Window News April 2022

engineered to install faster priced to sell

Make a more memorable entrance Expertly engineered, Korniche bi-folding doors exude the same quality in their function as they do in design, with an exclusive roller system that delivers an effortlessly smooth guide every time.

It is also impossible to turn the handle at all while the key is still in the lock. This means that there is no risk of accidentally opening or damaging the doors as a result of the key remaining in place.

A unique, pivoting axle in the rollers allows the wheels to follow any undulations in the stainless-steel tracks underneath. Combined with sealed bearings in the stainless-steel wheels and lateral rollers, the doors will glide effortlessly and smoothly for years to come.

Featuring polyamide thermal breaks, our bi-folding doors are designed to keep heat in and the cold out.

The doors also feature additional security in the form of a shoot-bolt handle that cannot be forced open from the outside. This is down to an innovative anti back-drive feature that is designed into it.

Faster

Stronger

Warmer

Slimmer

Korniche’s smart technology includes a specially designed and patented clip-in bead that allows the glass to be installed or replaced in minutes.

See how fast you bead with the Korniche bi-folding door at this years show. STAND N11

Innovation unlocked A bi-folding door evolution With a host of brand-new Innovations MFT brings a premium bi-folding door into the market at a price point to make it the buyers “natural selection” Made for Trade are getting ready to launch the second product in the award winning Korniche systems range, the much-anticipated Korniche bi-folding door. This brand-new product makes many of the 2019 Korniche concept doors features a production reality, and with them come some significant new innovations to benefit installers, resellers, and end users alike.

One of the key features of the new door showcased with great success at the 2019 FIT, is the true all aluminium clip bead with pre-fitted gasket, a feature which really upholds the Korniche FASTER USP. This allows the doors to be literally glazed in seconds and significantly decreases the time spent on site, maximizing that all important margin for the installer.

The new product is also SAFER. This is down to PAS24 as standard on every door set and MFT’s ‘safety for no extra cost’ delivery innovation.

Full details and new brochure on the new features which make the Korniche bi-folding door FASTER, WARMER, SLIMMER, STRONGER and now SAFER than the competition are on the madefortrade website.

Get a quote today for the exciting NEW Korniche aluminium bi-folding door by registering your interest at sales@madefortrade.co or calling MFT on 01642 610 799

madefortrade.co

Glazed in minutes The patented Korniche clip bead system allows for the fastest installation on the market

8

Dekko Acquired

By Inwido

44

Response To The Spring Statementr

93

TD68 Opening Doors In The City

Installer Alert... ...over 30 benefits of joining DGCOS

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The professionalism of their team is second to none. Installers who want a partner by their side that truly support their business, I recommend you join DGCOS. Thom Emerson Sales & Marketing Director, Ideal Window Solutions.

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Find out more about Ideal Window Solutions experience of working with DGCOS. DGCOS is a consumer protection scheme that covers the installation of double glazing products. Being a member of DGCOS shows that as an installer you are committed to complying with high standards of consumer protection.

To find out more, contact us: 0345 053 8975 info@dgcos.org.uk | installers.dgcos.org.uk

W CONTENTS

W INDOWNEWS THE LATEST INDUSTRY NEWS

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96

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www.windownews.co.uk Cover picture: Senior’s central role in University of Stirling’s new campus project, read more on page 86 WINDOW NEWS | APRIL 2022 7

TRADE NEWS

Foils Back

Dekko Acquired

By Inwido in the company, and there will be no major changes to the management or wider team moving forward, with our managing director, Gary Torr, remaining at the helm.”

To 10-Days

Emplas has reinstated its stock foil colour offer to 10-days, reversing extended lead times put in place during COVID.

Based in Malmö, Inwido is a leading European window group with around 4,600 employees across Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Romania, Estonia, Ireland, Lithuania, Poland, and the UK.

The decision follows increased stability in foil supply from Emplas systems partner Profile 22, allowing Emplas to reinstate its pre-COVID service offer.

Jody Vincent, Sales Director, Emplas said: “The last couple of years were clearly tough and we weren’t able to maintain service levels on foils because we didn’t have the product to manufacture.

“In the last three months we have been able to significantly increase our stock holding, which means that we can reinstate our pre-COVID lead times.

“As the market becomes a little more competitive, we believe that puts our service back where it should be and strengthens our customer offer.”

This includes three new stock colour options launched by Emplas in 2020 – Pebble Grey; Sage Smooth; and Claystone – which alongside a further 17 options are now available on 10-day lead times. www.emplas.co.uk 8 WINDOW NEWS | APRIL 2022

Dekko sales director, Kurt Greatrex

Trade fabricator Dekko Window Systems has sold a majority stake to leading European window group Inwido, securing continued development and expansion of the business.

With 29 business units across 11 countries, Inwido now owns a 70% share of the company.

Dekko sales director, Kurt Greatrex, comments: “The acquisition is very exciting news for Dekko – Inwido only invest in the very best companies, and their financial backing will allow us to invest in new products, increase production, and ultimately drive the business forward.

“For Dekko, it will be business as usual – our existing shareholders will retain a 30% share

“Achieving sales of £607 million in 2021, Inwido is a leading, responsible and successful window and door group that we are pleased to become a part of,” said Dekko managing director, Gary Torr.

“Their business concept is to develop and sell the market’s best window and door solutions through a decentralised management structure. This fits very well with Dekko, and we feel confident that this will be a good match.

“By boosting our business with Inwido’s backing, we see promising opportunities to accelerate our own development and continue to win market shares in the UK market.

“We’d like to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you to our staff, customers, suppliers and stakeholders for their continued support, and with this recent acquisition, we look forward to a bright future.” www.dekkowindows.com and www.inwido.com

TRADE NEWS holding off to see what everyone else is doing, but these price increases have sent shockwaves through the industry, and it is important we make the very difficult – but ultimately right – decision to be transparent and proactive.

Lively debate at AluK’s Part L podcast

2,000 Percent Energy Surcharge Increase

Rocks Glass Industry Energy surcharges imposed by the float glass manufacturers hit a record high in mid-March – with further spikes expected – and will have to be passed down through the supply chain, Cornwall Glass Manufacturing has warned.

In the space of a week, the energy surcharge on one lorry load of glass from one manufacturer went from £350 to £6,500.

All float glass manufacturers have increased their energy surcharges in response to rising energy costs and the further cost pressures brought about the war in Ukraine, says the company.

Cornwall Glass Manufacturing had been absorbing as much of the price volatility as it can, which it was able to do thanks to

the size of its supply, its processing and margin structure, and its own fixed energy costs.

But the latest round of surcharge increases has sent a shock through the industry as processors, window fabricators and installers respond so they are not left paying the full price.

“We buy 40 20-tonne lorry-loads of glass per month,” Mark Mitchell, Cornwall Glass group chairman, said. “It we were to buy it all from that one manufacturer, we would be paying £260,000 in extra energy surcharges – per month! And this is on top of the significant price increases expected at the start of April.

“We’ve been as flexible as we can, but those costs have got to be passed on. Many people are

“Fortunately, because we are a large independent glass processor, we can be flexible with who we buy from, to ensure that our customers always get the best deal.

“But we simply can’t delay this decision any longer. One glass manufacturer recently announced that they will be implementing energy surcharge increases just five days after announcing them. If you don’t react quickly to this kind of news, then you could see all your margin slip through your fingers.”

Cornwall Glass Manufacturing buys glass from Saint-Gobain Glass, Pilkington, AGC, Guardian Glass, and other suppliers from across the globe. This ensures that it can make buying decisions based on the current market price for glass, as well as for the technical specifications required for certain product ranges.

“Many glass processors only buy from one glass manufacturer, which ties them into their energy surcharge model,” Mark said. “All manufacturers have a different mechanism for working out their surcharges, so the increases aren’t uniform across the board.

“We have decided to calculate an average cost increase based on the surcharges we receive from all glass manufacturers.

This way, we may take a hit from time to time, but our customers will always get the best deal possible.” www.cornwallglass.co.uk WINDOW NEWS | APRIL 2022 9

TRADE NEWS

Glassolutions Sizes

Up Significant Manufacturing

Investment At Dudley An investment of over £1.5 million by glass processor Glassolutions will help its customers to respond to growing consumer demand for oversized pieces of glass as the trend to refurbish and extend residential properties, utilising large expanses of glass, continues.

The major investment programme at the company’s Dudley factory includes the installation of a larger furnace with 20 per cent increased capacity and the ability to toughen even larger pieces of glass; an automated arriser to ensure high quality and consistent finishing; and a power upgrade to future-proof the site and enable further expansion plans.

Glassolutions Dudley factory manager David Evans, says: “The recent pandemic has resulted in more people working from home or hybrid working, which has prompted a huge increase in residential renovations to create more comfortable and spacious living and working environments. This has included the trend for more 10 WINDOW NEWS | APRIL 2022

glazed extensions incorporating large expanses of glass such as sliding, patio and bi-fold doors, roof lanterns and fully glazed walls and roofs. This latest investment at Dudley gives us the capability to support our customers in delivering the right type of oversized glass for these larger windows, doors and glazed areas, which require maximum safety and security as well as the correct levels of thermal, solar and acoustic performance.

“Our product range, which includes Cool-Lite Skn 176, Planitherm One and Planitherm Total+, already provides the perfect energy efficient, solar and acoustic control solutions for customers to create comfortable, liveable and visually stunning glazed extensions in this premium residential market. Our offering has been enhanced by this latest investment which means we can now process and toughen glass up to 2.85m x 4.2m in size. We are committed to supporting our customers who are maximising the growth opportuni-

ty presented by this firmly established trend for larger glazed areas in the residential sector.”

It will be very much ‘business as usual’ during the 13-week upgrade work thanks to detailed planning and additional manufacturing resources available from sister sites in Coventry, Motherwell and Canterbury.

David says: “With increased capacity, greater automation, improved energy efficiency, plant reliability, and optimised optical quality of products, customers will see real benefits and we believe the investment will strengthen our position as a market leader in the glass processing and toughening markets, whilst helping our customers to grow and develop in the premium residential market.

“We’ve planned the upgrade project in the shortest possible schedule which means it will be complete by the end of April.

Importantly, we’ll operate a full production line at all times, and we have plenty of back-up capacity at our nearby Coventry factory as well as our glass processing sites at Motherwell and Canterbury. This should mean little or no difference to normal lead times.” www.glassolutions.co.uk

Total Hardware

TRADE NEWS

Supports Customers With Part F Changes

TuffX Boosts Production With

New Glaston

Furnace

Toughened glass specialist, TuffX, has announced the installation of a new glass furnace at its Knowsley premises.

With the changes to Part F of Building Regulations coming into force in June, hardware supplier Total Hardware is already helping its customers get ready for the transition. The regulations, which cover the ventilation of buildings, will be a big change for the industry.

Chris Pell, general manager at Total Hardware, said: “The new regulations mean two big changes for the industry. Fortunately, we’re well-prepared for the change and already hold stock of compliant products from both Glazpart and R W Simon to help our customers with the transition.”

The first big change is the number of trickle vents that will need to be fitted. Chris commented: “It’s estimated that 30% of windows have trickle vents fitted at the moment. After 15 June 2022, this will increase to over 95%. Obviously, that means greater stocks will be

needed across the industry.

We’re ready for this so our customers can be ready for the transition.”

The second big change is the size of the trickle vents. Chris said: “The requirement for ventilation is much bigger than it used to be because there’s a recognition that there’s a clear link between good ventilation and good health. It means that not all the vents currently on the market will meet the new requirements. However, products from both Glazpart and R W Simon are ready for the change and we have the products our customers need.”

The new Glaston FC500 furnace, which replaces an older model, was purchased as part of an ongoing £3 million staggered investment plan announced to the trade at the start of this year. This plan also includes a 30,000ft2 extension to TuffX’s production space, which is due to be completed in the autumn.

“The recent furnace upgrade is already providing multiple benefits for our production process,” said Paul Higgins, TuffX’s commercial director, “The new Glaston model we have installed is much faster but also more energy efficient than its predecessor, resulting in greater throughput and overall efficiency within our factory.

Total Hardware has built strong relationships with some of the leading worldwide hardware manufacturers, which is one of the reasons the company is able to be so proactive about the changes to Part F.

“This is the third Glaston furnace to be installed at our premises within the last six years, and a testament to TuffX’s drive for continual improvement, ensuring our customers can always depend on high quality products and reliable service.”

www.totalhardwareltd.co.uk

www.tuffxglass.co.uk WINDOW NEWS | APRIL 2022 11

TRADE NEWS part of the Future Homes Standard and wider efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, windows professionals should look into the U-Value of their current solutions to stay ahead of legislation and trends.

Soaring Energy Prices

– Frame Efficiency Credentials

Now Vital For Homeowners

“This latest change is likely the first of many for new and existing homes, so by taking action and futureproofing now, businesses will be well-placed to stand out in an increasingly eco-conscious market. One key way of doing this is to look for systems suitable for Passivhaus standard, which is currently the most energy-efficient specification for European and UK buildings.”

According to sustainable construction experts GreenSpec, windows can represent up to 10% of total heat lost in homes. Taking this stat into account alongside steep energy prices rises expected in April, Russell is highlighting the importance of emphasising the impact energy-efficient windows can have on monthly bills.

“The country is bracing itself for heating costs to soar from April, which means that as vital as consumers sees the issue of energy efficiency now, it is only going to grow in prominence,” Russell concludes. “Being able to mitigate these costs in any way will be at the forefront of homeowners’ minds, so installers and fabricators need to stress the thermal performance strengths of their frames.

With energy efficiency ranking as a key consideration for homeowners, Rehau is advising the fenestration industry to emphasise the thermal properties of their portfolios to meet these shifting consumer priorities.

the wake of these findings, Rehau is advocating installers and fabricators review the thermal performance of their frames, especially with upcoming changes to Approved Document L of the Building Regulations.

The recommendation follows a recently published survey from the Home Builders Federation (HBF), in which almost three quarters of 2,000 respondents (73%) said they were concerned about the energy efficiency of their current home. In

“Energy efficiency has never been too far from consumers’ minds, and this latest survey from the HBF reaffirms this,” says Russell Hand, head of product and technical for Rehau Windows. “With Part L guidelines also being tightened as

12 WINDOW NEWS | APRIL 2022

“By stocking systems that can help do this, including Rehau’s Total70C, which can achieve U-Values better than that required by the new Part L, tradespeople can help answer the market’s pressing needs. This combination of right choice and right emphasis will undoubtedly help fenestration businesses at this highly disrupted time, and into the future.”

For more information on Rehau’s TOTAL70 windows system, click here https://bit.ly/3NPIFa2

bi-folding door ARTICULATED FULL BEARING

15%

ROLLERS

INTRODUCTORY *

DISCOUNT

A SMOOTH

GLIDE

DISCOUNT CODE

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EVERY TIME

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Trickle vents positioned in frame - no need for extenders! Full bearings and stainless steel hardware for the smoothest glide every time. All with a 10 year manufacturer’s warranty.

Delivering the best products, with the best service, at the best price Contact Made for Trade for a Kwikquote today

madefortrade.co | sales@madefortrade.co | 01642 610799 * Discount applies to all trade customers and applied to the first, single item purchase only of the Korniche Bifolding Door | *Korniche Bi-folding door price is based on 5-5-0 configuration 3750 x 2000 , stock colour, delivered. Unglazed. Price is correct at point of publishing. Delivery restrictions apply. Product specification and prices may be subject to change without prior notice.

STAND

N11

TRADE NEWS need to change all fasteners that screw into the reinforcement, such as where a friction stay or door hinge is fixed to the frame, because a screw with a drill point will no longer be effective.

Rapierstar Helps Fabricators Step

Up To Higher Security

And Thermal Standards Fabricators will need to review which fasteners they use throughout window and door assemblies to ensure they meet the proposed new minimum security and thermal standards for England and Wales, according to Rapierstar, supplier of fasteners to the fenestration sector.

This year is set to see an updated Part L of the Building Regulations put in place which will require windows and doors to meet lower overall window U-values.

And there are proposals floated too, relating to higher security standards, which could see Part Q updated to require that all windows and doors meet the security performance requirements in the PAS. Paul Balfe, technical consultant at Rapierstar said: “The proposed changes to Parts L and Q 14 WINDOW NEWS | APRIL 2022

will have big implications on the fasteners. So, if you are looking at changing any aspect of your window or door specification, it is really important to consider where you may need to change the fasteners too.

“For example, one of the steps some fabricators are taking to lower the overall U-value is to switch from steel reinforcement to thermal inserts. However, if you are doing this you will also

“Where PAS 24 is concerned, Rapierstar has a strong track record of working with fabricators and hardware suppliers helping them meet the test requirements, so we can advise on which fasteners are best to achieve a robust build quality that will resist typical methods of attack. The importance of fasteners in meeting PAS 24 is often overlooked but it really can make the difference between success and failure.”

The proposals tabled for changes to Part Q for England and Wales also include the requirement for all easily accessible glazing to contain at least one pane of laminated glazing to a minimum class of BS EN 356:2000 P1A – 6.8mm laminated and not 6.4mm laminated. This increased glass thickness might add extra weight to the window overall, which could mean hinges in opening casements need to be changed and a different type of fastener used to ensure it can be securely attached.

Paul added: “It is clear that the standards will only get tougher as the government seeks to make buildings greener and more secure. But it will inevitably cause some headaches for window and door window and door manufacturers, particularly in respect of testing.

“Our experience and expertise in this area could prove extremely valuable to the industry, given how we work closely with hardware manufacturers and systems companies to ensure the products their customers are using are the right products for the job.”

Find out more at www.rapierstar.com

Visit us at this years FIT Show and enter the

bi-folding door SAVE HOURS ON SITE

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STAND

N11 For more information on the Korniche Bi-Folding Doors visit madefortrade.co

TRADE NEWS

Veka Recycling Invests £200K In PVC-U Shredder To Increase Capacity Veka Recycling has invested more than £200K in an industrial PVC-U shredder from German-based specialist manufacturer, Arjes.

Purchased to increase PVC-U recycling capacity at its state-ofthe-art plant in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, the new shredder was installed and operational in February 2022.

According to Veka Recycling’s managing director, Simon Scholes, this latest investment reinforces the organisation’s role in maximising the sustainability of PVC-U construction products through responsible recycling.

Simon said: “Landfill should be a thing of the past for post-consumer PVC-U fenestration, as well as offcuts and defective items generated during the manufacturing process. The addition of the Arjes shredder will help to increase throughput at our recycling facility, which has benefited from a £15m investment programme making it the most advanced of its kind in Europe.

“Our closed-loop system ensures that PVC-U is treated as the valuable resource it is, enabling up to 350 years’ worth of usage from a single window or door, while decreasing the amount of new

PVC-U products that are manufactured using virgin material. This all helps to minimise the fenestration industry’s carbon footprint.”

Veka Recycling both collects and processes waste materials at its own site, guaranteeing that recycling standards and legal guidelines have been upheld at every stage. This means window fabricators and installers who use Veka Recycling’s services can demonstrate their commitment to responsible recycling to their customers – and irradicate any fear of prosecution due to incorrect or illegal waste disposal. www.veka-recycling.co.uk

Window Ware Renews CAB Membership Independent hardware distributor Window Ware has renewed its membership with the Council for Aluminium in Building (CAB).

but also with accurate advice and comprehensive technical back-up too. Our CAB membership provides our team with an important tool they can use alongside regular training to constantly augment and refresh their knowledge so they’re ready to support customers to the fullest.”

Since joining the Council in 2019, Window Ware has continued to strengthen its position in the aluminium market with its ever-expanding range of aluminium window and door hardware and ventilation solutions.

Continuing its membership was a given for the Bedford-based business, according to Rich Fraser, Window Ware’s business development manager for aluminium.

on the pulse of what’s happening within the market and making sure we’re always hitting the mark and meeting customers’ evolving needs.”

“Our CAB membership demonstrates our continued commitment to aluminium and helps ensure we are best placed to keep customers informed on emerging trends and regulation changes within the sector,” explains Rich. “Through CAB, we’re keeping our fingers firmly

“Over the past two years, we’ve worked hard to create exactly the kind of offering our customers want. That doesn’t just mean providing them with an unrivalled choice of hardware solutions and consumables designed to work specifically with aluminium profiles,

16 WINDOW NEWS | APRIL 2022

“It’s all part of our continuing mission to be the perfect supply partner for aluminium and uPVC fabricators alike.”

Phil Slinger, chief executive of CAB, said: “We are delighted that Window Ware has renewed its CAB membership. Together with our extensive network of industry peers and professionals, we will continue to work together to maintain high standards and promote quality within the growing aluminium market.” www.windowware.co.uk

roof lantern

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NEW TRADE CUSTOMER DISCOUNT QUOTE CODE:

WNK01

glazed in seconds

faster to fit

Supply & install the multi-award-winning aluminium Korniche Roof Lantern. Fitted in minutes, glazed in seconds. The strongest lantern in class, available up to 3x2.5m in four glass panels and a maximum size of 6x4m

Delivering the best products, with the best service, at the best price Contact Made for Trade for a Kwikquote today

madefortrade.co | sales@madefortrade.co | 01642 610799 *Discount applies to all trade customers and applied to the first, single item purchase only of the Korniche Roof Lantern

STAND

N11

TRADE NEWS 1.2 W/m2K – without having to go to a triple-glazed unit.”

