Window News October 2021

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Suppliers Join Forces To Pen An Open Letter To The Fenestration Industry

58 Sliding Doors For City And Suburbia

103 Top Glazing Summit Speaker Line-Up Confirmed

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W CONTENTS

W INDOWNEWS THE LATEST INDUSTRY NEWS

TRADE NEWS 4 VIEWPOINT 32 PEOPLE 38 HERITAGE CONSEVATION

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PRODUCT NEWS 50 SOFTWARE 70 MACHINERY 74 ON SITE 78 AWARDS 84 MARKETING & INTERNET

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EVENTS 102 CHARITY 104

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Cover picture: Climate Change And New Building Regulations Drive Specifications For Specialist Glass, read more on page 62 WINDOW NEWS | OCTOBER 2021 3

TRADE NEWS

Swainstons

Agree Three-Year

Partnership Agreement

With Profile 22

(l-r) Karl Swainston, MD at Swainstons and Matt Scott, BDM, Epwin Window Systems

Domestic, trade and commercial fabricator Swainstons has agreed a new three-year partnership extension with Epwin Window Systems’ brand Profile 22. The agreement will see Swainstons celebrate 25 years as a Profile 22 fabricator. Karl Swainston, managing director at Swainstons, said: “We are delighted to have agreed this partnership. Optima from Profile 22 is an award-winning, quality system that works in all the sectors we operate in. We also enjoy excellent support from Matt Scott at Epwin Window Systems, which is a great bonus.”

Matt Scott, business development manager at Epwin Window Systems, said: “Swainstons has been trading since 1964 and is a wellknown name in the North East. It’s great news they will be continuing to supply our Optima system to their customers and we’re looking forward to supporting them.”

Like so many businesses, Swainstons has seen increasing interest in feature-rich products over the past few months. Karl said: “There’s definitely a shift taking place but with Optima we’re well placed to deliver on the increasing expectations. It has all the high-end aesthetics and superior product performance that our customers demand.” www.profile22.co.uk 4 WINDOW NEWS | OCTOBER 2021

Arran Isle

Announces Sale Of Business

To Assa Abloy Statement issued by Arran Isle Group

Arran Isle has signed a definitive agreement to sell the Group to Assa Abloy Limited. The transaction is subject to regulatory approval in the UK and Ireland, and customary closing conditions. The deal is expected to complete in early 2022.

Arran Isle’s Mila and Carlisle Brass businesses are highly complementary to Assa Abloy’s existing operations and will enable them to offer a wider range of distinctive, high value adding door and window hardware to manufacturers, as well as to the growing remedial and home improvement sector. Carlisle Brass and Mila will continue to trade from existing locations, with no changes in the foreseeable future to man-

agement teams or operational activities. Mila’s Maintenance business unit, based in Barnsley will become part of Assa Abloy’s commercial construction & maintenance sector.

Arran Isle’s US Operations were successfully divested in late 2018 to Patrick Industries, Inc., and the sale of its European businesses completes a journey for Arran Isle’s shareholders that started in June 2013 with an MBO of the Group.

Arran Isle’s Group Board unanimously agreed that Assa Abloy is the natural new home for Mila & Carlisle Brass businesses, where they will benefit from the expertise, size and scale that can support their future development. www.arranisle.com

aluplast Doubles

Turnover Over

24-Month Period

TRADE NEWS our manufacturing capacity has enabled us to maintain our lines of supply, despite shortages of raw materials in the marketplace, and although we have introduced extended lead times on bespoke colours, our standard foil options are still available off the shelf.

“Increasing homeowner interest for higher value ‘premium’ windows and doors has also led to a surge in demand for our new Flush casement,” he continued.

Available in a full range of 40 finishes, including its new woodec and aludec foils, aluplast’s flush sash is available with a choice of standard or heritage deep bottom rail. Suitable for period and contemporary properties, it can also be optioned with a mechanical joint.

“For some of our customers, sales of flush sash have increased by as much as 20%, and the overwhelming majority of orders are optioned with a colour,” said Cocken. “We’ve also had a very positive response to our Smart-Slide patio.

aluplast has doubled its turnover for the last two years, significantly expanding its market share through the introduction of new products, a market leading colour offer, customer acquisitions and continuing high levels of demand for home improvements.

“That’s because it is an exceptionally high-quality system, it’s offered with PAS24 and delivers U-values as low as 1.3W/m2k, but also because it can be manufactured up to 4.5m x 2.5m with just a single sash and a panel,” he added.

The introduction of its flush casement and its Smart-Slide patio door offer have meant that aluplast has been well placed to cater for increasing consumer appetite for higher value products, while the strength of its manufacturing resource has been instrumental in servicing high demand for foils.

Ian Cocken

Significant investment in foiling capacity has enabled aluplast to maintain high levels of standard, stock colour options. These include Anthracite Grey on white, Anthracite Grey on both sides on a grey substrate and the recent

“Demand has been exceptionally high over the last two years and sales of coloured product in particular have been a major driver for growth,” said Ian Cocken, Director of Sales and Marketing, aluplast. “The scale of

addition of Agate Grey, with foiled product now accounting for almost 50% of total order volume.

“We have enjoyed considerable growth over the last two years,” he concluded. “Market conditions have played a part in that, but our success wouldn’t have been possible without substantial ongoing investment in product and service. We are expecting demand to continue well into 2022 and anticipate further growth as our new 13-hectare manufacturing facility comes online next year.”

For more information, please call 01684 273401 email info@aluplast.co.uk or visit www.aluplast.co.uk WINDOW NEWS | OCTOBER 2021 5

TRADE NEWS

Gary Fletcher, one of the directors at Seasonmaster in Aldershot, first introduced Alutech’s BF73 aluminium system for bifolding doors to his product offer in July last year. One year on, in what has been a difficult time for some, the company has grown to now fabricating 25 Alutech bifolds a month.

This prompted Gary to purchase a new factory in July this year, dedicated to his Alutech bifold production, which he says is already running out of room! Gary is also looking to recruit new fabricators to join his growing team.

Seasonmaster is a family business south of London, established in 1985 and specialises in aluminium secondary glazing, which is some of the slimmest on the market. Gary identified an opportunity to tap into the booming aluminium bifold market and was recommended Alutech as a potential systems supplier. Gary is very hands on and prides himself on offering a personal touch to his customers as their main point of contact from start to finish, 6 WINDOW NEWS | OCTOBER 2021

Alutech Fabricator Celebrates Annual

Growth With New Factory thing new into the company.

All we wanted to do was make a decent door and, hand on heart, we’ve not had a callout on one door. In fact, I’ve never employed a service engineer because I’ve never had to.

Alutech Systems have been an absolute dream to work with.”

Mike Parczuk

which is an ethos shared by Alutech.

Gary explains, “It makes me proud of what my company has achieved since lockdown began, when I brought some-

Alutech Systems Sales director, Mike Moulds, added, “Seasonmaster have done a fantastic job in such a short time, always blowing away any expectations. Well done to Gary Fletcher and all at Seasonmaster.

We’ll continue to support them in their growth and help them to achieve their next milestone as they look to add our new slimline window system to their range.” www.alutechsystems.co.uk

TRADE NEWS

Suppliers Join Forces

To Pen An Open Letter To The Fenestration Industry Nineteen independent suppliers to the home improvement market have penned an open letter to the fenestration industry, as the sector looks to balance unprecedented demand with global supply chain pressures.

Bosses, from companies including Clayton Glass, Conservatory Outlet, Consort, Emplas, Glazerite UK Group, Nationwide Windows & Doors, Solar Frame and Sternfenster, have joined forces to address several Covid-19 related issues that are currently hampering how they can meet the national appetite for doors, windows, roofing systems and glazing products.

The firms, which are based across the UK and span all the different specialisms of the supply chain, clearly lay out three of the main challenges currently facing them, including disruption with materials, rising prices/energy costs and significant labour shortages due to the pandemic and Brexit.

They call for industry to show a united front of solidarity in that every supplier is weathering the same storm and that, by giving customers an understanding, they can quickly work together to provide solutions and get back to delivering continuity of supply.

“I don’t think anyone could have prepared us for what has happened in the last twenty months – from having to close due to Government guidance and making our factories Covid-19 secure to then having to scale up to cope with what has been a 130% increase in demand for many of us,” explained Ryan Green, Managing Director of Clayton Glass, one of the driving forces behind the letter.

Ryan concluded: “We will continue to work round the clock to deliver a product and service that clients are happy with, and we are confident that together we will correct these issues and things will stabilise – it’s just the timing that is currently uncertain.

“If any industry can adapt and emerge from this year stronger than ever, it’s ours.”

Signatories to the letter, include: Ryan Green – Clayton Glass Greg Kane – Conservatory Outlet Steven Williams – Consort Jeff Hooson – Custom Glass

Ryan Green, Clayton Glass MD

“It would have been a big enough challenge on its own, but we are having to achieve this against a backdrop of global shortages in our core materials, workforce uncertainty due to isolation/a lack of workers and now rising prices across the board.”

He continued: “This cocktail of issues has unfortunately caused suppliers across our industry significant difficulties, and we can’t escape the fact lead times have been pushed out and supply has been disrupted.

“The letter isn’t a sob story, it’s more a case of trying to give our customers and, in turn, their customers, a clear insight into what we are all dealing with. It’s not one company doing something wrong, these issues are affecting all of us.”

The open letter to the fenestration industry will be posted on the website of all signatory companies and shared across their social platforms, with the content also distributed to local, b2b and trade media.

Dan Sullivan – DOORCO Ryan Johnson – Emplas Kevin Harvey – Future Products Jeff Dunn – Glazerite UK Group Mark Rowland – Lancashire Trade Frames Roy Frost – Lister Window Systems John Whalley – Nationwide Windows & Doors Paul Williams – Northern Express Glass Jeff Walsh – Pearl Windows Chris Cooke – Prefix Systems Guy Hubble – Regalead Steve Jones – Sierra Windows Steve Taylor – Solar Frame Mike Parczuk – Sternfenster Sean Parnaby – West Port Timber Windows & Doors Read the full letter on page 8 & 9 WINDOW NEWS | OCTOBER 2021 7

AN

open letter TRADE NEWS

We write this letter as a collective of nineteen independent fenestration companies, spanning all shapes, sizes, and different specialisms within the supply chain. Each of us have our own unique products and clients, but what unites us are the unprecedented and unrelenting challenges we’ve faced since the first day of lockdown back in March 2020.

We would now like to put on record and address several issues regarding the current state of play in our collective supply chain.

The purpose of this letter is to explain and rationalise where we are, and to call for everyone in our industry to show a #unitedfront in order to weather a common storm.

to the wider Fenestration Industry

The following areas, although not exhaustive, hopefully give an idea of the impact Covid-19 has had on construction and related industries across the UK.

CONTINUED SUPPLY CHALLENGES

LABOUR SHORTAGES

Overwhelming demand for construction products since the easing of lockdown restrictions has left many resources in short supply, with much longer than usual lead times.

Brexit has impacted heavily on recruitment in our industry, especially in our ability to recruit and retain logistics and manufacturing staff. This has been further compounded by the ongoing challenges of Covid-19 isolation requirements, which has seen some of our signatories lose 30% of their workforce overnight.

An industry web forum attended by many of us during the first closure, predicted that post lockdown demand would drift back up to perhaps 70% of normal levels by late September. In reality, most of our industry peers saw demand of 130% within 6 weeks of reopening - initially a huge relief of course, but with that relief came a number of subsequent serious issues.

Basic building materials, such as cement, timber, steel and paints, quickly became and continue to be heavily restricted, along with composite door slabs, uPVC profile, glass and other components.

Manufacturers have quite rightly shrunk back to focus on delivering their core products in volume, and so the huge choices our consumers and retail customers have enjoyed in recent years, are suddenly limited.

These factors have made it much harder for manufacturers, processors and fabricators to manage continuity of supply, often having to deal with last-minute shortages and delays beyond our control.

We fully acknowledge the impact this has had on the ability of our customers to forward plan their own scheduling requirements, and we are constantly working to improve forecasting and communication.

PRICE RISES Global shipping costs have risen sharply due to a shortage of empty containers caused by Covid-19. This, coupled with massive demand and competition from Europe, has meant most raw materials and components involved in construction have been subject to overwhelming price rises.

For the time being at least, the days where price could be leveraged with scale of purchasing and volume buying are over, with all levels of the supply chain opting or needing to prioritise margin on a scarce resource over their top line.

This ultimately makes all our products more costly to manufacture and leaves us with no choice but to pass on surcharges and rises to our customers if we want to keep trading. Energy costs are also looming large on the horizon and may prove to be the toughest nut to crack long-term.

Please be assured, only those costs that can’t be fully absorbed are passed on, and, in all cases, limited to the lowest extent possible. This must be an approach taken by every level of the supply chain, with the focus moving away from undercutting rivals to focusing on long-term sustainable business planning.

8 WINDOW NEWS | OCTOBER 2021

The historic stability of our industry workforce that allowed for high levels of reliability has been replaced with the need to manage a more transient and volatile landscape.

At the heart of this will be a commitment to investing in our people, their wellbeing and job security, and we will continue to focus on training and development across all sectors.

A POSITIVE FUTURE So where does this take us?

The complexity of the fenestration supply chain today means there have been, and will continue to be, occasions where all suppliers and fabricators are forced to make unprecedented last-minute changes to their production schedules, commercial terms and delivery dates.

We accept the knock-on effect at consumer level can cause unjust damage to the long-standing reputation of strong, resilient businesses who are fighting tooth and nail for their customers and livelihoods. Consumers, on occasion, are also not receiving the service they have been accustomed to.

Our eyes are wide open to this, and on behalf of the wider supply chain in which we all operate, we would ask for your continued patience and understanding whilst we continue to work round the clock to deliver a product and service that you are happy with.

It is categorical that each of the above issues will self-correct and stabilise, only the timing of when this will happen is unknown.

Collectively, we hope this letter goes some way towards explaining the current challenges we are facing, and please be rest assured that we are all doing our utmost to support customers against the odds.

If any industry can adapt and emerge from this year stronger than ever, it’s ours.

Thank you for taking the time to read.

Yours faithfully, Ryan Green

Steven Williams

Greg Kane

Managing Director

Finance Director

CEO

Jeff Hooson

Dan Sullivan

Ryan Johnson

Kevin Harvey

Managing Director

Director

Managing Director

Managing Director

Jeff Dunn

Mark Rowland

Roy Frost

John Whalley

Group Sales & Marketing Director

Managing Director

Director

Managing Director

Paul Williams

Jeff Walsh

Chris Cooke

Guy Hubble

Director

Chairman

Director

Managing Director

Steve Jones

Steve Taylor

Mike Parczuk

Sean Parnaby

Managing Director

Managing Director

Managing Director

Managing Director

TRADE NEWS a year. The company now employ over 60 employees working in their workshop, office and installing windows and doors in customers’ homes across London and Southern England.

Due to the growing demand for their windows and doors, The Sash Window Workshop also offer a supply only service for new joinery nationwide allowing everyone to benefit from their thermally efficient, traditional timber windows and doors.

In light of increasing demand within the home improvements industry, The Sash Window Workshop decided to take advantage of Government funding and invest in growing their manufacturing facilities.

Timber Specialists

Open Second

Manufacturing Workshop The Sash Window Workshop has announced that due to the continued success of the business, they have now opened a second large, purpose designed workshop in Bracknell, Berkshire.

The new workshop, which is located next door to their existing purpose-built workshop, will allow The Sash Window Workshop to expand their manufacturing capabilities, helping them to meet growing demand for their traditional timber windows and doors.

As part of the expansion, the company have also implemented a new streamlined painting process, using a CEFLA paint line. After reviewing different specialist technologies and running successful trials at the CEFLA Lab, The Sash Window Workshop decided to place an

order for the new paint line.

The new paint line will help increase the quantity of windows and doors that can be painted at any time without having to substitute quality of the painting.

Richard Dollar, managing director at The Sash Window Workshop, explains: “Having started from nothing with a hand to mouth existence in 1994, we are very proud of the success of our business.

This success has enabled us to make a £1 million plus investment this year into new premises, plant and equipment.

We have always made our own windows and doors in the UK, allowing us to closely manage the quality of our products. Also, most importantly it provides job opportunities locally.

To help the joinery production keep up with their new efficient paint line, the company has also installed a second Homag CNC machine this month, which accurately cuts the timber to make their windows and doors.

Roughly half our orders every year come from recommendations and existing customers. We believe future success depends on continuing to provide outstanding products alongside excellent customer service and making sure that every day we try to do things even better.”

Established over 27 years ago, in February 1994, The Sash Window Workshop began as a small family business operating from a converted pig shed in Ascot, Berkshire.

Today the Berkshire based company is still independently run but has a turnover of around £7 million

The high quality product and service provided by The Sash Window Workshop is also highlighted in their Which? Trusted Trader status, with the company celebrating 7 years of being a Which? Trusted Trader last month. www.sashwindow.com

10 WINDOW NEWS | OCTOBER 2021

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TRADE NEWS pany into the GGF fold. It brings a further key asset into the GGF Group’s commitment to becoming a highly dependable source of factual data and research for the glass and glazing industries.”

GGF Acquires Palmer Market Research The Glass & Glazing Federation has acquired the brand and other assets of Palmer Market Research, which for almost 40 years provided research and reports on the window, door and related products sectors. Included in the deal, the GGF has purchased the Palmer Market Research brand, its back catalogue and such devices as the research methodology.

Established in 1982 by Robert Palmer, ‘Palmer Reports’ provided the glass and glazing industry with a series of research documents upon which thousands of new products have been prepared for market. With little to contradict the information contained in dozens of publications that recorded and predicted trends for every key product category and market segment, Palmer was hugely influential over the years.

Following the retirement by Robert Palmer in 2017, a profound vacuum has been felt by marketeers, business owners and execu-

tives throughout the window, door and glass sectors that Palmer covered so comprehensively for almost four decades. The acquisition by the GGF adds to the recent publication of its Group Market Knowledge Report, compiled from FENSA installation data recorded since January 2018, data input from British Fenestration Ratings Council (BFRC); and with insights provided by GGF experts, to add to the organisation’s mission to become a key source of supporting research for the glass and glazing industries.

“Palmer Market Research has long been a key source of market data for the industry, with the later reports still widely used to form opinion and strategy by many businesses and professional organisations,” said Anda Gregory, Chief Development Officer for GGF Group. “The excellent reputation still held by Palmer, coupled with the methodology used to put the research together and an extensive library and back catalogue, led us to bring the com-

12 WINDOW NEWS | OCTOBER 2021

GGF Group Managing Director John Agnew added: “The addition of Palmer Market Research to the GGF Group will add to the FENSA Knowledge Hub that will be launched early in 2022, which will provide on-demand installation data for members and through a subscription service. This will be a powerful addition to what will be bi-annual Group Market Knowledge Reports, all of which will benefit from the Palmer acquisition.”

Robert Palmer said he was delighted that the GGF was continuing his work: “In our discussions the GGF has shared its plans to become a major source of research and data for all sectors of the glass and glazing industry and will build upon the ethos by which Palmer Reports were produced for almost 40 years. I have been most impressed. To produce such material in the current era requires significant resources and commitment and I believe the GGF has those in abundance.”

