Window News February 2018

Bohle Begins The New Year With Major US Acquisiiton 10

Mila’s Prosecure Handle Gets Ultimate Endorsement 32

TruFrame Delivers Powerful New Website 64 WINDOW NEWS FEBRUARY 2018 1

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WINDOWNEWS

CONTENTS WINDOW NEWS

W INDOWNEWS THE LATEST INDUSTRY NEWS

TRADE NEWS 4 DEAR GERALD 26

NEWS W INDOW INDUSTRY DIRECTORY

PEOPLE 28 HARDWARE & SECURITY

WINDOW

32

PRODUCT NEWS 38 ALUMINIUM 50

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MACHINERY 52 THE LATEST INDUSTRY NEWS

ON-SITE 54 MARKETING 62

W INDOWNEWS THE LATEST INDUSTRY NEWS

W INDOWNEW W INDOWNEW W INDOWNEW

THE LATEST INDUSTRY N

THE LATEST INDUSTRY N

THE LATEST INDUSTRY N

AWARDS 69 TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT

72

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CHARITY 74 Click to go back to

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WINDOW NEWS FEBRUARY 2018 3

TRADE NEWS

3% Growth In The UK Door And Window Fittings Market In 2017 In terms of supply, the UK door and window fittings market has seen a slowing of merger and acquisition activity in the last two years, following significant consolidation of suppliers in previous years, although the industry remains highly fragmented. Due to the wide range of options, styles and applications, many companies operate in just one or a few of the product sectors within this market. Imports also continue to play a significant role in the UK door and window fittings market.

Source: AMA Research Ltd/Trade Estimates

The UK market for door and window fittings grew by around 3% in 2017. This is lower than in 2016, in line with slowing growth rates for the construction market as a whole and stimulated by greater demand for higher specification products. The door and window fittings market is closely linked to the fabrication and installation markets as well as the overall glazing industry, which is relatively mature but has seen steady growth in recent years.

Polarisation is a feature of this market and this is characterised at one end by high value, high specification products and low cost, basic product ranges at the other end – with the lower value sectors of the market experiencing significant downward pressure on average prices due to increasing import penetration.

There has been little change to the product mix for door and window fittings in recent years.

4 WINDOW NEWS FEBRUARY 2018

Locks and handles represent the two major product sectors, together accounting for over half of the fittings market, although mechanical locks have lost some share as electronic locks have become more widespread.

Door closers now account for an estimated 15%, having shown stronger than average growth.

Product development tends to be influenced by a number of factors including fashion, legislation and technical issues.

Higher security standards play a significant role in product development and improvement, and there is some evidence of growing demand for automation in doors and windows which may drive development in the market going forward. Standard white hardware is declining in popularity, with finishes such as brushed chrome, brass, burnished bronze and nickel becoming more popular in the domestic sector.

“For 2018 and beyond, forecasts indicate marginal but positive growth, based on improving housing and construction markets – although growth will be constrained by price pressure and strong competition” said Fiona Watts of AMA Research.

Key drivers for growth are likely to be the trend to trade up to higher specification products, particularly those which offer added security features and are aimed at the commercial sector.

Another major main driver for growth will be improving output levels in the private commercial construction sector and continued growth in the housing market.

The ‘Door and Window Fittings Market Report – UK 2018-2022’ report is published by AMA Research, a leading provider of market research and consultancy services with over 25 years’ experience within the construction and home improvement markets. The report is available now and can be ordered online at www.amaresearch.co.uk or by calling 01242 235724.

TRADE NEWS

FIT Show

Strengthens For The Future

Organiser Forms

Strategic CEO of DW3 Products Group

DW3 Products

Partnership

Group Acquired By

Masonite International

Masonite International Corporation have completed the acquisition of DW3 Products Group Ltd and its subsidiaries, on January 29th 2018 for an undisclosed sum.

DW3 Products Group is one of the most exciting businesses in the UK fenestration sector, boasting highly respected door brands including Solidor, Residor and Nicedor, with a manufacturing facility based in Stoke-On-Trent.

The well-regarded window division is represented by The Residence Collection and Window Widgets which operate from Gloucester.

Masonite International have a number of business interests in the UK with Door-Stop International, Hickman Industries, Performance Door Set Solutions and Premdor.

The introduction of DW3 Products Group fits exceptionally well with Masonite’s vision to be the best provider of building products in the eyes of all stakeholders including customers, employees, shareholders, suppliers and communities.

The existing DW3 Products Group management team are all staying

in their current roles and are looking to share operational knowledge and expertise collectively, to create improved and growing UK business interests for Masonite International, who are a public company, traded on the New York Stock Exchange.

Gareth Mobley, CEO of DW3 Products Group commented: ‘The acquisition of DW3 by Masonite International is good news for all.

They have a proven track record with companies such as DoorStop International who have grown strongly post-acquisition and without question, are the perfect fit for the group.

He continued: ‘Little will change across the group whether you are a customer of Solidor, Residor, Nicedor, The Residence Collection and Window Widgets. With the resources of Masonite behind us and opportunities to share knowledge and ideas, it will make for a very strong, stable and successful future.’

For further information please visit www.dw3group.co.uk

FIT Events Ltd, organiser of the highly successful FIT Show, has announced changes in its shareholding structure. Angus Montgomery Ltd, which has been organising events globally since 1895, has become the majority shareholder. Co-founders Matthew Glover and Paul Godwin remain shareholders and directors of the company with Matthew as Chairman, as does Event Director Nickie West. John Beaty, an investor in the business since 2015, has relinquished his shareholding and left the business. In most other respects the business remains unchanged.

Matthew Glover explained the decision: “The FIT Show has gone from strength to strength thanks to tremendous support from the industry, whose loyalty we hope we have returned by producing a show that connects the whole of the window, door and related glass and glazing industry.

WINDOW NEWS FEBRUARY 2018 5

TRADE NEWS extends to a raft of fenestration products ranging from conservatories to guttering.

Building Regulations self-certification is being offered in partnership with STROMA Certification Ltd and includes the required consumer financial protection. Homeowners will receive a CORGI Fenestration branded installation certificate.

CORGI Fenestration RateYourInstallation™: all consumers will be invited to rate their installation for inclusion in a ‘TripAdvisor’ type consumer ratings service run by CORGI Fenestration. In due course this will allow homeowners to choose installers independently rated by other satisfied customers. This is another valuable installer marketing tool.

Launch Of CORGI Fenestration Installer Scheme

With Self-Certification (Statement from CORGI Fenestration) The unique CORGI Fenestration Installer Scheme is here. It combines the CORGI Fenestration quality mark with notifications across windows, doors and other fenestration products, including self-certification of replacement windows and doors.

Then it adds a ‘TripAdvisor’ type consumer ratings function and recognition of the best qualified workforce. It is for installers that pride themselves on being some of the best in the industry.

The CORGI Fenestration Installer Scheme comprises:The CORGI Fenestration Quality 6 WINDOW NEWS FEBRUARY 2018

Mark: registered installers will have passed a rigorous audit process. CORGI Fenestration does not add another level of red tape – but purely assesses existing management processes, quality of installation work, customer care and qualifications of staff. Once registered installers will be able to use the CORGI Fenestration name across their business.

Notification & Self-Certification: a web-based service for all installation jobs. It covers windows and doors, replacement and new build, across domestic and commercial premises and

CORGI Fenestration Skills Card: CORGI Fenestration recognises only the best in glazing sector qualifications and all registered installers must employ qualified staff. Installers will be encouraged to move to a fully carded workforce carrying this Skills Card. These cards are linked to an online Skills Register which allows homeowners to check who they are letting into their homes and how qualified they are. Only glazing sector NVQs assessed and approved by the GQA, the industry’s leading qualifications provider, are recognised.

Risked Based Inspection Rate: as CORGI Fenestration registered installers are subject to at least an annual business audit and satisfy the requirements of best practice they may undergo fewer installation inspections.

This lower inspection rate is calculated by CORGI Fenestration’s proprietary risk assessment system – the Quality Standards Indicator™. As a result, an installers total costs may be lower than through ex-

TRADE NEWS isting schemes.

Customer Care Excellence: CORGI Fenestration is committed to providing all registered businesses with the best in customer care. We will practice what we preach.

FENSA Aims To Build On Market Leading Position

(Statement from FENSA)

“We are not asking installers to do anything extra to become CORGI Fenestration registered.

We are not asking them to add to their bureaucratic burden,” says CORGI Fenestration CEO Chris Mayne. “We assess and recognise existing best practice procedures – however achieved and recorded.”

“Installers need to be committed to be the best and demonstrate they are achieving it to register with CORGI Fenestration,” Mayne added. “It’s not for everyone. If a business is just about satisfying minimum requirements across management, regulations and qualifications then CORGI Fenestration is not for them.”

Prices: Annual registration fee £200; Audit fee £600; Notification fee £15 per installation.

Note: the notification fee is all inclusive so there are no additional insurance costs to pay. All fees are ex VAT. “Up till now there has not been a widely recognised quality mark – let alone a name known by consumers – that has allowed the most professional, excellence focussed companies in our industry to set themselves apart from the pack,” Mayne concluded. “There is now!”

To apply to register with CORGI Fenestration: enquiries@corgifenestration. co.uk www.corgifenestration.co.uk

Chris Beedel, Director of Membership, FENSA

FENSA has revealed some of its aims for 2018 as the company plans to build on its market position as the scheme of choice for installation companies in the domestic glazing sector.

Since the start of 2018, FENSA has set out on its new strategies to continue to deliver high quality services for its members.

Founded in 2002, FENSA is the original and longest serving certification body in the glazing sector, offering its competent person scheme for companies that survey and install doors and windows, to ensure they legally comply with building regulations in England and Wales. Turning 16 years old on 1st April this year, FENSA members have completed over 12 million installations and this is expected to reach 13 million in June this year – a phenomenal success story for the industry.

In 2017, following a year of innovation, restructure and management changes, 2018 will see FENSA invest in a range of initiatives and programmes to deliver greater

customer service and offer more benefits to installers. From internal customer management systems to new technical guidance documents and exclusive member seminars through to better online services, FENSA is shaping up for challenging but progressive times ahead.

Chris Beedel, Director of Membership commented, “Last year we launched the FENSA card, the Knowledge Hub and the Installation of the Year competition. We also increased brand profile at major industry events such as The FIT Show and the G17 Awards.

2017 was certainly a year of change and productivity but now we are aiming to build on the momentum by delivering more and better services for our members in 2018.”

The company will also be part of a new GGF Group market research programme that will include in depth analysis of the market. The research project aims to help FENSA gain a better understanding of the needs and wants of its strong customer base of over WINDOW NEWS FEBRUARY 2018 7

TRADE NEWS 6000 installers.

James Lee, Director of Marketing and Communications commented, “The new extensive research programme will help FENSA build closer relationships with members, gain market insights and ultimately create more benefits. Being the original competent person scheme for the industry, government backed and UKAS accredited, FENSA is in a very strong brand position. By continuing to deliver high levels of service, standards and guidance FENSA will further enhance its profile in the industry and to consumers.”

Carillion Projects Worth A Total Of

£5.7 Billion carillion live projects copy.gif

Carillion were also involved in 16 framework contracts as part of a list of companies pre-selected or pre-qualified to undertake works for an organisation. These framework contracts are not included as part of the final 57 projects as there is no guarantee that they had won any work from the framework.

Being one of the most recognised brands in the glazing installation market is underlined by the number of consumers who visited the FENSA website in 2017. Over 420,000 unique visitors used FENSA’s consumer site resulting in 3.3 million page views. Meanwhile, the fensaonline.com exclusive members site, saw over 42,000 unique visits and over 2 million page views as installers took advantage of features such as the FENSA Knowledge Hub which provides all FENSA companies with accurate data on their local area to help them shape their sales and marketing campaigns.

Chris Beedel added, “Over the years, many different and often confusing schemes have come and gone, but FENSA’s longevity is clearly down to the simplicity of the scheme, the loyalty of our members and the high quality services we deliver. We aim to reward that loyalty by giving our members improved services and more benefits.

In 2017, over 2 million window and over 450 thousand door installations were registered through the FENSA competent person scheme, more than any other certification body in the glazing sector. With our new plans underway we are looking forward to giving our members the best possible service in the industry to ensure they are legally compliant and installing windows to a high standard.”

8 WINDOW NEWS FEBRUARY 2018

Commenting on these findings, Michael Dall, Lead Economist at Barbour ABI, said: “Carillion were deeply embedded within the construction industry – they were the second biggest contractor in the UK by revenue. Our records show that they were the main contractor on almost 60 schemes worth a total value of £5.7 billion. That is not to mention the plethora of other contracts where they were carrying out other construction roles.”

As the economy continues to come to terms with the collapse of Carillion, the latest figures suggest that on the day of liquidation, the industry giant was the main contractor on 57 construction projects worth a total of £5.7 billion, including a £1.3 billion HS2 contract.

This latest information comes from construction industry analysts Barbour ABI (See figure 1.1), who outlined that ten of the 57 projects were each individually worth more than £150 million, such as the Royal Liverpool hospital and an Army basing programme in Salisbury worth £450 million and £340 million respectively.

“The sector where Carillion had the largest presence was infrastructure – road and rail projects were a particular speciality for the firm. In addition, Carillion were in the process of delivering two new hospitals and were also responsible for various school improvement projects. What happens to these projects is a matter for conjecture. If the reason Carillion went bust was due to under-bidding then it stands to reason that the financial terms will have to be renegotiated. There is no doubt this will happen but will it happen quickly enough to save the many firms in the Carillion supply chain?”

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TRADE NEWS

KÖMMERLING Reports Strong

2017 Sales profine UK and its KÖMMERLING brand have reported an increase in profile sales for 2017 based on audited figures, against a backdrop of market contraction. This has resulted in the continued trend of increasing market share in the UK for the German systems giant.

It has been another hugely successful year for the KÖMMERLING brand in the UK, with trade partners and installers eager to benefit from the impressive product engineering of the C70 and O70 Goldâ systems, along with the patented PremiLine Pro patio door and large span lift and slide PremiDoor offering.

In quarter 2, 2018, the company will be unveiling System 76 in the flush, casement and fully reversible formats, making it the most technically advanced PVCu window and door system designed for the UK market, claim the company, boasting hybrid options, along with proEnergyTec profiles for Passivhaus and other technologies.

There will be products from this system previewed at Fensterbau, which will be held in Nuremburg, Germany from from March 21st24th and the profine Group will be the largest exhibitor at the show.

Stefan Seidel, managing director of profine UK and the KÖMMERLING brand commented: ‘2017 was again an exceptional year for us returning growth in profile sales based on audited figures, despite what was widely accepted as a difficult year for the industry. In 2018, System 76 will help re-define the market in terms of product performance and it’s something that’s already eagerly anticipated from within out network and from other fabricators.’

10 WINDOW NEWS FEBRUARY 2018

Dave Broxton, Managing Director, Bohle

Bohle Begins The New Year

With Major US Acquisiiton Bohle has continued its investment programme with the acquisition of high-profile US shower and bath accessories manufacturer, Portals Hardware.

Set up in 2001 and operating from Kansas City, Missouri, the acquisition of Portals Hardware, significantly extends Bohle’s reach in the United States.

Arne Klöfkorn, CEO at Bohle AG said the cultural fit between the two businesses was strong, with a common focus on customer service and product quality.

“Bohle and Portals Hardware are two leading and steadily growing companies in the American market and joining forces allows each to offer their customers an even better service”, he said.

With a state-of-the-art distribution centre just outside Manchester, Bohle supplies an extensive rage of consumables, tools and machinery for the processing and

handling of glass.

Dave Broxton, Managing Director of the company’s UK operation, Bohle Ltd said that the deal demonstrated Bohle’s continuing willingness to invest in its overseas markets.

He said: “We have a very strong presence here in the UK but Bohle remains a global business. That’s a key benefit to our customers here at home because it means that we have the resource to invest in growth as well as a continuous programme of product development.

“This puts us but most importantly our customers, at the forefront of innovation in glass processing technologies.”

For more about Bohle’s product and service offer visit website www.bohle-group.com/en-gb email info@bohle.ltd.uk or call the customer services team free on 0800 616151 for more information.

TRADE NEWS

Morley Glass & Glazing Marks 20th Anniversary

With Record Growth

Morley’s 49,000sq ft factory and office space in Leeds, where it relocated in 2016.

2018 marks the 20th anniversary of Morley Glass & Glazing, which is reporting 30% yearon-year growth over the last 12 months.

Morley Glass & Glazing spe-

cialises in manufacturing Uni-Blind® sealed units with ScreenLine® integral blinds inside. 2017 saw not only the launch of Morley’s updated website but the opening of its new showroom as well as

growth of its delivery fleet, including four new vans.

The business also recently introduced several new additions to its product range, including SmartMotion, a new home automation interface that allows installers to quickly and easily incorporate motorised integral blinds into home automation systems.

Ian Short, managing director at Morley Glass & Glazing, said: “As demand continues to increase for our Uni-Blind sealed units with ScreenLine blinds inside, we’re regularly increasing our production capacity to ensure we can continue to give the quality service we’re known for, and last year alone we invested £700,000 in a second IGU production line. Our plans for 2018 include continued growth and even more product diversity, including the launch of our exclusive SL16C blind, all while maintaining the fastest lead times in the industry.”