HWL added the Kömmerling Flush casement to its offer at the start of this year. As well as delivering an advanced level of thermal performance and elegant flush finish, it uses a flush finish gasket and discrete weather sealing.

A special sash locator system also guarantees that the sash always returns to a central position in the frame.

Is Your Flush Casement Supplier

Part L Ready?

With only weeks to go before new tougher regulatory requirements for the energy efficiency of windows and doors comes into force, HWL Windows has said that it’s in the unique position to be able to offer four Timberwelded Part L ready flush systems.

The Government released the update to Part L at the end of last year. It will deliver an uplift in performance in newbuild to a uniform 1.2W/m2K for windows and doors and 1.4W/m2K (or WER B rating) for home improvement.

Coming into force from June, a number of systems will struggle to meet new build requirements without moving to the use of triple-glazed IGUs, claims the company.

“We make four different flush casement systems”, explained Mark Haley, Managing Director, HWL. “This includes Residence Collection R9, R7 and R2, each of which 18 WINDOW NEWS | APRIL 2022

Mark continued: “We’ve built our reputation as a specialist manufacturer of Residence Collection product but we see the Kömmerling Flush Casement as a very important addition to our range because it gives us and our customers reach into a broader sector of the market.

“We manufacture it using the same Timberweld technologies that we developed in the manufacture of R9 to create that traditional 90° timber-like joint in a welded – not mechanically jointed window.

“It’s the same aesthetic but stronger, you’re not relying on screws and glue – delivering better through-life performance.”

Mark Haley

meets new build – as well as home improvement Part L requirements – in a Timberwelded and non-glassbonded flush casement window.

“We also offer the new Kömmerling Flush casement, which is also available in a Timberwelded 90° joint, and as an ultra-energy-efficient and six-chamber system, comfortable achieves a u-value of

HWL pioneered the development of non-glass bonded Timberweld R9, claims the company, making it easier to handle and significantly reducing costs for installers, and now offers a unique Timberweld Residence Collection open-in door – giving its customers the opportunity to upsell a matching Residence window and door package to homeowners.

“It’s technology we’re now applying to the Kömmerling flush”, added Mark. “We’re the first – and we believe currently the only fabricator – manufacturing it with a Timberweld finish. It’s something which we know delivers real commercial advantage for our customers.” www.hwlwindows.co.uk

VISOGLIDE PLUS SLIDING DOORS

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www.madefortrade.co | Tel: 01642 610799 * Discount applies to new trade customers and first, single item purchase only of the Smart Visoglide Plus Sliding Doors | Image for representation only * Per leaf price is unglazed and may vary depending on size and specification of the door. Lead time is based on a standard colour. Postcode restrictions apply

TRADE NEWS

2022 Off To A Good Start As BMBI Reports Strong January Sales

been primarily driven by price inflation (+15.1%) rather than volume growth (+7.8%).

All bar one category sold more than the same month in the previous year with Renewables & Water Saving (+35.8%), Timber & Joinery Products (+31.5%), Landscaping (+28.9%) and Kitchens & Bathrooms (+28.8%) outperforming the merchants generally. Seven categories grew more slowly including Heavy Building Materials (+21.4%), Plumbing Heating & Electrical (+18.1%) and Tools (+13.3%).

Compared to January 2019, a pre-pandemic year, total merchant value sales were 15.1% higher in January 2022, with two less trading days this year.

Over the same period of comparison, prices increased at a faster rate (+19.8%), while volume sales were down 3.9%.

The latest Builders Merchant Building Index (BMBI) report reveals that builders’ merchants’ value sales in January 2022 20 WINDOW NEWS | APRIL 2022

were 24.1% up on the same month in 2021, the strongest year-on-year growth seen in recent months. However it has

Ten of the 12 categories sold more with Landscaping (+32.5%) and Timber & Joinery Products (+31.9%) again leading the charge. Kitchens & Bathrooms (+11.4%) and Heavy Building Materials (+9.8%) also performed well, while Decorating (-1.5%) and Tools (-3.2%) sold less. Total like-for-like

TRADE NEWS value sales were 26.6% higher than January 2019.

Month-on-month total merchant sales were 28.7% up in January 2022 compared to December 2021, helped by three more trading days in January.

In the main categories, Timber & Joinery Products (+32.7%) did best, followed by Ironmongery (+30.7%), Tools (+30.6%) and Heavy Building Materials (+30.1%). Like-for-like sales were up 9.4%.

Mike Rigby, CEO of MRA Research who produce this report, said: “2022 is off to a flying start, with solid performances recorded across almost every category. However, we are seeing more evidence to support the industry belief that the sales boom we saw in 2020 and 2021 is slowing down, as volume

sales give way to price inflation.

“What impact these higher prices will have on builders’ merchant sales this year remains to be seen, but with households now facing the highest levels of inflation for 30 years, it may be the end of the Repair, Maintenance, and Improvement (RMI) boom which gave the industry such a lift during Covid.”

Emile can der Ryst, senior client insight manager – trade at GfK Retail & Technology UK adds: “January has seen a continuation of the recent growth trend, but even in January there were already expectations that this would slow down going forward.

February will now be even more uncertain due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, adding further instability to pricing indicators.”

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

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

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WINDOW NEWS | APRIL 2022 21

TRADE NEWS

Colour And Specialist Products Drive Growth For Scotland’s

Made For Trade Windows Glasgow’s newest fabricator, Made For Trade Windows, started making their own windows in September 2021, having previously bought in frames, in a bid to improve service and improve their offering of niche products.

Originally starting out as a trade counter in east Kilbride in 2017, and buying-in frames to sell on to end installers, owner James O’Hara established a new facility in Baillieston manufacturing windows and doors in the Deceuninck system in 2021.

Operations director Mark Owens, who was appointed in January 2021 to spearhead the move into fabrication, said the decision was always appealing.

22 WINDOW NEWS | APRIL 2022

“Fabrication is in our DNA,” he said. “It was always our longterm ambition to be a manufacturer, as we could see there was great potential in providing a direct manufacturing service to trade desks and installers. Not only that, but the ability to offer a broader product range and shorter lead time were also key aspirations.”

Made For Trade chose to partner with Deceuninck primarily because of the broad product range. Mark explained that specialist products like the Flush Casement and the Sliding Patio Door gave the fabricator access to a potentially larger customer base. As did the systems company’s colour offer.

“Most fabricators can’t offer a wide range of colour options on a standard lead time, so they don’t push colour out to their customers,” Mark said. “The fact that we have access to 30 colourways from stock definitely gives us an edge over our competitors.

“We’ve seen many examples in the past of whole projects being held up because of the delay on one coloured product or even profile, meaning a negative experience for the fabricator, the installer, and ultimately the end user.”

Mark said that Made For Trade is one of the few fabricators in Scotland to make sliding patio doors.

“When we were buying frames in, we had to buy sliding patio doors in from England, in some cases having to buy through other suppliers rather than the original fabricators,” Mark said.

“So, making them ourselves is a big thing because it allows us to control cost and quality to a far greater degree than we could previously.

TRADE NEWS “Manufacturing sliding patio doors allows us to offer customers a more complete package of products, at competitive rates, which they can’t necessarily purchase elsewhere.”

Similarly, Deceuninck’s Heritage Flush sash is providing Made For Trade Windows a unique supply opportunity.

“There still aren’t many fabricators in Scotland offering flush sash casement windows. However, given its increasing popularity in England we decided it was a good time to introduce

something new to our core product range. With its pleasing sightlines and similarities to traditional timber windows, particularly in wood effect foils, demand for the product is constantly growing and again this allows us to offer something our competitors don’t.”

Made For Trade Windows started making 100 frames per week, and has quickly grown to 200 frames per week, with significant growth on the horizon.

“Deceuninck’s Heritage windows haven’t really surprised

Partnering Up For

A Smart Flush

Kömmerling, Kubu and CWG Choices have all worked together to develop the industry’s first ‘smart’ flush sash window using a new Avantis multi-point lock developed specifically for the project, that also includes an innovative concealed mullion option.

smart-sensor technology. The Kömmerling flush sash has also been designed to be a technically better product utilising a 6-chamber design with a 7th pseudo chamber and added material at the bottom leg to aid window production with TimberWeld, MechWeld and seamless welding technoloWith the flush sash window market gies. continuing to grow at a pace, this new development points towards The new range of Avantis multhe fact that the market will enti-point locks ‘Works With‘ Kubu joy accelerated adoption of this as a sister brand of the mechanical new window type, but also with engineering side of the business,

us with their popularity given their huge popularity in other parts of the UK, while the comprehensive colour range and significant stock holding has allowed us to confidently start fabricating as we emerge from the pandemic, with a view to quickly growing our customer base,” Mark concluded.

For information on Made For Trade Windows visit www.mftwindows.co.uk For Deceuninck visit www.deceuninck.co.uk

while Kubu Smart is now a standalone business, firmly focused on developing the next generation of smart-sensors for windows and doors of all materials.

CWG Choices has a long history with Kömmerling as a manufacturing and development partner, while their experience of the flush sash window market also goes back several years too. The partnership is one that has flourished over what has been a speedy development programme with sales from the midlands-based manufacturer expected to be strong over the course of the next few months and beyond.

Kevin Warner, sales and marketing director of Kömmerling commented: ‘It’s been pleasing to experience a product development programme with all participants eager for success. Our flush sash window is a market leader by design and quality, whilst the Avantis hardware is very highly regarded too. The clever bit is when the windows are activated with the Kubu smart-sensor, something that will be showcased at the FIT Show in May.’ www.kubu-home.com www.cwgchoices.com www.kommerling.co.uk WINDOW NEWS | APRIL 2022 23

TRADE NEWS

Together We Achieve More There’s a new look for the Business Micros Group, as the industry’s leading software provider unveils a new website and a new logo and umbrella brand. For the first time, www.thebmgroup.co.uk links together online all four group businesses – Business Micros, BM Aluminium, The Consultancy and Glazing Vault.

solutions to production software, web design and lead generation tools.

The new website demonstrates the scale of the group, the depth of expertise which exists across software, data and web development, and showcases the senior team. It also reminds visitors of some of the product options available across the group companies – from data and online ordering

Graeme Bailey, managing director of the Business Micros Group, says that, while many in the industry may be customers of one of even two of the businesses, they are not always aware of what other resource exists within the group: “We’re reminding the market of the brands within the group and the

24 WINDOW NEWS | APRIL 2022

The new interlocking logo, featuring the colours of the four individual business, also illustrates how well they fit together and how their individual strengths combine to make a stronger whole.

shared culture and values which help to ensure that, whichever products you buy, you get the same level of expertise and the same commitment to delivering outstanding service.

“We’re also emphasising the synergies across the group companies and the benefits these bring to customers, particularly since The Consultancy and Glazing Vault joined Business Micros back in 2020. We are jointly developing our exciting new Touch software platform and have already launched our Touch Vendor stand-alone lead generation tool for installers. We will shortly be adding the joinedup Touch Portal pricing, sales and ordering tool for fabricators and adding more connected product innovations.

“Business Micros has been one of the industry’s best known and most trusted brands for more than 40 years, but we never stand still and continue to push forward and respond to what our customers and the wider market needs.” www.thebmgroup.co.uk

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TRADE NEWS With the new building regulations coming into force in June this year, Endurance Doors have confirmed that their engineered timber door platform complies with the new legislation, assuring continued strong growth through their Installer Partner network.

Endurance Outlines

Environmental Performance Credentials

The specification of a laminated timber core is the cornerstone of an Endurance Door that’s bolstered using PVCu CoolSkin door skins, a wet glazing process and the unique Moisture Barrier System, among other strong USP’s. It is a product proposition that has evolved over the years and the company continues to invest in product innovation as the latest ultra-premium Avantal door shows.

The environmental credentials are strong given the fact the engineered timber door leaf is a carbon sink, sourced from renewable forests within Europe and that the

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TRADE NEWS slab and frame are recyclable at the end of their useful life, claims the company. However, with continued product development aligned within their sustainable and reliability framework, Endurance is actively developing their door proposition to exceed future long term environmental as well as building regulatory standards.

Stephen Nadin, managing director of Endurance Doors commented: ‘The new changes to Approved Document L building regulations do not affect Endurance Doors as we are categorised as a timber door manufacturer. Yet at the same time we have a product development programme in place that is designed to meet the needs of any future legislation and further reduce our impact on the environment, thanks to our strong partnership with Metsa Wood and Rehau, among other business partners.’ https://endurancedoors.co.uk

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Fensa Hits 15-Millionth

Certificate Milestone Fensa, the government-authorised competent persons scheme for the installation of replacement windows and doors, has issued its 15-millionth certificate – an achievement that also marks the start of its 20th anniversary year.

The milestone certificate was issued to Shropshire-based Starbrite Windows, an original Fensa member since the scheme began in 2002, and a company which, in the two decades since, has never failed a Fensa assessment: “We joined

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by Fensa since. It’s great to be receiving their 15-millionth certificate this time,” said Starbrite Windows director Colin Nutall.

“We’re a family business trading for over 30 years and 90% of our business comes from customer recommendations. The introduction of Fensa 20 years ago was such a positive move forwards for the industry. Being a member of Fensa means our customers can be reassured our work complies with building regulations, is energy efficient, is registered with the local council and that our Fensa Approved Installer’s guarantee is backed by insurance.” www.fensa.org.uk

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TRADE NEWS

How The Housebuilding

Industry Can Prepare

For The Future Sustainable construction, the ability to adapt, the creation of an accessible property ladder, consideration of mental health in planning, and improving the performance of homes, have all been identified by industry experts as crucial elements in the future of housebuilding in a new industry whitepaper – The Homebuilders Insight Report.

The report, designed specifically to help housebuilders prepare for the future of homebuilding and build homes for the next generation, draws on five leading experts, all of whom share their insights on the challenges and opportunities the future of housebuilding presents. Curated by Victoria Brocklesby, COO and co-founder at Origin, the whitepaper includes in-depth thought-leadership from Cat Smith, director & co-founder at Pixel; Matthew Richards, partner at Ridge and Partners LLP; Ka28 WINDOW NEWS | APRIL 2022

ren Curtin, managing director at Graven Hill Village Development Company and Melissa Balk, associate at Fisher German.

Victoria Brocklesby comments: “The housebuilding industry is at a pivotal point and those who do not adapt will be left behind.

The way people live is changing and homeowners’ priorities are evolving – and fast. The industry must recognise this. With this in mind, we have collated the opinions of some of the industry’s most high-profile and well-regarded thought leaders, to share their views on what they predict for the future of housebuilding and how industry professionals should adapt.”

For professionals particularly concerned with homeowner lifestyle changes and the impact they are having on buying habits, Cat Smith looks at how the evolution of the homebuyer

has been accelerated by the pandemic, whilst offering advice on how the industry can prevent being left behind. Also feeding into this pool of thought is Melissa Balk, who considers the importance of mental health and wellbeing in planning. She discusses how this should be considered alongside climate change and biodiversity to deliver homes fit for the modern buyer.

Matthew Richards considers the retrofit challenge for housebuilders in creating homes that consider the energy and carbon required to run them. Similarly, Victoria Brocklesby argues that taking a holistic view of sustainability should be at the top of the industry’s agenda to ensure it is able to respond to the changing and realigned priorities of the modern homebuyer.

Finally, Karen Curtin considers the property ladder and the options available to buyers looking for personalised homes, offering food for thought to industry professionals considering the framework for the future of their business.

Download your copy of the Homebuilders Insight Report here.

Systems Ready

TRADE NEWS

For New Part L Requirements For Epwin Window Systems Changes to Part L of Building Regulations coming into force on 15 June 2022 mean big changes for the thermal efficiency requirements of buildings. Epwin Window Systems is already ahead of the curve to help its customers achieve the lower U-Value targets as its multiple systems already meet or exceed the new requirements, claims the company.

Phil Parry, business development director at Epwin Window Systems, said: “Epwin Window Systems has been leading the way in the industry for nearly 40 years. It’s why all our products are ready for the introduction of the new Part L

on 15 June 2022. It’s also why they will be ready for any future regulations too.”

The systems company is also supporting its customers by helping them get up to speed with the changes. It has produced a useful guide to the new regulations which is available to all customers on its Connect digital portal. It will also be running a live stream event on Connect where fabricators and installers can get immediate answers to all their questions about the new regulations from Epwin Window Systems’ technical experts.

to know that all our products are already compliant but we also know that fabricators and installers will have lots of questions about the changes and what they mean for their businesses and the wider industry. By providing a guide and offering a live discussion stream we can help them with the information they need.”

Phil commented: “It’s reassuring

www.epwinwindowsystems.co.uk

Emplas Launches Smart Returns

And Complaints Procedure Emplas has launched a new customer complaints procedure, allowing customers to register issues and trigger manufacture or supply of replacement product, through their smart phone.

team and processed.

The new system, accessed through its customer portal, EVA, fast tracks customer returns and complaints, capturing data at source, guaranteeing full visibility, and accelerating the supply of replacement products or fixes.

This major update moves the system away from reliance on email, also creating a new categorization process to make sure that the most customer critical responses are dealt with first. This includes new targeted response times, as well as fast-tracking of product through the production process.

“We do our best to get things right first time around but things can get damaged in transit and despite rigorous quality control procedures and our bar coding system, things can occasionally slip through the net”, explained Jody Vincent, sales director at Emplas.

“What’s critical at that point is that

“There’s also a clear audit trail so if you raise a complaint you can see exactly where it is in the response process”, added Jody.

we get a fix or a replacement product in place as soon as possible and we minimise disruption to our customers.”

Accessible through EVA, Emplas customers can now register a complaint, upload an image, and request and trigger a replacement, through a single simplified process.

This appears in a real-time customer service dashboard, and is immediately assigned to a member of the fabricators customer service

Access through EVA means that the new system is also fully mobile responsive, which means that providing customers have an EVA login, they can raise a complaint from site and their mobile without waiting to get back to the office. www.emplas.co.uk WINDOW NEWS | APRIL 2022 29

TRADE NEWS details about their property and instantly receive advice explaining how to improve the EPC rating. It will check for any available grant funding, give estimated costs for the work to be done, display a variety of monthly payment options and provide access to accredited installers nationwide. Austin believes this will be of particular interest to landlords and mortgage lenders as the new MEES (Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard) regulation comes into force and is already developing this offering with a number of parties.

Management Buyout At

Improveasy

Austin Barcley, CEO and original founder of Improveasy, a home improvement finance and funding specialist, has completed an MBO for a controlling stake in the business. Austin, along with key personnel Chris Antrobus – ECO funding division, and Jeff Poole – consumer finance, are aiming for continued growth for the Altrincham based business. Michael Berger also joined as new board member.

Improveasy is a one stop shop when it comes to improving the energy efficiency of homes and reducing carbon emissions. Their unique offering enables homeowners to make home improvements in the most cost-effective way, by accessing various forms of government funding and/or flexible payment options.

Improveasy is one of the UK’s leading managing agents providing nationwide funding via the Energy Company Obligation (ECO). The ECO scheme is designed to help homeowners install energy efficient heating and 30 WINDOW NEWS | APRIL 2022

insulation measures into their homes at little or no cost, and has a current fundin g budget of £1 billion per year through to 2026 supporting low-income and vulnerable households. New investment means Improveasy are now able to provide super-fast 48 hour payment terms to installers, which is attracting lots of new business to the company.

They also provide a range of consumer finance options across a panel of lenders to hundreds of installation companies looking to offer their customers flexible ways to pay. Installers don’t have to be FCA authorised either, which means they can focus on installing, whilst Improveasy takes care of the rest via their bespoke online tech platform.

The company is excited to be launching a new product later this year aimed at helping homeowners across the country not only reduce their energy bills, but also improve the EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) rating of their property. Homeowners input

Improveasy has been included in various high growth lists such as the Financial Times FT1000 in 2021 and 2022 and was previously included in The Sunday Times Fast Track 100 in 2019 and 2020.

Michael Berger commented: “It’s a pleasure to support Austin and the team on the Improveasy Group journey as they look to tackle the UK’s rising energy costs. Their solutions across both ECO grant funding and consumer loans will make a key difference in the improvement of average UK EPC ratings, with the government currently aiming for as many homes as possible to be rated band C or above by 2035. The entire team is committed to making a difference whilst also being one of the standout high growth companies in the ESG space.”

Fieldfisher provided Regulatory DD, Legal DD and Corporate Advice. Tom Ward, one of Fieldfisher’s corporate partners added: “Improveasy has built a robust business with strong revenues and has good potential to scale significantly in light of the renewed ECO4 scheme and the UK Government’s commitment to fund a £1billion per annum budget. We wish the team all the best with the future growth of the group following this buyout.” www.improveasy.com

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TRADE NEWS

Mercury Celebrates 20 Years Of Spectus Partnership Specialist trade fabricator Mercury Glazing Supplies is celebrating 20 years in business and 20 years of being a Spectus Vertical Sliding fabricator too. Steve Cross, director at Mercury Glazing, said: “As a business, Mercury is committed to the quality of our products and to meeting the needs of our customers across all market sectors. We continue to pride ourselves on being ahead of the curve when it comes to manufacturing the specialist high-quality products our customers demand and we were one of the first fabricators to manufacture the Spectus Vertical Slider system when we started in 2002.

Two decades later, the product remains as popular as ever, and we are delighted to be celebrating this milestone double anniversary.”