John Agnew advised that prior to the data being transferred with the acquisition, it was requested that all company data showing business performance was anonymised to provide reassurance to businesses over the use and security of their data. GDPR regulations are strictly followed for all data processed and published by the GGF: “We always follow the strictest guidelines to ensure GDPR compliance,” insisted John. “Within these rules, we believe it is our duty and responsibility as the primary group of representative organisations for the UK glass and glazing industries, to provide our members with the tools to be competitive in increasingly tough markets.” www.ggf.org.uk

TRADE NEWS

Fentrade Makes New Machine

Investment To Support Continued Growth Aluminium trade manufacturer Fentrade has just purchased a new machine from Elumatec as part of its continued business expansion. Chris Reeks, Director of Fentrade, said: “The machine represents part of a significant investment programme linked to our overall growth strategy, which has included expanding into new premises and the introduction of new software and hardware systems.”

Fentrade has invested in an SBZ/122 70 Plus CNC profile machining centre and Chris says that it will bring multiple benefits to fabrication. “We will be able to rout, drill and mill practically every profile section that requires work, enabling us to achieve more effi-

ciency in the production, increase our capacity with automation and further enhance the quality of the finished product.”

The delivery, installation and training for the new machine was carefully coordinated over five days to minimise disruption to production with specialist local contractors brought in to undertake the offloading and siting.

Chris commented: “New machinery installation is notoriously complex, but thanks to the expertise of Elumatec, the local contractors and our in-house team, everything ran smoothly.”

exactly right. We’re keen to capitalise on the strength of the current market and we have the strategy in place to do that. As a further part of the strategy, we’ve committed to exhibiting at next year’s FIT Show and we’re already looking forward to meeting existing customers and welcoming new ones.”

Chris concluded: “We’re a young company but our growth demonstrates that we’ve got our offer

www.fentradealuminium.co.uk

Apeer Reaches Homeowners

With New TV Ad

hold ends up purchasing.”

The sleek ad features multiple doors ’flying’ around the screen, in a style similar to the mobile phones adverts from which it took its inspiration. “Just like those, we wanted it to be catchy, interesting and really show the USPs of our products – the high quality range of contemporary styles and colours, superior security and excellent energy efficiency our doors offer,” said Linda.

Building on the strength of its recent digital marketing campaign, Apeer has launched a new TV advert showcasing its range and quality of composite doors, to further boost lead generation for its Trade Partners and retailers.

The ‘More than a door’ advert represents around a £100K investment and runs for eight weeks from September 13th, across Channel 4, UTV, Sky Smart Ireland and video on demand channels, including ITV Hub and All 4. Viewers are directed to the Apeer website, where they can find approved stockists.

Running alongside Apeer’s current digital campaigns, the new TV ad targets upper middle-class homeowners: the 35-65 female demo-

graphic who have a keen interest in home improvements.

“We used Experian credit data to target lifestyles and income brackets,” said Apeer’s Marketing Manager Linda Tomb. “Past research and feedback has shown that it is still females who hold the sway when it comes to choosing home aesthetics and therefore which company and products a house-

“We have run the ad on social media for a couple of months and it is working really well for us, so we wanted to also run it on TV. We’ve just increased our digital marketing budgets so both campaigns will run together to boost our lead generation for Apeer Trade Partners.”

Apeer’s new ‘More than a door’ TV advert can be viewed online at: https://bit.ly/2XiY8dy

WINDOW NEWS | OCTOBER 2021 13

TRADE NEWS with the rest to follow in the future.

The documented instructions are used to standardise the inspection process in a way that all inspectors cover all the critical care points needed to ensure door and window quality.”

All new inspectors are trained using the instructions from day one to ensure a consistent approach, while all key processes are audited at least once a week to check they are being carried out in line with the standard operating procedures.

Apeer And Lumi:

Getting It Right First Time An increased focus on quality control at Apeer and Lumi Windows has seen the door and windows specialist continue to improve its ability to ‘get it right first time’ for customers.

With this ongoing quality control focus, Lumi and Apeer customers and Trade Partners can be more confident than ever when they order doors and windows.

New World Developments, Apeer and Lumi’s parent group, has always had the highest standards when it comes to quality control.

But over the past 18 months the company has concentrated on streamlining and standardising these procedures, as its product line has grown.

As a result, customer complaints regarding loose items have virtually been eliminated, and around 98% of Apeer and Lumi products are consistently manufactured ‘Right First Time’.

Apeer doors and Lumi windows are produced at NWD’s factory premises in Ballymena, Northern Ireland, using 100% end of line inspection along with inline process auditing to ensure quality

In addition, there have been specific improvements made to the quality control processes, said Eric: “Fixed gauging has recently been introduced for better knocker hole positioning and cylinder hole alignment. Standardised inspection stations have also been introduced with a standard set of tools, and new high definition cameras have been purchased along with additional CCTV cameras. We’ve also introduced loose item/kit box content photography to resolve issues customers were having with missing parts – which we are pleased to say has virtually eliminated the problem.”

assurance.

“One hundred per cent inspection has always been a part of NWD quality process however it is only in the last two years that it has been standardised and documented,” said quality manager, Eric Crawford.

“Currently we have two inspection instructions in place which cover over 90% of the total manufacture,

14 WINDOW NEWS | OCTOBER 2021

“Our customers rightly expect the best, and we will continue to refine our processes and raise our targets to ensure we consistently deliver just that across the board,” said Eric.

“At the start of 2021 we set a target of 98% Right First Time (RFT) with a stretched goal of 99%. This year has seen a steady improvement and we are regularly achieving 96.5-98% week to week. Our focus now is on developing the internal processes, product suppliers and quality planning needed to achieve and sustain 99% RFT to the customer.” www.apeer.co.uk

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TRADE NEWS

Green Room

Fabrication Sees Continued Growth With Leka Systems Trade fabricator Green Room Fabrication has reported strong business growth since manufacturing the Leka Systems range. Having previously bought-in Leka products, the shrewd Berkshire-based business decided to go into fabrication to manufacture the complete product range in 2020, and it hasn’t looked back. Ryan Harrison, Sales Account Manager at Green Room Fabrication, comments: “Having previously fitted the Leka product range, we knew the quality of the products first hand. It therefore made good business sense for us to start manufacturing the products ourselves to support our trade customers.”

Green Room Fabrication manufactures the Leka Warm Roof, the Leka Orangery Roof and the Leka Xi garden buildings from its Berkshire headquarters. While sales for all three products are

increasing, the trend is clear when it comes to the Leka Orangery Roof and the Leka Xi garden building. Ryan says: “We can see the change in buying patterns reflected in our order book. Sales of the Leka Orangery Roof remain strong as consumers seek lightfilled extensions for their homes.

Similarly, the Leka Xi garden building growth reflects the fact they create perfect home working spaces and freestanding garden rooms which have grown in popularity.”

Green Room Fabrication was set up by installers for installers. The Green Room team have nearly 30 years’ combined experience in building, property and glazing industries and having carefully assessed the market for conservatory roof replacement systems, they chose Leka Systems as their primary product partner.

16 WINDOW NEWS | OCTOBER 2021

Ryan says the versatility and intelligence of the Leka products sets them apart. “Take the Leka Xi, for example,” he says. “Because it’s a hybrid solution between a standard glass conservatory and a full brick extension it allows installers to deliver more for their customers in a much quicker timeframe.”

The Leka range is clearly a powerful selling point for Green Room Fabrication but the quality of the company’s service is also a key differentiator.

The company includes on-site training for up to four people in an installers’ first order to give new customers the confidence to install the product range correctly and efficiently. Once completed, the installers also become an accredited Leka Systems installer and are able to offer warranties.

Every Leka product is constructed in the Berkshire factory before being disassembled and delivered to the customer’s site. Ryan comments: “It’s a valuable check that means installers won’t get any nasty surprises when they’re constructing on site as the products have already been technically checked for accuracy.” www.lekasystems.co.uk

TRADE NEWS

GGF Introduces “Evolve – A Framework

For Better Business”

James MacPherson, the GGF’s health and safety environment manager

At its annual Members’ Day, the Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF) launched a member-wide consultation on “Evolve – a framework for better business”.

Presented by James MacPherson, GGF Health, Safety and Environment Manager, Evolve is a framework of values and principles to help GGF members become even better businesses. The long term aim is to build a modern industry of socially responsible, sustainable, and people centered companies using modern, organisational culture and risk and resilience solutions.

It’s an evidence-based framework that has inspiration from organizational science, high hazard industries and much more, to guide members forward with values of culture, resilience, and human performance.

The Evolve framework has been approved by the GGF Health and Safety and Environment Committees. However, to ensure that as many members as possible have the opportunity to feedback and contribute to the framework in the final months of 2021, there is a full consultation process in place that will include: A full consultation document available for October 2021 with all the evidence and information behind the structure and values October, November and December webinars on each value with Q&A Presentations and Q&A at all GGF Regional Meetings for the rest of 2021 and into 2022.

On the launch, James MacPherson commented: “The concept of GGF Evolve is something that I have been working towards since joining the GGF. Until the last few

months, I never quite knew what it would end up looking like or being called, but I knew that when it comes to managing our operational risks and cultures that we – companies, individuals and the industry – need to evolve. Being the industry’s main trade organization, the GGF represents the whole supply chain and therefore is in a unique position to take modern evidence-based approaches to risk management and resilience. We are excited to guide our members into a modern, evidence-based approach to managing their risks and cultures. I am looking forward to delivering the free webinars every month, not only to GGF members but to all those in the industry, who want to evolve.”

GGF Evolve will be formally launched from January 2022 for all GGF members to pledge to “Evolve into a Better Business”.

The GGF Evolve promotional video can be viewed via the GGF’s YouTube channel here You can sign up for the free monthly GGF Evolve webinars here

WINDOW NEWS | OCTOBER 2021 17

TRADE NEWS

Freefoam,

Hero’s Of Zero As many manufacturing plants strive towards operating in a more sustainable way to help reduce waste and manage valuable resources, Freefoam Building Products has announced a significant milestone on their journey. Working with waste and energy partner BIFFA, Freefoam says it sends no site waste to landfill.

Production and site waste is processed in three ways.

In the year to date 44.43% of its general waste was foam and rigid plastic which is collected by its waste partner who process it in to shredded PVC recyclate format. This material is a valuable commodity and can be used to manufacture many other products. The remaining 8.77%

of packaging and cardboard is also sent to be recycled.

The company’s commercial waste that cannot be recycled goes to Energy Recovery. It is also collected and transported to a nearby Energy Recovery Facility. Here it is processed and turned in to energy, which is subsequently sold back to the National Grid.

18 WINDOW NEWS | OCTOBER 2021

Energy recovery is a technology that sees non-recyclable waste burned at high temperatures under carefully controlled conditions. Freefoam says the process is extremely efficient, robust and safe, with emissions from the process treated to meet stringent European guidelines.

So what happens to the energy once generated? Taking one month as an example the energy provided by Freefoam waste could have powered a 400 watt fridge freezer for 354 weeks, or 6.8 years or a 1500 watt dishwasher for 118 weeks, or 2.2 years.

Herbert Livingstone, Quality, Safety, Health & Environmental Manager (QSHE), commented “We are very proud to be operating our plant in such a sustainable way. We have worked hard to separate and manage waste on site so that we don’t need to send any to landfill. This work is just a small part of a much wider programme to ultimately deliver a circular business model and help towards the UK’s target to become a net-zero economy.” www.freefoam.com

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TRADE NEWS

Timber & Joinery

Fuels Strong Builders’ Merchant Growth In July The latest report from the Builders Merchant Building Index (BMBI) reveals that builders’ merchants’ July sales were 14.5% higher yearon-year, with two less trading days.

Average daily sales in July were up 25.5%.

Total merchants value sales were helped by Timber & Joinery Products (+42.4%) recording its highest ever monthly sales since the BMBI report began. Kitchens & Bathrooms (+13.9%) chalked up its highest sales for 12 months.

Plumbing, Heating & Electrical (+10.4%) and Heavy Building Materials (+8.9%) also performed well compared to the same month a year ago. Only Tools (-1.5%), Landscaping (-1.6%) and Workwear & Safetywear (-29.5%) sold less, although the latter two categories saw significant Covid-related growth this time last year.

Compared to July 2019, a more normal pre-pandemic year, total merchant sales in July 2021 were 13.1% up, with two less trading years this year. Much of this growth

was driven by just two categories – Timber & Joinery Products (+44.6%) and Landscaping (+23.4%).

After a bumper June, total merchant sales were 3.8% lower month-on-month with one less trading day in July. Kitchens and Bathrooms, and minor categories Services and Miscellaneous increased marginally (+1.1%), while Timber & Joinery Products was flat (+0.1%). Other categories sold less than the previous month including Heavy Building Materials (-4.2%), Plumbing, Heating & Electrical (-8.1%), Landscaping (-12.9%) and Workwear & Safetywear (-17.0%).

show the post-Covid recovery continuing strongly, but historically high levels of demand are testing the supply chain and manufacturers’ and shippers’ capacity to the limit. Supply shortages and lengthening lead times in particular product categories are constraining project starts and completions, and the supply chain has sustained a wave of significant product price rises. However, with no sign of an easing in these unprecedented levels of demand, merchants are exceptionally busy and positive while they keep Britain’s builders building.”

July’s BMBI index was 151.1 with strong performances from Landscaping (204.8) and Timber & Joinery Products (199.8). Seven other categories exceeded 100, including Heavy Building Materials (136.8), Ironmongery (129.2) and Kitchens & Bathrooms (126.5).

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

John Newcomb CEO of the Builders Merchants Federation comments: “The year-on-year figures

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

20 WINDOW NEWS | OCTOBER 2021

TRADE NEWS

Roseview Backs Widgets

As Ancillary Partner

at 2 tonnes. They include a 40mm inline coupler, a VS to 70mm frame coupler, perfect for joining a typical entrance door to the VS frame, a VS baypole and a 900 corner post.

There’s also the benefit of single length ordering for Roseview and the option of seven shades of white and thirty-five different colours and woodgrains, depending upon individual item codes.

Vertical sliding sash manufacturer, Roseview, continues to enjoy the wide range of dedicated ancillaries manufactured by Window Widgets specifically for their specialist VS sector.

The VS ancillary products from Window Widgets are suitable for frame depths from 125 – 148mm and have a load bearing capped

Mike Bygrave, sales and marketing director of Roseview commented: ‘Window Widgets are a long-standing business partner for us, and their product design philosophy fully supports the way in which we work with our vertical sliding sash window range. Sash windows are very much a premium proposition and ones that often require considerable load bearing

attributes and so the proven structural capabilities of their couplers and corner posts are a must for us as a specialist and award-winning manufacturer.

He added: ‘This full range of ancillaries is a major plus for us along with their backup and expertise, and we also benefit from their other general components used throughout the manufacturing and installation processes.’

Adrian Clare, technical sales executive of Window Widgets concluded: ‘Roseview are one of a number of customers for our vertical sliding sash window ancillaries and value the engineered nature of our products, along with the support.

Everything is fully tested, compliant with the latest standards and manufactured within the UK which are also other key selling points of our strong proposition for the VS sector.’ www.roseview.co.uk www.windowwidgets.co.uk

Modplan Celebrates 25 Years With VEKA

Trade fabricator Modplan is celebrating 25 years as a Veka UK fabricator. To mark the anniversary, Neil Evans, Veka UK’s managing director presented both Heidi Sachs and David Burles, founder and co-directors of Modplan, with a commemorative plaque and an engraved bottle of 25-year-old Single Malt Scotch Whisky.

Neil Evans commented: “David and Heidi have built Modplan Heidi Sachs, Modplan’s maninto an incredibly successful aging director, commented: “As business that remains full of ama business we’re committed to bition. We are delighted to have keeping our finger on the pulse been by their side for 25 years and delivering the value-added and will continue to work hard products our customers need to to support them in the years grow their businesses. Veka UK’s ahead.” products have consistently been at the forefront of window and Modplan is a Veka Approved door system design and we’re Fabricator and manufactures delighted to be celebrating 25 a complete range of products years with them” including casement windows, tilt

& turn windows, flush sash windows, single & double residential doors, patio doors, bifold doors and composite doors.

The anniversary comes at an exciting phase in the history of Modplan, which also manufactures a comprehensive range of conservatory roof solutions alongside its Veka product range. The company has made several strategic investments that it says have assured outstanding product quality, further improved manufacturing efficiencies and brought total manufacturing space to 165,000 sq ft across six facilities at its Newport, South Wales’ headquarters.

Overall, the investments have opened up new opportunities and provided additional capacity to support the company’s longterm growth efforts. www.modplan.co.uk WINDOW NEWS | OCTOBER 2021 21

TRADE NEWS training programmes and technical information provided by the GGF so that they absolutely align with how the market is moving and we can ensure that, via the GGF’s lobbying activities, aluminium has a louder voice on the national stage.

“Individual businesses, like AluFold Direct, are obviously forging ahead with our own support and communications programmes to help lead the charge for aluminium right across the windows and doors market, but by giving our collective backing to both the GGF and CAB (Council for Aluminium in Building), I think we can potentially achieve even more.”

Of the 500+ members of the GGF, around 160 are involved in aluminium and more than 30 of these are fabricators. While there has long been a Window and Door Group within the GGF which covers all materials and which all members can join, there has never been a dedicated Aluminium Group up until now.

Russell Yates

AluFold Direct Gives Its Backing To The GGF AluFold Direct, one of the UK’s best known aluminium fabricators, has given its backing to the Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF), as founder members of an upcoming new Aluminium Group.

Managing Director Russell Yates said that AluFold Direct wants to help shape how the GGF supports the aluminium sector in the coming months and years and have direct input into the technical guidance given out to members.

He explained: “This is arguably the

Members of the new Group will have input into the expanded GGF Technical Hub as it builds its resources around the selection and installation of aluminium products and will be able to shape how the sector responds to proposed changes to legislation.

most exciting time in aluminium for decades. Retail and commercial demand are at record levels and new products and systems are being developed all the time.

If we’re really going to make the most of the opportunities which lie ahead however, I think we need to work together as a sector and make aluminium an even easier choice for both installers and homeowners.

David Borland, GGF Senior Technical Officer and Secretary of the GGF Aluminium Group, commented: “It’s great to have the backing of such an influential and well-respected figure as Russell as we push ahead with our new Aluminium Group. His vast technical knowledge and experience right at the cutting edge of the industry will be a real asset to us, and there will undoubtedly be mutual benefits for AluFold Direct as aluminium gains a higher profile within the GGF.”

“For AluFold Direct, joining the GGF is an important part of our plan. We can have input into the

More info at: www.alufolddirect.co.uk and www.ggf.org.uk

22 WINDOW NEWS | OCTOBER 2021

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TRADE NEWS

New Branding Reflects On New

Chapter For Korniche

The multi-award winning Korniche product line from Made for Trade has undergone a branding transformation, as the company builds on the name’s ongoing success ahead of the next product launch under the celebrated title.

Since 2016, the name ‘Korniche’ has gone hand in hand with the brand’s success in the industry, defining a new term where revolutionary engineering-led design and development meets quality and value – allowing Made for Trade (MFT) to deliver the best products, with the best service at the best prices, says the company. The name initially became synonymous with

the inaugural launch under the new brand – the Korniche Roof Lantern.

This game-changing product has gone on to win multiple industry awards since its introduction and continues to be hugely successful for Made for Trade in 2021, whilst using the term ‘Korniche’ has become second nature to clients requesting quick and easy installation of a ‘great value, yet technically progressive product’.

As part of an exciting new chapter for the innovative Billingham-based company, the name Korniche will now take centre stage not just as a brand representing one market-leading product, but as a fully-fledged standalone title that

24 WINDOW NEWS | OCTOBER 2021

MFT says will apply the same exceptional qualities to a range of products from Made for Trade. As part of this change, a new suite of revised branding has been revealed to offer a fresh and dynamic yet appealing and instantly recognisable design to reflect the unique qualities which has driven Korniche to be sought out ‘by name’ – with a corporate identity that acts as a consistent figurehead for the expanding range of leading products.

