Window News June 2021

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 prefitted 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 going to be SAFER. This is down to PAS24 as standard on every door set and MFT’s ‘safety for no extra cost’ delivery innovation.

Look out in the coming weeks for full details on the new features which make the Korniche bi-folding door FASTER, WARMER, SLIMMER, STRONGER and now SAFER than the competition.

ALUMINIUM SYSTEMS

Innovation unlocked

Made for Trade took the Origin of the product and evolved it into the next generation of bi-folding doors.

MFT would like to even think Charles Darwin would be proud!

MFT’s business ethos of the best products, at the best prices all backed up by the best service in the industry will be reflected clearly in these fantastic new premium doors which, like the lantern roof, will come in at a trade price point that cannot be ignored and a volume reseller offering that is absolutely unrivalled.

Be one of the first to find out further details on the exciting new Korniche aluminium bifolding door by registering your interest at sales@madefortrade.co.uk or calling MFT on 01642 610 799

madefortrade.co

Innovation unlocked Get ready..

Another game changing product from Made for Trade is on the horizon

Released

1.07.2021

BI-FOLDING DOORS

www.madefortrade.co

8

Andy Jones Steps Down From Victorian Sliders

50 Choosing The Right Door

89

GGF Launches New Technical Hub

Over the last 12 months we’ve been working hard behind the scenes. Making big improvements to our business on both an operational and digital level. All with you in mind.

Now enabling you to order bigger volumes on the same industry leading turn around time, as well as a suite of digital tools that put the power in your hands, helping you to quote quicker and install faster, any colour, any time, anywhere.

So, enable your business to grow today with Alufold Direct.

ALUFOLDDIRECT.CO.UK

W CONTENS

W INDOWNEWS THE LATEST INDUSTRY NEWS

TRADE NEWS 8 VIEWPOINT 34 DEAR GERALD 38 PEOPLE 40 PRODUCT NEWS 44 MACHINERY 70 ON SITE 74 MARKETING & INTERNET

82

TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT

90

CHARITY 92

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Cover picture: Spectacular Curved Roof From Saint-Gobain, Images Courtesy of : © John Kees Photography read more on page 74 WINDOW NEWS | JUNE 2021 7

TRADE NEWS

Ultion Locks

Andy Jones Steps Down From Victorian Sliders

Used By Police To

Protect Homes

Ultion, Brisant Secure’s premium lock, is helping to secure vulnerable homes in at-risk areas as part of the Safer Streets police initiative.

The Safer Streets scheme provides funding for Police Crime Commissioners across Britain to make safe hotspot areas that are disproportionately affected by neighbourhood and acquisitive crimes, such as burglary and vehicle theft. The initiative helps secure homes in vulnerable streets through preventative measures designed to protect people and communities, such as improved street lighting, enhanced home security and CCTV. As part of the Safer Streets initiative in West Yorkshire, Brisant Secure worked with West Yorkshire Police in crime reduction efforts that were identified as being at highest risk from crime.

Alongside investing in better fencing and lighting, police purchased 1,000 Ultion cylinders to upgrade existing locks to make homes more secure against burglary. Brisant’s locks have been installed in properties in Leeds and Bradford over the past few months, offering improved protection for residents. www.brisant-secure.com 8 WINDOW NEWS | JUNE 2021

Well respected industry leader, Andy Jones, has stepped down as Group Managing Director at Victorian Sliders, to pursue new opportunities.

It follows a period of rapid growth for the PVC-U sash window supplier, which has recently added over 50 new staff to cope with demand for its popular ECOSlide sash window.

Andy commented: “Since my appointment as Group MD in 2019 we have embarked on an investment strategy that has enabled us to scale the business rapidly, and we have seen a real transformation during that time and we’re on track for 70% growth.”

Victorian Sliders is a vertically integrated PVC-U sash manufacturer with in-house extrusion, glass processing, manufacturing and recycling, operating from a state-of-the-art 250,000 sq ft site in South Wales and a number of major distribution hubs across the UK and Ireland.

Founder Scot Starkey said: “Andy has brought a great deal of management expertise to the business and been instrumental in our recent growth. We would like to thank him for his contribution to our company and we wish him well as he pursues new opportunities.”

Andy Jones has been a leading name in the glass and glazing in“However, the nature of the role dustry for over 30 years and been and location requires a regular 500 a key part of UK and European mile round-trip and so it is time for growth for a number of industry me to explore new challenges and giants, including Edgetech where opportunities. I leave the business he drove the agenda for warm in great shape and on a rapid edge technology. growth trajectory.”

TRADE NEWS be made a primary concern in any future government initiatives.

Anda continued: “As well as energy efficiency benefits, new windows and doors can also make a property look amazing, and generally improve a resident’s quality of life, by reducing noise pollution and increasing security, for example.

FENSA Highlights Green Scheme Benefits Of Glazing In Radio Broadcasts FENSA has promoted the energy efficiency benefits of replacement windows and doors in a series of radio interviews, as it continues its efforts to ensure that glazing is “front and centre” in any future government schemes designed to ‘green’ the UK’s housing stock, as well as continuing to raise the profile of FENSA Approved Installers with homeowners across the country.

Following the cancellation of the Green Homes Grant initiative earlier this year, FENSA’s Director of Membership, Chris Beedel and GGF Chief Development Officer, Anda Gregory hit the airwaves the length and breadth of the UK – from Aberdeenshire’s Deveron FM to BBC Three Counties Radio to raise awareness of the crucial role of glazing in improving energy efficiency in our homes, and in turn, meeting the government’s

ambitious net zero targets.

Speaking live on air, Chris said: “As one of the glazing industry’s leading voices, along with our parent organisation, the Glass and Glazing Federation, we’re looking to provide the government with a solution to their Green Homes Grant problems, in terms of making homes more energy efficient and helping future schemes really become the major success that they should be.”

Anda added: “Glazing really can make a positive impact on energy efficiency for all of us, as homeowners or renters, by reducing the requirement for heating, and in turn, reducing heating bills.”

While glazing was included in the Green Homes Grant scheme as a secondary measure, FENSA continues to lobby for it to

“Windows and doors should be front and centre of any future ‘green’ scheme because they pull people in with these added benefits –­ which you don’t get from ‘behind the scenes’ type energy efficiency measures, such as loft insulation.”

While the Green Homes Grant scheme sparked confusion among consumers and installers, FENSA is also calling for any future initiative to be simplified for both parties.

Anda added: “Any qualifying criteria for installers needs to be realistic and we believe that being a FENSA Approved Installer should more than suffice for any scheme that might be launched in the future. This would enable a much wider take-up and increase availability of installers – a big win for consumers as well.”

Unlike the Green Homes Grant, which allowed only single to double replacement glazing, FENSA also maintains that any future scheme should permit replacing old double glazing with new, due to the energy efficiency benefits created by the technical advances of recent years.

FENSA also suggests cutting VAT on labour to 5% to incentivise more installers to sign up to any future scheme, and more consumers to use it, voicing these suggestions live on air. www.fensa.org.uk WINDOW NEWS | JUNE 2021 9

TRADE NEWS

Asa McGillian, Managing Director, Apeer (L), Cllr Peter Johnston (C), Austin McGillian, Director, Apeer (R)

Apeer Announces £500k

Machinery Investment

During Mayor’s Visit

Apeer has announced another sizable investment in machinery for 2021, during a site visit by the local council’s Mayor to see the factory’s latest extension and to hear about the business’s continuing successful growth and recent workforce expansion.

The visit by the Mayor of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, Cllr Peter Johnston, follows what has been an exceptional time for Apeer doors and sister brand Lumi windows, based in Ballymena, Northern Ireland. Following two factory expansions – most recently, the completion of an additional 20,000ft2 extension – to house multiple plant and machine investments over the past four years, the business has also recently increased its workforce with the creation of 45 new jobs.

Among the machines now set to be installed in the newly expand10 WINDOW NEWS | JUNE 2021

ed plant as part of this latest investment are a 5-axis CNC router, a second 4-head seamless welder, a 4-axis CNC machining centre and a ceramic roller robotic cleaner. In addition, a 4-head plasma treatment machine is to be delivered to the site in the summer.

The Mayor requested the visit to see first hand what is now one of the largest manufacturing businesses in the area. He met with Apeer’s senior management team to get an overview of the business and how it has grown in the past five years – and to discover how, despite the challenges of the pandemic, Apeer has managed to maintain its strong growth position by targeting specific elements of its marketing and focusing on quality.

“The past year has been a time of great challenges for our indus-

try but also great opportunity for us, which we have been quick to capitalise on,” said Apeer’s Production Director Chris Wilson.

“Since re-opening our doors safely after lockdown, we’ve seen unprecedented demand for our composite doors and Lumi windows as people who have spent so much time at home now look to upgrade their homes with the best in craftsmanship and builtto-last quality.

“Lumi, our award-winning frameless window and door range, has taken the self-build market here by storm. And with the projection of more homes being built across the UK, we expect demand to remain high and we are determined to grow the business through 2021 and beyond.

“This latest round of investment in new machinery will enable us to continue to increase workflow, efficiencies and overall productivity to help feed this demand.

This, along with our ongoing investment in digital marketing to further build our Apeer and Lumi brands, will help ensure we stay at the top of our game. Our aim is to continue to be the first port of call for customers who want unrivalled quality windows and doors.” www.apeer.co.uk

TRADE NEWS

Deadline Looming For Construction Companies

Employing EU Citizens

Rapierstar’s

Fastener Stock

Management Expertise Supports

Glazerite’s Growth

Comprehensive ongoing support

by Rapierstar, including fastener stock management and guidance on correct fastener application, is helping The Glazerite UK Group Ltd to maintain its position as one of the UK’s leading trade manufacturers of VEKA and Halo windows and doors.

Construction companies employing EU workers must ensure that their employees have applied for settled status in the UK before 30 June 2021, say leading tax and advisory firm Blick Rothenberg.

Heather Powell, a partner at the firm said: “The EU Settlement scheme allows EU citizens to continue working in the UK until 30 June without applying for ‘settled status.”

She added: “EU citizens who work in the UK from 1 July must have ‘settled status’ – which can be obtained by making applications through the government website – www.gov.uk.

No fees are payable, but workers must make the applications themselves, or cease working here.”

Heather said: “Employers such as construction companies must not ignore this issue. Businesses who are found guilty of employing someone who they knew, or have reasonable cause to believe’ did not have the right to work in the UK can face an unlimited fine and a jail term of up to 5 years. Businesses who do not do the correct checks, or do not perform checks correctly, can be fined up to £20,000.”

She added: “The reliance on EU workers in the construction industry is well known. Construction companies need to ensure all EU workers know they need to apply for settled status before 30 June to ensure they avoid skill shortages on site – or fines and potentially jail terms” says Powell.” www.blickrothenberg.com

Glazerite’s strong track record of delivering finished uPVC products to a consistently high standard across its complete range of different window and door styles, has at is core a commitment to strong supply chain partnerships with market leaders in their respective fields.

The company has partnered with window and door fastener specialist Rapierstar for more than eight years. This long term collaboration has enabled the development of a bespoke stock management system for fasteners, as well as consumables such as tapes, silicone, PPE, drill bits and also bespoke special parts.

With state of the art production plants at Wellingborough, Peterborough and Bolton Glazerite prides itself on its ability to serve installers across the UK. Rapierstar supports these factories by ensuring that production lines are supplied with the correct fasteners for each of the assembly processes, eliminating the risks of product substitution or disruption to production in the event fasteners running out. www.rapierstar.com WINDOW NEWS | JUNE 2021 11

TRADE NEWS

GGF, FENSA And BFRC

Launch New Recycling Scheme who participate.”

BFRC Operations Director, Lis Clarke, said “Offering a free service to our clients that helps both their business and the environment is a win, win scenario for the industry.

BFRC are thrilled to be a part of such an important initiative that benefits the entire sector and we look forward to seeing the results.”

The Glass & Glazing Federation (GGF) together with two brands from its Commercial Division FENSA and BFRC, has partnered with Middlesbrough-based window and door recycling specialist, CNC Recycling, to launch a new PVC-U recycling scheme for installers and manufacturers.

The new scheme will initially be rolled out across Scotland, Wales and the North and Midlands of England, with plans to expand throughout the UK as demand increases. GGF Members together with FENSA and BFRC approved installers and manufacturers, can book to have de-glazed old frames and offcuts collected from site free of charge and taken away to be recycled.

GGF Managing Director, John Agnew said it was important that the organisation showed leadership in this key environmental initiative: “This partnership with CNC will encourage the UK PVC-U fram12 WINDOW NEWS | JUNE 2021

ing industry to further improve an already successful record in the recycling of old frames to begin life as new products, ideally window and door frames. It is enormously important that the industry is seen to be treating end of life PVC-U frames in such a positive way and appropriate therefore that the industry’s primary representative organisation, the GGF, has launched this scheme.”

FENSA Head of Membership, Chris Beedel, said: “As a society, we are all becoming increasingly concerned by the impact of plastic waste on the environment, so diverting window and door frames from landfill with this scheme will not only save installers the significant cost of skip hire, but it will also be an attractive proposition for environmentally conscious consumers. FENSA are delighted to move forward with this scheme in partnership with CNC Recycling.

It will certainly be of huge benefit to the installers and manufacturers

Melanie Reid, Managing Director of CNC Recycling said: “We are delighted to offer this service through GGF, FENSA and BFRC. It will provide a much-needed service to GGF Members, FENSA Approved Installers, BFRC Manufacturers and the industry, whilst also making a significant difference to their sustainability credentials, an increasingly important issue amongst homeowners.”

In addition, scheme participants will receive a certificate at the end of the year, recording the amount of waste material they have recycled via the initiative. The vast majority of materials recycled will remain in the industry to create new fenestration products.

Once collected, the end-of-life PVC-U windows, door frames and virgin offcuts are re-processed to produce a recycled pellet, from which new PVC-U products may be directly manufactured or combined with virgin material to make new, bar-length PVC-U profiles for example. Thus the ‘circular economy’ is completed whilst diverting old frames from landfill and significantly increasing the sustainability of the PVC-U fenestration industry. www.fensa.org.uk www.bfrc.org www.ggf.org.uk

ROOF TRADE NEWS LANTERN FITTED IN MINUTES

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SUPPLY & INSTALL THE MULTI-AWARD WINNING ALUMINIUM LANTERN

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Average installation under 30 mins

STRONGER

3m x 2.5m possible with no mid rafters

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SLIMMER

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TRADE NEWS

Online Investments

At AluFold Direct

Set To Drive Growth

For Customers A lot has been happening behind the scenes at the Blackburn-based aluminium fabricator AluFold Direct since last May, when Russell Yates was appointed Managing Director.

Much of that has been focused around driving operational efficiencies, expanding the team, and investing and equipping a new factory which is set to open soon.

For customers though, despite the vast amount of change which is actually taking place, it will largely have felt like business as usual so far – with the same consistently fast and 14 WINDOW NEWS | JUNE 2021

reliable service and the same reassuring guarantee of any product, in any colour, delivered anywhere in the UK.

Now however, some of the first innovations that Russell and the team are introducing are being rolled out to customers, and there is a growing sense of excitement about how these will help companies who choose AluFold Direct as their supply partner achieve really meaningful growth.

There is a new brand and a new website to help communicate the scale of the transformation

happening and a new online ‘quick quote’ tool on the website designed to make the AluFold Direct service even smarter and more user friendly.

The clever new tool at alufolddirect.co.uk enables customers to get an instant trade price for nearly every product in the AluFold Direct range – from windows, entrance doors and bi-folds to lanterns, sliders, rooflights and commercial doors.

All that users need to do is enter in their sizes, select glazed or unglazed and standard or non-standard colours and the tool will calculate the price and send it instantly by email.

There’s a step-by-step guide included which walks users through the quote builder tool, a handy guide to help them choose the right spec for each project and a survey template to make sure they don’t miss anything.

Russell Yates explained: “We’re taking all the hassle out of

TRADE NEWS to enter their details to help generate additional leads for AluFold Direct customers.

quote building for our customers. They can get an instant price straight to their inbox and log in as many times as they like to change the spec whenever suits them. Obviously, if they need a more detailed quote on a particularly large project, they can simply upload

their own survey files and one of our team will get straight back to them.”

The tool sits on the trade section of the new website. Retail buyers who visit the site are directed to a dedicated ‘Find An Installer’ section and prompted

Russell added: “This is a more capable and comprehensive tool than anything else out there for quoting in aluminium at the moment and hopefully serves as a powerful statement of intent in terms of how we will be approaching the market in 2021 and beyond. We have huge ambitions for this business and part of that will come from providing customers with a really useful and valuable set of support tools, which will help them make the most of the opportunities available in aluminium while making their lives as easy as possible.”

AluFold Direct is set to reveal more of its plans over the coming weeks and months, including a new cloud-based customer pricing portal and some radical product developments and sustainability initiatives.

More at: alufolddirect.co.uk

Leads 2 Trade

And CPA Join Forces A new partnership between Leads 2 Trade and the Consumer Protection Association (CPA) is set to be mutually beneficial for their respective members.

Leads 2 Trade provides double-qualified sales leads to installers in the home improvement sector, while the CPA connects accredited home improvement contractors with consumers.

The link-up means CPA members will have access to Leads2 Trade’s ‘no pitch, no fee’ confirmed appointment service, which means they only pay for a lead if they sit and pitch it. The CPA is also offering a discount when members join if they sign up to the service.

And Leads 2 Trade will help its installer network members join the CPA to take advan-

tage of the services they offer.

As a CPA member, installers can offer customers peace of mind with a deposit protection scheme or an Insurance Backed Guarantee for their installation, and take advantage of training, support, and certification schemes to stand out from the competition. www.leads2trade.co.uk WINDOW NEWS | JUNE 2021 15

TRADE NEWS

Bifold Local Sees Significant Growth

With Stellar

Trade and domestic fabricator Bifold Local started manufacturing the Stellar aluminium system from Epwin Window Systems in February 2021 and is already seeing significant growth on the back of the decision. In fact, demand for the Stellar Aluminium Bifold Door in particular means it’s having to invest in new automated fabrication machinery to keep pace with demand.

Liam Duffy, Director at Bifold Local, says Stellar’s aesthetics are proving very popular with his 16 WINDOW NEWS | JUNE 2021

customers. “Stellar has the slim profiles that are so popular with consumers and the bifold door has real appeal. It’s allowing us to capitalise on demand for this popular style of door.” The door aesthetics are enhanced by the impressive sash sizes the Stellar bifold door can achieve. Sashes can be as large as 1,200mm wide and 2,500mm high, with a maximum height plus width of 3,500mm, adding even more appeal especially with wider door apertures.