32 WINDOW NEWS | APRIL 2022

Steve is clear why his company is proud to have been a Spectus Vertical Slider fabricator since the beginning of its history: the product and the technical support. He commented: “The Spectus Vertical Sliding window was ahead of its time when it was first launched and remains so today.

This is down to the strength of the product design, the quality and structural integrity of the system and the product’s aesthetics, all of which continue to raise the bar in vertical slider system design. Add in the first-class technical support from Epwin Window Systems’ in-house team, and you have a winning combination.”

Mercury manufactures both the Spectus welded and mechanically

jointed vertical sliding windows, a combination it describes as meaning it can deliver what its trade, commercial and new build customers need. The Gloucester-based business has recently made several largescale investments across the business as part of its continued growth strategy.

Steve said: “Since 2020, we have doubled our turnover and remain well on track to continue to meet our growth strategy over the next four-years. We recently opened a second manufacturing plant in Gloucester, have made a considerable six-figure investment in automation machinery from Haffner and recruited several high-level internal appointments to our talented team.”

To mark the anniversary, Nic Rossano, business development manager at Epwin Window Systems presented Mercury Glazing Supplies with a commemorative plaque. Nic commented: “We have worked closely with Steve, Martin and the Mercury Glazing team throughout their 20-year history.

It’s a relationship that has grown year on year and we are delighted to celebrate this milestone anniversary with them.” www.epwinwindowsystems.co.uk

Time To Change

TRADE NEWS

The Way You Sell?

Homeowners’ habits have changed, and they won’t go back to choosing products based solely on price, which means selling strategies must change, according to a leading fabricator.

Nathan Court, sales director at Sternfenster, argues that while homeowners spent more on their homes during the pandemic – on higher value products – it is a mistake to think that consumer buying habits simply changed overnight.

“Even before the pandemic took hold, we were having a lot of success selling the StyleLine window as a high-end yet affordable flush timber sash window alternative,” he says.

“We found – and our customers found – that unless you were selling into a conservation area, there was no difference

between StyleLine and more expensive alternatives. People were pitching their aspirations really high, but they could still get a high-end product for their budget. Critically, though, they weren’t being driven solely on price.”

StyleLine was designed and developed by Sternfenster in 2015, by capitalising on the near invisible welds produced by the Graf Welder. Sternfenster was the first UK fabricator to own a Graf Welder, and now has three at its Lincolnshire facility. They produce a range of finishes, from a near invisible weld on foiled StyleLine sashes, to a 1.5mm pencil line finish on standard white outerframes.

Sternfenster’s best-selling product, StyleLine is available with a flush sash, is rated A for energy efficiency as standard,

and the multi-point shootbolt locks and MACO hardware provide PAS24-compliant security.

“We’ve found that homeowners’ views on aesthetics are changing,” Nathan says. “The window industry has gone from being driven by the demand for white squares, to about changing the look and the feel of your home.

“This is important in driving sales of StyleLine windows. On the one hand you’ve got more expensive alternative products out there which you can sell against – because it is a is a high-end product at a reasonable price point – and you’ve got consumers’ buying habits changing, and that’s really what’s driven the numbers.” www.sternfenster.com WINDOW NEWS | APRIL 2022 33

TRADE NEWS majority of the products we will be manufacturing will be from Sheerline’s range.

“Sheerline products allow us to serve our customers better. The overall system is simplified, meaning we hold less stock, and because the components are produced collectively on one site in Derby, we benefit from a far better and more reliable turnaround.” Rob ends.

‘Sheerline

Brings A Whole Raft Of Benefits’,

Says BSW Window Solutions Since becoming one of the first fabricators to add Sheerline products to its online ordering platform, BSW Window Solutions has been impressed with the innovation behind the supply and services offered by Sheerline Aluminium Systems.

“Sheerline brings a whole raft of benefits to our business,” comments, Rob Morley, managing director of BSW Window Solutions, “Using modern and innovative designs, with an attractive slim finish, it has been really easy to sell and with the excellent turnaround service we receive, we’re pleased to have it as part of our product portfolio.”

The Sheerline systems offers 34 WINDOW NEWS | APRIL 2022

many benefits to fabricators and installers. Its smooth, clean, seamless aesthetics not only looks impressive, but when it comes to performance, delivers exceptional thermal and security qualities, thanks to the use of Thermlock, a unique thermal-break system, and customised security hardware, says Sheerline.

Rob continues, “In spite of the pandemic, our turnover for aluminium products doubled last year, so much so that we took over an additional 17,000 square feet to house a dedicated aluminium production line and have committed to a further 10,000 sq. ft factory to produce bi-fold doors. The

Roger Hartshorn, CEO of Garnalex, says, “Hearing such positive feedback from BSW Window Solutions is brilliant.

We work hard to ensure the products we produce are innovative, attractive, and work well across all our supply-chain.

We have spent an enormous amount of time and thought into getting every stage right.

Rob highlighted the importance of an agile supply chain, and we want our customers to meet the ever-growing demand for aluminium products. Every major component in a Sheerline product is made by us, here in Britain, meaning we have more control of our supply chain to give customers shorter lead times. We also hold stock of our standard colour profiles, helping to transform delivery expectations for our customers.”

Continuing to reinvent the way in which the market perceives traditional aluminium systems, Sheerline’s two distinct systems – Classic, an ultra-secure beadless aluminium window system, and Prestige, a versatile and thermally efficient system, offer U-values as low as 0.9 W/(m2K) for triple glazing, and 1.3 W/(m2K) for double glazing. www.sheerline.com www.sheerlinevideo.com For more information about BSW Window Solutions, visit www.bsws.co.uk

TRADE NEWS

Ten-Year Milestone Sees SupaLite Look To The Future Preston-based roof specialists SupaLite is celebrating its 10-year anniversary this year, marking an important milestone for the company.

Originally launched in the retrofit and new conservatory market in 2012, the SupaLite tiled roof system has evolved over the years into a well-crafted design which features lightweight aluminium frames, humidity-proof insulation and custom tiles.

Tens of thousands of the SupaLite system have been sold in the last 10 years, providing installers from all across the UK with a lightweight, easy to install and desirable solid roof solution for

homeowners nationwide, says the company.

“Since we began back in 2012, we’ve continuously updated and tweaked our full product range to make sure we’re developing a first-class product for our customers,” explains David Watters, group chairman at SupaLite.

“As a team, we’re always looking at our offering to see what we can do to ensure the SupaLite roof constantly evolves so it’s better, faster and easier to fabricate and install. And, that’s why we’re still going strong ten years later.

“Marking a decade in the industry is a great achievement and one

John Mitchell Technical Manager Carl F Groupco

Experts in Hardware

we’re extremely proud of. It’s been a great first ten years because we’ve accomplished so much with our products and as a business.

“We’re continuing to make investments in a number of areas to really help us drive to new heights in the future. Not only are we working on the next generation SupaLite Roof System, but we’re also developing a new innovative trade and retail app. I can’t wait to see what the next decade has in store.” www.supaliteroof.co.uk

Get in touch and speak to one of our experts today: t. Peterborough: 01733 393330 t. Cumbernauld: 01236 721557

“ Carl F Groupco’s

hardware support throughout PAS 24 testing has been invaluable…”

Amanda Hale Roundbrand

e. sales@carlfgroupco.co.uk w. www.carlfgroupco.co.uk

TRADE NEWS

Shelforce Partnership ‘Top Notch’ For Housing Association Installer

force first, whether that’s windows, doors, fire doors and we only use another company if they can’t do it but most things they can do.

“They are always on the phone and if there are any issues they get them sorted straight away and you can’t ask for more than that. And, of course, with their experience in social housing and local authority projects they really know their stuff.”

With around 20 people working at Lutley Windows, the company is looking to continue expanding next year, and Mark sees the partnership with Shelforce as important in that too.

Mark added: “We are currently trying to get registered for our PAS 2030 Certification and we’re hoping towards the end of this year that we’ll be working in partnership with Shelforce’s business manager Howard Trotter so Shelforce will be supplying the frames for Birmingham City Council and we’re hoping to supply the labour.”

A West Midlands double glazing and installation company that specialises in housing association projects has said it ‘couldn’t ask for more’ from its partnership with Shelforce.

Lutley Windows has been working with Shelforce since last year and have described the Birmingham window and door manufacturer as ‘top notch.’

Shelforce specialises in providing PVCu and aluminium products to local authority building projects and employs some of the city’s most vulnerable people with 75% of its workforce disabled, and for Lutley Windows MD Mark Taylor the company was well known to him.

36 WINDOW NEWS | APRIL 2022

Mark started Lutley Windows nine years ago working mainly maintenance for one housing association with a bit of response fitting. By the time the company was asked to do planned works as well as maintenance, it was working with two housing associations.

“I’ve been in the business for over 30 years and knew all about Shelforce,” said Mark.

“When Stuart Stimpson from Winkhaus suggested trying them I jumped at the chance; it was a great idea, and we are absolutely over the moon with them and haven’t looked back since.

“Anything we do we go to Shel-

Howard commented: “We have developed a hugely valued partnership with Lutley Windows in a short space of time which I feel is testament to both companies. It’s been a pleasure to work closely with them and we’re looking forward to a lasting relationship with Mark and the team.

“We understand the challenges Housing Associations and Local Authorities face and what is important for both them and their tenants; they are under pressure to complete maintenance and refurbishment programmes on time and within budget and our flexibility and quick lead times are why we are such an attractive proposition.” www.shelforce.com

TRADE NEWS owner/managed model.

“When we set up the business, other people were too busy pleasing themselves,” he said.

“We knew we could do things better, which meant driving up the quality of the products we were manufacturing, and making promises we could keep.”

This is a sentiment he wants to pass on to the next generation of MB Frames directors, as the company puts together a new management structure, driven in part by Peter’s decision to step back from front line duty and taking on a consulting adviser’s role.

Peter Melville (left) and Andy Burns

Thirty Years Young For Bristol Fabricator Celebrating 30 years in business, Bristol-based trade fabricator MB Frames has announced a new management structure that will prepare it for its next phase of growth.

The company was formed in February 1992, driven by the desire of co-owners Andy Burns and Peter Melville to make the best PVC-U trade frames in the region.

MB Frames was established to service many of the smaller window installers in and around the Bristol area. Originally a Status fabricator, the company has stayed with Deceuninck when the Belgian firm bought Status in 1999.

“Deceuninck have supported MB throughout our growth and during the pandemic were easily our best supplier,” managing director Andy Burns said.

Long-standing employees Philip Purnell and Paul Young were promoted to director level.

“Phil joined MB Frames at the start, and has run and built the factory – literally – with his bare hands and leads by example,” Andy said. “Paul joined 16 years ago from Elumatec and took MB Frames to the next level. He developed important new customers and fostered a professional outlook from the whole company.

Both deserve this recognition.”

MB Frames also have a bright and hungry young management team behind them, with Tim Drewry running the AluK manufacturing, Tom Melville in charge of logistics, and Dan Elliott running the production and sales office.

Philip Purnell (left), Andy Burns, and Paul Young (right)

Today, MB Frames operates from a 30,000 square-foot unit in Fishponds in Bristol, and makes up to 900 frames a week for customers along the south coast, the south west and into south Wales.

Thirty years on, Andy said the original philosophy remains strong, even as he prepares the business for a future beyond an

“The pandemic gave us the incentive we needed to restructure the business,” Andy said.

“We want to be match fit for the future, while recognising the fact we have a very committed workforce: five employees have served 25 years here; six for 20 years; and a further 13 are approaching 20 years’ service.

“The company ethos remains the same: quality products at a fair price, supported by outstanding customer service.” www.mbframes.com WINDOW NEWS | APRIL 2022 37

VIEWPOINT your customers? Well, it’s not going to be as easy as it was last year (you don’t need me to tell you that).

Opportunities are still going to be there but differentiation in your product and service offer are going to be more important.

We’re doing things to help our customers to continue to do that.

We’ve added agate-grey-onwhite to stock, so we can now offer 30 plus colourways from stock. We’ve added a flush sash option to the 2500 range, to offer either sculptured or chamfered flush casements.

These are the small points of difference, which can help you and your customers win business.

Headwinds On The Horizon

By Rob McGlennon, Managing Director, Deceuninck It has gone in the blink of an eye, but we’re already through the first quarter of the year. The industry has been buoyant, and volumes remain high going into Q2. There are, however, headwinds on the horizon.

Our hearts go out to those impacted by the conflict between Russia and the Ukraine. Compared to the unfolding humanitarian crisis, its impact on business is inconsequential.

We need to recognise nonetheless, that there is an impact on all 38 WINDOW NEWS | APRIL 2022

of us and to be prepared for it. Oil and gas prices hit record highs before the conflict and have since been made worse by it. That’s something which is going to impact on our costs, your costs and those of other key areas of the supply chain, not least glass.

Homeowners are also feeling the pinch of rising costs. Home energy bills will jump by an average of around £700 to top £2,000 this year. Forecast to reach as much as £2,350 by March 2023 (OFGEM), it gives us all plenty of reason to upgrade the energy efficiency of our homes.

What does that mean for you and

We’re also pushing sustainability. Our recycling facility has the capacity to reprocess up to 45,000 tonnes of waste PVC-U a year. That’s the equivalent of preventing three million windows from going to landfill, delivering a 90,000tonne reduction in CO2 emissions compared to virgin material.

This story will win Deceuninck fabricators and installers business in the future, not because people will make purchases solely on green credentials but presented with two, three or more options at a similar price and delivering the same level of performance, we know that homeowners will choose products which they see as being more sustainable.

It is that combined offer – aesthetics and colour, security, energy efficiency and sustainability – which we need to sell on.

And that is the point. We haven’t needed to work too hard to sell.

Now we need to bring back in a little discipline and make sure that we’re delivering the right story to the end-user.

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VIEWPOINT

The Business Pilot Barometer offers a monthly analysis of the key trends defining window and door retail. It draws on real industry data collated by Business Pilot, the cloud-based business management tool developed by installers for installers.To find out more see www.businesspilot.co.uk/barometer

The Business Pilot Barometer Q1 2022 – down but not out

to move.

If they aren’t spending as big, homeowners are, however, still spending. Average sales were up almost 15% last month, leads were also up 14%, reversing the fall recorded in February on January.

By Neil Cooper-Smith, Senior Analyst, Business Pilot

IIt’s a big figure but probably only reinforces something that retailers have instinctively known.

Average order values crashed in the last month – by more than 50%.

This is consistent with what we have picked up anecdotally from our customers. Big ticket items and whole house replacements have been harder to get across the line, but single items, replacement doors, distress purchases, have continued 40 WINDOW NEWS | APRIL 2022

So, what can we take from this month’s figures?

Homeowners are definitely more cautious. The Government safety net – furlough – has been pulled from underneath them. The Stamp Duty breaks aren’t there, and the housing market has slowed down – at least in the sense that the number of transactions have fallen.

Despite this end-users are still exhibiting a desire or an aspiration to buy new windows and doors – their resilience financial or otherwise, longer term, is more difficult to gauge.

VIEWPOINT Conversion rates remained flat in March at around 33%, where they have been hovering all year. This compares to the 37.7% in summer last year, a time when the total number of leads was also 8% higher than last month’s figure.

In summary then, leads are significantly down on the hiatus of last summer and despite the monthon-month resurgence seen in March on February this year, they are harder to convert and coming in at lower value.

As we have highlighted, Government incentives have gone – and have been replaced indirectly by disincentives to invest in home improvements, so in a sense this shouldn’t be a surprise.

This includes massive increases in energy bills which will see average household energy costs top £2,000 this year, this on top of inflation and the uncertainty and volatility created by the conflict in the Ukraine.

The latter particularly has in our view accelerated the cooling of the market seen at the start of this year. As consumers adjust to continuing political and economic uncertainty, alongside the seasonal appeal of products, we believe we may see a moderate return of confidence in the months ahead Fundamentally, however, the landscape has shifted. We are also still to see the impact of the lifting of the energy price cap and how consumers respond to it. While reducing disposable income it brings energy efficiency into clear focus, creating market opportunities for windows and doors.

WINDOW NEWS | APRIL 2022 41

VIEWPOINT

O, L, And F –

And Don’t Forget Q –

What Fabricators Need To Know

About The New Building Regs

By Strafford Cooke, Technical Director, Mila Anyone who reads the trade press will know that the first of the new Building Regs come into force in June this year. Approved Document O is all about controlling overheating and can mostly be managed through external shading, Approved Document L sets new U-Value/WER limits for windows and glazed doors, and Approved Document F covers the need for ventilation in increasingly airtight homes.

The reason why these Docs have been released first is that they form part of the government’s Future Homes strategy, which aims 42 WINDOW NEWS | APRIL 2022

to reduce carbon emissions from new homes by 30% now and by 80% by 2025, but we can expect other relevant Docs to follow.

From a hardware perspective, the new Part O isn’t significant, but Part L is likely to mean an increase in triple glazing which, in turn, will place extra demands on hinges. I would advise fabricators who are in any doubt about the right specification of hinge to take advice from their hardware supplier.

However, it is Part F which is likely to have the most impact on our industry because it requires trickle vents to be fitted in virtually all new and replacement windows,

unless alternative mechanical ventilation is in place. From a personal perspective, I think this is totally counter-intuitive to the whole Future Homes strategy – why increase the thermal performance of windows and then cut a hole in them? I recognise the need to increase ventilation, particularly post Covid, but this feels like a sledgehammer to crack a nut.

There are also a number of practical issues around the new Part F as well: • what about the impact on noise levels in busy urban areas?

• what about the fact that some installations where there is more than one window will inevitably be overspecced and overventilated if trickle vents become the default option?

• what about the fact that the current testing regime for Part L allows U-Values to be assessed without trickle vents, just as it allows doors to be assessed without letterplates?

VIEWPOINT Despite my personal misgivings though, I do accept that, as an industry we have to respond to the requirement from June onwards. Mila customers can be reassured that we will have a full suite of compliant trickle vents in stock ahead of the deadline– in 2500mm2, 5000mm2 and 4000mm2 variants. The 4000mm2 version is likely to be the most useful in terms of matching the 4000mm2 and 8000mm2 Minimum Equivalent Area thresholds now set for different rooms.

At the moment, ADQ requires that all entrance doors and accessible windows going into new build properties (or those undergoing a change of use) meet the requirements of PAS24: 2012. Under the proposed changes though PAS24:2016 will be the benchmark standard and the regulation will be extended to replacement installations as well, meaning 3 Star TS007 compliance for door handles and cylinders, TS008 compliance for letter plates and P1A laminated glass for accessible windows and doors.

If fabricators think they have got their head around what is required for Document F, then they need to be aware that Approved Document Q is likely to be the next of the Building Regs to be updated – and, in hardware terms, it will be the most significant.

That will effectively put an end to the use of standard 6 pin cylinders in entrance doors and mean no more standard letterplates, as well as requiring that door viewers and door chains are fitted.

Another big change that could be implemented is that compliance will have to be shown by means

of a test which would prevent test documentation from being cascaded. Effectively, everyone would require their own test data.

While Mila and others in the hardware sector are poised to respond with products which already comply, there is considerable concern about the glass sector, simply because there isn’t currently enough capacity to supply the huge volumes of P1A glass that would be required.

Discussions are still ongoing between the various industry trade associations and the government on the implications of Approved Document F on the market and we are awaiting the start of the consultation on ADQ, so there may yet be some changes to the proposals. However, in the meantime, my advice, as always, is to contact Mila for help and advice. www.mila.co.uk

WINDOW NEWS | APRIL 2022 43

VIEWPOINT have survived. That was certainly the case in the immediate aftermath of the 2020 lockdown and to a degree ever since, with a number of big PVC-U trade suppliers actively turning down new business.

Some of these fabricators will have made a conscious decision not to increase capacity while the market was uncertain, or simply cherry picked the customers they deem to be most profitable, but I suspect others fall under the definition of ‘zombie businesses’ – effectively carrying so much debt that they have nothing spare to invest or grow even if they wanted to.

Is Your Current Supplier A

Zombie?

By Martin Nettleton, Managing Director, Euroglaze

The most recent research from Insight Data suggests that there were 35% fewer PVC-U fabricators in the UK in 2021 than there were in 2011 (a decline from 1860 to 1195). There’s no single explanation obviously; some 44 WINDOW NEWS | APRIL 2022

have switched to buying in, some have merged or retired and there have been some high-profile failures as well.

Capacity in the market hasn’t fallen but, for installers, the result is obviously less choice and a sense of reduced competition amongst those fabricators who

R3, the UK’s insolvency trade body, estimates that up to 1 in 5 UK businesses can be defined as ‘zombies’ – neither dead nor alive. All the cash they generate goes to paying debt interest, so they have no way of ever reducing the debt itself. Bounce back loans and CBILS are at very low interest rates and banks are much more reluctant to call in loans than they were before the financial crisis. So, unless there is a significant hike in interest rates, zombie businesses can stagger on for years – safely ticking over but unable to take advantage of any new market opportunities.

In our market, these zombie fabricators obviously help to maintain overall capacity, but they do little to help those ambitious installers who want to grow and want to work with a fabricator who has the means to grow with them.

By contrast, as one of the UK’s leading Rehau trade fabricators, Euroglaze has been actively reinvesting our profits into the business for many years and, never at a faster rate than since the 2020 lockdown. We have just opened a 500m2 factory extension in Barnsley and installed both new CNC saws and new

VIEWPOINT machining centres. Just as importantly, we have realigned our production lines and remodelled the workforce to optimise staffing levels so that we can increase capacity at will, without needing to significantly recruit.