Speaking of the new look for the company’s brand, Made for Trade’s Marketing Manager, Ian Bousfield said: “We’re delighted to be able to unveil a fresh new look for our Korniche branding in 2021.

As the name begins to represent a range of products sharing the same key values, we’ve worked to create a unique new style that proves quickly recognisable to glazing experts and new customers alike. The logo and branding will cement a familiar name in the minds of consumers looking for a trusted ‘go-to’ brand in glazing

TRADE NEWS the process and maximising sales for trade customers. The revised Korniche website will feature a video-based landing page intended to instantly showcase the lifestyle desirability of Korniche products to prospective consumers in the planning stages, giving first hand visualisation of the advantages and qualities of the products in an impressive real-world build environment.

products, whilst enforcing Korniche’s award-winning characteristics that place products as the trade’s number one choice for quality, installation speed and efficiency – both for the current Roof Lantern and forthcoming Bi-Folding Doors.”

The new-look logo and style will be introduced across digital and physical platforms from the end of September 2021 and help phase in Korniche’s exciting next chapter to trade and consumers alike, as well as offering broader appeal and helping drive sales. The Korniche Bi-Folding Doors are in the final stages of market testing before mass production and rollout later this year, where all the same multi award-winning qualities of the

Lantern Roof are incorporated into everything from design to installation. The 2021 re-brand reflects Korniche as a thriving and rapidly expanding product line, and gives the name a broad consumer-led appeal, where customers continue to specifically request Korniche for their self-build, development, home improvement and extension projects.

The new logo and design accents are intended to drive the brand forward and become quickly identifiable to consumers as a leading name in the market, capitalising on the success of the original Roof Lantern product and subsequent sales. The re-brand will work together with a host of stylised digital updates with the intention of not just refreshing but also improving

The premium online content improvements are supplemented by significant investment in CGI imagery on an easy to navigate site, whilst for those looking for a more in-depth technical understanding of why Korniche is different to other brands, the website also features a multitude of design and engineering content. This covers not just the products themselves, but also the brand history and an explanation of the Korniche team’s technical approach – and why it is one that takes significant and ultra-exacting engineering experience from other industries to revolutionise fenestration products and remain one step ahead when applying such standards and technology to homebuilding.

As is always the case, clients will continue to benefit from the significant investment by Made for Trade in online and face-to-face promotion of the new and existing Korniche products, and the new branding will allow MFT to approach the consumer market with renewed vigour. This ranges from refreshed point of sale products to the ongoing reach of consumer press and advertising in line with new style guidelines, significant online promotion, and the exposure of the brand at all major homebuilding exhibitions. Events will include the Homebuilding & Renovating Show at London Excel from 24th26th September, and the Harrogate Show between the 5th-7th November, where the new Korniche branding can be seen alongside the multi-award-winning Roof Lantern, and the new Bi-Folding Doors as they are introduced to the market.

WINDOW NEWS | OCTOBER 2021 25

TRADE NEWS

Two additional RFMs provide advice on fastener use for manufacturing Liniar bi-folding doors. These cover the standard Liniar bi-folding door and its Queen’s Award-winning ModLok™ bi-fold system which offers a level of robustness and strength to meet the enhanced security requirements of PAS24.

Rapierstar Fastener Guidance Help To Gives Liniar Fabricators An Edge Liniar PVC-U window and door manufacturers can achieve the highest levels of quality and reliable long term performance in every finished product by following the latest fastener guidance from Rapierstar, claims the company.

The window and door industry’s specialist fastener supplier has published three Recommended Fixings Manuals (RFMs) which provide detailed guidance on which fasteners to use in all aspects of Liniar window and door assembly, including its popular bi-fold doors. All three are available to download free of charge in the Info Point on their website.

One comprehensive RFM provides fastener guidance for the manufacture of the majority of Liniar windows – casements, flush sashes, fully reversible and tilt and turns – plus French doors/windows and bay win-

dows. Each different element of the window or door is covered in detail, from attaching hardware to Liniar outerframes to baypole fixing, with diagrams indicating the correct fastener to use in coated carbon steel and stainless steel, plus product codes for easy ordering.

26 WINDOW NEWS | OCTOBER 2021

Mark Calpin, Technical Consultant at Rapierstar said: “The Liniar brand has grown rapidly and it’s no surprise that their PVC-U systems have become amongst the most widely used in the UK market. By ensuring the correct fasteners are used throughout Liniar window and door assembly, fabricators can get the best results every time with these technically innovative profiles – that’s why our Recommended Fixings Manuals can play an important role, complementing the technical support Liniar already provides.”

In addition to the Recommended Fixings Manuals (RFMs), Rapierstar offers a comprehensive range of resources on its website, including technical datasheets for all products, information on testing, and other documentation. Bespoke practical assistance can be provided too, such as signage and labelling for workstations along the fabrication line to reduce the risk of the wrong fasteners being used in error.

Rapierstar’s technical consultants are also available to carry out Fastener Health Checks in window and door factories.

These assess where opportunities lie for more efficient and safer working, and they often enable manufacturers to rationalise fastener use to potentially save money and reduce stockholding. www.rapierstar.com www.liniar.co.uk

TRADE NEWS

Kubu’s Smart Insurance Super-Hiro Kubu, has partnered with online smart home insurance provider Hiro, to bring prevention-first insurance to the glazing and fenestration industries.

home insurance – truly helping members to protect their prized possessions, as well as offering financial support if bad things do happen.

Kubu needs no introduction as the industry’s smart-sensor platform and the partnership with Hiro also marks a shift in positioning for the Kubu brand, as it will sit alongside other smart tech products. Kubu over the last 2 years has hit the market with a number of industry firsts, now it is the first lock and smart sensor to be approved by an insurance company, claims Kubu.

Hamza Abbas, business development and partnerships director for Hiro commented: ‘I’ve lost count of the number of times I have left home in a rush, got on the train, and then tried to remember whether I locked the front door. Kubu gives you that peace of mind. Our partners represent some of the most trusted smart brands in the world, and Kubu will form an important part of our future, both for us and our members.’

Hiro is clever. It takes a prevention-first approach to insurance by empowering members to protect their homes with smart tech, offering a fairer price on insurance

for doing so. Getting a quote takes just seconds, while members subscribe to monthly payments and there are no lengthy contracts, and the policy itself can be cancelled at any time.

While Kubu is looking to revolutionise the way in which windows and doors are sold, Hiro is looking to instil the same step change in

www.gethiro.com www.kubu-home.com

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Featuring

TRADE NEWS Palmer Report to support the GGF’s ongoing research, the FENSA knowledge hub and the recently published Market Knowledge Report. (read more) • New GGF Apprenticeship Scheme that will fund up to £4000 worth of training per apprentice to be launched in January 2022. (read more) • GGF set to launch Evolve– a new framework to help companies improve their cultures, risk management and operations to make them safer and more environment-friendly. (read more) • Launch of a new research report “Glazing – A Route to Net Zero”commissioned by the GGF to demonstrate the importance of glazing for the Government Net Zero targets. (read more)

Lord Andrew Stunell

GGF Progress And Ambition Highlighted

At Members’ Day The Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF) annual Members’ Day conference proved a great success with an inspirational speech by Lord Andrew Stunell on energy efficiency and net zero, which was then followed by four major announcements underlining the GGF’s position as one of the leading trade organisations in the industry.

Due to the pandemic and following a safety first approach, for the second successive year, the event was held virtually and was well attend-

ed despite how busy the industry is at the present time.

GGF President, Tony Smith opened proceedings which followed with presentations from John Agnew, GGF Group Managing Director on the progress of the GGF’s activities and Anda Gregory, GGF Chief Development Officer on how the GGF is increasing the industry’s market knowledge.

Key announcements • GGF acquires the assets of The

28 WINDOW NEWS | OCTOBER 2021

Tony Smith, GGF President commented: “It was an incredible day and I am sure all members who attended found the presentations relevant for their business and the major announcements a clear statement of intent by the GGF as the industry’s leading trade body.

I would to thank all who attended and the GGF Staff for putting it all together. It was a truly exceptional event.”

The event packed with information and high quality content, received positive feedback from Members who clearly found the day both informative and engaging. With eight guest speakers and contributions from GGF senior staff on a range of topics, the day included 10 presentations and two open forums where Members could ask questions of the GGF Board and Management, as well as a panel discussion on training in the industry.

Guest speaker Lord Andrew Stunell, President of the National Home Improvement Council (NHIC) delivered an inspirational and engaging speech on zero carbon and commented:

TRADE NEWS

Tony Smith, GGF President

John Agnew, GGF Managing Director

Anda Gregory, GGF Chief Development Officer

“It was a pleasure to speak at GGF Members to convey the growing concern of the rising levels of CO2 and the challenges and opportunities for the construction industry on net zero. Two hundred years ago there were 280ppm (parts per million) of CO2 in the world’s atmosphere. By ten years ago it was up to 389, and the figure this week is 413. We are well past the safe threshold of 350ppm. Even if the world reaches zero carbon by 2050, CO2 levels will go on rising until then, with all the impact we can already see getting worse meanwhile. That’s why we have to take action immediately. We need urgent action by Government to regulate and incentivise, we need big changes in the market to make good energy performance as desirable as a new kitchen. Industry needs to make big changes, to skill up, build capacity, and work across trade and skill divides to make a joined-up offer to customers and to retrofit one million homes a year for the next twenty years. The choice for GGF members is; to either be subcontractors on the margin or take their place inside the biggest construction investment programme ever.”

and will be an industry first when launched later this year, claims the company.

Cambridgeshire Trading Standards on Assured Advice from a Primary Authority Partnership.

On the event, John Agnew, GGF Group Managing Director commented: “It was an excellent day and the feedback we have received has been nothing but positive. Our announcements on the new projects and initiatives were well received as were our guest speakers and presentations. Members’ Day once again demonstrated why the GGF continues to be the proactive leading trade organisation for the glass, glazing and fenestration industries. My thanks all who took part and attended.”

Anda Gregory, GGF Chief Development Officer added: “I was pleased to provide an update on the GGF’s new research programme and the also to announce the acquisition of the assets of the Palmer Report. Aligned with the re-launch of the FENSA knowledge hub and much more activity in this area the GGF will be the go-to place for the industry’s market knowledge, trends and insights.”

The GGF would like to thank the following guest speakers for contributing to Members’ Day 2021.

The GGF also announced a newly commissioned research report titled “Glazing – A Route to Net Zero”, which was presented by GK Strategy (GGF’s political advisers)

As well as net zero, training and market intelligence, the range of topics covered included; changes to building regulations in the parts relating to energy efficiency, ventilation, fire safety, security, health, safety and environment plus a special presentation by Mark Oliver of

• Lord Andrew Stunell • Joe Cormack, Scott Dodsworth and Jamie Cater from GK Strategy • Sharon Alderton of Total Support Training • Greg O’Donoghue (Home Improvement Consultant and Trainer) • Ian Smith, Kickstart (Department of Work and Pensions) • John Ogilvie, Ambassador for Building our Skills • Mark Oliver, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Trading Standards In the coming months, the GGF will be making more announcements on; the progress of its multiple projects being created to benefit the GGF Membership and the industry as well as the developments from dialogue with the Government on issues impacting the industry.

To find out more about the GGF’s latest announcements and projects please visit the GGF website: www.ggf.org.uk

WINDOW NEWS | OCTOBER 2021 29

TRADE NEWS reassurance our customers need.

In terms of the other benefits of the scheme, there is of course the lead generation interface and the leads generated via the Ultraframe website. Plus, Ultraframe continually develops the latest marketing tools for Ultra Installers and we’re now looking at using the CRM within the lead generation software too.”

Original Ultra Installer Still Reaping The Benefits As one of the original members of Ultraframe’s Ultra Installer Scheme, Paxtons Home Improvements has remained a loyal member for over 17 years thanks to the many benefits of membership.

Gary Bower, Director of Paxtons explains how the Ultra Installer Scheme has benefited the successful East Anglia Business over the years: “At the time we became an Ultra Installer we were looking for a conservatory roof supplier to extend the range of products that we offered and found out about the scheme – it seemed too good an opportunity to miss. Ultraframe has delivered many different and innovative home improvement products over the years reflecting the changes in the marketplace.

The Ultraframe conservatory roofs we installed 10-15 years ago are now being updated with Ultraframe’s lightweight solid replacement roofs, Ultraroof and Livinroof.

Having a reliable manufacturing partner for conservatory roofs and, more recently, solid lightweight roofs, has allowed Paxtons to focus on growing the business.

“It’s a crowded sector with many inferior, and cheaper, alternatives so a strong UK brand like Ultraframe’s, with a comprehensive website and lead generation tools to create sales opportunities, is a huge benefit, allowing our team to help and advise potential customers through to a detailed quotation and, if the customer likes our proposal, purchase. This is where the Ultra Installer Scheme comes in. We always draw the homeowner’s attention to the time we’ve spent as an Ultra Installer, which now totals an impressive 17 years!

When we explain what it means to be an Ultra Installer, this, along with our huge portfolio of completed projects and showroom examples have, to date, provided all the

30 WINDOW NEWS | OCTOBER 2021

Commenting about Paxton’s 17 years as an Ultra Installer, Ultraframe Marketing Director, Alex Hewitt, said: “We are hugely proud of the fact that we have companies such as Paxtons who have been Ultra Installers since the Scheme first began back in 2004. If that doesn’t shout that the scheme is a huge benefit to a business, then what does! The Scheme allows forward-thinking companies, such as Paxtons, to grow their business using a range of selling tools such as online website enhancements, as well as through the leads we generate through our consumer website. Paxtons is a fantastic, motivated family firm and were already a thriving young business when they joined the scheme.

However, we hope that their membership of the Ultra Installer Scheme and longstanding partnership with Ultraframe has also been a driver in them becoming the highly successful and respected business that they are today.”

Membership of the Ultra Installer Scheme is a mark of quality that helps installation companies to stand out in their local area and demonstrate their commitment to product and service excellence, says the company. Members are regularly assessed to uphold the standards of the Scheme and in turn, can benefit from a range of sophisticated marketing tools and consumer leads.

To find out more about the Ultra Installer Scheme and how it could benefit your business, contact the Ultraframe Marketing Team on 01200 443311 or email marketing@ultraframe.co.uk

Growing Pains Over the years Alufold Direct has built up a solid reputation for offering quality aluminium bifold doors, sliding doors, windows and more. All on enviable lead times and delivered with ease. Unfortunately, over the last 12 months this reputation has taken a good few knocks and although some of this was down to the whole industry suffering from supply chain issues, we certainly didn’t help matters.

So, to all our customers who were affected by this unplanned slip in our usual standards, please accept our sincerest apologies from all of us here.

However, although temporarily painful this ‘blip’ wasn’t without good reason. You see, the Alufold Direct you all know and love had reached its capacity. So, to not only future proof the business for years to come, but take it to the next level for our customers we embarked on an extremely bold plan.

I’d love you to read all about it by visiting;

alufolddirect.co.uk/growing Here’s to bigger and better futures for all!

Russell Yates Managing Director

VIEWPOINT

Delivering

Certainty

For Installers

By Russell Yates, Managing Director, AluFold Direct

for fabricators who won’t let them down.

What installers want most at the moment is certainty. After so much disruption in the supply chain, they’re quite rightly looking

There can’t be a single fabricator in the UK that hasn’t had to apologise to customers at some point over the past year because

32 WINDOW NEWS | OCTOBER 2021

of extended lead times or dips in service levels. Certainly, at AluFold Direct, we faced sudden shortages in the summer of both aluminium and polyamide and we were acutely conscious of the impact that had on our customers. It was a humbling experience for a business like ours to fall short in terms of customer service, even for a short time, and it is one which we are determined never to have to repeat.

However, the idea that fabricators just have to survive this period, wait for supply levels to be restored and then resume normal service afterwards is fundamentally wide of the mark. If they genuinely want to remain a supplier of choice for installers, then fabricators have to be doing so much more than that.

VIEWPOINT And, this new, expanded team has brought substantial new experience and expertise into AluFold Direct ensuring that we have the essential skills right across the business to guarantee best practice processes are being implemented throughout. When you’re looking to grow at the scale we are and to fundamentally improve the quality of customer experience, it’s not enough to rely on a small number of individuals – no matter how talented they might be.

Of course, the whole of the market is still, to a degree, constrained by limits on supply but we have acted more quickly and certainly more effectively than most fabricators to reach agreements which have made our supply chain substantially more robust.

At AluFold Direct, we’re nearing the end of a major investment in a new factory, new machinery, new software and a new management team, all designed to ensure that we can massively increase capacity while maintaining outstanding quality levels and market leading lead times. We’re determined to make buying and installing frames in aluminium as fast and accessible as buying in PVC-U. We spent the pandemic transforming our entire operation so that we now have an industrial scale manufacturing facility, capable of delivering consistent, highly repeatable precision outputs in windows, doors and rooflights.

There have been some growing pains of course, but we have a platform in place to build the certainty which installers demand.

Unlike most aluminium fabricators who put multiple products down the same assembly lines and accept the limitations that puts on speed and volumes, we now have three dedicated high-speed lines, each with their own top of the range cutting and machining centres and fully automated four head crimpers. Each of these lines has huge capacity to grow as demand increases and our customers expand.

The new software we introduced into the business over the past year is already improving the flow of information right the way from order to despatch. It gives us full traceability through all of the core business processes and means that the new management team have all the insight they need.

Over the Summer, consultants McKinsey published an interesting report asking: ‘What’s next for consumers, workers and companies in the post Covid-19 recovery?’ One of the points it made was that it was mostly bigger businesses that took bold actions during the pandemic in the adoption of technology and in speeding up operational innovation. Unsurprisingly, these ‘superstar’ companies that invested most in R&D saw the gap between their profits and the rest of the market widen.

Interestingly, the report also pointed out that, if the actions of these ‘superstar’ companies spread widely amongst businesses of all sizes, then the disruption caused by the pandemic could actually offer a path to broad-based growth and higher productivity – potentially a 1% increase in annual productivity right up until 2024.

That’s as true for this industry as it is for any other. Those businesses that are best placed to move forward into the recovery are those that have prioritised growth rather than just survival. www.alufolddirect.co.uk

WINDOW NEWS | OCTOBER 2021 33

VIEWPOINT

Could Your Business

Get Through ‘Another

2021’ In 2022?

Open letter from Rob McGlennon, Managing Director, Deceuninck

We knew the road back from COVID and Lockdown would be bumpy but the challenges we and the window and door industry have contended with in the past year, have far exceeded our expectations.

It’s been incredibly tough, everyone’s expended a massive amount of energy, and people are tired, if not exhausted. Try-

ing to manage suppliers, customers, and exponential growth in demand has been challenging in the extreme.

We’re now in the tail-end of this year and are no doubt looking forward to a better year ahead.

It is, however, worth noting that some of the challenges that we have seen in the last year are likely to be with us for some time to come.

Resin and glass supplies remain under pressure, steel prices

34 WINDOW NEWS | OCTOBER 2021

remain high. The cost of shipping containers continues to escalate – up $6,000 since April this year – disrupting supply of anything delivered in them, from hardware to composites.

That’s before you build a shortage of labour, particularly lorry drivers, and the impact of COVID into the equation.

The fix to those problems isn’t going to be delivered over night.

If you have encountered issues with your supply chain this year (and let’s face it, everyone has), the odds are that the start of 2022 is probably not going to feel so very different, however much we hope it will.