Find out more about Morley Glass & Glazing at www.morleyglass.co.uk

Demand For Double R Conservatories

Continues

Double R Glass & Roofing Systems is a specialist in glass and conservatory roofs and is predicting a year of strong sales for all types of conservatories. Ian Sims, Managing Director of Double R explains: “We offer all kinds of conservatory roofs at Double R including traditional, skypods and solid roofs and all look set to enjoy growth in 2018 thanks to the continued demand for high end products from the proportion of consumers with money to spend.

“We’ve seen a particular resurgence in our skypod product as homeowners continue to strive

to flood their homes with more natural light, but demand across the range continues. From our perspective as a roof specialist it’s important to supply choice, so whatever the requirement from the homeowner, our customers can deliver. We’ve even been known to get involved in some completely unique projects to ensure the end user gets exactly what they want!”

Double R is a pioneer in the field of solid roofs as the first fabricator to offer the Guardian solid roof back in 2011. The company also fabricates both Wendland and Eurocell traditional roofs. “As a supply-only specialist we have an outstanding level of in-house skill and expertise

across all types of conservatory roof,” continues Ian, “so we are well positioned to identify up and coming trends in the sector and deliver the best solution for each individual end user. We also pride ourselves on delivering the right products with excellent service levels because we appreciate that products in high demand come with increased competition.

Installers can’t afford to work with suppliers that let them down.

We’re looking forward to working with more proactive fabricators and installers in 2018 to help them make the most of the new opportunities arising this year.” www.glassandroofs.com WINDOW NEWS FEBRUARY 2018 11

TRADE NEWS

Two-Thirds Of Construction Bosses

Can’t Find A Bricky Or Chippy

Two-thirds of those running small and medium-sized (SME) construction firms are struggling to hire bricklayers and carpenters as construction skills shortages hit a ‘record high’, according to the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).

Key results from the FMB’s latest State of Trade Survey, which is the only quarterly assessment of the UK-wide SME construction sector, include: • More than two-thirds (68%) of construction SMEs are struggling to hire bricklayers and 63% are struggling to hire carpenters and joiners – the highest figures since records began in 2008; • The number of firms reporting difficulties hiring plumbers and electricians (48%), plasterers (46%) and floorers (30%) also reached record highs; • Construction SME workloads grew at a slightly slower rate than in Q3 2017, but new enquiries and expected workloads slowed more sharply; expected workloads among those firms building new homes showed a negative net balance for the first time since 2013; • Fewer construction SMEs predict rising workloads in the coming three months, down from 41% in the previous quarter to 38% in Q4 2017; • 87% of builders believe that material prices will rise in the next six months, up from 82% in the previous quarter; • Nearly two-thirds (61%) of construction SMEs expect salaries and wages to increase in the next six months.

Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, said: “Skills 12 WINDOW NEWS FEBRUARY 2018

shortages are sky rocketing and it begs the question, who will build the new homes and infrastructure projects the Government is crying out for. The Government has set itself an ambitious target to build 300,000 homes every year in England alone. More than two-thirds of construction SMEs are struggling to hire bricklayers which is one of the key trades in the building industry. This has increased by nearly 10% in just three months which points to a rapid worsening of an already dire situation. What’s more, nearly as many are facing difficulties hiring carpenters and joiners. These figures are the highest we’ve noted since records began a decade ago. As a result, the wages for these increasingly scarce skilled tradespeople continue to rise sharply; that’s a simple consequence of supply and demand. This, coupled with the fact that small construction firms continue to face significant material price increases, will inevitably squeeze their margins and put a brake on growth.”

Berry continued: “The Government must take account of the worsening construction skills shortage with Brexit looming large on the horizon. The Prime Minister must ensure that the immigration system that replaces the free movement of people can take account of the particular needs of key sectors such as construction and house building. Without skilled labour from the EU, the skills shortages we face would be considerably worse, and it is not in anyone’s best interest to pull the rug out from under the sector by introducing an inflexible and unresponsive immigration system. On the domestic front and in the longer term, to ensure we have an ample supply of skilled workers in the future, the Government must continue to work with industry to set the right framework in terms of T-Levels and apprenticeships.”

Berry concluded: “The silver lining to current skills shortages among construction SMEs is that the numerous tradespeople and professionals, who may find themselves out of work following the collapse of Carillion, have a ready supply of alternative employers. The FMB is working with the Department for Work and Pensions and the Construction Industry Training Board to match-make ex-Carillion workers with small construction employers in need of skilled workers. We’re also working hard as an industry to re-home the 1,200 Carillion apprentices who are the innocent victims of the major contractor’s demise.

It’s in everyone’s interests to ensure that these young people continue on their path to a rewarding career in construction.” www.fmb.org.uk

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TRADE NEWS

Cross-Party Inquiries Must Stop Another Carillion And Shine A Light On Mis-Selling, Say Small Firms Welcoming the launch of a BEIS Select Committee inquiry into supply chain bullying and small business productivity, and a Treasury Select Committee inquiry into access to finance for small firms, Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) National Chairman Mike Cherry, said: “It’s great to see parliament announcing new cross-party investigations to tackle the many issues facing small firms today.

“The collapse of Carillion provides a mere glimpse of the pernicious supply chain bullying culture which is sadly rife among big corporations. Taking forward FSB recommendations for ending a late payment crisis that causes 50,000 business deaths a year should be the BEIS inquiry’s top priority. What we 14 WINDOW NEWS FEBRUARY 2018

can’t have is another Carillion scenario in future.

“Small firms account for 99 per cent of the UK business community. The solution to closing our productivity gap lies in incremental output gains among small firms and the self-employed, not headline-grabbing initiatives from big multinationals. We look forward to working with the BEIS committee on routes to upskilling small businesses and encouraging them to innovate and invest.

“From the staircase tax, to GRG, to cash machine cuts, the Treasury Committee has been vocal on the issues that matter to the small firms in recent months.

“As it launches this new inquiry, the Committee is right to flag the

absence of regulatory reform around small business lending since the financial crash. That’s despite hundreds of entrepreneurs being driven to the wall by banking scandals during the downturn. The FCA’s most recent set of recommendations for increasing small business access to redress fall well short of the mark. We encourage the Treasury Committee to keep the pressure on regulators during this inquiry.

“Only one in ten small firms currently applies for external finance. The majority of small businesses rely on traditional loan or overdraft facilities from banks, even though they may well not be the right products for them. We need to get more small firms thinking about all of their options while breaking down misconceptions around equity finance. We look forward to working with the Treasury Committee to scrutinise these issues in the weeks ahead.” www.fsb.org.uk

TRADE NEWS

Caledonia Doors Opens

Up New Options For

Scottish Customers

GJB Window Systems Gets

Top Marks With New A+ Rated Widows

As Standard Caledonia Doors has extended its range of high quality PVC-U doors and windows to include REHAU’s AGILA sliding door, providing a wider offering to its end user and trade customers.

Based in Cumbernauld, just north of Glasgow, Caledonia Doors decided to include the sliding door in its portfolio after increasing customer demand for large span doors. As the company already fabricated REHAU’s AGILA composite door, the transition to REHAU’s sliding door was an obvious one.

The AGILA sliding door has slim sightlines to maximise light into a room and can be used as either a patio or entrance door. The doors are double glazed for maximum energy efficiency and like the AGILA composite range, they come in a range of foils thanks to REHAU’s extensive selection of traditional and contemporary laminates. Because the AGILA sliding doors are PVC-U, they are also low maintenance and stay looking good for longer.

To be able to fabricate the sliding

doors, the Caledonia Doors’ team were given training by REHAU engineers. The comprehensive training days included information on how to make the doors, the hardware options available, and the necessary quality checks needed to ensure each AGILA sliding door meets the REHAU standard. On successful completion of the training, Caledonia Doors will be perfectly placed to provide their customers with the expertise required to produce a high quality product, which will in turn open up more opportunities for them.

Kevin Byrne, from Caledonia Doors, said: “We look forward to manufacturing, what we have assessed to be, a fantastic system with same passion and dedication we currently employ with our composite door range. With the continued support of REHAU we have been able to maximise the quality of all our products, which makes this transition to the AGILA Sliding Door the perfect move for our progressive company at this time.“ For more information visit www.rehau.uk/agila

With a clear commitment to drive the business forward and over-deliver for their customers, highly-respected Essex-based fabricator GJB Window Systems has made further investments to strengthen their offering. The firm will now be offering high-performance, A+ rated windows as standard.

The Eurocell fabricator has introduced a higher-specification, six-chambered extrusion, which allows GJB to exceed the A+10 rating that is needed to achieve the A+ standard. The new, slimmer profile not only delivers a more contemporary appearance, it allows for a larger sealed unit, which both combine to create an impressive rating of A+13.

“This is undoubtedly exciting news for GJB and its customers as we implement this next stage of our investment strategy,” comments Managing Director, Roy Frost.

“This big step forward not only strengthens our position as one of the leading trade suppliers in the PVC-u market but provides businesses across the country with a higher-specification product as standard – which will prove incredibly valuable in securing new business.” gjbdevelopments.co.uk/ WINDOW NEWS FEBRUARY 2018 15

TRADE NEWS success.

Building For The Future On The Strength Of Its Past

Emplas Enters 40th Year Of Trading Emplas will celebrate its 40th year in business this year, while looking forward to continuing growth and investment in 2018.

Emplas was founded by current Chairman, Kevin Johnson. Its’ initial focus on retail, trading as T&K, switching focus to specialism in trade fabrication in 1985.

“I’m very proud of the growth that we have seen and that after 40 years, we’re still trading and continuing to grow, but probably what I’m most proud of is that we remain a family owned business and absolutely true to those principles on which we were founded.

“That was to work hard, exploit the opportunities that technical 16 WINDOW NEWS FEBRUARY 2018

Adding around a third again to its manufacturing facility and completed at the end of 2017, the new development houses new lines, loading bays and offices.

A £1.4m spend on machinery last year also saw Emplas add a second Schirmer machining and cutting centre, multiple Rotox welders and saws, bringing its weekly capacity up to 2,500 frames.

This investment in machinery, also accompanied by a corresponding investment in its IT infrastructure and systems, increasing visibility of its service offer to its trade customer from the initial point of order right up to delivery.

Now in its 40th year of trading, Johnson said despite growth and a rapidly changing market, the specialist trade fabricator remained to the values on which the business was founded.

He said: “We started out as an installer and we remain an installer at heart. We know what you need from your supplier to be successful in retail and we’re committed to delivering the right product and service offer to our customers.

It’s been underpinned by a programme of continuous development. This has included a more than £3.5m spend on its new factory extension and machinery.

Ryan Johnson, Managing Director, said Emplas would continue to pursue a sustainable growth strategy in 2018.

“The investment we have made in the last year puts us in a very good place in that it’s allowed us to improve our product quality and service to our customers, while delivering additional capacity in production.

Ryan Johnson, Emplas MD

innovation delivered to us and to our customers, to work in partnership with them and to deliver the very best service to them that we could.”

This focus on product and service innovation, in addition to the insight it shares with its retail customer base gained through T&K Home Improvements, has been key to Emplas’

“The key thing is that despite the benefits of scale, we continue to work closely with our customers. We understand the environment in which they’re operating and that means we can align our product and support offer, so as to continuously improve our service to them.”

For more information on Emplas visit www.emplas.co.uk , email info@emplas.co.uk or call 01933 674880.

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TRADE NEWS

Atlas Flat Rooflight Converts 90% Of Quotes

Into Sales

Atlas promises to make 2018 the best year yet for its elite network of installers as it reports that a staggering 90% of quotes received for the Atlas Flat Rooflight convert to sales.

Production of the Atlas Flat Rooflight has reached an all-time high as installers are discovering the powerful selling potential and the high profit margins it delivers. And now, with an impressive conversion rate of 90%, more installers than ever are asking for the Atlas Flat Rooflight by name.

Gareth Thomas, sales director at Atlas Glazed Roof Solutions, explains: “This incredible result proves that our installers are flying the Atlas flag and winning some fantastic new business on the back of it. Homeowner demand for flat roof extensions is soaring and the market is hungry for modern glazed products that bring extra light into spaces. The Atlas Flat Rooflight is the perfect way to achieve this and its contemporary look and minimalistic design certainly turns heads, making it an easy sell for the installer.

“But that’s not the only reason for this whopping sales conversion rate – installers are proud to sell Atlas products and they’re inspired by just how quick and easy the Flat Rooflight is to fit. They’re also enticed by its competitive price, our fast five-day lead time on stock sizes and the comprehensive marketing support we provide, which helps them to clinch sales. There is nothing quite like Atlas and this product, just like the rest of the Atlas range, is an all-round winner!”

Atlas Flat Rooflight Showroom displays have been proven to help installers sell more rooflights. These displays, which are free to installers who buy five flat rooflights, are a key element of the comprehensive marketing support package from Atlas. Developed to equip installers with all the resources they need to create a professional appearance and successfully promote and sell to customers, the fully personalised marketing package includes brochures, digital marketing support, direct mail and advertising templates, retail leaflets and showroom display graphics.

The experienced marketing team at Atlas is also on hand to guide installers through their marketing and to develop a tailored programme to help them sell the complete range of Atlas products and achieve long term growth for their business. www.atlasroofsolutions.co.uk.

18 WINDOW NEWS FEBRUARY 2018

TRADE NEWS monitoring and reporting. It has been proven to work seamlessly with Wegoma machinery, so is potentially a perfect fit for the Chinese market.

Graeme Bailey and Jim Cronie pictured during their Chinese trip

Business Micros Team On A Mission In China It wasn’t just Teresa May who travelled over to China this February for a trade mission. Business Micros’ Directors Graeme Bailey and Jim Cronie headed east as well, joining Wegoma China and Guangdong Glass Technologies on a week-long trip.

Graeme and Jim were there to demonstrate Business Micros’ class leading EvoNET

factory management system to Guangdong Glass and to work alongside Wegoma in helping them create a new state of the art manufacturing facility near Shanghai serving China’s booming commercial glazing market.

EvoNET has long led the way in the UK in helping manufacturers to create paperless factories with unparalleled levels of

Managing Director Graeme Bailey said: “This was a great chance for me to look at the Chinese market and see what commercial opportunities it might present for Business Micros. We’re already active in Australia, New Zealand and other parts of Asia, so this could be the next logical step for us.”

Technical Director Jim Cronie was on the trip with a different agenda. He added: “For me, it was about understanding how customers in China might want to use EvoNET and seeing how we might develop a bespoke version for them. We certainly have the programming capability at our Dumfriesshire centre and it could be a very exciting new challenge for us.”

Business Micros hopes to announce the outcome of the trip later in the year. Further details on EvoNET are at: www. businessmicros.co.uk

Bluemanor Celebrate A Decade With Prefix Bluemanor Windows are celebrating their 10th anniversary in business with key partner, Prefix Systems and over this period have become one of the most successful and highly regarded installation companies in Essex.

The company was originally founded in 2008 by Steve Clark, who brought with him over 30 years’ experience in the glazing industry, alongside wife Sharon. Over the past decade Bluemanor has expanded considerably, with family values at the very heart of what they do.

Today, the company has six fitting teams and are again looking to expand further, with the support of key business partners including Prefix Systems.

Products include PVCu and aluminium windows and doors, with a number of glazed and solid roof options. From Prefix Systems, these include

From left to right: Hayley Dixon of Prefix with the team of Bluemanor.

ultraSKY, full Orangeries, LivinRoof, the highly regarded WARMroof system and OPUS hybrid glazing system. www.bluemanorwindows.co.uk WINDOW NEWS FEBRUARY 2018 19

TRADE NEWS re-manufactured as new products including window profiles, cills and trims and also a range of products as diverse as cable management and construction products. Plans are for the plant to open initially this year and to be fully operational from spring 2019, with up to 50 jobs expected to be created.

Rubber, metals and other impurities will all be separated from the PVC-U to enable re-manufacture as part of the most sophisticated process of its type installed anywhere in Europe. The combined capacity of the three plants will exceed 100,000 tonnes of PVC-U windows a year.

VEKA opened the first PVC-U recycling plant, in Europe, shown in this picture at Behringen, Germany, in 1993. The Wellingborough facility will be built on a similar sized 5.5 acre site.

German Plastics

Giant Picks Wellingborough To Build Advanced Window

Recycling Plant VEKA Recycling Ltd, a division of one of the world’s biggest PVC-U window profile manufacturers has chosen Wellingborough for the location of what is claimed will be Europe’s most advanced facility dedicated to recycling PVC-U window and door profiles. The company has taken over a former metals recycling plant in Neilson Road on the Finedon Industrial Estate in the north east of the town and will spend more than £8 million to create build a facility ready to accept and convert UK unused offcuts and old PVC-U windows into re-usable polymer.

20 WINDOW NEWS FEBRUARY 2018

The 5.5 acre Wellingborough plant will be the third such facility to be built by VEKA Umwelttechnik GmbH, the specialist recycling subsidiary of the VEKA AG Group, of which VEKA Recycling Ltd is a wholly owned division. The company has pioneered PVC-U recycling in Europe with its first plant opening in Behringen, Germany as long ago as 1993. A further facility was opened in France in 2006.

The latest, the Wellingborough plant, will enable VEKA Recycling Ltd to fully re-process PVC-U window and door frames into material that can be

Speaking for VEKA Recycling Ltd the company’s Managing Director, Tony Cattini said: “This is a real-world commitment by the VEKA Group towards the UK and recognition of the continued importance of the British market post-Brexit.”