Bifold Local is also benefiting from the ease of installation of the Stellar Aluminium Bifold Door. In fact, with features such as patented knock-in beads, it is the aluminium system that’s as easy to fit as PVC-U. Liam comments: “Our installers like the rapid installation thanks to the pre-gasketed knock-in glazing beads that save so much time when fitting. The pre-inserted gaskets don’t overstretch either, which adds to the overall door high-end aesthetics but also eliminates call backs to site. For my money it’s the best aluminium bifold door on the market.”

Bifold Local is based in Bootle on Merseyside. It manufactures and installs aluminium windows and doors throughout the UK with a fast and reliable service. A well-established aluminium fabricator, Bifold Local is a new name as a result of a recent rebranding. www.stellaraluminium.co.uk

VISOFOLD 1000 BI-FOLD DOORS

T R A D E N Efrom WS

£345 PER LEAF

10%

NEW CUSTOMER DISCOUNT QUOTE CODE WN-B01

EASY INSTALLATION Market leading trade Bi-fold Door

LARGE SASH WIDTHS Up to 1200mm wide

STOCK COLOUR CHOICE White, Anthracite Grey, Black & Dual Colour

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Uninterrupted Sight Lines Safer site delivery

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* 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 WINDOW NEWS | JUNE 2021 17 * Discount applies to new trade customers and first, single item purchase only of the Visofold Bifolding Doors

TRADE NEWS an Ultraframe customer, Richard said: “I’m proud to call myself a loyal Ultraframe user and have been for over 30 years to date!

We emerged into the conservatory market when Ultraframe came on the scene, I suppose we have always followed Ultraframe’s lead! It was the start of the white box with a polycarbonate roof but of course, much has changed since then.

Classic Loyalty Stands the Test of Time

The Ultraframe Classic system was first launched over 35 years ago, and while the system has changed greatly over the years, many of those fitting it today are still the same companies that got on board with the conservatory roof system back in the early days.

One such loyal Ultraframe Classic customer is Elmhurst Windows of West Yorkshire. The business is headed up by Richard Abrahams, who joined the business as a holiday job back in 1991 and is now the CEO. During this time Richard has grown the company to be one of West Yorkshire’s most successful home improvement companies and credits Ultraframe and its 18 WINDOW NEWS | JUNE 2021

“I remember many trips to Clitheroe for sales and technical training. Most of our fitting teams and surveyors have attended courses and taken advantage of the wonderful hospitality and the excellent training that is available.

“We have remained loyal to the Ultraframe brand for over 30 years and have fitted the Classic Roof for that whole time, as well as the Livinroof and Ultraroof systems more recently. Far from the ‘white boxes’ that were all the rage when we first began our journey into the conservatory market, we now build many orangeries – using Ultraframe roofs and components such as the super insulated columns – and now, in the emerging garden rooms market, we are back again for more!

“Ultraframe’s superb marketing coupled with technical expertise has given us the confidence to continue selling and installing conservatories, orangeries and solid and glass roof replacements. In fact, this side of the business has made a big comeback during the lockdown and now accounts for over 50% of our business

Richard Abrahams

systems – including Classic – as playing an important part in that success.

Commenting on his 30+ years as

“In recent years we have been serviced by Connaught, an Ultraframe fabricator, who have looked after us and provided the goods when required, even in the recent difficult lockdown and covid times. Yes, we have tried other roof systems over the years but Ultraframe definitely

TRADE NEWS

Morley Glass And B&P Windows Team

Up For Glass Recycling has the edge in every way.”

In addition to his success and reputation in the West Yorkshire area, Richard’s dedication to the glass and glazing industry was recently acknowledged at the GGP Installer Awards where he received the Outstanding Achievement Award for his hard work and determination over the years.

Commenting about Elmhurst’s longstanding relationship with Ultraframe, Marketing Director, Alex Hewitt, said: “It is fantastic to hear of companies such as Elmhurst who have been loyal Ultraframe users right from the beginning. As well as being a loyal Classic user over the years, Richard has also embraced our new systems as they have been launched, to allow the company to take advantage of extension and more recently, garden room projects, in addition to their conservatory business. It is no surprise that with his vision and drive to provide his customers with the best products and service, Elmhurst has grown to become such a successful business, and that Richard himself has been recognised on a national scale. We continue to invest in our Classic system, and we hope that its many loyal users such as Richard, are benefitting from the latest enhancements which include a chambered box gutter, bi-fold support beam, super-bolster, slimline ridge, enhanced structural design guide, and 30% lower prices on Classic Aluminium.”

ntegral blinds manufacturer Morley Glass and Wakefield-based B&P Windows have teamed up to reduce their carbon footprints further by supplying all post-consumer glass products to Morley Glass to be put through their onsite glass crusher.

Since 2019, Morley Glass has been accepting post-consumer glass and IGU products for their glass crusher which sits at their Leeds site. To date, the company has reduced their CO2 emissions by a staggering 135,504kg. That crushed glass then goes back into the market via recycling and will go on to be used in numerous applications for decades to come.

B&P Windows, based in Wakefield for 40 years, have made huge efforts to ensure that all post-consumer and office-based waste is recycled and that nothing goes into the ground. All their old PVCU, timber and aluminium frames are recycled and have been for a long time. The company also uses a dedicate skip service provided by Wakefield council that ensures anything that is put into the skip is taken away and processed correctly to make sure that none of it ends up at landfill sites.

This new partnership with Morley Glass is set to expand that effort further, with both companies dedicated to reducing their carbon footprint and impact on the environment as much as possible.

Ian Short, Managing Director at Morley Glass commented: “We know B&P Windows have been making huge efforts to be as green as possible for years. We have worked together for around two decades and have a great working relationship, so to be able to help them to continue their efforts to be as environmentally friendly as possible only strengthens our bond further.”

Justin Grafton-Holt, Director at B&P Windows said: “We have worked with Morley Glass for years and have admired not only their product and professionalism, but their activities outside of the glazing sector and their dedication to reducing their impact on the environment as much as possible.

This falls perfectly in line with our longer-term vision and it’s great to be able to team up and keep as much post-consumer waste out of the ground as possible!” www.morleyglass.co.uk www.bandpwindows.co.uk WINDOW NEWS | JUNE 2021 19

TRADE NEWS engines and hybrid and electric cars replacing diesel company cars.

• Underground water recycling of approximately 4 billion litres of water annually.

• Continuing the focus on recycling scrap PVCu into the outdoor range, which Liniar has been pioneering since 1993.

• Implementing new recycling initiatives and creating new products manufactured to use recycled PVCu.

Liniar Smashes Its Climate Change Agreement By 54 Percent Whilst the main focus of the last 12 months has been on keeping its workforce safe during the pandemic and meeting the high demand in the marketplace, PVCu systems manufacturer Liniar has also continued to drive forward its Climate Change Agreement (CCA) targets.

April 2021 saw the latest audit of Liniar’s ISO 14001 accreditation which highlights the progress made to date – and the results show Liniar a staggering 53.95% ahead of its CCA target in Q1 2021!

Liniar first signed a Climate Change Agreement with the Environment Agency in 2018 as part of the Government’s Energy Saving Opportunity Scheme. As part of this, the systems company implemented a comprehensive Environ20 WINDOW NEWS | JUNE 2021

mental Management Policy and achieved ISO 14001 accreditation that same year.

To ensure its carbon footprint continually shrinks, Liniar put into place a phased plan of action. This included: • Replacing machinery with new, more energy efficient versions – both in its extrusion hall and lamination facility.

• Installing heat pumps with metering and controls to manage heating more efficiently and cut out the use of fossil fuels and electricity.

• Replacing incandescent bulbs with more energy-efficient LED bulbs throughout the facility.

• Modernising the Liniar fleet – with HGVs converted to Euro 6

Prior to the ISO 14001 audit in April 2021, all items on the phased plan of action had been achieved, with more activities planned for the coming years to further reduce Liniar’s carbon footprint and result in an even greener systems company.

At the end of the target period of Liniar’s Climate Change Agreement, Liniar’s facility has achieved a cumulative Specific Energy Consumption (SEC) of 1,618.97 kWhp/tonne, compared to a target of 3,513.028 kWhp/tonne. This puts Liniar ahead of its period target to reduce its carbon footprint by almost 54%, saving 20,410 metric tonnes of carbon!

“Sustainability and reducing our impact on the environment is something we’re incredibly passionate about at Liniar,” comments Group Managing Director Martin Thurley.

“We’re extremely proud of the audit results and have even more plans in place to continue our good work in the future. Our progress to date has been a team effort and we look forward to making more adjustments to further limit the carbon emissions from our manufacturing operations.” www.liniar.co.uk/sustainability

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TRADE NEWS

Tradeglaze Adds New

Offices As Company Continues To Expand

Tradeglaze (Lincoln) Ltd have added new offices to their headquarters at 16 Bishops Road, Lincoln, as the company continues its expansion program. With both the construction and the home improvement markets experiencing the strongest demand on record, the company has been investing in new talent, equipment and facilities. Several new employees have joined the team over the recent months and it was time to make a significant investment in the premises and create modern, brighter and more comfortable working spaces for everyone.

The fabricator, well-known for its commitment to collaborating with local businesses, has been working with Lincoln-based commercial interior design and fit out specialist APSS to roll out the office expansion project. Tradeglaze maximised the space using a mezzanine floor, increasing the capacity with two 22 WINDOW NEWS | JUNE 2021

new offices which include state-ofthe art communication technologies. A new meeting room with an AV system has also been added, together with new areas to support the welfare of Tradeglaze employees such as a new kitchenette and additional rest areas.

Jeremy Wetherall, Managing Director at Tradeglaze, said: “Our team has already been growing consistently over the years. With the increased demand for our products in the recent months we have made the decision to accelerate our growth plans and have made a six-figure investment across all our areas from new talent to new machinery, new land for additional storage and parking, new fleet vehicles, and now new office spaces.

This is a very busy but tremendously exciting time for us.”

“The industry’s boom in demand has come with many challenges.

Significant price increases and surcharges combined with shortages of materials are causing considerable disruption to all fabricators.

Lead times and product availability are without a doubt under pressure. However, we have built excellent relationships with our key suppliers over the years and are in a fortunate, strong position.”

“Tradeglaze has always been synonymous with outstanding customer service. We pride ourselves on our five-star reputation and our ability to support our customers, particularly during very challenging times that we are experiencing right now. We are committed to investing in the company so we have the capacity to respond to the market demand and can continue delivering the high standards of service for our customers that our company is renowned for.” www.tradeglaze.co.uk

Abcell Partners

With Deceuninck To Add PVCu To Product Range

TRADE NEWS

Endurance Enhances Its Lead

Generation And Google Credentials

Continuing their investment in brand, lead generation and marketing, Endurance Doors have delivered improvements in their Google rankings for over 800 search terms and with it increased their lead generation statistics to over 1,000 direct enquires every week.

To give installers even greater choice, Glazed Extension Merchant Abcell, has created a GEM of a partnership with Deceuninck to offer customers a complete range of PVCu windows and doors.

Deceuninck’s 2800 Heritage Sculptured windows, flush casement windows, flush residential doors and French doors have been added to the Abcell range.

“We’re passionate about providing customers with the best choice of products,” says Neville Gleed, Operations Director at Abcell. “Our new partnership with Deceuninck means that installers can now benefit from a premium PVCu range.

“Our investment in the new product range is part of Abcell’s commitment to customers. The new products are available in smooth or woodgrain finishes.

Deceuninck products are fabricated by our expert factory team using our two Graf weld-

ers, giving customers the high quality finish they want. That means installers will be able to choose from our impressive window, door and roofing range to give homeowners a huge number of options for their glazed extension projects.”

Rob McGlennon, Managing Director of Deceuninck, commented: “We are delighted to welcome Abcell to our growing family of fabricators.

“As a highly experienced and well-respected manufacturer, Abcell recognises that demand for colour and for premium products is at an all-time high.

With products such as our award-winning Heritage Flush Sash and our market leading colour offer that includes 30 colourways available from stock, Abcell is now in a commanding position to capitalise on that demand and to help its customers grow.” www.abcell.co.uk

From the perspective of their nationwide network of Installer Partners, this continued investment in the brand is helping realise more sales, while the technical features of the solid timber core composite door, with a 3mm bowing guarantee, helps ignite referral sales and the near elimination of any product remedials. There’s also a huge wealth of free marketing and point of sale materials for all customers.

According to Ahrefs, Endurance Doors ranks at the top of organic searches for 12 of the most common keyword searches including ‘composite doors’ and ranks in the top 3 for over 800 search terms. In addition, the website at endurancedoors.co.uk is now enjoying well over 40,000 organic sessions per month and in April with paid and social traffic combined, this number expanded to 74,787, claims the company.

Further analysis of the April figures also showed that there were 2,326 Door Designer conversions and 1,553 Quick Quote conversions respectively, helping to ignite consumer enquires to over 1,000 per month consistently this calendar year. www.endurancedoors.co.uk WINDOW NEWS | JUNE 2021 23

TRADE NEWS

fective, acoustic and thermally efficient solution achieved by secondary glazing.

Continued investment in marketing throughout the first lockdown last spring ensured that the company returned to ‘healthy’ sales leads once it was deemed safe to resume within government guidelines.

Alongside this, an intensive prospecting campaign throughout the south of England coincided with the appointment of a dedicated Southern Area Sales Manager, Gary Wood. Since Gary’s appointment, Granada has experienced ‘particularly impressive’ sales growth within the M25 area; new business potential that had previously gone untapped.

Granada Glazing Reports Secondary Glazing Trade Sales

Up 28 Percent

Secondary glazing specialist Granada Glazing reports a 28% rise in trade sales in April 2021 compared to April 2019, reflecting growing consumer confidence and demand for home improvement products as the UK’s economic recovery gathers pace.

Highlighting the ‘really impressive rebound’ following a challenging 2020, the South Yorkshire-based firm attributes its sustained focus on marketing and lead generation activities throughout the pandemic as key to this success.

24 WINDOW NEWS | JUNE 2021

Granada’s Marketing Manager, Lewis Hartley comments: “The marketplace has been incredibly buoyant since the end of the first lockdown. There has been a huge appetite for home improvement products at a time when homeowners were largely unable to leave their properties.

Secondary glazing has been no exception to this.”

With more time spent working and living at home, Lewis believes people were recognising the need for a quieter and warmer environment, thereby driving demand for the cost-ef-

The exciting momentum continues with the company set to launch its new redesigned website in the coming weeks.

Zoe Grafton, Trade Sales Manager at Granada Secondary Glazing, says: “It’s fantastic to see such a healthy year-on-year sales increase in comparison to 2019. It goes without saying that last year was an incredibly testing time for businesses across all sectors, but we have weathered the storm and have come out the other side stronger than ever.

“We’ve got a fantastic sales team in place now across the UK who are offering our trade partners unrivalled levels of support. Our work across the south has seen us well positioned to capitalise on incredibly strong demand within the industry over the past six months in particular. With a new product range on the horizon, as well as a new state-of-the-art website, we’re all tremendously excited to see what the future holds.” www.gsecg.com

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TRADE NEWS

Father And Daughter

Team Open Their

First Showroom In Horsham

rary Eclipse aluminium slim frame windows and doors.”

Speedy Home Improvements, which became part of the Conservatory Outlet network of retailers last year, will be officially opening the showroom this Saturday (May 22nd) and are running a number of promotions to help celebrate the big moment.

Visitors during the weekend will have the chance to win a threecourse meal at a number of local restaurants, prize hampers and, for the first three orders, a spa break away.

Greg went on to add: “We are best known for our ability to take on technically demanding projects, with our unique ‘SpeedyBase’ system reducing the requirement for traditional wet foundations and construction time by up to four weeks.

Father and daughter Greg and Leighanne Cox of Speedy Home Improvements

A father and daughter team are investing over £100,000 into opening their first ever showroom.

Leighanne and Greg Cox are looking to expand Speedy Home Improvements by creating a dedicated space in Horsham that will showcase six different living spaces and their new windows and doors range.

The duo are looking to capitalise on pent-up demand from homeowners keen to press the button on big projects and are hoping the 5000 sq ft facility on Foundry Lane will help the business grow 30% by the end of 2021.

Five new jobs will be created as a result of the investment, including one front of house position, two sales roles and two apprentice fitters to support the installation team.

“We have been growing steadily due to ‘word of mouth’ referrals 26 WINDOW NEWS | JUNE 2021

and exhibitions, but felt the time was right to have a presence where potential customers could see our expertise first-hand,” explained Leighanne, who joined Greg in the business eleven years ago.

“The showroom has been purpose-built to really showcase the improvements we can deliver, with visitors able to see a contemporary flat roof kitchen extension, both tiled roof and hybrid roof home extensions, a stunning orangery, beautiful glass roof conservatory and a practical garden room.

“It will give people from Horsham and Worthing all the inspiration they need when considering adding more space to their homes.”

She continued: “We’ve also got an extensive range of windows and doors that we are now supplying and fitting, including Extreme window, the timeless Envisage flush casement or the contempo-

“This is still very much what we do, but by joining Conservatory Outlet last year, we have also benefited from access to their excellent product range and its multi-channel digital marketing campaign that has really driven leads during the lockdown.

“Like the other retailers in the network, we decided the time was right to have our own showroom and look forward to welcoming homeowners from Horsham and Worthing over the coming weeks and months.”

Greg Kane, Chief Executive of Conservatory Outlet, concluded: “Speedy Home Improvements has been a very welcome addition and have surpassed all of the joint targets we set at the start.

“Greg and Leighanne are a fantastic team, with a reputation for quality, service and overcoming technical challenges. This showroom is an important next step in the firm’s journey.” www.speedyconservatories.com

TRADE NEWS The issue of PVC system supply, which is being driven by a shortage of polymer, is not unique to the UK. It’s one that is affecting all of Europe, in fact it is being felt globally, and it’s not even exclusive to the window and door industry. You may have read about some supermarkets removing plastic carrier bags recently. This a positive step forward for sustainability, but it’s one that has been accelerated due a lack of plastic to make the bags in the first place.

Ian Cocken, Director of Sales and Marketing, aluplast

The Scale Of Our

Resources Will

Keep Surcharges

To A Minimum

By Ian Cocken, Director of Sales and Marketing, aluplast

We are currently experiencing an extremely challenging and difficult time for the industry. Under normal circumstances, we would all be enjoying the fruits of one of the busiest periods the industry has ever been through – demand from the home improvement sector has been unrelenting since the middle of last year and it is still extremely high 12 months later.

The housing market has been absolutely booming since the introduction of the Stamp Duty holiday and it shifted into an even higher gear this spring. Some of

the stories in the press are hard to believe, with desperate homebuyers putting down huge deposits just to secure a viewing or offering the full asking price without even stepping foot in the property they are looking to buy.

That’s combined with a forecast of an explosion in consumer spending as the UK emerges from Covid restrictions – the Bank of England is predicting the fastest rate of growth in over 70 years.

The challenge, as we are all aware, is how to satisfy this demand when there is such immense pressure on the supply chain.