I’m not going to pretend to have the answers. We are subject to the same forces for good or bad as everyone else.

VIEWPOINT

What I would go as far as saying is that I believe that we have manged those challenges as well as anyone, if not better than most.

It’s been no walk in the park, but we have maintained our OTIF at 90%. That’s down 7% on where we were pre-COVID, and 10% on where in an ideal world we would want to be – but it’s not bad going, given the challenges we have seen.

We’ve seen our foils offer continue to grow. We hold 30 colourways in stock with 20 additional colours available in just 15 working days. Deceuninck fabricators sell twice as much colour as their competitors, while this year foil sales have made up 60% of our turnover.

Complete Hardware Support

We’ll also hit £50million turnover this year. That includes new customer wins. More importantly, it reflects the gains in market share seen by our pre-existing customer base in the last year.

We are in short stronger than we have ever been. We would encourage fabricators to take time out now to reflect on the last 12-months and the service levels that they have seen from their systems and wider supply chain.

I can’t guarantee that we will be able to improve, or deliver the same service levels again, next year. That would be pure speculation given the continuing COVID-generated flux and uncertainty.

As I’ve said, no one’s been perfect, but if they’re not going to get better, could you survive another quarter, six-months, a year, of the same?

I can only point to what we have delivered and say that going into the new year we are more adapted to the challenges that we have seen. We have made a multi-million investment in our UK plant, in our foiling capacity, and in our recycling capability as a group.

We can’t control the impact of COVID or labour shortages, but it is in our gift to change supplier if we believe we’re not getting the service that we need. Recognising that in time is going to be very important. www.deceuninck.co.uk

Technical advice from industry experts

In house fit ups and training

Testing and accreditation guidance

Comprehensive manufacturer guarantees

£millions in stock to support OTIF delivery service

Get in touch and speak to one of our experts today: t. Peterborough: 01733 393330 t. Cumbernauld: 01236 721557 e. sales@carlfgroupco.co.uk w. www.carlfgroupco.co.uk WINDOW NEWS | OCTOBER 2021 35

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 Short Term Growth But Storm Clouds On The Horizon?

By Neil Cooper-Smith, Senior Analyst, Business Pilot

September was a big month with two of the Government’s key COVID economic stimulus packages, the Stamp Duty Holiday and the Furlough Scheme, coming to an end.

Despite this, the housing market continued to grow at record pace, recording the strongest monthly rise for 14-years last month [September], with a 1.7% increase. It also reversed the downward trend seen in annual house price inflation since the 9.6% peak in 36 WINDOW NEWS | OCTOBER 2021

May this year, rising from 7.2% in August to 7.4%.

The window and door industry also saw a record month of activity, with sales jumping 19% following on from the 20% uplift seen in August, with at face value, the boom in home improvement showing little sign of slowdown.

Leads, however, did drop by just under 10%, in a month and quarter, which has historically been important for sales. We suggest that this is however, more indicative of a softening of the link between sales of windows and doors and seasonal since Covid than any impending fall-off in demand.

Longer term, however, there are a number of factors which we believe may contribute to an easing of demand in home improvement later this year, and going into next.

This has been in part driven by the energy crisis.

VIEWPOINT September saw a number of high-profile failures in as energy providers struggled to cope with a major increase in wholesale prices.

These continued to climb this month [October] which has led to forecasts that the energy price cap could be raised to £1,660 by next summer, that’s a 30% increase on today’s level, something which has potential to reign in consumer spending.

It’s also having an impact on manufacturers, who are paying more for the energy that they use in manufacture. This has already manifest itself in our own sector, with energy surcharges already introduced, by the ‘big three’ float glass manufacturers in the UK.

On top of this shortages of workers and supply chain disruption are contributing to higher prices and wage inflation, something flagged by the Bank of England at the end of September, alongside a 1% downgrade in UK economic growth forecasts.

The consumer prices index (CPI), which tracks consumer inflation (the price you and I pay for goods and services) is currently at 3.2% but is forecast to rise to as much as 4% by the end of this year. If it hits that figure, the Bank of England may attempt to take some heat out of the market by increasing interest rates.

This may be from an historically low starting point of 0.10% but it has the potential alongside rising energy prices to contribute to a squeeze on household incomes, which may make homeowners think twice about discretionary spend.

There are also signs that this may already be impacting on consumer confidence with the GfK Consumer Confidence Index reporting a drop last month to -13 down five points from -8 in August, and its lowest level since May 2021.

With order books still full to the end of the year and beyond for many installers, any thought of a slowdown may seem some way off but there are one or two storm clouds bubbling on the horizon, which in normal circumstances we would expect to lead consumers to reign in their budgets.

The caveat to that is that normal still seems a little way off! www.businesspilot.co.uk WINDOW NEWS | OCTOBER 2021 37

PEOPLE

Deceuninck Aluminium

Expands Customer

Support Team Deceuninck Aluminium has expanded is customer support function with the appointment of Klare Dean as Customer Service Coordinator.

Starting out in the banking industry, Klare took a career break to raise her family, returning to work in an order processing role in the printing industry in 2016.

She joined Deceuninck in 2018 as a Customer Service Administrator, within the PVC-U side of the business, later training as an internal auditor.

Klare joined the Deceuninck Aluminium team in July, becoming a key point of contact for its rapidly expanding customer base.

She said: “The enthusiasm here is infectious, the team, the customers. Everyone is behind this product. Whenever I’ve spoken to anyone about Decalu, it’s been a positive.

“As Customer Services Coordinator it’s my job to make sure that that offer is underpinned with the right levels of service and support.

“Even in the short time that I’ve been here, we’ve brought on a number of new customers and it’s great to be part of a rapidly growing and very dynamic business.”

Decalu by Deceuninck Aluminium’s aluminium was launched in

38 WINDOW NEWS | OCTOBER 2021

the UK in January 2020, gaining traction on the strength of manufacturing efficiencies of up to 40%, plus major installation gains, including the use of a pre-inserted co-extruded gasket and knock-in glazing bead.

The range includes the ultra-energy efficient Decalu88 Bi-folding Door, the Decalu163 Lift-andSlide; aluminium entrance doors; casement windows; turn-and-tilt; and reversible windows.

Nigel Headford, Director, Deceuninck Aluminium, said: “Klare is passionate about service and that’s absolutely key for us because from day one we’ve always said that if our service levels are the same as everyone else’s then we’ve failed. We want to be the best.

“Klare’s appointment is a key part of the jigsaw and she’s going to be instrumental in taking us to where we want to go.

We’re delighted to bring her on board.” www.deceuninck.co.uk

GLAZING

insightdata

business is better with insight

organisers of

SUMMIT

2021 THURSDAY 21ST OCTOBER

THE FUTURE OF THE GLAZING INDUSTRY

LIMITED SPONSORSHIP REMAINING 2019 IN NUMBERS

Book your place today.

The Glazing Summit returns to Edgbaston Conference Centre on 21st October.

Two years ago, we brought together 350 business owners, leaders and decision makers from across the industry. Now, we’re doing it again.

Glazing Summit 2021 will tackle head-on the issues facing the industry, from supply chain to consumer trends, technology to sustainability and new regulations.

Everything has changed. Fabricators, installers, glass companies and component suppliers will come together with a host of industry experts and keynote speakers for this one-day conference.

“You gave the industry a tremendous boost with this superb event.” James Lee, Director of External Affairs, The GGF “The last Glazing Summit was a breath of fresh air.

The 2021 event looks set to be bigger and better.”

Paul Atkinson, Sales and Commercial Director, Yale With the UK now looking beyond the pandemic towards the economic recovery, Glazing Summit 2021 will sell out fast.

For more information, call 01934 808293, email hello@glazingsummit.co.uk or visit www.glazingsummit.co.uk

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MAJOR INDUSTRY TOPICS

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INDUSTRY PARTNERS & SPONSORS

20+

EXPERT SPEAKERS

350

INDUSTRY LEADERS

PEOPLE

AB Glass Supports The Roots Foundation

With New Hire

AB Glass, an award-winning architectural aluminium and access control specialist, has continued its support of charity The Roots Foundation by employing one of its young people as a trainee.

The Roots Foundation is an independent, volunteer-led charity based in Swansea, which supports young people in care, care leavers, children in need, and young adults who have left care, with the transition period of independent living. In 2020, the charity was awarded the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the equivalent of the MBE for the voluntary sector.

During a visit to the charity, Alan Brayley, the managing director of AB Glass and Deputy Lieutenant of West Glamorgan, met Darran Thomas-Roberts, who was being

supported by The Roots Foundation. Impressed by his positive attitude and ambition, he asked him to apply for a job at AB Glass as a trainee.

Thomas-Roberts was successful and is thriving in the new role. Under the guidance of the company’s management team, he looks on course to qualify in the profession and become an asset to the company for many years to come.

This is just the latest way in which AB Glass has helped the charity.

In April, in an initiative supported

by HM Lord-Lieutenant of West Glamorgan Louise Fleet, the company donated a number of Easter Eggs to the charity.

It also linked with the charity when it volunteered to help on the DIY SOS: Children in Need Big Build

40 WINDOW NEWS | OCTOBER 2021

Special, back in 2017. Its staff were part of a team of 800 volunteers who transformed a derelict site on Ravenhill Road into a spectacular new purpose-built centre for the charity, manufacturing and installing all of the windows and doors for free.

Alan Brayley, managing director, AB Glass, said: “We have had a long and mutually beneficial relationship with The Roots Foundation and finding Darran is just the latest chapter in that story. He is a young man with great potential and we are delighted with the progress he is making in his new role.”

Emma Lewis, chairperson of The Roots Foundation, added: “Everyone here at The Roots Foundation Wales are extremely grateful for the support AB Glass has given us over the years and we wish Darran every success in his new career.

“As a charity that supports young people, we would urge more businesses to see AB glass as an example in how to support young people in a proactive and enabling way and offer meaningful and genuine opportunities”

PEOPLE

New Board Appointment

At Window Widgets supply chains has never been so crucial and so this role reflects an increased importance of this fundamental business discipline.

Window Widgets have promoted Heather Edwards to the newly created role of supply chain director, sitting alongside the current four owner-directors of the Gloucester-based business.

Having started within the business in February 2020 as supply chain manager, Heather has faced an unprecedented and challenging start to her career with the business, given the global issues facing raw material supply and price. Effective management of

Heather commented: “I’m genuinely thrilled with the promotion onto the board of this great business. The culture here and work ethic is exemplary, and I will continue to build the professional and trusting relationships we have with suppliers. My job is to help make our buying patterns more effective for the benefit of the business and ultimately to help offer the best possible customer experience across the Window Widgets and The Residence Collection brands.”

New Business

Development Manager Joins

HOPPE (UK)

Sarah Hitchings, sales and marketing director added: “This is a strategic appointment for us, and Heather has already shown that she’s more than capable of becoming part of the overall business strategy. In particular, we’d like to thank her for unfaltering dedication to work since she started under challenging circumstances and now welcome her on to the executive board at Window Widgets.” www.windowwidgets.co.uk

Quickslide Transport Manager

As well as taking over the dayto-day management of Quickslide’s vehicles and drivers, Nick will be overseeing fleet compliance, route planning and,

Vicki has more than 18 years’ experience working within the architectural ironmongery industry. She has previously worked for Union, Yale and Alpro Hardware, and joins Hoppe (UK) from Strand Hardware where she was area manager for just under two years.

Vicki said: “As part of my role working with national accounts, I’ll be supporting builders’ merchants to help them find the right products for their customers; territory I’m very familiar with from past roles.

Welcomes New

Nick Craddock has joined Quickslide as its new Transport Manager, with responsibility for all aspects of the award-winning doors and windows manufacturer’s transport functions.

Hoppe (UK) has appointed Vicki Hawkes as business development manager for its national accounts.

crucially, ensuring that deliveries are made on time and in full to customers who are kept up-todate with accurate information on when to expect their orders. www.quickslide.co.uk

“HOPPE is a strong brand in the market, synonymous with quality, and I’m excited to be working with its products. I’ve worked with many of the Hoppe team and its suppliers in the past so I’m looking forward to not only reconnecting with people but also building lots of new relationships.” www.hoppe.co.uk

WINDOW NEWS | OCTOBER 2021 41

PEOPLE Specialist data supplier Insight Data has strengthened its award-winning team with two key appointments.

Vicki Hall has joined as the company’s new Commercial Manager, bringing a wealth of experience in senior leadership and transformation having led a team of 90 in a senior management role while at the Castelan Group for 14 years.

Insight Data Makes

Two Key Appointments

Tim Piper has come on board as Product Manager to head-up technology development at Insight, having previous led software development teams across the world.

Insight Data’s Managing Director Andrew Scott said: “I’m delighted to welcome Vicki and Tim to the ever-growing Insight team; they both bring huge experience with them, and they have been able to really hit the ground running.

“They join at a pivotal time for our business as we continue to focus on supporting our existing customers and improve and expand our offerings, products, and services to aid their business plans and mar-

Tim Piper, Product Manager (left), Andrew Scott, Managing Director (centre) and Vicki Hall, Commercial Manager (right)

keting strategy post-COVID.” Despite a challenging 18 months in the industry, Insight Data has grown, having appointed 13 new team members since March this year – and the rapid expansion is set to continue.

“These new appointments are

testament to our ambitious growth plans, and we want to continue our march forward,” added Andrew.

“Plans are already underway to expand our research team and double our existing team with several new appointments, with 30-plus new positions being created over the next two years.” www.insightdata.co.uk

New Euramax Solutions Appointment

To Spearhead Customer Service At Euramax Solutions, providing quality products goes hand in hand with delivering outstanding service, which is why the uPVC manufacturer has invested in a skilled and forward thinking Head of Customer Service.

Nicola Miller joined the Barnsley-based company just six weeks before the UK was plunged into a national lockdown, but having worked in customer services since the age of 17, she managed to face the challenge head on.

Along with a Customer Services Manager, Nicola runs Euramax Solutions’ customer service team and is in charge of order inputting

and handling customer queries.

Working closely with the production team, she is also in charge of managing the company’s accounts with modular building manufacturers Portakabin and Ilke Homes, ensuring processes run smoothly and expectations are met.

Nicola has also played a major role in implementing OmPrompt, an order automation tool that digitises and controls the flow of order management information from the company’s customers, third party providers and suppliers, helping to streamline communication with its entire network.

42 WINDOW NEWS | OCTOBER 2021

OmPrompt works in close conjunction with HubSpot, the company’s Customer Relationship Management system that allows customer queries to be dealt with much faster. info@euramaxuk.com

PEOPLE Rapid PVCU Systems Limited has appointed industry veteran Simon Bingham as its new Commercial Director. The move follows the Doncaster-based company’s recent acquisition by Modular Group Investments Limited (MGI).

Rapid Start For Simon

At Doncaster Fabricator saving ideas, help with design, on time and in full supply and install, and excellent aftercare. From day one I could see there was an excellent team and hugely impressive manufacturing capabilities in place.”

Rapid supplies into the new build sector and with 30 years in the window industry, specifically new build, Simon’s focus at Rapid will be to increase sales in the sector and supply major housebuilders.

These manufacturing capabilities were one of the reasons MGI has invested in the 12-year-old company, which followed on from last year’s purchase of 3,000 frame per week fabricator Euramax Solutions Limited, says the company.

“Rapid are the perfect supplier for the new build market as we understand our customers’ needs and provide a complete package,” explained Simon. “This includes expert technical advice, money

Luke Rises Through The Ranks At CDW Systems

Aluminium fabricator CDW Systems has appointed Luke Pemble as its new Office Supervisor – just five years after joining the company on the shop floor.

Having joined the company, part of the East Manor Group, as a temp via an agency, the 33-year-old quickly made a name for himself working on the shop floor before being moved into the office to help with processing orders.

His rapid rise has seen him promoted to Office Supervisor, and Luke said: “Since I walked through the door, CDW Systems has been a fantastic place to work, and it’s been brilliant to be able to work my way through the business.

“Over the last five years I’ve been able to get to understand the business and while the last year and a half has been tough due to the pandemic and record demand, it has been the perfect learning curve.”

Jeremy Phillips, Group Chairman, said: “I’d like to congratulate Luke on his promotion to Office Supervisor. After he joined us Luke quickly

made a name for himself and as has happened before at CDW Systems we saw the potential there and moved him into the office.

“Particularly during the challenging last 12-18 months, he really stepped up to the plate and we recognised that ability, interest and drive. He’s a great colleague and the move is well deserved.”

The success story is yet another example of the Gloucester-based company’s mantra of recognising talent within, with Jeremy add-

44 WINDOW NEWS | OCTOBER 2021

ing: “While recruiting through an agency can be hit and miss, word of mouth and internal promotions have been our most successful recruitment avenues.

“Attracting more people into our industry is vital, but it’s also just as important to recognise the talent we have and help them move through the business if they want to. When we have got the right people, we don’t want to lose them.” www.cdwsystems.co.uk

PEOPLE

A Smart Recruitment

For Kubu

Kubu and Avantis Hardware have just appointed Alastair Wheeler as their new national key accounts manager, bringing with him considerable experience and expertise within the hardware sector over the last 30 years.

This new role will involve the devel-

opment of existing customers and also the introduction of new ones.

With the new window sensor, it’s a pivotal time for the Kubu brand as it looks to embrace the considerable opportunities in the smart home market.

Alastair Wheeler commented: ‘Having Known Mark Bromley, the CEO of Avantis Hardware and Kubu, for over 20 years now I’m

thrilled to be joining the business at this stage of evolution. With a background of working for large global players in the hardware sector, I’m looking to bring in my skillset and to use it for the business and the betterment of the existing customer base too. With the Kubu door sensor technology already getting established in sectors of the fenestration industry and the new Kubu window sensor now firmly on the horizon, the opportunities for us and our customer partners in the smart home sector are going to be immense.’

Mark Bromley, CEO of Avantis Hardware and Kubu added: ‘Alastair’s experience combined with his personality, helpful nature, and insatiable work ethic, will make him an instant hit with all of our customers. It is often said that the assets of any good business are its team members, and our customers could not be in better hands as we look to accelerate the growth of Kubu.’ kubu-home.com

Nelson Graham – Obituary

Bohle Ltd is sad to announce that former National Sales Manager, Nelson Graham, passed away on the evening of Monday 20 September. Nelson was well known and respected throughout the UK and Irish glass and glazing industry. In a career spanning twenty-six years, Nelson was initially employed in April 1987 as Commercial Manager for Berlyne Bailey & Co, and following the subsequent acquisition

by Bohle Group served as National Sales Manager of Bohle Ltd until his retirement in March 2013.

Nelson was born in Cambuslang, a coal and steel town where his family ran a haulage business. As a talented artist, he had received an offer to join the prestigious Glasgow School of Art but with pressure to join the family business Nelson decided to make his own future in sales. His

early career saw him selling plant and equipment in the Middle-East.

Nelson later applied his strong technical background and great negotiating skills to the business of selling machinery for Bohle. Very much a people person, he forged strong relationships with glass processors throughout the UK & Ireland but, in particular, his home country of Scotland, where he would say ‘I speak their language.’

Talking about Nelson, Bohle Group COO Arne Klöfkorn said, ‘Nelson was a very special person and for sure one of the figureheads of Bohle. For those who got to know him, he left a permanent impression.’ Dave Broxton, MD of Bohle Ltd added, ‘My lasting memory of Nelson will be of his last exhibition at Glasstec 2012, where we were celebrating his career with a party

on the stand but all the time he was still trying to sell a drill to a customer. He was a great salesman but also a true and loyal friend who will be sadly missed.’