Simon Scholes, Commercial Director added: “The Neilson Road site will be substantially re-developed and equipped from scratch to take advantage of the latest recycling technologies. This will give us the ability to produce the highest quality polymer for use in a range of construction products, including brand new window and doorframe profiles. We will have the ability to promote and deliver PVC-U windows as truly sustainable at a time when plastic generally is under close scrutiny, and to make the most of what is a tremendous resource.

“But whilst other plastic products are coming under fire, the recycling of old windows in the UK is very advanced with most taken out of buildings being recycled into new products.

The new plant allows us to take and reprocess even more and within the UK.”

Introducing our colour of 2018 Anthracite Grey

Hands kindly supplied by Meg Durrell, Product Assistant

It’s all about Anthracite Grey this year.

In fact, by the end of 2018, we predict Anthracite Grey sales will surpass Rosewood to become our number one selling foil, cementing grey as the nation’s new favourite colour choice. For installers, this trend offers a fantastic opportunity to upgrade standard PVC-U windows to premium alternatives, and add value to any installation both in the domestic and commercial arena.

With REHAU

It’s all in hand

Find out more at rehau.uk/colour #inhand

TRADE NEWS

Euroglaze’s Switch Without A Hitch Service Proves Popular

that have spoken about the benefits.

Tim Randell, for example, from retail installer Wiser Improvements in Tardebigge, near Bromsgrove, explained: “Working with Euroglaze has been a great journey so far. As a young business, we understand that developing a good working partnership with our suppliers is vital to our success.

“Euroglaze has become a big piece in our jigsaw now, and we couldn’t be happier with the products and service we receive. Our dedicated customer service advisor Nicky Park is key to that. She sorts out all our enquiries and resolves any issues we have promptly and efficiently.

“Euroglaze have shown that they are customer driven and will go above and beyond to make sure they meet the high standards they promise. We’re certainly looking forward to developing and growing with them as our fabrication partner.”

Euroglaze officially launched its Switch without a Hitch service at the start of this year, with the specific aim of making the process of switching supplier as smooth and rewarding as possible.

glaze who walks them through all their early orders from initial contact to delivery, and they are introduced to the despatch team and regular driver to discuss their specific delivery requirements.

The Rehau trade fabricator has brought together its distinctive blend of friendly efficient customer service and precision quality products into a package which is easily accessible for stockists and installers.

The aim is to make all new customers feel part of the Euroglaze family and ensure that they get exactly what they expect right from the start of the relationship.

Switch without a Hitch guarantees that the Euroglaze team will be by the customer’s side every step of the way. From the outset, new customers are allocated a dedicated customer service advisor within Euro22 WINDOW NEWS FEBRUARY 2018

EU34 Euroglaze’s production teamWhile the official Switch without a Hitch package is new, Euroglaze has actually been offering the one to one service which is at the heart of it for nearly a year, and some of the first companies to benefit from

And, John Aston from AT Plastics in Warrington was similarly enthusiastic about the support from the customer service team. He added: “We started working with Euroglaze when we were a start up business last year. We have a great relationship with all the staff there, but I would like to personally thank Nicky for looking after us in the early days. We’re very excited about continuing our partnership with them for plenty more years to come.”

Euroglaze supplies what is arguably the widest range of Rehau products of any UK supplier, matching bigger fabricators on range, quality and price but constantly striving to outdo them on service. www.euroglaze.co.uk

TRADE NEWS

Washington And Riley Join

The Bluesky Fire Door Installer Scheme

Washington And Riley, Staffordshire based architectural hardware specialists, has joined the Bluesky Certification UKAS accredited Fire Door Installer Scheme.

Post Grenfell, the spotlight has been thrown on the importance of installing fire doors correctly and the responsibility fire door installers have to make sure each installation is right. Third party certification demonstrates that a company’s installation methods are independently monitored, to help improve the safety of fire doors.

Fire Doors by Washington & Riley 2“As we continue to see an increase in fire door installations, we were looking for third party certification to back-up our expertise for installing fire doors, to show that we fit them correctly,” says Anthony Hammond, Project Development Manager at Washington and Riley.

“We believe that third party certification is vital, we know how important it is to make sure we are doing all we can to keep occupants safe in the buildings where we fit our doors. With third party certification, everyone involved can trust that a fire door will do its job.

“We were recommended Bluesky Certification and they made the whole process of gaining certification straightforward. They explained the joining process in detail, with regular communication with us to ensure that things progressed swiftly.

Now that we have joined Bluesky Certification’s Fire Door Installer Scheme, we can give customers complete confidence that each door is fitted correctly.”

The Bluesky Certification Fire Door Installer scheme verifies that fire doors are installed in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, so that the fire-resistant properties of the doorset are maintained through the installation, in order to keep occupants safe. It proves that fire door installers have done everything they possibly can to ensure a fire door has been fitted correctly.

For fire door installers looking for more information about third-party certification for manufacture, installation and maintenance, visit blueskycert.com

Insight Data Celebrates Five-Years Of Membership

With The GGF The industry’s provider of prospect data and expert market intelligence, Insight Data is celebrating its fifth-year of membership with the Glass and Glazing Federation. The GGF is the trusted representative of businesses across the fenestration industry – helping to promote best practice, shape regulations and set the

highest technical standards.

direction of the industry.”

“We’re delighted to be celebrating five-years as members of the GGF,” comments Insight Data General Manager, Jade Greenhow. “It has proven to be an absolutely vital partnership which helps us to best support our customers through the combination of our in-depth market research and the GGF’s insight into changing legislation and the overall

“Holding full membership for five-years is great validation for us as a business too. The GGF is committed to promoting best practice and it’s fantastic to see the Federation’s continued support of how we operate and how we work with our customers across the country and in every sector of the industry.” hello@insightdata.co.uk.

WINDOW NEWS FEBRUARY 2018 23

TRADE NEWS forefront of.

“We’re seeing a month on month increase in installers becoming Appointed Representatives with us and helping homeowners to fund or partfund home improvements with finance.”

Austin also says that behind the figures there are some trends emerging when it comes to home improvements.

He comments: “Our network of installer partners often see finance packages being used to support the installation of new windows and doors and there is a growing trend for combining different materials on a single property.

Austin Barcley, Managing Director of Improveasy

Survey Shows

That More Than 40% Of Installers Have Seen An Increase In Domestic Work A recent survey carried out by Improveasy has shown that more than 40% of the UK’s window and door installers have seen an increase in the number of domestic projects they have completed.

Improveasy – a leading finance provider – teamed up with Insight Data to ask the nation’s eleven thousand installers their thoughts on the industry and a wide-range of topics.

The results showed that over 40% had seen an increase in the number of domestic instal24 WINDOW NEWS FEBRUARY 2018

lations they had carried out in 2017, compared to the previous year.

Similarly, a huge 64% of respondents reported that the number of sales leads they received in 2017 was higher than the number they received in the previous year.

Austin Barcley is Improveasy’s Managing Director. He comments: “The figures are illuminating and correlate with finance options being used by more and more installers. This is something we’ve been at the

“For example, on a period property timber may be used on the front – retaining character – and aluminium on the back, offering a modern aesthetic and a stunning outlook on to a garden.

“Our solutions can help make these more unusual options affordable.”

Improveasy provide installers with finance solutions that they can offer to homeowners.

Companies that partner with them can also access sales training seminars, alongside a host of innovative finance options.

Furthermore, before signing up with Improveasy, companies or installers do not need to be FCA regulated. Once registered with Improveasy, installers become an Appointed Representative (AR) and can then begin offering finance options under either the Improveasy brand or their own company’s brand.

For more information about offering finance to your customers visit www.improveasy.com

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DEAR GERALD

Dear

Gerald is turning into a torrent, and you need that investment to service the demand.

Most fabricators can’t benefit from the trend because their Syscos are not colour enabled. They extrude and foil to order, so they’re unable to respond in real time.

Many fabricators will be surprised by this growth – even dubious – because they’re not growing, and their order intake is mostly white casements.

But of course, they don’t see the foiled windows their customers are ordering elsewhere.

Dear Gerald The window industry is no stranger to hype, but I don’t think I’ve seen a stronger trend than the current swing to colour.

We anticipated the trend, and invested in manufacturing, logistics and marketing so Deceuninck fabricators and installers could sell colour with confidence. We aimed to be 100% ‘colour enabled’ and ahead of trend so we wouldn’t hold them back, no matter how strong the demand.

So we invested in a highly skilled foiling team, sophisticated foiling plant and technology, stocked 26 colourways and colour matched ancillaries and trims to make them look perfect. Plus an ultra-large warehouse to keep them in stock so fabricators get what they order – on time and in full.

And with Deceuninck Online, fabricators can look into the warehouse 24/7 and put their name on the profiles they want – even single lengths of foiled profile – knowing they’ll arrive on their next delivery. Fabricators love that. No surprises. No let downs. No excuses.

Some said we were daft; that smart Syscos keep their money in the bank and extrude to order instead of making for stock. But the trend to colour 26 WINDOW NEWS FEBRUARY 2018

This powerful colour growth is being driven by the top end of the market, the Haves – older homeowners, whose mortgage-free or largely mortgage-free homes have appreciated rapidly in value. They have the money and incentive to invest in improving their home, and they can afford to buy the beautiful windows, invariably foiled, that make their home even more attractive and valuable.

The Have Nots, the shrinking mass-market of homeowners who are ‘just about managing’, mostly buy white windows because every penny counts.

Just three years ago, one in four Deceuninck windows were colour, against one in five in the market as a whole. By making it easy for fabricators and installers to sell colour, we put a rocket under our colour sales. Colour grew from 30% in 2016 to 51% in December last year, and 52% this January. We expect our colour sales to hit 60% by the end of this year.

These are the figures behind Deceuninck’s claim to be No 1 in colour. They’re also the figures behind Deceuninck fabricators’ success in the market.

If fabricators aren’t experiencing a similar surge in demand for colour, they must be falling behind. The question is, what are they doing about it?

Sincerely Rob McGlennon MD Deceuninck UK & Ireland

DEAR GERALD

Dear Gerald Fire safety is finally getting the attention it deserves. The tragedy is that it took a catastrophe on the scale of Grenfell Tower to make that happen.

We’re now faced with a once-in-a-generation chance to drastically improve fire safety standards throughout construction – and in glass and glazing, we can start with the most basic fire safety product of them all: fire doors.

40% longer. We’re also now able to offer an FD60 door.

We want to encourage other manufacturers to follow suit – to dedicate themselves to producing fire safety products that offer the most outstanding fire safety performance, and give people the best possible chance of escaping fires unharmed.

That will take hard work and investment. But together, as an industry, we can help make the built environment a safer place.

Yours sincerely, Sean Parnaby – Managing Director, West Port Windows & Doors

It’s a fact – fenestration’s attitude towards fire doors has been shockingly poor in many cases.

It’s frighteningly common for manufacturers to fire test their door components separately, rather than testing the completely assembled door set. That can lead to products with FD30 ratings that only last a fraction of the time they’re supposed to. At West Port, we’ve come across manufacturers offering FD30 fire doors that fail in under 15 minutes, which is simply unacceptable.

It’s vital that this changes. As businesses, we need to put aside any thoughts of profit, margins, and getting the edge on the competition – this is about people’s lives.

Every door component must be tested as part of a complete door set. And the 30 minutes in FD30 has to be seen as a bare minimum, not a target.

In a fire, seconds count – and that means every manufacturer has a moral responsibility to make their fire door products as good as they can possibly be.

Subjected to rigorous testing by both Cambridge Fire Research and BRE, our own FD30 fire door managed to withstand temperatures in excess of 800 degrees Celsius for 42 minutes 7 seconds, or

If you want to get involved in the discussion, or would like to air your views on a particular industry subject, then Email me at gerald@windownews.co.uk We cannot guarantee that we will publish everything, but we will do our utmost to make sure that everyone’s voice is heard. Your views and thoughts are imprortant to us.

WINDOW NEWS FEBRUARY 2018 27

PEOPLE

New Manufacturing

Director At Synseal Group Synseal Group has strengthened its manufacturing division with the appointment of Robert Long as Manufacturing Director for Synseal’s PVC-U and aluminium production.

Rob joins Synseal from the Whittan Group, the UK’s largest manufacturer of steel storage products, where he spent 18 months as Operations Manager consolidating the footprint of a £110m turnover part of their business. Before this, Rob spent six years at Eurocell as General Manager having forged his career in the building materials industry, spending five years in change management and operational management at Tarmac.

Based at Synseal’s headquarters in Huthwaite, Nottinghamshire, Rob will oversee Synseal’s vast 28 WINDOW NEWS FEBRUARY 2018

extrusion operations, as well as production of their conservatory roof products and fabricated WarmCore and Evolve ranges.

He joins recently appointed Chief Operating Officer Mark Timmons as part of a new team dedicated to updating the Group’s manufacturing processes to support the continued growth of products like the WarmCore aluminium range, which now includes onsite production of the inline patio door.

Commenting on his appointment, Rob said: “I’m excited to be joining Synseal to help drive through a number of key changes in their manufacturing operations, including the substantial investment they are making in a new, modern ware-

house management system.

“I will be working alongside some extremely skilled and increasingly motivated colleagues so am delighted to be part of the team. We will look to implement a continually improving work culture and embed some key organisational principles as we strive to offer the best service to our customers.”

COO Mark Timmons added: “Rob brings a wealth of manufacturing experience to Synseal and is sure to add significant value to our manufacturing operation, both in terms of the quality we deliver to our customers and in helping us to modernise our practices in line with world class manufacturing techniques.”

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Key Appointment

Strengthens Glazerite’s

Digital Marketing Phoenix Doors

Promotes Anthony Bill To Technical Role Anthony Bill has been promoted to a new technical role at composite door manufacturer Phoenix Doors, part of the Masco UK Window Group.

As Technical Liaison Team Leader, Anthony’s role involves new product development and providing technical support for both the business and its customers. He will also continue to assist production colleagues where technical advice is required and in the event of any machinery issues.

From joining Phoenix Doors in 2005 as an operative making large flat PVC door panels, Anthony has risen through the ranks at the Huntingdon-based company over the past 13 years. He brings valuable experience to his new role, having also worked in the glass shop and on CNC machines in both PVC panel and composite door manufacturing.

Commenting on his appointment, Anthony said: “Phoenix Doors is a very forward-looking company and I’m looking forward to working on a number of new product developments over the coming months.” phoenixcompositedoors.co.uk 30 WINDOW NEWS FEBRUARY 2018

Glazerite Group has appointed Lauren Edwards as Digital Marketing Coordinator to further strengthen the company’s digital marketing strategies. Lauren will work closely with Group Marketing Manager Michelle Wright to develop what the company sees as a core element of its marketing strategy for 2018, for its own growth and on behalf of its installer customers.

Lauren brings top line experience in digital marketing to Glazerite after previously providing a wide range of services for clients at a digital marketing agency. From website content and search engine optimization, right through to social media management, Lauren was responsible for delivering client goals across a wide range of media and industries and will now develop such services for Glazerite’s customers.

Michelle Wright said the appointment will enable Glazerite to further increase the marketing support the company provides to

its customers: “Lauren’s skillset is the perfect fit for what we need in the business. A focus on the digital tools for our installers has been a big part of our marketing support over the last few years.

But over the last year we’ve seen more and more of our installers spending thousands of pounds on various areas including social media and SEO, often not having the impact promised. These are all things we are looking to build in with our installer marketing support plan and will be carried out in a way that is right for their business.”

Lauren said: “Much of my experience was directly transferrable into my current role and we’ve already made some good headway with some of our installers with digital objectives. I’m looking forward to the challenges ahead and becoming more involved in all aspects of marketing at Glazerite”. www.glazeritewindows.co.uk

PEOPLE

VBH Strengthens Sales Team With Two New Starters VBH (GB) adds to its sales team with the appointment of Matt Edney as Area Sales Manager for the South East, and Wayne Hewlett as External Technical Sales Support.

Matt started his career in the British Army (Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers) before moving to the construction industry where he has worked for over 20 years’ in senior sales manager positions. He joins VBH with a wealth of practical and sales experience.

He comments: “I’m looking forward to the challenge. VBH has some great products, including our own greenteQ range. We’re the largest hardware distributor in Europe so there’s plenty of opportunity to generate new sales, and of course, I aim to ensure that all VBH customers in my area receive excellent customer care.” Matt is based in Sussex, and will be responsible for customers in most of London and the surrounding areas.

Wayne Hewlett has extensive

experience in the window industry, including technical support roles at a number of systems houses. Since joining VBH, he has undergone intensive product training, particularly on the manufacture and installation of greenteQ Invisifold products – an exciting new system for slide & fold doors and windows. Wayne’s role will be to support customers in all aspects of hardware assembly to ensure smooth operation of the product and satisfied end users.

Based in the East Midlands, Wayne is ideally placed to cover the whole country. He’s looking forward to getting out there: “I’m here to help customers get it right first time. The greenteQ range is brilliant and I want to make sure all the technical details are clear to our fabricator customers, so they can be confident they are selling a great product to their installers.”

VBH Managing Director Simon Monks adds: “It’s good to have such experienced and knowledgeable people join our team.

Our product range is second to none and the greenteQ products are proving to be a great success. I’m confident both Matt and Wayne will contribute significantly to our ongoing success.”

