of our 54-minute burn test.

• GRiPCORE: An area with a difference, fitted with a split slab to help guests see the engineering inside the slab, as well as the Door of the Future concept door for visitors to explore.

• Our two GLAZiNG walls then showed off the vast options available with the FLiP system, including a range of standard and painted colours, three profile finishes and even the opportunity to see inside the system with an internal cassette demonstrating the Foam In Place Technology and prefitted corners and connectors.

A LOOK INTO THE FUTURE

Ellie continues: “As well as displaying the best of what we currently have on offer, we wanted to take this opportunity to indicate what’s to come.

“As well as the Door of the Future installation, which explored exciting potential technology concepts, we also showcased our new PAiNT swatch booklets and a prototype for a new peel-back paint swatch, similar to those available from brands such as Dulux and Lick.

KENRICK TEAM CELEBRATES OUTSTANDING FIT SHOW DEBUT

Kenrick made a strong first impression at FIT Show 2025, celebrating an incredibly successful debut. The response to the company’s latest innovation, the AK Touch Secure™ smart locking solution attracted a huge amount of interest and generated a high volume of new business orders and high-quality leads.

Andy Meakin, Sales and Marketing Manager at Kenrick, said: “The show was superb. The quality of footfall was excellent, and it’s clear that fabricators and installers are actively looking for easy-to-install, intuitive smart technology. The level of interest and the number of new opportunities and exciting new partnerships we’ve secured for the AK Touch Secure™ has been beyond anything we anticipated from the show.”

“We are incredibly proud of everyone within the business who helped us bring the stand to life and of course, very grateful to all the wonderful partners and customers who supported us in various ways from fabrication to hardware to print work and beyond.”

“Alongside this, we demonstrated NFC technology, showing how we’re using it and how customers could make use of it too. Our new BM Touch Door Designer, displayed on a large touch screen, showed off 3D door models as part of a new phase of development, so customers could not only experience our current door designer but also test upcoming features too.

“Last but certainly not least, we launched our first ever USA specification and showed the industry how we will be entering this new market with a designed for purpose version of our Eaton door. This area became a real talking point, and it was great to drum up some excitement around this new venture.

“To summarise, FIT Show 2025 was a real triumph for Team DoorCo. We are incredibly proud of everyone within the business who helped us bring the stand to life and of course, very grateful to all the wonderful partners and customers who supported us in various ways from fabrication to hardware to print work and beyond. So, to those involved, another big thank you.”

For more information, visit: https://trade.door-co.com/

Kenrick officially launched the AK Touch Secure™ at the event. Andy added: “The AK Touch Secure™ attracted exactly the level of attention we expected—and more. Its combination of high-level security and cutting-edge connectivity brings huge advantages to fabricators and installers and is a real gamechanger for the industry.”

The AK TouchSecure™ is compatible with any door handle or escutcheon fitted with a Kenrick 3 Star Locking Cylinder and can be installed in minutes without any major hardware modifications, making it a practical choice for retrofit projects as well as new installations.

It works using touch-sensitive technology, a secure keypad, a key fob, or voice commands via Google Home or Alexa. There’s also a manual override option, meaning the door can always be opened with a key.

The AK Touch Secure™ app brings further functionality, including remote locking and unlocking, a status check and access logs. It can also grant temporary, timed access to a property, making it ideal for Airbnb properties or where contractors need access to a building.

To ensure data security, all data and access methods, including the key fob and the app, are encrypted end-to-end, bringing users peace of mind.

The company’s experts were also on hand for advice and information. “As the oldest hardware company in the business, we have a wealth of expertise and experience customers can tap into. We enjoyed speaking to so many people and discussing the value our solutions and approach can bring.”

Kenrick is a trusted hardware partner to fabricators and supply partners throughout the industry, which made it a valuable addition to the FIT Show line-up. Andy concluded:

“We were delighted to take our place at our first FIT and I am sure it won’t be our last!”

Tel: 0121 500 3266 – www.kenricks.co.uk

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HAFFNER CELEBRATES BEST-EVER FIT SHOW WITH ITS MACHINERY VILLAGE

FIT Show 2025 has gone down as the most successful exhibition in Haffner’s history, with its Machinery Village proving a major draw throughout the three-day event.

Matt Thomas, Managing Director at Haffner, said: “The response to the Haffner Machinery Village exceeded all our expectations. It was fantastic to connect with so many new and existing customers, showcase the latest advancements in fabrication technology and reinforce why Haffner continues to lead the way in machinery innovation.”

As in previous years, Haffner had the biggest presence at the show with the Machinery Village spanning three interconnected stands, each dedicated to one of Haffner’s machinery groups: Haffner, Graf Synergy and Fom Industrie. Together, they demonstrated their collaborative strength and the comprehensive solutions on offer from the UK’s leading machinery supplier.

Matt Thomas, Managing Director at Haffner, said:

“All three machinery zones were busy throughout the show but the reaction to our Graf seamless technology stood out. Visitors were blown away by the finish quality of the V Perfect welds and the competitive advantage it delivers. It was undoubtedly one of the show’s highlights, and we secured multiple orders as a direct result.”

He continued: “From the many conversations we had with fabricators, automation was the word on everyone’s lips. It’s clear that economic pressures mean every fabricator is looking for ways to boost productivity — and automation is now at the top of the agenda.”

The Haffner Machinery Village attracted strong footfall from high-quality customers, many of whom arrived with clear machinery plans in mind. Matt said: “Sales were taken across our range of machines and numerous confirmed appointments were secured for post-show follow-up. The calibre of enquiries this year was second to none.”

Additional highlights included the newly launched Haffner SBA-3 Machining Centre with its enhanced tooling speed and compact design, optimising automated efficiency and workspace utilisation. Also featured was the powerful

“The value of the show is clearly reflected in our bottom line, which is why I’m delighted to confirm we’ve already signed up for FIT Show 2027.”

SMR-5 Welder, recognised as the fastest and most accurate welder on the market today.

Matt commented: “Haffner has been a trusted machinery supplier to the fenestration industry since 1990. Alongside our market-leading machinery, we offer a deep understanding of the fabrication industry and its unique challenges.”

Since its launch, Haffner has been an exhibitor at every FIT Show. Matt concluded: “FIT Show is always a superb opportunity to meet existing customers and connect with new ones. It gives us a fantastic platform to showcase the quality and efficiency that our machines deliver. The value of the show is clearly reflected in our bottom line, which is why I’m delighted to confirm we’ve already signed up for FIT Show 2027.”

Tel: 01785 222421 www.haffnerltd.com

GGF A VIBRANT CENTRAL HUB FOR ALL ASPECTS OF THE INDUSTRY

With so much going on, it is no wonder that the GGF and FENSA’s stand was a vibrant and buzzing central hub of the show. As well as the activities of the GGF and FENSA themselves (including the launch of marketing reports and publications), and an introduction to ACDM members, representatives from the organisation’s other companies – BFRC, RISA and Installsurewere bringing visitors up to date with the latest changes and developments.

Key to FENSA’s focus this year was the opportunity to demonstrate how companies could complete compliancy with MTC requirements, quickly, easily and cost effectively. With CSCS ending Grandfather Rights and a tightening of MTC requirements, there has been a lot of confusion, and indeed fear, about how installation teams were going to be affected. FENSA and the GGF wanted to ensure that the industry left the show knowing exactly what was needed and how easily it could be resolved. This was achieved in two key ways. Firstly, through on stand demonstrations of the GGF’s comprehensive training platform and the specific courses available online to members which can be accessed by employees needing to update their competency accreditations.

Secondly, as sponsors of the FIT Show seminar programme, the GGF and FENSA led a couple

of workshops specifically around training and competency. Sam Davies, FENSA technical manager, brought visitors up to date about MTC and Grandfather Rights, and John Mannell, technical officer and training manager, spoke about the Future of Training and Competency in the Glass & Glazing Sector as a whole.

“We were keen to highlight the importance of competency, but at the same time demonstrate that achieving it is quicker and simpler than maybe initially thought. Once visitors to our stand had seen the user friendliness of our training platform it was simple to envisage how online learning can help not just those new to the sector but to help keep experienced workers up to date with current regulatory requirements,” said GGF technical and training manager John Mannell.

RISA’s new Expert Determination service proved of particular interest, particularly when visitors heard about the eye watering costs that a dispute could incur if it ever ended up in court.

“RISA recently provided expert evidence in a case where homeowners were refusing to pay the final balance to an installer due to claimed technical defects”, said RISA’s director of inspection and assessment, Dave Mechem. “The installer chose to issue legal proceedings. The case took two years to come to court and the homeowners presented a counter claim many times the value of the original dispute. The Court ruled in favour of the homeowners and also awarded their costs. ADR in the form of Expert Determination could have settled this case in a matter of weeks, the counter claim would have been unlikely to arise, and the five figure legal costs would not have accrued.”

Highlight of the show was the PiGs event that took place on the GGF and FENSA stand on the Wednesday evening, cohosted with Business Pilot’s Elton Boocock. The evening proved to be a magnet for the good and great of the industry to gather, network and generally relax after two frantic days at the show.

“The FIT Show played a crucial part to our 2025 marketing activities, giving us the opportunity to showcase the many changes we have already made during the first quarter of 2025,” said GGF managing director Ben Wallace. “Our role in the industry is central to ensuring high standards in terms of quality and workmanship, and we are focused on driving those standards up even more.”

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THE PERFECT FIT FOR SELECTA!

Birmingham based PVCu window and door systems company, Selecta Systems, went to FIT Show 2025 ready to connect with visitors to the industries number one trade show.

Equipped with groundbreaking new additions to their Connect customer portal and two new sections to their ADVANCE 70 window and door system, Sales Director Andy Green and Marketing Manager Mark Walker, talk about Selecta’s presence and impact at FIT Show 2025.

Andy explains, “The FIT Show provided Selecta with the ideal platform to connect with a large, dedicated audience and demonstrate how Selecta and our range of products and services can help fabricators and installers businesses grow. It also enabled us to be able to showcase and demo our two new products and Connect portal additions directly to visitors to our stand.”

“Over the course of the three days, we had a good number of fabricators visit our stand to specifically look at changing from their existing PVCu systems company. The numbers and quality of these potential customers were extremely good and certainly justified our presence. It was also great to be visited by a large number of our valued and existing customers.”

“Our new ADVANCE 70 flush sash window and flush door were well received by visitors to the stand. Feedback from existing and potential customers was excellent, with the two new sections sitting seamlessly within the existing ADVANCE 70 suite of profiles.

We’re confident that the new additions to our window and door range will not only enable fabricators and installers to grow their portfolio, but also increase their sales opportunities when it comes to offering a comprehensive range of window and door solutions.”

“Alongside the two new products and the ADVANCE 70 System we also demonstrated the versatility of our window and door systems. This included our upgraded MASTERslide Patio Door System and the innovative Vantage 70 System with our patented quick-fit compression interior trim for modular buildings, caravans and garden rooms. Both systems were well received as fabricators and installers looked at product alternatives, diversifying and adding to their range of window and door solutions.”

Also featuring on the stand at FIT Show 25 were the latest additions and developments to Connect, Selecta’s 24/7 customer support portal. In particular, a demo of the significantly upgraded Window & Door Designer was on show. Selecta are confident that it will be a real game changer for fabricators and installers and also a systems company first, as Mark describes.

“Over the last few years, we have been working closely with The Consultancy of the BM Group, in developing an allin-one fully integrated lead generation, sales management and fabrication software solution. All of the hard work and brainstorming has started to come to fruition, and we were able to have a demo on show on our stand.”

“The initial idea was to connect the window and door designer to a complete sales management and CRM system, allowing full control of quoting and pricing straight

from the window and door designer. This has been achieved and given complete control over managing the initial enquiry and all the way through quoting and order acceptance.”

“The sales management and CRM section provides complete control over all quotes and orders that have been generated within the window and door designer or via the sales management module. What we have also done is take the whole process to the next level and connect the sales process with fabrication. Further developments have seen the system able to then create works orders, cutting sheets, glass orders etc. providing the fabricator with a software solution that connects and follows the initial lead all the way through to the fully fabricated window or door.”

“Selecta Systems will be the UK’s first fully cloud-based profile company that’s able to instantly onboard any customer utilising the TOUCH cloud-based technology for both software and master catalogue profile datasets. This provides an integrated, allin-one lead generation, sales management and fabrication software set-up that will streamline the whole sales and fabrication process.”

“Taking it a step further, fabricators will be able to onboard their own customers, offering their own branded versions of the window and door designer. It’s a complete game changer in how leads, sales and the fabrication of windows and doors are currently processed, as we demonstrated at the FIT Show. Over the next couple of months, we plan to carry out the final developments and launch to our customer base and new fabricators that join Selecta.”

Andy concludes, “We see the launch of the comprehensive lead generation, sales and

Andy and Mark

“Over the next couple of months, we plan to carry out the final developments and launch to our customer base and new fabricators that join Selecta.”

fabrication management package combined with our current and new product innovations as being key to building an effective and long-standing partnership with our customers. These developments and investments demonstrate our commitment to our existing and potential customers and also to the industry as a whole.”

“Finally, I would also like to say a big thank you to all involved in making FIT Show 2025 a success, both on and off our stand. FIT Show 2025 was certainly the perfect ‘fit’ for Selecta, which is why we have already booked up for FIT Show 2027.”

MADE FOR TRADE SETS NEW INDUSTRY BENCHMARK

WITH MULTIPLE

LAUNCHES AT FIT SHOW

Made for Trade (MFT), the trusted name behind the award-winning Korniche brand, has once again raised the bar for innovation and customer value in the UK fenestration industry with a high-impact, high-visibility presence at FIT Show 2025.