Nelson’s wife Dorothy passed away three years ago and he is survived by their daughter Heather and Dorothy’s family. Funeral arrangements are still to be confirmed at this time.

WINDOW NEWS | OCTOBER 2021 45

H E R I TA G E C O N S E RVAT I O N

46 WINDOW NEWS | OCTOBER 2021

Adding H E R I TA G E C O N S E RVAT I O N

windows to

a heritage home Peter Daniel, product innovation director at The Rooflight Company, shares what you need to know about working with heritage properties in conservation areas and how to navigate the nuances of adding skylights to this property type…

properties because of the beauty of the area that they are in and of the property itself, so it’s hard to argue with the rules being in place to protect these aspects.

Heritage homes present different challenges than their contemporary or new build counterparts.

They might be a listed building or be in a conservation area, for example. Often, when recommending products to customers to use for renovation projects like this, there is more patience and tact required to find the right products for the job that fulfils the customer’s wants and is fit for purpose.

Since the mid-20th Century, period properties have been protected by law following a wave of developers across the country, particularly in London, tearing down old period buildings to make way for new developments.

The new rules can feel restrictive, both for those working in the fenestration industry and for customers who have grand ideas for their homes that they cannot legally pull off. Although they may appear restrictive, the laws are there to protect the landscape and preserve historic architecture. People buy heritage

Working in a conservation area doesn’t mean properties can’t be updated or modernized in certain ways, though. They just require more planning at the beginning of the job. Projects like this are likely to be affected by Article 4 directions which restrict the work that can be done without planning permission. The good news is, when it comes to windows, there are modern products on the market that will automatically get the nod from the Conservation Officer because they have been designed to meet the requirements of Article 4 directions.

The benefit of these products is that they remain in keeping with the surroundings of both listed properties and those in conservation areas. They further benefit from modern technologies and techniques, marrying the need for period aesthetics with the high-performance products necessary for modern living.

Take our Conservation Rooflight, for example. It has been modelled on the original Victorian cast-iron skylight to create a Continued on page 46

WINDOW NEWS | OCTOBER 2021 47

H E R I TA G E C O N S E RVAT I O N Continued from page 45

product that will seamlessly fit into a heritage home and meet the requirements of conservation areas. Due to its modern-spec, it also achieves a whole window Uw-Value as low as 1.5Wm2K in the vertical.

Finally, when it comes to installation, things might be slightly more tricky than normal. Often this is purely due to just how old the building is, and it most likely is old if the building is listed or in a Conservation Area. For example, working around rafters in the roof of an old building can be challenging because they may have warped over the years. In the past, rooves were also rarely built parallel which can prevent windows from sitting straight. This is very different to working in a modern building where everything will be set square, and the timbers won’t have had time to warp or move.

These issues can be navigated with some patience and pre-planning to carefully consider the nuances of dealing with properties of this nature, so don’t be put off by the thought.

Trusted manufacturers will also provide step by step guides to help with installation and have dedicated teams on hand to offer advice over the phone and can usually do bespoke product sizes to help too.

Working on period property projects certainly takes more time and presents more challenges than when working with a contemporary or new-build property. However, these obstacles aren’t impossible to navigate and there are existing products on the market to make working in these situations easier for the homeowner and the installer.

To discover more about The Rooflight Company, please visit https://bit.ly/2YHSAJZ 48 WINDOW NEWS | OCTOBER 2021

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PRODUCT NEWS and brushed copper are promising to be high on the wish lists of style-conscious homeowners and a desirable addition to any fabricator’s product offering.

With 9 different finishes available in total – from antique bronze and traditional black to polished chrome and a more durable PVD gold – and a choice of monkey tail or pear drop designs, Regal Hardware can easily coordinate with a wide range of hardware finishes in the home.

Other new features include interchangeable spindles to reduce stock holding and colour-matched screws that pay attention to every last detail.

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Handle Just Got

Even Better!

Window Ware first launched Regal Hardware back in 2018 as the first key-lockable heritage-style handle that worked just as well on original timber and modern timber-alternative PVCu flush sash windows, as on standard 70mm PVCu casements.

This month, Window Ware looks all set to repeat that success with the launch of a brand-new and improved Mark II Regal handle that retains all the oldworld charm and present-day advantages of the original, along with some eagerly anticipated upgrades.

Most notable of the new features is the new push-button operation, which delivers robust and familiar modern espag handling, and the new positive ‘click’ on close mechanism, which ensures full engagement and prevents misuse. Both these new features come as a direct response to market feedback, and work to enhance usability, improve mechanical performance and prolong service life.

With burnished metallic accents bang on trend for home décor this year, the newest Regal Hardware finishes in rose gold

50 WINDOW NEWS | OCTOBER 2021

Even though the Mark II handle only goes on general release this month, fabricators of The Residence Collection have in fact been using the upgraded handle for 5 months already thanks to exclusive access through Window Ware’s new hardware distribution partnership with the Residence system house.

“Feedback on the new handle has been extremely positive,” reports Window Ware’s Product Manager, Rob Vaughan. “Fabricators are definitely liking the look and feel of the Mark II, especially as the new features do a great job of resolving any previously reported issues. They’re also confident their customers are going to love the on-trend new finishes.”

The Regal Hardware Mark II heritage handle, along with matching dummy or working pegs and stays, is available to buy from Window Ware now. www.windowware.co.uk

PRODUCT NEWS

Securitas Security

Window Lock From VBH New Additions

To greenteQ

Lifestyle

Range Hardware specialist VBH has introduced the brand new greenteQ Securitas security window espagnolette.

Securitas sits alongside the entry level greenteQ window espagnolette and popular PAS24 tested Invicta window shootbolt to provide three lock options for manufacturers of outward opening windows.

Securitas features pairs of mushroom headed cams that lock into both sides of a night vent striker plate. VBH advise that these double cam locking points are extremely strong as they spread the load if the window is attacked rather than allowing all the force to be concentrated on one point.

Each Securitas lock has a minimum of 4 mushroom cams (2 pairs) with the larger sizes boasting 4 pairs.

Securitas is as quick to fit as a standard espagnolette as all fixings are applied in the same direction and there are no extensions to fit.

Hardware specialist VBH has added a number of new products to its Lifestyle range of products, their umbrella term for hardware solutions for patio doors.

VBH advise that the new window lock comes with industry standard 20 and 22mm backsets to ensure compatibility with most current window systems and with a choice of two mushroom cam heights.

Having introduced the greenteQ Clearspan for bi-fold doors 8 years ago, VBH reports that it has enjoyed great success with the product and it is now one of the company’s most popular ranges.

VBH marketing manager Gary Gleeson said: “Adding Securitas to our range allows fabricators to fit a greenteQ PAS24 rated window lock whether their preference is for a shootbolt or espagnolette – type product.

“Fabricators have told the greenteQ design team here what they want from a window lock all through the development phase so we know that Securitas meets their needs. It will hit the ground running and quickly become one of our core products.”

Securitas has been successfully tested on a number of profiles to PAS24:2016 at BSI. As a result, it is rated as a Premium products in the Q-secure Approved Products List. www.vbhgb.com

Until recently Clearspan has been available for two aluminium profile systems but a flurry of new product development has seen the introduction this year of solutions to suit five more leading systems, including Exlabesa and Reynaers.

VBH Marketing Manager Gary Gleeson says “We get nothing but great feedback from customers who already use Clearspan and we’re very excited about making the product available to many more fabricators with the introduction of solutions for more aluminium profile systems.” www.vbhgb.com

WINDOW NEWS | OCTOBER 2021 51

PRODUCT NEWS guidance does states that ‘window locks may be fitted to egress windows subject to the stay being fitted with a release catch, which may be child resistant’. While the installation of locks can be useful in preventing falls, this non-mandatory guidance only addresses locks used to secure the window shut, which still leaves occupiers without the option of keeping the window safely open for ventilation and cooling.

Meanwhile, in care home environments, the need to ventilate for cooling and infection risk purposes must be balanced with risk factors, such as wandering, disorientation and, in some cases, the determination of residents to ‘escape’. And in schools and nurseries, there are safety and safeguarding issues to consider.

Safety Guidance

Fitting

RoSPA’s policy is for window restrictors to be fitted to all windows at or above first floor level. The Society also advises that window restrictors should be sufficiently secure to prevent children from removing them, but that it should be possible for adults to bypass the restrictor in case of a fire or other emergencies.

Safety Into Windows

It is important to note that window locks and window restrictors play different roles. While locks are there for security, window restrictors are there for safety and are most vital at first floor level and above. But which type of window restrictor should be used?

Family-Friendly

Danny Openshaw from UAP Ltd, the specialist in safety and security hardware for windows and doors, discusses the role of the humble window restrictor in ensuring windows offer family-friendly safety With UK temperature highs topping 320 this summer, windows up and down the country have been flung open to let fresh air in. The problem is that for many homes, and some commercial environments too, an open window is also a health hazard.

RoSPA figures indicate that around 4,000 children aged 15 and under fall from windows every year in the UK. And yet there is no specific legal requirement to fit window restrictors to new homes – even those specifically designed for families – leaving it up to individual occupiers or landlords to retrofit them if restrictors have not been provided as part of the specification at build.

Approved Document B1 of the Building Regulations 52 WINDOW NEWS | OCTOBER 2021

The HSE advocates the use of window restrictors too. The Executive advises that window openings should be restricted to 100 mm using window restrictors than can only be removed with the aid of a special tool or key.

How to choose the right window restrictor For properties where there are risk factors for either the very young or the very old, a lockable window restrictor is the most appropriate choice because this provides a robust defence against falls, while allowing ventilation and enabling windows to be opened fully if escape is required. It is important to select a

PRODUCT NEWS

Danny Openshaw

window restrictor that is EN 13126-5:2011 + A1:2014 compliant, which means that the total opening of the whole length of the window aperture must be less than 89mm when in use for child safety, and 100mm for other environments. To meet this standard, multiple restrictors may need to be fitted, depending on the size of the window.

The window restrictor should be very strong – UAP’s lockable window restrictors have been machine tested to withstand pressures of 250kg, for example – but opening by an adult should be as simple as possible, with a universal key for all windows. In this way, any window restrictor in the property can be released quickly in an emergency, and lost keys can be replaced.

Push to lock models are an alternative to lockable window restrictors. This type locks securely but can be opened without a key making it easier to fully open the window in the event of an emergency.

Finally, a fixed window restrictor can be an ideal choice for environments where there will never be a need to use windows as a means of escape, such as hotels and offices.

Life Savers As all kinds of environments continue to balance the need to open windows for ventilation with safety considerations, window restrictors offer a low cost and easy fit addition to any window, saving lives and delivering value far beyond their price. www.uapcorporate.com WINDOW NEWS | SEPTEMBER 2021 53

WINDOW NEWS | OCTOBER 2021 53

PRODUCT NEWS

Endurance Go Ultra-Premium With Avantal Endurance Doors have just launched the ultra-premium Avantal composite door, which according to the company boasts all the features and appearance of a powder coated aluminium door yet based on the solid timber core chassis from their bespoke door offering.

This is clearly a door that’s aimed at the contemporary and urban market thanks to the introduction of the ultra-matt black, anthracite grey and signal grey finishes, along with the woodgrain inspirations of anteak and rustic cherry. The edgebanding also benefits from a textured finish, with all options enjoying an ultra-matt, premium white internal finish, while the door frames have been laminated in house within the Rocal Group for a perfect match.

All Avantal doors will also feature a new flush mounted and matching

glazing cassette system, while the unique Moisture Barrier System from Endurance Doors will also be prevalent, as will the 3-step wet glazing process to the glazing apertures that has proven so successful in recent years. The objective from the outset has been to create a next generation

54 WINDOW NEWS | OCTOBER 2021

composite door, that looks, feels and performs as one for the longterm and that includes finishing hardware with a lifetime guarantee and a 3 Star Sold Secure Diamond cylinder.

At the point of launch there will be five initial door designs both glazed and unglazed with the promise to expand this in due course, along with the introduction of aluminium inlays and other new features. The launch of the Avantal door range is part of a longer-term product strategy for Endurance, supporting their nationwide network of Installer Partners with more sales opportunities at the higher end of the market.

Stephen Nadin, managing director of Endurance Doors enthused: “The Avantal product is a next generation platform for composite doors, using the latest door skin technologies, along with several other technical product advancements. It’s got all the looks and feel of aluminium inside and out, with a far more accessible price point and importantly with a perfectly matching outer frame.” www.endurancedoors.co.uk

PRODUCT NEWS

Introducing The Rose

Gold Standard Endurance Doors have been designated as the official launch partner for the new Hardex Rose Gold finish from ERA, which includes handle, letterplate, finger pull and escutcheon, along with a striking bullring knocker.

This new finish has been inspired by the on-trend colour of rose gold which is seen with influential consumer lifestyle brands including Habitat, John Lewis and Swoon. It’s also backed with a 10year function and finish guarantee from ERA. The Hardex Rose option has also been added to the online door designer from Endurance, helping to inspire consumers with the latGlazed Extension Merchants Abcell are helping installers make home improvement dreams come true with the launch of Truedor composite doors.

est style influences. Bold colours such as French Navy, Racing Green, Rich Red and the latest Brilliant Blue are perfectly suited to this premium new finish, along with heritage inspired hues such as Duck Egg Blue, Elephant Grey and the newly launched Sage finish.

Scott Foster, head of group sales and marketing for Endurance Doors commented: ‘We’re in the business to inspire consumers from a product design aspect and the introduction of Hardex Rose Gold fully verifies this claim and is yet another important product development for us. It’s important for us to be seen and be trusted to launch well thought-out products for our Installer Partners including new colours and hardware.

He continued: ‘As a launch partner with ERA, it also shows the strong relationships we have with our supply partners in this industry, working together to offer new and better products. Hardex Rose is a perfect example of this and we’re expecting strong demand from this from consumers and Installer Partners eager to upgrade existing showroom doors.’ www.endurancedoors.co.uk

Making Home Improvement Dreams Come True With Abcell

This follows the successful launches of PVCu windows and doors and Ultraframe garden room kits to create a ‘True-ly’ comprehensive product range, making Abcell the one stop shop for windows, doors and glazing products.

With Rated People reporting that 40 percent of homeowners invested in PVCu in 2020, and 20 percent investing in double glazing, Abcell are helping installers make the most of this increased demand in glazing products.

Truedor composite doors help homeowners add extra value to homes with their appearance and come in four different ranges – Traditional, Harmony, Cottage and Contemporary so installers can offer doors which suit all property types, as well as offering high thermal

insulation qualities and security.

“We added Truedor to our range for the wide selection of designs and high-quality performance,” says Neville Gleed, Operation Director at Abcell.

“This follows the successful launch of PVCu windows and doors and garden room kits, which massively expanded our range in 2021.

“By having such a large variety of products on offer, we’re simplifying supply and making life on site easier for installers, with windows, doors and glazed extension products available all in one place, as well as lots of marketing support to help installers sell Truedor composite doors.” www.abcell.co.uk WINDOW NEWS | OCTOBER 2021 55

PRODUCT NEWS star protection, as well as a unique folding Ultion key, that protects frames from damage.

A one-piece stainless-steel track with integral drainage allows for controlled, reliable rolling, and tri-material Garnalex gaskets with low friction coatings ensure smooth operation.

The ancillaries used on the bi-fold doors are the same as for the standard Sheerline Prestige window and door system, allowing for simplified stock holding. Fabricators also save time and money using the same milling cutter as the rest of the Sheerline Prestige range.

Sheerline

Launches New Prestige

Aluminium Bi-Fold

Sheerline has launched a new range of bi-fold doors, which extends its popular range of Sheerline Prestige aluminium windows and doors.

The new Sheerline Prestige bifold combines style, security, innovation and sustainability in a ‘ground-breaking’ range of bi-fold doors, says the company.

Future proofed against the proposed tightening of Part L of the Building Regulations, the bi-fold achieves extremely low U-Values – 1.4 W/m²K double glazed and 1.0 W/m²K tripled glazed. It features Sheerline’s multi-chambered Thermlock® technology, which says Sheerline, ensures greater

thermal performance compared to other aluminium bi-folds that use polyamide thermal breaks.

With four different threshold options, including one with an integrated cill, all featuring fully weather-sealed rebates, it offers up to seven pane configurations. With both inward and outward opening options, the bifold has a maximum height of 2.6m and a maximum width of 6.5m.

Bespoke hardware, based on proven ‘tried and tested’ designs is supplied by VBH, with a custom-made Winkhaus ‘Thunderbolt’ lock. Brisant-Secure’s Ultion 1* Plus 2* lock and handle combination is also available, offering 3

56 WINDOW NEWS | OCTOBER 2021

Clip in beads are used on the Prestige bi-fold allowing for quicker, easier installation. The integral cill and ramped low threshold options also feature unique, one-piece end caps which act as frame jointers, saving time, and incorporating concealed drainage. Outer frames can also be supplied to installers as a flat pack, to make onsite assembly easy.

Roger Hartshorn, Garnalex CEO, says: “Aluminium is the ideal material for bi-fold doors as it’s inherently strong and looks fantastic. Our technical experts injected innovation at every level, and because we started from a clean slate, we avoided legacy design restrictions.

“We listened to our fabricator partners and then we designed a bi-fold to exceed their expectations and wow installers and homeowners. And because we make every major part here in Britain, our carbon footprint is reduced and because we supply our standard range of colours from stock, and bespoke colours are made on site, the Prestige bi-fold is available in our standard range of 12 stocked colours within five working days, with bespoke colours in just 10 working days. That’s also pretty remarkable for aluminium.” www.sheerline.com

Innovation comes built-in

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

Sliding Doors For City

And Suburbia

By Wojciech Brozyna – MD of Aluprof UK

There are several design choices when considering the specification of sliding doors for use in a city

58 WINDOW NEWS | OCTOBER 2021

high rise or in a typical residential setting. Not only are the opening styles important to suit the clients’ needs, but there are also choices which will make the door both look and perform better for longer, if specified correctly.

The types of sliding door can be broken down into two basic operational functions, these can be simple inline sliding, or folding sliding. Inline sliding doors consist of large sliding panels which slide within the door reveal to open the room up to the outside. In their most basic form, they are two sliding panels, normally with one fixed and one sliding. Along with the basic sliding doors, there are ‘tilt and slide’ doors and ‘lift and slide’ doors. These doors offer

PRODUCT NEWS Sliding folding arrangements allow the doors to ‘concertina’ open, offering an almost clear opening.

Doors are stacked perpendicular to the track, either on one side or both sides, depending on their design. These doors can either stack internally or externally, again, depending on the design option.

Because of their frame design and ease of installation, they are often specified in home improvement applications.

sliding folding doors are often chosen for home improvement or new traditional home build or grand designs type projects.

Crucial to all large sliding door installations is the need to have a substantial structure to fix to on all sides. Often the head of the opening can cause issues, particularly on a wide door installation. If there is any settlement of a lintel or structure, this can cause issues with future operability. Live loads should also be considered to ensure that the sliding door does not bind in certain loading conditions.

Colour can also become an issue, such as a dark door facing south, so expansion should be allowed for in the construction. Clear guidance should be sought on these issues from the systems company and structural engineer to ensure ease of operation.

higher weather ratings than the basic sliding door systems. The ‘tilt and slide’ is basically a large openin sash which is fully sealed with a centre seal and is locked with multiple points around the frame.

The hardware allows the panel to open in and then slide to one side behind the fixed panel. The ‘lift and slide’ offers a lift facility with a large handle once operated lifts the sliding panel up very slightly off the bottom seals and then allows the panel to slide with little effort.