Exlabesa Building Systems Appoints New Area Manager

Exlabesa Building Systems, a global manufacturer of aluminium systems, has strengthened its sales management team with the appointment of experienced industry man, Dave Tanner, in the position of Area Manager (Midlands). Paul Benn, Exlabesa Building Systems’ National Sales Manager, said, “Dave is well known in the industry and has a vast knowledge of the aluminium market. We are delighted to find such a committed and experienced sales professional and Dave’s appointment will ensure we maintain our momentum as demand for our aluminium systems continues to grow.” www.exlabesa.co.uk

WINDOW NEWS FEBRUARY 2018 31

HARDWARE / SAFETY & SECURITY door type to have a Mila high security handle with Secured By Design logo fitted, even if they are choosing a three star cylinder.

The extra visual deterrent it provides is definitely worthwhile.”

SheffLOCK was established at the end of 2016 and is growing quickly across South Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire providing proactive and reactive security services to householders at an affordable price.

Kevin Hanson added: “We provide a cost effective service to our customers because we are a high volume business, not because we ever compromise on the quality of our products or service.

Mila’s Prosecure Handle

Gets Ultimate Endorsement Mila’s ProSecure TS007 two star security handle has received what is probably the ultimate endorsement of its quality and performance, having been chosen by a specialist locksmiths company headed up by two ex-police officers.

SheffLOCK which operates across Sheffield and the South Yorkshire region, is now routinely fitting the Mila handle on more than half of its installations, giving customers the choice of either a one star or three star cylinder fitted alongside.

Ex police officers Kevin Hanson and his son Chris both had direct experience of investigating burglaries and advising householders on security prevention before they set up SheffLOCK with Chris’ brother Richard. They knew the importance of installing a visual deterrent in the battle against burglars, and identified the Mila ProSecure handle as providing the ideal combination of quality 32 WINDOW NEWS FEBRUARY 2018

and value for their customers.

MILA340 The SheffLOCK team routinely fit the Mila 2 staf ProSecure security handle 3Kevin Hanson said: “I met many prolific burglars during my police career, many of whom told me they simply walked away from properties with effective visible security because they knew there would always be softer, easier targets nearby.

“At SheffLOCK, we always advise customers with a suitable

“We choose only products which satisfy the Secured By Design accreditation we helped to promote as police officers, and which deliver the quality and performance standards we demand. The Mila handle, for example, comes with Kitemarked 2 star security and a 10 year guarantee to give us and our customers complete peace of mind.”

Mila’s ProSecure handle is suitable for use on both 70mm PVC doors and 44mm composite/ timber door slabs. It is available in two backplate sizes and in six durable finishes including polished chrome and polished gold. It features an integral steel reinforcement plate with a deep drawn pocket feature to protect the cylinder from attack and an anti-drill disk in front of the cylinder to provide further protection.

SheffLOCK has been so impressed with the handle that it already has plans to supply and fit it as standard when it starts supplying complete composite doors to customers shortly.

Further details are available at: www.mila.co.uk and www.shefflock.co.uk

HARDWARE / SAFETY & SECURITY

Universal Trade Frames

Upgrades Door Locking System For Value-Added Performance Trade fabricator Universal Trade Frames has introduced a new 7-point security locking system to its door products as standard. The Elite Security 2 hook, 4 roller lock is a high security extending door lock which has been designed to meet the requirements of PAS 24 and Document Q. Brian Kruger, Universal Trade Frames’ Managing Director, said, “Quality and security is extremely important to us and we continually evaluate our product components to ensure we are offering our customers the best combination of quality and value. Our new Elite 7-point locking system offers a wealth of features and bene-

fits that will enhance our door products even further.”

The Elite 7-point security locking system is robust and durable and incorporates bi-directional steel hooks for added security. Four rollers are positioned along the length of the lock for even compression with dual spindles as standard, giving greater flexibility. Adjustability is available on the hook and cam and elongated fixing holes ensures installers can always fix into a brick substrate. The locking system has exceeded 480 hours salt spray exposure (EN1675 Grade 5) and offers a 10-year guarantee.

Brian said, “The new 7-point high security locking system will be fitted as standard to all our single and double doors with immediate effect.” www.utfl.co.uk

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HARDWARE / SAFETY & SECURITY

Blu Launches Hardware Display

Boards To Support

Lock Lock Customer Showroom Sales

Carries

BluTM MD Loren Jenner says the creation of the fully branded boards are a development of feedback from its customers who have seen high levels of sales as a result of showing the super-satin finished hardware in the flesh.

The Sold

Secure

Standard

Brisant Secure says its Lock Lock is the only security door handle with the coveted Sold Secure certification, that’s issued by the Master Locksmiths Association (MLA).

Sold Secure is a premier testing and certification house for security products, operated by the MLA and so the independent testing undergone on Lock Lock has been considerable. Now listed on www.soldsecure.com as the only entrance door handle to achieve this important certification, door manufacturers, installers and homeowners can be re-assured that the product has been tested to the highest standards, along with the unrivalled 200,000 cycle and 5,000+ hours salt spray testing credentials.

Lock Lock is also a TS007:2012 2 Star security handle and can be used with the impressive 3 Star Ultion cylinder with its £1,000 security guarantee and so combined, this is claimed to be the most secure handle/cylinder combination in the door security market at present. www.ultion-lock.co.uk.

34 WINDOW NEWS FEBRUARY 2018

316 Marine Grade Stainless Steel door and window hardware specialist bluTM has launched a new range of showroom display boards to help its customers upsell and increase the value of their door and window sales.

The new boards – which contain a range of the company’s stylish, high performance door and window hardware – provide manufacturers, fabricators and system houses with the opportunity to introduce the quality of the bluTM range directly to their customers.

With an opportunity to see and feel the quality and finish of the 316 Marine Grade range in the flesh, bluTM believes the launch of the new display boards will provide an effective and enhanced sales tool for its customers.

“We know ourselves whenever we introduce the hardware directly to customers that they can instantly see and feel the quality for themselves compared to other hardware on the market.

In turn we have been getting this feedback increasingly from our customers who are introducing it to homeowners who, as a result of being able to touch and feel the quality for themselves are opting for it. So it made sense to create the display boards to further increase sales opportunities for our customers and we are delighted with the result.

“Flexibility is delivered with wall mounted or floor standing displays and our customers have the opportunity to select the range of hardware they want mounted on it. For those who already have them in their showroom, the feedback has been fantastic, with customers seeing an uplift in order values from homeowners wanting to upgrade to the bluTM hardware to match the quality of their doors and windows,” said Loren.

To find out more about the new bluTM hardware display boards call the company on sales@blu-performance.com

HARDWARE / SAFETY & SECURITY

One Handle, Multiple Openings

– Meet Multisky Gone are the days when you would need to go and find a rod to open a fanlight window, use a complex and unsightly drive rod system or stretch and strain to reach the opening handle.

This system allows all users to achieve ventilation via a top level tilting sash. Full operation of the remaining system is controlled by keyed locking points meaning security and full opening is still limited by the key holder but the key holder is not required to achieve ventilation.

The one handle on the lower window allows the top sash to be tilted using our very own Tilt and Turn hardware, however in contrast to conventional fanlights the fanlight sash can still also be fully opened. Due to this innovative design not only does it maximise air exchange for ventilation when tilted by allowing the warm air under the ceiling

to escape. The Multisky system also allows the cleaning of the outside glass to be made easier and safer when the windows are fully open. With cleaning in mind the system also has no protruding visible surface mounted parts making the maintenance of this system easy durable.

Of course being MACO our system is not only creative in design and implementation, security is still paramount thanks to the systems multipoint locking system with our MACO i.S. security cams and striker plates.

The multipoint locking system closes and seals all point. This enables better security as well as weather performance, air permeability and acoustic resistance unlike traditional single point fanlight locking systems.

The advantages to this system continue beyond its design and security features too, the system can be applied to timber as well

as PVC profiles. No widening of the frame is needed either as no space is required for the surface mounted operating elements making fabrication simpler too, as well as this the system is made of familiar components allowing fabricators and the end user to have an easy understanding of system operation.

The Multi Sky system works particularly well in buildings such as schools and hospitals for example who could utilised the safe and secure ventilation of the top fanlight window.

This would allow the ability to be able to offer easy and safe ventilation for all users from the easy to reach window handle.

The lower sash remains locked and the top sash tilted unless both are opened by the key holder, only accessible via a lock. www.maco.eu/uk-en

Over 1,000 Doors A Day Now Sold With Ultion Security

Ultion continues to return unparalleled product adoption as many of the UK’s leading composite, French, patio and bi-folding door manufacturers look to offer unrivalled security and benefit from the strong sales messages and marketing materials that come with it.

Throughout the UK over 1,000 doors are installed with Ultion every day and this sales trend is growing strongly, with security the key motivator

in entrance door sales. The statistics are compelling when it is considered that many homeowners are reliant on a £3 cylinder to stop an intruder, with a reported 1,127 burglaries each day in England and Wales according to the statistics from the ONS and of these 834 were through a door. www.brisant-secure.com WINDOW NEWS FEBRUARY 2018 35

HARDWARE / SAFETY & SECURITY

Trojan Group’s TS008 Unicorn Letterplate Compliant With PAS24:2016 The Trojan Group’s TS008 Unicorn Letterplate remains one of the few letterplates on the market that complies with the requirements of PAS24:2016, the latest standard for enhanced security performance. Steve Hall, Trojan’s General Manager, said: “The updated door standard PAS24:2016 now requires that an external door is fitted with a letterplate that meets the new criteria. In order to meet with the TS008 testing requirements the letterplate must eliminate the risk of an intruder gaining access by means of physical force or ‘fishing’. We are delighted the TS008 Unicorn Letterplate has passed the requirements of the revised PAS24:2016 test and is evidence of its intelligent design and inherent quality.”

36 WINDOW NEWS FEBRUARY 2018

Trojan’s TS008 Unicorn Letterplate features an inner protective housing with a unique concealed hinge mechanism to prevent attack, an inner lap with a positive stop feature for maximum protection from ‘fishing’ and a projection that is below door handle height for added protection. It is manufactured from 304 Stainless Steel for ultimate corrosion resistance and has simple but elegant styling that will complement any doorface. It is suitable for both Composite and PVC-U doors and is available in an array of colours as well as Polished, Brushed and Satin Stainless Steel and PVD Gold. As evidence of its quality it has a 25 year anti corrosion guarantee and a 10 year mechanical guarantee and is available from scheduled stock in the UK.

PAS 24:2016 is a primary reference in the Building Regulations Approved Document Q1, which relates to security in dwellings.

It supersedes the requirements of PAS:2012 and changes to the latest specification include more robust requirements for letterplates and a wider scope that increases the range of security doorsets. Steve commented: “It is vital that security standards are revisited regularly to ensure they still deliver the level of protection that’s needed. PAS24:2016 features more stringent requirements for letterplates and we take particular pride in the fact the TS008 Unicorn Letterplate passed first time.” www.trojangroup.com

Naturally straight.

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www.qwood.co.uk WINDOW NEWS FEBRUARY 2018 37

PRODUCT NEWS

Two-Tone Is The Way Forward With Force 8

Force 8 is once again at the cutting edge of composite door design. While most manufacturers are catching up with the new aluminium look smooth finish, which was introduced across the Force 8 Decadence range, the company has launched the Decadence Zermatt with a unique colour combination.

“The Zermatt is the latest edition to our Smooth Decadence range and to date is the only door of its kind on the market. Its unique two-tone colour scheme is the latest innovation from Force 8 and not currently available from any other supplier”, comments Dennis Sumner, managing director of

38 WINDOW NEWS FEBRUARY 2018

Force 8. “The demand for coloured doors has driven the door market for a while, but as yet no one had thought of combining two colours in such a contemporary fashion. The double groove detail is a completely new design and can only be found on the Zermatt and by adding the latest stainless steel hardware completes the cutting edge appearance of the door”.

The revolutionary Smooth finish on the Zermatt has the look of a more expensive aluminium door, but with all the thermal benefits of a composite door. Featuring a double groove etched design allows for the placement of the stainless

steel hardware to be offset as well as the colour, this gives a truly contemporary and unique look.

“If you were to purchase this door in an aluminium format in a single colour you would be looking at around three or four times the price. We have a choice of colours available, but leaving the background colour anthracite grey matches the current trend in window frames. We believe The Zermatt door design is set to revolutionise the door market”, comments Dennis.

All Force 8 doors are manufactured in their Stockport factory giving them complete control over the finish and quality. To find out more information about the new Zermatt door, contact Force 8 on 0161 483 1997 or visit their website www.force8.uk and join the revolution.

49 Designs, Any RAL Colour, Direct To Installers Installers in Yorkshire and the North West looking for more design choice to stay ahead of the competition, can get composite doors in 49 designs, in any RAL colour made-to-order, delivered direct from top trade fabricator Kingfisher Windows.

PRODUCT NEWS a quick turnaround, to get off site and onto the next job fast.

“We manufacture all of our composite doors in our Yorkshire factory so we’ve seen the trend for doors that reflect personality and taste. That’s why we offer 49 door designs in any RAL colour.

We have a standard colour range with leads times from just 10 days, with lots of patterned and satin glass options, and plenty of extra finishing touches. Every door is easy to order and quick to site.”

“To make ordering really simple, we have a composite door designer on our website,” adds Deborah. “Kingfisher customers can take full control over the design of their door from the colour, style and glass, to extra options like a spyhole, drip bar and night latch.”

“Installation companies have so many different requirements for their composite doors, that every order we receive is unique,” says Deborah Beeley, Sales and Marketing Manager at Kingfisher.

“Homeowner demand for a door that’s different to their neighbours means installers need a big choice of designs and colours, on

www.kingfisherwindows.co.uk

Distinction Delivers Its Service Promise In 2017, Distinction Doors completed a significant eighteen-month investment programme at the company’s South Yorkshire headquarters. The sizeable six-figure investment was made throughout its state-of-the-art production facilities helping to improve efficiencies across the board and provide direct benefits for Distinction’s customers.

Sales and Marketing Director, Chantel Roach explains: “Delivering superb quality products efficiently and on time is at the heart of our customer offering.

Our impressive stock holding, product availability and OTIF orders makes our customers’ lives so much easier as they can plan with confidence. In an industry that is reliant on good service it is business-critical that we deliver on what we promise and we pride ourselves on doing just that.”

Distinction Doors holds over 79,000 door slabs in stock at any one time – 260% more than the nearest rival, says the company, 180,000 glazing cassettes and 45,000 triple glazed units. This

stock is supported by a quality delivery service which sits at an impressive high. www.distinctiondoors.co.uk WINDOW NEWS FEBRUARY 2018 39

PRODUCT NEWS

Virtu-Al Popular With Homeowners

already a winner and it’s only early days!

“This groundbreaking ultra-modern composite door has successfully satisfied the huge surge in demand for contemporary aluminium products and shown homeowners that they don’t need to compromise at all on their choice of entrance door. With Virtu-AL already topping our sales league, it is clearly inspiring homeowners and we’re certain that this is just the start of a very exciting reign at the top for it.

“Virtu-AL is so appealing because it combines the best features of an aluminium door with those of a composite door and this enables homeowners, for the first time, to achieve the high-end contemporary look of an aluminium door without the price tag.”

With a stylish aluminium textured architectural appearance that’s virtually indistinguishable from the real thing, Virtu-AL looks and feels nothing like a traditional composite door, yet it benefits from all the characteristics of a composite door. Incorporating realistic detailing to replicate the appearance of an aluminium door, the Virtu-AL door consists of a 4mm GRP skin on a robust 44mm composite slab to deliver the highest levels of performance and security.

Virtu-AL is available in a number of standard colours and can also be sprayed to match any RAL colour in Virtuoso’s state-of-theart in-house paint studio.

In the space of just six months since its launch, Virtu-AL – the aluminium textured, non-woodgrain finish composite door – has already topped the bill as one of the homeowner’s favourites.

the ‘standard’ composite door, Virtu-AL is the contemporary entrance door for those homeowners who want to achieve the ultra-modern look of an aluminium door.

The latest figures from Virtuoso Doors have revealed that the door is storming ahead with it already in the top 5% of door styles sold by Virtuoso in Quarter 4 of 2017. A complete re-invention of

Tony Craggs, managing director of Virtuoso Doors, explains: “We knew that Virtu-AL would be a step-change for the industry when we launched it and these latest figures prove hands-down that it is

40 WINDOW NEWS FEBRUARY 2018

Virtuoso Doors is committed to making the finest quality doors, including Virtu-AL, with what it calls ‘crafted precision’ – the perfect combination of cutting edge machinery and a workshop filled with master craftsmen to create exceptional doors every time.

To order copies of the new brochure or to find out more about Virtu-AL, visit www.virtuoso-doors.co.uk

PRODUCT NEWS

Versatile Aluminium Entrance

sizes up to 1,800 x 3,300mm in size, or 220kg in weight – with either standard or premium concealed hinges – so it works well in a wide range of settings.

Specialist aluminium fabricator Alumen Ltd has started 2018 in style, with the launch of the Millennium Plus aluminium entrance door, which offers versatility outstanding Credentials to both the residential and commercial market.

“The interest showed in the two examples of a Millennium Plus door on display in a showroom has confirmed that it’s a going to be a popular product. Our retail customers love how stylish and modern the door looks, while trade customers are impressed by its versatility and competitiveness.

They can see that it’s a product that will sell well and be simple to install.