Response To The Spring Statement

Current maximum capacity is 800 frames per week from a single shift, but we can easily adjust our shift patterns to do more if market demand remains at current levels and more new customers come on board with us. Crucially, if demand falls, then we can also scale back our capacity just as easily without it having a damaging effect on our profitability.

We don’t have a giant fixed cost production operation to feed with frames sold at unsustainable prices which undermines the whole market as some of our competitors do. Instead, we have an operation which is easily scalable either up or down, offering absolute security to Euroglaze customers no matter how big they are currently, or how big they want to become.

At many points during the pandemic, we have been producing upwards of 900 frames per week, while all the time maintaining the personalised customer service, outstanding quality and efficiency which has helped to make our name. Lots of these frames are for existing stockists and installers who are seeing their own sales increase, but lots are for new customers who have found that their existing suppliers simply can’t cope with demand.

With no signs of any market downturn as yet, we are still taking on new business from customers right across the UK. We are a true one stop shop supplier – offering the full range of Rehau products, including vertical sliders, bifold doors and even fire rated windows, as well as PVC-U and composite doors. www.euroglaze.co.uk

By Mike Parczuk, Managing Director, Sternfenster Rishi Sunak was the hero of the hour in March 2021 with the financial stimulus he put in place to help businesses survive the impact of Lockdown. Without it many companies would have failed, so the point I’m about to make is not a political one.

and-over again – well, not even zero rated – just a reduction to 5% VAT on windows and doors.

But then I remembered, contrary to what you and I might think, and despite the focus given to windows and doors in Part L (Conservation of Fuel and Power) of the Building Regulations, Government in this context does not class windows and doors as It is, however, one that comes from ‘energy saving’. a continuing level of frustration about how our product offer as an Hot water systems are; solar industry is seen – or perhaps not panels are; wall, loft, floor and seen – by Government. ceiling insulation, are; but the only mention of windows and When making his Spring Statedoors in the context of the zement, last week [23/3/22] Rishi ro-rated VAT break on ESMs, is in Sunak started to talk about cutting relation to draught proofing.

VAT on energy saving materials (ESMs) to zero, to encourage Part L, Part F – I’m not even gohomeowners to make energy ing to get into the debate – govsaving improvements, my ears ernment just doesn’t seem to get naturally pricked up. us, or is that we don’t get it?

There was Rishi making the link between energy prices, the costof-living crisis, and an opportunity to make homes greener and warmer through renewable energy sources and insulation.

So, we’re where we are. Part L, well that’s ok, Part F, the less said about that the better. But to not be included as an ESM? Something has to be going wrong somewhere don’t you think?

It’s something the window and door industry has argued for over-

I’m just asking.

WINDOW NEWS | APRIL 2022 45

VIEWPOINT years.

We know because we see it in T&K, our retail business. We’ve had to work harder to generate leads – and critically to convert them. But while we have had to dig deeper, we are continuing to win business, developing new retail lead generation tools which we’re sharing with our customers.

Some of the things that we have highlighted as a source of concern also have a flip side. Soaring energy prices make it more likely that homeowners will be prepared to invest in home improvements which reduce them.

The Lead Generation

Imperative

By Ryan Johnson, Managing Director, Emplas

Earlier this year, we highlighted the challenges that were lining up ahead of the industry – inflation, the cost-of-living crisis, spiralling energy prices, and materials and labour price increases.

At that time things were still busy.

Installers were working (and many continue to) to work through 12week order books.

But things are now starting to change. Many of those order books are back to six-weeks (although, this is something most window retailers would have been more than happy with, pre-Covid).

Nonetheless, looking ahead, we can’t afford to be complacent.

6.2% inflation recorded in February represented a 30-year-high. That’s before the conflict between Russia and the Ukraine set fuel and 46 WINDOW NEWS | APRIL 2022

food prices skyward. With further increases expected, inflation is going to hit every single one of us – and that impacts on our ability to spend.

War has also rocked consumer confidence. Why would you invest in home improvements in the face of so much uncertainty?

And there’s going to be no Rishi riding to the rescue. The Chancellor may have cut fuel duty by 5p a litre, and there were also future pledges about income tax, but he made it clear in his Spring Statement last week [23/3/22] that this time around, he’s not riding to the rescue.

That retail leads are down and that conversion rates are lower, against this context, shouldn’t be a surprise. In short, we’re entering a period where leads aren’t going to drop into our lap in the way that they have done for the past two-

The pinch of rising energy prices will be likely to be felt by the 800,000-plus households who bought properties in the 12-month run-in to the end of the Stamp Duty Holiday at the end of September 2021. Having just come through their first winter in their new homes, with the old windows and doors that they inherited in their purchase, they may be particularly responsive to messaging which highlights the energy savings that new windows and doors can deliver.

Property prices also remain high and, as long as they do, ultimately people will continue to invest.

Those who are being hit most acutely by the cost-of-living crisis are not, in general, homeowners.

Inflation is putting pressure on all households, but continuing high house prices give homeowners a greater resilience to rising costs.

In this sense our profitability this year is in our hands. It’s not going to be delivered by a government windfall, Stamp Duty holiday or Furlough, and neither is it going to be taken away by inflation.

We need to work and to innovate to win business. We’re doing that in T&K and we’re supporting our customers in doing the same, in theirs.

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PART L

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Compliant

3

PEOPLE

Bryan Bultema Appointed As New Managing

Director For ODL Europe

ODL Europe has announced the appointment of Bryan Bultema as its new managing director.

Bryan, who has been with ODL Inc since 1988, has been instrumental in supporting the vision and development of the global business. Following a successful career as vice president of Zabitat, an ODL company specialising in online home improvement products, Bryan will continue to lead ODL Europe and its day-to-day executive management team as the business continues to deliver its growth strategy across the UK market.

48 WINDOW NEWS | APRIL 2022

Bryan will replace ODL Europe’s former managing director, Nathan Barr, who will be stepping down from the role after four years with the company due to family commitments and to pursue new opportunities outside of the fenestration market.

Bryan’s appointment comes at an exciting time for ODL Europe and signifies the company’s continued development in composite doors and value-added product solutions.

Commenting on his appointment, Bryan said: “I am thrilled to join ODL Europe. Together with the strong talent Nathan

has assembled, we will continue executing our plan of creating and providing solutions that contribute to the success of our valued customers while honouring our values-based culture.”

Townes Parsley, executive vice president at ODL Inc, said: “We would like to thank Nathan for his huge contribution towards the business and wish him all the best for the future. Over the past few years, ODL Europe has experienced rapid growth and we have embarked on a future-proof investment strategy to scale up the business to continue to support our customers. ODL Europe has a bright and exciting future and we are looking forward to working with Bryan and continuing on the journey.”

Bryan will join ODL Europe on 1st April, 2022. www.odleurope.com

PEOPLE

Ultraframe Expands Marketing Team

Ultraframe has expanded its marketing team with the appointment of an experienced assistant brand manager, Laura Peel, to join the existing Ultraframe and Wendland brand managers. Laura joined the marketing team in late 2021, having previously worked within the Fabricator First area of the business, and brings many years of marketing experience to her new role.

Commenting about her new position at the Clitheroe-based conservatory and extension specialist, Laura said: “I started in the

Fabricator First team which was a great introduction to the business, but I was missing marketing, so I jumped at the chance to join the marketing team when the opportunity arose. The role is extremely varied, and I get to work on a range of Ultraframe marketing projects including new product launches, supercharging our customers, the Ultra Installer Scheme, and currently, working on our FIT Show stand.

I think there are some fantastic opportunities here at Ultraframe and would like to grow within the team and see where that takes me!” marketing@ultraframe.co.uk

Vertik-Al Transport Manager

Celebrates 30 Years This month, Vertik-Al transport manager, Tony Brown celebrates 30 years’ service with the powder coating specialist. To mark the occasion, Tony was presented (pictured) with a celebration cake, cards, and gifts from the management team.

During his 30 years Tony has worked in many departments throughout the business. Currently, he is responsible for managing all inward and outbound transport.

All drivers and the yard team report direct to Tony.

Commenting on Tony and his long-service, Vertik-Al managing director, John Park-Davies says:

L-R: Richard Gibbs, operations director; Tony Brown, transport manager; and John Park-Davies, managing director, Vertik-Al.

“Tony is one of the ‘grandees’ of Vertik-Al. His hard work, loyalty and dedication to the business is greatly appreciated. 30 years’ service is an outstanding achievement, and we look forward to celebrating many more milestones.”

Internal Promotion At

Carl F Groupco Hardware distributor Carl F Groupco has announced the promotion of Nathalie McKee to the role of sales office manager.

Having worked for the company for 11 years, Nathalie brings a wealth of valuable experience and exceptional product knowledge to the role.

Based in the company’s Peterborough headquarters, Nathalie’s role will see her manage the internal sales and customer service teams to ensure the company’s exceptional service levels are upheld and develop the team as required. She will work closely with Carl F Groupco’s sales director, John King, to coordinate between the external sales teams and provide a smooth buying process for customers.

John King, sales director for Carl F Groupco added: “Nathalie is a great asset to Carl F Groupco. Her promotion to sales office manager reflects the strength of her abilities and her commitment to the ongoing success of Carl F Groupco”. www.carlfgroupco.co.uk www.smartsecure.co.uk www.carlfdirect.co.uk WINDOW NEWS | APRIL 2022 49

PEOPLE

Two New Directors Join

Euroglaze Board Euroglaze in Barnsley, has just made two new board appointments as it plans for the next stage in its growth.

Glen Park has been appointed operations director and Emma Mitchell has been appointed finance director; and they are both now shareholders in what had been a family-owned business since 1979.

Glen has been with the business for many years and has long been the driving force behind Euroglaze’s successful implementation of lean manufacturing techniques and philosophies. Emma joined the business in 2017 and has helped to oversee a significant investment in a new factory alongside the existing one.

Martin Nettleton, the company’s

managing director and son of the founder Alan Nettleton, explained that the move reflects the fact that Euroglaze has transitioned over recent years into an employee-based organisation, shaped and driven by an outstanding workforce.

He commented: “Glen and Emma have both shown extraordinary commitment, determination, and leadership, particularly over the past 2 years when we have pushed ahead with a major expansion programme despite the Covid crisis. The business was strong with them as part of the management team, but I think it’s even stronger now with both of them on the board.

“They will be helping to drive the strategic direction of the business and shaping the way that we move

new Euroglaze Directors Glen Park and Emma Mitchell pictured with Managing Director Martin Nettleton (seated)

forward post-pandemic. Like many owner managed SMEs in this industry, Euroglaze is at the point of planning for its future and I think expanding the board, rewarding talent from within and empowering others to help make decisions will make that future very exciting.” www.euroglaze.co.uk

Rehau Expands Sales Support In The North market-leading window ranges, Robert will play a role in raising awareness of window recycling and co-extruded profile solutions as Rehau continues its efforts to lead in sustainable practices.

As part of its ongoing business investment, Rehau has appointed Robert Benn as commercial sales manager for Window Solutions, North.

Robert comes to the polymer solutions provider after more than five years as an estimating manager within the fenestration industry.

Bringing skills from his previous role, Robert’s new responsibilities involve assisting installers on both residential and commercial projects in the north of the UK. Robert commented: “My last role gave me first-hand experience working with suppliers such as Rehau, which I’m keen to take forward and use in this new position.

I’m excited to build relationships with installers, architects and specifiers alike, and understand their 50 WINDOW NEWS | APRIL 2022

Robert Benn

specific requirements to help them overcome any challenges.”

Last year Rehau announced a £10 million investment into a state-ofthe-art recycling facility located in the North of England, PVCR. Alongside growing the business and promoting the organisation’s

Speaking on Robert’s appointment, Barry Gilligan, sales director for Windows Solutions at Rehau added: “Robert’s vast knowledge of the entire construction process – gained from working with window fabricators and installers – equip him with unique skills which I am looking forward to seeing him apply in his role. I am highly confident he will excel at Rehau, given his insight into areas of the construction process which often lead to issues on-site and completing jobs.” https://bit.ly/3LDUTka

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FIT SHOW Advertorial

Made For Trade Looks Ahead to the FITness of the Glazing and

Fenestration Industry in 2022 52 WINDOW NEWS | APRIL 2022

MFT’s innovative range of Korniche products are set to place design firmly in the frame and showcase the very best in fenestration engineering, as the FIT Show returns to the Birmingham NEC in May 2022 Pioneering glazing manufacturer Made For Trade is delighted to be attending the FIT Show in May at the Birmingham NEC as the event returns to the exhibition roster stronger than ever, following a two-

FIT SHOW

year forced Covid hiatus. Widely promoted as being more than just a show but rather ‘the community for our industry’, the FIT Show will see MFT display an impressive stand alongside around 200 other exhibitors as the show welcomes attendees from across the entire industry in a long-awaited return to physical exhibitions.

A longstanding supporter of the fenestration and glazing industry event, Made for Trade also have

an in-house heritage promotional link to be celebrated, since the FIT Show platform was chosen for the initial launch of MFT’s Korniche roof lantern back in 2016. In the years since, that inaugural Korniche-branded product has gone on to receive a plethora of awards and become a sales phenomenon, whilst Made For Trade has continued to choose FIT Show as the number one exhibition of the year through which to showcase new innovations, plus design and

engineering prowess.

As an ideal event for product interaction and with which to display all the unique attributes of the range to industry professionals, this year sees Made For Trade return with a more extensive range – all of which benefit from the cutting edge design and engineering that has seen the Korniche roof lantern become such a renowned success following its 2016 FIT Show launch.

WINDOW NEWS | APRIL 2022 53

FIT SHOW Running for three days and free to attend for those registering in the trade, FIT Show is the UK’s number one exhibition dedicated to the window, door, hardware, and flat glass industry. The expansive layout will not only showcase countless products and allow attendees to see, touch and compare offerings such as the Korniche range up close and personal, but watch live installations and installation demonstrations. As a significant aside though, Made For Trade are thrilled that the event will allow a proper return to face-to-face networking across the entire glazing industry all under one roof after two years of online meetings and interaction restrictions.

The 2022 Made For Trade FIT Show exhibition stand will up the ante in comparison to the 2016 event, with the entire product range on display including the recent Korniche bi-folding door system - proudly offering the same engineering-led design prowess as the multi-award winning lantern roof – plus the flagship new Visoglide Plus sliding patio door system.

The Wynyard-based firm are set to display the range via an eye-catching and exciting 170sqm stand area, which is currently under construction in preparation for the event on 10-12 May 2022. Attendees can operate the products and compare the renowned construction, as well as speak to the on-site MFT team who help set Made For Trade apart from competitors.

Proudly offering the best products with the best service at the best prices, information and staff will be on hand not only to guide newcomers through the engineering-led design approach that always places Made For Trade one step ahead with benefits for retailers, installers and consumers – but also with information on everything from business support, to sales and services available. Should any colleagues be unable to attend the FIT Show, appointments can be arranged for a visit to see the same 54 WINDOW NEWS | APRIL 2022

products on display at the recently launched in-house showroom within Made For Trade’s North East HQ. Plus of course, with two years in preparation the MFT team will be keen to catch up at the event with contacts, partners and industry representatives alongside new customers set to join in 2022 sales success.

As one of the main sponsors of

the exhibition, Made For Trade are proud to support such a vital trade gathering alongside their physical attendance and be a part of the #FITShowFamily, whilst the event is evidence of another way that MFT and the Korniche brand are becoming synonymous with the very best that the industry has to offer. https://www.korniche.co.uk

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FIT SHOW

FIT Show

• ‘The importance of third party certification for fire doors’ – Kevin Underwood, technical director, British Woodworking Federation

FIT Show organisers have announced that its learning programme will tackle key industry issues when the glass and glazing industry’s only UK dedicated trade show returns to the NEC in May (10 – 12, 2022.)

• ‘Ironmongery fire safety’ – Douglas Masterson, technical manager, Guild of Architectural Ironmongers

To Tackle Key Industry Issues In May

Working in partnership with third party expert 12th Man Solutions, FIT Show has curated over 30 hours of CPD content. The learning programme comprises seminars, demonstrations and panel discussions all delivered by industry experts.

Kick starting at 10.30am on day one of FIT Show (Tuesday 10th May), visitors can attend free sessions including: 56 WINDOW NEWS | APRIL 2022

• ‘Five ways to turn your data into cash’ – Elton Boocock, MD, Business Pilot • ‘How to be seen on social media by potential customers, without spending a penny’ – David Glenwright, JS Social Media • ‘Preparing for changes to Building Regulations – meeting Part L’ – John McComb, technical services director, Reynaers • ‘The future of competence’ – Jon Vanstone, chair – Interim Industry Competence Committee (BSR/ HSE), Member – Building Regulations Advisory Committee (DLUHC), chair – Competent Persons Forum (DLUHC)

• ‘Standards and legislation affecting flat entrance doorsets’ – Patricia Sowsbery-Stevens, chair of the ‘timber doorset group’, Door & Hardware Federation

The full programme can be viewed here, there are limited spaces available for each session and visitors are encouraged to register early to avoid disappointment.

FIT Show’s in-person learning programme follows on from the launch of its hugely successful online learning event which took place in September and attracted over 250 delegates.

Next month (April), FIT Show will once again deliver an online event

FIT SHOW

Seal The Deal At The FIT Show

HY-SPEC 25, is a highly elastic sealant that is perfect for connection joints, expansion joints, glazing applications, composite panels and facades. It works particularly well where high movement occurs, especially between dissimilar materials such as in the perimeter sealing of uPVC frames, inside or out without cracking or shrinking, claims the company. It over paints beautifully with water-based paints and wood stain and, as with all Hodgson glazing sealants, HY-SPEC 25 meets the requirements of BS 8213-4 for the installation of windows and doors.

in the form of its business leaders roundtable in conjunction with Building Products Magazine. The roundtable will include input from experts across the fenestration sector who will come together to debate sustainability.

When FIT Show returns to the NEC Birmingham from 10-12 May 2022 it will bring together every link in the fenestration supply chain, all under one roof, for the first time in three years. Over 200 brands will display the very latest products and materials for use across domestic, commercial, private and public sector building and renovation projects.

FIT Show visitors can see the likes of door manufacturer Doorco, glazing experts Glazpart, window systems giant Kommerling, Roseview Windows, lantern roof and bi-folding door experts Made For Trade, Morley Glass, Ultraframe, VEKA and machinery giants Haffner Murat, Stuga and Emmegi.

Visitors to the Hodgson Sealants stand (S59) at this year’s FIT Show will be able to see some of the company’s range of sealants specially formulated and manufactured by Hodgson for the glazing industry for both fabricators and installers. As well as exciting new colours for its Silfix U8 and the ever-popular Silfix LMN, Hodgson will also be spotlighting its new Hodgson HY-SPEC 25 Hybrid sealant.

The company will also be showcasing its aluminium foil-packed sealants to help installers and fabricators hit their sustainability targets.

In response to a growing market trend for wood and neutral coloured PVC-U window profiles, Hodgson Sealants has launched new colour options to its Silfix LMN and U8 ranges.

Silfix LMN will now be available in Teak/Rosewood and Toffee/ Caramel while Silfix U8 will now be produced in Portland Stone, Mid Grey and Magnolia. Silfix U8 is a low modulus, neutral cure, solvent free, alkoxy silicone sealant that is approved for a variety of façade and glazing applications and works well even in cold conditions.

Silfix LMN is perfect for perimeter sealing around window and door frames and has excellent adhesion to a wide variety of building substrates. These new colours will match window and façade styles popular today, especially in rural areas and on older properties where the more usual brilliant white window profiles are deemed too harsh, especially against sensitive substrates.

WINDOW NEWS | APRIL 2022 57

FIT SHOW the window or door to power the raising, lowering and tilting of the blind – providing easy automation without the need for any hard-wiring by an electrician.

Now, providing an alternative option to the fully Loxone smart home compatible Uni-Blinds MB System, W Smart features a new Pellini plug and play smart hub called ScreenHub, a technology upgrade that means it can now be controlled using a smart phone app.

Morley Glass To Unveil Further Integral Blind Innovations At 2022 FIT Show Integral blind manufacturer Morley Glass will unveil two further innovations in its award-winning Uni-Blinds range at this year’s FIT Show.

The first is a completely new system for the health and social care sector, as well as other commercial and public buildings, called ScreenView. This provides installers with a solution for applications such as hospital and medical school door vision panels, where a mix of privacy and observation is required, switchable with ease, at different times of the day. Coupled with fire rated glass, this offers a solution that is both practical and fully compliant with the requirements of a fire door specification, claims the company.

Unlike any of the Venetian or pleated blinds available in the current Uni-Blinds range, ScreenView has two layers of wide slats arranged in a ladder style, which move up and down to provide an open view for observation or complete closure.

58 WINDOW NEWS | APRIL 2022

As with every product in the UniBlinds range, ScreenView is manufactured by Morley Glass in Leeds using the ScreenLine integral blind systems from Italian pioneer Pellini S.p.A. A second innovation making its debut at the FIT Show is a smart home solution for the eco-friendly, solar powered integral blind system, Uni-Blinds W Smart.