As a result, the introduction of surcharges has been inevitable. The price of polymer has been going up month on month for the last year and while we have absorbed as much of that as possible, bringing a small surcharge into the market has been unavoidable. We plan to introduce our first and only surcharge in June.

I fully understand that this is not the news our customers would hope for, although I would like to stress that no-one is immune from this situation and with the scale of our resources, we are much better placed than others to manage the situation. aluplast is global company, we process more than 200,000 tonnes of PVC-U each year and we export to 28 countries.

This means that, compared to some of our competitors, we have kept the introduction of surcharges to an absolute minimum.

From aluplast’s perspective, we are probably at the peak of the crisis – we anticipate that demand could actually start to ease by mid-summer.

In the mean time we will continue to work hard for our customers, making sure they are as wellequipped as possible to make the most of current conditions, but also to ensure they remain in a strong position once market conditions eventually return to normal. www.aluplast.co.uk WINDOW NEWS | JUNE 2021 27

TRADE NEWS

VinylPlus®: Marking 20 Years Of Progress

Towards #CIRCULARVINYL At the completion of its second 10-year Voluntary Commitment to sustainable development, the European PVC industry takes stock of its achievements and looks ahead to 2030. Among the main results, which are summarised in the VinylPlus Progress Report 2021, the continuous development of collection and recycling schemes for PVC waste across Europe, which made possible to recycle 6.5 million tonnes of PVC since 2000; the progressive replacement of the most problematic additives; the reduction of energy consumption in production processes; and the development of the VinylPlus® Product Label.

Looking ahead, VinylPlus confirms its strong engagement and commitments to recycle 900,000 tonnes of PVC per year by 2025, in line with the ambitions of the Circular Plastics Alliance, and one million tonnes by 2030.

Over the past 20 years, the European PVC industry, through VinylPlus, has made steady progress in terms of product stew28 WINDOW NEWS | JUNE 2021

ardship, research into innovative technologies and improvement of the environmental footprint of PVC. Above all, advances have been made in recycling, with the set-up of collection and recycling schemes that were virtually non-existent 20 years ago.

Since then, VinylPlus has proven to be a frontrunner in the circular economy by ensuring continuously growing and safe recycling of PVC and was well on track to meet its recycling target of 800,000 tonnes per year by 2020 prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Despite the challenges faced by the industry in 2020, VinylPlus still achieved a great result, reaching more than 730,000 tonnes of PVC recycled and re-used into new products – above 91% of the programme’s 2020 target. Since 2000, the European PVC industry has recycled 6.5 million tonnes of PVC into new products – thus preventing the release of nearly 13 million tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere – and created 1,500 direct jobs in recycling plants.

VinylPlus goes further than the Circular Economy, having addressed other sustainability topics such as energy efficiency, sustainable material sourcing and production, and the responsible use of additives. The energy needed to produce one tonne of PVC resin decreased by an average of 9.5% between 2007-2008 and 20152016. In the same period, CO2 emissions were reduced by 14.4% for the average PVC production.

For converters, across main applications such as window profiles, pipes, flooring and films, energy consumption decreased between 16% and 26.5% in 2020 compared to 2010.

The Additive Sustainability Footprint (ASF) methodology developed in collaboration with The Natural Step was peer-reviewed

by Life Cycle Analysis experts and validated. It helps additive manufacturers self-assess the sustainability of their current and new additives used in PVC products.

The VinylPlus® Product Label, the sustainability mark for PVC products in the building and construction sector “not only provides specific criteria for more sustainable PVC production and use – said Stijn Brancart, Expert in Circular Construction at VIBE – but also opens up discussion and stimulates producers to apply the principles through different approaches. It focuses on recycled content and upcycling potential but also contains aspects of demountability and even return policies.”

To date, the VinylPlus® Product Label has been awarded to 128 PVC products, guiding consumers and public buyers towards more sustainable purchase decisions.

Since 2019, VinylPlus has been a signatory of the Circular Plastics Alliance, the European Commission’s multi-stakeholder platform aimed at boosting the market for recycled plastics to 10 million tonnes by 2025, and chaired the Construction Working Group.

TRADE NEWS “I am very pleased with the commitment and the proactive role of VinylPlus in the Circular Plastics Alliance – said Kirsi Ekroth-Manssila, Head of Unit, DG GROW, European Commission – I am confident that with the cooperation of all the members of the Circular Plastics Alliance, and with the positive example set by VinylPlus – as an effective and successful cross-value chain platform – the overall outcome will be a success.

VinylPlus is a perfect example of how to make the Circular Economy a reality, being the first value chain in 2000 to take on the challenge of transforming a problem into an opportunity.”

As a united value chain, VinylPlus accomplished major achievements. Nevertheless, we cannot stay still. In the past months, the entire PVC value chain, together with its stakeholders, worked hard to build its next Commitment to

Father and daughter Greg and Leighanne Cox of Speedy Home Improvements

sustainable development for the decade to 2030, which will be officially launched at the VinylPlus Sustainability Forum 2021 #TOWARDS2030.

“Looking back, we have achieved a lot – commented Brigitte Dero, Managing Director, VinylPlus. However, there is still much more to do, especially if we intend to proactively contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

We now move forward to the next stage of our commitment to sustainable development, exploiting 20+ years of lessons learned and achievements to build a new and even more ambitious commitment for the next decade so as to contribute further towards a more sustainable and circular future. We look forward to the official launch of our next 2030 commitment at our VinylPlus Sustainability Forum on 17 June and to engaging with all stakeholders in this effort.” www.vinylplus.eu

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aluplast PVC-U window and door systems Call 01684 273401 or email info@aluplast.co.uk to find out more.

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TRADE NEWS

Extraordinary, Synchronised Recovery For Builders’ Merchants’ Sales

Britain’s Builders’ Merchants continued to report strong growth in Q1 2021, with total value sales up 8.6% compared to the previous quarter and 15.1% up on Q1 2020. Removing the effects of Covid, results are still positive, with merchants reporting an increase of 30 WINDOW NEWS | JUNE 2021

Q1 2019. Over the same periods, Timber & Joinery Products was up 30.5% and 15.8% respectively.

Heavy Building Materials also did well, with sales growth of 10.3% and 1.3%.

Total sales grew 47.4% compared to March 2020 and by a no less extraordinary 23.0% compared to the same month in 2019.

6.0% on Q1 2019.

There are a few exceptions, particularly for indoor trades, where Covid restrictions has impacted the rate of recovery in these sectors. Sales for Kitchens & Bathrooms were down -2.1% in Q1 2021 compared to the previous quarter, and -1.8% on Q1 2020.

However, month-on-month there are signs of improvement across the board. Sales for Kitchens & Bathrooms was up 12.3% in March compared to February.

Landscaping and Timber & Joinery Products saw exceptional growth year-on-year and when compared to 2019. First quarter Landscaping sales were 41.4% up on Q1 2020 and an astonishing 32.3% up on

Commenting on the results, Mike Rigby, CEO of MRA Research, said: “Considering where the industry was this time last year, the rate and strength of recovery has been phenomenal, and it caught

TRADE NEWS forecasters, including the OBR, flat footed. Recovery has been fuelled by strong growth in new house building and RMI (Repair, Maintenance & Improvements), amplified by homeowners – synchronised by lockdowns – getting the idea and desire for home improvement at the same time. The latest ONS figures confirm that construction output recovered to 2.4% above its pre-pandemic February 2020 level, with RMI 7.7% above February 2020.

“However, the pace of recovery varies between product sectors, with Landscaping and Timber & Joinery the strongest. Lead times are extending and prices rising as demand for building materials exceeds supply. It’s reported that many hard landscaping installers are booked out to the end of the year.

“It is encouraging, now that lockdowns have eased, to see internal categories like Kitchens and Bathrooms, Plumbing, Heating & Electrical and Decorating, starting to catch up with growth across the board in March compared to February. We expect differences across sectors to start to even out over the coming months.”

Developed and run by MRA Research, the BMBI – a brand of the Builders Merchant 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.

The Q1 2021 BMBI report is available to download at www.bmbi.co.uk

Window Maker

Quickslide Focuses Resources To Housebuilders

Specialist window and door manufacturer Quickslide has further increased its focus on production of windows, doors and related products for the housebuilding sector, with the creation of a distinct department to service the specific needs of the sector. This includes resources that will provide support with areas such as regulatory and statutory demands; product development and design including technology and market trends; logistics; and after-sales support.

Quickslide already enjoys significant sales of windows and doors to housebuilders, who are attracted by the company’s understanding of the particular needs of the sector, in addition to an impressive investment in manufacturing technology. Combined, these enable Quickslide to produce the widest choice of window and door

designs, in various frame materials such as uPVC and aluminium, quickly and to consistently high quality, at short notice and to flexible delivery schedules in accordance with the particular demands of housebuilding. A particular aspect of Quickslide’s service-offer has been the firm’s ability to supply multiple size and design variations within a single project.

The company’s Sales Director Tom Swallow says that creation of the specialist department will consolidate the firm’s resources for housebuilder customers: “We have a long experience of serving housebuilders of various sizes, with projects ranging from small developments to large estates; our people understand the language and issues and they will now focus entirely on this sector.” www.quickslide.co.uk WINDOW NEWS | JUNE 2021 31

TRADE NEWS

Edgetech And Quanex Mark Ten

Years Of Partnership

It’s been ten years since spacer manufacturer Edgetech became part of billion-dollar building products group Quanex.

Back in 2011, Edgetech was already a leading spacer supplier, and one of fenestration’s most forward-thinking companies.

It was that legacy of innovation and product excellence that caught the attention of Quanex, which had grown from humble beginnings in South Lyon, Michigan to become a New York Stock Exchange-listed building products powerhouse.

“This is a fantastic milestone, and has given us all cause to reflect on everything Edgetech and Quanex have achieved together over the last decade,” comments Edgetech Managing Director Chris Alderson.

32 WINDOW NEWS | JUNE 2021

“From the very beginning, the two businesses were an excellent fit – both committed to health and safety, employee wellbeing, product innovation, sustainability, and much more.

“Since 2011, those synergies have enabled us to continue pushing boundaries, developing new products, and cementing Edgetech’s reputation as a global leader in spacer technology.

“Fittingly, as we enter our second decade as part of Quanex, we’re currently in the process of implementing a new, group-wide four tier strategy designed to guide our development in the coming years.

“Each of the four tiers represents a crucial stakeholder that we serve – customers, employees, sharehold-

ers, and the community.

“By doing everything we can to delight and exceed the expectations of each of these sectors, we know we can build a business that’s even stronger, more innovative, and that provides an even better service to customers all around the world.

“I want to take this opportunity to thank George, our CEO, and the rest of the Quanex executive leadership for all their support and encouragement over the last decade, and we’re extremely excited to see what we can achieve together in the years ahead.”

Quanex President and CEO George Wilson comments: “I’ve worked very closely with Chris and the Edgetech team over the last ten years, and we’re delighted they’re a part of the Quanex family.

“Their dedication to product excellence, innovation and providing the highest quality customer service is an asset to the Quanex Group, and I look forward to working with them further in the decade to come.” www.edgetechig.co.uk

TRADE NEWS

WINDOW NEWS | JUNE 2021 33

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 Cooling market? We don’t think so!

Does this point to an easing of retail demand as the economy opens in line with the easing of Lockdown restrictions? We don’t think so.

A drop in leads of 14% month-on-month is significant in isolation but the underlying trend points firmly towards growth as it has done throughout the year.

By Neil Cooper-Smith, Senior Analyst, Business Pilot

The housing market remains buoyant. The latest government figures show housing transactions in April 2021 reached almost 118,000 – that’s 179.5% higher than this time last year.

We’re going to get straight into it. Average window and door sales dropped last month [May] by 12%. Leads were down by 14% compared to April, although conversions were marginally up (4%).

Property website Zoopla – which claims to have the largest underlying data sample of any UK house price index – said its projections indicated that home sales would reach 1.52m in 2021 – a rise of 45% on 2020.

34 WINDOW NEWS | JUNE 2021

VIEWPOINT If its’ forecasts are right, it would mean the UK housing market would record its highest level of activity since 2007, making 2021 one of the top 10 busiest years for the housing market since 1959.

With the Government calling time on the extension of the Stamp Duty holiday at the end of this month, we don’t see any let up in demand anytime soon and expect June to be another exceptional month and believe the industry can look forward to sustained demand right the way through to the autumn.

The bigger question is, can it fulfil it? Shortages are impacting the entire construction supply chain. Closer to home, glass, resin, steel and hardware shortages are causing significant disruption to window and door manufacture.

That has potential to delay projects putting pressure on cashflow, something which we think could lead to casualties, particularly in fabrication, but also retail.

That’s going to mean more headaches and more juggling do as a retailer. Business Pilot can help you work through some of these challenges with drag and drop job scheduling. Our management information dashboard also allows you to see your financial performance and pipeline in real time.

Our status progression tool also allows you to see exactly where each job is instantly, allowing you to plan more effectively or adjust for disruption in your supply chain.

It’s something which is helping our customers to plan and manage their cashflow during a period of immense pressure on supply.

For more information visit www.businesspilot.co.uk WINDOW NEWS | JUNE 2021 35

VIEWPOINT ter’ campaign to help forward-thinking businesses capitalise on this golden opportunity.

Andrew commented: “While the challenges of the last 12 months may have taken their toll both financially and emotionally, and energy levels will likely be running low, it’s time for weary companies to look forward and build again.

“Pent up consumer demand, a surplus of cash, low interest rates and homeowners spending more time at home than ever before is likely to mean a multi-billion-pound spending spree. And it’s those companies that come back stronger, faster, and better who will benefit the most.”

Marketing will be more important than ever before; for some companies it will be a case of re-building after a difficult 12 months, while for those who may have had a successful year despite the pandemic, it’s a perfect launch pad to build upon.

Businesses Andrew Scott

Urged To Build As

Restrictions Lift With the UK moving towards economic recovery, and households estimated to be sitting on £150 billion of savings and ready to spend, there has never been a better time for businesses in the industry to build.

That’s the view of Andrew 36 WINDOW NEWS | JUNE 2021

Scott, leading business strategist and Managing Director Purplex, the leading full-service marketing agency for the fenestration and construction industries.

Purplex has recently launched its ‘Stronger, Faster, Bet-

“Despite some companies struggling to survive, many have not seen a downturn in growth, and we have generated record results for many of our clients thanks to the drive for home renovations,” added Andrew.

“But that doesn’t mean that 2021 will not be without its challenges. With more people set to be working from home, and the Government’s plans to ‘build, build, build’ our way to economic recovery, there will be plenty of opportunities out there and the competition will be fierce.

“Make sure you are ready to take advantage.” www.purplexmarketing.com

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DEAR GERALD our offering in the right way.

Emmegi (UK), for instance, has just recruited an engineer from a UK based Formula 1 racing team and that’s probably the biggest contrast you can get with fenestration. No one is suggesting that it’s an easy sell, but a really competitive salary and benefits package, a supportive working environment, and a clearly defined career path in an industry which is fast paced and fast growing definitely help.

Dear

Gerald Dear Gerald

I’ve just seen the fairly chastening statistic from Building Our Skills of more than 1100 installer vacancies being advertised on UK job sites at the end of the first week in May. The problem of not attracting enough newcomers into the industry has obviously been compounded by the fact that a good many skilled migrants have left the UK either because of Covid or because of Brexit – or a bit of both. It’s not just in installation where we’re seeing massive shortfalls either – you only have to glance on social media to see that pretty much the whole industry is looking to recruit, and with varying degrees of success.

In the machinery market, the biggest challenge we all face is in recruiting enough installation and service engineers. At Emmegi, we have the advantage that we can call on a pool of skilled engineers based out of our Italian HQ, but the current situation around travel and quarantine has made that more difficult than it usually is over recent months.

Like the rest of the industry, we obviously face huge competition for the best recruits from other sectors which might be perceived as being more glamorous or exciting, but our recent experience suggests that we can attract high quality candidates if we package 38 WINDOW NEWS | JUNE 2021

As we all face much the same situation, I would urge other parts of the industry to take the same radical approach as we’ve done and think outside of the normal recruitment pool. I’d like to think our success could be replicated by other businesses – not just in machinery but in other parts of the industry where there are transferrable skills.

Yours sincerely

Wayne Hunter Operations Manager Emmegi (UK)

Dear Gerald I’m getting in touch with you for a couple of reasons. One, so that you can share the news that Yale (Assa Abloy) has lost an ongoing trademark dispute with Smart Ready® and was told to pay costs to Smart Ready®. Yale (Assa Abloy) made a European trademark application in June 2019 to attempt to register Smart Living Ready. It was rejected and it’s not difficult to see why. Smart Living Ready versus Smart Ready® – confused? Three judges from the EU trademark office were, hence the rejection of the application in its entirety. This decision will help protect consumers and hopefully put to bed any rumours that have been circulating about who owns what brand. I want to make clear: there is one Smart Ready® brand.

Secondly, I want this news to serve as a red flag to your readers that they must be careful about which brands they opt for when getting into the emerging Smart windows and doors market.

DEAR GERALD

As a marketer myself, it’s clear to me that brands and trademarks are inseparable. A brand is the sum total of the many parts of a company’s corporate face – logos, imagery, slogans, colours, music – all of which contribute to build consistency, clarity, quality and trust.

I’ve said many times in public that I will protect my brands before I even think to blink. People who know me, know that I stand by my word and this latest news is proof. I am deeply proud of what me and my teams have achieved, like anyone who has created a business should be.

The window and door industry needs to take branding and trademarks much more seriously, especially now we’re starting to see the huge potential for Smart technology in our markets.

Yours sincerely Giovanni Laporta Inventor and Innovator at Smart Ready®

ASSA ABLOY Responds To Recent Trademark Dispute ASSA ABLOY has provided the following statement in response to the recent letter to the media from Giovanni Laporta regarding a Trademark dispute decision by the European Union Intellectual Property Office: “As the global leader in access solutions, ASSA ABLOY both create and embrace new technology, none more so than in the Smart security market where the organisation has successfully sold products since 2012 and continues to lead markets in many countries.

“As part of the product development procedure, ASSA ABLOY apply for many Trademarks with the appropriate authorities to establish registration and/ or freedom to operate in a given market. We always respect the decisions from routine Trademark applications by those authorities, in this case the European Union Intellectual Property Office.

“ASSA ABLOY are committed in defining and developing solutions that help people feel safe and secure in simple and convenient ways.”

WINDOW NEWS | JUNE 2021 39

PEOPLE Rallies in 2015 and 2016, which raised over £230,000 the Anthony Nolan Trust.

Less well-known is Leon’s love for MotoX racing. Before Universal Arches Leon was one of the UK’s top competitive MotoX riders, racing for TeamGreen Kawasaki. Supported by Roseview, he now intends to return to the track in the veterans class of the BMSA racing calendar.