Door From Alumen

“The Millennium Plus door is the latest addition to our extensive product range and the next instalment in the new portfolio of Cortizo products we’re introducing to the UK market,” comments Alan Robinson, Alumen’s MD. “Millennium Plus is impressive. It offers everything you’d expect from a premium aluminium front door system but at a price point lower than much of the competition. It’s strong and durable, very stylish and extremely versatile, as the door can be fitted with either double or triple

glazed IGUs up to 54mm thick, or with a fully bonded aluminium panel, which conceals the door’s profiles and offers the appearance of an ultra-stylish, single composite style slab. It can handle sash

“The impressive thermal performance, complemented with a specialist range of high-end door furniture, industry-leading security and various sidelight, threshold and rail options, makes Alumen’s new product a versatile premium aluminium front door for the highend residential or commercial market.” www.alumen.co.uk.

WINDOW NEWS FEBRUARY 2018 41

PRODUCT NEWS aluplast, said: “The aluplast Liftand-Slide can be manufactured as an entry-level system all the way up to a premium offering – and with manufacturing efficiency savings of up to 40% over competitor systems, the opportunities to build in margin are there all of the way.”

It comes in three primary configurations, each meeting demand for wide openings. This includes a standard PVC-U door to a premium offering fabricated to ultra-energy efficient options, accommodating glazing units of up to 52mm.

aluplast Lift-And-Slide To Take

Centre-Stage At Fensterbau aluplast will showcase its highly innovative and ultra-thermally efficient Lift-and-Slide Patio door, at Fensterbau 21 – 24 March Nuremberg, Germany.

With U-values as low as 0.65 W/ m2K, the new aluplast Lift-andSlide door majors on a Passive Haus equivalent standard thermal efficiency, combined with significantly reduced manufacturing times and an external aluminium clad aluskin option.

Capable of spanning openings of 6.5m X 2.8m with just two sashes, it also delivers im42 WINDOW NEWS FEBRUARY 2018

pressive design flexibility. This includes uninterrupted sightlines as standard and an ultra-low new low-sightline option on the fixed sash of just 32mm, maximising the glazed area of the door.

Sashes are mounted on an easy-lift mechanism that elevates when opened and lowers on to the track when closed, so that weather seals are lower improving the door’s weather tightness, thermal and acoustic insulation.

Ian Cocken, Director of Sales and Marketing UK & Ireland,

Finish is also scalable from standard white PVC-U all the way up to its premium aluskin offer, 27 foils sitting in between.

This is another area where Cocken argues aluplast’s continuing spend on innovation is paying dividends for UK fabricators. aluplast foils more than 1.2million metres of window and door profiles plus each month. “aluplast are investing right now to scale up production to cater for the ever increasing demand for quality foiled profiles this year. Through investment in technology aluplast can provide a premium quality product without the expected price tag, and delivering the most bespoke colour option in 15 working days or less” continued Cocken.

“We’d encourage fabricators to come to the aluplast stand in Nurnberg and see first-hand how continuing and global – leading product innovation is delivering new opportunity and is already supporting our customers’ growth at home in the UK ”, Cocken concluded.

For more information visit Stand 139 Hall 5 Fensterbau 21 – 24 March Nuremberg, Germany.

Alternatively, email info@aluplast.co.uk or visit www.aluplastco.uk.

PRODUCT NEWS

Profile 22’S Says Optima Is What An Installer-Friendly System Looks Like Profile 22’s Optima system was developed with unique features to give installers an edge over other systems from both a sale and an installation perspective.

According to Profile 22, Optima offers greater rigidity, improved weathering and U values as low as 0.8 W/m2K with argon-filled units.

It’s all thanks to its six-chamber outer frame (or eight with RCM thermal inserts) plus five chamber sash, which means Optima has more thermal chambers than rival systems. Plus the outerframe and sash are manufactured with an additional centre seal position that other systems don’t have, says the company.

There is a wide range of coloured and foil finishes to allow installers

to upsell the benefit of colour to the homeowner. Many colours are available from stock or on an express service too, which makes selling colour a much easier proposition.

The system is also packed with benefits for the installation process. It has deep legs, which means that if the survey was incorrect, on site trimming can be done.

There are three fixing lug positions, which makes installation on new builds and extensions much easier and an increased wall thickness in critical areas provides greater screw retention. Optima has a single leg bead location which means there’s no need for security glazing clips to pass security tests and future proofs the system against proposed enhancements

to PAS24 requirements. There is a weather cover of up to 10mm, which not only improves weather performance but also makes it more forgiving for the installer because the sash has a greater overlap with the frame.

Optima is supported by what is claimed to be the widest range of ancillaries on the market plus a comprehensive suite of complementary products in the Epwin portfolio to add further value to an installers’ portfolio. And with all the support that Profile 22 offers, together with the Excellence as Standard membership programme that drives standards and helps to generate leads, it all adds up to an impressive offering that adds value at every turn. www.profile22.co.uk WINDOW NEWS FEBRUARY 2018 43

PRODUCT NEWS

Ecotherm 70HI

units. It is watertight up to 600pa and has been tested for windload up to 2400pa. Fibreglass-reinforced thermal breaks are used to achieve this top thermal performance.

Security is taken care of with high-security multi-point locking and hinge protection as standard, and the window is PAS 24 certified for added peace of mind. The window also has super slim sightlines, to let in more daylight. It can be sprayed in any RAL colour and is available in dual-colour to match interior and exterior décor.

Ecotherm 70HI is the high insulation aluminium window with a difference that’s available now from Everglade Windows. The perfect window for adding a contemporary finish to any home, Ecotherm 70HI offers super-slim sightlines and impressive thermal and security benefits.

Jay Patel, Sales and Marketing Director at Everglade Windows

explains: “Ecotherm 70HI is a great addition to our vast aluminium and PVCu window and door range. It gives installers the chance to offer the best of both worlds to homeowners – fantastic aesthetics and super high-performance.”

Ecotherm 70HI has U-Values as low as 1.0 W/m2K and is available with double or triple glazed

Jay adds: “We are always on the look-out for added-value products that can help our customers to grow their businesses. This new high insulation window is a great example of this, meeting homeowner trends for slimline aluminium windows and high performance all in one.”

Email: info@everglade.co.uk

Delivering A Competitive Advantage According to Epwin Window Systems, increasing numbers of fabricators are choosing its Spectus, Profile 22, PatioMaster, Swish and Safeware brands. Gerald Allen, Epwin Window Systems’ Marketing Manager, said: “We’re delighted to see how many fabricators are coming on board across the various businesses because our aim is to always offer a package that delivers our customers a clear competitive advantage.”

facturing base, the highest quality standards and a commitment to sustainability and you have an unbeatable combination, says Epwin.

Spectus, Profile 22, PatioMaster, Swish and Safeware product ranges are all well-established and offer market-leading credentials. Epwin has just launched the Frontier range of composite doors leaves too, making the offering even more complete. Add in the UK manu-

The brands share common ancillaries, which makes dual sourcing a practical and efficient option and delivers lower stockholding. Gerald commented: “Market research suggests that many fabricators are choosing to dual source to give themselves the range they

44 WINDOW NEWS FEBRUARY 2018

need. Our own figures tell us that many of our new customers are choosing to single source from us because they can get everything they need from a single business.”

The brands offer market penetration in all sectors, including trade, retail and commercial, and its technical teams are on hand to deliver fabricators technical support wherever they need it.

There is also the unrivalled marketing support that Epwin can deliver, not least of which is the ground-breaking membership programme Excellence as Standard. www.epwin.co.uk

Want to sell to more window companies?

Take a FREE peek at Windowbase The national window database If you want more fabricator, installer or trade counter customers, you need Windowbase. It’s the first and only data specialist that’s 100% focussed on the window, door, conservatory and curtain walling industry.

We offer much more than just names and addresses and our prospect data can be tailored to your requirements – choose from 500 to over 14,000 records. So whether you want to target Synseal fabricators in the Midlands or Smart installers in the North, our data can help with your direct mail, email or telemarketing campaigns.

For your free peek call Neil on 01453 845717 or visit www.windowbase.info

PRODUCT NEWS

The Residence Collection Announces New Start- Up Package

adopted by companies, eager to have great product control and benefit from the additional margins. With full training and set up assistance, along with the unrivalled marketing programme, it’s a proposition that many existing customers are thriving on.

The three systems within the collection are R2 for squared, contemporary aesthetics, R7 for a flush appearance inside and out and the original and finest Residence 9 timber replica, flush sash window. Each system has a dedicated outer frame, there’s common window and door sashes across the collection, two transoms and five glazing beads for double and triple glazing, along with a dedicated Georgian bars.

From as little as £18,000, fabricators can now look to offer The Residence Collection as an additional PVCu system, albeit this is an integrated suite of three window and door systems. There are also considerable added benefits of single length ordering and full factory training in The Residence Academy.

With margins getting ever tighter, particularly for small to medium

sized fabricators, the low entry cost and introduction of The Residence Collection can bring in far better net margins as many other trade partners have shown.

Market research has also shown that it is in the premium and super premium sectors that are showing the greatest growth and return.

With a modest investment and small production space required, The Residence Collection can be

Sarah Hitchings, sales and marketing director of The Residence Collection commented: ‘Our new start up package shows that entry costs are low into the premium and super premium sectors, especially when you consider the training programmes we have put together. With unrivalled marketing support, it’s arguably one of the most compelling propositions in the PVCu sector right now, with enquiries coming in by the week.’ www.residencecollection.co.uk

Incarnation Deluged With Demand For Deluxe

Secondary glazing experts Incarnation are seeing surging interest in their top-end Deluxe product.

Launched last year, Deluxe is the highest-spec offering the firm has ever released, designed to emulate the classic stylings of a traditional sash window, and making it perfect for period properties and conservation areas.

Its glass panels can be latch-released and dropped down onto fully shackled stay arms equipped with a quick-release system, which lets users fully remove the sash panels. Once-tricky tasks like cleaning and lifting are therefore made considerably 46 WINDOW NEWS FEBRUARY 2018

easier.

Capable of achieving heights up to 3m and incorporating 8.8mm acoustic glazing, the tilt-to-clean, vertical-sliding Deluxe is one of the most advanced and versatile secondary glazing products on the market.

Incarnation Director Paul Bygrave comments: “With Deluxe, we’re offering something completely unique. It’s not only a best-in-class product that excels in every respect, it’s the only SDG model on the market that offers fully removable sashes – maximising convenience for the installer, and allowing egress in emergencies. www.incarnationwindows.co.uk

PRODUCT NEWS available for installation directly to masonary, concrete and stone.

Tested to General Building Inspection Test ABP and BS6180, it accommodates single glass width of up to 3000mm using one complete two-part aluminium fixing and glazing system, available from Bohle in anodised aluminium, anthracite grey and mill-finished options.

FACTBOX Installation in five easy steps

Opportunities Across The Supply Chain With

New Skyforce Juliet Balcony Bohle has added the highly innovative Skyforce Juliet balcony to its range, generating a new sales platform for glass processors, window and door fabricators – and installers.

With simple and quick surface mounting, the Skyforce Juliet balcony, provides fall protection for French balconies.

Where it delivers a distinct advantage over competitor systems is that it can be pre-fabricated as part of the door manufacturing process and secured directly to the frame, in addition to surrounding brickwork and masonary.

This means that it can be supplied as part of a French door or added at point of installation.

Dave Broxton, Managing Director, Bohle said: “Juliet balconies are on trend. Skyforce supports glass processors, window and

door fabricators and installers in generating higher and added value sales opportunities throughout the supply chain.

“If you’re a glass processor, you have the pull through of core product and higher value laminate glass plus opportunities for installation. As a fabricator of French doors, Skyforce can be pre-fabricated and sold to an installer customer base as part of an added value offer.

“If you’re an installer, you can source it independently through us as part of a retail proposition – it generates opportunities across the board.”

Skyforce is suitable for use with all aluminium French doors and PVC-U and wooden French doors dependent on the type of reinforcement used or type of wood.

Available with specialist fixing anchors for each, fixings are also

Step 1: Profile is pre-applied or drilled and fixed on site to a suitable French Door Frame or masonary using suitable fixing anchors Step 2: Glass is offered up to and sat on base of profile/frame Step 3 : Aluminium fascia clips and slides into place to conceal fixings and secure glass Step 4: End/weather sealing caps applied to the the top of each profile Step 5: Gasket applied using glazing tool Skyforce is supplied in three pre-assembled profile sets for glass heights of 900, 100 and 1100mm. These can accommodate multiple glass thickenesses from 12-21.52mm depending on the rubber glazing set selected.

“There’s no glass processing required, you don’t need to drill it to install it. But the real benefit is that you can fix into the frame offering simplicity with great aesthetics”, continued Broxton.

“From the end-user perspective, they get a completely uninterrupted sightline – there’s no requirement for a top-rail, which with the invisible fixing system creates a very sleek and contemporary aesthetic.” www.bohle-group.com/en-gb WINDOW NEWS FEBRUARY 2018 47

PRODUCT NEWS

Add A Splash Of Colour

For Windows With A Wow Factor The latest colour laminates and spray finishes from REHAU are opening up a whole new world of possibilities for installers looking for exciting, innovative options for PVC-U window and door installations.

Colour windows can transform the exterior look and style of a property and research shows they now account for one in four PVC-U window installations. In the past, foils have been limited to wood effects, like Mahogany, Rosewood and Golden Oak but the latest trends are for more contemporary shades of black and grey to mimic the minimalist look of aluminium windows.

These darker shades soften the appearance of sightlines and give a modern look to any property.

South Wales based windows and door fabricators GRM are leading the colour revolution from the front. As one of the few REHAU sole accredited Acryl II colour coating system specialists and an active user of REHAU’s laminate foils collection, which has been recently expanded to include Midnight Black, the company’s darkest ever foil.

GRM recently completed its first ever Midnight Black installation at a private home in Bridgend. The new colour was first launched by REHAU at this year’s (2017) FIT Show and has been well received with the first installations now taking place around the country. GRM’s first customer to select the Midnight Black did so due to its contemporary look. Initially the private home owner opted for the Black Brown but the Midnight Black offered a smoother finish instead of a grained effect.

48 WINDOW NEWS FEBRUARY 2018

every aspect of the window can be painted including the ancillary elements, like the handles, trickle vents and inside the gaskets, plus the inside of the windows which would normally be left as white, even with a laminate on the external profile. GRM recently completed an installation where the customer wanted the windows to be wholly grey, inside and out, and the simplest way to achieve this was by using Acryl II spray colour.

The Acryl II paint system can also be used to back paint glass, opening up even more possibilities, particularly for PVC-U doors.

Richard Gambling, managing director at GRM said: “Colour finishes for PVC-U is one of the most exciting things to happen to the glazing industry, and with consumer demand on the up, there is huge scope for this to develop further in the future.

All REHAU high performance foil finishes are durable, scratch resistant and can be easily cleaned so they look newer for longer.

The laminate is also resistant to UV light, heat and the weather so the colour won’t deteriorate or fade over time.

But it’s not just laminates which can produce the colour effects that customers want and GRM is also an authorised user of REHAU’s Acryl II innovative colour coating system. Available in over 150 different colours from the RAL palette, profiles or ready fabricated windows can be coated with the special polyurethane acrylic for a lasting, weather and scratch resistant finish. As GRM are accredited by REHAU to offer this service, the Acryl II finish comes with a 10-year colour fast guarantee.

The advantage of using Acryl II to colour the windows is that

“We may have moved away from timber windows, but people still like the idea of being able to paint their windows in the shade or colour that they like and with the REHAU technology we have, we can offer that service to anyone getting new PVC-U windows fitted.”

Meg Durrell, Product Assistant at REHAU said: “As the windows and door market moves increasingly towards premium products and higher value installations, it’s worth talking to customers about colours to transform standard PVC-U windows spec into a statement installation.

“As well as adding value to the specification, colours give customers the choice to have the windows that best suit their property and their personal taste and with so many finishes available, they are bound to find the one that is right for them.” www.rehau.uk/colour

PRODUCT NEWS

Mcdermott Take Installation To The Next Level With Tremco Illbruck’s Tp650 Trio Blackburn’s McDermott Windows have become the latest glazing business to begin using tremco illbruck’s TP650 Trio impregnated tape.

the window and door products themselves. Our ethos is very clear – quality products are only worthwhile if you fit them properly.

The long-established family firm now uses tremco illbruck’s high-performance installation products on its most demanding installations, ensuring outstanding thermal efficiency, weather-resistance and all-round performance.

“A triple-A-rated, top-of-the-line window will not deliver the level of performance that the end-user expects if corners have been cut during the installation process. That’s why we like tremco illbruck’s TP650 Trio. It’s quick, easy, and extremely reliable – and it ensures that every door and window product we install fulfils its potential.”

TP650 Trio is a pre-compressed, multi-functional polyurethane tape that’s impregnated with flame-retardant resin. Designed for new-build and replacement installations, it’s quick and simple to apply, and is vapour-permeable while still offering driving rain resistance of up to 600 Pa. What’s more, it’s fully compliant with BS8213-4:2016 CoP

for the survey and installation of windows and external door sets, and the Glass and Glazing Federation’s Guide to Good Practice.

McDermott Managing Director Stephen McDermott commented: “We’ve always stood ourselves out from the competition by focusing on more than just

Founded in Germany, but now with over a thousand employees in 30 locations around the globe, tremco illbruck is a world leading supplier of high-performance tapes, sealants and adhesives. www.tremco-illbruck.com.