Already available with a remote control device, the W Smart is a Venetian blind that utilises a small solar panel on the exterior face of

Both innovations will be on display at the FIT Show for installers to explore and try-out at the Morley Glass stand, number N31, which will take place at Birmingham’s NEC from 10th to 12th May. Ian Short, MD of Morley Glass said: “These exciting new products reflect our commitment to be continuously innovating to give installers and end-users ever more attractive and suitable integral blinds, whatever their requirement. ScreenView and our new technology for W Smart satisfy very different needs in completely different markets, but what they both have in common is that they enable end-users to take a different approach to how they incorporate shading and privacy into their windows and doors.”

As with all Uni-Blinds integral blind systems, which sit between the panes of glass in a double glazed unit, ScreenView and W Smart are manufactured by Morley Glass and delivered nationwide at no additional cost in as little as 10-12 days.

Full design and installation support is available to help installers achieve the highest quality solution across the Uni-Blinds range. This range includes five control systems and the option to upgrade the glass specification for greater thermal or solar control performance in any of the integrated Venetian, pleated or pleated blackout blinds.

Find out more about Morley Glass: www.morleyglass.co.uk

CREATING BRIGHT FUTURES

The Aluminium Systems House with it all in-house From dedicated design teams and rigorous testing facilities, to never-ending stock-holding and an invaluable training academy to name just a few. Discover why, when it comes to looking for the right aluminium systems house, we’re the only one with it all in-house.

To find out more simply call our house on 01291 639 739, visit alukgb.com/ourhouse or get in touch to arrange a tour of our showroom and facilities at our HQ in Chepstow, South Wales.

ALUKGB.COM/OURHOUSE

FIT SHOW

SupaLite To Exhibit Major Product

Developments At FIT Show 2022 SupaLite, the Preston-based tiled roof specialists, will be launching some major new product developments to their roof system at this year’s FIT Show.

The company says visitors will be given exclusive access to view the latest developments which makes the SupaLite roof even faster to manufacture and install thanks to these changes.

The SupaLite team will also be showcasing their new trade and retail pricing app which is due to launch in the spring. The app will provide roof costs for business owners and prices based on customers’ retail pricing. It also links to the company’s installer hub, SupaLite FUSE, which means users will have free access to a database 60 WINDOW NEWS | APRIL 2022

for their retail sales.

Some customers were lucky enough to get a sneak peek of these latest products and the app during the SupaLite Seminars, which were delivered in major cities across the UK at the end of last year. But for those who couldn’t attend, the FIT Show offers the perfect opportunity to get up close and personal with SupaLite’s product range, marketing packages and the popular installer scheme.

“It’ll be great to get back to the NEC in Birmingham and exhibit at this year’s FIT Show,” explains Wes Clarkson, sales director at SupaLite.

“It’s fair to say exhibitions like this have been hugely missed in our in-

dustry. We’re really looking forward to sharing our new products and software with more customers and speaking to them face-to-face in just a few months’ time.

“We shared a preview of our new products at our SupaLite Seminars, and we received a really positive response to the latest products and our new app. We can’t wait to show more people what we’ve been busy working on.”

Joining the newly enhanced roof system on the stand will be the new flat roof orangery. According to SupaLite, this latest product has been designed to be one of the fastest flat roof systems on the market, with recent tests revealing it takes around three hours to install a typical 6×4 roof – excluding roof coverings.

All the new products are said to complement the original SupaLite roof and just like other SupaLite products, the new flat roof orangery will also be fully accredited for building control JHAI. The FIT Show is running from May 10th till the 12th and SupaLite will be on stand M60. www.supaliteroof.co.uk

FIT SHOW

Marketing Fever To Hit Purplex says visitors to this year’s FIT Show will be able to access the best marketing advice thanks to its presence at the exhibition.

nesses will be facing more challenges as the market steadies and the supply chain and labour issues continue to bite. The purpose of the Marketing Village is to provide fabricators, installers and the wider fenestration market with valuable advice on how to navigate the changing landscape and create real growth.

The agency will be showcasing the latest marketing techniques and technologies from its 105m² ‘Marketing Village’ stand – including an augmented reality product that Purplex says ‘will transform the way installers sell conservatories’.

“At Purplex we’re advising businesses to focus on their brand and reputation, and align sales, operations and marketing under one clear strategy – and I look forward to sharing my thoughts on how best to apply this.”

FIT Show Courtesy Of Purplex

The agency’s senior team will also be running a series of specialist seminars outlining the tools and trends which will help companies to maintain momentum throughout 2022, including a daily slot from managing director Andrew Scott, who has acquired, built and sold

Purplex Marketing MD, Andrew Scott

several window companies over a 35-year career and now advises some of the biggest names in the industry.

Andrew commented: “After an unprecedented two years, busi-

Digital transformation is a real focus for many companies this year and the Marketing Village will showcase the latest digital solutions for the fenestration industry, as well as the newest trends in PR, social media, SEO, brands, video and more. purplexmarketing.com

“Both ranges are compatible with most major systems, and because they’re manufactured in-house, come at a very affordable rate, potentially saving aluminium fabricators thousands of pounds a year.

AT Precision Set To Reveal New Investment

At The FIT Show Since early 2020, AT Precision has been supplying fabricators with quality, affordable aluminium bi-fold hardware, compatible with most major systems on the market, claims the company.

Now, the supplier is excited to attend the FIT Show this May, ready to announce a new addition to its range that will help its customers even further.

Sales director Michael Hewitt comments: “Since opening our doors, we’ve been supplying our Everglide range of bi-fold hardware, which includes door rollers, top guides, pull handles, cleats and shootbolt handles, as well as the Everseal range of high-quality gaskets.

“Over the past 12 months, we’ve further expanded our portfolio with a range of plastic ancillaries, a high-quality range of espagnolette window handles, and the Ingenious Duplex MPL from Ingenious Locks.

“The combination of all these recent product investments means we’re able to supply fabricators with everything they need to manufacture a bi-fold door, bar the actual profile and glass – but that’s soon to change.

“Thanks to a recent strategic investment to be revealed at the FIT Show, we’ll soon be able to supply more than just hardware, but profile as well, giving the full offering to our customers and saving them even more money, time and hassle, with no compromise on quality.

“The FIT Show is going to be a fantastic opportunity to meet up with potential customers and discuss the future of an ever-evolving industry, and I very much look forward to the event, and showcasing everything AT Precision has to offer.”

Visit the AT Precision exhibition at stand S55. www.atprecision.co.uk WINDOW NEWS | APRIL 2022 61

FIT SHOW

Solar Calibre Is ‘Always

Open’ At FIT Show Solar Calibre Doors will be making its debut appearance at FIT Show 2022 (stand R11), supported by its new ‘Always Open’ marketing campaign and showcasing its extensive range of GRP and timber composite doors, under the brands Benchmark and Craftsman.

According to Solar CalibreDoors, its flagship Craftsman collection ‘unites precision engineering with the beauty, strength and resilience of timber’, while Benchmark offers an energy efficient, entry level composite GRP range.

The business is developing further its specialist doors, in particular its fire door range. It will be showing its existing Warden FD30S timber

fire doors, as well as extending the range with the addition of a GRP fire door. These products are claimed to be safety tested to the highest, most exacting standards, the entire range exceeding fire safety regulations.

Already an established supplier of composite doors, Solar Calibre is looking ahead, exploring new technologies and glimpsing the future of door specification. Visitors to the stand will be able to take a look at some options and give their thoughts to the Solar Calibre team, which is always open to observations and feedback from customers.

ence at FIT Show, Solar Calibre will also be represented on stage when Gareth Jones joins a panel on 10th May, 1.10-1.40, discussing ‘Facing up to the skills shortage’ with industry colleagues.

As well as having its stand pres-

https://bit.ly/36SoIin

Extrudaseal To Attend FIT Show 2022 technology and how it may be able to benefit their business. The 2019 event was very successful for us, we spoke direct to fabricators and installers about the benefits of working with Extrudaseal, as well as showing off our wide range of products, and we’re looking forward to showing visitors our new PremaSeal range at this year’s event.

Extrudaseal, gaskets and seals manufacturer for the window and door industry, is exhibiting its entire product range on Stand G6 at FIT Show 2022, including PremaSeal and its range of Se-Lon foam seals.

“We are excited about the return 62 WINDOW NEWS | APRIL 2022

of FIT Show, and we can’t wait to see so many industry faces in one place again,” says Chris Byers, managing director at Extrudaseal.

“The event provides fabricators and installers with a fantastic opportunity to meet other people in the industry, learn about the latest

“PremaSeal is our premium range of seals and gaskets which have integrated anti-stretch technology to help prevent shrinkage or stretching and the team at Extrudaseal are looking forward to showing fabricators and installers the benefits of this product faceto-face.”

FIT Show 2022 will be taking place at the NEC Birmingham between 10-12 May, and you can find the Extrudaseal team on Stand G6. www.extrudaseal.co.uk

FIT SHOW

Chance To Win A Luxury Golfing Trip On The Fentrade Stand At FIT Specialist aluminium fabricator Fentrade has announced a prize draw open to all visitors to its stand at this year’s FIT Show – an overnight stay for two people at Celtic Manor Resort in Newport with a round of golf as well. Chris Reeks, Fentrade’s director, said: “Fentrade is a proudly Welsh business based in Newport and near to the Celtic Manor, which is one of Europe’s 64 WINDOW NEWS | APRIL 2022

finest golfing destinations. It’s a championship prize!”

To be in with a chance of winning, all you need to do is visit Fentrade’s stand at the FIT Show and leave your business card to enter the draw. The winner will be drawn independently on the final day of FIT Show. As well as being in with a chance of winning, every entrant will also

receive a free golf related gift.

Celtic Manor Resort is set in 2,000 acres of panoramic parkland in the beautiful Usk Valley just off the M4 in Wales. The hotel and spa are distinctively designed to create a feeling of understated glamour, while the resort is home to three championship golf courses and was home to the 2010 Ryder Cup. Fentrade says the opportunity to win the fantastic prize won’t be the only reason to visit its stand at the FIT Show; ‘the company is rapidly developing a reputation as a go-to aluminium fabricator and the FIT Show will be a valuable opportunity to have a conversation’.

FIT SHOW

Insight Data To Reveal Science Behind

Data At FIT Show 2022 Specialist data supplier Insight Data will be returning to this year’s FIT show to speak to visitors about the science behind its own data and CRM software.

The award-winning company provides business data lists and in-depth market intelligence on the home improvement and construction sector, with hundreds of sales and marketing teams currently using the data for targeted direct marketing and customer acquisition.

The Insight team will be onhand to share expert knowledge about utilising marketing data to grow a successful and profitable business and, reveal the research and trends from the latest industry report The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of products from industry brands such as AluK and Kestrel Aluminium, all manufactured at its state-of-theart facilities in Newport. Fentrade says it backs this up with a commitment to service and attention to detail from a company with a management team that has a wealth of industry experience behind it.

Visitors to the Insight Data science-themed stand will also be able to have a free demonstration of the latest SalesTracker software and learn about all five of the databases which include key contacts from the fenestration industry, local builders, architects, main contractors, house builders and builders merchants from across the UK.

So, to find out more about an aluminium fabricator that’s developing a reputation for excellence – and to be in with the chance of winning a luxury prize too – visit stand N34 at the FIT Show, which runs 10-12 May at the NEC in Birmingham.

Kirsty Winter, partnership manager at Insight Data, said: “The science that goes into data is a powerful thing and we’re excited to attend this year’s FIT Show to showcase exactly how businesses can fully utilise our data and software to help grow their company.

fentradealuminium.co.uk

“There’s so much more to In-

Kirsty Winter

sight Data than customer acquisition. There are a number of ways that building products and related suppliers can use Insight Data to build a more successful, profitable and valuable business and we will be explaining exactly how they can do it across what is sure to be a busy three days.”

Taking place from Tuesday 10 May to Thursday 12 May at the NEC Birmingham, the FIT Show plays host to some of the biggest names in the glass and glazing industry. www.insightdata.co.uk WINDOW NEWS | APRIL 2022 65

PRODUCT NEWS

Nationwide Windows

First To Offer New Prosecure

1 Star Cylinder From Mila 953879879341Nationwide Windows was quick off the mark when Mila launched its new anti-bump 1* BSI Kitemarked cylinder at the end of 2021.

The Rugby-based fabricator switched to the ProSecure cylinder for all its composite and PVC-U doors, pairing it with Mila’s popular 2* SupaSecure stainless steel security handle to provide trade, retail and commercial customers with a simple route to maximum 3* TS007 security compliance.

Mila’s new enhanced security 1* cylinder is accredited to PAS24, TS007 and Secured

by Design and comes with the added reassurance of the Kitemark which guarantees that quality and performance is tested and audited regularly via an independent 3rd party, says the company.

For Nationwide, the 1 star/2 66 WINDOW NEWS | APRIL 2022

star combination is a practical and good value option, particularly suitable for its new build and social housing refurbishment contracts. It offers maximum security compliance, but still gives residents the option to order any additional keys quickly and easily from any high street locksmith.

Daryl Cashmore, Nationwide Windows’ operations director, said: “For us, this is a solution which works across all our markets, where PAS24 and Secured by Design compliance are pretty much standard requirements now.

‘Buying both the cylinder and the handle from Mila means we get top quality products which are designed to be fitted together, a range of handle lever options and finishes, and guaranteed continuity of supply.

“Mila became our hardware

supplier of choice in 2018 and since then they have lived up to all our expectations. Quality and service is great and, even during last year’s supply chain crisis, they didn’t let us down.”

The addition of the Mila ProSecure 1* TS007 cylinder to Mila’s range means customers now have three levels of choice when it comes to cylinder security, depending on the application and price point. At the top of the range, there is the Mila ProSecure 3* anti-snap cylinder, which meets the Master Locksmith’s Association coveted Sold Secure Diamond Standard, in the middle is the new enhanced security ProSecure 1* cylinder with anti-bump technology, and, at entry level, there is Mila’s ProLinea BreakSafe™ cylinder. https://bit.ly/3qZOqrT www.nwd.co.uk

PRODUCT NEWS

New Extra Strong Door

Restrictors From UAP

Hardware specialist UAP Ltd has launched a new range of extra strong door restrictors to help people feel safer in their homes.

Designed as an alternative to the traditional door chain, the extra strong door restrictors from UAP allow people to communicate with visitors while preventing entry. This

enables them to check the identity of visitors and safeguard against forced entry, giving them the confidence to answer the door and open it fully once they are satisfied there is no threat.

A robust solution, manufactured from zinc, with a one-hour fire rating, the extra strong door restric-

tors have been designed by UAP’s in-house product development team to enable ease of use by people with arthritis or restricted hand movement, making them particularly suitable for elderly and vulnerable householders.

Julian Roberts, technical services director at UAP comments: “Many older people and those living alone feel anxious about answering the door without knowing who is calling, and this anxiety has increased during the pandemic when there have been fewer visitors and less social contact.

“The UAP extra strong door restrictors offer a much more robust defence against forced entry than traditional door chains, with a solid bar that secures the door in an ajar position. They are also less fiddly to use too.” www.uapcorporate.com

greenteQ Orion Retains Its Integrity PVCu back door, for example.

Orion keyed alike sets are processed and despatched usually within 3-5 working days.

The greenteQ Orion TS007 3 star profile cylinder from hardware specialist VBH is now available in bespoke keyed alike suites.

Until now, keyed alike cylinders were available in factory-produced pairs or batches of 10, but all the cylinders were matching in size and finish.

With the new option to open and re-pin Orion cylinders, customers can now have cylinders of different sizes and finishes, all operated by the same key; perfect in a home with a composite front door, an aluminium bi-fold and a

Dan Powell, head of sales at VBH, who has been heavily involved in the development of Orion said: “We are delighted to advise our existing customers and the market at large that everything is now in place to produce customer-bespoke keyed alike sets.

“Orion has proved incredibly popular with door manufacturers and installers, as well as the locksmith industry, since its launch in 2021.

The key alike option will only enhance its appeal.”

Orion cylinders are approved to Kitemark TS007 with a full 3 star rating. They are available in key/ key, and key/thumb turn variants.

End users are encouraged to register their new cylinder for the free proteQ10 snap guarantee. proteQ10 will pay the end-user £2000 direct if a break in is achieved due to the cylinder snapping within 10 years of the installation date.

Dan points out, “greenteQ Orion cylinders that have been repinned through VBH still retain the integrity of their TS007 Kitemark 3 star classification, which means that we can continue to offer the proteQ10 snap guarantee on these barrels.

“It’s important that fabricators and installers are aware that this is not the case with all cylinders or re-pinning services. In many cases, once a cylinder has been opened, the TS007 Kitemark is void.” www.vbhgb.com WINDOW NEWS | APRIL 2022 67

PRODUCT NEWS

Yale Hardware Passes Annual BBA Certification

This tells the end user that not only have these products been independently tested to ensure they conform to the required standards, but that our factory is regularly inspected too. This gives added peace of mind and confidence in the reliability and longevity of the hardware.”

The annual testing includes laboratory-based testing, online evaluation, product inspections, life expectancy assessment, quality management review and training review, which all need to be passed to a high standard.

Yale has announced that both the Virage Window Handle and Yale Window Hinge have once again passed the annual BBA certification process.

The BBA certification is an industry recognised guarantee, proving the ongoing consistency of not only a product’s performance and quality, but also the manufacturing process. It is distinctive in that all certified products are not only subject to a QA assessment, but also must pass a full product and manufacturing process audit every 68 WINDOW NEWS | APRIL 2022

year.

Grant Stratford, technical director for Yale Door and Window Solutions, comments: “We are thrilled to have upheld the BBA certification for our Yale Window Hinge and Virage Window Handle for another year.

“Unlike the BBA assessment reports, where the products are assessed once and then no further evaluation is conducted for 5 years, the certification scheme inspects the product and factory on an annual basis.

The Yale Window Hinge is a versatile solution that is proven to perform and suits a variety of applications, claims the company. Alongside the repeated backing of the BBA certification, it is tested to BS 6375 parts 1 and 2 for window performance, tested to BS EN 1670 – Grade 3 corrosion resistance (96 hours) and Secured By Design compliant, when fitted with Yale ancillary security devices. Yale is so confident in its protection that it’s covered by the Yale Lifetime Security Guarantee* – offering an additional level of reassurance to homeowners. www.yaledws.co.uk *Subject to T&Cs

DoorCo: “Flip Is Delivering A

PRODUCT NEWS

Superior Seal, Faster.”

glazing tape – a painstaking stage in the door glazing process – saving customers time and cost. FiP saves on average 3 minutes per cassette installation and removes that additional component cost. It performs better too as it eliminates the risk of gaps, particularly in the corners where water ingress is often an issue. FiP’s uniform seal prevents any water ingress, which was proved during testing where it performed exceptionally well, easily meeting the BS6375-2015 and EN1027 standards, and most impressively, achieving over 1000pa through the glazing aperture during weather testing. This is further supported by DoorCo’s extended 10-year warranty.

“Customers are enjoying how much Flip is enhancing their composite doors offering. Flip not only performs well, it’s easy to install and comes with a refreshing choice of designs, which are unrivalled on the market. In the range there are two unique profiles, two new surface textures that have been painstakingly matched to our door finishes, three overall designs, and 23 style variations. From clean, modern profiles through to traditional bevels, there is an option for any style of composite door with Flip Standard, Flat Grained and Flat Stipple.

One of the unique features of Doorco’s innovative glazing cassette system, Flip, is its ‘Foam in Place’ technology that delivers a superior seal. DoorCo has announced further investment to massively increase production volume and resilience to drive down lead times, with the installation of an on-site robot line to apply the Foam in Place technology, totalling half a million pounds.

Dan Sullivan, DoorCo MD explains: “Flip has had a significant impact on our business and is now used as standard across our entire range. Delivered against a turbulent backdrop, Flip has given

us greater control over the supply chain ultimately allowing us to offer better customer service because it’s accessible and we’re able to maintain a good stock holding.

This in turn is reducing our lead times.

“To improve this situation further, we have made further investments to significantly increase our production capacity for Flip with the addition of an on-site robot line to apply Flip’s unique Foam in Place technology (FiP). FiP technology is a foam seal applied by machine to the outer frame during manufacture to deliver a superior seal and negate the need for hand applying

“Flip is delivering a world of choice to our customers, from our wide range of styles for traditional, contemporary and designer composite doors, its well thought-out design that is improving weather performance and production efficiencies, and most importantly, a good level of stock on the shelves, supported by a consistent and reliable supply that is under DoorCo’s control.

“FLiP will be featuring on our stand, Q11 at the FIT Show in May. Come and visit us to find out more about Flip and the other products in the DoorCo portfolio, or if you don’t want to wait until then, talk to us today by calling 01625 428955, or visiting: www.door-co.com/flip It’s time to Flip.”

WINDOW NEWS | APRIL 2022 69

PRODUCT NEWS Our range of ventilators have different air intake sizes: the smaller the air intake, the better the acoustic value; the greater the air intake, the lower the acoustic value because you’re letting air pass through a point in the building facade.

It’s very important that specifiers, fabricators, and installers understand what it is they’re buying, what they’re trying to achieve, and how they’re going to achieve it interface-wise with their products.

When More Ventilation Doesn’t Sound Good

By Wayne Irvine, managing director of AW Louvers In an open letter to the window industry, managing director of AW Louvers, Wayne Irvine, explains why the update to Approved Document F of the Building Regulations is vital to the health of buildings and their occupants. But there can be downsides.

Buildings need ventilation because they need to breathe.