With the unveiling of groundbreaking products and systems, MFT delivered on its promise to “See it First at FIT”, leaving visitors impressed, inspired, and eager to learn more.

The FIT Show 2025 was the perfect stage for Made for Trade to showcase its latest product innovations. Over the course of three packed days, the MFT stand became a magnet for installers, fabricators, specifiers, and industry professionals alike. With a continuous flow of visitors, the event was a resounding success in fostering new relationships while strengthening existing partnerships.

RE-INVENTING THE INDUSTRY STANDARD: THE ALL-NEW KORNICHE ROOF LANTERN

The headline act of the show was undoubtedly the launch of the all-new Korniche Roof Lantern, a complete redesign of MFT’s flagship product that once revolutionised the lantern roof market. Staying true to its ethos of delivering installer-friendly solutions, the latest evolution of the Korniche Roof Lantern has once again redefined expectations.

Through a combination of clever engineering and meticulous design, the new Korniche Roof Lantern boasts an even quicker installation time, enhanced thermal performance with industry-leading U-values, which, when released, will mark impressively competitive price points. Visitors watched first-hand demonstrations that showcased how MFT has distilled years of expertise and customer feedback into an offering that genuinely sets a new benchmark in the market.

With a slimline aesthetic and structural refinement, the updated Korniche Roof Lantern meets the modern demand for minimal sightlines without compromising strength or ease of fitting. The result is a product that is not only installer-friendly but also commercially astute, offering real value for both trade professionals and homeowners.

INTRODUCING THE SIPS UPSTAND, DESIGNED TO COMPLEMENT FLAT LITE

In line with MFT’s reputation for practical innovation, FIT Show 2025 also marked the launch of the new SIPS Upstand, a carefully developed solution designed to perfectly complement the Korniche FLAT Lite bonded rooflight.

Recognising the growing demand for British-designed and manufactured products, offering peace of mind to both the trade and homeowner, this simplified, thermally efficient flat rooflight ticks all the

boxes. The SIPS Upstand is engineered to streamline the installation process while enhancing performance. This factoryassembled upstand ensures a precise fit and consistent quality, eliminating on-site guesswork and reducing installation times even further. When paired with the FLAT Lite bonded glass rooflight, the all-new roof lantern or Flat Glass, installers benefit from a seamless, aesthetically superior solution that delivers exceptional thermal efficiency.

This addition to the Korniche range further cements Made for Trade’s commitment to offering complete, end-to-end solutions that save time, reduce costs, and deliver outstanding results.

KORNICHE INTERNAL GLASS PARTITION SYSTEM – FIRST LOOK AT FIT

Another exciting debut was the Korniche Internal Glass Partition system, which received its exclusive first unveiling at the FIT Show 2025. Scheduled for commercial release later this year, the partition system expands the Korniche product family into the interiors market, offering installers and designers a stylish, high-quality solution for open-plan living and office spaces.

The Korniche Internal Glass Partition system is designed with the same principles that made the Korniche Roof Lantern a market leader: precision engineering, ease of installation, incorporating the Korniche SpeedBead, and a sleek, modern aesthetic. Visitors were treated to an early look at how the system effortlessly combines functionality and style, with options for various configurations and finishes that suit both residential and light commercial applications.

SUPPORTING STARS: KORNICHE BIFOLD DOORS, CORTIZO 4700 SLIDERS & EXISTING FLAT GLASS ROOFLIGHT

Of course, no Made for Trade exhibition stand would be complete without its stalwart performers. The Korniche Bifold Doors, renowned for their class-leading design and multiple industry awards, continued to draw attention from both new and returning visitors. Alongside, the robust and elegant Cortizo 4700 Sliding Doors and the ever-popular Korniche Flat Glass Rooflight showcased the comprehensive product range that MFT offers for modern glazing solutions.

These established products, known for their unrivalled combination of aesthetics, performance, and installer-friendly design, served as a powerful reminder of Made for Trade’s ongoing dedication to innovation, quality, and value.

HIGH-PROFILE SUPPORT FROM INDUSTRY AMBASSADORS

Adding further impact to the exhibition was the presence of brand ambassador Mark Millar, a familiar and trusted face in the trade sector. Mark’s hands-on involvement in live product demonstrations brought authenticity and expert insight, reinforcing MFT’s installer-first approach.

FIT Show ambassador Robin Clevett also joined the MFT team, lending his own respected voice to the showcase of the all-new Korniche Roof Lantern. Both ambassadors captivated audiences with their genuine enthusiasm for the product advancements, helping to communicate the tangible benefits of MFT’s latest innovations with a high-impact live demonstration of the Lantern build and installation.

DELIVERING IMPACT –DRIVING FORWARD

The energy and engagement seen at FIT Show 2025 demonstrated that Made for Trade continues to be a driving force in the UK fenestration sector. From launching pioneering new products to strengthening its trusted range, MFT’s performance at the show has paved the way for exciting opportunities and growth throughout the year ahead.

“Our presence at FIT Show 2025 was all about listening to our customers, responding with meaningful innovation, and showing the industry exactly how we make trade better,” said Ian Bousfield, Marketing Manager.

“With every product developed, MFT focus on delivering genuine installer benefits –faster, easier, better value solutions that don’t compromise on quality. The incredible response we’ve had from FIT Show visitors tells us we’ve hit the mark once again.”

STAY CONNECTED WITH MADE FOR TRADE

Scan the QR code and register for Kwikquote today, to find out more about Made for Trade’s latest products and maintain contact for sales leads or for more information, visit: www.madefortrade.co

LEGACY PROTECT: THE FINAL PIECE IN INTELLIGENT SASH WINDOWS

Brighouse fabricator Quickslide is unveiling a major innovation at this year’s FIT Show: Legacy Protect – the industry’s first intelligent sliding sash window of its kind. Though not yet on general release to the market, Quickslide is asking visitors to its stand to get some hands-on experience of the new generation window security, and provide constructive feedback prior to an official launch later in the year. In collaboration with Kubu, the fabricator has poured its observations and knowledge into the development of Legacy Protect, a multi sensor system that has been integrated into the top sash and outer frame, and bottom sash and cill. Unlike traditional setups that monitor only the locking point, Legacy Protect is designed to detect movement of the sashes – so whether the window is opened or tampered with, the system sends a real-time alert to the homeowner.

“We love a puzzle, and have always questioned why smart tech has been slower to take off in the fenestration industry compared to other home improvement industries,” said Quickslide Managing Director Ben Weber. “Over the years we have closely watched the attempts at integrating smart tech into windows and doors and have had ongoing conversations with Kubu to develop something that works with our Legacy VS windows.

“Through thorough product development we will make sure that Legacy Protect has no missing pieces when it comes to launching it into the market,” continued Ben Weber. “Whether it is the functionality and performance of the product, or the way in which it is offered to our trade partners – we will be welcoming comments and suggestions from all those who visit our stand.”

Security is a theme that is running through the Quickslide stand – and in typical Quickslide fun fashion, it is hammering home its points through a game inviting visitors to suit up a runaway burglar.

“Recent stats from the Met police show that a home is burgled every 173 seconds in the UK,” continued Ben Weber. “The importance of security to homeowners

is only going to grow, and with smart technology so deeply ingrained in our daily lives, it is time for the industry to get to grips with it once and for all. Legacy Protect is our answer. It’s intelligent and fully integrated and we believe that it’s the sliding sash solution that will continue to set standards for years to come.”

Legacy Protect works with the Kubu home hub and app, which sends alerts if a potential break in has been detected. Beyond this, the homeowner can set the app to remind them about the open and closed status of their windows – to shut them when they are leaving the home, to open them for ventilations, to warn them about bad weather or even pollen counts if windows need to be shut to safeguard those with hay fever. In short, Legacy Protect works with a homeowner’s lifestyle always with one primary goal in mind – to protect the home.

ROSEVIEW BRINGS COLOUR, INNOVATION AND MORE TO FIT SHOW 2025

Roseview Windows made a major impact at this year’s FIT Show, showcasing not only their market-leading sash windows but also the growing range of services that position them as more than just a window fabricator.

Headlining the stand was the new Emperor sash horn, a fully milled, seamless horn design exclusive to Ultimate Rose— Roseview’s most authentic heritage-style sash window. It’s the latest addition to their unique collection of traditional horn designs, all designed to replicate the fine detailing of original timber windows.

Also on display was Foilit, the foil lamination company Roseview acquired in 2023. Visitors saw four bespoke foiled sash windows, including three in bold decorative finishes and a fourth in

Claystone, a subtle tone that Roseview is tipping as the next trending colour for sash windows.

But the surprise of the show was Roseview’s new range of matching foiled trims.

“Customers kept telling us how difficult it is to find trims to match our popular chalk white finish,” said Roseview director Mike Bygrave. “Some even said that it had stopped them offering chalk white altogether. Thanks to Foilit, we’ve fixed that—now we can offer colour-matched trims in bar length with window orders, all delivered together.”

The new trim range includes chalk white, crystal white and white woodgrain options, in nine popular styles, all designed to

complement Roseview’s window colours and streamline installation.

Mike continued: “We’ve been to every FIT Show, and this year’s was probably our best yet. Over the three days we spoke to

hundreds of customers and companies looking to switch to a new sash window supplier. We also spoke to companies that used Roseview in the past, moved away and now want to move back, which is great to see.”

“We constantly innovate and improve our product line, as demonstrated by our new Emperor sash horn. Our Incarnation secondary double glazing raised plenty of interest, as did our new brochure, range of marketing support and digital quoting options.“

“Visitors to our stand could see that we’re more than just the leading sash window fabricator; we offer the complete package.”

To find out more, visit www.roseview.co.uk or call 01234 712657.

VISITORS HIT THE INSIGHT DATA BULLSEYE AT THE 2025 FIT SHOW

A darts-themed stand proved a real crowd-puller for Insight Data at this year’s FIT Show, as the UK’s leading provider of marketing data for the fenestration industry welcomed more than 500 visitors to the oche across the three-day event.

The South West-based company drew attention with a vibrant stand that invited

attendees to put their aim to the test, competing for the highest total score with just nine darts. The competition attracted a host of keen players and a few unexpected sharpshooters, as participants battled it out for a selection of premium darts prizes.

Top of the leaderboard over the three days were:

• James Longshaw from Blink Payment (Day 1)

• Ryan Halliday from Verdi Home Improvements Limited (Day 2)

• James Slaski from Brisant Secure (Day 3)

Each winner will receive a prize bundle including a dartboard, personalised darts surround, board light, set of darts and customised flights.

Alex Tremlett, Commercial Director at Insight Data, commented: “We had a fantastic response to the stand and it was brilliant to see such a competitive spirit from both seasoned players and complete novices. While we saw some impressive scores, the real highlight was the way the game encouraged people to engage with the team, learn more about our services and enjoy themselves. The darts theme was a bit of fun, but it also highlighted the real precision and accuracy of what we offer.”

Alongside the lively competition, visitors had the opportunity to explore Insight Data’s latest innovations, including live demonstrations of Salestracker – the company’s real-time prospect database and CRM platform – and access the newly launched 2025 Industry Overview.

The comprehensive report, compiled by Insight Data’s dedicated research team, presents fresh insight into key trends, market changes and the outlook for the year ahead. Drawing on more than 20,000 monthly calls and ongoing in-house analysis, the overview offers companies a reliable benchmark for strategic decisionmaking.

The FIT Show also gave the Insight Data team a chance to reconnect with long-standing customers and forge new relationships with businesses looking to sharpen their marketing performance.

For more information on Insight Data and their services, visit www.insightdata.co.uk

MODPLAN CELEBRATES FIT SHOW DEBUT

Leading trade fabricator Modplan is busy following up leads from its debut appearance at FIT Show 2025. Liam Isaac, Head of Sales and Marketing at Modplan, said: “Our stand was consistently busy across all three days, and the quality of the footfall was excellent. We spoke to many installers looking for a trade partner to support their business, and we’re looking forward to following up with them over the coming days.”

Liam noted that installers were keen to discuss Modplan’s wide range of products. He commented: “We manufacture a comprehensive range of PVC-U windows, doors and conservatory roofs so we can be a one-stop-shop for our customers. It was clear that visitors appreciated the value this would add to their business.”

Modplan showcased its range of Profile 22 and VEKA products at the FIT Show, with two new products attracting particular interest.

The first was the new VEKA Omnia, a pioneering new suite of double flush windows and doors that satisfies the growing demand for flush windows. Liam said: “Omnia is described as a quantum leap in PVC-U fabrication, and the interest from visitors reflected this.”

The second product was the all-new VEKA FEINSTRUKTUR foil range, which brings a finish that mirrors powder-coated aluminium. Liam said: “VEKA FEINSTRUKTUR sets a new benchmark in surface technology and installers could see how it will give them a huge competitive advantage.”

Alongside interest in the product range, Liam reported that visitors were particularly interested in the stability that Modplan offers. He commented: “The industry has been particularly turbulent in recent years. But as a fabricator that’s been around for over 50 years, we’ve weathered a lot of storms, so we bring a level of reassurance that’s incredibly valuable right now.”

The show also provided an opportunity to connect with existing customers, many of whom visited the stand and offered very positive feedback. Liam added: “It was great to speak with existing customers and their comments reinforced our commitment of delivering excellence.”

He concluded: “The FIT Show is the leading trade show for the window, door, flat glass, hardware and roofing industry. We were delighted to make our debut and to see so many familiar faces and make valuable new connections.”

REVIEW 2025

REGAL HARDWARE MAKES A STYLISH STATEMENT AT FIT SHOW 2025

Window Ware’s premium heritage hardware range, Regal Hardware, shone brightly at this year’s FIT Show, taking pride of place within the displays of several key partners and customers, most notably The Residence Collection.