Morley Glass & Glazing Introduces SL16 Morley Glass & Glazing has once again enhanced its product offer with the introduction of a new slimline ScreenLine® integral blind system.

SL16 is ideal for use in composite doors and vertical sliding windows due to its slimline 10mm slats, making it the first integrated blind system that is suitable for use in a 16mm cavity.

The range includes the slider controlled SL16S Venetian, as well as the SL26C Venetian with cord control.

Both are currently only available in the UK exclusively through Morley Glass & Glazing, and are available in white, beige and silver. They come complete with the additional features users have come to expect from the business, such as warm edge spacer bars as standard.

Said Ian Short, Morley Glass & Glazing managing director: “In the past, integral blinds didn’t fit into

anything thinner than a 28mm frame.

“Today, though, there is much more of a demand from people with composite doors and vertical sliding windows, and this slimline product will be able to appeal to part of the market that has not previously been serviced by integral blinds.”

For more information, visit www.morleyglass.co.uk.

WINDOW NEWS FEBRUARY 2018 49

ALUMINIUM

Aluprof Aluprof’s vertical powder coating line, Poland

Explains Current Thinking on

Aluminium Pretreatment

by Wojciech Brozyna – MD of Aluprof UK

There has been a lot of speculation of late on the choice of pretreatment used on powder coated aluminium profile. With ‘chrome’ based systems likely to be banned under EU’s REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation & restriction of CHemicals) in late 2017, where are we now and what should you specify?

There are two National and Eu50 WINDOW NEWS FEBRUARY 2018

ropean standards that cover the aspect of architectural powder coating, BS 6496:1984, which, despite it being withdrawn earlier in 2017, is still referred to. BS EN 12206-1:2004 is the current harmonised standard. The Qualicoat Standard, now in its 15th edition, encompasses BS EN 12206-1:2004, this BS EN standard was compiled along the lines of the European Qualicoat stand-

ard at the time of writing.

The BS EN standard does refer to pretreatment systems, but is vague of what to specify, if anything. What is well known is that chrome based pretreatment systems perform very well and have the benefit of being around for many years with an extensive track record. Qualicoat recognises both chrome and chrome free pretreatment systems and are encouraging members to adopt the newer chrome free technology.

Pretreatment of aluminium includes the cleaning and etching of the surface of the aluminium with the addition of a very thin ‘conversion layer’ which bonds to the aluminium and seals it from air and moisture. It is the ‘conversion layer’ that also offers a ‘key’ for the subsequent powder coating to adhere to the profile. So, the most important part of the powder coating process is the very process that is invisible

ALUMINIUM once coated!

include the use of exposure labels and mandatory, regular medical check-ups. To date, no guidelines have been released

by REACH.

Chrome based pretreatment systems have been proven to be carcinogenic in application, i.e. when the pretreatment is being applied to the aluminium. The finished powder coated extrusion carries no chrome residue so is entirely safe in use and recycling.

Aluprof, based in Poland, have been members of Qualicoat since 2003, they have been awarded with licence number ‘1508’ and carry the prestigious ‘Seaside’ option on powder coating for more exposed conditions where required. Aluprof offer the option to specify chrome or chrome-free pretreatment systems to suit the specifier, should they have a strong preference, as they utilise both pretreatment systems in their production facility.

Whilst the National and European standards are frequently seen in specifications, it is encouraging to see the growth of the ‘Qualicoat Standard’ being referred to in a growing number of specifications. What is unusual though, is the occasional specification of the AAMA standard, which has been seen from time to time.

AAMA, the American Architectural Manufacturers Association, is not currently recognised in the UK. Whilst over half of the members of Qualicoat UK & Ireland have made the switch to ‘Chrome Free’ pre-treatment systems within their plants, a number are staying with chrome pretreatment, for now. The Qualicoat organisation, based in Zurich, have made it clear to members that they fully support the use of chrome free pretreatment systems and that this would be a pre-requisite for continued licence holders if a ban on the use of chrome in pretreatment systems was initiated again by REACH. It is understood that

Wojciech Brozyna – MD of Aluprof UK

the ban is for the sale of such chrome pretreatment systems and not the use, so conceivably companies could carry stock of the chrome pretreatment system for continued use for a limited time.

So, the reason for some applicators not changing earlier is the possibility that chrome systems could have had a last-minute reprieve. A European based association VECCO, who challenged the EU’s ruling, has led to the ruling being overturned before the sunset date of September 2017 was reached. A further 4 years has been granted for the use of Hexavalent Chrome 6 till September 2021. The NGO, the European Environmental Bureau (EEB), says these proposals are placing business interests before public health as chrome based systems continue to be used.

REACH have warned that very tight guidelines will now be placed on the use of chrome in pretreatment, this will include the need to closely monitor the health of employees, which may

So why stay with chrome based systems? Some senior consultants in powder coating circles see the chrome based pretreatment systems as being the most robust available. They believe the use of this pretreatment minimises the possibility of corrosion under the powder coat finish, however, as European powder coaters are prominently ‘chrome-free’ and experience no more failures than with chrome based systems, the argument continues. Recent research from Qualicoat members, undertaken

by Qualicoat in Zurich, confirms that correctly applied chromefree pretreatment systems perform as well as their chrome cousins.

When specifying Aluprof powder coating, the option exists to ask for either system, or if the project is exposed and in a harsh environment such as by the sea or near an industrial application, the robust Qualicoat ‘Seaside’ class can be specified. Importantly, Aluprof staff are knowledgeable in the options and can assist any specifier getting the standard of powder coating that is specified on any project.

Aluprof’s extensive range of systems extend to unitised curtain walling, sliding folding doors, commercial doors systems and a wide range of window systems, all of which are increasingly being specified on a variety of residential and commercial projects across the UK and overseas. All systems are designed and installed by selected, specially trained companies to ensure each product meets Aluprof’s exacting standards.

Further information is available on the company website at aluprof.co.uk WINDOW NEWS FEBRUARY 2018 51

MACHINERY

elumatec Expands In The Emerald Isle Rocketing demand in the Irish market is fuelling elumatec’s ongoing growth.

Recent months have seen two major Irish fabricators purchase some of the manufacturer’s profile machining products.

County Westmeath fabricator Wright Windows has built an enviable reputation over forty years of producing quality PVC-U, aluminium, timber and timber-alternative windows, often using Sturtz and elumatec machinery.

Now, the respected firm has purchased a state-of-the-art Sturtz FlexCentre from elumatec. Boasting a 6-axis machining module and a triple sawing unit, this highly advanced CNC for PVC-U profile is one of the most versatile products in its class, capable of automatically preloading and offloading profile bars to maximise efficiency 52 WINDOW NEWS FEBRUARY 2018

and productivity also due to the increase demand for their aluminium products they have purchased an SBZ140 adding to their existing SBZ130 CNC machining centre .

Another long-standing elumatec customer, County Meath-based Glass and A.L.U. CAD, is a major aluminium fabricator who produce high volumes of windows, doors and curtain walling, the firm has recently purchased a cutting-edge SBZ 628 model, renowned for its precision and versatility adding this machine to its existing SBZ151 and SBZ130 line of CNC machines.

CPD Machinery Sales are elumatec’s distributor in Ireland.

CPD Sales Director Gerry Power commented: “With the economic upturn in Ireland, and fabricators facing fiercer competition than ever before, Irish window manufacturers are on the look-out

for the most robust and reliable machinery products that can take them to the next level and ramp up productivity while cutting costs and maintaining quality.

“That’s translating into heightened interest in elumatec, and the huge range of world-leading profile machining solutions it has to offer.

Increasingly, we’re seeing fabricators enquire about elumatec not just because of its reputation for excellent machines, but for the extensive range of software support it can offer too.

“Today, it’s the software, not the machines, that make the biggest difference to the quality and the amount of product a fabricator can make – and that’s why elumatec has invested so extensively in its software division, elusoft.

“The company employs 25 fulltime computer programmers who are constantly striving to improve the software packages we provide – which in turn allows their machinery products to perform to an even higher standard.” www.elumatec.co.uk

MACHINERY

Haffner Murat Machinery Package Transforms Heritage Product Fabrication One of the biggest growth areas predicted in the next few years is in heritage products, in particular mechanically jointed options. These types of products offer good margins for fabricators, but in order to maximise them, fabricators need to invest in the machinery that helps them drive efficiency and quality.

The heritage machinery package just launched by Haffner Murat will help them do exactly that.

Dave Thomas, Managing Director at Haffner Murat, commented: “Heritage and mechanically jointed products offer exciting opportunities for fabricators, but the biggest returns will be seen by those who harness what automation has to offer. Our heritage machine package provides the machinery needed to mill and weld these niche

products efficiently and precisely from as little as £189.00 per week on finance (subject to status).”

The heritage machinery package consists of a FA356 Milling Station and a KC258/10 Welder.

The FA356 Milling Station can mill two joints in one operation: 45 degree and 90 degree milling

is carried out in one pass for the butt joint finish of the outer face.

The KC258/10 Welder recreates the traditional mechanical butt joint on the welded corner and an internal seamless weld which enhances the overall appearance of flush sash windows.

Haffner Murat prides itself on its high proportion of repeat customers who turn to the machinery specialists when they need to upgrade or expand production.

Its machines help fabricators of all sizes and its large R&D department means it’s in a position to work with fabricators to take new machinery ideas from concept to reality in as little as 12 weeks, helping to keep them ahead of the curve. According to Haffner, it delivers exceptional levels of service from pre-sale consultancy to determine the right machine for a fabricator’s needs to comprehensive training that ensures businesses can see the benefits of machines straightaway. www.haffnermurat.com

Window Tech Removes Requirement For

Glass Bonding In R9 With Promac And Urban

R9 specialist trade fabricator Window Tech, has begun Residence 9 frame-only supply, freeing up installers to source glass locally.

It comes following the Essex-based fabricator’s new Urban millers and welder from machinery specialist Promac Group.

This allows the manufacturer to fabricate window and door sashes using Timberweld®technology, emulating the appearance of a traditional 90°tiimber-type joint but also by welding rather than mechanically jointing sashes, delivering a far stronger joint and eliminating the requirement to glass bond IGUs. Bob Wallis, Managing Director, Window Tech Trade, explained: “Manufacture of R9 is almost always mechanical but that means that glass units have to be glass bonded into sashes because the glass performs a structural role. That’s time consuming and can cause problems down the line.

Window Tech is currently fabricating just short of 100 R9 doors and windows a week and expects to hit around 150 fpw by the summer, moving almost exclusively towards the 90° welding of sashes.

For more on Window Tech Trade visit www.windowtech-residence.co.uk www.promac.co.uk WINDOW NEWS FEBRUARY 2018 53

ON SITE

Senior

Specified For AwardWinning Health Centre 54 WINDOW NEWS FEBRUARY 2018

Boasting a number of industry accolades and an impressive BREEAM rating of ‘excellent’, Eastwood Health Centre in Glasgow has benefitted from the use of Senior Architectural Systems’ attractive Hybrid timber aluminium curtain walling and high-performance aluminium windows and doors.

Eastwood Health Centre 1The three-storey building, which incorporates a number of GP practices and communi-

ON SITE

and connect the internal spaces to the outside by providing views of the external courtyard.

On the ground floor, Senior’s thermally-broken aluminium SPW600 aluminium windows have also been installed alongside Senior’s robust SPW500 aluminium door, which is ideally suited to high-traffic commercial applications.

ty health facilities, has been constructed around two external courtyards and designed to make the most of the use of natural lighting and ventilation.

Installed by Marshall Brown, the design of the health centre’s glazing package has been enhanced through the addition of timber cladding, projecting timber panels and bespoke timber louvres which provide solar

shading and add further contrast to the building’s brickwork façade.

Eastwood Health Centre 2Senior’s innovative Hybrid curtain walling system, which combines the durability of aluminium externally with the environmental benefits of timber internally, has been used to create a welcoming environment

The prestigious contract saw Senior work alongside main contractor Morgan Sindall, with whom the company has a long-standing supplier agreement, and Hoskins Architects.

Eastwood Health Centre has been recognised at a number of award schemes including the RIAS Awards 2017, Health Faculties Scotland Design Awards and European Healthcare Awards.

For more information about Senior, visit www.seniorarchitectural.co.uk WINDOW NEWS FEBRUARY 2018 55

ON SITE

REHAU Chosen Provides Rooms With A View For Retirement Complex When designing high quality retirement properties, it is important to strike the balance between the provision of practical spaces that facilitate independent living and an attention to detail which meets the needs of a generation where style is important.

So when contractors SEH Commercial were asked to specify the windows and doors for a retirement complex on the Essex coast, they opted for grey laminated TOTAL70 windows and doors from REHAU for a both practical and stylish finish to the vibrant Beaumont House development.

Beaumont House is a new build apartment block of 60 one and two-bedroom apartments, situated in the historic coastal town of Walton-on-the-Naze. Built on the former site of the Martello Caravan park, the complex is close to shops, cafes, local transport 56 WINDOW NEWS FEBRUARY 2018

links and amenities and provides high quality yet affordable modern homes for the over 55s.

Architects for Beaumont House, EJ Taylor, created a contemporary and modern look for the retirement complex, with the use of colour louvers next to grey windows to add interest and vibrancy to the exterior of the building. The use of large windows with fixed side lights and patio doors leading onto private terrace areas were integral to the design and flood living spaces with natural light.

With a growing reputation in the residential care sector, SEH Commercial were brought in to work on the specification and fit the windows and doors at Beaumont House.

Sales Director, SEH Commercial, Tim Hoelzer said: “The architects had come up with a very contem-

porary design for the retirement complex and they wanted windows which would complement the look and feel of it yet also deliver on their performance specification. REHAU’s TOTAL70 windows fitted the bill and we were able to use both window and door profiles from the range, for a continuity of design across the development.”

The TOTAL70 Window and Door System offers a range of multi-chambered profiles, designed to meet the requirements of the new build, commercial and domestic refurbishment markets. SEH Commercial specified 124 TOTAL70 tilt and turn windows plus 67 patio doors for the Beaumont House project, all with an anthracite grey laminate finish.

Suitable for both internal and external use, foil colours are durable, scratch resistant and easy to clean, so they stay looking newer for longer. The laminate is also resistant to UV light, heat and the weather, so the colour won’t deteriorate or fade over time.

The grey foil for the Beaumont House complex gives the windows

ON SITE

and doors the modern look of aluminium, but because they are still PVC-U, they don’t have all the associated drawbacks of aluminium such as the higher cost, reduced thermal efficiency.

The windows for the development all have a tilt and turn opening, which offers residents the option of either gently ventilating their living spaces with the tilt, or using the wider turn opening for circulating greater amounts of air.

This style of window is also easy to keep clean as the outside of the window can be cleaned from inside.

Tim continues: “Because the apartments were for the retired community, the architects had a very definite idea of the areas where the windows would need to perform. For example, the windows had to be very energy efficient to help reduce fuel costs for residents and ensure a comfortable environment throughout the year; they had to be very secure; and because of the central location of the development, the windows also needed to minimise sound from outside.”

TOTAL70 windows incorporate double glazed sealed units, which considerably reduce outdoor noise levels, they achievethe British Standard BS7950 and PAS 24 security standards to ensure peace of mind for vulnerable residents, and they are A-rated for thermal efficiency.

Kevin O‘Neill from REHAU said: “The Beaumont House development shows that REHAU profiles offers both aesthetics and a commitment to style, as well as delivering on the practical features that architects demand like security and energy efficiency. The windows in the complex are a stunning addition to the contemporary architecture, yet provide residents with the performance they need for a comfortable and happy retirement.”

Top Gear

For New Lamborghini Showroom

ack Aluminium Systems’ products have been used as part of a full renovation of the Lamborghini Showroom on Old Brompton Road. Fabricated and installed by IDF Aluminium, the project was completed in late 2017 and Jack’s systems were chosen because of their proven security benefits for the impressive supercars.

Both the TD68 Jack Door and the JD47 non-thermal system were used as part of the renovation as Will Woods, Managing Director at IDF Aluminium explains: “The contractor who was leading the showroom renovation project, Apollo Interiors, approached us looking for an aluminium glazing solution.

“This wasn’t your typical shopfront project. The Lamborghini showroom needed large sliding doors, so that the cars could be moved in and out of the showroom as needed. As a premium car brand, in the middle of South Kensington it also needed a solution that was stylish and looked great. And it obviously

needed top security performance too, so we turned to Jack Aluminium.”

Jack Aluminium’s JD47 Shopfront System was used for the large sliding commercial doors. It has special beading that has been designed onto the rail sections of the doors to eliminate the opportunity to deglaze from the outside.

For access doors at the Lamborghini showroom, IDF Aluminium used the TD68 Jack Door System. By choosing a remote access Jack Door option with a built-in electric strike, staff at the showroom have full remote access control, for added security.

Ash Pearson, Sales Manager at Jack Aluminium adds: “This is another great example of IDF Aluminium’s work – they’re always thinking outside the box and using our systems in really interesting ways.” www.jackaluminium.co.uk WINDOW NEWS FEBRUARY 2018 57

ON SITE

ISO CHEMIE Tape Seals Ground Breaking New Housing Project

ISO-CHEMIE’s high performance expanding foam sealing tape has been specified for an innovative project that could herald a new approach to building affordable housing.

Europe, combining advances in high-quality, low energy design with the innovative use of renewable construction materials, including prefabricated strawfilled panels.