When you ventilate a building, you help to get rid of those things that are bad for occupants’ health, such as mould and disease.

There has been a general tendency to restrict ventilation by reducing air leakage in buildings.

Part F of the Building Regulations has gone some way to solving that problem, but there are other issues associated with ventilation, such as poor acoustics.

70 WINDOW NEWS | APRIL 2022

If you put vents in your windows, you increase the chance of introducing outside noise. The more air that you allow through a ventilator, the worse the performance you will get with the acoustic performance.

Ventilation is there to improve the quality of life inside houses and offices, which is why our vents – either trickle vents, through-frame vents, over-frame vents, or glazed-in vents – are designed to keep outside noise to a minimum while providing the optimum air flow for a healthy home.

The primary objective of a trickle ventilator is to provide background ventilation. Whereas an acoustic trickle ventilator needs to provide background ventilation and acoustic performance, so you must consider the acoustic performance in the open position so that you’re getting both ventilation and acoustic benefits.

Also, if you don’t get the right ventilation strategy early on, you’re going to have a problem with cost. There is a big difference between an acoustic trickle slot vent and an over frame vent, which provides more air and higher DNEW sound reduction.

So, you’ve got to get the right product for the right application.

And it’s important the ventilation specifications reflect the sound reduction in the open position, not the closed position, because you only get ventilation in the open position. The performance levels in the closed position are somewhat academic.

We can provide solutions to cope with most scenarios. For example, the SSH 2500EA Acoustic Trickle Ventilator from AW Louvers has a slot height of just 11mm, and can provide a sound reduction of 46Dnew in one acoustic model in open position, and 48Dnew with two acoustic models in open position. This is market leading performance in trickle slot ventilators.

Ventilation is there to improve the well-being of building occupants. While we focus on improving air flow within a building, it is vital that we don’t lose sight of a window’s acoustic properties. www.awlouvers.co.uk

PRODUCT NEWS

Quickslide

Partners With Glazpart To Offer Trickle Vent Solution

(L-R) Quickslide’s Tom Swallow with Mick Davies and Dean Bradley of Glazpart

With the controversial Part F of the revised Building Regulations coming into force on June 15th this year, trickle vents will become a requirement on the majority of windows installed in new build and replacement projects.

With compliance being mandatory, window and door fabricator Quickslide has partnered with glazing accessories manufacturer Glazpart to come up with an ideal trickle vent that will offer aesthetics that will prove attractive to buyers, whilst also satisfying the requirements of the Building Regulations.

Quickslide approached Glazpart when it became clear that the requirement for trickle vents

would become statutory, tapping into the firm’s reputation for developing customised solutions for a range of glazing accessories, and especially for trickle vents. The Glazpart Link Vent chosen by Quickslide for its range of PVCu casement windows and doors uses aerodynamic calculations to deliver double the volume of airflow through a trickle vent with half the footprint of conventional types. Thus, compliance with Part F may be achieved using the same number of trickle vents that were required under the old legislation.

According to Quickslide, the fear of spoiled aesthetics through the inclusion of trickle vents has been alleviated due to the care taken in the design

of the Link Vent. Glazpart has ensured that the vents are not only discreet but also colour matched to Quickslide’s casement profile, including a carefully selected range of finishes that blend in perfectly with the company’s 26 stock colourways.

Quickslide sales & marketing director, Tom Swallow, was quick to praise the response by Glazpart in providing a solution for his company: “At Quickslide we take a practical approach.

The requirement for trickle vents will be mandatory from 15th June so it was imperative that we did something about it to provide an ideal solution for our customers. Glazpart’s Link Vent is an excellent solution for our casements, satisfying the statutory airflow requirements in a unit that is attractive and very discreet.

“The partnership with Glazpart continues to evolve and while developments of a bespoke vent solution unique to Quickslide’s flagship Legacy VS are kept tightly under wraps for now, we’re confident that we will be ready with a product range that not only looks great but also complies with all mandatory performance criteria.

After all, we’re not here to sell windows, we’re here to make sure our customers can,” revealed Tom. Dean Bradley, Glazpart’s sales and marketing manager commented: “This was a very interesting exercise. Where so many in the market are complaining about the insistence of trickle vents under the revised Part F of the Building Regulations, Quickslide showed pragmatism and challenged us to provide them with great solutions that will satisfy regulations whilst also providing attractive vents appropriate for Quickslide’s distinct product range.” www.quickslide.co.uk WINDOW NEWS | APRIL 2022 71

PRODUCT NEWS

Trickle Vents Are The New Hardware, Says Glazpart Article by Glazpart Many of you will be aware of the impending changes to the building regulations especially the requirement for trickle vents to be used on most windows installed from the 15th of June 2022 for new build and replacement windows! This is being done due to the lack of value attributed to the cost of poor ventilation in dwellings by all interested parties from Installers to homeowners. Add a lack of information and education and there is little incentive or motivation to improve the environment in dwellings.

This lack of good ventilation then gets locked into a dwelling for decades and then ends up with remedial works and potential poor health outcomes due to the building’s ventilation provision. The estimated benefits being between £21m – £91m (its difficult to estimate the beneficial NHS costs!)

Therefore, it is now the government’s view is that there is a need for regulation to address these issues, as the market isn’t installing a solution. This can be seen in the studies used in this review which clearly showed that only a small number of homes met the existing minimum ventilation provisions recommended in ADF 2010: 2006.

They audited 55 sites for compliance to AD F and only 2 sites complied to the 2006 regulations!

This was due to a lack of value given to the need for the provision of background ventilation by house builders, fabricators, Installers combined with a lack of education of the homeowners as to the need.

With trickle vents to be fitted to most windows this now presents opportunities for the supply chain 72 WINDOW NEWS | APRIL 2022

and installers to add value, turn over and margins to their products.

Today’s trickle vents are significantly different to their predecessors in terms of addressing issues of design and performance. The Link vent from Glazpart for example has, depending upon how you view it either reduced its size by 50% or increased the equivalent area performance by 200%. The 5000-link vent delivers 5000EQA using a 13mm rout or 4000EQA on a 10mm rout with just a 454.5mm width. Consequently, you can fit (depending upon the application) the same number of vents you fit today in a habitable room to comply to the new 8,000mm2 EQA requirement per habitable room.

It’s the scope of the windows that needs to be understood as the previous guideline of only fitting vents to replacement windows where the windows have vents fitted has gone and the minimum requirements for background ventilation must be installed, depending on the room type, especially as the use of the night vent position has been specifically excluded as a means of compliance.

What has changed however is how the products look, with the opportunity to upsell a trickle vent with a basic, better and best product. The key is to sell these as you would a high-end specification handle.

Fabricators and Installers can now offer you coloured or colour on white vents: A basic trickle vent is one with the vent colour matched to the profile colour you customer wants and that reduce their visual impact.

Looks great on anthracite grey, cream and any number of other grey shades.

A better tricklevent can be delivered If the profiles are foiled with the embossed “tick” effect, they can give you a better product that matches the surface effect camouflaging it into the profile colours on the inside and outside of the window, even on white foiled windows.

The best and ultimate trickle vent can deliver a premium where the windows are wood grained, using various technologies we can now match these effects on the window. Creating an impressive premium finish on Golden oak, Irish Oak, Natural oak and even Anteak.

The added value is significant and should be seen as a route to make your offer different from the competition. Most investments in new windows as we know are not totally about price. If it were, everyone would buy a white window with plastic handles, and we wouldn’t have seen the rise of coloured windows. To see the latest designs visit https://glazpart.com/link-vent/ and for the widest range of colour options https://bit.ly/3NKyDHm According to Dean Bradley, sales and marketing manager at Glazpart: “The Link vent has been a success as it addresses most concerns of the fenestration market and house holders alike. With vents half the size of traditional products and camouflaged on profiles using a range of finishes using a range of technologies the supply chain can add value”.

PRODUCT NEWS

Quickslide’s Foiled VS Lead Times Shrink, As Demand Grows Quickslide’s designated supply partner of foiled profile has expanded and increased capacity, reducing lead times for stock woodgrain VS windows to less than two weeks.

traditional period charm.

According to Quickslide, at a time when many other fabricators are experiencing significant challenges in fulfilling the demand for woodgrain profile, the company is living up to its name by catering for the increasing demand for coloured and foiled products, fast.

Quickslide says thanks to their attention to detail – from near invisible joints to run-through sash horns, a deep bottom rail and period-style hardware – its Legacy range of vertical sliders replicate traditional timber frames to give all the appearance of wood with the enhanced benefits of PVC-U, earning Quickslide ‘Vertical Sliding Window Company of the Year’ at the recent National Fenestration Awards.

The company is a leading fabricator for heritage-style PVC-U sash windows, which continue to grow in popularity among homeowners looking for the long-life, low-maintenance, energy efficiency and security of modern windows without sacrificing authentic looks and

“The vertical slider market has grown in recent years as more and more consumers realise they don’t have to compromise on aesthetics to get the benefits of PVC-U, along with the choice of the most on-trend colours and finishes,” said Quickslide’s Sales & Marketing Director Tom

Swallow.

“Whether it’s preserving a heritage building in a conservation area, or adding an elegant, classic look to a new build, it’s all about being authentic and individual while maintaining the very highest standards of performance.

“Quickslide’s woodgrain foiled vertical sliders encompass our near 20 years of experience and expertise, to replicate timber in a range of grains and colours that enable homeowners to add a personal touch to their house design. And now we can do it even faster, with our speedy 2-week lead times, and as if that wasn’t enough quotations are usually returned the same day offering the most effective turnaround time from start to finish.” www.quickslide.co.uk WINDOW NEWS | APRIL 2022 73

PRODUCT NEWS

Conservatory Transformation

Case Study Mr & Mrs Ratcliffe live in a beautiful, detached stone farmhouse in Yorkshire and had an existing hardwood conservatory which they decided to update with the latest in conservatory technology. Their aim was to create a modern new space in which to socialise and relax. Having used 74 WINDOW NEWS | APRIL 2022

local company, Ryburne Windows, many times, and knowing that they would receive a fantastic level of customer service, they had no hesitation in turning to them for this latest project.

An Ultraframe roof was considered the perfect choice for this

project which is in an exposed location almost 1000ft above sea level. Ultraframe says every Ultraframe roof is designed to withstand the worst possible wind and snow loads at the exact postcode of the installation.

This means that no matter what the weather, an Ultraframe roof will stand up to the worst of it.

Explaining further about the conservatory transformation project, homeowner, David Ratcliffe, said: “Our old hardwood conservatory was in need of upgrading and after speaking to Ryburne Windows, they recommended an Ultraframe roof for our new design as they said they are the best on the market. We upgraded all of the windows, doors, and the roof from hardwood to the latest in

PRODUCT NEWS

PVCu technology and chose a beautiful agate grey colour, which blends perfectly with the stone of our home. The range of options available from Ultraframe was excellent and we chose a new Glass Roof with self-cleaning glass and a modern gable design above the French doors.”

The views surrounding Mr & Mrs Ratcliffe’s home are nothing short of breathtaking, and so it’s no surprise to hear that their newly-upgraded conservatory has become the hub of their home – used as a garden room, an additional lounge, for breakfast dining, as well as a beautiful space in which to entertain.

The conservatory is furnished with sofas to relax on, along

Before And After

with an area for dining, and a stunning teal green Welsh dresser, which takes pride of place against the house wall.

A neutral colour palette with splashes of colour that perfectly complement the agate grey finish of the roof and windows makes for a beautiful space with a calming feel that is perfectly suited to the host property.

Explaining how upgrading their conservatory has given the room a whole new lease of life, David concluded: “We absolutely love our new conservatory, and it has so many uses.

It’s an extra socialising space, we use it to relax in, we entertain in here, and I can’t wait for summer when we’ll be using it all the time. It’s a very flexible space and we love how the roof is self-cleaning. It’s also a much warmer space than our previous conservatory. In addition to all of this, we have increased the value of our home – what’s not to like! We would definitely recommend Ultraframe systems to anyone else looking to transform an older conservatory like we did.” www.ultraframetrade.co.uk WINDOW NEWS | APRIL 2022 75

PRODUCT NEWS ble speedlock system optimises glazing bar compression, makes the roof simple to fit and ensures fast fit, first time, every time, says Ultraframe.

Livinroof Just Keeps Growing!

Ultraframe has reported a 43% year-on-year increase in sales for its Livinroof solid roof system, which it says continues to grow in popularity, despite the strong growth in the tiled roof market.

Commenting about the industry’s appetite for the contemporary grey and glazed hybrid roof system, Ultraframe marketing director, Alex Hewitt, said: “Much of the attention around solid roofs in recent years has been around tiled roofs, such as our Ultraroof system. They are extremely popular as they are the closest alternative, visually, to a traditionally built slate and timber roof. However, while tiled roofs have taken much of the ‘limelight’, our other solid roof system – Livinroof – has been quietly increasing in popularity and has recently hit a phenomenal 43% increase in sales vs this time last year.”

There are many reasons why Ultraframe believes that Livinroof has seen such dramatic growth.

Based on the company’s original Glass Roof, Livinroof is familiar to surveyors and fitters and extreme76 WINDOW NEWS | APRIL 2022

ly simple to install. Available in almost any shape or size, Livinroof is the ideal choice for any style of extension, and with a pitch as low as 5°, can even be used for creating contemporary low pitch lean-to’s. Glass panels – including shaped glazing – can be integrated virtually anywhere into the design at no extra cost, giving natural light where needed and creating a stunning feature on the interior of the roof.

As with all Ultraframe systems, fitter-friendliness is at the heart of the system and Livinroof is no exception. A patented adjusta-

Explaining further, Alex said: “When you look at the many plus points of Livinroof, it’s no surprise that we have seen such tremendous growth from the system over the last 12 months. Many homeowners realised during the various lockdowns that they needed more space on their home and Livinroof is a fantastic way to achieve this. Its contemporary good looks, coupled with its many innovative features and class-leading performance make Livinroof an easy choice for installers and builders wanting to take advantage of the boom in home improvements.

These same features also made it the perfect choice for us to use on our new range of Garden Rooms.

While Livinroof can already achieve a fantastic U-Value of just 0.16, we are currently working to enhance its thermal performance even further to ensure it exceeds the changes to the Building Regulations which come into force in June.”

To support the growth of the system during the pandemic, Ultraframe ran a series of live webinars and training events to help Livinroof users understand more about the system and the support available, all of which are available to rewatch upon request on the company’s YouTube channel. One of Ultraframe’s new ‘explainer’ videos is also available to support new or prospective Livinroof users, with all the features and benefits of the roof clearly demonstrated.

Concluding, Alex said: “Livinroof is a fantastic option for any style of new extension, or for replacing a shaped conservatory roof on existing window frames. We are continuing to enhance the system and hope to see its popularity continue to grow.” www.ultraframetrade.co.uk

PRODUCT NEWS

Pyramid Aluminium Launch Energy-Saving Slimfold Bi-Fold Door

Sheerline Prestige Secures PAS24 and SBD

Approval Pyramid Aluminium has launched its SlimFold bi-fold door that achieves a 1.4 W/m2K U-value with standard double glazing.

SlimFold offers ‘easy clip-in beading’, with a 45mm wide slimline sash and is the latest addition to the Purelight aluminium system range.

Pyramid Aluminium says thanks to an innovative insulated thermal break, SlimFold bifold doors achieve a 1.4 U-value with a Low-E argon-filled warm edge glass unit, complying with the June changes to Part L of the building regulations.

SlimFold has a super slim 45mm sash to give a narrow 100mm meeting stile, one of the slimmest on the market. Sashes can be up to 1.1m wide and 2.5m high, to create large glass areas with minimal frames.

“There has always been a high demand for more glass and less frame so we’re really excited that we’ve achieved such a slim profile to help homeowners create better views” says Paul Bailey, managing director of Pyramid Aluminium.

“The most impressive thing about SlimFold is that there is no compromise. Despite having one of the slimmest frames on the market, it still offers incredible thermal efficiency and security. We knew that installers were preparing for changes to part L, so we had to create something which complied with this. The multi-point shoot bolt locking system also features two hooks and three deadbolts for extra security, so it is the perfect all-round bi-fold door option.”

According to Pyramid aluminium, the SlimFold bi-fold is built with installers in mind, with an aluminium clip-in bead making quick work of glazing, for an easy and speedy installation. Pre-delivery assembly and inspection also saves time on site.

Paul Bailey added: “On top of all the performance benefits, SlimFold is also super easy to fit. Every door is assembled on a vertical jig and inspected before delivery and our right first time manufacturing process saves customers time on site.” www.pyramid-profiles.co.uk

As part of its commitment to offer customers the best products possible, Sheerline Aluminium Systems has achieved PAS24: 2016 on its Prestige window system.

Prestige is the second Sheerline product to gain Secured by Design accreditation, the UK’s official police initiative that works with companies to improve security on buildings.

Prestige builds on the success of Sheerline’s Classic range, a slim, beadless system that also passed the BSi BS 4873:2016 / PAS24:2016 security performance test in 2021. The test evaluates the strength of a window at each locking point, as well as its overall performance when under attack.

Product design director, Adrian Redshaw stated, “PAS24: 2016 for window units is set at a specific standard to ensure the complete product resists attack. It focuses on withstanding manipulation of the window hardware and combines mechanical loading, leverage and pressure, and impact testing. The Prestige window came through the tests without a hitch, exceeding many of the required classifications needed to gain a pass certificate and allowing us to attain endorsement by the Secured

by Design initiative.” www.sheerline.com WINDOW NEWS | APRIL 2022 77

PRODUCT NEWS

Garden Rooms

Designed Online

The Garden Room Designer from Making Your Space makes the process from enquiry through to order seamless, the company says and it’s also a platform that can be dropped on to other websites and specifically for their expanding network of Design Partners.

As home improvement season begins to unravel, homeowners are now actively looking at ways 78 WINDOW NEWS | APRIL 2022

in which to extend their living area with many now enjoying the benefits of a hybrid home/office working environment. A garden room is the ultimate additional premium space, claims the company, but until now the challenge has been to find a way in which these functional rooms can be designed individually.

The Garden Room Designer from

Making Your Space follows considerable investment in the business and allows a bespoke room to be created in 3D in just a matter of minutes. Sizes can be changed at the click of a mouse as can the location of windows and doors, roof overhangs added and even internal electrics and skirting boards can be added, along with other useful functionality.

Everything can also be priced in real time for a finished priced, with garden room costs fully customisable at the back end. From a consumer’s perspective, a finished design and price can be agreed at a single sitting and a confirmed order also sent directly to Making Your Space for checking and

PRODUCT NEWS

Streamlined Pricing And Ordering Platform From Premier Arches

With their new pricing and online ordering platform from arched and angled frame manufacturer Premier Arches, fabricators can now get their quotes within seconds, 24 hours a day, allowing them to swiftly get on with the job at hand, claims the company. production scheduling, as part of a paperless process.

Ryan Crossley, director of Making Your Space commented: ‘We’re in the digital era now when you build a car on a configurator and even chose the options on your new home in 3D. With this investment in technology, we’re enabling our design partners to create bespoke garden rooms in real time and with the option of an installed price, based on carefully audited and customisable build and installation costs. It also removes the need for a garden room show village, given the level of detail and the availability of our mini-pods for sales and marketing purposes.’ makingyourspace.co.uk

Managing director Sean Greenall comments: “Pricing and ordering arched and angled frames has been a complex and time-consuming job for years, but our custom-built revolutionary online pricing and ordering platform has changed this.

“We are the only arched frame supplier in the UK to offer a platform like this, allowing fabricators to price and order even the most complex arched and angled frames in a wide range of profile systems, including glass, accessories and hardware, in a matter of seconds.

“They can also securely save their quotes and view their orders through a unique login

portal on our website, taking full control of the ordering process and getting ahead of the competition.”

The St Helens-based company transforms the often daunting procedure of profile bending into a simple and pain-free process, saving fabricators time and money, and helping them win more lucrative projects which would otherwise be turned down.

Sean continues: “At Premier Arches, we pride ourselves on our exceptional manufacturing quality, our clear and honest customer service, and our ‘make life easier’ offering, something which our pricing and online ordering platform contributes to.

“Around 60% of our customers are already making use of the platform, and we’ve seen first-hand the impact it’s had on streamlining their processes.” www.premierarches.co.uk WINDOW NEWS | APRIL 2022 79

PRODUCT NEWS

The core Window Designer software allows fabricators to design windows that are manufactured and delivered to their customers. Other products, which improve efficiencies during manufacture and delivery, can then be bolted on.

“With Window Designer, we have created a seamless suite of products to get information from the homeowner to the window installation company, through manufacturing, and back out to the end user again,” Greg said.

Greg Beachim

Manufacturing

Error Costs More Than A Remake Window remakes cost more than the material and labour, according to a leading window design software provider, who said unnecessary overheads can be significantly reduced if the right software is used, saving businesses thousands of pounds every month.

“If you factor in the delay to other products in the manufacturing schedule, the delivery to site, the potential delay to the project, and the reputational damage, then the cost of that one remake is much more than what you first estimated,” Greg Beachim, sales manager at First Degree Systems, said.

“Yet, these errors can be significantly reduced if the right design software is employed. Not only that, but further efficiencies can be realised that also add margin and profit to the bottom 80 WINDOW NEWS | APRIL 2022

line.”