Window Ware’s Product Manager, Rob Vaughan, and Commercial Director, Richard Bryant, joined the Residence team to engage with visitors and providing expert insights into the Regal Hardware range.

Richard Bryant commented, “It was fantastic to see so many familiar faces. The Fit Show remains a crucial platform for the industry to come together, catch up, and collaborate.”

Reflecting on the three days, Rob Vaughan noted the resounding positive response to Regal Hardware. “It’s always good to talk to people who are using our products,” he said. “The consistent feedback was that they really like the design and appreciate the quality, with many commending the reliable performance

“The consistent feedback was that they really like the design and appreciate the quality, with many commending the reliable performance they’ve experienced and have now come to expect from Regal Hardware.”

they’ve experienced and have now come to expect from Regal Hardware.”

Regal’s latest addition, the Knurled range, garnered particular enthusiasm from visitors and was prominently featured on The Residence Collection’s stand. Notably, one set of double doors showcasing the knurled handles proved to be a big draw, with many pausing to operate them and admire their stunning aesthetic and tactile quality.

“People were really impressed,” explained Rob, “You could tell from what they were saying. We heard comments like: ‘They look great,’ ‘Yeah, we could definitely use those handles,’ and ‘We need some of these in our showroom!’”

FIT Show 2025 underscored the growing trend towards elevated uPVC systems that use modern welding technics or mechanical joints, flush sash designs, more realistic woodgrain foils and heritage-inspired hardware to perfectly emulate the look and feel of authentic timber windows. Significantly, on The Residence Collection stand, some visitors were surprised to discover that the elegant heritage doors on display

VSHOME AR REBRANDS AS VISIROOM!

were indeed crafted from PVC not timber, highlighting the success of this design approach. In fact, heritage-style doors were a prominent theme throughout the show, featuring a diverse range of handle styles on display, with the Knurled design proving particularly popular.

The strong resonance of Regal Hardware at FIT Show, perfectly aligning with current heritage trends, comes at an exciting time for Window Ware, as their Regal Hardware pear drop and monkey tail handles have just been nominated for Window Component of the Year at the 2025 National Fenestration Awards, further testament to the range’s exceptional design and quality.

Regal Hardware’s success at FIT Show, coupled with the prestigious award nomination, underscores its position as a leading choice for heritage-inspired fenestration and promises an exciting future for the range. Window Ware looks forward to continuing to provide exceptional hardware solutions that resonate with the evolving needs of the industry.

Window Ware has been successfully serving the window and door industry with leading brand hardware, tools, and consumables since 1987, helping to ensure fabricator production lines keep moving and trade counter shelves stay stocked.

For more information, call 01234 242724, email sales@windowware.co.uk or visit www.windowware.co.uk.

Production Software Technology (PST) has announced the rebrand of its augmented reality tool, vsHome AR, now relaunched as VisiRoom.

The new name and branding better reflects the app’s role in helping the homeowner and installers visualise home improvement projects in the real-world setting.

VisiRoom allows users to place life-size 3D models of conservatories, garden rooms, windows, doors and more, directly onto a property using just a smartphone or a tablet. With three immersive viewing modes – Real Scale, Tabletop and Virtual Reality, the app helps the customer understand how a project will look and feel before committing. Designs can be shared via text, email or QR code making collaboration fast and straightforward.

The app integrates seamlessly with vsHome, PST’s software built for retailers and installers. vsHome makes it easy to design, visualise and price projects using drag-anddrop tools and a vast model library. Users can generate accurate quotes with automatic pricing, apply finance options, and produce branded reports in seconds – streamlining the sales and survey process from initial idea to the final contract.

In addition to the rebrand, PST has launched VisiConnect, a new feature within VisiRoom that connects homeowners directly with local installers. When a user explores a design, they are prompted to request a quote which will link them to a listing of nearby installers. Installers with an active vsHome licence are eligible for a free bronze listing in VisiConnect, simply by submitting their business details and opting in. For increased reach and visibility, Silver and Gold tiers are available.

For more information, contact PST at info@pstonline.co.uk or call 0114 227 7070.

OUT OF OFFICE THE RISE OF THE SALES NOMAD.

A new breed of time-conscious sales reps are harnessing modern technology to get quotes done on the go without the need to return to the office between appointments.

For years the modus operandi in doubleglazing sales has been to measure up, come away from the house, go back to the office, re-draw the information gathered on site and send an enquiry off to a supplier, or supplier(s) for pricing. But times are changing, according to latest findings from software pioneers Tommy Trinder.

“If you are ‘on the road’ you stay ‘on the road’,” says founder and CEO of Tommy Trinder, Chris Brunsdon. “Doing quotes in the car, or there and then Infront of a customer is fast becoming the new normal amongst time-pressed window salespeople.”

Mark Frost, MD of Devon based installer, Love Windows, is one such advocate; “My office is in my backpack,” says Mark. “When I’m chatting with a customer I can bring my iPad out, show them the software, we design the windows together, and I can price it there and then. There’s no going back to the office to change stuff and check

it. You can just do it straight away, which is great for business.”

But even installers that are unable to price on the spot are finding ways to keep on moving, says Chris:

“Salespeople tell us that they use our technology to capture the information when they are with a client, then tap to send the details back to the office using the Tommy Trinder Pricing Request feature. This enables the team back at base to start working on the quote whilst they move on to their next appointment. A mind-blowing 11,000 of these Pricing Requests have been generated on Tommy so far this year – some 30% up on 2024.”

For those that embrace ‘point-to-point’ selling, the efficiency-savings can be considerable. Paul Kelly, MD of Bill Butters Windows in Dorset, has calculated that keeping his salesforce nomadic is saving him two hours in a day:

"Your guys out on the road don't need to come into the office; they can do their quote from the coffee shop or when they’re sat in the van waiting till the next appointment. Over an eight-hour day it easily saves us two hours a day. It's just a no-brainer."

Installers interested in finding out more about how Tommy Trinder software can help streamline sales process should visit www.tommytrinder.com.

Revolutionising traceability of the Fenestration Supply Chain.

The first of its kind in the fenestration market, this new innovative industry solution offers numerous benefits. Window.ID creates a lifelong connection to your products, ensuring efficiency along the entire supply chain and completely satisfied customers.

Comprehensive. Innovative. Future-orientated. rehau.uk/windowid enquiries@rehau.com Tel: 01989 762600

A SHADE ABOVE THE COMPETITION

Colour and customisation, consistent quality and strategically aligned sales and marketing support are key to gaining a competitive edge right now, says Apeer CEO Asa McGillian, as the company launches a free summer upgrade to its 13 premium colours worth £300 to its trade customers.

In a market where consumer spending is under pressure and competition remains fierce, installers need suppliers who can offer more than just reliable products. That’s why Apeer Doors provides a comprehensive toolkit that helps trade partners adapt to shifting market demands, differentiate their offering and close more sales.

“We’re proud to be recognised for our market-leading entrance doors, but what truly sets us apart is the depth of support we offer our trade partners,” says Apeer CEO Asa McGillian. “Our success is built on technical excellence, product innovation and a clear understanding that to help installers sell more, we have to go beyond just great doors. We have to give them the tools, exclusivity and marketing support that does the heavy lifting.”

THE COLOUR OF MONEY

For many homeowners, the colour of their front door is as important as (if not more important than) the design, and flexibility in this domain can be a genuine market differentiator. Apeer’s colour offering is unusually broad, with a standard palette of around 30 finishes that includes both contemporary and heritage shades, offering everything from traditional hues like Chartwell Green and Anthracite Grey to bold, contemporary choices like Traffic Yellow and Orchid Pink. Not only that, but the company also operates an in-house colour facility, so it can mix and match to virtually any shade a customer desires.

“Bespoke colour matching opens up real opportunities for installers,” says Asa.

“Whether it’s matching to existing window frames, fulfilling a specific design brief or simply giving the homeowner something no competitor can offer, custom colour options can turn a maybe into a yes.

“It also simplifies the quoting process. Instead of pushing back on unusual colour requests or worrying about sourcing from third-party refinishers, installers can offer a direct solution to their customers and keep control of the order. We’re one-stop colour shop.”

NO PERFORMANCE ANXIETY

Alongside aesthetics, energy efficiency and security remain central to buyers’ decision making. Apeer’s core 70mm composite range delivers thermal performance well beyond

standard 48mm timber-core doors, with U-values between 0.9 and 1.1 W/m²K. For heritage-style properties or for customers with a focus on sustainability, its Residence Collection pushes the envelope further with values starting from 0.61 W/m²K.

“We’ve also moved into hybrid aluminium territory with our Kärben door range, designed with carbon fibre reinforcement for added strength and rigidity. While this won’t be necessary for every installation, it does give installers something extra to offer at the premium end of the market,” explains Asa.

“Add to this our range of 44mm PAS24compliant doors, and we offer a full breadth of options that can suit different customer priorities, whether that’s high performance, visual appeal or added security.”

BUSINESS-WINNING SUPPORT

Apeer really sets itself apart when it comes to installer support. Its ‘ApeerXclusive’ programme offers partners a combination of marketing, lead generation and pricing incentives designed to make it easier for installers to win more business. Asa says:

“Our installers are given exclusive sales territories, reducing direct competition with other Apeer retailers, and they also receive qualified homeowner leads from our marketing efforts. There are also seasonal offers such as accessory upgrades or discounted showroom stock, which can help sweeten deals or make showroom selling more effective.

Asa McGillian

“Digital support is another area of strong investment for us. Installers can integrate Apeer’s custom door builder directly into their websites, allowing homeowners to design and visualise their ideal door online. This kind of interactivity helps drive engagement, shortens decision cycles and provides a useful way to demonstrate value beyond price.”

AFTER-SALES THAT’S NOT AN AFTERTHOUGHT

Post-sale support is essential to keeping projects on track, especially when challenges arise on-site. Apeer’s answer to this is a bespoke online customer service portal developed specifically for its trade partners. Installers can log queries, upload photos and supporting documents from site and track progress in one place.

“The aim isn’t just to reduce admin,” says Asa. “We want installers to spend less time chasing resolutions and more time focused on profitable work. With technical guides, warranty documentation and care instructions all included in the system, we provide comprehensive support through the full lifecycle of a job.

“Working with a supplier who understands the full sales journey can pay dividends. Our 360° approach to partner support –from showroom to after-sales – is designed to give our partners the confidence and capacity to focus on growth.

“In today’s market, doors don’t sell themselves. Installers need a strong product but also the tools to promote it, the systems that support their workflow, and supplier relationships that offer more than just a delivery date. Especially for businesses competing in the mid-to-premium segments, these additional layers of support can make a meaningful difference.”

www.apeer.co.uk

PassivGlas™ Vacuum Glazing

Vacuum Glazing is certainly new to me…. can you give a brief history of how it has evolved?

Vacuum glazing emerged as a new product in the glazing industry about 30 years ago in Australia and only entered the UK 10 years ago. Vacuum glazing manufacture has evolved rapidly in recent years making it an aesthetically pleasing product that can outperform triple glazing in any frame profile. Suddenly I saw PassivGlas™ mentioned on LinkedIn and then found you at the FIT Show. How long has PassivGlas™ been in existence and what is the story behind the company?

The Vacuum Glazing Network Ltd is a family business that was born due to the price point existing Vacuum Glazing had found itself and we saw its applications far outreaching the heritage market that it had become so well known for. We sought our own product and brought PassivGlas™ to market. We have worked very hard in the last 2 years to bring a visually attractive, high performance vacuum glazing offering to the UK. We have UKAS testing for thermal and acoustic performance and have been working with BFRC to produce valuable data in regard to its retrofit capabilities in modern frames.

The impressive demonstration of the difference in heat transference seems to indicate that vacuum glazing is the future. Is that how you see it or is its application restricted to certain sectors?

Vacuum Glazing is definitely here to stay. The concept of a vacuum instead of a gas filled unit has many advantages including lifespan and exceptional thermal and acoustic performance. The fact it is essentially a super slim unit means period properties can now experience superior window performance, even superior to triple glazing, whilst PassivGlas™  Ultimate is the solution for standard, modern frame profiles. PassivGlas™  is the perfect glazing option for social housing, hospitality, education and healthcare, as well as the obvious commercial and domestic uses.

You mention how it is perfect for reglazing and the thinness of the unit would certainly replace single glazed windows but how would you fit units to, say, a PVCu profile that has used standard double IGUs?

The Vacuum Glazing Network brought  PassivGlas™ Ultimate to market, which is a vacuum glazing unit that fits any modern frame profile. This concept really has been a game changer and means not only can it be used to achieve triple

glazing performance in any modern profile eg 24mm/28mm, but it has a huge place in the world of retrofit. PassivGlas™ can bring the whole window U-Value, using an existing window frame, down to below 1.033W/m2K. This value far exceeds any specifications required in Future Home Standards and will mean the need to reach better EPC ratings is now 1 step closer, by just replacing the glass in your windows. We have named this process of retrofit PassivGlas™ ReGlaze.

It seems that it is accepted that vacuum glazing is more efficient and effective than even triple glazing so where is the downside? Is it the cost issue allied to a shorter lifespan?

There really isn’t a true downside to vacuum glazing. Because there are no components to degrade, its life span far supersedes standard glazing. As mentioned before, over that period of time, your standard unit is slowly losing its efficiency. This does not align with the carbon reduction and energy saving demands that we now need to accommodate. Performance should not be a temporary box ticked, it should be assured and guaranteed to last. Windows play a huge part in a buildings carbon emissions, it shouldn’t be that consumers make a change today that isn’t effective in 10 years time.

Bearing in mind cost, how acceptable is vacuum glazing to the new build sector?