The ISO BLOCO ONE tape has been used to provide a high performance airtight, acoustic and thermal seal for the ModCell TAM project located in the grounds of the Filwood Community Centre in Bristol.

Sustainability is a key driver of the project, so the ISO-BLOCO tape has been used to seal the expansion joints and gaps around the window and door frames. This will significantly help to achieve an excellent Passivhaus target of <0.69 m³/ hour/m² measured at 50 Pascals air tight seal per completed building – a good standard for the construction industry is anything between 3 – 5 m³/hour/m².

Developed to provide people with rapid, effective and affordable housing, TAM is also one of the most environmentally friendly building systems in 58 WINDOW NEWS FEBRUARY 2018

TAM by ModCell 10Finlay White, business development director at Bristol-based ModCell, said that TAM is currently being considered by several social housing providers, and added: “ISO-BLOCO ONEis an excellent product, meeting the requirements for an easy-toinstall, cost effective and extremely reliable all-round sealing solution.”

Andy Swift, ISO-CHEMIE’s national sales manager, said: “Systems like TAM are gaining increasing traction in meeting the UK’s housing demand. It has been specified as a practical and energy efficient solution for the Filwood Community Centre development among other projects.

“So, for us to be involved in this latest ground-breaking initiative not only reinforces our strong environmental credentials, but also strengthens the require-

ON SITE ment for longer lasting sealing tapes that deliver airtight, acoustic and thermal benefits.”

ISO-BLOCO ONE is claimed to offer a single product ‘fit and forget’ solution for fast and effective sealing based around the European RAL principles of three level sealing – the inside seal area is more airtight than the external one, allowing any trapped moisture inside the joint, or within the wall, to escape outwards rather than into the building.

The external seal area provides weather resistance and breathability with a minimum resistance of 1000 Pascals (hurricane forces), while the intermediate seal area provides extra thermal and acoustic properties, with a U-value between 0.55 and 0.8 subject to tape size, and the internal one air tightness and humidity regulation, the tape installation itself gives less than 0.01 m³ air loss when tested at 1,000 Pascals air pressure difference.

All three levels are designed to accommodate movement between the adjacent materials.

Once installed, ISO-BLOCO ONE ensures a building is better protected from elemental factors like wind, dust and moisture ingress by accommodating the changes in structural movement caused by environmental, cyclical and settlement factors.

Product, which has Passivhaus certification, has CE marking and complies with energy saving regulations (EnEV) on windows and doors as well as the RAL quality assurance association, has an EC1 rating for very low emissions and a B1 fire resistant rating. It can accommodate extremes of temperature changes – from -30°C to + 80°C and is available with a 10-year performance warranty. More at www. iso-chemie.eu/en-GB/home/

Prestigious Lodges Benefit From Spectus

Windows And Doors

Spectus windows and doors were recently installed in two refurbished prestigious holiday lodges at the picturesque Penllwyn Lodge site situated between Newtown and Welshpool in Powys. The 19 individually architect-designed lodges are situated in 30 acres of unspoilt woodland.

Phil Jones of Penllywn Lodges has been installing Spectus window and doors in his lodges for over ten years. Phil explains: “The prestigious Penllwyn lodges are individually designed and we needed to work with a company who can offer the same high level of quality and detail when it comes to the lodges windows and doors.

We work directly with Spectus fabricator Universal Trade Frames whose products provide the quality, aesthetic and thermal efficiency that we require.”

The windows and doors supplied by Universal Trade Frames are manufactured from Spectus’ popular Elite 70 system with ovolo beading. Both the windows and doors are produced in Golden Oak to complement the beautiful woodland location of the lodges.

The Spectus Elite 70 casement windows and residential doors offers everything Phil needs. The Elite 70 is a five-chamber system capable of achieving exceptional thermal efficiency – a factor that is particularly important in a wooden construction. It also offers stateof-the-art security to offer holidaymakers complete peace of mind.

It’s also clear that Universal Trade Frames delivers the kind of service that Phil values – not only does he return to the company each time he refurbishes a log cabin, he also turned to the company when he looked to replace window and doors at the club house restaurant and bar at the on-site golf course.

He says: “As a small business owner, you need suppliers you can trust. Universal Trade Frames deliver high quality products and service and they’ve never let me down.”

Phil’s comments are the perfect illustration of what Spectus and Universal have to offer: high quality products and service you can rely on. www.spectus.co.uk WINDOW NEWS FEBRUARY 2018 59

ON SITE

Somerglaze Windows Uses PatioMaster To Complete

A Quality Installation In Somerset Bristol’s Somerglaze Windows has just completed the installation of an impressive four-pane anthracite grey on white PatioMaster door on a home extension in Somerset.

Somerglaze’s founder Gary Hembrow has been working with PatioMaster South West, his local PatioMaster dealer, for some years. When his customer specified sliding patio doors on her extension, Gary knew PatioMaster would provide 60 WINDOW NEWS FEBRUARY 2018

the quality and reliability she was looking for. He comments: “The quality of the product and smoothness of operation on PatioMaster doors is far superior to other products on the market, so we did not hesitate to turn to them for this installation. They really offer a superior patio door which we, and our customers, can rely on. PatioMaster offer a ‘fit and forget’ promise that keeps us coming back to them for our patio door installations.”

The project is a perfect example of the latest trends in sliding patios too. The homeowner opted for a four-pane sliding patio because it would give her the vast expanse of glass she was looking for as well as bigger sightlines and better uninterrupted views. What’s more, Somerglaze Windows was able to create the clean, contemporary and on-trend look specified by using anthracite grey, available as a stocked colour, on the exterior frame and white on the interior from the PatioMaster Palette colour collection.

Somerglaze Windows specialises in the supply and fit of windows, doors, conservatories and porches in Gloucestershire, Avon, Somerset, South Wales and parts of Wiltshire. www.patiomaster.co.uk

ON SITE

Truro Triumphs

With Ultimate Rose Installation Roseview’s Ultimate Rose has helped installer Truro Windows give a stylish Cornish property an outstandingly authentic facelift.

A customer approached Truro with a tricky proposition. An ageing and draughty timber sash window in a quirky Kenwyn cul-de-sac that needed replacing – but the new product had to replicate the original’s distinctive arched design down to the finest details and match the feel and character of the surrounding estate.

tic, high-performing uPVC sash window projects to the market – and its most celebrated model of all is the award-winning Ultimate Rose.

First introduced in 2013, its slim timber-like profiles, meeting rail, and period features as painstakingly detailed as full mechanical joints, run-through-sash horns and traditional sash furniture immediately marked the Ultimate Rose out as special.

But then the respected fabricator decided to try and push the boundaries even further. After extensive planning and testing, the Ultimate Rose Mark 2 was born, offering the slimmest meeting stile on the market (35mm) – which, combined with its flush runthrough sash horns, putty lines, claw locks and full mechanical joints, make it the most authentic uPVC sash window ever produced, says Roseview.

The owners didn’t want to replace timber with timber – the window in question was on the upper floor of the property, and they’d learned from experience that this made the already arduous task of regularly painting and maintaining a wooden product even more of a pain.

shire-based sash window specialists, Roseview.

But where other installers might have panicked, Truro knew exactly where to turn – Buckingham-

PR068 - Truro Windows (2)Over forty years, Roseview’s reputation has been built on offering authen-

Together, Truro and Roseview collaborated to produce an Ultimate Rose that exactly matched the design of the property’s timber window – including its distinctive arched head. www.roseview.co.uk

Selly Oak Retail Park NEXT For Bennetts Aluminium glazing specialists Bennett Architectural have been chosen to work on the NEXT store at Selly Oak’s brand-new Retail Park.

The project which encompasses 250,000 square feet, will also host various retail outlets including Sainsburys and Marks & Spencer as well as student accommodation.

Bennetts will supply and install Pilkington planar solutions for the NEXT branch.

Lionel Grant, Managing Director at Bennett Architectural commented, “We are delighted to be working with Interserve and architects Piper Whitlock on this new retail park and to be associated with such a well-established brand like NEXT.

“The Pilkington planar glazing will add a striking look for the NEXT branch at Selly Oak Retail Park which we have no doubt will turn heads once completed.” www.baasl.co.uk WINDOW NEWS FEBRUARY 2018 61

MARKETING Bristol’s Somerglaze Windows has just completed the installation of an impressive fourpane anthracite grey on white PatioMaster door on a home extension in Somerset.

Polyframe Richard Lee, managing director at Polyframe

Supercharges Installer

Growth With ‘Polypower’

Somerglaze’s founder Gary Hembrow has been working with PatioMaster South West, his local PatioMaster dealer, for some years. When his customer specified sliding patio doors on her extension, Gary knew PatioMaster would provide the quality and reliability she was looking for. He comments: “The quality of the product and smoothness of operation on PatioMaster doors is far superior to other products on the market, so we did not hesitate to turn to them for this installation. They really offer a superior patio door which we, and our customers, can rely on. PatioMaster offer a ‘fit and forget’ promise that keeps us coming back to them for our patio door installations.”

The project is a perfect example of the latest trends in sliding patios too. The homeowner opted for a four-pane sliding patio because it would give her the vast expanse of glass she was looking for as well as bigger sightlines and better uninterrupted views.

What’s more, Somerglaze Windows was able to create the clean, contemporary and ontrend look specified by using anthracite grey, available as a stocked colour, on the exterior frame and white on the interior from the PatioMaster Palette colour collection.

Somerglaze Windows specialises in the supply and fit of windows, doors, conservatories and porches in Gloucestershire, Avon, Somerset, South Wales and parts of Wiltshire. www.patiomaster.co.uk

62 WINDOW NEWS FEBRUARY 2018

MARKETING

Prefix Marketing

Now In Print P C Henderson

Release New Product

Focus Videos

With an impressive array of brochures, flyers, samples and point of sale materials, Prefix Systems have now put together a 20-page brochure to highlight the expansive range of marketing materials available for their nationwide network of trade partners.

an iX250 Orangery deck section.

In addition to the individual marketing support elements, Prefix have also put together a number of marketing packs per product, helping customers directly with specific and focussed campaigns.

Now serving the entire UK through four regional branches, Prefix Systems is the only company of its kind with such a localised, geographical reach and so trade partners can benefit from direct technical and marketing support. The new 20page brochure covers all printed material, including roller banners, POS materials and wall posters, many of which can be personalised.

Hannah Gilrane, marketing co-ordinator of Prefix Systems commented: ‘The new marketing brochure is a comprehensive guide to all the materials that we can offer to customers, so they are fully equipped to generate new sales and to close existing opportunities. With such a broad range of products on offer, many of which can be customised, this useful downloadable guide perfectly accompanies the 48-page Product Directory.’

There are also showroom product samples available for WARMroof, OPUS aluminium-hardwood glazing, aluminium systems, URBANroom gutter shroud and

For further information please visit the downloads section at www.prefixsystems.co.uk

Sliding and folding door hardware manufacturer, P C Henderson, is pleased to launch a new series of product focus videos to help our customers gain a better understanding of our products and their key features.

The first video in the series focuses on Evolve, P C Henderson’s new and improved automated sliding door system.

Presented by Philip Jones, UK Business Development Manager and resident technical expert at P C Henderson, the video provides a step by step guide to the product including kit contents, features and benefits, specification and available accessories.

Statistics published by HubSpot state that 90% of customers report that product videos help them make purchasing decisions. In addition to this, a third of the time people spend online is dedicated to watching videos.

P C Henderson’s series of product videos and installation videos can be found at www.pchenderson.com WINDOW NEWS FEBRUARY 2018 63

MARKETING

TruFrame Delivers Powerful New Website TruFrame have just launched a new website which has been designed to cater for both trade and consumer visitors, with carefully orchestrated and purposeful content. It’s also part of a wider lead generation platform for trade partners, as the hand-finished uPVC frame specialist looks to build further organic growth.

The new website at www.truframe.co.uk also introduces lifestyle photography and consumer influences, in addition to trade information, reflecting the demographics and nature of visitors from the previous site. The content within the site has been carefully signposted, so that 64 WINDOW NEWS FEBRUARY 2018

when consumers are engaged within the site, they can either find a trusted local supplier or they can design their windows and doors themselves and have them costed in real time, by a trusted local supplier.

Trade information is carefully laid out and well documented on the new site and includes over 40 downloads, news, content about the TruFrame difference and a potted history of the family owned business. There’s also a permanent link to the CustomerPortal in the header area of all pages, which allows customers to access critical information about existing quotes and orders 24/7 and across all devices

and platforms.

David Firmager, managing director of TruFrame commented: ‘The new website has been very carefully put together, so not only can we support our trade partners, but we can engage with consumers. We can take them on a journey to the end goal of a search for a local trusted supplier, or even in designing their own windows and doors using our unique interface.

He continued: ‘We very much believe in greater transparency from uPVC frame manufacturers through our trusted local suppliers and ultimately to the end consumer. Everyone in this process requires clear and coherent information and we’ll be presenting it to them through the impressive new site.’

You can visit the new website at www.truframe.co.uk

MARKETING

Epwin’s Excellence

As Standard Delivers What

The Industry Needs At the end of last year, Epwin Window Systems commissioned a piece of research to find out the top goals of fabricators and installers in 2018. The results were clear: driving more sales was the top priority for most businesses, with nearly 63% saying this would be the most important goal for them this year.

Excellence as Standard Programme Manager Katie Leese commented: “The research highlights how important our membership programme Excellence as Standard will be for our customers this year. Helping businesses to secure more sales is one of its key pillars and we are about to launch a new consumer initiative to enhance this even further.”

She says: “Our consumer initiative will promote the benefits of the EAS message direct to homeowners and drive brand awareness. It means Excellence as Standard membership becomes more and more valuable for fabricators and installers wanting to drive sales.”

The consumer initiative is the latest addition to a programme that is packed with lead generation support.

There is a Find an Installer section on the Excellence as Standard website; fabricator members can also have a landing page on their site that incorporates an installer finder and review centre. Installers can enhance their listing with reviews and ratings, which they manage via the programme’s review centre, helping them to build their reputation as

Choose Your

Window Widgets

a trusted business.

There is advice and training on digital marketing strategies to help members harness what social media and the web have to offer. To drive excellence throughout a business and further enhance its reputation as a go-to company, there are training and development opportunities via the EAS Academy.

There’s also the over-arching support of a dedicated brand manager, customer service, technical advice and business development contact that members can get in touch with when they need one-to-one support.

Epwin Window Systems have a reputation for delivering genuinely customer-focused support and being ahead of the curve when it comes to delivering what the industry needs. It’s clear that in Excellence as Standard the group has done it again. www.epwin.co.uk

Superhero!

Window Widgets have just launched a campaign to encourage fabricators and installers to look at the various everyday superheroes from within their expansive range of solution-led products for PVCu window and door systems, that are all fully tested, and many products are BBA accredited and CE Marked.

John Fairhurst, trade sales executive of Window Widgets commented: ‘For over a decade, Window Widgets has been the go to brand for clever product solutions, that have been fully tested and certified. We very much view them as superheroes for our customers and so this campaign seems pertinent in raising the awareness for each range, and also the importance of CE Marking and thorough testing for all such products.

For more information on any Window Widgets product and a free quote, contact internal sales executive, Adrian Clare, or for a free sample box e-mail adrian@windowwidgets.co.uk WINDOW NEWS FEBRUARY 2018 65

MARKETING

Spectus Delivers New Website For The Window Depot The Window Depot has had a new responsive trade website designed and developed by the Spectus marketing team. The website was part of the bespoke support package The Window Depot has with Spectus and has been developed to appeal to trade audiences.

Mick Bramley, director of The Window Depot, said: “Having increased our level of business over the past twelve months, we needed a professional website to appeal to customers. We are delighted with the new site and its exceptional quality is typical of the level of support we get from Spectus.”

The aim of the site is to generate leads for The Window Depot’s window, door and conservatory 66 WINDOW NEWS FEBRUARY 2018

products and there is a clear call-to-action on every page so prospective customers can get in touch. It uses professional Spectus photography throughout, combined with clear information to showcase the quality of the products available. The design reflects The Window Depot’s corporate branding and it is fully responsive, so caters for all devices and screen sizes.

The Window Depot has been a Spectus fabricator for 15 years and manufactures the Elite 70 system in both sculptured and ovolo variations and the market-leading Vertical Slider. The company supplies trade customers throughout the Nottingham and surrounding area and is renowned for being a friendly, straightforward and reliable

trade partner.

Mick says his company is loyal to his suppliers, especially Spectus because of the level of service the company continually delivers. Mick says: “They are an excellent systems company who very rarely let us down. Their products, service and people are superb and we would be hard pushed to find better. We offer an equally prompt reliable service around the Nottingham area and we need to be able to rely on our suppliers at all times. We have that with Spectus. From placing the orders to the drivers delivering the goods, the rapport and service is second to none.”

The Window Depot prides itself on delivering quality, choice and support to its growing customer base. Thanks to the new website, www.thewindowdepot. co.uk, delivered by Spectus, it will be able to grow that customer base even more.

MARKETING

Truro Triumphs

With Ultimate Rose Installation Solidor have just launched Cloud 2.0, which offers their trade partners a newly enhanced online experience, far beyond that of typical online ordering, to include live pricing, an online payment function for pro-forma customers and importantly, a revolutionary order tracking facility.