Leon Day

Teams Up With Roseview Well-known industry figure Leon Day has teamed up with respected sash window manufacturer Roseview Windows as brand ambassador. At the same time, Roseview are supporting Leon as key sponsor for his much-anticipated return to UK MotoX racing.

Leon is best-known within the industry for heading up Universal Arches, which he sold in 2017 after building it up from a loss-making business to one 40 WINDOW NEWS | JUNE 2021

Leon’s Bike

of the best-known brands in uPVC windows. Leon was also instrumental in setting up and organising the two MADI Ball

Leon comments on his return: “The window industry and MotoX are my two passions, both of which I’ve really missed. This arrangement with Roseview is the perfect way to return to both. The Vets class of modern MotoX draws an incredible following, and – with Roseview’s support – Team Roseview Kawasaki will take it by storm! Similarly, Roseview are one of the window industry’s most well-respected brands. I wouldn’t work with a company I don’t believe in, but I’m proud to be working with Roseview.”

Steve Bygrave, Roseview Chairman comments: “I first met Leon in the build-up to the inaugural MADI Ball Rally, and we became firm friends straight away. We’ve kept in touch ever since and when Leon mentioned his plan to return to MotoX, the opportunity to work with him for mutual benefit was too good to pass up. Leon doesn’t do anything by halves, so we know that in both his racing and his work with Roseview it will be a great collaboration.”

Currently Leon is training and practicing, with a view to launching Team Roseview Kawasaki at the annual BSMA meeting in Devon later this year.

He’s also working with Roseview now, both behind the scenes and on plans for this year’s FIT Show.

For more information visit www.roseview.co.uk

Grow business together Introducing REHAU Connect - the online platform that will revolutionise the way Installers communicate with the Fabricator and Client.

This simple, quick and easy to use platform will enable you to present the perfect visual to your client and produce professional personalised quotations.

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PEOPLE

Michael Williams Appointed As Managing Director At AluK Michael Williams is the newly appointed Managing Director at AluK. He joins the business with extensive construction industry experience after a successful 30+ year at Kone, one of the biggest global names in lifts and escalators.

Michael brings a refreshing new perspective to the fenestration sector, just at the time when it faces real challenges in terms of how it responds to the sustainability agenda and also huge opportunities in the booming housing and home improvement market post COVID. He says: “As a start, I will be looking inwards at AluK and identifying ways in which we can continue to improve our product and service delivery to customers and strengthen

our partnerships with them.

However, my focus will largely be outwards with the ambition of listening to and engaging broadly with our customers and moving aluminium windows, doors and curtain walling systems further up the value chain in both the retail and commercial markets.

“That means even more investment in sustainable product development and process efficiencies, but also in end user and specifier engagement.

“AluK is clearly already a really good business with incredible facilities and reputation; but with the hugely talented and experienced team here and the backing we have from the rest of the Group, I am confident that we can be even better.”

Michael has joint Australian and Irish nationality and has previously worked in the UK, Europe and Asia, with an impressive track record across a mix of technical, sales, operations and senior leadership roles.

A New Addition To The Window

Company (Contracts) Team Company (Contracts).

He joins the expanding company as a Contracts Manager, working on a range of window and door replacement projects for social housing providers across London and the South East.

Ray Baty is bringing more than thirty years’ contract management experience to his new role at commercial installer The Window 42 WINDOW NEWS | JUNE 2021

One of Ray’s key areas of expertise is the fire door market, having worked most recently overseeing projects for a leading UK fire door manufacturer. His knowledge and experience will benefit The Window Company (Contracts) and its customers as it restarts fire door installations halted as a result of changes to specifications and product testing in the wake of the Grenfell Tower enquiry.

In his new role, Ray is meeting up again with many familiar faces at councils, housing associations and main contractors and looking to build on already successful relationships.

He says: “The Window Company (Contracts) is a company with a reputation for high standards and attention to detail which chimes perfectly with my approach to contract management. It has a clear and dedicated focus on customer service, and I’m pleased to be joining a team who I know go above and beyond to do a great job for clients and residents.”

More details are at: www.thewinco.co.uk

PEOPLE

Kestrel’s Prize Fighter

Takes Up The Challenge

Brisant Appoints New Finance Director To Support Ongoing Growth Brisant Secure has appointed a Finance Director, a new role created as part of the hardware house’s growth plan.

Clive Burnett joined Brisant Secure in June, bringing with him more than 20 years of experience in finance. His expertise and knowledge will complement existing skills within the company’s senior management team and help the business to develop further.

Before joining Brisant, Clive spent 20 years in the confectionery industry overseeing various complex integrations and supporting the continued growth of Valeo Confectionery into a highly profitable business. Valeo’s roots go back to 1848, and the company owns famous brands like Barratt,

Fox’s Glacier Mints and Poppets. Looking at all the brands in Valeo’s portfolio, it’s hard to imagine anyone reading this who hasn’t enjoyed its products at some point or another. Nick Dutton, CEO of Brisant Secure, says: “Appointing Clive as our new Finance Director is part of our plan for growth which, at its centre, is the development of opportunities for customers.

Clive’s knowledge, expertise and experience will help Brisant Secure thrive even further and his connections will help us to be an organisation that is fit for purpose each step of the way as we grow and develop. We are delighted to welcome Clive to our team and look forward to working with him as Brisant continues to flourish.” www.brisant-secure.com

As a former Karate national champion, who also represented the country in Kickboxing, Kestrel ‘s Rich Amison has made use of his fighting spirit to push forward operations and logistics in a challenging year.

Covid has caused disruption to all aspects of life, but the director of operations is proud of how Kestrel departments pulled together to build back better.

“The past year has been challenging personally and professionally for all of us, but it has also brought the team closer together,” Rich explained. “The initial lockdown gave us the time to step back and really look at how we could drive efficiencies and improvements.

“We took that time to bring different departments together with Teams and Whatsapp, which helped to create greater understanding, really examine how we are doing things and come up with improvements that will benefit customers.”

Those improvements include changes to tooling and logistics with a focus on the Kestrel ethos of reliability.

WINDOW NEWS | JUNE 2021 43

PRODUCT NEWS

Total Hardware’s Superior 25 Stainless Steel Range Proving Popular

Nationwide hardware supplier, Total Hardware has confirmed their recently launched Superior 25 stainless steel door hardware range is proving popular with customers. For Chris Pell, General Manager at Total Hardware, there are many reasons why fabricators and installers are turning towards stainless steel door hardware, not least of which is the durability and unrivalled protection against corrosion.

Chris said: “When it comes to product durability and strong aesthetic appeal, our Superior 25 stainless steel door hardware range ticks all the boxes.

Since the launch, we have seen a growing upturn in demand, especially from customers working in the premium end of the domestic market. With the continued demand for high-end door products, fitting Superior 25 door hardware makes perfect sense as the hardware delivers both long service life and superior functionality. And with a 25-year surface finish guarantee and 10-year mechanical guarantee, installers can fit with absolute confidence.”

44 WINDOW NEWS | JUNE 2021

The new Superior 25 stainless steel door hardware range includes letterplates, LBP lever/pad door handles, LBP lever/lever door handles, slimline pull escutcheon, pull bars, urn knockers and stainless steel letters and numerals all delivering a suited range of door hardware for high-quality, coordinated aesthetics.

Manufactured from 304 Grade stainless steel, Superior 25 door hardware is suitable for all door projects, including doors situated in demanding environments and projects with a high-end focus on enduring quality.

The Superior 25 door hardware range offers sleek, elegant aesthetics and is available in five finishes, White, Black, Chrome, Gold, Brushed Stainless and Flint, which works across contemporary and traditional door designs.

Chris concluded: “The expansion will allow us to increase our stocks across our multiple hardware ranges, including our Superior 25 door hardware.

The combination of our expansion and our commitment to offering a large and diverse hardware product portfolio allows us to cement our position as the go-to hardware supplier of choice.” www.totalhardwareltd.co.uk

PRODUCT NEWS

Yale Launches Vertex Hardware Range For Sash Windows

plies with the test requirements of PAS24:2016

Yale has launched its complete Vertex range of vertical sliding hardware for the easy opening and closing of sash windows – the result of months of intense development by the company’s technical experts.

Suitable for PVC, timber and aluminium sash windows, the Vertex package is made up of a combination of balances and functional and decorative hardware that together provide what the company describes as the ultimate solution for sash windows across a range of industry profiles.

Grant Stratford, Technical Director for Window Hardware at Yale, comments: “The Vertex package represents a massive investment for us, involving a number of bespoke machines at our Cheltenham facility.

It’s the result of some extremely clever engineering, as well as many consultations with independent experts over an extended period.

“As with all our products, the package has been rigorously tested, so users can rest assured that it will work with their windows for many years.”

Central to the Vertex offering is the spring balance, a specially engineered helix rod that, thanks to its spiral movement, takes on up to 80 percent of the operational force – ensuring ease of opening with no sticking sashes for all users.

As well as functional solutions, the Vertex package features a range of decorative hardware, pre launched last year and now also available from stockists. This is comprised of pole rings, sash lifts, finials, travel restrictors, sash locks and keeps – all available in a variety of traditional colours and tested to 240 hours of salt-spray exposure.

– such as those made of aluminium and secondary glazing vertical sliding sashes – this package offers wind-up balances tested to 10,000 cycles.

All balances in the Yale Vertex range are available in white, brown, black and grey tubes.

The Vertex package features a variety of functional hardware, designed for maximum efficiency and ease-of-use. Among these are the pivot bar and its carrier, which allows for easy lift or slide assembly of the sash to the frame. The patented pivot shoe has been cleverly designed to incorporate a 3 way braking system giving an additional locking advantage over traditional designs, along with an easy connection to the spring balance.

For sashes up to 60kg in weight, the package provides pre-tension balances tested to 20,000 cycles, these are made bespoke to each window, taking into account the weight, glazing, size and profile to deliver a perfectly tailored solution.

Also within the range is sash security blocks to give that extra security feature and protection against intruders, while the tilt arms and tilt restrictors (available in standard or quick release versions) allow users to choose between tilt modes to make cleaning and maintenance more convenient.

For lighter and smaller windows between 2kg and 18kg in weight and 200mm width and 1800mm high

The combination of Yale Vertex hardware has been designed with security in mind and com-

The decorative hardware in the Vertex range is designed to complement the traditional aesthetics of sash windows commonly found in British period-style homes.

All the products in the Vertex range have been designed and manufactured at Yale’s dedicated manufacturing facility in Cheltenham, ensuring their functionality is second-to-none.

The Vertex range is covered under the well—established Yale Lifetime Security Guarantee, which includes up to £3,250 towards repairs or replacements, insurance excess and securing the property in the event of a break-in, plus discounts on the Yale store.

Paul Atkinson, Managing Director at Yale, comments: “We are delighted to be launching Vertex the comprehensive VS hardware system, it is the culmination of a great deal of hard work by the technical team at Cheltenham and significant investment in our UK manufacturing base. Vertex marks a brand-new venture into a new hardware sector for Yale, and one that we’re very excited about. We believe this is a product range that will be very well received in the sliding sash windows market.” www.yaledws.co.uk WINDOW NEWS | JUNE 2021 45

PRODUCT NEWS

Window Warehouse

Join The Kubu

Smart Revolution Now in its 35th year in business, Window Warehouse has become the latest manufacturing company to adopt Kubu smart-sensor technology in their residential doors.

The smart home market in the UK is a £multi-billion affair and growing strongly, so it’s providing window and door professionals with the opportunity to tap into a new market, close more sales and to future-proof installations. There’s little work to be done at the point of frame manufacture and the installation process for a door or window equipped for a Kubu smart-sensor, is exactly the same as it is for a standard glazed product.

46 WINDOW NEWS | JUNE 2021

It is only once the Kubu smart-sensor is inserted into the captive slot in the multi-point lock does the door or window become smart and this can be done directly by the consumer, much like changing the SIM card on the phone. Activation is just a matter of minutes and the benefits from having doors and windows that can notify you if they are locked or unlocked is considerable.

There’s also a clever geo-fencing feature within the app, that tells you as you leave the perimeter of the Kubu hub network if any doors or windows are unlocked e.g. when you leave a property or get into a vehicle. It’s all part of a wider

strategy for Kubu to be a cornerstone of the rapidly evolving smart home market.

Anni Hudson, marketing manager of Window Warehouse commented: ‘Kubu is a revelation and could help change the way in which we market and sell windows and doors. The responsibility is directly with Kubu for activation, whilst the choice as whether to go smart is with the consumer, yet the USP’s and opportunities reside with our trade partners. In all it’s a wonderful piece of smart home tech and at a good price point too.’

Lauren Bromley, head of brand for Kubu added: ‘We’re getting enquiries by the day from installers looking to be smart-sensor equipped. The door activations are now happening daily and with the window smart-sensor due to be launched in the coming months, it’s the perfect opportunity for installers to join our smart revolution.’

For information on Window Warehouse please visit www.window-warehouse.co.uk

PRODUCT NEWS

Yale Embraces DHF Safety

Recommendation For Anti-Microbial Door Handles Yale is welcoming new recommendations from the Door & Hardware Federation (DHF) marketing sub-committee, which highlight the need to reduce touchpoints within UK buildings as the Covid-19 recovery continues.

The report – titled ‘The post-Covid world: DHF’s recommendations for a ‘touch-free environment’ – pinpoints a number of solutions that can reduce interior touchpoints in order to limit the transmission of the virus.

These include products with anti-microbial surfaces, anti-Covid hardware and fully-automated doors to enable access with no human contact – all of which address the problem that doors

are often touched by many people throughout the course of a day.

This is an issue that has recently seen Yale partner with antimicrobial additives provider BioCote to launch the Quartus combi door handle range, featuring a special coating that reduces up to 99.99% of microbes on its surface, claims the company.

Yale says, proven effective against many common microbes including bacteria, mould and fungi, this technology protects the Quartus door handle from colonisation, significantly reducing the risk of cross-contamination.

Paul Atkinson, MD for Yale, comments: “As we gradually emerge

from Lockdown, hygiene and cleanliness are still of upmost importance. That’s why we support the new recommendations from DHF, which address the risk posed by door handles in the post-Covid world. www.yaledws.co.uk

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WINDOW NEWS | JUNE 2021 47

PRODUCT NEWS

Significant SmartSecure Addition with FUHR Autotronic The FUHR autotronic 834 lock has been added to Carl F Groupco’s suite of SmartSecure electronic door locking and access control solutions. As one of the most important additions to the company’s upcoming 2021 catalogue, the highly versatile hybrid product is a major expansion to the SmartSecure brand. The 834 provides a combination of automatic locking and electronic motor driven unlocking: as such, it is an appealing option that is fully compatible with all existing SmartSecure locking and access control variants.

The autotronic offers a practical solution for multiple occupancy buildings. The solution is also advantageous for properties that require the security and convenience of an automatic lock, plus the advanced functionality of an electromechanical lock with access control options.

Commenting on the appeal of the

features of the autotronic, John Mitchell, Technical Manager for Carl F Groupco said: “On closing the door, two latching deadbolts simultaneously extend and lock in place – this provides additional security compared to traditional mechanical locking mechanisms as the user doesn’t need to remember to secure the door. Unlocking the door is motorised, this enables the addition of access control and integration into existing building management systems. From the outside, the door can be opened using a cylinder key or access control: it is secured on closing and can be deadlocked using the cylinder key provided.

“An 834P panic/emergency exit variant is available for single and double doors providing all the benefits of the 834 lock while allowing unimpeded escape from the inside of the building using the lever or panic push bar at any time on either the active or inactive door

P C Henderson Expands Its Range Of Pocket Door Systems With New Bi-Parting Fire Rated System P C Henderson has further expanded its range of pocket door systems with the launch of a brand new fire rated system for bi-parting doors.

Originally launched for single doors back in February 2019 – this latest release of the company’s popular Pocket Door Pro system caters for bi-parting fire doors weighing up to 120kg and is fully certified to FD30 British and European standards.

Andrew Royle, Sales and Marketing Director at P C Henderson, commented, “Since launching 48 WINDOW NEWS | JUNE 2021

Pocket Door Pro just over two years ago – the system has quickly grown to become one of our most popular products. Post launch market research quickly told us that demand for a bi-parting fire rated version was high – we listened to this feedback and are delighted to be able to bring

leaf. The hardware meets British Standard requirements when used alongside the recommended FUHR lever handle (EN 179 for emergency escape) or Panic Bar (EN 1125 for panic exit) and the CES free movement cylinder.”

SmartSecure has been the most significant development in Carl F Groupco’s 70+ year history. As such, the autotronic addition is set to have major impact as it supports the growing electronic door locking and Smart access control market.

Click Here For More Information this new variation to the market”.

The new system is available in standard and soft closing options, seven different kit sizes, for two different finished wall thicknesses, self-closing and non self-closing variants and a simultaneous action kit available as an optional extra. “We designed Pocket Door Pro with one key aim in mind – to create one of the most flexible and versatile range of pocket door systems on the market. As the popularity of pocket door systems continues to rise – it’s important that designers and developers have access to a system which can cater for virtually any type of application and in a number of different operation types. We believe we have achieved this through the development of Pocket Door Pro”, continued Andrew. www.pchenderson.com

SupaSecure TS008 CERTIFIED LETTERPLATE ENHANCED SECURITY

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PRODUCT NEWS

Choosing The Right Door

By Wojciech Brożyna – MD of Aluprof UK There are many options available today when it comes to deciding what door system should be chosen when opening up the rear of a home onto the garden. Not only are customers faced with different system materials, but also what type of opening style should be chosen? As a home improvement specialist, what should you be of50 WINDOW NEWS | JUNE 2021

fering to your customers and why?

Looking at the material choice, two framing materials are predominantly being used today to form large openings between the inside and outside of a property, that of aluminium and PVC, both of which have their own benefits.

Other frame materials include timber, steel and some composite materials often made up of aluminium and timber. PVC is seen as a

cost-effective choice, one that is corrosion resistant which can now be provided in a range of colours.

PVC relies on a steel or aluminium core to give it structural rigidity and to help reduce thermal expansion.

The only real downside of PVC is that of its wide profiles compared to the option of aluminium or steel.

Aluminium, once the only material of choice for replacement windows, doors and sliding doors in the early 1980’s, lost a huge amount of ground to the more ‘timber-like’ PVC in the late 1980’s and 1990’s, which then became a firmly favourite with homeowners as a near perfect replacement for rotting timber windows at the time.

Today, whilst PVC still has a huge market share of the new house build and home improvement sectors, aluminium framed systems

PRODUCT NEWS thirty years and beyond. If you look round our towns and villages you will still see an odd house or two that has timber framed anodised aluminium windows still performing and looking well, that’s almost forty years!

Given that aluminium is the aspirational choice today for homeowners, let us look at the style of openings that can be achieved, there are basically three types. We can specify sliding, sliding folding or an open out ‘French door’ style, with or without side screens. So, which to choose?

have been taking a small year on year increase of the market for well over a decade. Seen as an ‘aspirational’ material, its additional cost brings with it an ‘engineered’ feel and the knowledge that aluminium can simply be recycled back into another aluminium door in the future, indeed many times over, with no loss of its characteristics.