Window Designer automates what was once a manual process, where a product was drawn on to a sheet of paper, which was then emailed to a window company. Someone would then be employed to reprocess that order on to another system to be then sent down again to the fabricator to be re-processed again.

“At every stage you’re creating a point of risk, a point of cost, a point where extra problems can be added in,” Greg said.

“And, with input costs being pushed up due to the global supply shortages industry, some fabricators could face further margin erosion if they don’t do something about the costs they can manage, such as unnecessary waste.”

Sales teams will sit with homeowners with Fengo2 to design windows that help win the sale. This gets fed into Cloud Retailer, which allows window installation companies to create instant quotes, release jobs to manufacture, and check the status of orders in real time.

Once the order is with the fabricator, Production Manager offers visual planning for greater productivity, and Delivery Manager populates delivery routes.

Other bolt-on software includes Stock Assistant, an integrated stock management system, which offers just-in-time stock ordering, and Barcode Tracking, which gives full visibility of the work running through a given production facility.

Also available is Zandi, a CRM tool with pre-quote and pre-order facilities, which are seamlessly converted to Window Designer quotes and orders.

“A seamless integrated product speeds up the window design process, and reduces the possibility of error and the associated costs,” Greg said. “And by using the software to its fullest potential, you are also realising further benefits that create extra profit.” www.firstdegreesystems.com

PRODUCT NEWS

Kubu Window Smart Sensor, Ready To Roll

calibration.

As a smart home platform, Kubu provides both security and lifestyle benefits, including their ‘SureSecure’ location alerts, full smart-home integration, family sharing, under-attack, weather, and air-quality notifications.

Ryan Bromley, co-founder of Kubu

Following a thorough development and testing programme, the newest member of the Kubu Smart Security family is ready to launch, with the first Avantis ‘Works with Kubu’ FMT window locks now in stock, together with a brand-new website allowing consumers to purchase their all-new window sensors coming in a matter of weeks.

Kubu smart-sensor technology, and the platform that it runs on has been proven and perfected over several successful years in consumers’ homes across the UK. Avantis says the launch of the window sensor sees the introduction of ‘the most ad-

vanced smart security sensor yet in the fenestration industry’.

It is completely concealed within the frame, and is able to report a multitude of statuses, from ‘Fully Secure’ to ‘Open Wide’. It even knows when the window is in ‘Secure Night Vent’ mode.

The Kubu Window Sensor uses their own floating-sensor technology, which allows the sensor to move with the window over time, helping the sensor to overcome such issues as sashdrop. According to the company, this means it will always provide accurate status reports without the need for repeated setup or

All the latest Avantis hardware ‘Works with Kubu’ and will be showcased at the FIT Show on stand Q31 as Ryan Bromley, co-founder of Kubu points out.

He said: “This year’s FIT Show is huge for the industry as we continue our march into the smart home market. Not only do we have a whole host of new developments in our Smart tech, but we now also have a comprehensive range of Avantis multi-point locks for both windows and doors that all ‘Work with Kubu’.”

He added: “We are developing additional products with other hardware manufacturers too.

All this means our customers can now offer consumers Smart Security Technology throughout their homes. There’s no longer any need for fabricators and installers to wait. We’re smarter than ever, and we’re ready now, that’s why we are urging everyone in the industry to ‘Be Smart, Work with Kubu’.”

For information about working with Kubu as a manufacturing partner or Kubu Pro Installer visit www.kubu-home.com/trade WINDOW NEWS | APRIL 2022 81

MACHINERY

Dimple Glazing Keeps Pace With Demand

With CNC Machining Centre From Haffner Aluminium fabricator Dimple Glazing has just invested in a new Fom Industrie Adir C Fom CNC Machining Centre from machinery experts Haffner. Dimple Singh, general manager of Dimple Glazing said: “We wanted to increase our manufacturing efficiency and output to keep pace with demand. High quality automation was the route to go and we knew Haffner was the machinery supplier we needed.”

82 WINDOW NEWS | APRIL 2022

Dimple approached Haffner because she’d worked with Haffner’s commercial director Bryan Dando previously. “Bryan’s industry knowledge is second to none so we knew we could trust his recommendations. Our choice was more than justified because his expertise, hands-on approach and after sales support have been invaluable.”

The Adir C Fom CNC Machin-

ing Centre from Fom Industrie gives Dimple Glazing everything it needs. It’s a 3-axis machining centre with 0°, 90° and 180° pneumatic worktable rotation. It will support the company as it expands its output and increases its efficiency to keep pace with demand for its aluminium windows and doors. It’s a future-proofed choice too because Dimple Glazing plans to expand into PVC-U fabrication and the machine is capable of handling both materials, claims the company.

The machine was installed in February and is already more than living up to expectations.

Dimple said: “We are delighted with the machine’s output and quality. It’s already made a massive difference to our factory floor.” www.haffnerltd.com

DELIVERING

THE BEST

IN SEAMLESS WELDING TECHNOLOGY

STAND H21

• Superior transom welding quality

• No imperfections, even on curved profiles

• Utilising patented V-Perfect® transom welding

• Suitable for both V Joints and Butt Joints

• Precision accuracy – delivering a perfect weld every time

• Faster fabrication

• Weld seam elimination

• Fully automated processes

DISCOVER MORE on the range of Graf Synergy machines EXCLUSIVELY from Haffner

Tel 01785 222421 www.haffnerltd.com The Accolade Building, Common Road, Stafford, Staffordshire, ST16 3EQ

WINDOW NEWS | APRIL 2022 83

MACHINERY customers.

“Traditionally, it’s been the case that fabricators either manufactured aluminium or PVCu products, but now, so many manufacturers are offering both.

Kall Kwik Serves

An Ace With New Aluminium Partnership Kall Kwik is ‘ACE-ing’ aluminium machinery needs thanks to a brand-new partnership with leading machinery supplier FOM. The FOM range features a huge selection of aluminium machinery, including cutting and machining lines, double and single head saws, corner crimpers and more.

“As the aluminium market continues to grow, we wanted to

expand our ACE care package to fabricators who manufacture aluminium windows and doors, and FOM is the ideal machinery partner to help us deliver this,” says Chris Bailey, business development manager at Kall Kwik.

“FOM is an established machinery brand with a wide product range, and this gives us access to a whole new market, as well as increasing our offering to existing

“The new partnership with FOM means that fabricators have access to both aluminium and PVCu machinery from Kall Kwik, meaning they can get all their machinery needs from one trusted supplier.”

Launched in 2021, Kall Kwik’s ACE support package provides Advice, Care and Engineering to customers, to help fabricators find the best solutions for their machinery needs.

Chris adds: “Our level of industry experience means we have always provided expert aftercare and engineering for window machinery and now we can expand this service to the aluminium market and support a greater range of customers, even those with existing FOM machinery.” www.kallkwik.uk.com

A Big Step Up For Ramsay Ladders

Ramsay’s bespoke product range and produce standard ladder components more efficiently.

It might have taken twenty years, but Ramsay & Sons (Forfar) Ltd has finally taken delivery of its second Emmegi CNC machine.

The delay wasn’t because the Angus-based aluminium ladder specialist wasn’t happy with the Emmegi Index machine purchased in 2001, but rather that the original machine had worked 84 WINDOW NEWS | APRIL 2022

so well that it had never needed to be replaced.

However, as Ramsay Ladders is now looking to increase volumes in both the trade and DIY market, it has invested in a new Emmegi Comet X6 four-axis model to take it on the next step of its journey.

The Comet X6 will open other production developments within

Gordon Lowson, a director of Ramsay & Sons, says the Emmegi Index has been a reliable workforce for almost two decades, but that the whole team is now energised and excited by the capability and features of the new Comet X6.

He explained: “The Comet X6 is even quicker and quieter than we expected. It can machine two pieces of ladder section in two independent work areas, which will really improve our output and efficiency and guarantee us a relatively fast payback.” www.emmegi.com

WINDOW NEWS | APRIL 2022 85

ON-SITE

Senior’s Central Role In University Of

Stirling’s New Campus Project 86 WINDOW NEWS | APRIL 2022

Aluminium fenestration solutions provider Senior Architectural Systems has delivered its third contract for the University of Stirling, following the completion of the University’s new Campus Central development.

Designed by Page and Park architects, the new scheme marks the University of Stirling’s largest ever investment in its infrastructure and sees the creation of a multi-functional community hub

which brings together student services, study areas, cafés and social spaces. The building features a variety of aluminium fenestration systems from Senior, including its slimline SF52 aluminium curtain wall system and patented low U-value PURe aluminium windows, which have been fabricated and installed by supply chain partner Marshall Brown for main contractor Robertson Construction.

Senior’s fenestration systems have been previously used on both the University of Stirling’s new state of the art sports centre, which opened in 2020, and the INTO Centre, an international student facility which was constructed in 2017. The new Campus Central building has helped further improve the University’s impressive facilities, with the stunning three-storey building benefiting from a landscaped courtyard and glazed facades which frame the breath-taking views of the surrounding scenery. Located next to Airthrey Loch, the building is also flanked by the beautiful Ochil and Campsie Hills.

The sleek, aluminium frames of Senior’s SF52 curtain wall system complements the use

of granite rainscreen and light grey stone cladding, and floods the interior spaces with natural light. The thermal performance of the SF52 curtain walling has also been enhanced with the use of Senior’s low U-value PURe® aluminium windows throughout.

Senior’s PURe aluminium window system has the potential to achieve U-values as low as 0.73W/m2K when calculated as a commercial CEN Standard window, claims the company.

For durability, safety and security Senior’s robust SPW501 aluminium commercial doors, certified to both PAS24 and Secured by Design standards, were also installed at all entrances to cope with the expected heavy footfall. www.seniorarchitectural.co.uk WINDOW NEWS | APRIL 2022 87

ON-SITE factured in anthracite grey to the external face with white internally to create the modern appearance of an aluminium window but at a more sympathetic price point. All products were manufactured to PAS24:2016 standard.

The high-quality development also included the installation of several externally glazed ceramic glass panels by Jade Windows to provide a point of interest at an attractive pricing point.

With over 500 windows and 100 French doors needing to be installed on a busy construction site, effective project management was essential. Jade Windows liaised with the project contractors and all trades on site to ensure fabrication and installation ran smoothly and on schedule.

Over 500 Spectus Windows And 100 Doors Are

Installed In A New Flagship

£10M Development

Over 500 Spectus casement windows and 100 French doors were specified and fitted in a new £10m flagship new build social housing development.

The new 75 residential properties providing a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom homes in Blackpool are situated in Troutbeck Crescent on Mereside. Formerly the site of 81 run down flats built in the 1960’s, the demolished site was secured for the development of the new social housing properties.

The development of 19 one-bedroom apartments, 18 three-bedroom houses, 27 two-bedroom 88 WINDOW NEWS | APRIL 2022

houses, 2 three-bedroom accessible properties and 9 two-bedroom accessible properties required over 500 windows and 100 doors to complete. The contract for the work was awarded to Spectus Approved Window Contractor Jade Windows, thanks to their exceptional track record of working on several prestigious commercial projects.

All products were manufactured in Spectus’ Elite 70 bevelled system.

The Elite 70 bevelled system has all the technical credentials for high-quality commercial applications. In this project, the windows and doors were manu-

Initial site clearance began in September 2019 in preparation of construction on the 2.3-hectare site. The installation by Jade Windows took a total of twelve months with exacting standards and precision project management evidence at every level.

Now the project is complete, Blackpool has a new flagship development of 75 high-quality, affordable homes. Ryan Fozard, sales manager at Jade Windows commented: “The new site has been completely transformed.

The modern houses and flats boasting gardens, balconies and car ports now provides a high standard of accommodation for residents and sits within an attractive environment that integrates with the surrounding area. We are delighted to have worked on this project and once again, the quality and reliability of the Spectus product range has delivered at every level. This is a flagship development for Blackpool and we are proud of the finished results.” epwinwindowsystems.co.uk

with the prospects are in your hands.

Our data allows you to target prospects directly, helping you win more sales, more effectively.

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For your FREE trial go to: windowbase.info/free-trial or call us on 01453 845717 e: info@windowbase.info

WINDOW NEWS | APRIL 2022 89

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Senior’s On The Rise In The London Residential Market Senior Architectural Systems has taken its aluminium fenestration solutions to new heights after being specified on the new Oaklands Rise mixeduse residential development in London, which is not only one 90 WINDOW NEWS | APRIL 2022

of the UK’s largest regeneration projects but also one of Senior’s largest contracts to date.

Designed by CZWG Architects and constructed by the Vistry Partnership, the £175m scheme

comprises three major tower blocks which vary in height from ten to 27 storeys. The buildings accommodate some 605 homes, 40 per cent of which are affordable housing, in addition to dedicated commercial space.

Senior’s aluminium doors, windows and curtain wall systems have been specified throughout, with the manufacturer collaborating closely with its supply chain partners. Senior partnered with specialist contractor OCL Facades to deliver the fenestration package for the first phase residential scheme and with specialist contractor Soundcraft on the commercial elements.

Located in the Old Oak’s area of

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Willesden in North West London, the development’s striking curved architecture has helped breathe new life into the local area. Senior’s slim profile SF52 aluminium curtain wall system has been used to create the striking faceted curved elevation, with the smooth rounded corners of the balconies and corner apartments further accentuating the design. Senior’s robust SPW500 aluminium commercial doors were used externally and installed to the fire exits and main entrance, with SPW600 aluminium doors fitted internally throughout communal areas.

With the need to increase en-

ergy efficiency and reduce the carbon footprint of the scheme, Senior’s patented low U-value PURe® aluminium windows and PURe® SLIDE patio doors were also chosen for the scheme. The stylish PURe® SLIDE aluminium sliding doors also provide select apartments with access to individual roof terraces, creating a seamless link between the interior and exterior spaces.

Senior’s aluminium fenestration systems were also powder-coated to provide extra durability and to complement the aesthetic of exterior brickwork which pays homage to the rich industrial heritage of development’s surroundings and close

proximity to the Grand Union Canal and a historic Grade II railway bridge.

Oaklands Rise has been developed by Genesis Housing in partnership with West London football club Queens Park Rangers, which has expressed interest in creating a brand new stadium in the area. Constructed over several phases, Senior Architectural Systems first became involved in the scheme in 2016, with the total fenestration package value estimated to be in the region of £7m, making it Senior’s most substantial contract win to date. www.seniorarchitectural.co.uk WINDOW NEWS | APRIL 2022 91

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Spectus Elite 70 Flush Tilt And Turn Windows Specified For Exceptional Iconic Development Over 100 Spectus Elite 70 flush tilt and turn windows were specified and installed in a new stand-out development at an iconic Chester landmark.

The Shot Tower is a Grade II listed building and the only surviving leadworks of its kind.

The imposing 168ft red-brick tower, along with the original Engine House and Whitechap92 WINDOW NEWS | APRIL 2022

el buildings were retained and sympathetically restored to enforce the industrial legacy of the development. These historical elements were complemented by two modern new housing developments comprising of one, two and three-bedroom luxury apartments and converted 4-bedroom town houses. The new housing development creates a striking canal-side land-

scape in the heart of Cheshire.

Everything from the build quality and aesthetics, to internal layout and functionality, was carefully planned by the developers to ensure the new homes were built to the highest standards.

With such an architectural-prominent landmark structure, the choice of contractors was critical. The window contractor selected for the project was Spectus Approved Window Contractor Walker Profiles Ltd, a leading manufacturer based in Motherwell. The windows were fitted by experienced commercial installer, New Look Windows in Rochdale, Lancashire.

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Spectus flush tilt & turn windows are an ideal solution for both medium and high-rise buildings such as residential housing, offices, hospitals and universities. The window has been specifically designed to prevent the framework from overlapping to give a ‘flush’ appearance delivering superior high-end aesthetics which was crucial on this landmark project. A high-performance centre seal system with optional third weather seal means the window can achieve a Window Energy Rating of A++ with double glazing and a U Value of 0.8 W/ (m2K) with triple glazing.

The 100 plus windows were manufactured by experienced commercial fabricator, Walker Profiles. In this project, the sleek look of the windows, combined with an anthracite grey on white colour, created the highbrow, contemporary aesthetics required.

David MacGregor, business development manager at Walker Profiles, comments: “This was a superb project to be involved with and we were delighted to have manufactured the windows for such an iconic property development.”

The Shot Tower is an impressive project and has been given a new lease of life. Jon Tudor, commercial director at New Look Windows concludes: “Newlook Windows jumped at the chance to work on this prestigious development with such an important historical background. The design team pushed the limits of a great product which was manufactured and installed to a very high standard, giving the building the slimmest sightlines possible and a superior colour aesthetics internally and externally. Now completed, the Shot Tower site looks fantastic. ” www.spectus.co.uk

TD68 Opening

Doors In The City

Jack Aluminium’s TD68 and JCW systems have featured in a new entrance to London’s Exchange House.

Essex-based fabricator, IDF Aluminium, collaborated with revolving door suppliers, Boon Edam, to provide a new entrance for this impressive building. Located in Broadgate, in the City of London, Exchange House is an innovative ‘building-bridge hybrid’, featuring four structural arches to bear the load of the building, which runs directly over 18 railway lines.

The new entrance features a revolving door, a single access door and curtain walling. IDF installed the TD68 access door, as well as curtain walling using the JCW system.

“This was an exciting project to work on in the City of London. It’s an impressive building and we’re really happy to have been chosen to install the new entrance,” says Will Woods, director at IDF Aluminium.

“Working with Jack Aluminium is great because I can get a system which works for pretty much any

product I need. We use the TD68 a lot because it’s a great entrance door system and being able to get curtain walling from them also makes my life a lot easier.

“On top of all that, their service is fantastic. The aluminium market has obviously been tough recently, but they’ve been very upfront and honest throughout and have kept communicating with us which has been very reassuring.”

Having passed the stringent STS 202 test, the TD68 thermal door and shopfront system is a highly popular choice for commercial buildings where higher security is needed.

“Being situated in such a busy part of London, durability and security were crucial to the entrance of this building, making the TD68 the perfect solution,” adds Ash Pearson, sales manager at Jack Aluminium.

“IDF are a fantastic company who work on some impressive projects, and it’s great to see them installing our commercial aluminium products in some very notable locations across the country.” www.jackaluminium.co.uk WINDOW NEWS | APRIL 2022 93

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UAP And PDS Collaboration Delivers Smooth Fire Door

Installation For Irwell Valley Homes Since the Grenfell Tower tragedy five years ago, there has been an even greater focus on fire safety in the social housing sector. It’s a responsibility that Greater Manchester social housing provider, Irwell Valley Homes, takes very seriously, with a compliance team inspecting its 8,000 homes on a rolling programme to prioritise upgrade works to fire safety.

Over the past two years, more than 500 fire doors have been replaced at Irwell Valley Homes properties.

Specialist contractor, Jackson Jackson & Sons works closely with doorset company, PDS, and hardware manufacturer, UAP, to deliver the fire door upgrades as part of a wider programme of fire safety improvement.

94 WINDOW NEWS | APRIL 2022

Dan Williams, contracts manager at Jackson Jackson explains: “Every year, we receive a schedule of properties that are due for upgrade works from Irwell Valley Homes and we work collaboratively with their compliance team to prioritise the upgrades and agree a schedule.

“Once we have agreed a programme with the client, we carry out joint surveys with PDS to ensure that the correct specification of door is ordered for each installation, aligned to the agreed schedule.”

Putting residents first The most recent fire door upgrade project carried out by Jackson Jackson for Irwell Valley homes

using PDS doorsets with UAP hardware was at Eastwood Court, a block of sheltered housing apartments in Bury, Greater Manchester.

Following the initial surveys, the Jackson Jackson team met with the residents’ association and the properties’ management team to discuss what the programme involved and show tenants what the doors would look like when they were finished.

Dan continues: “Almost all the upgrades we do are in occupied properties so it’s really important that we make people aware of what will be happening and how it will benefit them. We also want to reassure tenants that their new doors and any other work we carry out will be fully certified to the current standards.”

Part of that reassurance for tenants is in the level of testing and quality assurance carried out by the joined-up supply chain. Whilst there is currently no mandatory certification required for retrofitted

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fire doors, a requirement for bilateral fire resistance test evidence for all fire doorset installations, including refurbishment works, is expected as part of the forthcoming Fire Safety Bill. For Irwell Valley Homes, fully certified doorsets with fire resistant hardware are already fitted as standard.

At Eastwood Court, the requirement was for FD30 solid timber doors with integral smoke seals to provide 30 minutes of effective protection against both smoke and flames for the entrance to every property.

Kevin Barnes, sales director at PDS explains: “Our doorsets provide protection from fire and smoke from both sides of the door having been successfully tested to the more rigorous and very latest EN1634 dual orientation testing specification, as complete doorsets with all UAP hardware installed contributing to smooth project delivery, whilst providing high levels of safety for residents.”

Joined-up supply chain PDS supplied the doors for Eastwood Court as installation-ready units, with a complete set of UAP hardware from the company’s Firemongery range, including handles, a Soterian TS008 compliant fire rated letterplate and a 14mm fire resistant door viewer (spyhole).

Kevin Barnes continues: “The doorsets are manufactured by us to a proven quality and high specification with all UAP Firemongery hardware, intumescent fire and smoke seals, threshold seal and overhead closer pre-installed and fully tested by Warrington Fire.

“We work closely with UAP to ensure that new door designs are specified with the right hardware first time, enabling a smooth testing and certification process.