Taking on board typical customer experiences from the consumer sector, the new Solidor Cloud 2.0 offers far more functionality, with the ability for live costing, along with sales pricing and specification at the point of sale. Quotations can then be sent instantly to consumers, so that the process from enquiry to quotation becomes a more streamlined process, for both trade partner and consumer.

is a major plus for installers looking to schedule the fitting of their composite doors, with information readily available 24/7 at the click of a mouse. Order received, in manufacture, quality control and despatched are the four different stages that are highlighted on the online portal with each order.

Solidor Cloud 2.0 is an online portal for all customer activity and the recent addition of order tracking

With OTIF levels consistently in excess of 99%, there’s also the reassurance of accurate informa-

tion and the continued trust in the Solidor brand from their customer base. There are further important developments planned for Solidor Cloud 2.0 as part of their Network Development Programme, which will be implemented later in the year.

Gareth Busson, head of sales and marketing at Solidor Group commented: ‘Our new cloud functionality offers far more than just online ordering, as we’re building this into a complete information hub for customers, so they can manage all information relating to their account, orders and queries 24/7 and on any device. This is yet another compelling reason why customers choose Solidor, along with the powerful marketing campaigns and product rich features that we offer.’

For further information about the benefits of becoming a Solidor partner, call 01782 847300 or e-mail enquiries@solidor.co.uk.

You can also find out further information at www.solidor.co.uk and add to their considerable following on Twitter @solidor.

Distinction Doors’ Showroom Support Package

Raises The Bar

of the credentials Distinctions’ composite doors offer.

Bethaney Larkman, Distinction Doors’ Marketing Manager, says: “Our website features a new showroom locator to encourage homeowners to explore Distinction products in person. Once they’re in the showroom, our showroom support package will help installers explain the Distinction difference and help close the sale.”

Distinction Doors continues to raise the bar in the products it offers and the support it provides. The latest example of support that’s proving particularly popular with customers – a showroom support package that enables customers to make the most

Distinction’s excellent showroom support pack includes a range of point of sale marketing collateral that highlights the quality, pedigree and unique selling points of the Distinction door range. Furthermore, all Distinction’s showroom customers have their own bespoke door-designer platform to create an interactive display where homeowners can view the door on their own home and request a quote. www.distinctiondoors.co.uk WINDOW NEWS FEBRUARY 2018 67

MARKETING for its innovation, Distinction was the first company to introduce its Skin Book and their customers report that it aids consumer decision-making and is a superb tool to help in the overall sales process. Bethaney comments: “As market leader, it’s our responsibility to lead the way across the industry and our Skin Book is a perfect example of our ability to innovate in all areas of the business.”

Distinction Doors Marketing Package And Skin Book Reflects

It Status As One Of The Market Leaders When you take a look at the marketing support that Distinction Doors offers, you quickly realise it offers the same level of market-leading quality and innovation as its doors.

Bethaney Larkman, Distinction’s Marketing Manager, said: “Our unrivalled marketing support package has been designed to give our customers a competitive advantage and help them secure sales.”

One of the most compelling elements of the marketing package is the Skin Book. The Skin Book is a first for the industry and it shows the complete range of 43 colours, including five standard colours, two premium colours, two wood stains and over thirty bespoke colours all on swatches of Distinction’s woodgrain skins so homeowners can choose their door colour with confidence.

As befits a company renowned

Other highlights include the company’s in-house graphic design service that produces bespoke marketing materials to support their customers’ sales processes.

The company’s door-designer application is also a well-valued customer aid and can be personalised for Distinction’s customers and their customers’ websites to promote their composite doors and Distinction Glass offering.

Distinction also offers an online knowledge bank and asset library via the trade log in area of their website that provide customers with electronic versions of documentation and marketing material. Finally, a useful showroom locator allows retailers to find their nearest Distinction showroom to help drive traffic for their customers. www.distinctiondoors.co.uk

Press Office Presence For Solidor Customers As part of their new Network Development Programme for 2018, Solidor have just launched a revolutionary Press Office for their installer partners, to enable them to generate strong press coverage on a more local basis and to support their other marketing activities.

Research has shown that PR, while one of the most powerful tools within the marketing armoury in the fenestration sector, is less so adopted by installer partners in the consumer sector. This move by Solidor to introduce a customer Press Office further highlights the fact that the solid core composite door leader is continuing to invest in new ideas and fresh thinking.

68 WINDOW NEWS FEBRUARY 2018

Local papers both in print and digital format are always looking for content and so with direct access to the PR, brand and marketing consultancy of Solidor Group, their customers can look to reap the benefits of editorial coverage directly and within the brand guidelines set, by the award-winning composite door manufacturer.

Gareth Busson, head of sales and marketing of Solidor Group commented: ‘The launch of the Press Office is another marketing initiative designed to set our customers apart and to help them fulfil further sales of our composite doors. If they already have existing advertising campaigns within their respective local media, then we can maximise the value of this with powerful and incisive PR.’ www.solidor.co.uk

AWARDS

Lancashire Trade

Frames Scoops Another Award At the end of November, Lancashire Trade Frames were delighted to be named Manufacturing & Engineering Business of the Year at the FSB event hosted at The Hilton on Manchester’s Deansgate.

One of the criteria the judges were evaluating was a commitment to development and training of people. Lancs Trade is very much a local business with a strong employee and commu-

nity focus and, as a result, this award feels particularly sweet for the team. Another key area for the judging panel was the delivery of high-quality and exceptional customer service. The Lancashire Trade Frames team have always been passionate about getting things spot-on for their customers and are more than happy that their achievements have been recognised.

It was a very successful

evening for the Bury-based business – not only did they walk away as the Manufacturing & Engineering Business of the Year, but they were also shortlisted in the Family Business of the Year category.

The award is a fitting end to yet another great year for the business. Managing Director Mark Rowland said, ‘The way we see it, if we keep delivering the right products at the right prices, and making the most of opportunities and partnerships, we’ll keep on growing.’ He added, ‘We do what we do for our customers, but it’s always a good feeling when our efforts are recognised by independent judges, and particularly so when the award reflects the principles at the core of our operation.’ www.lancashirepvcutradeframes.co.uk WINDOW NEWS FEBRUARY 2018 69

AWARDS ners, Orion Windows highlighted in the survey their delight with the service Dean has provided over recent months, scoring him and his team at an overall 10/10.

Dean celebrates his 8-year anniversary of working at Conservatory Outlet just a couple of days after receiving the award and in that time has seen many changes, not least the company’s new pledge to do more to reward those employees who work hard to help the business achieve success.

Dean Smith, Conservatory Outlet Vision and Value Award Winner January 2018

Doing The Right Thing For The

Customer Yorkshire based manufacturer, Conservatory Outlet Limited has introduced a new staff reward scheme for 2018, and has awarded its first winner of the year for delivering excellent customer service throughout January.

In line with the company’s newly launched vision and values, Dean Smith, Order Processor, is first to achieve this acknowledgement, which will now be awarded on a monthly basis to the staff member who best demonstrates the seven com70 WINDOW NEWS FEBRUARY 2018

pany values, including Honesty and Integrity, Growth and Innovation and Energy and Tenacity.

Dean was presented with a £50.00 gift card for his efforts in “Doing the right thing for the customer”, after a review via the company’s customer satisfaction survey highlighted Dean’s exceptional performance and his dedication to continually offer the best service for the customers he works with.

The team at CO Network Part-

Dean said “I would like to say a big thank you to all at Orion that I have worked with over the years and I am chuffed to have received this recognition for my work. I thoroughly enjoy the work that I do for our customers and I would like to wish Orion in particular all the best for the rest of this year. I look forward to providing the best possible outcomes for all our customers long into the future.

As one of the very few men in the world to enjoy shopping, my gift voucher will be very much appreciated!”

Conservatory Outlet Managing Director, Michael Giscombe added “I’m delighted to be able to present this award to Dean, as a long-standing member at Conservatory Outlet he has consistently worked hard to help us achieve our goals.

The new employee awards are designed to help us say an extra thank you to staff for their hard work and dedication to the company, something that isn’t always easy to achieve in busy work schedules. As a company we have grown tremendously in recent years, and a large part of this is down to the Conservatory Outlet team, it’s important to us that we recognise and celebrate the employee talent that we have.”

AWARDS

Triple Win For Everglade Windows Everglade Windows has won three West London Business Awards.

As well as being triumphant in the Manufacturing & Engineering Business of the Year and SME of the Year categories, Everglade picked up the biggest award of the night – Company of the Year.

Yogesh Gopal, Managing Director at Everglade said: “We are absolutely thrilled with this horde of West London Business Award wins. Everglade’s roots are in West London — we’ve been manufacturing our massive range of aluminium and uPVC windows and

nised by our regional business peers means such a lot to us.”

In 2017, Everglade was highly commended in the Manufacturing & Engineering Category and this year walked away with the very top accolade.

Everglade Windows is the largest trade fabricator in London, offering the biggest range of Kömmerling uPVC windows and doors, a host of composite door options and a market leading aluminium range that includes the exclusive aïr brand.

doors here for 38 years now — so having our team’s hard work, dedication and success recog-

Yogesh adds: “I would like to say a huge thank you to our team and to our legendary customers and suppliers too – all of your support is what has made us the West London Company of the Year!”

P C Henderson Slides Into The Shortlist

For The North East Business Awards Sliding and folding door hardware manufacturer, P C Henderson, is celebrating success after being shortlisted in the Export Award category at this year’s North East Business Awards.

The awards, held in association with the North East England Chamber of Commerce, shine a light on large and small companies that are achieving great things and contributing to making the region a great place to live, work and do business. P C Henderson has been shortlisted alongside two other companies in the Export category with the winner being announced at a prestigious awards dinner, held at Ramside Hall Hotel on Thursday 8th March 2018.

The purpose of the Export Award is to encourage and recognise companies that have generated substantial and

sustained increases in export activity.

This is the second time that P C Henderson has been recognised for its contribution to the North East economy. Last year P C Henderson was crowned SME Exporter of the Year at the North East Exporters’ Awards where the company was judged on its exporting achievements and described as a ‘truly modern SME exporter’.

Commenting on the good news, Trevor Cossins, Managing Director at P C Henderson said: “I am delighted to see the hard work of everybody at P C Henderson being recognised in this way. It’s an honour to be recognised a second time for our contribution to the North East’s economy and reputations as a great place to do business.

We work hard and listen to our

international customers and take a localised approach to deliver solutions that allow us to cater for a countries individual needs. ” To find out more about P C Henderson’s wide variety of sliding and folding door systems, visit www.pchenderson.com or email hello@pchenderson.co.uk WINDOW NEWS FEBRUARY 2018 71

TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT

Senior’s

Technical Manager Gives Students

A New View On A

Career In Construction

speak with the Year 8 students at Bury Church of England High School in Greater Manchester about her career path. Talking about both the opportunities and potential barriers to inspiring young people to work in construction, Eilidh was able to help raise awareness of the many different roles and disciplines that are available and hopefully, inspire some of the students to take a closer look at the industry when choosing their GSCE options and beyond.

Commenting, Eilidh said: “With the construction industry struggling to attract young people and women in particular, I was delighted to take part in the school’s careers day to share details of my past experience and provide an insight into my current role with Senior Architectural Systems.

It’s so important that young people have a good understanding of the different job roles that are available to them at this pivotal stage in their lives. If we as an industry are to fully engage, attract and retain the next generation of construction workers, we need to start at a grass-roots level and build from there. We’ve got some distance to go to bridge the skills gap but the more positive and diverse role models that young people can speak with, the quicker we will get there.”

As a young woman working in construction, Eilidh Hudson, technical sales manager with aluminium glazing manufacturer Senior Architectural Systems, was delighted to take part in recent careers day and talk to a 72 WINDOW NEWS FEBRUARY 2018

group of school children about what the industry can offer them.

Eilidh, who has worked in the commercial fenestration market for over 8 years, was invited to

Following the success of the recent talk at the recent Year 8 careers day, Eilidh has been invited to return to take part in the school’s regular careers club which is open to students of all ages.

For more information about Senior, visit www.seniorarchitectural.co.uk or search for Senior Architectural Systems on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.

TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT

Simple CPS

Switching:

The Certass Way

Building the Skills of the Lancashire Trade Frames Team Bury-based Lancashire Trade Frames are committed to building the highly skilled workforce today’s glazing industry needs. With an ever-increasing product range, training is always underway. A recent example is the company’s Anthony Loder, who has just completed a course in the fabrication of the Smart Aluminium Visoglide Plus patio door.

Aluminium became part of the Lancashire Trade Frames Trade offering in 2014, and interest in the company’s bifolding doors has grown markedly. With strong demand from the commercial sector and consumers loving the inherent strength of the material alongside its clean styling, the move to aluminium for sliding patio doors is the logical next step.

Training took place at Smart’s own site at Yatton in Somerset and included all aspects of fabrication, operation, glazing, transportation,

maintenance, ventilation and safety. Lancashire Trade Frames Managing Director Mark Rowland commented, “There was a lot to take in, but we knew Anthony was the right man for the job.

He’s quick to understand, and he’s great at getting others up to speed.”

Talking about the experience, Fabricator Anthony said, “The course was intense and thorough, but I’ve enjoyed learning directly from the system’s developer. I’m looking forward to sharing my knowledge with the rest of the team.” December was a good month for Anthony. As well as receiving his Visoglide Plus certification, Anthony was Lancashire Trade Frame’s employee of the month.

With insurance and energy contract renewals consistently in the headlines, as a nation, we’re starting to move away from auto‐ renewing policies, in favour of finding great new deals and better customer service. According to Certass, it’s no different for window installation companies, who are looking for a better service on competent person schemes (CPS).

MD at Certass, Jason Clemmit explains: “Competent person schemes are an essential part of any installer’s remit. Self‐certifying installations is just part and parcel of the job for them, so that’s why at Certass, we make it as simple and straightforward as possible to transfer to a scheme with friendly, helpful support and technical teams. So, if you are looking for a fresh approach in the New Year give us a call.”

To learn more about the Visoglide Plus patio, call Lancashire Trade Frames on 0161 762 5800.

With schemes covering more than 2.5 million installed products, Certass has one of the most comprehensive certification schemes in the industry that can provide schemes for all aspects of your work from windows to roofline.

lancashirepvcutradeframes.co.uk

www.certass.co.uk WINDOW NEWS FEBRUARY 2018 73

CHARITY which equates to an improvement of over 1,000% against other tested handles.

Nick Dutton, CEO of Brisant Secure commented: ‘We’re redefining expectations for hardware.

Our aim is to develop an unrivalled product range in terms of longevity and performance, and with a new suited hardware range tooled up for production in the coming months, we’ll again be challenging convention in the sector. We felt this was a fulfilling way to mark this milestone.’

from left to right: Nick Dutton presenting the cheque to Gary Morton.

£5,000 For 5,000

Hours To GM Fundraising Brisant Secure have donated £5,000 to GM Fundraising, to celebrate the revolutionary Lock Lock door security handle surpassing an unprecedented 5,000 hour salt spray test.

GM Fundraising has been the industry’s charity of choice over the years, raising over £1.8million in the process, with the aim of achieving £2 million within the next 2 years. Several epic cycling

adventures and a recent ladies only ‘Paddle2 Pedal’ event, continue to capture the imagination of all those involved, including many long-term supporters.

This donation is a fitting way to mark the fact that Lock Lock, with a bathroom furniture grade coating, has surpassed a never heard of level of durability at 5,000+ hours. Typical testing standards require 240/480 hours,

Don’t forget to sign up for our twice weekly Newscasts for the very latest industry news

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Gary Morton, founder of GM Fundraising concluded: ‘It’s a hugely magnanimous donation and I’d like to thank Nick, Steve and all the team at Brisant Secure for this kind gesture. It still amazes me just how the industry has adopted GM Fundraising in terms of the events we do and more importantly for the money raised for Hope House Children’s Hospices. We also have news to come in the coming weeks about our 2018 and 2019 plans.’

For further information on GM Fundraising, please visit www. gmfundraising.co.uk or follow @gmfundraising, you can also contact Gary directly at gary@ gmfundraising.co.uk. For further information on Lock Lock please visit www.lock-lock.co.uk, e-mail locklock@brisant-secure.com or call 01924 410200. You can also follow them on Twitter @UltionLock.

Introducing our colour of 2018 Anthracite Grey

Hands kindly supplied by Meg Durrell, Product Assistant

It’s all about Anthracite Grey this year.

In fact, by the end of 2018, we predict Anthracite Grey sales will surpass Rosewood to become our number one selling foil, cementing grey as the nation’s new favourite colour choice. For installers, this trend offers a fantastic opportunity to upgrade standard PVC-U windows to premium alternatives, and add value to any installation both in the domestic and commercial arena.

With REHAU

It’s all in hand

Find out more at rehau.uk/colour #inhand

boost your

business Show your Strengths If delivering superb products and service is at the core of your business, we want to talk to you. We believe the best installers should stand proud, show their strengths and promote the only acceptable standard – excellence.

When you join the Excellence as Standard programme, you’ll benefit from effective lead generation, market-leading products, the EAS Academy, bespoke training, comprehensive marketing support and partnership benefits.

You’ll take your brilliant business to the next level.

Join Excellence as Standard to grow your sales and deliver your best.

Together, we’ll raise the bar.

EXCELLENCE

as standard

Call: Tracy on 01952 280560 | email: join@excellenceas.co.uk | Web: www. excellenceas.co.uk