With regards to the new build sector, vacuum glazing is a viable option for all the above-mentioned reasons. To achieve the same energy performance as vacuum glazing, the cost of vacuum versus triple is very comparable. A slimmer frame profile also means less materials used and more choice of product for the consumer.

One of the downsides mentioned is the pillars required to keep the two panes of glass separated in a vacuum unit and that they are noticeable within the unit. Is this an issue?

The micropillars within a vacuum unit are part of the necessary technology. In the same way the UK market has accepted the chunky appearance associated with triple glazing, micropillars are being recognised as the appearance of superior glazing. To reduce energy bills, support carbon reduction and give outstanding sound reduction, there is no better technology available. The micropillars in PassivGlas™ are positioned at a 40mm array, and are translucent, making them barely visible when fitted. We have not experienced even 1 customer report back that the micropillars are a negative to their new windows. Progression means change, and right now

Vacuum Glazing is the best glazing option to help buildings reach Carbon Net Zero targets and support healthy homes.

The idea of replacing the glass instead of the whole window frame is obviously attractive from a cost point of view but how do you calculate the U value when utilising an old frame, whether PVCu, timber or aluminium?

PassivGlas™ ReGlaze came about because retrofit is one of the key benefits of vacuum glazing. We have calculations to show that PassivGlas™ can be retrofitted into an existing, older PVCU frame, with older double glazing, bringing its U-Value from over 2W/m2K down to 1.033W/m2K. This value alone far exceeds the new required window performance specifications. This calculation would be far lower using a better performing frame in PVCU, aluminium or timber. PassivGlas™ can support Passive House specifications.

Where do you see vacuum glazing going? Can it outsell argon filled IGUs or is it a specialist product ideal for heritage window replacement?

I firmly believe Vacuum Glazing is becoming a firm product option when looking at any glazing upgrades. Since entering the market in the last 2 years, PassivGlas™ had been specified in many projects involving modern frame profiles, including schools, alongside its traditional heritage usage. The instant improvement in thermal and acoustic comfort is repeatedly reported back. I think within the retrofit environment, vacuum glazing will become the go to glazing option. We are also supporting the drive for healthy homes/ buildings, within the UK.

Can you describe the difference between Linear and Ultimate PassivGlas™?

PassivGlas™ Linear is our monolithic product, meaning it is in its original form. This can be supplied in 6.15mm, 8.15mm, 10.15mm or 12.15mm profiles, perfect for timber frames, both heritage and new. PassivGlas™ Ultimate is where one of our PassivGlas™ Linear pieces has a thermally

ULTRA PERFORMANCE VACUUM GLAZING

broken spacer bar and an extra leaf of glass applied. This means it can be fitted or retrofitted into any existing or new frame profile or 20mm, 24mm, 28mm. PassivGlas™ is toughened and can also be laminated for safety or further acoustic performance.

What are the various thicknesses of VIGs and does a thicker unit mean better insulation?

PassivGlas™ Linear has 36dB sound reduction and a centre pane U-Value as low as 0.49W/m2K. PassivGlas™ Ultimate could reduce this further by using gas between the units and further coatings but knowing that its basic performance can outperform triple glazing is amazing.

You say that there is no spacer bar to fail but surely the thicker unit must have a spacer bar of some description?

Our PassivGlas™ Ultimate unit uses a warm edge spacer bar and extra leaf of toughened glass. Because the PassivGlas™ unit can be situated to either the external or internal of the window, dependant on project specification, the lifespan of the PassivGlas™ Ultimate unit is comparable to industry standard IGU and triple glazed units from an edge seal perspective. The VIG unit itself will not degrade over the same timespan and therefore performance will never be compromised

What has been the take up in the trade and how many installers do you have within the UK?

Since we have brought PassivGlas™ to market, we have transformed the narrative on vacuum glazing away from its traditional heritage routes to now also being seen as a viable contender in the modern glazing market. A lot of our time has been spent ensuring our data and specifications are robust and UKAS backed. We have been growing our network of installers around the UK, and even further afield, meaning we have fantastic companies around the UK ready to support you on your PassivGlas™ journey, whether you are a new or seasoned user of vacuum glazing. We are always looking for further reputable companies to come on this exciting journey with us.

Finally, can you sum up the interest you generated with your stand at FIT 2025?

The FIT Show 2025 was a huge success for us. Chatting to so many people from a variety of industry backgrounds about PassivGlas™ is always exciting for us. Listening to the barriers and successes experienced by so many different sectors of the glazing industry gives us huge insight as to how we can further support the industry. Our heat booth is always received with curiosity and amazement! A fantastic, tangible way to experience how PassivGlas™ performs compared to other glazing options. It was a great experience.

28mm PassivGlas™ Ultimate unit installed into new aluminium curtain walling

ALUMINIUM MARKET INTELLIGENCE

Aluminium is on a 25-year roll. Big vista patio sliders and bifolds struck a chord with higher end homeowners, and increasing numbers of fabricators and installers offer them.

Very slim profiles, wide colour choice and a great recycling backstory hit all the right notes. Then - was it a tipping point?Garnalex invested heavily in UK extrusion, painting and its supply chain, and innovated with a proper system, along the lines of a PVCU system. It enables perfect corner joints, energy saving, and big fabrication

INDUSTRY

and installation benefits. Aluminium is no longer an extra, it’s mainstream and no longer confined to the premium market. But penetrating the upper mass-market, has put prices under pressure as mainstream installers offer cool aluminium to cashstrapped mass-market homeowners.

The UK population was 60m in 2005 and is forecast to be 70m next year, that’s +17%

up in 20 years. It’s grown faster and is set to grow much faster over the next decade than most European countries.

But house building has not kept up with population growth. In fact, numbers built have declined in the last 20 years when the housing crisis prompted a major government review. The Barker Review (2004) concluded that Britain was not

WINDOWBASE AND TOMMY TRINDER PRESENT

building nearly enough homes and, until it did, house prices would rise with significant consequences.

The biggest consequence was the emergence of two groups: the Haves and the Have Nots. Mortgage free or mortgage light, over 55s homeowners – the Haves - own over 90% of UK savings and pensions. They are the Bank of Mum & Dad. With rising house prices

To obtain a full copy of the Report please email:

LEADERS COMMENTS...

“I thought last year’s report was excellent in the way that it pinpointed key market trends, which really helped to sharpen our M&A focus to address gaps in our proposition”

Darren Waters,

“The 2025 window & door industry trend report from Mike and Chris is refreshingly informative for fenestration leaders. It’s an enabler for sensible and data lead decision making, and it allows industry entrepreneurs to combine gut feel with real data before taking risks. I can’t wait for next years.”

Joe Trueman, Co-owner, Premier Arches and Glyngary Joinery

“It’s a joy to read a piece of work so crammed with informed insight and delivered in such a readable and easily absorbed style. Loved it.”

Colin St John, ex-Commercial Director, Freefoam Plastics

“As a research user, the key is having the data to make informed, confident decisions about your business. I think the report does that and is a classic example of the work carried out by MRA. I’d expect nothing else. Well done to the team."

Jason Wilder, Director, Composite Garden Buildings

“A very good, must-read report full of valuable market insight.”

Ryan Johnson, Managing Director, Emplas

“It’s a great read from people who actually know our industry, and positive which is just what we need! I really like it.”

Simon Bird, Managing Director, GAP

“As a timber window and door specialist it is crucial to keep an eye on the overall market, including uPVC and aluminium. This report provides extremely valuable data on which to make informed decisions.”

Duncan Wright, Managing Director, Lindenwood Home

Chief Executive Officer, Eurocell Plc

Image: Choice Windows and Garnalex

WINDOW & DOOR MARKET TRENDS 2025:

working on even modest houses, their housing wealth has exploded. Money invested in home improvement is quickly recouped by the increased value of their home. Demographics means that the Haves are a large and growing group. No wonder companies selling to the Haves have done better than the mass market.

Less fortunate and younger homeowners with high mortgages –the Have Nots - may have greater incomes but heavier outgoings mean they watch every penny. They like aluminium, timber, flush

PVCU and colour too, but they prioritise mortgage repayments, utility bills, holidays, kids’ clothes, and entertaining over home improvements. So, they scale back their improvements to absolute essentials, stick to white, look for the cheapest, or postpone what can be left for another year. They are the squeezed mass market, and they are strapped.

If your customers sell to them, they will be squeezed, and most likely, so will you be and your suppliers.

“An interesting read - a clear and concise signpost for where the industry is heading over the next 12-24 months.”

“At Deceuninck we have used WindowBASE consistently for 15 years and we have done rather well with it. WindowBASE gives me access to data I trust.”

Rob McGlennon, ex-Managing Director, Deceuninck

“The UK population was 60m in 2005 and is forecast to be 70m next year, that’s +17% up in 20 years.”

“The critical insights in the 2025 Window & Door Market Trends report make essential reading for glazing businesses looking to grow market share. 40% of firms offered wood in 2024, confirming the growing momentum and revenue potential of timber products.”

Andy

Ball, Co-founder, The Joinery Network

“Being able to effectively manage the unknown in today’s business world is a critical success factor, so having access to accurate market data and analysis is a must! Every insight in the latest MRA industry report is a stepping stone to a smarter strategy!”

Mike Parczuk, MD of Sternfenster

“WindowBASE are an excellent data provider. They are not just a data provider, they operate almost as a consultant. Their industry knowledge and advice to us has been very valuable and their data is accurate and well maintained. They listened to our needs carefully before proposing what we need. Service is fast, and the team are very approachable.”

Joe Trueman, Co-owner, Premier Arches and Glyngary Joinery

Steve Cross, Director, Mercury Glazing Supplies Ltd

Image: Choice Windows, Garnalex and Residence

Image: Spitfire

WHAT THE MOVE TO EUROPEAN FIRE DOOR TESTING STANDARDS MEANS FOR THE INDUSTRY

Steve Goodburn, Business Development Director at Pyroguard, discusses the transition towards European Standards for fire door systems and how the industry can ensure compliance.

“From September 2029, fire door systems tested to BS 476-22 will no longer meet UK building regulation requirements. Instead, compliance must be demonstrated through testing and classification under the European Standard; BS EN 13501-2. This change forms part of a wider strategy to enhance building safety and performance, prompted by the Grenfell Tower tragedy and the findings of the Hackitt Review.

This transition, however brings with it a range of challenges for the industry.

The shift to European fire door testing standards is a crucial turning point in fire safety legislation across construction materials and systems. Unlike BS 476-22, the BS EN 13501-2 standard incorporates harmonised European testing procedures that reflect a more rigorous and unified classification system.

While the benefits of a standardised approach are clear, the transition presents multiple challenges for manufacturers of fire doors and glazed systems.

Fire doors are made up of numerous fireresistant components, each tested and certified as an approved system. The doors which passed under BS 476-22 may not perform to the same level under the different testing parameters of BS EN 1634-1. Therefore, meeting the European testing standards may necessitate changes in product design or materials used.

Testing to European standards is generally considered to be more onerous. This is because EN 1634-1 utilises shielded thermocouples to track temperature changes. These sensors are less responsive to rapid temperature shifts and can result in the release of heat energy during the early stages. This leads to higher initial thermal loads being recorded, making it more challenging for products to achieve compliance under European test conditions.

HOW DOES THIS AFFECT INSTALLED DOORS?

Fire doors tested to BS 476-22 that are already installed in buildings prior to the introduction of EN classifications will still be considered fit for purpose, provided they continue to meet safety requirements through regular inspection and proper maintenance. However, building owners and facility managers should ensure these doors are routinely checked.

Looking ahead, all newly manufactured and installed fire door systems will need

to fully comply with the EN standards. This shift may impact product selection, specification processes and certification requirements, making it essential for architects, contractors and specifiers to start making preparations now, as developing and testing fire-rated products can be a time-consuming process.

FIRE SAFETY SHOULD CONSIDER THE ENTIRE SYSTEM

Fire safety in buildings should never focus on individual components. It should consider the entire system, ensuring that every element, from the fire doors and frames to the glazing, seals and even the surrounding walls are correctly specified, installed and fire-rated to work together as a unified and compliant solution.

To complement this system-based approach, we introduced Pyroguard Advance last year, our latest range of fire safety glass which features a new gel interlayer technology and is the only cuttable fire glass manufactured in the UK. Pyroguard Advance is designed

to support timber fire door manufacturers in the transition to EN 1634-1 standards and offers EW classifications (integrity and radiation) with either 30 or 60 minutes’ fire resistance.

Not only is this new range of fire safety glass fully tested and certified to European standards it can also meet EN 356 antiattack standards when installed as a DGU making it a durable option for use in steel, timber and composite applications, where compliance to approved document Q is important.

The time is right for the fire door industry to start preparing for the transition to the EN standard.

Whether that means retesting existing products or sourcing fully certified solutions that already meet EN classifications, such as Pyroguard Advance. Taking proactive steps today will help guarantee compliance, maintain safety and avoid costly delays in the future.”

To find out more visit: https://www.pyroguard.eu/

THE ILLUSION OF COMPLIANCE: WHY FIRE DOOR SAFETY STILL ISN’T SECURE

Nicola John, managing director at FDM - Training and Development (FDM), reflects on insights from a recent industry roundtable to explore why the fire door sector is still falling short on safety—despite years of reform, regulation, and rhetoric.

Seven years on from Dame Judith Hackitt’s Building a Safer Future, we find ourselves still working through many of the same challenges - fragmented responsibilities, inconsistent standards, and a slow cultural shift towards shared accountability.

At a recent roundtable hosted by FDM, we brought together manufacturers, contractors, training providers and regulators to understand where we currently stand. While there are clear signs of improvement, it’s also evident that too many professionals across the supply chain still don’t have the clarity or support they need to navigate today’s complex regulatory landscape with confidence.