These systems can be specified with 2, 3 or 4 tracks allowing the door panels to stack behind each other within the door reveal. There is also the option to hide the door panel or panels into a side wall given the space, to offer an almost clear opening.

Given the styles of door available, the choice comes down to visual appearance and practicality. Externally stacking sliding folding doors may not be suitable in a high-rise application due to limited space on a balcony. Sliding doors do offer more clear glazing per opening with much less aluminium visible but may not offer a full opening.

With more available outdoor space,

Weather performance is crucial, especially in high rise applications.

Basic sliding doors often will not meet the exposure requirements of a high rise location but lift and slide doors that rely on their weight once closed to rest weather seals, can offer exceptional weathering capability. Aluprof’s MB-77HS system, for example, offers an impressive maximum Class 4 air tightness when tested to BS EN 12207 and a Class 9A (600Pa) for watertightness when tested to BS EN 12208. This door has also been successfully tested to CWCT standards when used within a high rise facade and is possibly the door style most often chosen by specifiers for high rise use.

Key for most designers and specifiers on high rise applications is the threshold arrangement which is to be kept as low as possible in order not to create a trip hazard.

Basic sliding doors and tilt and slide doors will need some form of step or visible frame at the threshold, but the lift and slide only needs a low, or flush threshold, with a groove for a guided roller, the weather seals being carried in the sliding panel. The choice is with the specifier, but the lift and slide door option offers the best combination of ease of use, best use of space, flush threshold, high weather rating and minimal maintenance requirements. Aluprof provide examples of robust detailing to ensure both

WINDOW NEWS | OCTOBER 2021 59

PRODUCT NEWS

weathering and thermal performance Ian each product technical manual.

In a traditional residential application sound attenuation may not be an issue, but on high rise, particularly on lower levels, an acoustic glass may be required. It is possible to specify systems which can accept thicker acoustic glazing at lower floors and on upper floors revert to a more traditional double or triple glazed unit. This can often be accommodated in one design of a sliding door system. Sound attenuation may also be required through any trickle vents so the accommodation of these larger vents will need to be considered when specifying a sliding door system.

With the Future Homes consultation suggesting much lower heat transfer (U values) for doors by 2025, a well insulated systems frame design and capability to carry high performance triple glazed units should be considered. The MB-77HS lift and slide system, for example, can offer a very high insulation capability of up to 0.84 W/ (m2K). Consideration should also be made for the replacement of glazing and decided if external or

be strongly advised.

Where space is at a minimum, particularly on high rise applications, there are options of Juliet balconies being specified, but consideration over access for cleaning and maintenance also needs to be considered.

internal glazing is to be adopted.

All sliding doors are well equipped today with quality locks that meet PAS 24, however for traditional residential applications at ground floor level, possible additional security is required dependent on the location. Remote control options are also becoming more popular on sliding doors where doors can be opened from a remote control or an application on a smart device.

As with all user operated devices, at some time in the future, all doors will require some form of maintenance. It is worth considering this regarding the availability of parts so, choosing a systems company of repute, such as Aluprof, would

60 WINDOW NEWS | OCTOBER 2021

A very wide range of finishes are available today along with colours realistic woodgrain effect coatings are available and the ability to dual colour with an inside and outside colour option. Whichever is chosen a minimal cleaning regime should be specified so that the finish will offer a lifetime of use.

Crucial to correct specification of these sophisticated systems, it is recommended to always contact a specialist when looking to specify sliding systems for either city high rise or typical residential setting.

Getting the design choices right at start can save both a great deal of time and cost later down the project timeline. Here at Aluprof UK we have a team of dedicated support technicians just a phone call or email away. www.aluprof.co.uk

Doors Deserve Mila.

Our market-leading enhanced security door hardware line-up

Supa™ Stainless Steel Door Handles

Supa™ Secure TS008 Letterplate

ProSecure Door Hinge

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ProSecure 3 Star Cylinder

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PRODUCT NEWS

Climate Change And New Building Regulations Drive Specifications For Specialist Glass An increase in demand for specialist glazing signals how the building design industry is responding to the climate crisis, according to new research from Pilkington United Kingdom Limited, part of the NSG Group.

The glass giant’s research of 142 building design professionals found that 61% of specifiers have seen a spike in demand for solar control glass. This

comes as the industry awaits new building regulations, which two-thirds (66%) of specifiers attributed the increase in demand to.

Aside from regulations driving demand, 62% stated that they believe climate change is driving the growing need for specialist glazing to keep buildings the correct temperature and reduce their carbon footprint,

62 WINDOW NEWS | OCTOBER 2021

with three quarters (76%) of specifiers also conscious of the Government’s impending 2050 net zero target.

Solar control products like Pilkington Suncool™ reflect the sun’s heat in warmer months to help maintain a cooler internal temperature and improve a building’s environmental performance.

Two thirds of specifiers said they were aware of upcoming Part L changes (66%), which will change the way architects must design new dwellings to conserve fuel and power, requiring a higher performance of thermal insulation from glazing.

PRODUCT NEWS

Bohle Introduces New

Aluminium Veribor Suction Lifter

Bohle has further enhanced its range of Veribor manual suction lifters with the introduction of a new, aluminium, lever operated version.

Available with a choice of 2 or 3 suction cups, the aluminium Veribor suction lifter has been designed to deliver a combination of safety, user comfort and durability.

Preparation for the changes was signalled by more than half (51%) of specifiers reporting increased demand for thermal insulation glass.

The research signalled that specifiers are also confident about future business opportunities. The majority of specifiers expect to see revenue growth in the next 12 months either ‘ahead’ (44%) or ‘significantly ahead’ (14%) of last year, while seven in ten say they are feeling positive about the future of their business.

For more information on specialist glass products, visit: www.pilkington.com/en-gb/uk

As with all Veribor lifters, the new aluminium version is subjected to rigorous quality and safety checks

by Bohle, including a ‘tearing test’ in which it must withstand twice its official maximum load capacity.

The 3-cup model is officially rated for a 100kg load capacity, and the 2-cup model for a maximum of 60kg.

The latest addition to the Veribor range now features a wider distance between suction heads, providing a better distribution of weight and improved handling characteristics.

Bohle has also introduced larger diameter suction heads, that are designed to distribute pressure along the outer suction pad area for improved safety and has also

upgraded the design of the Veribor’s levers.

These are now wider in diameter, with a higher position that makes them easier and more comfortable to operate.

A special feature of the 3-cup aluminium Veribor lifter is that the third suction head lever can also be rotated through 90 degrees and locked in three different positions.

This is designed to reduce the width of the aluminium Veribor lifter when space is restricted.

Dave Broxton, Managing Director, Bohle, commented: “We know that when it comes to handling and manually positioning glass, comfort and usability are important, but having 100% trust in the equipment you are using is paramount.

“Our range of Veribor manual suction lifters, including the latest aluminium version, is one of our most popular product lines. That success is due entirely to Bohle’s absolute commitment to quality and safety and the fact that our customers know that they can rely on Veribor to perform as promised.” www.bohle.com WINDOW NEWS | OCTOBER 2021 63

PRODUCT NEWS

TuffX:

Clear Solution

A frameless glass balustrade has given a modern residential building in Pontefract a perfect near-invisible finish, thanks to glass supplied by safety glass specialists TuffX. The first floor of the gable-fronted property is set back slightly from

the one below, leaving a full length but narrow roof terrace accessible from the upper storey. The customer brief was for a safe, secure yet completely unobtrusive balcony solution to make the most of this slim space, so TuffX supplied 15 panels of 17.5mm toughened

64 WINDOW NEWS | OCTOBER 2021

and laminated clear safety glass with dubbed corners for a totally frameless balustrade.

From the outside looking on to the finished detached house from any angle, the completed balustrade is barely visible at all, leaving the property’s architectural features and symmetrical lines completely on show. Meanwhile, from inside, the residents can enjoy a similarly unimpaired view out.

The slimline, frameless balustrade also makes the most of the limited room available on the narrow terrace. Space, light, views and safety have all been maximised with this great looking, easy to maintain glass balustrade solution.

“Slim, safe and aesthetically pleasing, frameless glass balustrades make a sleek and unobtrusive addition to any property, and are as practical as they are desirable,” said TuffX’s Managing Director Graham Price. “Whatever your customer’s requirements, at TuffX we have the perfect specialist toughened glass solutions – along with all the advice you need – to make it happen.” www.tuffxglass.co.uk

WINDOW NEWS | OCTOBER 2021 65

PRODUCT NEWS

Wendland Launches New Square Lantern Wendland has launched a new square Lantern design. The square Lantern, which is available in PVCu from 1st October and in aluminium from early 2022, is available in sizes from 500m square, up to 4000mm square.

we know that the square (or pyramid) design is getting very popular and so have added it to our range. The new Square Lantern has all the features of the rectangular style and we’re sure it will be just as popular with our customers.”

Commenting about the new design, Wendland brand manager, Chloe McGrath, said: “Our Lantern was already available in a range of rectangular sizes up to 6000mm x 3000mm, but

According to Wendland, the Lantern has a host of clip-on features and so there are no visible fixings, giving a neat internal and external look and boasts a 20° pitch. The Lantern

66 WINDOW NEWS | OCTOBER 2021

is available glazed or unglazed in both shapes.

Wendland Lanterns are thermally broken and packed with thermal features to avoid condensation build-up. From the thermal rider rail to the thermal clips, these features combine to ensure excellent performance, especially important in moist rooms such as kitchens where heat levels can change quickly, says Wendland. Made to measure, these Lanterns are said to be perfect for any flat roof extension or orangery and the new Square Lantern is available in grey, black or white, while rectangular designs are can be ordered in any RAL colour.

Fitter friendly features on the Wendland Lantern include: Unique pre-assembled RidgeLOCK system; Clip-on ridge end covers; Pre-fitted thermal clips; Easy-fit clip-on capping. www.wendland.uk.com

PRODUCT NEWS

Those In The Know

Choose TuffX

Swisspacer

Launches New Premium Canopy

Aluminium and uPVC specialists Framex prides itself on offering customers some of the highest quality products in the market. So when a homeowner came to them asking for three bespoke rooflights, Framex chose safety glass specialists TuffX to fulfil the brief.

The rooflights were required for a ground-floor residential extension in Rossendale, with the customer requesting blue-tinted solar glass to maximise the light, comfort and ambient feel of the space by reducing both glare and heat from the sun.

“We are seeing more and more customers requesting these flat rooflights to zone up the open plan living spaces within their properties, by introducing floods of natural light,” said Framex Director, Tim Mooney, “We are very happy using TuffX’s Infinity rooflight products; they are always easy to install.”

TuffX’s Infinity fixed flat rooflights are available in clear, blue and privacy glass finish options, in five standard sizes as well as bespoke measurements. Three rooflights of a standard size, 1000 x 1500 mm, were chosen with the blue glass option. The delicate blue tint

provides 62% solar heat reflection to protect from the sun’s solar rays and 51% light transmission to reduce the sun’s glare, ensuring indoor spaces are bright, welcoming and full of natural daylight.

Framed in contemporary anthracite grey powder-coated aluminium, TuffX Infinity rooflights are available as either double or triple-glazed, which has an insulating u-value of 0.7 w/m2 – 30% better than rooflights with standard double glazing.

“Infinity rooflights look as great as they function, are easy to drop into place and are delivered direct to site – making them extremely popular with homeowners and installers alike,” said TuffX’s Managing Director Graham Price.

“With a range of standard sizes available, as well as the option for custom sizes, with double or triple glazing and the choice of a variety of glass finishes, by choosing Infinity rooflights you can be confident you are offering your customers the best way to achieve exactly the results they are after.” www.tuffxglass.co.uk framexuk.com

Warm edge spacer bar supplier Swisspacer extends its range of innovative glass solutions with a new premium canopy system for commercial applications.

Lumia, a continuous glass canopy made by Logli Massimo, part of the Saint-Gobain group, joins La Pensilina – a frameless glass canopy designed for use above entrance doors and patio doors; and La Defender – a suite of high-performance balustrade systems.

An extremely versatile system, the maximum length of each Lumia profile is 6m and any number of profiles can be combined to create a continuous and seamless façade.

Lumia is therefore ideal for a wide range of commercial applications.

The system offers unrivalled safety performance, designed to hold a vertical overload of 400kg/m2 without breaking claims the company.

Lumia is not only safe, adaptable and functional, but it’s also aesthetically pleasing. The stylish system makes the most of light, with a backlit glass option providing a decorative touch and functional lighting allowing users to feel safer and more comfortable, says the company. The patent-pending, canopy system is easy to install and includes single, multi-glass and linear layouts. https://bit.ly/3mHkJJt WINDOW NEWS | OCTOBER 2021 67

PRODUCT NEWS

Freefoam Hits

Terry Luscombe

home.

The Mark With

“We’ve used other products in the past, but Freefoam cladding is easy to install and the wide range of colours they offer has helped us win many contracts. The most popular colours with homeowners at the moment tend to be the grey shades – especially Slate Grey.

A wide range of colours and ease of installation are just two reasons why Weatherproof Systems has chosen Freefoam cladding to transform homes across Devon and beyond.

“Being an officially Registered Installer of Freefoam products certainly helps. I always take a sample box, supplied by Freefoam, on my first visit to customers and tell them about the 10-year guarantee the company offers on cladding products. To be honest, we fit most products that Freefoam supply, and especially like to fit Freefoam’s ogee gutter system to the properties we work on.”

Weatherproof Systems Terry Luscombe, Director of Weatherproof Systems, has been fitting roofline products and cladding in and around the Plymouth area for 15 years. His company, Weatherproof Systems, was established in 2017 and has been fitting Freefoam cladding since the beginning, buying from local stockist Plastics Southwest Ltd.

ular in the South West. We even had two new apprentices join the company due to the increase in cladding work.”

While most of the Freefoam cladding Terry and his team installs are for home renovations, they’ve also seen growth in garden rooms being built across the area, often clad on the exterior.

Terry adds: “We’ve been involved in a lot of projects recently that include cladding new extensions on customers’ properties too. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, people are choosing to spend their monTerry Luscombe says: “We have ey on renovating their property seen an increase in the amount of instead of going on holiday. Using cladding we’ve fitted over the past Freefoam cladding, we can totally 18 months. It’s getting very poptransform the look of a customer’s 68 WINDOW NEWS | OCTOBER 2021

www.freefoam.com For more information about Weatherproof Systems, visit www.weatherproofsystems.co.uk and to see a video showcasing their work, click below. https://bit.ly/2XezLO7

Fast-forward to clear, easy IBG and insurance cover from a broker who’s on your side. installsure.co.uk/apply

SOFTWARE

Big Boost For Busines Micros Touch Vendor Quoting Software The Business Micros Group has added some valuable new features to its Touch Vendor software for installers, ahead of the upcoming launch of its accompanying Touch Portal software for fabricators and fully integrated Touch Connect option.

Touch Vendor is a lead generation and quoting tool for installers, packed with useful features to help them close the sale.

It already includes a window and door designer which installers can add to their website to generate warm leads from homeowners, a quote and survey tool, and a lead and quote management system.

Now though, Vendor has taken a giant leap forward with the addition of live, automatic pricing options.

Subscribers can set up their own pricing grid in Vendor based on the products they quote on, what they buy in at and what they sell out at. They can then include uplifts for colours, glass, hardware and ancillaries, and even add on prices for any extras they need such as installation, skip hire, plastering, sills and rendering.

What’s particularly useful about the pricing is that users have the option of quoting with automatic pricing turned on or off, or just using it for certain products on a quote. If they want to send a separate price request form to a supplier, they can do that as well from within Vendor, and they always have the option of running a test quote on every enquiry to validate the total before they send it to the customer.

Installers can also choose to display live product pricing on their website via the window and door designer and effectively price-condition potential customers with a subject to survey, supply only price before they enquire.

Graeme Bailey, Managing Director of the Business Micros Group, says that the pricing option makes Vendor an even more valuable tool for installers, particularly in the current hectic market: “Being able to price automatically means installers can save loads of time on every quote, and being able to pre-qualify retail enquiries with a ballpark figure means they are saving even more time not dealing with potential timewasters.

70 WINDOW NEWS | OCTOBER 2021

“As you’d expect from the Business Micros team, which includes the web development experts at The Consultancy and Glazing Vault, the pricing set up is intuitive and user-friendly and comes with an online deployment wizard so subscribers can be up and running in no time. They only need to fill out their price grid once and if they need to add on a price rise from a supplier, they can set that to update automatically.”

As well as the new pricing option, Touch Vendor also now includes aluminium and timber products for the first time, and a vastly expanded range of composite door styles and PVC-U options. It’s now arguably the most comprehensive quoting and surveying tool on the market, claims the company, with a vast library of products and datasets which subscribers simply turn on or off in their Vendor set-up depending on what they sell and install.

They can quote on and survey as many different products as they like on one enquiry, and there is no limit to the number of products they can access within their monthly Vendor subscription.

The product imagery for the aluminium, timber and composite door products matches the outstanding quality of the PVC-U imagery already in Vendor, and it all works seamlessly with the Virtual Home visualiser supplied as standard. This clever sales tool makes it easy to overlay window and door designs onto an uploaded photo of the customer’s home – with views from inside and out. It can be used for lead generation, in a face-toface sales meeting or in a virtual sales call and the visual can be added to the quote sent to the customer in response to their enquiry.

Touch Vendor is still available with a month’s free trial. Installers just need to register their details at: https://bit.ly/3DzZUXb to access the demo.

SOFTWARE

New AdminBase

Home Screen Offers Key Information At A Glance AdminBase, the web-based business management software system from Ab Initio, has made an upgrade to its highly popular installer management system that becomes obvious the moment the system is activated – a new home screen.

Responding to input from existing users, the developers at AdminBase have designed a completely customisable screen that allows crucial information to be viewed from when users first switch on their screens, with key data always available at a glance simply by pressing the ‘Home’ button.

The new Home screen can display images representing any aspect of the company’s operations, giving users complete control over what they see

first when opening AdminBase.

Combined with recent updates to the AdminBase Dashboard that are centred around the progress of leads and contracts in the sales or installation process, the new screen style allows instant assessment by users, of the performance of key parts of their business, updated immediately as the data is entered onto the system.

With information and layouts that can be tailored by individual companies and users, the new home screen allows key performance indicators (KPIs) to be displayed in formats such as graphs and pie charts, to provide easy, glimpsable comparisons with weekly, monthly, or yearly stats.

screen will allow users to access the most important information for their business in real time, simply by pressing the ‘Home’ button,” explained Rhonda Ridge, managing director of Ab Initio Systems, the company behind AdminBase, and the creator of the system. “Users can add whatever they wish to the screen and prioritise the information that is most important to them, providing an immediate view of sales and installation data for example, updated in real time.”

The new AdminBase Home screen is available as a free upgrade to existing AdminBase Web users and will be included as standard on all new installations. www.abinitiosoftware.co.uk

“Our new customisable Home

Building Customer Trust With Onsite 7 Onsite 7 says its job management system has rapidly developed a reputation for being the most user-friendly and comprehensive on the market today. But according to the company, many installers are also reporting other benefits beyond the job management system.

One of these is the professional polish it gives a business and how it helps to build consumer trust.

Rhys Hoddinott, CEO at Onsite 7, comments: “We designed Onsite 7 to help installers manage their fitting teams, customers and jobs effortlessly. It’s fantastic to hear how it’s delivering these crucial functions but also adding even more benefits beyond that.”