The hardware is not just fire rated, it also looks good, which means that the finished door answers

the housing association’s safety requirements, whilst providing an appearance that every resident can be proud of.”

Replacement of all 50 apartment entrance doors at Eastwood Court was completed in just two and a half weeks, with the strategy of utilising certified FD30 doorsets with pre-installed fire resistant hardware enabling faster installation and a smoother programme.

Rick Winnard, senior planned surveyor from Irwell Valley Homes adds: “Tenant safety and comfort are priorities for us. Using this joined up supply chain with full Warrington Fire certification of the doorsets, including pre-installed UAP Firemongery hardware, ensured we have clear accountability for safety and compliance, along with reduced disruption for residents thanks to a fast and efficient programme.” https://uapcorporate.com/ WINDOW NEWS | APRIL 2022 95

MARKETING & INTERNET

Freefoam Showcase Colour

Freefoam Building Products has announced the launch of an updated colour brochure, to showcase the fascia, soffit and gutter range.

the same trends, with colour and woodgrain orders in the last 2 – 3 years increasing by 5% as a proportion of total sales.

According to Freefoam, all the recent research in the window and door sector points towards an increase in colour. With statistics like ‘Only 58% of PVC casements in 2021 were unfoiled’, the trends are clear to see. With the traditional woodgrain colours such as Rosewood, Golden Oak and Mahogany gradually reducing in popularity, shades of grey are still the growing desire for homeowners, with Anthracite Grey still leading the pack, closely followed by Dark Grey and the paler Agate Grey, says the company.

The new brochure explains Freefoam’s full colour range and options available to installers and homeowners.

And fascia, soffit and gutter are no different. Freefoam have seen 96 WINDOW NEWS | APRIL 2022

Featuring the unique Colormax technology, the brochure explains the manufacturing process that produces fascia, soffit and gutter with a solid colour finish. A strong PVC-UE foam core is simultaneously co-extruded with a protective colour top coating of rigid PVC-U skin, creating a smooth, strong and hard wearing surface.

This new brochure also includes the woodgrain options for boards and window trims as well as infor-

mation about Freefoam’s range of colour matching fixings, Plastops, so installers can fit a truly coordinated project.

With information on marketing materials and tools to sell colour, instructions on the care and installation of colour products and a handy fold out summary of the full product range, this new brochure showcases Freefoam’s significant colour product offering and its commitment to providing colour roofline solutions to the home improvement market.

Louise Sanderson, UK marketing manager explained: “We know that colour roofline is a valuable opportunity for our stockist customers and the wider installer network, so we want to make colour easy to upsell. This brochure gives customers all the information they need to promote colour at the trade counter and for installers to quickly see and understand the colour options available to them and to help the whole supply chain sell more of these value-added products”

MARKETING & INTERNET

New Industry Podcast

Series From DGCOS

Rich Fraser with copies of Window Ware’s new aluminium hardware catalogue

Window Ware

2022 Aluminium The Double Glazing & Conservatory Ombudsman Scheme (DGCOS) chief executive, Faisal Hussain, spent a day in London last week with brand ambassador, George Clarke, and DGCOS member, Thom Emerson from Ideal Window Solutions, to record a series of new podcasts discussing current industry affairs. The podcast series will be released to the industry over the coming months.

Faisal Hussain explains more: “As an organisation, DGCOS likes to challenge the status quo and address matters that are really affecting our industry. For this reason, in a recording studio in Shoreditch last week, I was joined by architect, TV presenter and DGCOS brand ambassador George Clarke, DGCOS founding member Thom Emerson, sales & marketing director of Ideal Window Solutions, and Mike McGougan, DGCOS head of membership, to record a new series of podcasts hosted by Brouha Marketing.

“The podcasts delve into topics like current industry and consumer trends, what’s hot and what’s not and explore how DGCOS is supporting installers across the UK. Our discussions explored

many current topics like supply chain issues, innovation, consumer spending, and a topic close to our heart that we’re championing, mental health awareness. It was particularly encouraging to hear Thom Emerson talk about how Ideal Window Solutions is prioritising pastoral care within the workplace.

We talked at length with Thom regarding his business and the role DGCOS has had to play in supporting them over the years.

“Each of our guests bring a different perspective, for example George Clarke, talks about some of the interesting designs he’s been working on lately, particularly when it comes to a new, reimagined approach to a multifunctional home brought about from the work from home requirement. The conversation is extremely interesting, and we are looking forward to sharing them in coming weeks.

The podcast series will be shared via our website and social media; I encourage those in the industry to have a listen and let us know your thoughts and opinions.”

The first of the DGCOS podcasts series will be available on the DGCOS installer website from 15th March 2022.

Hardware Catalogue

Has Landed!

Window Ware’s Hardware for Aluminium Profiles catalogue is now available and gives fabricators and commercial contractors a source of leading-brand door and window hardware and ventilation solutions designed to work specifically with aluminium systems.

The eagerly anticipated printed catalogue comes several months after the electronic edition was first released. That’s because the company has been working right down to the wire to squeeze in all the very latest product additions and new ranges into the brochure, so customers have the complete lowdown on its ever-expanding range.

Window Ware says the 132-page catalogue brings together practically everything a fabricator might need to fit out both aluminium doors and windows, including handles, hinges, locks and gearing, folding openers and window opening systems, not to mention commercial door hardware and panic bars, plus a wide range of readystocked or custom-built ventilation solutions. https://bit.ly/3u2eHIa WINDOW NEWS | APRIL 2022 97

MARKETING & INTERNET

Epwin Window Systems’ Connect Platform Celebrates

Its First Anniversary Epwin Window Systems’ digital integrated platform, Connect, is celebrating its first anniversary this month. Gerald Allen, head of marketing at Epwin Window Systems, said: “Connect was designed to help fabricators and installers access the vast range of business support available to them and, in doing so, help them drive sales, grow profit and simplify the access points. We’re delighted to see it delivering on its remit.”

Reflecting the value that it adds, nearly 550 installers, fabricators and trade counters have already signed up to the platform.

The most popular sections of the site are the U-Comply N Customer Portal, which allows users to calculate the thermal efficiency rat98 WINDOW NEWS | APRIL 2022

ings of their products, the technical bulletins that advise customers on the latest product updates and the image gallery, a comprehensive library of professional images for use in marketing materials.

Gerald commented: “Epwin Window Systems’ customers are committed to making sure their products offer the latest thinking and meet the latest requirements.

This is reflected in their use of the technical sections of the site which our customers have found invaluable. The importance of high-quality marketing is reflected in the use of the images downloaded from our gallery along with the various POS options.”

Epwin Window Systems reports that customer feedback on the

Connect portal has been very strong.

Daniel Caddy, sales director at Caddy Windows Limited, said: “Connect is a great tool for our business! We can access information on the products we sell and install along with access to government-funded training to help the next generation learn their way in our industry!”

Matthew Dunne-Smith of Oswestry Windows and Doors said: “Having access to the widest range of marketing, digital, technical and PR support is incredible and is something we would never have been able to achieve ourselves. Connect is another level of support for us to tap into – it’s a hugely impressive platform that is bringing us great advantages.”

Matthew Spooner, director of World Group Property Improvements Limited, says: “It makes life so much easier and it’s the best digital resource platform that I’ve seen. It’s fantastic.” www.epwinwindowsystems.co.uk

MARKETING & INTERNET

Online Learning Continues To Soar

Despite the restrictions of the pandemic coming to an end and life very much returning to normal, Ultraframe has reported that the thirst for its online learning programme and business tools – developed to help customers keep trading through the pandemic – continues to grow. This was demonstrated most recently with a record number of attendees at a webinar about the company’s new Goalpost structural support solution.

Commenting about the trend, Ultraframe marketing director, Alex Hewitt, said: “We have provided digital business solutions to our customers for many years now, but when the pandemic began, we took the opportunity to really enhance this part of our marketing offering to ensure that our customers could continue to trade through the various lockdowns and restrictions that were to follow. While we fully expected that these would be popular during those difficult trading times, it is interesting to see that their popularity continues to grow now that restrictions have been lifted. We believe that many com-

panies used the changes imposed on them during the pandemic to evaluate ways of working, both to increase efficiencies and also to create a better work/life balance for their employees. We are very proud to have been a part of helping our customers with this and will continue to enhance our online learning and support offering.”

Webinars have been a key part of the Ultraframe online support package. These offer the opportunity for companies to dial in to a live online presentation to learn about new products and services without the need for a full day or more away from the office due to travel. The webinars are often presented by staff from a number of departments across Ultraframe; coming together to share their expertise, and attendees have the opportunity to engage with the presenters by asking questions.

Once a webinar has taken place, anyone who was unable to attend can still access a recording to watch when convenient via the Ultraframe YouTube channel, along with supporting information

to continue their learning. To date there are 14 webinars available to rewatch, covering a wide range of products and solutions.

In addition to the webinars and the many online sales tools available through the Ultraframe Lockdown Toolkit, the company has also recently launched new tools to help its customers specify Goalposts and create more accurate design quotes, including a beam calculator, flow chart, and a lateral stability explainer video and structural support guide.

Concluding, Alex said: “It’s fantastic to see how our customers have really embraced online learning and resources over the last few years and we have received extremely positive feedback about our webinar programme. We were very proud to have broken our own record for the number of webinar attendees on our recent Goalpost webinar. For anyone wanting to get involved in this new online learning programme, I would urge you to contact the marketing team to find out more.”

Marketing@ultraframe.co.uk WINDOW NEWS | APRIL 2022 99

MARKETING & INTERNET

Insight Data Fenestration Database

Hits Over 20,000 Decision-Maker Contacts Insight Data’s nationwide fenestration database has now surpassed a remarkable 20,000 decision-maker contacts.

These 20,000 contacts all hold senior positions within 13,800 fabricators and installers that make up the fenestration database, giving suppliers into the glass and glazing sector unprecedented market intelligence, claims the company.

Alex Tremlett, operations manager at Insight Data, commented: “While the number of fabricators and installers has continued to decline over the past few years, which is partly down to factors such as Brexit and the pandemic, the Insight research team has successfully managed to increase the number of decision maker contacts we hold. This means our clients 100 WINDOW NEWS | APRIL 2022

have more opportunities to promote and sell their products and services than ever before.

“It’s taken a lot of work to track these contacts down, but by investing in our research team and technology we’ve managed to surpass the 20,000 milestone, which is a fantastic achievement for the team.”

But as Alex explains, the growth in senior decision makers is just one of the benefits of accessing the fenestration database: “Our data contains a host of valuable business and financial information, including what products and brands each company manufactures or buys-in, the number of frames per week, their turnover, net worth, credit rating and whether they’ve had any Count Court Judgements.

Essentially, all the key informa-

tion you need to see if a company is a worthwhile prospect is at your fingertips, helping our clients make better business decisions.”

Like all of Insight’s databases, the fenestration database is accessed through Salestracker, an online CRM platform that includes a host of features including integration with Google Maps and a powerful email marketing platform.

Salestracker has over 700 users, including major systems companies, fabricators, and component suppliers, all of which can use the data to create highly targeted marketing lists for email campaigns, direct mail, telesales and call lists for in-house sales teams.

“Like fenestration, all our databases have seen a growth in business information over the past 12 months and I would urge any suppliers that are looking to target local builders, architects or the wider construction industry to get in touch.” www.insightdata.co.uk

MARKETING & INTERNET

‘Surge Of Interest’ For New Conservatory Tech Dorset-based installer Bill Butters Windows is the latest company to sign up to ARC Design, following a ‘surge of interest’ in the new tech innovation from Augmented Reality Creations (ARC).

Sitting within an installer’s website, the ARC Design platform helps consumers design and experience their conservatory, and then request a quote.

Within seconds, the homeowner can then save the design to their mobile phone or tablet, and view the conservatory in immersive augmented reality while walking around their garden and home.

Bill Butters Windows director, Paul

Kelly, comments: “ARC Design is set to be a game changer for Bill Butters Windows, as it will allow potential customers to design their own conservatory directly via our website, and then view their design on their own home in augmented reality.

“Unlike other conservatory design software I’ve seen on the market, ARC Design doesn’t require any training, as the software has been specifically designed for homeowners with no design experience or product knowledge.

“All the homeowner’s design preferences and contact details will automatically be delivered to us, meaning that our first interaction

UAP Celebrates 25 Year Milestone With Anniversary Brochure

It’s not every day you turn 25, and for a company that has grown from a PC in a spare room into a £22 million business with a staff of 89 , it’s not just a milestone, but quite an achievement too. That’s why UAP Ltd, a specialist in safety and security products for the fenestration sector, has created a new brochure to celebrate the company’s 25 years in business.

With a personal introduction from chief executive and founder, David Jennings, the new brochure provides a timeline of

how the business has developed from a single door knocker product to a broad portfolio across five brands: UAP Fullex, UAP Locking Systems, UAP Intelligent Hardware, UAP Firemongery and UAP TradeLocks.

It outlines how the company operated during the pandemic, showcases some of its recent product innovations, including the Kinetica+ K4 cylinder and Bio Key, and discusses the business’ future plans.

The anniversary booklet also explores the company’s culture and CSR achievements, with soundbites from staff and customers highlighting why it is such a positive place to work and valued supply chain partner.

It highlights UAP’s charity activities and community outreach, which includes raising money to build five schools and a hospital

with a prospective customer will be highly informed – we’ll be going in already knowing what they want, resulting in quicker sales and conversion rates.

“ARC Design is set to be a very worthwhile investment for the company, and it was a pleasure dealing with ARC in getting everything set up. I very much look forward to seeing this new innovative technology in action, and establishing Bill Butters Windows firmly within an increasingly modern industry.”

ARC COO and co-founder Andy Clear said: “We’re delighted to have Bill Butters Windows sign up to ARC Design. We’re incredibly proud of the software that we’ve developed, and we’re excited to see how it will transform the company’s lead generation, conversion rates, and sales visits.” www.arc-solutions.co.uk in Nepal, planting 50,000 trees and donating PPE to charities and community organisations during the pandemic.

UAP’s marketing director, Kamila Kasperowicz, comments: “After the challenges and uncertainty of the past two years, it is great to have something to celebrate and UAP is stronger than ever with a talented team that have helped us to continue serving customers and driving growth throughout the pandemic.

“The anniversary booklet is a thank you to our team, and to all our customers and supply chain partners, for their contribution to our success over the past 25 years. We are very proud of our achievements and looking forward to the next 25 years.”

The UAP anniversary brochure is available at https://bit.ly/3KaquK6 uapcorporate.com WINDOW NEWS | APRIL 2022 101

EVENTS levels of end-user awareness that PVC-U could be recycled.

Darren Woodcock, operations director, then gave a presentation to explain how Deceuninck was bringing back recycled material into use in a new generation of products, saving tens of thousands of tonnes of PVC-U from landfill.

Chris Tahmasaby, director ICAAL, picked up the first of the afternoon slots providing attendees with a walk-through of Deceuninck’s new fabricator lead generation tools including the creation of dedicated and SEO optimised sub-sites.

Industry Out In Force For Regulatory Update Deceuninck customers attended a special customer day to discuss the implications of changes to Part L and Part F. Held in Birmingham, the event started with a welcome from Rob McGlennon, managing director of Deceuninck, who reviewed the past year, also highlighting the fall in manufacturing capacity that the industry has seen since 2007.

He argued that processed product was 300,000 plus tonnes in 2007, manufactured by 2,840 fabricators. By 2020, this number had fallen to 1,190, yet despite, this processed output was still approaching 300,000 tonnes.

“It goes some way to explaining why everyone feels that they have been working so hard in the last couple of years”, he said.

Rob also gave an overview of 102 WINDOW NEWS | APRIL 2022

product development including Deceuninck’s launch of a new chamfered flush casement window sash; and sculptured sash option on its popular slider24+ patio.

He added that Deceuninck was also making Agate-greyon-white, available from stock, flagging that the company had supplied more than 160 different colourways last year.

He was followed by John Warren, director, Lasco PR and Marketing who presented the findings of independent research commissioned by Deceuninck and conducted by YouGov. This included the importance end-users placed on sustainability and even the willingness of some homeowners to pay a premium for products using recycled content – but also low

He also placed emphasis on the importance of marketing against the backdrop of toughening conditions and inflation.

The headline event, however, was the explanation of the changes to Parts L and Part F of the building regulations by Kevin Jones of the GGF. He fielded questions from the floor, which suggested that the regulatory changes introduced in December and coming into force from 15th June were contradictory and ill considered, covering off thorny issues including compliance and enforcement.

Rob McGlennon said: “The turnout was really good. We had 40 plus customers there and will follow-up with further events around the UK in the spring and early summer.

“It’s very clear that there is a level of frustration with changes to Part F and we will continue to work with our partners to communicate this to the industry’s representative bodies, while supporting our customers and theirs’ in turn, in turn, in staying on the right side of the changes.” www.deceuninck.co.uk

EVENTS

Customer Days To Bust Building Regs Myths

Central Window Systems Celebrates 40-Year Anniversary Listers has organised two open days to help prepare customers for the upcoming changes to the Building Regulations.

The first event will be held on April 12 at Tottenham Hotspur’s new stadium in north London, while the second one takes place two days later at Listers’ manufacturing facility and Big Trade Counter in Stoke-on-Trent.

Both events will explore how changes to Part F (ventilation) and Part L (energy efficiency) will impact the working practices of installers in the fenestration industry, and how the company’s product range puts its customers in a position of strength when targeting new business.

Certass’s Jon Vanstone will clarify the position of the self-certification bodies on the proposed changes, and how they plan to enforce the changes to the Building Regulations, while Listers’ Roy Frost will take a practical approach to compliance with a summary of Part F and Part L-ready products in the fabricator’s portfolios.

There will also be product updates from the Residence Collection’s

Sarah Hitchings, and a roundup of all the marketing material available to installation companies, including printed and digital brochures, consumer finance, new website opportunities, and details about Business Pilot’s CRM tool.

“There are significant changes to the Building Regulations on the horizon, which is causing some head-scratching in the industry,” Listers’ MD Roy Frost said. “We have organised these two days to put our customers’ minds at rest by clearly explaining what these changes mean, and to demonstrate that our product range is fully compliant.

“Changes to the Building Regulations needn’t be difficult, which is why we want to make understanding them – and capitalising on the opportunities – as easy as possible.”

Delegates to Spurs’ new ground in London on April 12 will also be given a tour of the 63,000-seat stadium, which is the largest in London, and the third-largest in the UK. For more information, email sales@listertf.co.uk

Central Window Systems is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, marking an important milestone for the company.

Starting off as Reliant Products Limited (RPL) in 1982, a small but growing PVCu fabricator, the business has certainly come a long way.

In 2011, RPL acquired local fabricator Central CRC, in order to enhance capacity. As a result, RPL was soon re-named to Central RPL, a banner which has grown dramatically since it was further acquired in 2015 by the Boing Boing Group, led by CEO Gary Morton.

Just two years later, in 2017, thanks to a growing popularity of aluminium products, Central ASL was born, focusing exclusively on aluminium windows, bi-folds and patio doors, serving to both commercial and domestic installers.

In February last year, the two divisions merged to form Central Window Systems Ltd, becoming one of the Midlands’ largest PVCu and aluminium full solution fabricators. https://bit.ly/3NLWxCg WINDOW NEWS | APRIL 2022 103

CHARITY

Central Window Systems

Lends Support For DW

Windows Ukraine Mission

Central Window Systems has got right behind an initiative to deliver vital supplies to Ukrainian refugees in Poland spearheaded by Dave Walters, the CEO of West Midlands installer and Central customer DW Windows.

The PVCu and aluminium fabricator has lent one of its vans to the Help Ukraine Appeal, which will be used to transport much needed food and medical supplies to Poland.

Dave and his four-man team set off on the trek with two vans, the other of which was donated by contract packing company Mixtio, at 4 am on Monday, March 21 and at the time of writing they were in the Netherlands after getting the ferry from Dover and passing through France and Belgium.

Dave, who collected donations from a local Asda and his three DW Windows showrooms, also set up a JustGiving page to raise funds to help buy further provisions when 104 WINDOW NEWS | APRIL 2022

Martyn Elwell, Central Windows Marketing Director (left) and Dave Walters, CEO of DW Windows (right)

he’s out there and has currently raised mover £5,000 and counting.

The former Royal Marine and ex-firefighter, who has contacts in Krakow in Poland, explained his reason for organising the initiative.

“I want to do as much as I can for the Ukrainian refugees, centres and Polish organisations,” said Dave, who will spend a week out there.

“I’m told they’re inundated with clothes but need other provisions,

so both vans are full of dry foods, sanitary products, baby food, nappies and medical supplies.

“I can only fit so much in, so while I’m there I’ll spend donations to buy further supplies from supermarkets to give to refugee camps and any others who need them, and if I can transport people to safety when I’m there, I will.

“I’d like to say a massive thanks to Central Window Systems’ Martyn Elwell and Gary Morton for kindly donating their van for the trip, and I’d also like to thank everyone who has supported us and donated so far.”

Central’s sales and marketing director Martyn Elwell commented: “What Dave is doing is brilliant and we wanted to get involved and show our support, and we were delighted to donate the use of one of our vans to the cause.

“DW Windows are a valued customer, and we’d like to wish Dave every success out in Poland and a safe trip back.”

To make a donation and show your support, visit https://bit.ly/37fTwcP and to follow Dave’s progress, visit https://bit.ly/3KceEir

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