Would it surprise you to know that of all the aluminium ever produced since its commercialisation in the 1880’s, that over 75% of all production is still in use today?

Let us first consider the visual aspect. This is a feature of ‘what is seen’ something that the client will have to live with for the majority of the time as large opening doors in the UK are only opened infrequently in summer. If an open aspect is wanted, year-round vision, then a sliding door could possibly offer the best option with less ‘visible’ aluminium in the ‘sightline’ between the inside and the outside.

For large sliding doors today, the ‘lift and slide’ is the best option as these doors offer the smoothest and easiest of opening as they lift off their weather seals when open.

The only downside is that you will only ever get a part opening, as the opening panel or panels will stack behind each other within the opening. To enable to have a full width clear opening, where a door system is to be fully open, then the sliding folding option should be chosen, allowing all the panels to concertina to one or both sides of

the opening.

The next crucial decision for the customer would be the threshold detail. For many customers, wishing the ‘bring the outside inside’, would opt for a flush threshold with the outside of the property. This is often quite a detail to achieve depending on the construction of the property. Not only will the door frame need to be fitted below the inside floor level, often below the DPC line, the outside detail should contain a drainage detail such as a channel draining arrangement to ensure that in heavy weather rainwater is quickly drained from the threshold area. Whilst sliding and folding doors can be provided with a flush threshold detail, a better weather rating will normally be obtained with a lift and slide door where the weight of the door in the closed position effectively seals the door to the threshold.

Moving a little further into the design and structure of the building when choosing a door, the structure of the head of the opening should be considered carefully. Deflection in the structure, particularly on large openings, will have a detrimental effect on the operation of the door. If the opening in the property has been in place for some time, any settlement of the structure should have already taken place, which will allow the surveyor to cater for the head deflection in the final size of the door to be made. With a new installation, settlement can take place over a period of time and it is

Aluminium thermal breaks have become very sophisticated and aluminium systems can easily compete on thermal insulation properties against other materials. Where aluminium does score highly is its life expectancy. Given minimum maintenance and cleaning, aluminium system can last upward of WINDOW NEWS | JUNE 2021 51

PRODUCT NEWS

worthwhile to allow for this potential settlement in the door size and the fixings at the head of the door.

On any wide door, and in particular sliding folding doors, any deflection at the head of the door can cause issues with the operation of the door, so with some adjustment built in that can be accessed during a maintenance visit will ensure that doors can easily be maintained for many years.

Given the customer choices, the property survey needs to be carefully undertaken with someone who understands building structures and importantly the requirements of the door chosen to be installed. The need to understand the threshold detail and the structure above the door and the reveals should also be carefully considered. Older properties will have a brick or block cavity closure with a vertical DPC, even older properties will likely have solid walls. In order to minimise cold bridging, it may be necessary to incorporate a thermal cavity closer or alternative method of insulation to the reveal. Of course, buildings are built of other materials as well as brick, so the surveyor needs to know what to look for and what can be fixed to.

Regular yearly maintenance of doors is something that should be considered. As many doors are built to last, the cleaning, lubrication and adjustment will ensure not only an extended service life but also continued ease of use. www.aluprof.co.uk 52 WINDOW NEWS | JUNE 2021

Max Vision: The Decalu 163 Slim Interlock Deceuninck Aluminium has added a slim-interlock option to its ultra-energy efficient Decalu163 Lift-andSlide aluminium patio door.

The heavy-weight system can accommodate individual sash weights of as much as 400kg and achieves u-values of as low as 0.8 W/m2K triple glazed.

Now available with a slim 53mm interlock, Nigel Headford, Deceuninck Aluminium’s Business Development Director, said the Decalu163, was primed to support fabricators and installers in capitalising on the boom in home improvement.

“Lift-and-slide products are seeing resurgent demand as part of the Lockdown-driven boom in home home improvement”, he said.

“Straightforward to manufacture, with only minimal investment in tooling required, and easy to install, the Decalu163 is now available with a slim 53mm interlock option increasing homeowner appeal, making it an instant win, for fabricators and installers.”

Launched as part of Deceuninck Aluminium’s expanding offer the Decalu163 Lift-and-Slide is avail-

able in single, twin and triple-track options.

In common with the the Decalu88 Bi-Fold and its wider window and door range, the Decalu163 is supplied in dual-colour, textured and marine grade finishes – as standard.

It also features the same high performance pre-inserted flush gasket and advanced thermal-breaking technology, used by Deceuninck Aluminium across the Decalu window and door range, guaranteeing thermal efficiency and weather sealing.

“If you can manufacture a product that has proven appeal with installers, for minimal investment and stockholding, why would you buy in?”, Nigel said.

“You can manufacture the entire Decalu range, that’s the Decalu163 Lift-and-Slide, Decalu88 Bi-fold, French and residential door, and the window range on one set of tooling.

Highly modular, you don’t need to tie-up cash in stock and manufacturing times are 40% faster.

“Most importantly, it’s a product range that as a fabricator – or installer – your customers want!” www.deceuninck.co.uk

CREATING BRIGHT FUTURES

97mm Sightlines

Designed to redefine

The AluK Luminia F82 bifold door is a new benchmark for highend projects. Cleverly fusing minimalist design with class-leading performance, this stunning bifold door stands out from the crowd.

Minimal aesthetic with slim sightlines, integrated cills, and flush pop-up T-handle Design flexibility with multiple configuration options, including a floating corner Flexible fabrication allows you to produce matching single and double doors Maximise profits with simplified manufacturing and reduced stock-holding Redefine your bifold door offering with the iconic Luminia F82: find out more

and book a virtual product demo at alukgb.com/F82 or call us on 01291 639 739

ALUKGB.COM/F82

from

0.9

U-Values

Made in

the UK

PRODUCT NEWS

The F82 Bi-Fold – Still Setting The Benchmark, Says AluK AluK’s Luminia F82 bi-fold is said to have taken the market by storm when it was launched at the FIT Show in 2017. From the company which created the iconic BSF70 more than a decade earlier, it set a new benchmark in the sector for aesthetics, performance, security and thermal efficiency and gave fabricators an opportunity to differentiate their premium offering from the ‘me too’ section of the mass bi-fold market.

Now tested, tried and trusted in that premium sector of the market, AluK says that the F82 is the ideal product for customers who want to tap into the £250bn savings mountain which 54 WINDOW NEWS | JUNE 2021

the Bank of England estimates affluent households have accumulated after almost a year in various forms of lockdown.

In terms of aesthetics, the F82 is packed with contemporary design features which buyers have already shown they really value. The most obvious is the slim sightlines, which measure a consistent 97mm all the way round the frame, cill and jamb and just 122mm at the interlock.

This creates a bigger expanse of glazing to let more light flood in, with a distinctive square bead emphasising the minimalist lines.

There is also a distinctive pop-up

T-handle on the traffic door which helps to set the F82 even further apart from less premium offerings.

Available in white, black, anthracite, silver and brushed stainless-steel, this bespoke handle has been rigorously tested to 25,000 cycles, equivalent to around 80 years of regular use.

AluK says when it comes to performance, heavy duty 150kg capacity stainless steel compact rollers on the bottom of the F82 ensure that it opens and closes smoothly and effortlessly time after time; while class leading weather performance (up to Class 4 air permeability and Class E900 water tightness) guarantees that the door will withstand anything the British weather can throw at it.

The AluK F82 bi-fold has achieved PAS24 security accreditation, ensuring that it can be fitted in new build

PRODUCT NEWS projects which require compliance with Approved Document Q, and it boasts impressive U-Value performance to satisfy even the most demanding specification (1.34 W/ m2K double glazed and 0.9 W/m2K triple glazed).

grated cills have a new outer frame profile, which can be easily clipped onto either side of the frame rather than sitting on top, and an extensive range of sub sills mean the F82 can be positioned in virtually any construction.

Like the rest of the AluK bi-fold range, the F82 is extremely versatile.

There are open-in and open-out, left and right options available for doors between two and seven panels in sizes up to 1200(w) x 2600(h), as well as corner posts to suit almost any configuration. There is even the flexibility to fabricate PAS24 accredited single and double doors using the same components to achieve a consistent overall look.

Sioned Roberts, AluK’s Marketing Director, stresses how the F82 gives both fabricators and installers the opportunity to achieve strong and sustainable margins for themselves in a bi-fold market which has become increasingly commoditised over recent years. She says: “With the F82, we’ve used all of AluK’s vast experience and expertise in bi-folds to create a door which is quick and easy to manufacture and install yet can command a premium in a market where there has all too often been a race to the bottom on price. That’s a huge benefit for our customers.”

As well as the new business opportunities, one of the biggest advantages of the F82 for fabricators that it can be manufactured using just four key profiles and a reduced number of gaskets. This massively simplifies manufacturing and significantly reduces the necessary stockholding.

For installers, it is as consistently fitter-friendly as the rest of the AluK range and includes two clever, low sightline cill options as well. Inte-

AluK is supplying the F82 system from its vast, Covid-19 secure 350,000 sq ft facility in Chepstow.

Standard colours are available from stock on an impressive 5-day lead time, while additional colours are available to order. www.alukgb.com/F82

WINDOW NEWS | JUNE 2021 55

PRODUCT NEWS

Morley Glass Delivers Darkness

On Demand

With New Pleated

Blackout Blinds Morley Glass & Glazing is delivering darkness on demand with its launch of a new and exclusive blackout system for pleated integral blinds.

The ScreenLine® pleated blackout blinds sit neatly inside Uni-Blind® sealed units to ensure complete shading from the sun and other light sources such as streetlights and passing vehicles. Complete privacy and the exclusion of external light are particularly welcome in environments such as bedrooms, children’s nurseries and home cinema rooms as well as commercial applications including laboratories, hotel rooms and museums.

With no vertical cords running down the blind, no light can leak through tiny gaps when in the closed position, and there are no perimeter gaps either. The pleated blackout blinds are available in a choice of eight colour options: white, alabaster, cocoa, grey sheen, black, anthracite grey, dove grey and grey ridge.

The blackout blinds are available for 20mm cavities, using the manual corded C System or slider control S System, and can cover a glazed area of 2 sq metres

(2200mm max height x 1500mm max width).

Ian Short, managing director of Morley Glass & Glazing said: “We all value our privacy and also know how important it is to get a good night’s sleep. The new pleated blackout system can provide these solutions. The pleated blind’s material also delivers excellent thermal performance, reflecting excessive heat and helping to keep rooms cool in the height of summer.

“We’re really excited to work with ScreenLine® in Italy to bring this product exclusively to the UK for fabricators and installers to add to their portfolio of added value products. It’s perfect timing as we come into the summer with lighter nights and brighter days. The new blackout system is the perfect solution for light sleepers seeking an uninterrupted night’s sleep and shift workers who may need to sleep during the day, or for any room where unwanted light can cause a nuisance or disruption. I’m sure they’ll be a hugely popular product.” www.morleyglass.co.uk

New Features For Integral Blinds From ODL Europe Blink® Blinds + Glass from ODL Europe has recently added a new feature to further improve functionality to their popular integral blind range. The encapsulated blinds are now available with multi-positioning magnet choices, which is ideal for when blinds are situated in difficult to reach areas. Andy Meakin, Business Development Manager at ODL Europe, explains: “Our new multi-positioning magnets allow even more flexibility when fitting over difficult to reach areas such as 56 WINDOW NEWS | JUNE 2021

windows situated over sinks. Customers have a choice on where the operating magnets can be located for ease of reach, which means the encapsulated blinds are accessible, regardless of location.”

According to ODL Europe, Blink® Blinds + Glass Integral Blind range offer an excellent upselling opportunity for fabricators and installers and are suitable for windows and doors providing a modern alternative to the traditional corded or cordless

door and window blinds. Andy said: “Using our integral blinds should be a pleasure every time – this latest enhancement ensures the blinds are practical for consumers, regardless of blind position.” www.odl.com/europe.htm

Innovation comes built-in

Find out more at

NEC BIRMINGHAM 26-28 SEPTEMBER 2021

WE’RE POSITIVE YOU’LL LOVE THE NEW SV Exclusive to Morley Glass, the SV+ is a completely symmetrical version of the highly popular ScreenLine SV (sliding venetian) Uni-Blind system thanks to the addition of a slim dummy rail on the opposite side to the sliding operating system.

Morley Glass & Glazing Ltd Unit 3 Leeds 27 Industrial Estate Bruntcliffe Way Leeds LS27 0HH

morleyglass.co.uk 0113 277 8722 sales@morleyglass.co.uk

PRODUCT NEWS

Smart Windows To Ease Privacy Concerns When

Converting Shops Into Flats Architectural campaigners have recently raised alarm to potential privacy issues caused when converting the UK’s many empty shops into flats, saying big floor-to-ceiling windows and fully glazed doors will leave people feeling ‘exposed’. However, polymer supplier REHAU has responded to say a potential solution lies in the form of a new innovation known as Smart Privacy.

The move towards turning commercial premises into housing is already underway, with thinktanks like the Social Market Foundation suggesting that turning collapsed retail businesses into residential space could create 800,000 new homes.

58 WINDOW NEWS | JUNE 2021

While new Permitted Development Rights (PDR) ensure space standards will be upheld to prevent extremely small ‘rabbit hutch’ homes, Julia Park, one of the London mayor’s design advocates, has highlighted that the outside of a building cannot be changed at all with other forms of PDR. However, ongoing developments around smart technology in the fenestration sector could potentially address this privacy issue, with innovations like Smart Privacy letting full windows or individual sections, become non-transparent by the touch of a button.

REHAU’s particular solution is due to be launched later this year and will be the first of its kind to

be able to be produced industrially, and can be implemented on both commercial and residential buildings. It can also be conveniently controlled via a specially developed app or a Smart Sense controller on the window.

The campaign also highlights the issue of how permanent shutters, blinds or curtains would then create really dark interiors and impact wellbeing due to a lack of daylight. Russell Hand, Head of Product Management and Technical at REHAU, comments: “The classic curtain option is not in vogue for many people, particularly when it comes to design options for certain target groups like city dwellers. Even existing permanent milky films are not an appropriate solution for privacy as they permanently block the view and can make the room appear smaller. Finally, roller shutters cannot be applied to all window groups, and are even prohibited on certain buildings.”

PRODUCT NEWS

Take Advantage Of Garden Room Boom

With Kits From Abcell

With a recent survey revealing a massive 190 percent increase in enquiries for garden rooms and outside offices, Abcell is making it easier for installers to offer customers stunning, durable Ultraframe Garden Rooms in easy-tobuild kits.

Smart Privacy is based on a shading technology, of which some solutions do exist in their infancy across the market. However, these The Rated People Home Imsolutions may be susceptible to provement Trends Report 2021 wind and storms. showed that more than half of the UK worked from home during Russell adds: “We absolutely the pandemic. With many people support the drive to refurbish and expected to carry on operating repurpose the abundance of emp- remotely in some capacity as ty office and retail units across hybrid working becomes the the country, but this will not come new norm, as well as a desire without its challenges. This new for additional living space, this architectural campaign is right dramatic rise in popularity is set to highlight the potential issues to continue. that could arise from conversions, and it’s down to the supply chain “I’ve lost count of the times I’ve to reinvent solutions for this new spoken to people lately who’ve modern way of living. Smart Prisaid that they’re investing in vacy is one small example of how a garden room,” says Neville the REHAU Group is innovating Gleed, Operations Director at Aband adapting for the future and cell. “It’s astounding how popular to ultimately enhance living within they’ve suddenly become and it the built environment.” gives window installers a perfect opportunity to add an extra ofFor more information, visit: www. fering to homeowners in order to rehau.com/uk-en/smart-privamake the most of demand. cy-from-rehau “By offering the Ultraframe Gar-

den Room system in kit format, complete with windows and doors, we’re providing trade customers with a high-quality product that is easy to build. With twice the thermal performance of other premium garden rooms, they also offer superb durability, benefitting from Building Regulation approved parts with a 30+ year lifespan, and they won’t fade like cedar clad alternatives.

“Also, our extensive range of high-quality products means that there’s a great selection of windows and doors to choose from. We offer both AluK and WarmCore aluminium windows, which are ideal for glazed walls, or precision-made Deceuninck PVCu windows in 30 colourways, with almost seamless Graf-welded corners.

“Door choices include highly-insulated WarmCore bifolds with super-strong Graf-weld corners, slimline AluK aluminium bifold doors, or almost seamless Graf-welded Deceuninck PVCu French doors.”

Ultraframe Garden Room kits from Abcell are available in two styles – the contemporary Studio design has a 2500mm height roof to eliminate the necessity of planning permission, even when on a boundary – while the Pavilion offers a spacious Orangery style garden room. www.abcell.co.uk WINDOW NEWS | JUNE 2021 59

PRODUCT NEWS

Leads 2 Trade

To Add Garden Rooms To Lead Offering Leads 2 Trade is set to add garden rooms to its existing range of lead type offerings so suppliers and installers can take advantage of the garden room explosion of the last 12 months.

The Stockport-based company is looking for suppliers and installers of garden rooms throughout the country to register their interest on a postcode-by-postcode basis.

Andy Royle, co-founder and Managing Director of Leads 2 Trade explained: “Garden rooms are proving a hassle-free and cost-effective alternative for homeowners who would like to increase their living space but don’t want a traditional full extension.

“We have had a lot of interest from 60 WINDOW NEWS | JUNE 2021

our existing conservatory companies who have diversified into the garden room market to capitalise on the popularity of them since lockdown as more and more people need an office to work from home or a separate space for a home gym.

“So, we thought the time was right to add them to our comprehensive sales lead types and we are looking for installers to register their interest now and reserve their postcodes to be able to take advantage of the garden room boom and win more business.”

Leads 2 Trade has been providing double-qualified sales leads to installers in the home improvement sector for 15 years, including windows, doors, and conservatories,

conservatory roof replacements, boiler and central heating, and solar panels.

Its ‘no pitch, no fee’ premium lead service, which provides an installer with a confirmed, pre-arranged appointment that they don’t have to pay for unless they sit and pitch, has proven a huge hit with members.

Andy added: “The current home improvement boom is helping us generate around 500–600 enquiries per week for conservatories/ orangeries and with the demand for garden rooms constantly on the rise, we are expecting the leads to flood in.” https://bit.ly/2SNmWI8

AVAILABLE NOW

PRODUCT NEWS

Sheerline Launches S1 Roof Lantern Sheerline continues to expand its range of innovative aluminium products with the launch of a ‘next generation’ aluminium roof lantern. It combines sleek low-level styling and cutting-edge performance to create what the company describes as one of the most secure, thermally efficient and beautiful lanterns on the market.