The roundtable discussion made one thing very clear: compliance can’t be reduced to paperwork. When 85% of Constructionlineregistered businesses reporting that they don’t believe the Building Safety Act applies to them, we have a serious issue - not only of intent, but of understanding.

At FDM, we see every day how many people across the supply chain want to get it right.

But they need the right training, the right guidance, and the right tools to do so. That’s why we’ve built our training offer to go far beyond installers. Our programmes support everyone - from specifiers and contractors to maintenance teams - to engage meaningfully with fire door safety.

BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN COMPETENCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY

Too often, conversations around safety focus on competence alone. But as several roundtable participants pointed out, the real question isn’t just are you competent, it’s who is accountable?

This is where FDM is proud to play a supporting role. We’re not here to catch people out. We’re here to raise them up. Giving every link in the chain, from architects to installers, the confidence to take ownership of their responsibilities and be part of the solution.

Economic pressures are real, and they’re having a tangible effect on quality. We heard from manufacturers being asked to deliver high-performance door sets at lowperformance prices. But this results in safety features quietly disappearing, corners are cut, and the market punishes those who try to do things properly.

That’s why training matters more than ever. It's important that professionals understand what good looks like, and why it’s worth standing by. When people are confident in their knowledge, they can push back on cost-cutting that compromises safety.

Cultural change is never easy. And there’s still a widespread “tick box” mentality in parts of the sector, where the focus is on minimum legal compliance rather than a true commitment to safety. But we are seeing that shift, and training plays a huge role in accelerating it.

Our accredited training isn’t just about ticking boxes; it’s about building confidence,

competence and the right mindset. When people know better, they do better. But we also know training alone isn’t enough. The sector urgently needs a central fire door association - one that unites manufacturers, specifiers, installers and regulators around shared standards, accountability and best practice. We need a platform that allows us to lead from the front and help the sector move forward together.

As Dame Judith Hackitt reminded us during the roundtable, lasting change won’t come from box-ticking. It requires leadership at every level. “People are still working to the letter of the law, not the spirit,” she said. “That’s not how systemic change happens.” Her words reinforce what we see at FDM every day: the need to move beyond minimum compliance and empower individuals to take meaningful ownership of safety outcomes. It’s not just about meeting the standard. It’s about raising it, together.

WORKING TOGETHER FOR A SAFER FUTURE

If there’s one clear takeaway from the roundtable, it’s this: progress won’t come from legislation alone. It will come from people, from individuals, businesses, and organisations who are willing to lead by example, support one another, and raise the bar together.

FDM is here to help make that happen. We haven’t waited for government to define competency. We’ve built our own, and we’re sharing it widely. Whether you’re an installer, a specifier, a contractor or a client, our message is the same: we’re here to help. Let’s build a safer, more confident, and more consistent industry together.

DHF URGES ADHERENCE TO UK NATIONAL FOREWORD

TO BS EN 15269-2:2024

(EXTENDED

APPLICATION OF FIRE TEST RESULTS –STEEL DOORSETS)

Door and Hardware

Federation (DHF) is strongly urging UK manufacturers of steel doorsets to follow the recommendation in the UK national foreword to BS EN 15269-2:2024, a standard that DHF has been instrumental in preparing.

This important update significantly enhances public safety by ensuring that extended application of fire resistance results is applied consistently and reliably. First published in 2012, the standard was subjected to a systematic review to ensure it remained aligned with evolving industry practices, advances in fire testing methodologies, and updated regulatory requirements, leading to the release of the 2024 edition.

“BS EN 15269-2:2024 is the standard providing extended application (EXAP) of fire test results for steel hinged doorsets, the latest revision of which was issued in December 2024”, explains DHF’s Senior Training & Compliance Officer, Steve Hill. “During its preparation, we were made aware of a potential issue occurring with the addition of a threshold, or additional frame member, at the base of the door leaf possibly causing failure of a doorset which may have passed a fire test prior to the addition of such items. The above standard allowed for such a modification to be made to the design, without undertaking any additional test. This could have led to door installations which were unsafe in the event of fire."

DHF made urgent representations to CEN and BSI regarding this matter; however, due to the advanced progress of the standard, it was too late to amend the relevant rule in the standard.

A decision was made by the responsible BSI committee (FSH 22/-/5), based on

"BS EN 15269-2:2024 is the standard providing extended application (EXAP) of fire test results for steel hinged doorsets, the latest revision of which was issued in December 2024."

the information provided by DHF, for the UK to vote negatively to the revised standard, leaving the way open for the standard to be published with a UK national foreword. The purpose of the foreword was to warn UK manufacturers of the recommendation that further fire test evidence be obtained before such a modification was made to a doorset design.

“Following publication of the standard in Europe, a group was formed within FSH 22/-/5, led by DHF, to agree a wording for this foreword; the standard has now been published by BSI with this foreword included,” concludes Steve.

To purchase the latest standard or to view the foreword, please visit: https://bit.ly/4lGCnKS

Door & Hardware Federation Tel: 01827 52337 www.dhfonline.org.uk

SENIOR ARCHITECTURAL SYSTEMS UNVEILS ITS NEW SPD150 COMMERCIAL DOOR

Senior Architectural Systems, one of the UK’s largest aluminium fenestration solutions manufacturers, is opening up new opportunities in the commercial market thanks to the launch of its new SPD150 aluminium door system.

Complementing Senior’s established commercial product range, the SPD150 commercial door system has been specifically developed to meet the demands of high-traffic commercial environments where accessibility, performance, and durability are key.

Developed as a non-rebated door and framing system, the SPD150 can be fabricated as single or double doors, with various configuration options such as emergency exit versions and anti-finger trap stiles. One of its key advantages is its low threshold design which provides easier access for wheelchair users and reduces the risk of trips, helping to create a more inclusive design in communal spaces. The use of low thresholds can also contribute to a more streamlined interior design, providing a seamless transition to outdoor spaces and making the new SPD150 commercial door suitable for use across a variety of sectors including healthcare, education, office schemes, and other public use buildings. For architects and specifiers seeking a clean, modern aesthetic, the SPD150 system also supports the integration of concealed closers and hardware. These discreet design options ensure a minimalist appearance without compromising on performance or ease of use.

Fabricators and installers will also benefit from smarter fabrication and optimisation thanks to the SDD150’s pre-fabricated top and bottom rail plates, which can help to reduce fabrication time on-site, and the use of universal top and bottom door rails. In addition, the SPD150 features square-cut components mechanically jointed using self-tapping screws and shear blocks to simplify the construction process and improve build consistency.

Fully recyclable and offering enhanced thermal performance, the SPD150 door system achieves U-values as low as 1.3 W/ m²K when triple-glazed (CEN standard) and 1.6 W/m²K when double-glazed. The system is also fully tested to meet the latest industry standards, including PAS24 for enhanced security and BS6375 parts 1 and 2 for weather tightness and durability.

As part of Senior’s popular commercial range, the SPD150 system offers greater design flexibility and further complements the manufacturer’s existing portfolio, which includes the robust SD, SPW501 and SPW600e door systems as well as the company’s patented PURe® Commercial Door.

For more information on the new SPD150 aluminium door, please visit www.seniorarchitectural.co.uk.

Steve Hill

THE RESIDENCE COLLECTION LAUNCHES NEW TIMBER ALTERNATIVE DOOR RANGE

The Residence Collection is pleased to announce the launch of its brand-new timber alternative entrance door, which perfectly complements the existing window and door collections available from the company.

The all new open-in door will enhance The Residence Collection’s current offering and is available in all three of their current systems: R9, R7 and R2. The doors come in a range of exquisite colours, including some new exclusive shades. These doors are compatible with a variety of manufacturing techniques, including Timberweld®, providing even greater potential for bespoke customisation for the end customer.

The new open-in door sash is chamfered to perfectly suit with their existing openout door and window sashes, ensuring a consistent and visually appealing aesthetic as well as exceptional quality finishes. The range retains the traditional timber alternative look, featuring an authentic large mid rail, stackable deep bottom rail and a patented decorative panel trim that hides the gasket line and gives the appearance of a moulded timber panel, all whilst offering the expected durability and efficiency of modern materials. When partnered with the Residence 7 frame, the new open-in door is truly flush both inside and out, offering a sleek timber alternative solution.

The bespoke 130mm mid-rail option allows for the inclusion of a full-sized letterbox, while the exclusive timber alternative patented panel surround trim* – unique to The Residence Collection – offers a moulded timber aesthetic that hides the gasket line. The new entrance door also

features a deep bottom rail with positive click engagement for easy fabrication, and can be stacked to replicate timber doors.

Fabricators and installers can tailor these doors to any desired specification, with sash sizes available up to 900mm wide and 2300mm high. The new entrance door can be made in a variety of configurations –including French door options – so the new range really does suit every need.

The doors are available with a low threshold, as well as a full-frame option for Residence2, a low aluminium threshold is ideal for wheelchair access, ensuring that the range is accessible for all.

As expected, the new range is fully PAS24/ SBD compliant and has been tested for weather, strength, and performance to meet the BS6375 standard. The range includes matching hardware, including monkey tail and pear drop handles, as well as the new Knurled handle as part of the Regal hardware range. The doors also offer 28mm double and 44mm triple glazing options.

Sarah Hitchings, Sales and Marketing Director at The Residence Collection,

comments: “We’ve been blown away by the initial reaction to our new timber alternative door range. It’s been years in the making, and we’re very excited to now offer options that make it a ‘full house’. The new range, which perfectly complements our existing systems, has so many benefits for all our customers – whether you’re a fabricator, installer or a homeowner.

“The range is truly one of a kind in the door market, giving our customers a great option when searching for a high-performing timber alternative. We’re so pleased that we will be able to offer a fantastic product, which has bespoke manufacturing qualities, as well as exclusive additions such as the mid rail, deep bottom rail and the panel trim*.

“We hope all our Residence Collection partners are as excited as we are and look forward to working with them to introduce the new entrance door to their customers.”

To find out more about The Residence Collection’s new door range, please visit: www.residencedoors.co.uk.

* Patent Pending GB – GB2315791.0, Patent Pending IRE – 2023/0432)

Offering three-sectional glazing, which seamlessly combines with the modern appeal of the flush door design.

• Elegant, modern flush aesthetics

• Available in any RAL colour

• Complemented with a choice of contemporary glass designs

• Suites with the TriSYS® Modern framing system

• PAS 24 compliant

• 10 year warranty

EDITOR Q&A: FINSTRAL

FROM MODERN OFFICES TO ALPINE HUTS FINSTRAL HAVE A SOLUTION

Although you are an Italian company you have a large presence across Europe with a total of 14 production plants and 29 Finstral studios. Can you explain?

Yes, Finstral is proudly Italian with very deep European roots. We were founded in South Tyrol in 1969, a region that’s culturally both Italian and Germanspeaking, and that dual identity has helped shape our international outlook. From the beginning, we have set out to control every step of our process. From design to production and installation, Finstral has successfully mastered a robust infrastructure across Europe. Today, we have 14 highly specialised production plants in different countries, each focused on specific materials or product types. This allows us to deliver tailored solutions across diverse markets efficiently.

Our 29 Finstral Studios are an extension of this model. They’re not just showrooms, they are immersive, consultative environments where partners, architects and installers can interact with our full range of products and finishes. The Finstral Studio concept maintains a consistent standard of service and brand experience regardless of location. For us, being present across Europe means being close to our customers, understanding regional preferences and delivering reliable quality everywhere. It’s this combination of local expertise and centralised manufacturing excellence that really sets Finstral apart. We opened our UK flagship Studio in Borehamwood with exactly this philosophy in mind. It’s more than just a display. It's a central hub for inspiration and hands-on exploration. The Borehamwood Studio allows us to directly engage with the UK market and demonstrate the level of quality and design flexibility Finstral is known for. It’s a vital part of how we build trust and support our business partners. This mix of local service and pan-European manufacturing excellence truly defines how we operate.

The range of products you offer is huge – PVCu, aluminium, timber, hybrids, sliders, bi-folds, Fin-Vista... How do you handle production?

Our breadth of offering is something we’re very proud of, and it’s made possible by how we’ve structured our production facilities. Each of our 14 production plants

has a specialisation. For example, we have dedicated sites for PVC profile extrusion, for aluminium processing and for our timber/hybrid products. This focus ensures that every product is manufactured with expert precision. At the same time, all our systems are designed to be modular and compatible across materials. This way, whether you want a full aluminium system or a PVC-aluminium hybrid, the look and performance can be unified across a project. This approach not only improves flexibility for architects and installers but also guarantees consistent high-quality results.

You describe Finstral as vertically integrated. Does that mean you extrude your own PVCu profiles?

Yes, exactly. Vertical integration is one of our strongest assets. We extrude all our own PVC profiles in-house and we also produce our own window glass panels, design our own hardware systems and handle every stage of the fabrication process. This full control allows us to deliver outstanding quality and consistency. It also enables us to innovate faster. For example, if we want to introduce a new surface finish or improve thermal performance, we can do so without relying on third parties. This model also benefits our partners who know they can depend on a single source for fully harmonised window, door and glass systems.

And when it comes to aluminium, are you also extruding your own profile?

In the case of aluminium, we design every system ourselves down to the smallest detail and then we collaborate with trusted extrusion partners. They extrude the profiles strictly according to our specifications. This allows us to maintain control over the

performance and design integrity, while leveraging specialist aluminium extrusion expertise. Once the profiles are produced coating, assembly and fabrication is carried out within Finstral facilities. Again, this ensures that every component meets our stringent quality standards.

What’s the material split across your product range – PVCu, aluminium, hybrids, timber?