Onsite 7 holds details on every

be accessed anywhere there’s an internet connection.

stage of a job: sales, survey, installation, and service and maintenance. It can also be used as a Customer Relationship Management system, allowing all customer details, documents, notes and job information to be stored in a single place. And because all the information is held on the cloud, it can

Rhys explains why this helps to create a professional polish: “Installers can pull up every piece of information about a customer’s job in an instant whether they’re in the office or on the customer’s premises. As a consumer, it’s very reassuring to have the sense that your installer has got everything to hand and in doing so, creates a premium experience. In addition, consumers are often investing thousands of pounds when they purchase fenestration products and it’s little things like professional job management software that elevate the experience for a further level of professional reassurance.” www.onsite7.co.uk

WINDOW NEWS | OCTOBER 2021 71

SOFTWARE

Sternfenster Targets Fully Integrated Digital Quotation Package

Sternfenster is developing a new, fully integrated online quotation package that is designed to offer its installer customers a complete, digital lead to delivery solution.

The new Proposal Builder system will allow installers to respond to online homeowner enquiries with a bespoke, digital quotation pack.

This can be personalised with individual company branding, and will include video, imagery, product information, accreditation certificates and customer testimonials.

Homeowners will then be prompted to book a survey, ask for more time to consider their options, pay a deposit or place an order, which they will be able to do online, at the click of a button.

Once they do, the order will be instantly transferred to Sternfenster’s EasyAdmin CRM system, where it can be sent directly into production.

Nathan Court, Sales and Marketing Director, Sternfenster, commented: “Our new Proposal Builder quotation system forms part of a complete online ‘cradle to grave’ service for our customers.

“We are continuing to innovate through a period of exceptional high demand, with ongoing challenges relating to material supply, price increases and extended lead times. Our new Proposal Builder is designed to take the pressure off our customers, by integrating seamlessly with our EasyAdmin CRM system.

“They will be able to capitalise

72 WINDOW NEWS | OCTOBER 2021

on website lead generation with a comprehensive, professional quotation package that can process orders directly into our production line. It will save on time and administration and it means installers will be able to focus purely on the day to day running of the business.”

Proposal Builder, which will also include Sternfenster’s new CGI virtual showroom, will be the latest in a series of digital innovations from the Lincoln based fabricator. These include Sternfenster Plus, which includes a regularly updated news feed, a live production capacity feed, the ability to track the progress of orders and deliveries and downloadable marketing and training material.

“We are anticipating the current levels of demand to continue for some time yet,” concluded Nathan. “The introduction of our Proposal Builder quotation system will take the pressure off installers by giving them a simple, intuitive and highly effective way to adapt their business model and become more efficient.” www.sternfenster.com

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MACHINERY

Vista Secures New Edge Bander In Less Than 24 Hours Despite the challenges of unforeseeable production difficulties caused by a combination of Brexit, Covid-19, and the unpredictable British weather, award-winning composite door manufacturer Vista Panels has secured new stateof-the-art machinery, ensuring its customers continue to receive a high-quality and seamless service.

Within just 24 hours, the Wirral-based company brought in a brand new AURIGA 1308 XL edge banding machine, after the existing machine was damaged.

“Recent heavy rainfall overwhelmed our premises and caused flood damage to some of our vital manufacturing machinery,” comments Managing Director Keith Sadler.

“Our roof drainage system could not take it, and the overflow went directly down onto one of our edge banding machines.

suppliers, suggested purchasing a brand new machine from Weinig Group, and within just 24 hours, we had a brand new AURIGA 1308 XL being forklifted off a lorry and into our factory.

“We worked hard to remove the water from the factory during a weekend clean-up operation, but unfortunately the engineers gave us a grim assessment of the damage to the machine.

“It was our strong financial position that enabled us to make this quick decision and investment, enabling our current order book and the structured growth in our market to be maintained with minimal disruption.

“We were facing a six-week wait for spare parts, which would have severely affected the flow of door sets from our factory. With an excess of 1,000 door sets leaving our premises every week, there was simply no room for disruption in our production line, and so we decided to explore a different option.

“When you’re hit with a sudden crisis like this, it’s vital to be able to access the necessary funds.

We needed a solution fast, and it’s thanks to our stable position combined with trusted relationships with our suppliers that we were able to find one and quickly return to full capacity.”

“Calderbrook, one of our trusted

www.vistapanels.co.uk

74 WINDOW NEWS | OCTOBER 2021

MACHINERY

Maybe It’s Because I’m A

cause they haven’t been greased properly, limit switches which don’t work because there is a build-up of swarf around the switch so it doesn’t make contact with the striker, and swarf on the machine beds which can damage the material itself.

Yorkshireman

In automatic machining centres, scrap conveyors are much more likely to fail and stop or limit the operation of the machine if they aren’t maintained or cleaned properly. If scrap collecting bins aren’t being emptied or offcuts being cleaned away, then collisions can occur with moving parts, and there is always a risk of overheating if cooling fans and filters are not being cleaned.

By Wayne Hunter, Operations Manager, Emmegi (UK) It might be because I’m from Yorkshire but, if I spend money on something, I want it to last, so I make sure I look after it. I don’t see that being any different at home or in an industrial or workplace setting, and that probably explains my mission to encourage our customers to look after their machines as well as they possibly can.

Every machinery manual – whether it comes from Emmegi or any other manufacturer – will include comprehensive routine maintenance guides. Most of these are basic procedures around cleaning and lubrication and come with simple instructions. If they are carried out in line with the schedules we set, they can make a significant difference to the performance and longevity of the machine – eliminating avoidable service calls and adding years to the useful life.

In my experience, when a machine is first installed, the trained operator will stick pretty rigidly to the schedules and all is well. But problems are more likely to occur over time when factories get busy – as they are now – or when a new

Obviously, there are safety constraints around any kind of machine servicing and maintenance and Emmegi guidelines clearly state that access should only be made when the machines have been isolated from the pneumatic and electrical supplies. Covers that protect the operators from moving parts are interlocked or secured with fixtures that require specific keys or tools to gain access and use of these should always be limited to authorised persons only.

operator takes over and they don’t study the manual properly, which in a manufacturing environment, isn’t safe practice.

Poor maintenance and cleaning can have a direct impact on the safety of the operator if they can’t see clearly through a safety door and miss alarms and emergency stop lights, and that is something which no employer can afford to overlook.

From a commercial perspective as well, poor maintenance can prove extremely costly. When our engineers are called out to repairs and even for routine servicing, they see all kinds of failings which are entirely avoidable. For instance, bearing failure and damage to racks directly attributable to lack of greasing, broken pneumatic pipes and electrical cables caused by protective energy chains being allowed to become full of swarf which rubs against them, and valve failure when condensation isn’t drained from the water traps and water travels through the pneumatic system and damages the valves themselves.

We also see angled machining heads which are overheating be-

At Emmegi (UK), we provide all kinds of training depending on the scale and complexity of the machine we supply, but that training will always begin and end with an emphasis on safety. We cover cleaning intervals, cleaning agents and recommendations on using brushes and vacuum cleaners rather than air guns because these can blow swarf into the machine and get into controls such as contactors, energy chains and switches. We leave behind the manual to ensure that the customer always has a standard point of reference to go back to and a clear reminder of our recommended schedules.

Adhering strictly to these will always save time and money in the long run.

More info at: www.emmegi.com

WINDOW NEWS | OCTOBER 2021 75

MACHINERY

Haffner Chosen To Support Abcell

Growth Strategy Trade fabricator Abcell recently expanded into PVC-U fabrication as part of an ambitious growth strategy. It chose Haffner for the machinery it needed to support its plans and secure success.

Neville Gleed, director of Abcell, said: “We decided to move into PVC-U fabrication as it made good business sense. We needed the best in PVC-U automation technology so we could deliver the exceptional quality we have built our name on. Haffner was the answer.”

The Abcell team discussed their plans with Matt Thomas, regional sales manager at Haffner, who recommended the SBA-4 PVC-U Profile Machining Centre as the machine that would best support their ambitions.

Haffner describe the SBA-4 Machining Centre as ‘the perfect combination of cutting-edge automated technology and high-quality output for PVC-U profiles’. The company also says the heavy-duty design, top quality parts and Beckhoff control system gives years of trouble-free bar processing and superb product accuracy. And that it gives fabricators the flexibility they need because it’s easily programmed and adjusted to suit any range of window styles.

The Haffner team was able to deliver the machine to Abcell within six weeks from order placement and it’s now helping the company to meet and exceed customer requirements as it moves into PVC-U fabrication. Neville commented: “We were pleased with

76 WINDOW NEWS | OCTOBER 2021

the efficiency of the Haffner team and delighted to be able to get up and running with the new machine so quickly.”

Abcell has been an established fabricator for over 30 years and manufactures and supplies a range of specialist products including Guardian Warm Roofs, Warmcore bifolding doors, Stratus Lantern Roofs, Ultraframe roofs and Aluk products direct to the trade. It operates from a 100,000 sq ft three-unit manufacturing facility in Birmingham.

Haffner says it has the largest and most comprehensive PVC-U and aluminium fabrication machinery portfolio in the industry. It has an exclusive supply partnership with Italian-machine innovators, Graf Synergy, known for its seamless welding technology and patented welding techniques. Haffner is also the sole UK agent of Haffner Machinery and it also supplies a range of aluminium fabrication machines from worldwide machine-giants, Fom Industries. www.haffnermurat.com

DELIVERING

THE BEST

IN SEAMLESS WELDING TECHNOLOGY

STAND H21

• Superior transom welding quality

• No imperfections, even on curved profiles

• Utilising patented V-Perfect® transom welding

• Suitable for both V Joints and Butt Joints

• Precision accuracy – delivering a perfect weld every time

• Faster fabrication

• Weld seam elimination

• Fully automated processes

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

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

ON-SITE

Senior’s Starring Role In Doncaster’s

New Cinema Complex Senior’s slimline SF52 aluminium curtain wall system has been used to create the eye-catching frontage of the new six-screen Savoy cinema and restaurant complex, which is located within the town’s Sir Nigel Gresley Square and next door to Cast, Doncaster’s new performing arts theatre. The striking new building also fea-

tures Senior’s robust SPW501 aluminium commercial doors at the main entrance.

The building, which has been designed by Harris Partnership and delivered by main contractor Lindum, features a range of Senior’s aluminium fenestration systems, which have all been fabricated and installed by an-

78 WINDOW NEWS | OCTOBER 2021

other South Yorkshire company, Rotherham based Alusec.

The new cinema is one of the latest projects to be completed as part of the wider regeneration of Doncaster’s historic Cultural and Civic Quarter, with Senior also appointed to supply the fenestration package for the town’s new Danum Gallery, Library and Museum.

Designed and built by architects Bond Bryan and main contractor Willmott Dixon, the new cultural and learning hub has been created following the sensitive restoration of four existing buildings. A key focal point of the scheme, and one that looks even more dramatic at dusk, is the restored frontage of a former Edwardian school which has been framed by Senior’s slimline

ON-SITE

Sympathetic Country Hotel And

Spa Restoration

SF52 aluminium curtain wall and showcased within a new steelframe building.

The striking glazed façade, which was fabricated and installed by Senior’s supply chain partner Chemplas Ltd, also features Senior’s robust aluminium commercial doors.

Senior’s head office and main manufacturing facility is based in Denaby, just a stone’s throw away from the large minister town of Doncaster. Over the years, Senior has supplied the fenestration package for a number of other new build and redevelopment projects in the area including the Hilton Garden Inn hotel scheme at Doncaster Racecourse. https://bit.ly/3zWAbXw

Profile 22’s Optima Flush Casement Windows have been fitted as part of a sympathetic restoration at The Hand at Llanarmon Country House and Spa. The Hand at Llanarmon is an ancient hostelry tucked away in the Berwyn Mountains close to Llangollen in Wales. The building underwent a sympathetic restoration to preserve its character and sense of history while upgrading its fabric.

The choice of windows in such a sensitive refurbishment was critical but Optima Flush Casement Windows from Profile 22 offered the perfect solution.

The windows were manufactured by Emplas and installed by Oswestry Windows & Doors Ltd (OWD). The company has over 75 years of combined experience and ensures complete customer satisfaction on every project.

The OWD team recommended Optima Flush Casement Windows for the front elevation of the build-

ing where the window aesthetics were critical and used standard Optima casement windows for the remaining replacement windows.

Optima Flush Casement Windows replicate the original features of timber casement windows because every detail was designed from scratch to deliver impressively authentic period looks. Features and options include mechanical jointing, a dummy sash to give a balanced look, a deep bottom rail to replicate original timber frames, and authentic hardware including monkey-tail handles and dummy peg stays.

OWD installed the windows over a three-week period due to the complexities involved in replacing windows in a heritage property. Now complete, The Hand at Llanarmon is a more thermally efficient and secure building while still retaining all its historical significance. www.epwinwindowsystems.co.uk

WINDOW NEWS | OCTOBER 2021 79

ON-SITE

Alutech Impresses At Harrogate Home 80 WINDOW NEWS | OCTOBER 2021

Alutech’s versatile BF73 aluminium system was recently used by Huddersfield fabricator, ClearView, for a stunning 9‐pane bifold door, with four panes travelling left and five to the right, in RAL7021 matt black grey, which they installed to the rear of an impressive property in Harrogate, West Yorkshire.

ClearView is one of the largest manufacturers and installers of aluminium bi‐folding doors in the North of England and

ON-SITE

has used Alutech’s BF73 system for its bifolds for over 3 years, favouring it for its ease of fabrication and installation.

The appearance of the system also perfectly complements the other products they offer, which allowed them to fulfil the entire project at the home in Harrogate.

Clearview Sales Director, Graeme Bowen said: “Over the last several years working with Alutech, we have found them to

provide quality product which is backed up by a first-class service.” Alutech Systems Sales Director, Mike Moulds, added, “We enjoy partnering with customers that share our values of always going the extra mile for our customers. We’ve always been impressed by the professionalism and high standards that ClearView delivers to the end user. It’s great to be part of such an inspiring project and our BF73 bifold makes the perfect centrepiece.”

Alutech’s BF73 aluminium door systems have high levels of security, thermal efficiency, noise reduction and weather proofing and have been rigorously tested to open and close without effort, providing reliable operation for many years to come. Designed with the philosophy of having the least amount of aluminium as possible, to maximise the glass area and improve the view. www.alutechsystems.co.uk WINDOW NEWS | OCTOBER 2021 81

ON-SITE

A New Luxury Spa

And Gym Complex At

Laceby Manor Golf Resort A Lincolnshire construction specialist Rase Steels have appointed Tradeglaze [Jackson Windows

by Tradeglaze] to supply double glazing at an upcoming project at the exclusive Laceby Manor Golf Course resort, set on the edge of the Lincolnshire Wolds. The stateof-the-art Laceby Manor spa and gym will feature an indoor-outdoor pool, thermal suite with a multitude of treatments, a bathing room, a natural swimming pond, and a new restaurant with a local seasonal menu. The project will be delivered in two phases, with the resort expected to open in Spring 2022.

For windows Tradeglaze have specified the SPW600, a robust, three-chamber, 75mm polyamide thermally broken aluminium window system. The system has exceptional weather resistance quality, achieving 600Pa air permeability, 600Pa water tightness and 2400Pa wind resistance.

This means excellent thermal and acoustic performance and stunning aesthetics for this highly anticipated project.

The project will include two statement apex windows manufactured from the popular SPW500 Senior

82 WINDOW NEWS | OCTOBER 2021

Laceby Manor spa and gym, architects render

Architectural Systems profile. This is a very flexible aluminium system, designed to achieve a striking appearance while offering very slim sight lines, perfect to bring in the maximum amount of natural light.

The design includes doors manufactured from matching profile, highly secure and durable and ideal for a high-performance commercial door.

All completed in the elegant RAL 7016 Anthracite Grey on both sides.

The typical life expectancy of products made from Tradeglaze aluminium profiles is 40+ years.

What’s more, all product elements will also be 100% recyclable at the end of their life, making Tradeglaze

ON-SITE

Kawneer Glazing Systems Score A Hat-Trick With Build To Rent Scheme

windows and doors the perfect sustainable choice, claims the company.

Rob Hall, Area Technical Sales Consultant at Tradeglaze said: “We have recently completed our first project for Rase Steels and are delighted that our collaboration continues through this prestigious Laceby Manor spa and gym project which is eagerly anticipated by many.”

“Our market-leading windows and doors have the perfect qualities for this beautiful project. Our teams are proud of our products and the exceptionally high standard of manufacturing, installation and customer service we offer. We take the hassle and stress away from our clients so they can focus their time and energy on what they do best, which is to create beautiful buildings!” www.tradeglaze.co.uk

Architectural glazing systems by UK manufacturer Kawneer featured on the third and final apartment building at The Slate Yard, which forms part of the wider £1 billion, 50-acre Salford Central masterplan.

Two types of Kawneer’s zonedrained curtain walling – AA®100 with 50mm sightlines and AA®110 with 65mm – as well as AA®541 top-hung casement windows and thermally superior AA®720 balcony doors were specified by AHR architects for Plot A7 at The Slate Yard.

The 20-storey building comprises 199 apartments for rent for client The English Cities Fund (ECF) – a partnership between national urban regenerator Muse Developments, Legal & General, Homes England and Salford Council.

ECF is currently delivering some of the most complex urban regen-

eration projects across the UK. The first phase of The Slate Yard was one of the first institutionally funded, custom-built BTR (Build to Rent) schemes to be delivered in Greater Manchester, with all three phases at The Slate Yard forward funded by Legal & General.

Architect Feidhlim White of AHR, which frequently deploys Kawneer, said the systems were specified due to their aesthetics, practicalities, and cost-effectiveness as well as the company’s standards of customer service.

“The system provided the match to the planning images, enabling us to deliver the project to the aesthetic and practical vision,” he said. “The opening lights aided the ventilation system with the ability for purge ventilation whilst still maintaining acceptable sightlines.

The simplicity of weatherproofing by glazing in the EPDM makes it an ideal system.”

WINDOW NEWS | OCTOBER 2021 83

AWARDS

Deceuninck Aluminium Named Finalist At G21 Decalu by Deceuninck Aluminium has made the short-list in the Best New Product Category at this year’s G-Awards.

It means that Decalu will go through to the finals night at a special gala dinner, which will be held at the Hilton in London’s Park Lane November 26th.

It represents a significant achievement for a system launched at the beginning of 2020 and only weeks before the UK entered the first of three national lockdowns.

“Was a few weeks before lockdown the best time to launch?”, says Nigel Headford, Director, Deceuninck Aluminium. “It certainly increased the stakes but in a sense people had time to look at and understand what we’re working to achieve, and the response

has been incredible.

“Decalu has a rapidly growing fabrication and installer base and I think that’s because we are offering something different.

“We’re a new system in the UK but a proven one, and we have the brand.

“With some big manufacturing and installation efficiencies and a commitment to redefine levels of service in aluminium supply, people are listening, and I’m delighted that that’s been recognised with a finalist spot at this G21.”

The Deceuninck Aluminium offer includes its flagship Decalu88 bi-folding door, which achieves u-values as low as 0.68W/m2K; the Decalu163 lift and slide, which hits u-values as low as 0.8 W/m2K

84 WINDOW NEWS | OCTOBER 2021

and the Decalu101 Scand, which offers U-values as low as 0.89W/ m2k.

It also features and entrance door range, including a flush option, plus the Decalu 88 Steel and New Steel, designed to replicate steel commercial windows; plus, a hidden sash, retro and turn-and-tilt options.

This is underpinned by a commitment to simplify manufacture with 40% efficiency gains and lower stock holding. Dual colour, marine grade and textured finishes, are also offered as standard.

Nigel continued: “Like everyone, we’ve worked really hard over the past year and a bit, so to have that recognised by industry colleagues and the judging panel is brilliant.