The S1 roof lantern has been designed from scratch by Garnalex’s expert team. It says the S1 is not only ultra-secure and energy efficient but stylish and modern. Available in three stocked colours across 10 different styles, with two and four-way options and designed around 28mm glazing, this 62 WINDOW NEWS | JUNE 2021

advanced roof lantern has the options to suit any project.

ering the risk of break-ins even further.

Sheerline says S1 redefines the product category’s security expectations, which it describes as often a weak point in lantern roofs, with a number of unique innovations. Overlapping cast end caps prevent the bar and top caps from being removed and anti-tamper screws are provided to attach end caps to roof bars. High-security 2 and 4 way top caps are also bolted through from the inside preventing easy removal. The arrangement of the interlocking eaves beam means that the glass cannot be removed from the outside and features a unique patent pending glass lock, low-

Designed with the same innovative Thermlock® multi-chambered thermal breaks as the Classic and Prestige systems, the S1 roof lantern claims to offer maximum thermal performance throughout its design, from the eaves beam and ridge to each rafter assembly. Cold bridging is prevented by ensuring the aluminium is fully encapsulated below the glass line with a unique co-extruded perimeter seal creating a weathertight seal for enhanced performance and energy efficiency.

Slim, consistent 50mm rafter, hip and ridge sightlines max-

PRODUCT NEWS imise light flooding into homes, creating bright, airy interiors and banishing gloom. The S1 lantern also features ultra low line aesthetics, so rafter and hip top caps sit just 8mm above the glazing level on the exterior, creating a sleek modern look.

Completing this refined architectural appearance, corner and rafter end caps run perfectly in line with its perimeter, so no unsightly angles jut out to spoil the perfect lines of this high-performance aluminium lantern. Sheerline says it creates the ideal balance of understated refinement, contemporary looks and exacting quality standards Roger Hartshorn, CEO of Garnalex, says: “We expect the S1 roof lantern to transform the aluminium roof lantern market, much like Classic and Prestige have done for aluminium windows and doors. Not only is

it beautiful, but it also tackles some of the security issues that customers face with existing products. Our team of experts have reinvented aluminium roof lanterns into something that is ultra-secure and thermally efficient as well as being stylish

and contemporary. The latest addition to the Sheerline family is fabricator friendly and offers easy, trouble-free installation.

And it’s available on short, reliable lead times.” www.sheerline.com

Luminia Select Partner

Award Winning Windows & Doors to the Trade

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LEAD TIMES FROM 15-DAYS THE F82 LUMINIA ALUMINIUM BI-FOLD FROM EMPLAS • Standard colours including Anthracite; White; Black; Anthracite on White; and Black on White in as little as 15-days • U-Values of 1.4W/m²K (double-glazed) and 0.9W/m²K (triple) • Ultra-slim and symmetrical sightlines

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• Contemporary hardware including patented flush ‘T’ handle • Fully tested to PAS24 and Part Q • Clip-on cill option

www.emplas.co.uk

PRODUCT NEWS

The Roofllight Company Brings Safety And Strength To New Walk On Rooflight rooflights.

The new neo Advance Skywalk+ from The Rooflight Company is a new walk on rooflight which the company says delivers best-inmarket safety as standard, making it the ultimate choice for A1 category* domestic walk on applications.

According to The Rooflight Company, the neo Advance Skywalk+ offers an unparalleled mix of safety features as standard, including triple ply laminated glass, laminated inner and anti-slip coating.

It is the latest in the company’s neo Advance range of aluminium 64 WINDOW NEWS | JUNE 2021

As well as its impressive safety credentials, neo Advance Skywalk+’s extremely durable aluminium frame combined with the company’s patented Thermal Shield technology improves thermal efficiency and protects against condensation, allowing for a whole-window U-value as low as 1.19 W/m2k.

Steve Webber, Managing Director at The Rooflight Company, says: “Walk on rooflights are a creative solution to a tricky problem all architects face from time to time, letting light into sub-terranean rooms without sacrificing the outside space above.

“At The Rooflight Company, we pride ourselves in being cutting edge and we wanted to bring our own walk on rooflight to the market to meet and exceed all the requirements an architect might need. The neo Advance Skywalk+

is designed to push the boundaries of safety and strength, offering exceptional U values, G values and thermal efficiencies. Now architects can specify with more confidence than ever before.”

The company says that on top of offering peace of mind in terms of safety and strength, the neo Advance Skywalk+ has been carefully crafted for a seamless, frameless, unobstructed aesthetic. It is perfect for the fashionable basement flats of central London or homes with roof terraces or other outside spaces.

Webber continues: “As architects have come to expect from The Rooflight Company, our latest product offers high performance, innovative technology and stunning aesthetics. The neo Advance Skywalk+ may not be the first walk on rooflight out there, but we’re setting a new standard.”

The triple-ply neo Advance Skywalk+ and the double-ply variant, neo Advance Skywalk, are available now. To find out more, visit https://bit.ly/3wIVCJS *BS EN 1991-1 Table NA3, Category A1

with your prospects are stronger.

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PRODUCT NEWS

Glass Roof

By Ultraframe

Reaches 25-Year Milestone It was the year that English football fans prayed that football really was coming home and The Simpsons was shown in the UK for the first time. But there was one other huge milestone that also took place in 1996 when Ultraframe’s Glass Roof system became the first conservatory roof to ever attain BBA Accreditation, and the company still proudly holds the accreditation some 25 years later.

Commenting about the milestone, Ultraframe Marketing Director, Alex Hewitt, said: “Ultraframe 66 WINDOW NEWS | JUNE 2021

was the first conservatory roofing company to pass Europe’s most stringent testing regime and achieve BBA Certification and we are extremely proud of this milestone, and the fact that we still hold the accreditation 25 years later. The Certificate indicates that an Ultraframe Glass Roof will have a lifespan of at least 25 years, although we know of many of our Glass Roofs from the early days that have far exceeded this milestone! When Ultraframe first achieved the BBA accreditation, this provided the platform for the UK retail conservatory market to

grow to where it is today, and we are also very proud of our part in this.”

The BBA Agrément Certificate is a mark of excellence based on rigorous national and European standards that validate a construction product’s quality, technical capabilities and uniqueness.

When Ultraframe was the first conservatory systems company to achieve this elite accreditation back in 1996, it was testament to the high level of innovation and desire for technical excellence that was, and still is, at the very

PRODUCT NEWS his memories of the Ultraframe Glass Roof achieving BBA Accreditation, Mark said: “It’s hard to believe that it’s 25 years since Ultraframe first gained BBA accreditation. I remember at the time the investment from Ultraframe, both in time and money, to gain the accreditation was huge, but we felt that it was a crucial step in the growth of Ultraframe, our Glass Roof, and indeed the conservatory sector as a whole.”

Press cutting of Mark Hanson from 1996

heart of the company.

One member of the Ultraframe team who has been at the company as man and boy is Mark Hanson. Commenting about

Key factors on which the Ultraframe Glass Roof was – and still is – assessed, in order to achieve and retain its BBA Accreditation are strength and stability, weathertightness, ventilation and solar heat gain, thermal insulation, condensation risk, and durability.

Ultraframe was instrumental in working with the BBA to develop and define these testing parameters for conservatory roofs which its Classic Roof, and many other

Julie Warner Product Manager Carl F Groupco

Experts in Hardware

systems in the industry went on to be accredited against, although the Ultraframe Classic Roof is the only conservatory roof system that still holds the prestigious accreditation today, says Ultarframe.

Since it was first awarded BBA accreditation 25 years ago, the Ultraframe Glass Roof has been continually developed to ensure it has remained at the cutting edge of conservatory performance technology.

The most recent enhancements which saw it emerge as a ‘Modern Classic’ include a chambered box gutter, a newly enhanced structural design guide (eSDG), a new suite of bolstered eaves profiles, a 30% price reduction on the Classic Roof Aluminium exterior option, and a new slimline ridge. www.Ultraframetrade.co.uk

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

“ We’ve steadily increased the range of hardware we buy from Carl F Groupco over the last 16 years. Their product range, service level and support has proven them to be our preferred hardware supplier…”

Scott Dowling Cairngorm Group

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

PRODUCT NEWS

Onsite 7

Reports Strong Uptake Job management software designer Onsite 7 has reported a strong uptake from new customers due to the software’s ability to saves installers both time and money, says the company. Rhys Hoddinott, CEO at Onsite 7, said: “We have been delighted with the uptake for Onsite 7 since we launched at the end of last year. Installers have realised the numerous benefits the easy-to-use software delivers to their businesses and has streamlined their on-site and admin processes by giving them a single source of accurate information at every stage of the job. This saves installers both time in having all the information at hand, and money as it records every level of the installation to eradicate disputes and non-payment.”

The Onsite 7 software was designed by a team of industry specialists who recognise first-hand the dayto-day problems that effect installers. It delivers a single source of information for every job, domestic, new build or commercial, you work on, including documentation, instructions, photographs, videos and contract variations. Everything is transparent and documented within the Onsite 7 platform and can be agreed by the customer at each stage too – which will help in the event of a dispute.

Rhys said: “Having worked at the sharp end of installation, we know exactly what businesses go through on a daily basis and have listened to every reason imaginable why a customer can’t or shouldn’t pay. We know the importance of strong team communication, tight management and total job visibility and Onsite 7 delivers this information at every level.”

Onsite 7 is suitable for any construction, trade or fenestration business and is not size restrictive.

Rhys said: “Whether you have one user or 1000 users, the software can scale up or down to suit an individual company’s needs. And because all information is stored in the cloud, the software is accessible on mobiles, tablets and PC’s giving your team access whether on site or at the office.” www.onsite7.co.uk

New Plug-Ins Help Logikal Users Collaborate With Architects For fabricators working with archiBM Aluminium has added two new plug-ins to its LogiKal aluminium design and processing software to make it easier for commercial fabricators to collaborate with architects and designers.

LogiKal CAD Suite 2D licence holders can now install an AutoCAD plug-in and add a LogiKal toolbar directly to their AutoCAD set up.

From there, they can access the LogiKal positions and cross section functions, and transfer elements directly into AutoCAD using a simplified export mode.

Once the path to LogiKal is set up in AutoCAD, any changes made 68 WINDOW NEWS | JUNE 2021

to the design are automatically adopted in the LogiKal projects making it easier to share revisions.

The simplified 3D export mode is particularly useful for curtain walling elements because it simplifies the contour line of all the profile sections, reduces the volume of data being processed and speeds up the transfer.

tects using BIM modelling, a new BIM interface in LogiKal allows for window and door sizes and positions to be imported into LogiKal from within Autodesk Revit Version 2017. Users can then create a new project as normal and return the finished data directly to the architect’s BIM model, making collaboration much easier.

Both plug-ins are available for LogiKal customers with the appropriate licences to trial for free – all they need to do is get in touch with the BM Aluminium team either direct or via the website www.bmaluminium.co.uk

PRODUCT NEWS “That simple cutting wheel change, creates a positive cycle that that can save you glass, product and a whole host of headaches down the line.”

Bohle’s is at the leading-edge of cutting wheel technology working in partnership with manufacturers of the industry’s leading processing platforms.

This includes long standing developmental partnerships with Brembana, Grenzebach, Hegla, Intermac, Macotec and Lisec, to help them optimize performance of industrial glass cutting lines.

Breaking

Point?

Bohle has said glass processors are losing tens of thousands of pounds each year to poor edge quality, something that makes even less sense at a time when product is in critically short supply.

With the UK glass sector reeling from the disruption caused by COVID-1, plus lower product availability caused by allocation, the industry is still wasting hundreds of thousands of square metres of product each year by using the wrong or worn glass cutting wheels.

Dave Broxton, Managing Director, Bohle, said that this was completely counter-intuitive at a time when

glass supply was under significant pressure.

“It doesn’t ever make sense to scrap tonnes of glass each year if you can avoid it but that’s exactly what a lot of glass processors are doing, simply for the price of a cutting wheel, which is inconsequential in the scheme of things, he says.

“Using the right cutting wheel defines your edge quality. It means you’re going to lose less product in toughening and deliver far better quality to the customer, you’re going to get fewer failures once installed, fewer remakes.

“How clean that break is – and how stable that glass is going to be, particularly in the furnace – is defined by multiple factors including the individual characteristics of the glass; the shape of the cut; the diameter of the cutting wheel; the angle of the cut; cutting pressure; cutting speed; and the cutting fluid used.

“Get one of those elements wrong and you get failures in production or failure later down the line. Either way you have remakes and wastage to deal with.”

Bohle supplies an extensive range of tungsten carbide and PCD (polycrystalline diamond) cutting wheels and their holders, sold under its iconic Silberschnitt brand.

This includes CutMaster Gold. A highly engineered tungsten carbide cutting wheel its ideally suited to cutting of float line and laminated glass, with a service life of eight to 10 times longer than a standard cutting wheel. Most importantly, it maintains a consistently high cutting quality from the first to the last cut, says Bohle.

“The case is there for getting it right when things are normal. Maximising your output against each sheet of glass when it’s in short supply, has to be the logical step.” www.bohle.com WINDOW NEWS | JUNE 2021 69

MACHINERY

Kall Kwik

Launches ACE Partnership

Scheme For Fabricators PVCu window machinery expert Kall Kwik has revealed the ACE up its sleeve with the launch of the partnership scheme focussing on Advice, Care, and Engineering, providing fabricators with a support package that it says offers exceptional peace of mind combined with the tools to advance their businesses.

The range of benefits for companies signing up to be ACE partners includes breakdown cover, regular servicing, discounts on spare parts, performance audits and a free consultation to assess how to improve efficiency and profitability.

“Machinery is at the heart of all PVCu window production. As any fabricator will tell you, when 70 WINDOW NEWS | JUNE 2021

one machine goes down, it can have a massive knock-on effect to the whole process,” says Chris Bailey, Kall Kwik’s UK and Ireland Business Development Manager.

repairs or replacements.

“We will also carry out a free consultation to look at business processes, from order to dispatch, to evaluate any areas where efficiency can be improved. This could be anything from machinery upgrades, adjustments in software, alternative integration or a more streamlined production layout.

“Many of our recent recommendations have been at low or no cost to customers.

“When you have a burst pipe in your bathroom at home and urgently need a plumber, the call out fee can be astronomical and the lead time excessive. It’s often a similar situation with window machinery. That’s why we’ve launched ACE – the Advice Care Engineering partnership scheme.

“ACE partners will also receive discounted engineering rates and spare parts, giving them precious peace of mind that if an issue did occur with a machine, they will have the support of our expert team to get them back up and running in the ‘Kwikest’ time possible.

“The first step of the scheme is to avoid breakdowns in the first place. Before signing up, our engineers will pay a site visit to undertake an inspection of the existing machinery and, if necessary, make recommendations for

“If you want to find out more about how to become an ACE partner, feel free to give me a call on 0161 486 1911 for more details.” www.kallkwik.uk.com

PRODUCT NEWS

DELIVERING

THE BEST

IN SEAMLESS WELDING TECHNOLOGY

STAND J36

• 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.haffnermurat.com The Accolade Building, Common Road, Stafford, Staffordshire, ST16 3EQ

WINDOW NEWS | JUNE 2021 71

MACHINERY

Tri-Tec Windows Turns To Haffner For New Machinery

Tri-tec Windows in Chelmsford has purchased an SMR-5 Five Head Welding Machine from Haffner and the machine is already making a big difference to the company. Fletcher Hodgins, Managing Director at Tri-Tec, said: “We invested in the SMR-5 to give us additional capacity and improved quality. Our machine operator is amazed with the speed and quality of the welds the machine delivers compared to a standard welding machine. It’s more than living up to expectations.”

The SMR-5 is just the latest in a series of purchases Tri-tec has made from Haffner. The company invested in a TT405 Double Mitre Saw, KB515 Single Head Welding Machine, FT386 Drain Slot Router and a reconditioned Four Head Welder at the end of 2019.

72 WINDOW NEWS | JUNE 2021

Fletcher said: “We were impressed with the speed and quality of the machinery we bought in 2019, in particular the TT405 Double Mitre Saw. Our experience of working with Haffner and their Regional Sales Manager, Bryan Dando back then, combined with the results we’ve achieved with the machinery, meant we were happy to come back to Haffner to support us with our latest investment.”

Tri-tec Windows is a well-established, family-run fabricator, specialising in high-quality workmanship, first-class customer service and competitively priced PVC-U windows, doors and conservatories for homeowners across Essex.

Fletcher says that automated machinery supports his business by reducing the risk of human error and enhancing overall product quality which

is fundamental to his business success.

The company is one of many fabricators to return to Haffner when new machine investment is needed. Dave Thomas, Managing Director at Haffner, said: “We are delighted Tri-tec are pleased with their recent purchase as repeat customers form the foundation of our business. We continue to market the speed, efficiency and accuracy of our SMR-5 welder, but the best endorsement of its credentials is always from the operators and we are delighted they concur with our claims.”

Award-winning Haffner says it prides itself on the quality of its machinery and service and offers the largest and most comprehensive range of machines to support fabricators of all sizes. The latest addition in the Haffner arsenal is their exclusive partnership with Graf Synergy to supply their cutting-edge machines into the UK fenestration market and further cement its reputation as the ‘go-to machinery supplier of choice’.

Its comprehensive machinery offer and continued repeat business is among the reasons Haffner has doubled the size of its Staffordshire headquarters, added a new 1,990 sqm showroom extension and opened a new 37,000 sqm purpose-built manufacturing factory to meet current and future demand.

Dave concludes: “We want fabricators to invest in machines that help their business and work with them to make sure they make the right investment. It’s an approach that builds trust and means they’ll return to us in the future, as Tri-tec Windows have done.” www.haffnermurat.com

MACHINERY

Douglas Commercial Makes It Three In A Row

Sixteen years after Douglas Commercial took delivery of its first Emmegi CNC machining centre, the company has just taken delivery of its third – a state-of-the-art Comet X6HP 4-axis 7000mm model, fully enclosed and soundproofed.

Managing Director Howard Douglas is the first to admit that he was sceptical about the payback when he invested in that first Phantomatic T5 3-axis 7000mm CNC back in 2005; but the speed and performance of the machine meant he was converted within months. He subsequently purchased an Emmegi Comet T6I 4-axis 7000mm machine and had no hesitation in upgrading to the very latest Emmegi model when demand peaked this year.

He says: “We do a mix of subcontract and supply only work and our

reputation rests on the outstanding quality of the windows and doors we produce. Customers come back to us time and time again because they know the value of what we deliver in terms of precision, speed and service. For that, we have to have the very best quality machines at competitive prices and Emmegi has always been our first choice.

“The machines give us everything we need in terms of consistent quality, and we also know we can rely on the expertise of their engineering team to ensure a smooth installation and ongoing servicing.”

Before Douglas Commercial placed the order for its Comet X6HP, the team made the short 20mile trip from Cannock to the factory of H&H Architectural Systems in Rowley Regis where the very first of these models was installed in the Summer of 2020.