Our range is diverse, but PVC remains our core material accounting for around 60% of our production. It’s an incredibly efficient material for thermal insulation and sustainability and with our unique finishes it’s also very attractive. Hybrids like PVCaluminium are growing fast and represent about 25% of our output. Aluminium-only systems make up around 10%, especially in larger-scale commercial and contemporary projects. Timber and timber-aluminium combinations account for about 5%, typically used in bespoke and heritage projects. What’s important is that no matter the material, the performance and aesthetics can be harmonised across a single project which is something clients and architects really value.

Your references range from modern offices to alpine huts – even Buenos Aires! Isn’t long-distance logistics a challenge when it comes to pricing?

Logistics is always a factor but our system is built to manage it efficiently. Because we control the production process we can plan and deliver even to distant locations with precision. More importantly our clients aren’t often choosing us just for price;

they’re choosing us for performance and reliability. For a mountain lodge in the Alps or a boutique hotel, the priorities are often longevity and sustainability. Our systems deliver on all of those. Our modularity means we can adapt to different regulations and installation methods without reinventing the wheel for each market. This is a key reason why we have 14 production plants across Europe; logistically this shortens our supply chain and the waiting times for our partner.

You mention Slide-On installation where frames are cut back and faced. Can you elaborate? Is this suitable for the UK market?

Slide-On is a Finstral innovation aimed at simplifying installation while enhancing performance. The concept involves preinstalling the window or door frame into the wall opening, then cladding it with bespoke cover profiles. This not only creates a seamless and flush aesthetic but also improves thermal insulation and airtightness. It allows flexibility during construction and accommodates different finishing materials. It’s particularly

Andreas Simmer, Head of Finstral UK

attractive for retrofit projects and highperformance builds, which makes it very well-suited to the UK market especially as building regulations around energy performance become stricter.

Finstral has been around for 50 years – how did it all start?

Finstral started as a small family-run operation in South Tyrol in 1969, producing simple PVC windows. At that time PVC was relatively new in construction, but we saw its potential. Over the years, we expanded our product lines and began investing heavily in R&D and vertical integration. We developed our own profiles, sourced the best quality glass and even designed our own installation systems. The introduction of hybrid materials and large-scale façade systems like Fin-Vista were big milestones. Today, we are still family-owned but operate on a global scale with innovation and quality still driving everything we do.

Most companies specialise. You offer an entire system across multiple materials. Why?

Because the market doesn’t want limits. Architects, builders and installers all have different needs depending on project type, location and aesthetic preference. Offering a wide choice of materials like PVC, aluminium, timber and hybrids means we can meet those needs without compromise. What makes our model unique is that all these systems are compatible in terms of design and performance. You can use a timber-aluminium door next to a PVCaluminium window and they’ll match perfectly. It’s a holistic approach that most system houses don’t offer and it helps our partners deliver a more cohesive and premium product.

Your website is excellent, especially the project references, but there’s little on production. Why is that?

We’re glad the project section stands out as it's designed to inspire and show real world applications of our systems. As for production - you're right. We tend to underplay it publicly even though it's one of our biggest strengths. The reason is that our clients often focus first on the aesthetics and functional benefits. That said, we are working on new content that highlights our production capabilities because they underpin everything we do. Transparency and education is key, especially for B2B partners.

You emboss your PVC rather than foil it – does that include your full colour range?

Yes, most of our PVC surfaces are embossed using our exclusive technology, which gives

a more natural/matte appearance and much better scratch resistance than standard foils. It also improves colour longevity, especially under UV exposure. Our full colour and finish range exists of over 230 combinations and is available in embossed formats. This includes wood effects, brushed metals and contemporary matte tones. The tactile quality is also something our customers really appreciate when they visit our Finstral Studios.

Have you adapted your products for the UK market?

Definitely. While we keep our core systems intact, we’ve made several adjustments to meet UK expectations. That includes flush sash designs, slimmer sightlines, traditional panel doors and hardware choices that reflect local tastes. We've also ensured our systems comply with UK building regulations including PAS 24 and Part L. It’s about being flexible enough to serve each market while staying true to our brand values.

When you talk about new build, are you referring to one-off architectural projects or larger national developers?

We’re focused more on bespoke new builds and architect-driven developments rather than large-scale national housebuilders. The volume developers tend to work on very tight margins and require mass-market products. Our systems are tailored more for clients who want something distinctive and high-performing - whether that’s a luxury home, a boutique development or a unique commercial building. That’s where we add the most value.

You talk about your vertically integrated model—are you looking for installer partners or other types of business partners to support Finstral’s expansion in the UK?

Our strategy in the UK is to handle all manufacturing centrally and partner with high-quality installers and design

consultants. What we do want are motivated partners who can bring our systems to market, install to our standards and provide excellent local service. We support them with training, marketing and technical advice from our Borehamwood Studio.

Your architectural support is impressive. Is that the main route for you in the UK?

It’s certainly a key route. We’ve built a strong team to support architects from initial concept through to delivery. Our systems offer flexibility that designers really appreciate. But beyond architects, we see opportunities with premium installers, design-led builders and showrooms targeting the premium market. The Finstral Studio in Borehamwood is designed to bring all of these stakeholders together and act as a hub for inspiration and project development.

Your entrance door range is surprisingly UK-friendly. Has that been adapted for this market?

Yes, we made a conscious effort to tailor our entrance door offering to UK tastes. That includes more traditional panel designs as well as modern interpretations of classic styles. We found that UK customers want the robustness and thermal performance of continental systems, but with design cues that feel familiar. The result is a collection that blends European engineering with British aesthetics and the response has been overwhelmingly positive.

Let’s talk price. Can you compete in a price-conscious UK market? Or is Finstral positioned as a high-end brand?

We’re positioned as a premium brand, but we offer exceptional value. Our products aren’t the cheapest upfront but they outperform in the long run. Better insulation, lower maintenance, longer lifespan. For clients who care about total cost of ownership and aesthetic consistency, we’re very competitive. We’re not here

to undercut on price; we’re here to offer something better. And many UK customers are now looking for that kind of quality-first approach.

Do you plan to open a production facility in the UK?

Not immediately. Our existing production network is extremely efficient and wellcoordinated, so it makes sense to centralise manufacturing. Instead, we’re focusing our UK investment on customer experience and local services. The Borehamwood Studio is a perfect example of that; a place where partners and architects can experience what Finstral offers. It’s about being close to the partners, even if production stays in Europe.

Is Finstral still family-owned?

Yes and that makes a huge difference. The Oberrauch family still leads Finstral and remains deeply involved in the business. This continuity gives us stability and a longterm vision. We're not driven by quarterly results or shareholder pressures. Instead, we focus on quality and building lasting relationships. This mindset is reflected across everything we do, from how we design products to how we support our partners.

The Borehamwood Studio looks amazing. Are you planning more UK locations?

Borehamwood is our flagship for the UK and plays a central role in our strategy. It’s not just a showroom, it’s a consultation and training centre where we can engage with architects and end clients alike. We see the London and surrounding regions as a strong match for our premium offering and we’ll continue to develop partnerships from that base. In time, we may expand to other regions, but we want to grow in a focused, sustainable way that maintains our standards. The best option is to visit www.finstral.com/borehamwood or make a Studio appointment with us directly by contacting borehamwood@finstral.com.

CITY COUNCIL SPECIFIES ISO CHEMIE FOR ENERGY IMPROVEMENT PILOT PROJECT

ISO Chemie’s thermal insulating and load bearing bracket support system has been specified for a new energy saving pilot project being carried out by Cambridge City Council.

The move sees WINFRAMER units retrofitted around new windows currently being installed at council owned properties in the Ross Street and Coldham’s Grove area to bring them up to a net zero carbon standard. An insulation layer is also being installed in front of each unit and clad over to significantly reduce heat loss and improve energy efficiency.

The improvement works are part of a wider initiative by the council to reduce a third of residential-based carbon dioxide emissions in the city, providing improved housing and wellbeing for homeowners along with long-term cost savings.

As well as reduced energy consumption and emissions, the project aims to deliver a consistent and comfortable indoor temperature throughout the year for tenants, better ventilation and indoor air quality with no damp or draughts, together with attractive homes in a state of good repair. Passivhaus certified and fire rated to up to 30 minutes, WINFRAMER is a prefabricated installation frame, manufactured to accommodate cavities up to 250mm that

allows windows to be supported independently from the face of the wall regardless of any external cladding being in place.

Quick and easy to install, the product can be integrated alongside other systems to achieve Passivhaus certified window perimeter sealing performance.

The Cambridge project comes as the Government’s strategy continues to push to reduce carbon levels in housing that has single skin, cavity or non-cavity walls - these properties have a reputation for losing considerable amounts of energy, heat and sound.

The ISO Chemie products are expected to deliver improved levels of air tightness and thermal performance across the properties when the work is completed in July 2025.

The WINFRAMER together with the windows are being installed by Lincolnshire-based manufacturers and suppliers of windows, doors and conservatories, Synerjy Ltd. The company’s managing director said Cambridge City Council’s sustainability strategy outlines a roadmap that leads to its housing stock achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2030.

He added: “With the sustainability programme in mind, we are retrofitting these properties to help the council achieve zero carbon ready standards. This work is scheduled to complete this summer and ISO Chemie’s products will undoubtedly prove their value in delivering long-term beneficial energy efficiency improvements.”

Nick Thompson, ISO Chemie’s technical adviser, said: “As new building regulations continue to take effect, property owners and landlords are increasingly requiring smarter ways to deliver their refurb projects through sustainable technologies. Our products can support this activity, providing high performance airtight, acoustic and thermal sealing solutions.”

The composite WINFRAMER brackets can bear heavy windows loads, including bi-fold doors, to provide a reliable, strong and high-performance support frame. Installation is quick with windows attached directly and secured mechanically using either standard fixing screws or fixing lugs in the usual manner.

A hinged insulation core combines with the composite structural bracket to become an integral part of the overall wall structure, providing compliance with window energy saving regulations (EnEV) and the RAL quality assurance association.

ASWS ASSISTS IN BREEAM EXCELLENT JOURNEY FOR ‘THE HARRISON’

The restoration and conversion of a former Victorian furniture warehouse into a modern and flexible commercial property, offers high standards of energy performance as well as contemporary facilities. Associated Steel Window Services (ASWS) is a key member of the team as the heritage window specialist tasked with the restoration of the original large-scale steel and timber frames.

The London-based company was awarded the contract by RED Construction under competitive tender, with work on all four elevations and a large lightwell due to be completed in Summer 2025. When finished, the Grade II listed structure will offer circa 40,000 sq. ft. of space for rent across five floors; and an accreditation of a BREEAM Excellent achievement and a top EPC rating of ‘A’. In order to achieve this, both the insulation values and airtightness of the predominantly glazed elevations

will have to be drastically improved. With decades of experience, ASWS has deployed window fixers, service engineers, glaziers and silicon applicators to repair and realign failed lights and replace missing ones. In total, 26 of the composite steel windows, the largest of which measure 2.5 x 5 metres, are being replaced, along with 15 timber windows. Working in coordination with subcontractors repairing the old London stock brickwork

and areas of concrete masonry, ASWS is also tasked with replacing the timber sub-frames to the steel windows; which requires the jambs and sills to be cut out piecemeal, with the carpenters fashioning mitred and overlap joints as new lengths are let in.

The Operations Director for ASWS leading the detailed work, Kris Bennell, comments: “Not only were there variations in dimensions right across the façades, reflecting the trade practices of the era, but the windows around the top floor also feature semi-headed, radiused tops. And, while we are utilising W20sections to manufacture the replacement windows, for the repairs to many of the old steel frames in the Curtain Road front façade, our engineers are having to weld in lengths of the old F7 profiles due to the extent of the corrosion. Then across large areas, the windows are being completely deglazed so new high-performance double-glazing units can be installed, along with new seals and draught-stripping. It is a challenge to bring century-old fenestration up to contemporary levels of energy efficiency, but it is more than achievable.”

ASWS offers a full range of survey, repair, replica replacement and maintenance services for all ages and types of metal and timber windows. For more information on ASWS, please visit asws.co.uk.

Pictured is The Harrison, on Curtain Road, London. Image credit CGI by Hut Architecture

The latest total value sales from the Builders Merchant Building Index (BMBI) reveals that sales for Q1 2025 were up +0.9% compared to Q1 2024. Volume sales increased +3.9%, while prices came down -2.9%.

Eight of the twelve categories sold more compared to Q1 2024, with Services performing best (+5.3%). Heavy Building Materials (+2.0%) outperformed Total Merchants, while the next largest category, Timber & Joinery Products, slipped -1.4%

year-on-year. Workwear & Safetywear (-3.3%) was the weakest category.

QUARTER-ON-QUARTER

Quarter-on-quarter builders’ merchants’ value sales for Q1 2025 were +5.2% higher than Q4 2024. Eleven categories sold more, with Landscaping (+14.1%) growing the most. With two more trading days in the most recent period, like-for-like value sales were +1.9% higher. Volume sales climbed +5.8%, while prices dropped-0.5%.

MARCH SALES YEAR-ON-YEAR

Total Builders Merchants value sales for March were up +7.2% year-on-year. Eleven categories sold more led by Landscaping (+13.2%) and Renewables & Water Saving (+13.1%). With one extra trading day in the most recent period, like-for-like sales were +2.1% up. Volume sales rose +11.2%, while prices came down -3.6%.

LAST 12 MONTHS

Total value sales for April 2024 to March 2025 were -2.2% lower than the same period a year earlier. Five categories sold more, including Tools (+7.2%) and Workwear & Safetywear (+6.6%). With four more trading days this year, like-for-like value sales dropped -3.8%. Volume sales slipped -1.4% compared to the previous 12 months. Prices were down -0.8%.