H&H had nothing but praise for the performance and flexibility of the machine which can machine on profile edges and on complex shapes, making it suitable for large curtain walling profiles as well as for window and door fabrication.

With a pendular mode and two independent work areas, it allows fabricators to potentially work on four separate large and small dimension pieces at the same time, maximising throughout and efficiency.

Howard Douglas added: “There was no risk for us in choosing the new X6HP because we had already seen it in operation and heard directly from H&H just how impressive they had found it.

Alongside the new CNC machining centre, Douglas Commercial has also recently added another Emmegi Combi twin head saw to its factory set up. This has a bigger cutting capacity than the saws it already has, making it ideal for patio doors where demand is continuing to increase but with the flexibility to cut windows as well. www.douglascomm.co.uk WINDOW NEWS | JUNE 2021 73

ON-SITE

Spectacular Curved Roof From Saint-Gobain The faculty of engineering at the University of Sheffield is one of the most prestigious in the world. Following sustainable modernisations, new spaces were opened in the spring of 2020, bringing together highly modern laboratories, offices, lecture halls and communication facilities in the heart of the 74 WINDOW NEWS | JUNE 2021

university. As the centrepiece of the new Engineering Heartspace, a central atrium was created under a spectacular curved roof, impressively linking two of the oldest buildings at the university.

Wave of glass combines old and new

White steel ‘tree’ columns support the approximately 1,400 m² roof, which is made up of interlocking triangular glass and spans the space between the historic buildings with sweeping waves. It forms a new entrance to Portobello Street, connecting the faculty with other facilities on campus. The roof not only creates a clear distinction between old and new, its high-tech construction also improves the energy and CO2 balance of the renovated existing buildings by enclosing their interior façades in a protective manner.

ON-SITE

Heartspace, University Of Sheffield.

Images Courtesy of : © John Kees Photography

High comfort due to solar control glass The more than 900 glazing panels of the roof with white serigraphy of small dots were supplied by SAINT-GOBAIN GLASSOLUTIONS Austria, Eckelt Glas. Thanks to its low reflection, the CLIMAPLUS® COOL-LITE® XTREME 50/22 II solar control glass combines functionality and elegance in equal measure. Its properties

guarantee ideal solar control and excellent insulation to gain maximum comfort. Therefore, the high-performance glass contributes significantly to lower energy consumption and provides at the same time an extremely bright and luminous atmosphere under the glass roof at all times of the year. The newly designed main entrance adds another striking element to

the ensemble. For this purpose, the experts from GLASSOLUTIONS Objektcenter Radeburg used 600 m2 of the high selectivity solar control glass COOLLITE® XTREME 60/28 II. The eye-catching project made it to the finalist of the British Construction Industry Award 2020 in the category Social Infrastructure Project of the Year. www.saint-gobain.com WINDOW NEWS | JUNE 2021 75

ON-SITE

Structural

Glazing

Raises The Roof At Famed

Performing Arts School The prestigious Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA) has created a new performance space by enclosing an outdoor courtyard using a large, structurally glazed rooflight.

Established by Sir Paul McCartney and co-founder Mark Featherstone-Witty in 1996, the institute was created following a multi-million-pound refurbishment of a grammar school attended by the former Beatle in the 1950s, the Liverpool Institute High School for Boys.

Today it is one of the preeminent performing arts higher-education institutions in the UK, with almost 1,000 enrolled students, many of them from countries around the world.

The 160sqm new space will allow students to host dramatic, musical and dance performances using the facades of its existing buildings as a backdrop, while also benefitting from the large amount of natural light that floods the courtyard.

The rooflight was created using the Pilkington Planar™ structural glazing system, employing a series of four toughened and laminated glass fins to transfer the weight of the glass to the surrounding structures.

This avoided the need to use any 76 WINDOW NEWS | JUNE 2021

steel elements in order to deliver maximum light transmission and clarity, and also to complement the aesthetics of the wider building.

Architect Maggie Mullan explained how the glazing system helped achieve the design vision for the space. She said: “LIPA is a cherished place, and one with a complicated construction history going back to the creation of the original school building in 1837. One of the key challenges for us was to respect the architectural history and coherence of the campus while also creating a new space with its own identity.

“To inform the decisions made in this project, we worked closely with the client to establish a design code, based on a detailed understanding of the many complex layers of the building, that would allow our intervention to coalesce and unite its existing features.

the much-loved character of the existing building.”

“The effect of the rooflight is to transform what was previously a linking outdoor area into a flexible, beautiful space that the institute will be able to use for a host of different purposes for years to come.

In order to deliver the required structural strength and energy performance, the roof glazing itself was made up of double glazed units featuring 10 mm thick Pilkington Suncool™ 66/33 THS outer pane with a 16 mm wide air-filled cavity and an inner pane of 13.5 mm-thick laminated glass.

“The Pilkington Planar™ system with its inobtrusive countersunk flush stainless steel point fixings, along with the structural glass fins, allowed us to achieve our aims with minimal aesthetic impact on

For extra safety, all the glass was toughened and heat-soak tested (THS). The horizontal fins are made from the Planar™ | SentryGlas® System, which offers increased strength and durability.

ON-SITE

Phil McKibben, head of special projects at RED Systems said: “The location of the rooflight in the centre of the building meant accessing the site was an interesting challenge and we worked closely with Aztec to plan the installation and safely hoist the glass over the surrounding buildings to create this fantastic finished structure.”

Gary Stonelake, business development manager at Pilkington UK said: “The Pilkington Planar™ structural glazing system allows architects to design buildings with reduced sight lines for highly attractive environments with more light and a greater feeling of space.

“This can be achieved without compromising on the structural and thermal performance of the system.

“The Pilkington Architectural design engineers worked closely with our accredited installer to meet the client’s expectations in this building that once housed the old school of singer and song writer Paul McCartney of the world-famous rock group, The Beatles.”

The glass also delivers outstanding energy performance, thanks to use of Pilkington Suncool™ coating.

This improves the temperature control of the building in respect to

heat loss or gain through the glass, and maximises natural light entering the internal space to help reduce the need for artificial lighting creating a comfortable controlled environment.

LIPA counts many high-profile names among its list of patrons, including Sir Richard Branson and Dame Judi Dench and its alumni include actress Liz White, West End director Jamie Lloyd, producer Mike Crossey and rock band the Wombats among many others. www.pilkington.co.uk

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ON-SITE

Senior’s Artful Display At Bournemouth University Aluminium fenestration solutions from Senior Architectural Systems have helped create a warm and welcoming accommodation scheme for the students of Arts University Bournemouth.

Senior’s patented low U-value PURe® aluminium windows and PURe® SLIDE aluminium doors have been installed alongside the thermally-efficient SF52 aluminium curtain wall system, with the scheme achieving a ‘Very Good’ BREEAM rating.

Working alongside supply chain partners Morgan Sindall, Design 78 WINDOW NEWS | JUNE 2021

Engine Architects and fabricators Soundcraft, the project also features Senior’s thermally-broken SPW500 aluminium commercial doors and SPW600 aluminium windows. For additional safety and security, Senior’s barrier load tested Louvre Guard System has been fitted to all bedroom and kitchen windows.

The project is the latest to benefit from Senior’s extensive experience of working in the student accommodation sector and continues the company’s successful collaboration with key client Morgan Sindall.

Value engineering and sustainability

has been a key part of the design of the development which comprises three separate buildings spread across 11 blocks of three and four storeys. The accommodation is set around a landscaped courtyard, with the attractive feature corner windows providing far-reaching views of the surrounding area.

Combining stylish slim sightlines with highly durable aluminium and exceptional thermal-performance Senior’s comprehensive range of aluminium windows, doors and curtain walling have been used extensively throughout the education and commercial residential sectors.

The patented PURe® aluminium system is particularly well suited for schemes where sustainability and efficiency are key priorities, with the range offering some of the lowest U-values available to the UK market. Benefitting from an enhanced thermal barrier manufactured from expanded polyurethane

ON-SITE

Spectus Windows

And Doors Complete New Lincolnshire

Residential Housing Development

foam (PUR), a material traditionally used in insulation products, the PURe® system has the potential to achieve U-values as low as 0.71w/ m2k when calculated as a commercial CEN standard window, and 0.93W/m2 K when calculated as a CEN standard door. Fully recyclable, the PUR thermal barrier can also be re-used as fillers for other products, with no requirement for landfill.

As well as helping to contribute to lower energy bills for the student residents, thanks to the inherent strength of the aluminium frame, the system also offers a cost-effective alternative to using energy efficient triple-glazing which, when used in high-traffic environments such as schools and student accommodation buildings, has a greater risk of breaking and would be more expensive to replace. https://bit.ly/3guCI3P

247 white Spectus casement windows, 25 French doors and 10 residential doors have been manufactured and installed on a new 36 home Ashwood Homes development at Balmoral Way, Holbeach in Lincolnshire.

integral part of Holbeach in years to come. This meant the windows and doors had to combine strong aesthetics, exceptional thermal efficiency and powerful security credentials, all backed with the BSI kitemark which Highseal delivered.

The new build contract was awarded to longstanding Spectus fabricator Highseal Manufacturing Company based in Scunthorpe. The experienced Spectus fabricator was able to meet the exacting specifications, and all products were manufactured under CE Markings and BSI Kitemark (BS7412) accreditations. Holly Donaldson of Highseal Manufacturing Company commented: “We are committed to quality excellence throughout the business and our experience and expertise on developments of this type meant we were able to demonstrate how we would meet its requirements.”

Construction commenced in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic, which inevitably made installation more complex. However, as an experienced contractor, Highseal Manufacturing Company was more than able to deliver. Holly commented: “We worked closely with Ashwood Homes and all the contractors on site to make sure everything ran smoothly. I’m delighted to say that – despite everything – installation ran seamlessly.”

The Balmoral Way development provides stylish, energy efficient homes at an affordable price point, in line with Ashwood Homes’ aim to produce a high-quality residential development that will be an

Highseal Manufacturing Company is a family-run business based in Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire.

Established in 2012 by Neil and Sue Donaldson, the business has grown year-on-year and has an increasing number of associate traders, installers and blue-chip clients nationally. www.spectus.co.uk WINDOW NEWS | JUNE 2021 79

Simply ON-SITE

Stunning Ultraframe installer Sherborne Windows was tasked to supply and install a modern conservatory extension to a stunning thatched property in the Surrey countryside.

The existing property was a very unusual building and as well as being a truly bespoke home, the location and views into the countryside were incredible. It was crucial that whatever new space was added would complement the existing home, as well as being a light and airy space that linked the home with the surrounding countryside.

Homeowners, Mr & Mrs B, were undecided on the design and look that they wanted but knew that a crucial factor was that they must be able to use their new living space all year round.

Living in such an unusual property, it was vital that the design would complement and enhance their home.

Commenting about their decision to add a conservatory extension to their home, Mrs B said: “We wanted to bring the garden and additional light into our home by adding a conservatory. We met the Sherborne team at a local garden centre, and they were very caring and understanding of our requirements.

The Ultraframe products that they used seemed to be very good quality and we liked the 80 WINDOW NEWS | JUNE 2021

modern design that they created for us. There was a lot of choice and it was relatively easy to find a solution that suited our home best. We love the warmth and brightness of our new room and use it for eating and relaxing as well as entertaining family and friends. It’s a really warm room at any time of year and we would definitely recommend Sherborne Windows – they are very professional and offer superb aftersales service.”

The experienced team at Sherborne designed a contemporary conservatory extension featuring a glazed Classic roof to draw huge amounts of natural light into both the conservatory below, and the adjoining rooms.

Featuring a curved cornice to add an element of style and luxury, the roof, windows, and doors are finished in anthracite grey, paired with white render to complement the render of the property. The conservatory features a mix of full length frames, large picture windows and glazed doors to ensure the light airy feel that was such an important part of the brief. On the interior, an insulated internal pelmet gives an extension-like feel and has been used to discreetly house spotlights for dark nights.

The resulting conservatory is a triumphant statement of modern luxury and is the perfect addition

to this most unusual and beautiful home. Choosing the anthracite grey frames in contrast to the woodgrain frames of the rest of the home demonstrates perfectly that a contrast can often create a real stand out feature, while the render which replicates that of the house still ensures a seamless look.

Commenting about the project, Chris Long of Sherborne Windows, said: “We were thrilled to work with Mr & Mrs B on this project – it was a pleasure to have the opportunity to design a conservatory for such an unusual and beautiful home. Lots of glass and less framework along

ON-SITE

with great levels of insulation/ energy efficiency to provide yearround use were the order of the day, and the Ultraframe Classic roof, coupled with contemporary windows and doors provided the perfect solution. Although we build lots of glazed extensions, there are not many that are attached to a building with a thatched roof. The project brief to create a light and airy living space was achieved but making sure it complemented the home was difficult to imagine during the design stage. The effort put in early on to ensure the new building not only performed but was also aesthetically right was worth it when we look at the finished result. Making sure we kept the new building very simple and with large areas of glass to bring lots of light into the room worked, and the end result is a stunning new space that perfectly complements the rest of this amazing home. The clients were delighted with the result and very happy that they have now created a space that really brings the extended garden into their home, whilst being a comfortable year round living space they can enjoy throughout the seasons.” www.ultraframetrade.co.uk

Quickslide Helps Bring 1000 Years Of History Up To Date Redeveloping a prominent local site is always a huge responsibility, and even more so when it is one steeped in over a millennia of history.

So when high-end developers Brebur Ltd took on the bespoke redevelopment of the historic Featherstone Hall, the last of four great houses that once dominated the Yorkshire village of North Featherstone near Pontefract, they chose Quickslide for the heritage windows and doors to complete the site.

Over the past two years, Featherstone Hall and its surrounding grounds have been transformed into fifteen beautiful and contemporary family homes, each reflecting the prominence and grandeur of the historical area. The hall itself has been converted into three period family homes, while the sympathetically restored coach house is now a detached three-bedroom home oozing period charm. In addition, there are eleven new, detached family homes, each

designed in keeping with the same classic and elegant feel.

In total, Quickslide provided 222 products for the development, including PVCu sash windows, sliding patio doors, bi-fold doors and Solidor composite doors – all in anthracite grey for a contemporary twist on the period look. The result is a stunning collection of quality windows and doors that perform as well as they look, offering security and energy efficiency.

Brebur, who knew of Quickslide’s reputation as a supplier of Solidor composite doors, chose the award-winning fabricator for the project because it offered the best quality products within the right price range, when compared to similar products on the market.

The developers particularly commended Quickslide’s sliding sash for being robust and exuding style and quality once installed. Brebur also praised Quickslide’s easy and helpful buying process that, they said, was a credit to the company. www.quickslide.co.uk WINDOW NEWS | JUNE 2021 81

MARKETING & INTERNET

New Video From Alutech Puts Their

Bifold In The Spotlight Alutech Systems have produced an enlightening new video that puts their BF73 bifold door system in the spotlight. Presented by a familiar industry face, Alutech Systems’ Sales Director, Mike Moulds, the video shines a light on the many features and benefits of the BF73 bifolding door, in an accessible way that will appeal to homeowners, installers and fabricators alike.

The star of the show is a 3-pane aluminium bifold in the ever-popular colour of 7016 anthracite grey, the product that has helped Alutech increase volumes by 50% in the 82 WINDOW NEWS | JUNE 2021

last year alone. And when you see it in action it’s not hard to see why, from its slim sightlines of just 120mm and overlapping gasket system, to its 2-wheel roller system and exclusive AluLock locking system for robust, smooth operation.

Mike explains, “The past year has changed the way we do business. We’ve had to innovate and think outside the box.

This video is yet another marketing resource for the benefit of our sales team, our fabricators and their customers. It allows us to present the product remotely to prospective new clients. It will also help the

end user when making their big purchasing decision. The bifold really does sell itself.”

This new video follows on from the series of fabrication videos that Alutech launched last year, all of which can be found on the ‘Alutech Systems Ltd’ YouTube channel.

There are plans to produce more videos throughout the year, so be sure to ‘like’ and ‘subscribe’ to the channel to be first to see the latest releases from this rapidly growing company at: https://bit.ly/3vyPFh8 www.alutechsystems.co.uk

MARKETING & INTERNET

AluK’s Consumer

Focused Website Goes Live

AluK said from the beginning of the first lockdown that it would use its considerable resources to support customers throughout the crisis. It has been true to its word with valuable new marketing initiatives such as an online Marketing Academy, practical digital marketing support, and a new dedicated digital learning platform to support customers operating in the trade and commercial sectors.

Its latest investment is aimed at customers operating primarily in the resurgent retail market and is a brand-new consumer website designed to inform and inspire, as well as to generate retail enquiries.

Now live at www.alukhome. co.uk, the new website has been beautifully designed with lots of stylish visuals and useful information for both homeown-

ers and installers. It is aimed at those who might be considering aluminium windows and doors for the first time and includes plenty of design advice, as well as case studies showing stunning transformations in traditional, heritage and modern properties.

There’s a helpful guide answering the most frequently asked questions on products, performance and security, and consumer-friendly explanations of everything from configurations to finishes, U-Values and WERs, and glazing options.

Alex Gallop, AluK’s Marketing Communications Manager, explained that the aim of the website is to show homeowners just how easily how they can use AluK’s range of modern, energy efficient windows and door to realise their design dreams

– no matter what age or style of property they live in.

She added: “We’ve optimised the website so that it will rank highly in online searches and help to generate enquiries which we can pass directly on to our customers. It will be updated regularly of course with new products and projects, and the stunning gallery wall we’ve created will become a showcase for our customers’ very best work.

“The previous consumer website generated more than 500 leads every month for our network of fabricators and this new site will undoubtedly bolster that figure which is great news for customers.”

All the details are at: www.alukhome.co.uk WINDOW NEWS | JUNE 2021 83

MARKETING & INTERNET

Morley Glass

And FENEX Virtual Showrooms Prove A Great Success

During the pandemic, Morley Glass and Glazing have funded and created 50 virtual showrooms, with the help of videoproduction4, the National Fenestration Awards and FENEX.

been able to continue operating.

Companies including McDermott Windows, Heath Windows, Droylsden Glass and Sapphire Windows are just a few that have benefitted from this amazing technology.

With real-life showroom visits off the table, the virtual showrooms have allowed installers to grow their business in the most challenging of times. Each Virtual showroom, worth £1500, allows visitors to the websites to see the diversity, and experience the quality, of products available.

Emma at Blackburn based McDermott Windows commented: “Lockdown has meant we have had to look at things differently, and the virtual showroom has enabled us to showcase our products in a really detailed way. Also, we can demonstrate that we do have an authentic base which is reassuring for many people to see.

The winners have reported a significant rise in website visits and appointments from customers who may not visit a physical showroom, meaning they have 84 WINDOW NEWS | JUNE 2021

We really do appreciate that this was given to us by Ian at Morley Glass – he is just a fantastic

guy and so supportive of people in this industry. I can’t speak highly enough, and we are very grateful to him. He sees work in this sector as collaborative and we will always support him because of his generosity.”

Kevin Thackery at Droylsden Glass in Manchester said: “What a brilliant tool this has been, particularly during current restricted climates – the virtual showroom has really supported our business. We do now always try to promote it and we gain such positive feedback from visitors to the site. This business has remained strong, and we feel that the virtual site has greatly influenced that.”

Ian, MD here at Morley Glass, volunteered his services as soon as the idea of a virtual showroom give-away was floated. He worked closely with Lee Clark of FENEX and National Fenestration Awards to get the project off the ground and assisting the winners as soon as possible. www.morleyglass.co.uk

MARKETING & INTERNET

The Mila Hardware Edit

Hardware specialist Mila has spent lots of time and money since the start of the first lockdown making sure that its web presence does exactly what busy customers need it to do.

Updated navigation using user-friendly drop-down menus helps customers find the products they need, a simple click to book service lets them arrange a sales call, video meet or socially distanced visit, and there’s a dedicated download section for them to access test certificates, declarations of performance and literature.

The latest innovation is what Mila is calling its ‘curated collections’ – simple, online Edits which bring together into one section of the website all the information on families of products which customers regularly buy together.

There are already three live Edits at www.mila.co.uk – the Value Edit, which is all of Mila’s HERO hardware essentials range including its ProLinea BreakSafe™ cylinders, the Stainless Steel Edit, which is all the products in the Supa stainless steel range, and the latest to be added – the Emergency Exit Edit, which includes panic bars, panic locks, easy egress window handles and hinges, and Approved Document B compliant products.

Customers can view the collections online, download a PDF for easy reference or click to request a quote – it’s as easy as that.

Marketing Director Sarah Gyde commented: “We’re very much focused on the customer experience at Mila – all the way from how we deliver content online to how we package and deliver our prod-

Kall Kwik Launch New Website To Show Expert Level Of Customer Support Window machinery expert Kall Kwik has launched a brand new website, showcasing what it describes as the unrivalled level of support on offer to their customers, and the extensive range of machinery available.

“Window machinery is dependent on all the intricate details.

More info is at: www.mila.co.uk “We’re pleased that our new website is up and running so that fabricators can read more about our ACE scheme and how they can benefit from being a partner.”

Kall Kwik is the UK’s leading partner for Urban and Schirmer machinery, and the new website shows the entire range, including a quote service, to help smooth the buying process.

Kall Kwik’s ACE partner scheme offers fabricators Advice, Care and Engineering throughout the entire production process to help get the most out of their machinery.

“We do things differently at Kall Kwik, placing a greater emphasis on support and aftercare, which is why we set up our ACE partner scheme,” says Chris Bailey, Kall Kwik’s UK and Ireland Business Development Manager.

ucts in person. Attention to detail is everything, which is why we’re constantly refining what we do and developing clever new solutions like The Edit which we know make our customers’ lives just that little bit easier. We’ll be adding more curated collections to our Edit portfolio in the coming weeks so it’s always worth customers checking back to see what’s new.”

“It’s great that fabricators can now see our complete range of window machinery,” says Chris.

Every cog needs to be working as smoothly as possible to help businesses operate efficiently. Our experience in the industry means we can provide an unrivalled level of Advice, Care and Engineering through the entire production process, to make sure our customers are getting the optimum performance from their machines.

“We’re committed to making life easier for our customers and our new-look website, which can be found at www.kallkwik.uk.com, is an ideal place to show this. The product pages list all the benefits and personalisation options for our whole catalogue of machines, as well as a quote request function to provide a quick and helpful service to fabricators.”

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MARKETING & INTERNET

Quickslide Partners With Creative Specialist ICAAL To

Transform Its Digital Offering Brighouse-based PVC-U window and door fabricator, Quickslide, is set to transform its online presence after teaming-up with internet consultancy, ICAAL. The collaboration aims to significantly improve the VS sash window specialist’s digital offering and marketing resources for its Trade Partners.

Already a familiar name in the fenestration industry, following its work with companies such as systems house and Quickslide supplier Deceuninck, Southampton-based ICAAL offers a full range of creative digital marketing services, specialising in search, design, and lead-generation.

The digital expert will assist 86 WINDOW NEWS | JUNE 2021

Quickslide with improvements to its website including a CRM dashboard, as well as product-designers to help retail customers submit their enquiries directly to Quickslide’s Trade Partners. ICAAL will also use its digital expertise to manage and optimise SEO and PPC campaigns for Quickslide.

One significant development that has just gone ‘live’ is the enhanced ‘Find an Installer’ function on the Quickslide website, helping Quickslide Trade Partners to pick-up even more business.

Sandra Berg, marketing manager at Quickslide, said: “We have recently invested in developing the latest version of our ‘Find an Installer’ lead generation tool which will be a great support to our

Trade Partners. Consumers can find a reputable Quickslide installer in their local area via the simple postcode search function. Within seconds, these leads are then automatically passed on to the appropriate Trade Partners, helping them to gain sales and grow their businesses.

Sandra continued: “We are living in an age when digital resources have never been so vital, not just for our own success but also for the success of our Trade Partners – and ICAAL has an excellent track record in building online brands.

“A strong digital platform is one of the best ways to showcase our beautiful products and the benefits of traditional style and modern performance that they offer, to both the trade and the consumer.

ICAAL’s creative marketing strategies align exceptionally well with our core business objectives, and we believe that collaborating with them to improve our online offering will provide our customers with a distinct competitive advantage.” https://bit.ly/3q1CwMq

MARKETING & INTERNET

New Retail Brochure

Available From Modplan

Trade fabricator Modplan has published a new high-end consumer brochure to help their customers leverage further sales for their product portfolio. Heidi Sachs, Managing Director at Modplan, says: “Feedback from our customers have told us how important our retail brochure is in helping to sell our windows, doors and conservatory ranges to the consumer. This latest brochure has taken its value to the next level with compelling photography throughout and practical information to help the consumer.”

The Homelife brochure, as it’s known, has a stunning lifestyle feel throughout, with high quality images used across Modplan’s product groups. This includes a large window section including feature-rich flush casement windows, which

have become ‘extremely popular’ with consumers. Along with a comprehensive door range there is a wide choice of conservatory options and conservatory roof choices, including the Leka, Wendland, Vertex and Loggia Collections.

The compelling photography is further supported with considered information to help homeowners choose the right home improvement products from their home.

Heidi said: “The brochure has been purposely designed to provide an easy-to-read understanding of the breadth of the products available. From replacement windows to modular garden buildings and retrofit conservatory roofs, our choice is extensive and is another fantastic marketing tool to help our customers sell to the consumer.”

The new 40-page brochure is ideal for both direct selling and retail showrooms. Heidi said: ” Today’s market is more competitive than ever and Homelife allows our customers to differentiate themselves and help close the sale.”

The Homelife brochure is available in both hard copy or digital download and underpins the company’s continuous commitment to building long term partnerships with its customers.

To order copies of the new Homelife brochure from Modplan call 01495 246844

ODL Europe Introduces New Door Cassette Brochure ODL Europe has just published a new door cassette brochure that showcases the depth and range of their multiple door glazing systems. Nathan Barr, ODL Europe’s Managing Director, said: “Our new door cassette brochure showcases our complete collection including our market-leading TriSYS™ three-piece frame system.”

The comprehensive 16-page brochure is filled with high-quality images throughout and at-aglance coding details to make ordering the numerous door cassettes very straightforward.

The contemporary brochure design perfectly demonstrates the extensive door cassette range with a choice of four

glazing systems: the TriSYS™ three-piece frame system, Spotlights® contemporary glazing frames, Zeel™ innovative flush contemporary frame system and the Craftsman framing system which delivers true craftsman door aesthetics. Nathan said: “Our new brochure showcases our door cassettes and promotes the depth of our range along with the technological benefits our products deliver.”

The new cassette brochure comes hot on the heels of considerable investment in additional state-of-the-art manufacturing machinery, allowing the Bootle-based business to control their door cassette production. Nathan said: “The increase in demand every busi-

ness has seen in recent months has caused supplier delays and increased pinch points on production output. Our latest manufacturing investment allows us to control our total cassette product inventory to minimise the impact of industry-wide delays on our customers. All our door glazing cassette will be manufactured in-house and we have further increased our production capacity by 25%.” www.odleurope.com WINDOW NEWS | JUNE 2021 87

MARKETING & INTERNET

Decalu Retail Brochure Now Available Through

Deceuninck’s Brand It Marketing Resource Deceuninck Aluminium’s new retail brochure for the Decalu range of aluminium bi-folding, lift-and-slide and French doors can now be accessed via Deceuninck’s dedicated online marketing resource, Brand It.

Through the Brand It portal, Deceuninck Aluminium customers can personalise the Decalu brochure with their own company logos and contact information. Once they are happy with the finished design, they can then arrange for printing, delivery and payment directly through the website.

The new consumer facing brochure incorporates high-quality, lifestyle imagery and has been designed to showcase the contemporary design elements and colour options of the Decalu 88 WINDOW NEWS | JUNE 2021

range, as well as its energy efficiency and sustainability credentials.

Nigel Headford, Business Development Director, Deceuninck Aluminium, commented: “Decalu presents an exciting opportunity for fabricators and installers to fully capitalise on demand for aluminium. Its modular nature means that it is easy to manufacturer and with a co-extruded, pre-inserted gasket, glazing time on site is reduced to just a matter of minutes.

“That’s a feature that’s proving to be extremely popular with fitters, but installers are also asking for Decalu because it delivers the premium aesthetics and quality of finish that homeowners are looking for,” he continued.

“That includes a marine grade finish as standard, a comprehensive colour offering that includes dual colour options, plus minimalist sightlines and outstanding energy efficiency.

“Through the Brand It marketing portal, our customers can now present all these key features of the Decalu range by accessing a simple and intuitive template that will allow them to create a professional, high impact and bespoke retail brochure,” he concluded In addition to the new Decalu retail brochure, Brand It also offers a range of additional marketing assets, including templates for pull up banners, A1 posters and point of sale material such as flags, business cards and vehicle graphics.

To access the Deceuninck Aluminium Decalu retail brochure on Brand It, or for more information on how to take advantage of the additional marketing materials on Brand It, visit www.deceuninck.co.uk

MARKETING & INTERNET

GGF Launches New Technical Hub

standards under review from BSI (UK standards), CEN (European standards) & ISO (international standards). Visitors to the Technical Hub can see the current status of each standard and relevant dates for response to the relevant standards body (BSI, CEN or ISO).

For GGF Members the latest GGF Technical Report is also available to download and/or view, providing Members with an accurate and up to date on the very latest technical developments in the industry.

The Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF) has announced the launch of a new Technical Hub, housing all the technical services and products the Federation delivers, for its Members and the industry.

As well as an obvious and much needed re-design, the aim of the new Hub is to provide a more informative service primarily for GGF Members but also to highlight to non-Members and the wider industry such as architects, specifiers and building designers, the many technical services the GGF offers.

The GGF Technical Hub provides the full range of technical support and covers core operations such as; consultancy, technical consultations and publications such as GGF Datasheets, Guides and many other technical documents.

David Borland, GGF Senior Technical Officer who has been the driving force behind this new online development, commented, “Rather than simply update the generic technical information page, we wanted to create an online home where visitors to the

GGF website can find all aspects of the GGF’s technical resource.

The new Technical Hub will provide a much more immersive experience.”

The concertina style drop down design has multiple sub-sections for the user’s convenience and ease of navigation, with each topic providing links to relevant documents and/or easy online booking forms.

A visit to the Technical Hub also offers the latest technical news and access to an events and meetings calendar – which includes details of the GGF’s specialist technical groups’ meetings, technical webinars and online forums.

The Technical Hub also houses relevant information and links to Government and trade information such as consultations that may impact on Members’ business.

In addition to the web links that enable access the GGF’s technical library of over 100 publications, the Technical Hub also has a complete list of industry

David Borland continued, “The new Technical Hub is an unrivalled resource for our industry, providing interactive and essential technical information. I am sure that users of this new online feature, will find the experience of the technical hub, an easy and simple way to find the highest quality of technical guidance in the industry.”

John Agnew, GGF Managing Director added, “The GGF team are doing their utmost to constantly improve the many services the Federation offers. We are working on all fronts to upgrade and develop our operations. In March, we launched the GGF Digital Marketing Toolkit and we have now followed this up with the launch of the GGF Technical Hub. In the next few months, we are aiming to launch many more digital products, services and publications to primarily support our Members, by making the road to recovery much easier.”

The new GGF Technical Hub can be accessed via this link: www. ggf.org.uk/technical-hub/ or by simply searching “GGF Technical Hub” on Google or other online search engines.

To contact the GGF Technical team please click on the link below: https://bit.ly/2TFVBba WINDOW NEWS | JUNE 2021 89

TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT

Sternfenster Mike Parczuk

Introduces Employee Assistance Programme Sternfenster has launched an Employee Assistance Programme, one of several new initiatives that have been introduced by the Lincolnshire fabricator to improve the health and wellbeing of staff and as part of the company’s vision to achieve Investors in People Gold Status.

It also guarantees unlimited access to private, 24-hour GP services, financial and legal support, a Care Concierge Service for anyone providing care for a relative or loved one, plus guidance on self-help workbooks and the MyMindPal mental fitness app.

Investors in People is an accreditation scheme for organisations that are committed to improving performance through the continuous development and recognition of their workforce.

Mike Parczuk, Managing Director, Sternfenster, commented: “As an industry we have been fortunate that high levels of demand have kept us extremely busy – we have fared much better than other sectors, some of which have been damaged irreparably by Covid and lockdown.

Available to all Sternfenster staff, the Employee Assistance Programme includes a free, confidential helpline with round the clock access to trained counsellors and support specialists, with options for virtual and face-toface appointments.

90 WINDOW NEWS | JUNE 2021

“But that doesn’t mean that it has been an easy ride,” he continued. “Market conditions, balancing high demand with continuing issues of material

supply, have put a huge amount of pressure on everyone. Covid restrictions outside of work have amplified that pressure, they’ve created additional stress.

“I’m extremely proud of all the people that we employ at Sternfenster, I’ve learnt that they are very strong, they work very well as a team. It means that, as a business, we are very robust, we can tackle pretty much anything.

“The introduction of our Employee Assistance Programme is just one of the steps we are taking to support everyone at Sternfenster, to recognise the contribution they are making to the ongoing success of the company,” Mike concluded.

“Having processes in place to ensure that our people are as healthy and happy as possible is a positive step forward for the company, and we will be more productive as a result. For our customers that will ultimately translate to an even better level of service and support.” www.sternfenster.com

TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT

Over 1100 Vacancies For Installers In May Shows The

Scale Of The Skills Gap Research conducted by Building Our Skills has identified that at the end of the first week in May there were over 1100 vacancies for installers being advertised on job sites throughout the UK. The research was conducted in association with partner FrontFoot, specialists in re-introducing military service personnel into mainstream industry.

It is the clearest sign yet of the scale of the skills gap impacting the industry. Speaking about the findings Building Our Skills ambassador John Ogilvie commented “seeing over 1100 vacancies being advertised for installers at a single point in time was truly shocking. It is perhaps the first time we have been able to quantify the nature of the problem which we are all aware of, and of course these are only the ones that are being formally advertised; the true number is going to be much higher”.

“It was during a conversion with Tim O’Keefe at FrontFoot that these figures came to life when we were trying to qualify the scale of the opportunity for us to engage with them to bring military service personnel into the Fenestration Industry”.

“As many of you know we have recently launched an initiative to try to encourage the industry to look at the armed forces sector as a potential pool of people to tap into the bring new blood to the industry, and the early response has been very encouraging”.

“Seeing the scale of the problem in black and white is guaranteed to concentrate the mind, and as an industry we have to think differently if we are going to start bridging the skills gap which is still growing”.

looking to add to their workforce right now”.

“We will be building hands on GQA accredited practical training courses into the recruitment process, along with 12 months of ongoing support for both the recruit and the employer to ensure that we are delivering a sustainable solution for all parties. We want employers who engage to know they will be getting installers who have been given outstanding basic training in all the key elements relevant to their role and are ready to contribute to their business from day one”.

Tim O’Keefe for FrontFoot echoed John’s message, “During all our conversations with Building Our Skills we had been trying to get a handle on the scale of the skills gap that the Fenestration Industry is facing and seeing this figure has given us a clear picture”.

“As John says, these are just the ones we know about, and if employers are able to fill these positions, they are only going to be able to do so by taking installers from a competitor, it doesn’t reduce the skills gap, it just moves the problem somewhere else; the overall numbers needed don’t go down”.

“Everyone recognises the value that service personnel bring to the world of employment and we are delighted that we have now formed a direct link between our industry and those who can introduce our employers to the talent pool that is available, and most importantly, is available right now”.

“We are keen to work with the Fenestration Industry and to bring new blood to it. We know that service personnel bring great attributes to the workplace and we are really looking forward to making an impact which will benefit all parties and reduce the shortfall in numbers currently impacting the industry”.

“As we continue with our longer-term journey to engage with the education sector to impart knowledge of our industry into the minds of the future workforce, we have very high hopes that this new relationship will help those

For more information about how to go about engaging service personnel, in the first instance email sayhello@buildingourskills.co.uk or visit www.buildingourskills.co.uk WINDOW NEWS | JUNE 2021 91

CHARITY

Knock, Knock…Who’s There?

The Little PinkBook Of Jokes As 21st birthday celebrations continue, Window Widgets have launched a fun and exciting charity campaign to help collate content for their Little Pink Book of Jokes, which everyone has the opportunity to be part of.

Everyone across the industry is encouraged to submit jokes for the Little Pink Book and this can be done by emailing jokes@windowwidgets.co.uk visiting the landing page at https://bit.ly/3gSzO7Q or via social media using the #WidgetsComedy hashtag.

In addition to the main publication, there will be a separate 92 WINDOW NEWS | JUNE 2021

children’s activity and joke book available, where new Window Widgets superhero brand icons will be introduced. These will be distributed to local schools and can be requested for other children and schools across the UK. Both books will be published and available later in the year.

All proceeds from this campaign will be split equally between two very special charities, GM Fundraising and We Mind & Kelly Matters. The goal is to raise £21,000 throughout the year and this will be achieved by offering supporting companies the opportunity to be a main sponsor of one of the

books, sponsor a joke, or a full page. All monies raised will go direct to the named charities, with all production and publication costs being covered in full

by Window Widgets.

Jo Trotman, marketing manager of Window Widgets commented: “The Little Pink Book of Jokes is our way of not only celebrating our 21st business anniversary, but also putting something back into the industry and hopefully make people smile too, especially after a particularly challenging 15 months for everyone.

The aim is to have a little fun on the way, share our humour and raise much needed funds for two very worthy charities.

So please support them and us with this distinctly pink and fun-led campaign.” https://bit.ly/3xtyO0Q

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