Mike Rigby, MD of MRA Research who produce this report, said: “To say it’s been a tempestuous start to the year would be an understatement, as the world struggles to adapt to the rocking of its foundations triggered by Trump’s tariffs. Even if the tariff situation is resolved quickly, a certain amount of disruption to supply chains

and increased production costs is baked in. The cumulative impact on uncertainty, consumer confidence and on RMI and property will take longer to recover.

“GfK’s Consumer Confidence Index decreased four points to -23 in April. All measures were down compared to March, and expectations for the general economic situation over the next 12 months fell to -37, sixteen points worse than April 2024. However, the Major Purchase Index (a leading indicator of RMI and large domestic purchases) was down just two points at -19, six points better than April last year – so not all bad. Wages rising faster than prices, and more interest rate cuts to come may provide relief for consumers, but whether big purchases are postponed in 2025 or not will depend on a mix of domestic and global factors.”

For the full report, Expert comments and Round Table Debates, visit www.bmbi.co.uk.

DANNY WILLIAMS ‘COLD CALLING’

Each month our special correspondent Danny Williams* replies to a reader’s letter...

“It seems that the biggest issue the UK government faces in making the economy balance is the inefficiency of the public sector compared to private organisations. What do you think, Danny?” AL, Retail installer, Wiltshire

You, my loyal reader, have nailed the concern that so many of us in business mutter under our breath while waiting on hold for the fifth time this week to chase a lost VAT refund, planning permission, passport, or GP appointment. We all have experience of this and especially in the National Health Service, for which I despair every time another sackable politician demands we throw more cash at.

There is a stark difference between how the public sector operates and how we in the private sector function. We operate in parallel dimensions, the private one, where margins are thin, competition is fierce, and customer expectations are stratospheric; we must deliver, adapt, and constantly improve or we are toast.

In the public sector? None of those pressures – terms and conditions if you will – are relevant and there is little jeopardy, thus demonstrating stinking attitudes towards the fair paying that is tax paying customers, fit in or eff off is the attitude.

Additionally, the private sector does not have any way when all else fails to put its hand out to get more money, if it has no method or plan of affordability and paying it back the slickly branded ‘listening’ bank will turn a deaf ear. In the private sector good management really matters, but having a good work force can really make the difference between a company winning or losing, working in the public sector is different as are those in it, as is the system within which they operate, which simply does not recognize or operate by, the criteria that ensure every privately run organization has to stick to, or simply die. The public sector system is creaking, bloated, and often completely unaccountable.

Let us compare…

In my business, if I hire someone who does not pull their weight, costs me money, or upsets customers, I must

act—quickly. There are procedures these days that we must adhere to, but in general, we get rid. But in the public sector, underperformance is not just tolerated—it has baked in. It is protected by layers of bureaucracy, inflated HR policies, and a culture that seems more focused on protecting process than producing acceptable outcomes.

And the cost of all this? Astronomical. The UK’s public spending now accounts for around 45% of GDP. That is half of the entire economy spent by the state. It’s funded by you and through taxes, levies, and borrowing. We’re constantly told there’s “no money,” and yet billions are spent each year on consultants, duplicated roles, IT projects that never work, diversity officers and layers of middle management that add more meetings than meaning, if it doesn’t add value bin it and stop counting what you can count what you need, there is no point in analyzing or reporting on something that cannot or will not affect positive change.

Just take a look at the NHS IT infrastructure. Over 15 years and several billion pounds have been ploughed into “digital transformation,” yet many hospitals are still running on Windows 7 and using fax machines. There are many stories of largely one-man-band fitters who still submit their orders on the sandwich wrapper - but even they are now a tiny minority; If I ran my businesses like that, I’d have been bust decades ago.

The private sector is expected to pick up the slack. We innovate, we automate, we streamline. And of course, we pay. But here’s the kicker. It is not just about money or inefficiency. It is about the drag it puts on national ambition. When so much of the government’s energy is spent firefighting public sector waste, there is less bandwidth for supporting growth, driving investment, or backing British manufacturing.

So, what’s the solution?

Well, it’s not about privatising everything. That road has its own potholes. It is about instilling a mindset. A cultural shift. Make every department work as though failure has consequences. Reward performance, not just tenure. Empower managers to make real decisions—and hold them to account. Bring in private sector experience where it helps. Embrace tech properly. And most of all, cut out the waste. Not with another report or task force, but with decisive, transparent reform. And incentivize managers and staff so

“So yes, dear reader, you are right. The biggest challenge to balancing the economy is not just about tax rates or growth forecasts, it is about fixing a lumbering public machine that has been allowed to fall behind while the rest of us continue. The government needs to stop expecting the private sector to carry the whole load and start demanding a bit more from itself.”

that their pay goes up – and actually down – according to performance of them and of course, their department.

And while they’re at it, they might consider giving businesses like ours a bit more credit. We are not just installers and fabricators, we are job creators, tax contributors, problem solvers. If the government wants a more efficient economy, it could start by listening to the people who already must be efficient just to stay afloat to pay for their ineptitude.

So yes, dear reader, you are right. The biggest challenge to balancing the economy is not just about tax rates or growth forecasts, it is about fixing a lumbering public machine that has been allowed to fall behind while the rest of us continue.

The government needs to stop expecting the private sector to carry the whole load and start demanding a bit more from itself.

I have fantasized about the UK creating a version of Elon Musk’s ‘DOGE’; and whilst that has run into trouble with the law in the US, the daydream of slashing, and ending at a stroke some of the largesse piled upon corrupt leaders of corrupt countries and ridiculous minority ‘causes,’ provides me with a lovely warm feeling inside.

The so-called fiscal black hole could so easily be filled, by slashing the ridiculous subsidies to nations that have nuclear weapons and space programs, putting civil servants on incentive schemes, stopping unnecessary migration etc etc. But sadly, the implementors of such changes are the politicians and senior civil service ‘lifers’, who benefit most from the system.

Williams

GLAZPART NOMINATED FOR FIVE AWARDS

Glazpart is delighted to announce five category nominations in this year’s National Fenestration Awards (NFAs). The nominations reflect Glazpart’s outstanding work in new product development, customer support, sales and marketing.

The NFA shortlist includes;

• Window Component of the Year: Multi-System Bridge Packer (MSBP)

• New Product of the Year: Bifold Vent

• Office Manager of the Year: Belinda White (Customer Relations Manager)

• Social Networker of the Year: James Lee (Marketing Consultant)

• Best Business Development Manager / Sales Executive of the Year: Melanie Hickman (Area Sales Manager – South of England)

On receiving the news, Dean Bradley, Glazpart Sales Director, commented, “We are delighted to have been recognised in five categories at the NFAs for our work across the fenestration sector.”

On being shortlisted for Business Development Manager / Sales Executive of the Year, Melanie Hickman said, “ 'I'm really shocked & honoured to be nominated for this award. I've only been with

Glazpart and in the fenestration industry for 18 months, so just the nomination itself is an achievement.

Really looking forward to celebrating this year and I wish everyone the best of luck.”

Glazpart’s Customer Relations Manager, Belinda White is responsible for keeping customer service standards high by making sure Glazpart’s products are not only delivered in time but arrive in first class condition. On her nomination for Office Manager of the Year, Belinda commented, “Being nominated is unexpected but it also nice to have our work recognised by our customers in the fenestration sector. I am very much looking forward to October’s event.”

James Lee, who is responsible for Glazpart’s PR and Social Media has been nominated for “Social Networker of the Year”. James commented on hearing the news, “I am both surprised and pleased to be nominated, but also delighted that Glazpart has been recognised in four other categories. The last 12 months has seen an amazing surge in our social media activity highlighting Glazpart’s success in events, new product development, awards and customer relations. I can’t wait for the Awards Event in Doncaster this Autumn.”

The National Fenestration Awards is the industry’s fastest growing

THE RESIDENCE COLLECTION ANNOUNCED AS A FINALIST FOR FIVE AWARDS IN THE 2025 NATIONAL FENESTRATION AWARDS

28th May 2025: Premium window and door designer, The Residence Collection has been named as a finalist in five categories at one of the most recognised fenestration industry awards.

and most inclusive awards event. Launched in 2013 and now into its 12th campaign, the National Fenestration Awards are decided completely by the participation of the industry. All in the industry are invited to vote on their choice of deserving winner.

To cast your vote in this unique competition, please visit the NFA website voting page here.

Dean Bradley summarised, “We encourage all our customers and colleagues to vote for Glazpart in the respective categories and we look forward to the awards event later in the year. In the meantime, best of luck to all those shortlisted.”

The winners will be announced at the awards ceremony on Saturday 25 October at Doncaster Racecourse, Hilton Garden Inn. To reserve tickets for this event please visit the NFA events page: https:// www.fenestrationawards.co.uk/ winners-event/. www.glazpart.com

Founded more than a decade ago, The National Fenestration Awards has been celebrating the very best in the sector by recognising individuals and businesses for their innovation, dedication and impact. The winners of each awards category are determined through an open voting system, where industry professionals act as judges and cast their votes with voting closes on 19th September at 5pm.

The Residence Collection has been shortlisted in five categories: Best Use of Video, PVCu Systems Company of the Year, Systems Company of The Year, Timber Alternative of the Year and their Brand Ambassador, James Moon, is a finalist for Young Person of the Year.

Best known for their marketleading R9, R7 and R2 window systems, The Residence Collection continues to push the boundaries of design and technical innovation. This year, they’ve further solidified their place at the forefront of the industry by launching a brand-new openin timber alternative door. With its bold aesthetic, terminal efficiency and superior features, the new system has already set a new standard in the sector.

Last year marked the seventh time The Residence Collection has won the Timber Alternative Company of the Year award, as they look to continue their winning streak.

James’ nomination for Young Person of the Year is a testament to his hard work and dedication since joining The Residence Collection team last year. He manages the Southern installer network and is

“It’s an honour to be recognised in such a respected industry awards programme."

responsible for promoting The Residence Collection brand, its products, and services through professional sales strategies. James supports both their existing installer base and potential clients—including homeowners, architects, and specifiers in the building industry—by delivering an exceptional level of customer service and support.

Speaking about his nomination, James said: “It’s an honour to be recognised in such a respected industry awards programme, especially alongside so many talented people. I’m proud to represent a brand that genuinely leads with innovation and quality, and I'm excited to see what we achieve next.”

Jo Trotman, Marketing Manager at The Residence Collection, added: “We’re really proud to see The Residence Collection named as finalists for four outstanding categories in the National Fenestration Awards this year, and even more proud of our Brand Ambassador, James, for his well-deserved nomination.

“We’ve worked extremely hard this year to diversify our efforts with The Residence Collection brands, in order to ensure that installers and fabricators are continually trusting us as their go-to companies for premium timber alternative windows, and now doors too.

“There are lots of deserving finalists in all categories of the awards this year and we look forward to the ceremony in October.”

Voting is now open and runs until 19th September 2025.

To support The Residence Collection, visit www. fenestrationawards.co.uk/nfa25 to cast your vote.

To learn more about The Residence Collection, visit: www.residencecollection.co.uk.

Melanie Hickman

Dean Bradley James Lee

FABRICATOR FOCUS

NEW FOR FABRICATORS

Glazpart’s product development team is clearly focused on fabricators as the UK’s leading glazing components company launched several new products for fabricators who use different materials and systems, at this year’s FIT Show.

FOR UPVC FABRICATORS

Glazpart’s new MSBP (Multi System Bridge Packer) is a product designed and manufactured for use across multiple window and door systems.

The MSBP’s biggest feature is its flexibility in application for multiple window and door systems including:

• Eurocell – Logic M70

• Veka – M70 / Fully Sculptured / Omnia

• Veka Halo – System 10 / Rustique

• Liniar – Chamfered Feature

• Deceuninck – 2500 / 2800

• REHAU – Total 70

• Kommerling – C70 / 070

• Aluplast – Ideal 70 / Ideal 4000

For several years standard bridge packers have become a key design accessory in UPVC systems and provides a flat surface for the use of setting flat packers whilst ensuring the water escape and ventilation routes around the insulated glazed units are maintained.

As well as its great versatility, Glazpart’s MSBP has several key features including:

• Easy clip mechanism to secure into position and remain fixed without the need for silicone on for example mullions.

• Ensures any water ingress into the glazing channel will run below MSBP and out via the window or door drainage system and stops water/moisture build up and freezing in the winter.

• Prevents water from contact with the Insulating Glazing Unit (IGU) maintaining a distance between the water and IGU edge.

• Easier and cleaner for installation.

• Benefits fabricators working with several systems.Designed to fully integrate with the Glazpart Glazing Accessories range which includes products such as flat packers, frame packers and drainage hole covers, the MSBP also has the same functional benefits as Glazpart’s current range of bridge packers.

FOR ALUMINIUM FABRICATORS

The new Bi-fold Vent is a welcome introduction from Glazpart to the market,

as aluminium bi-fold doors continue to be increasingly popular.

Specifically manufactured for aluminium bi-fold doors, the Bi-fold Vent has a shallow height (ultra slim profile) that is designed to work within the low hinge stack heights when the doors in a bi-fold system are in the open position.

The product is designed to fit onto the door leaf profile above the IGU (Insulating Glass Unit), which removes the need for expensive knock on profiles above the door frame and interference with the plaster line.

Initially available in White, Black and Anthracite Grey in standard sets, bespoke and matching colours will also be manufactured to order.

With an equivalent area of 2700 EA per vent, on a 16mm rout, a standard 3 door bifold installation will provide a cumulative equivalent area in the room of 8100EA and

Dean Bradley

this will meet the requirements in Approved Document F (means of ventilation) in the Building Regulations.

At FIT Show, Glazpart also gave visitors a sneak preview of their new Aluminium Vent for windows and doors which will be full launched later this year.

Also at the industry’s main exhibition, Glazpart officially launched its new Modular Vent to the market which is perfect for fabricators using any material (UPVC, Aluminium or Wood) to make smaller window or doors especially for the heritage buildings. The Modular Vent is the best trickle vent in the market for watertightness (at 1000 Pa). The Spring Clip fitting (no screws) saves on installation time and the vent, though one of the shortest width trickle vents available, achieves a 2000 EQA performance for each module fitted. The Modular Vent is available in 100s of colour options and blends in perfectly with the window profile.

Dean Bradley, Glazpart Sales Director explains their focus on new products this year. “As the growth in the aluminium, bi-fold door and heritage sectors continues, our thorough market research and discussions with many of our customers is proving invaluable. Fabricators looking for component and ventilation solutions, have a one stop shop at Glazpart with trickle vents and glazing accessories for all types of fenestration. The high level of interest at the FIT Show is an early indication our latest products will prove popular with fabricators UK wide.”

To find out more about Glazpart products please contact Dean Bradley, Sales Director on dbradley@glazpart.co.uk or visit the Glazpart website www.glazpart.com.

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RICHARD GYDE JOINS VBH

The board of VBH Holding is delighted to announce that Richard Gyde joins VBH (GB) Ltd on 1st May in the position of Managing Director.

Richard will be no stranger to most within the industry, bringing over 40 years of dedicated fenestration sector experience, including over 23 years as Managing Director of Mila UK, where he successfully led and grew the business.

Richard’s customer-centric approach matches that of the VBH culture. His deep understanding of the market has resulted in prestigious customer portfolios, whilst his commitment to sustainability and innovation has driven the development of high quality products that meet changing market needs.

These strengths, together with Richard’s extensive experience in global sourcing, product portfolio development, quality protocols, and corporate governance will be invaluable to VBH (GB) as the company builds on the success of its own greenteQ brand, alongside further development of sales of major brands in the VBH portfolio.

Richard is well respected by his peers, and is known for his intelligent and innovative thinking, both in product design and in building action-oriented teams that perform at the highest level.

Throughout his career, Richard has demonstrated a remarkable ability to deliver resilient long-term growth and manage business continuity, even in turbulent times.

Peter Rowlands, Acting Managing Director at VBH (GB) states “We are confident that Richard Gyde’s leadership will bring new opportunities and continued growth to VBH (GB). I am absolutely confident that Richard and the existing VBH team will work together to achieve our mission to be an industry leader in the Hardware Sector and continue to develop our successful business in the UK and overseas.”

ERA APPOINTS NEW SMART SECURITY PRODUCT MANAGER

Leading

security solutions manufacturer ERA has appointed Chris Ecclestone as its new Smart Security Product Manager.

With a wide-ranging background rooted in advancing technological innovation across industries including defence, automotive and engineering, Chris’s role at ERA is to push the company’s Smart Security offering forward with a consumer-friendly approach as the market continues to grow.

Speaking on the growth of smart tech adoption by consumers across the UK and ERA’s role in that, Chris said: “The demand for smart security tech in the home is rapidly growing and there is still a lot of room for growth in the market.

NEW APPOINTMENT

“Our focus is on how the end user interacts with our technology – it’s about adapting to their growing requirements with regards to compatibility and integration with other smart products in the home.

“We’re making smart security products that work, and we don’t want to over complicate that, so we’re going to develop our offering at the right pace

“Rather than adding extra tech for the sake of it, we’ll bring through the right technology at the right time, with the end user always in mind.”

From making its first lock in 1838, ERA is a well-established presence in the UK security market, with a reputation built on expertise in traditional home security solutions.

In recent years, it has expanded into the smart security sector and now offers smart

SENIOR PROMOTES PHIL GUY TO NATIONAL SALES MANAGER ROLE

Senior Architectural Systems, one of the UK’s largest manufacturers of aluminium fenestration solutions, has appointed Phil Guy to the role of national sales manager.

Phil brings over 15 years of experience in the glass and glazing industry, and most recently worked as Senior’s national key account manager where he played a pivotal role in strengthening relationships with fabricator and installer customers across the UK. Prior to that appointment, Phil had also spent four years as Senior’s technical sales manager for the North West.

In his new position, Phil will lead Senior’s regionally based team of technical sales managers, supporting both the commercial and domestic sectors. His remit will also include helping customers with product selection, training, and technical support to ensure successful project delivery while identifying

locks, video doorbells, and alarm systems that can be controlled via mobile apps.

On joining ERA, Chris said: “Everyone in the team has been absolutely lovely and has helped me settle in, not just on a personal level but also in terms of developing my understanding of the industry.

“We’re all learning from each other and I’m excited for the future of our smart security offering at ERA.”

opportunities for future growth and innovation.

Commenting on his promotion, Phil said; “I’m incredibly proud to be taking on this new role and to continue my career with the company. Senior’s commitment to innovation and sustainability, particularly through our patented PURe® aluminium system, sets us apart in the market and opens up so many innovative solutions for our customers. I’m excited to build on our existing relationships and make new connections by showcasing our comprehensive product range that delivers performance, aesthetics, and environmental benefits.”

Senior’s sales director James Keeling-Heane added; “Phil has consistently demonstrated outstanding technical knowledge and customer focus, both of which are central to our ethos. His leadership will be invaluable as we continue to expand in the commercial and domestic sectors, and I have no doubt that our customers will benefit from the enhanced support that Phil and the team will provide.”

Senior’s extensive product offering includes aluminium windows, doors, and

curtain walling systems, all developed with ease of fabrication and installation in mind. The company’s patented PURe® range, designed to offer exceptional thermal performance, underscores its commitment to sustainability. With a full suite of support services including technical advice, product training, and marketing assistance, Senior continues to deliver on its promise of giving customers what they want, when they want it.

To find out more, visit www.seniorarchitectural.co.uk or follow Senior Architectural Systems on LinkedIn, X, and Facebook.

Richard Gyde

Chris Ecclestone

Phil Guy

CAREERS & QUALIFICATIONS IN FENESTRATION

EXCITING ROLE CHANGES AT MACO UK

We are pleased to announce some exciting changes within our team at MACO.

Craig Bryant, our esteemed Product Service and Innovation Manager, will be transitioning to a new role focused on driving growth in new areas of our business. Craig has been a cornerstone of MACO for the past 36 years, building a strong reputation in the fenestration industry and forging lasting relationships with many of you and we’re pleased to report that he will be here for many years to come.

As a result of this shift in focus for Craig, we were left with a gap to fill, and we are delighted to introduce Jemma Brookes as our new Head of Product Management. Jemma has been with MACO for 6 years, serving as Product Manager for doors and sliding doors, and has consistently demonstrated her expertise and dedication. She is enthusiastic about her new challenge and is committed to continuing the high standards set by Craig.

On the announcement of the news Jemma said: “I want to express my thanks to MACO for their support, collaboration, and encouragement during my time here. The experiences and knowledge I have gained have been invaluable, and I am deeply appreciative of the opportunities I have had to grow both personally and professionally.

"I am incredibly enthusiastic about this new chapter and the challenges it brings. Leading the Product Management team aligns perfectly with my career goals, and I am eager to contribute to our company’s success in new ways."

"I am incredibly enthusiastic about this new chapter and the challenges it brings. Leading the Product Management team aligns perfectly with my career goals, and I am eager to contribute to our company’s success in new ways. The best part is that I will continue to work closely with all of you, especially Craig Bryant, as our journey together continues.”

In order to support Jemma transition into her new role, Craig will remain actively involved in the transition period, alongside his new focus area, to ensure a smooth handover and he will continue to be a vital part of our team, contributing his vast experience and knowledge to our growth initiatives.

Craig commented that: “It has been an exciting journey so far and I’m looking forward to many more years of working with the team at MACO in my new role, I am positive that Jemma’s leadership and expertise will be invaluable as we continue to grow and innovate.”

We are confident that these changes will bring fresh perspectives and drive our business forward. Please join us in congratulating both Craig and Jemma on their new roles.

GOVERNMENT WARNED REGARDING APPRENTICESHIP REFORMS

Enginuity, the charity dedicated to filling the daunting gap in skills in the engineering & manufacturing sectors, has responded to the Government’s apprenticeship reforms.

Poppy Bramford, Senior Policy Manager, said: “It is vital that the Government delivers on its commitment to introduce the

Growth and Skills Levy, without compromising SME access to levy funds for apprenticeships.

“SMEs are keen to see government introduce greater flexibilities on how the levy can be spent, but they worry that foundation apprenticeships could dilute the credibility of exiting standards.

“Shorter duration apprenticeships in Manufacturing and Engineering must not come at the cost of competency.

“Early indicators show employer demand for foundation apprenticeships in manufacturing and engineering is critically low,

VEKA RECYCLING AND SAINT-GOBAIN UNVEIL PIVOTAL GLASS RECYCLING PARTNERSHIP

This major collaboration –which incorporates SaintGobain’s innovative glass recycling technology into VEKA Recycling’s capabilities – is a significant step towards creating a circular economy in the UK fenestration industry.

In a step change for the fenestration industry, VEKA Recycling, a pioneer in PVCu recycling since 1993, has announced a groundbreaking partnership with global sustainable construction leader, Saint-Gobain. This will bring VEKA Recycling closer to realising its mission of creating a closed-loop recycling system within the UK.

Due to the lack of infrastructure for effective collection and recycling, a huge amount of postconsumer glass cullet is currently lost to landfill. By developing cutting-edge solutions and combining their expertise, the two companies are setting a new benchmark for post-consumer recycling and resource recovery.

The collaboration allows Wellingborough-based VEKA Recycling to take fully glazed frames, eliminating the need to deglaze on-site and offering a cost-effective, environmentally friendly solution for glass waste disposal. With regular, reliable collection schedules within 100 miles of VEKA Recycling.

Central to this is the deployment of Saint-Gobain's patented ICG Recycling Machine, which efficiently separates annealed and toughened glass from spacer bars.

The glass can then be processed and reintroduced directly into float glass production, offering a higher recovery rate and improving the sustainability of the supply chain.

This innovative process enhances resource recovery rates while reducing the need for raw material extraction, lowering energy consumption by 30% and cutting CO2 emissions across the supply chain.

Tim Taylor, Commercial Director at VEKA plc, said:

“This marks a monumental step on our journey towards creating a circular economy within the UK. For the fenestration industry, ensuring that materials can be collected, recycled and then manufactured into new products without needing to leave the country is instrumental in meeting sustainability goals.

“By combining our infrastructure with Saint-Gobain’s innovative glass recycling technology, we are confident that we can overcome current challenges to significantly increase the rate of post-consumer glass recovery in the UK.”

Michael Butterick, Marketing Director at Saint-Gobain Glass, said: “We are thrilled to be partnering with VEKA Recycling to offer a solution for postconsumer glass recycling. The potential of this initiative is vast— by addressing the current gap in infrastructure and leveraging key partnerships, we can achieve our sustainability goals.”

Post-consumer glass recycling is central to Saint-Gobain’s journey to Net Zero CO2 emissions by 2050. While VEKA Recycling is pushing to create a closed-loop system and circular domestic supply chain for the UK fenestration industry.

To support VEKA’s mission to ensure that sustainability is at the core of the industry, VEKA’s Recycling’s facility in Wellingborough has had a £15m investment, enhancing its capacity and efficiency. In 2024, VEKA Recycling and VEKA plc were brought under one Board, aligning the two businesses under this shared goal.

Tim Taylor added: “This significant partnership marks another crucial step toward building a greener future— reducing the use of raw materials, lowering energy consumption, and significantly cutting CO2 emissions across the supply chain.”

calling into question the value of this new product for meeting skills needs.”

Poppy is available for interview: Call Dan Kirkby 07785 392735

Jemma Brookes and Craig Bryant Photo credit: MACO

Poppy Bramford

USEFUL NUMBERS

British Plastics Federation (BPF)

Tel: 0207 457 5000

British Standards Institution (BSI) – Standards & Publications

Tel: 0208 996 9001

BSI – Assessment & Certification

Tel: 0845 080 9000

BSI – Product Certification & Testing

Tel: 08450 765600

BBSA (British Blind & Shutter Association)

Tel: 01449 780444

Building Research Establishment (BRE)

Tel: 01923 664000

Council for Aluminium in Building (CAB)

Tel: 01453 828851

Dekura

Tel: 01952 201631

Door & Hardware Federation (DHF)

Tel: 01827 52337

Double Glazing & Conservatory Ombudsman Scheme (DGCOS)

Tel: 0345 053 8975

Fenestration Self-Assessment Scheme (FENSA)

Tel: 0207 645 3700

Get Britain Building (GBB)

Tel: 0870 162 0936

Glass & Glazing Federation (GGF)

Tel: 0207 939 9101

GQA Qualifications (formerly Glass Qualifications Authority)

Tel: 0114 2720033

SUPPLIES

Health & Safety Executive (HSE)

– Glass & Related Industries

Phil Smith, HM Principal Inspector

Tel: 01782 602300

David Appleton, HM Inspector

Tel: 0115 9712800

Proskills – Head Office

Tel: 01235 833844

Proskills – Glass & Related

Industries

Neil Robinson

Tel: 07917 015 322

Recovinyl (via Axion Consulting)

Tel: 0161 355 7618

The Glazing Ombudsman (TGO)

Tel: 020 7397 7200

UK Green Building Council

Tel: 0207 580 0623

Veka Recycling

Tel: 01322 38721

Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP)

Tel: 01295 819 900

Wood Window Alliance (WWA)

Tel: 0844 209 261

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