“We have an offer that we genuinely believe in and which is delivering some big commercial gains to those fabricators and installers who are making and installing it.” www.deceuninck.co.uk

AWARDS

Double R Nominated For Best Glass Company Finalist

Double R Glass & Roofing Systems Ltd has announced that it has been selected as a finalist for Best Glass Company at the industry’s coveted G-Awards.

“Balancing customer needs with supply relationships and your own productivity and profitability

is never easy,” says Ian Sims, Managing Director of Double R, “but in the last 18 months we have continued to deliver new initiatives to customers, achieved some of our best sales results in the company’s history, and doubled productivity.

“Throughout our entire 21-year history, we have unequivocally put our customers first and this hasn’t faltered through the additional challenges we’ve faced in the last 18 months. It’s not always easy when the pressure mounts to stay focussed on what’s important, but we’re incredibly proud of the additional efforts the entire team at Double R has put in to support our customers. Not just through the downturn in the early days of the Pandemic, but also through the extraordinary rise in demand we’ve seen since.

“Win or lose on awards night, we’re thrilled to receive recognition for our hard work by being selected for the G21 shortlist. We wish all finalists the best of luck for the evening and look forward to celebrating with our friends and colleagues on 26 November!” www.glassandroofs.com

Total Hardware Makes NFA Shortlist Hardware supplier Total Hardware has been confirmed as a finalist at this year’s National Fenestration Awards in the Hardware Company 2021 category.

Chris Pell, General Manager at Total Hardware, said: “Everyone is delighted to have been shortlisted for the Hardware Company 2021 award. This nomination celebrates the hard work and effort by our teams and the support of our nominating customers and supply partners.”

After a record 2000+ nominations were received across all 25 categories, the National Fenestration Awards look to reward the very best in the sector and voted by the participation of the industry.

The award nomination comes off the back of a busy year for the Leeds-based business that have recently expanded their oper-

ation as part of their continued growth strategy. This has included extending their stock distribution centre by a further 20% to support the continued demand for products and allowing them to hold more ranges from stock.

Chris said: “We are customer focussed and our service is strong and reliable so our customers can rely on us. This package

of investment has ensured we maintain our competitive lead times and supplying rapidly from stock.

“We are delighted to have been shortlisted and wish all finalists the best of luck.”

To place your vote, visit www.fenestrationawards.co.uk WINDOW NEWS | OCTOBER 2021 85

AWARDS

Mercury Makes The Shortlist In Three NFA 2021 Categories

Specialist aluminium and PVC-U trade fabricator Mercury have been named as finalists in three categories at the 2021 National Fenestration Awards. The categories include Bifold Door Manufacturer, Fabricator/Manufacturer and Vertical Sliding Window Company.

Steve Cross, Director of Mercury, said: “Everyone at Mercury is

delighted to have been shortlisted in three categories. These nominations celebrate the hard work and efforts of our talented internal teams along with the continued support of our voting customers and supply partners.

The voting closes on November 4th at 9 pm, and the winners are

Window Ware Receives

Four G21 Nominations Hardware distributor Window Ware has rounded off a fantastic last 18 months with an incredible four nominations at this year’s G-Awards.

The Bedford-based company has been shortlisted for the ‘COVID-19 Business Hero, Best Component Supplier and Best Customer Care Initiative, while their Credit Control Manager, Sharon Fowler, is also a finalist for Unsung hero.

These nominations mean the world to a company that has gone above The success doesn’t stop with and beyond to meet record levWindow Ware, as Arran Isle Ltd is els of demand, maintain service up for Best Training & Development continuity and keep the hardware Initiative with their Horizon Develcoming for their busy customers opment Programme, for which who are working flat out to meet Window Ware’s MD Sam Nuckey the home improvement boom. was the programme leader.

And all of this amidst a backdrop of social distancing, self-isolating, 86 WINDOW NEWS | OCTOBER 2021

announced live at the dual winners’ event being held on November 6th at Doncaster Racecourse. This new event will also recognise the winners of the 2020 campaign that was disrupted by the pandemic.

The nominations come on the back of a successful eighteen months for the Gloucester-based business who have made several largescale investments as part of their continued growth strategy. Steve said: “Since 2020, we have doubled our turnover and remain well on track to continue to meet our growth strategy over the next four years.

We recently opened a second high-end manufacturing plant and recruited several high-level appointments to our internal team.”

Steve concludes: “We are delighted to have been shortlisted and wish all finalists the best of luck.”

To vote for your winner, visit fenestrationawards.co.uk/nfa21 remote working and supply chain challenges on a global scale!

Sam Nuckey commented: “We are absolutely thrilled to be shortlisted for a mind-blowing total of four prestigious G- Awards, which is a definite first for us. These nominations are a true testament to everyone’s hard work and perseverance throughout the past 18 months here at Window Ware.”

“It’s been a real team effort and without the unfailing determination and commitment of the whole crew, including our Unsung Hero award nominee, Sharon, we simply wouldn’t be in the running for important industry awards like these.”

The winners will be announced at the G21 Awards presentation and Gala Dinner on Friday 26th November at the London Hilton hotel on Park Lane. www.windoware.co.uk

AWARDS

Nüevo Home

Makes NFA

Shortlist

Business Pilot

Named G21 Finalist Business Pilot has been shortlisted as a finalist in the Best Promotional Campaign at the G21 Awards.

The digital management tool ‘designed by installers for installers’, has been shortlisted in the Best Promotional Campaign for the Business Pilot Community.

The campaign, launched in 2020, is built around the sharing of experience and best practice in installation.

This includes tracking industry performance in real time through the Business Pilot Barometer from lead generation and conversions to the performance of different material types.

Business Pilot has also partnered with the Fit Show to deliver a series of training sessions, as well as hosting Covid-working online workshops and training days.

“We help our customers manage

their businesses better by allowing them to track each aspect of their operations from lead generation to conversions, to operations, job scheduling and financial reporting”, explained Elton Boocock, Managing Director, Business Pilot.

“Collectively that gives us access to a lot of data about how the industry is performing, not only our individual customers but as an industry – and in real time – something that was of value to the industry in its entirety.

“Through Work Smart and our partnership with the Fit Show, we have been able to apply that insight to a series of video and written best practice guides aimed at helping installers to maximise margin and run their businesses more effectively.

“It’s all freely available because we believe that it adds value to the industry as a whole.” www.businesspilot.co.uk

Bespoke architectural and structural glazing specialist Nüevo Home have been named as finalists in two categories at this year’s National Fenestration Awards: Aluminium Company and Bi-fold Door Manufacturer.

Nüevo Home Director Amar Dhillon comments: “It’s a real honour to have been shortlisted in two fantastic categories at this year’s NFAs. It really is a testament to our team’s hard work and dedication during what’s been a very challenging period for the industry.”

Working from an 85,000 square foot manufacturing facility just outside London, Nüevo Home specialises in manufacturing and installing luxury aluminium home improvement products within a variety of high-end domestic settings.

As long-time partners of Schüco, Cortizo and Raynaers, the company supplies the EvoFold bi-fold door, a product decribed by the company as one of the slimmest sliding-folding systems on the market and designed to seamlessly merge home and garden.

Amar continues: “It would be a privilege to win an NFA award this year, and we’re now encouraging all our customers to vote for us.

We’d also like to take this opportunity to wish all the other finalists the very best of luck.” www.fenestrationawards.co.uk www.nuevo-home.co.uk WINDOW NEWS | OCTOBER 2021 87

AWARDS sor, also on the shortlist for the Young Person award.

The NFAs are awarded based on the number of votes received.

Anyone working in the UK door and window industry can vote online at www.fenestrationawards.co.uk/nfa21 until 4th November at 4pm. The winners will be announced at a presentation event at Doncaster Racecourse two days later.

Ian Short, MD of Morley Glass said: “We’re really excited to be nominated for so many awards and look forward to the 2021 NFAs presentation on November 6th. Congratulations to everyone who has been shortlisted and the very best of luck!

For Morley Glass

“Being shortlisted matters hugely because it provides important external recognition that we are on-track with our business. The whole Morley Glass team works hard every day to create the highest quality products backed with outstanding service, but the best way to gauge how well we are doing is through industry awards – that’s why the NFAs are key to the fenestration industry.”

Uni-Blinds® integral blinds manufacturer Morley Glass has been nominated for more National Fenestration Awards (NFAs) than ever after being shortlisted for six awards in the 2021 programme.

In the past 12 months, Morley Glass has experienced an upsurge in demand for its range of integral Venetian and pleated Uni-Blinds®, all of which are produced in its state-of-the-art factory near Leeds using the world-renowned Screenline® blinds systems from Italian manufacturer Pellini S.p.A.

Awards Super Six

In 2021 NFAs The company, which is the UK’s largest manufacturer of Screenline® blinds integrated within double glazed units, hopes to build on its 2020 NFAs success when it picked up four awards, including in the Covid Heroes category, as well as receiving a special mention.

Three of the 2021 nominations for Morley Glass are for awards that the company won last year:

Best Use of Video, IGU Manufacturer and Integral Blinds Company. This time round, Morley Glass is also in the running for Digital Marketing Campaign of the Year, New Product and Recycling Company, reflecting the depth of its proactive approach to sales and marketing, R&D and sustainability.

And in addition to being a finalist in these corporate awards, two members of the Morley Glass team have also received nominations for individual awards.

Marketing assistant Charlotte Gilbert has been named a finalist in the Social Networker and Young Person categories, along with Bryony Shaw, sales advi-

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In tandem with increased production volumes for its established integral blinds range in 2021, Morley Glass has launched several new products and developed its glass recycling operation, which takes post-consumer glass back from installers working on replacement projects to be recycled – raising funds for good causes in the process. www.morleyglass.co.uk

AWARDS

Deceuninck A Double Finalist At G21 Awards Deceuninck UK is a finalist in two categories at this year’s prestigious G21 Awards, receiving nominations for Best New Product for its Heritage Flush Door and Best Sustainability Initiative.

With one of the most advanced recycling and compounding operations in the world, Deceuninck has the capacity to reprocess up to 45,000 tonnes of post-consumer and post-manufacturing PVC-U per year – the equivalent of preventing 2-3 million windows going to landfill.

Deceuninck has invested €15million in its recycling capability since the beginning of 2019 and now boasts the largest dry blending facility in Europe.

our customers and a better, more desirable, product to the user.

“I’m delighted that our commitment to sustainability has been recognised for this year’s G-Awards and also for all the hard work that has gone into the development of our Heritage Flush Door.”

The result of a comprehensive R&D programme, Deceuninck’s Heritage Flush Door builds on the success of the G17 winning Heritage Flush Window.

“As we emerge from Covid, the industry will see a fundamental shift towards operating more sustainably,” said Rob McGlennon, MD, Deceuninck UK. “At Deceuninck, sustainability is embedded as a core value within our organisation, it’s becoming a key driver for product innovation, it presents new opportunities for

Completing the Heritage Flush Collection, it combines outstanding performance, ease of fabrication, and class leading aesthetics.

Available in Deceuninck’s range of 30 different colourways from stock, with 20 additional options also available, the Heritage Flush Door is designed to be a perfect match for both period and contemporary properties. www.deceuninck.co.uk

Sternfenster Nominated For

Two G21 Awards Sternfenster has been nominated for Fabricator of the Year and Best Customer Care Initiative at the G21 Awards.

The Lincoln based manufacturer has continued to invest heavily in product and service over the last 18-months.

This has included additional support for customers and the development of new digital tools to enable installers to operate remotely and more efficiently, plus investment of over £1m in machinery, transport and staff.

Sternfenster has also implemented a number of measures designed to reward the outstanding

efforts of its workforce, including new initiatives to improve mental health and wellbeing.

Mike Parczuk, Managing Director, Sternfenster, commented: “The

conditions imposed by lockdown, combined with exceptional high demand, material shortages, price increases and the ‘pingdemic’ have resulted in arguably the most challenging period the industry has ever experienced.

“As one of the first fabricators to open up out of lockdown, we have worked incredibly hard to communicate with and support our customers. We even developed a real time production planning system, giving complete transparency of the capacity of our entire product range, that was introduced into our Sternfenster Plus portal.”

The winners of the G21 Awards will be announced at the G-Awards Gala Dinner on Friday, 26 November at the London Hilton, Park Lane, London.

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AWARDS

Victorian Sliders In The Running For Third National Fenestration Award Fast-growing Victorian Sliders has been named a finalist in the vertical sliding window company category at the 2021 National Fenestration Awards – a prize it’s won for the last two years in a row. The Ammanford-based firm has also been nominated in the fabricator/manufacturer category again.

The National Fenestration Awards are democratic and decided by the votes of thousands of installers, fabricators and other professionals throughout the industry.

It’s for that reason why, for Victorian Sliders, winning their third in a row would be so special, as Marketing Manager Geoff Bishop explains.

“The industry has experienced

huge disruption and uncertainty during the pandemic, and we’ve faced our own challenges as a business.

“However, despite this, we’ve managed to achieve one of the most successful periods in our history, and have repeatedly broken records for sales and the number of windows we’ve produced.

“None of that would’ve been possible without our thousands of loyal customers around the country.

We’d like to take this opportunity to thank them for their incredible support during this difficult time. In the months and years ahead, we’ll continue to strive to offer ever-improving standards of quality and service.

UK Doors Online Up For

Best Fabricator At G21

UK Doors Online says it is delighted to be announced as a finalist in the category of ‘Best Fabricator’ in this year’s G-Awards, taking place in London on the 26th November 2021. The specialist West Yorkshire-based aluminium fabricator burst onto the scene in July last year, in the midst of a challenging

landscape for the industry, rocked by multiple lockdowns, shortages and supply chain issues.

The business grew by constantly looking for ways to improve and innovate in all areas, including addressing the industry-wide skills shortage by adopting the Govern-

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“We’d be delighted if customers and other friends and colleagues throughout the industry would take a moment to vote for us in this year’s NFAs. It would be a fantastic way to round off 2021.”

To vote, simply visit https://bit.ly/3BLUasJ www.victoriansliders.co.uk ment’s Kick Start scheme to bring fresh people to the industry and help young people out of unemployment. UK Doors Online says it has also assisted other businesses with set up, growth, marketing and training by sharing best practice and knowledge, proving they’re not just about the business, but also help other businesses grow as they do, while caring for and supporting their workforce.

UK Doors Online Managing Director, Andrew Glover, said, “We’re really pleased to be finalists in this year’s G-Awards for Best Fabricator. In less than two years, we’ve taken a business from nothing to something and it’s great to see that our efforts have been recognised and we are in with a chance of winning a great award. Looking forward to the final inspection, so we can really show off how good we are! Although there are other amazing finalists too. Well done to all that have got through this far.” www.ukdoorsonline.co.uk

AWARDS

G Awards Once Again Recognise Ultraframe

For Customer Care

After picking up the award for Customer Care Initiative at the last G Awards in 2019, Ultraframe is thrilled to once again be a contender for the same award in the 2021 awards shortlist. This year, the company, and its digital marketing partner ICAAL are shortlisted for the Lockdown Toolkit, which helped Ultraframe customers to trade remotely during the pandemic.

Commenting on the shortlist announcement, Ultraframe Marketing Director, Alex Hewitt, said: “Back in March 2020 when the first lockdown was announced, remote selling was a new and for many, daunting, proposition. We knew that we had to step in and help our customers to trade through these unprecedented times, and working

with our longstanding digital partner, ICAAL, we quickly devised and launched our Lockdown Toolkit. It’s a digital toolbox to help customers generate and capture leads and sell remotely. We defined and created a range of remote selling tools that were simple to use, delivered real results, and best of all, were mostly free!”

The Lockdown Toolkit has been a huge success and was used by large numbers of Ultraframe customers during the first lockdown and the various tiers that followed across the rest of 2020, which meant that usual ways of selling were disrupted. Due to its astonishing success, Ultraframe announced further additions to the Lockdown Toolkit when the January 2021 lockdown was an-

nounced.

Digital Tools within the Lockdown Toolkit include chatbots, a quoting engine, virtual appointment addon, proposal generators, virtual reality tours, and more. Ultraframe customers also have access to an advanced ICAAL CRM system at a subsidised rate which allows them to manage leads right through the sales funnel.Ultraframe Chris Tahmasaby, CEO of ICAAL, said: “It’s fantastic for this superb Customer Care initiative to have been recognised. Both ICAAL and Ultraframe worked extremely hard to quickly create a strategic marketing toolkit that genuinely added value at a very challenging time for the market. The results have been superb with many installers continuing to realise substantial benefits from their digital presence.”

Concluding, Alex said: “We’d like to wish everyone shortlisted the best of luck for the G Awards. It’s fantastic that large scale events such as this are able to take place again and give well deserved recognition across the industry.”

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AWARDS Vista has been nominated in the Composite Door Manufacturer category thanks to their production of over 1,200 XtremeDoor composite doors a week, in large part thanks to a recent 18,000 square foot factory expansion which increased production capacity.

Marketing videos on XtremeDoor have seen Vista also being named a finalist in the Best use of Video category.

Finally, Vista are finalists in the Young Person category thanks to 20-year-old Jason Sadler, who joined the company in 2019 as an apprentice.

“Jason is doing a Level 3 Advanced Certificate in Procurement and Supply Operations and was initially put to work alongside our existing purchasing team. But as demand for products hit and the supply chain struggled to cope, he very quickly had to step up and help manage the situation – and did a fantastic job,” says Ian. Ian Smith, Vista’s Business Development and Marketing Manager

Vista Named Finalists In Four Categories At 2021 National Fenestration Awards Composite door and uPVC panel manufacturer Vista have been named a finalist in four categories in this year’s National Fenestration Awards.

Vista are familiar with the NFA’s, having previously triumphed in the Composite/Panelled Door category in 2016 and the Fabricator/Manufacturer category in 2019, as well as being finalists in 2017.

They are now hoping to add to their trophy cabinet.

The awards event received over 2,000 nominations in 25 different categories this year, with Vista being named finalists in the Composite Door Manufacturer, Best use of Video, Social Networker, and the Young Person categories.

“After a difficult year following the pandemic, we are delighted to have been named as NFA finalists again,” comments Vista’s Business Development Manager Ian Smith.

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“To be a finalist in the NFAs is such an honour, and we are so proud to have these four fantastic categories under our name.

“It really is a testament to our hard work and dedication behind the scenes during what’s been an incredibly challenging year, as well as a nod to the investments we’ve made in the business in order to continue delivering a fantastic service to our valued customers.

“We’re now encouraging all our customers, and anyone who works in the fenestration sector, to vote for us. It would be an honour to win, and we wish all the other finalists the very best of luck.” www.fenestrationawards.co.uk www.vistapanels.co.uk

AWARDS

Residence And Widgets Amass 6 Of The Best As G-Awards Finalists the sector to achieve this milestone.

The Residence Collection and Window Widgets have been nominated as finalists for 6 awards across 5 different categories in the G-Awards.

The Residence Collection has been nominated for Best Commercial Project – Sewell Park, with a unique heritage school project in a conservation area in Norwich and Best Customer Care Initiative for the new customer on-boarding programme. The premium window and door brand has also been put forward as a finalist in the Best Promotional Campaign category for its work promoting the opportunities for projects in conservation areas, with article 4 directives and those involving listed buildings.

Similarly, Window Widgets has been nominated for 3 awards as

Jo Trotman, marketing manager for both brands enthused: “We are delighted to be finalists in so many categories, along with so many other amazing finalists and congratulations to them too. This achievement showcases the way in which we look to be the best in what we do. 2021 has been an amazing year already as a Real Homes Awards 2021 winner, Highly Commended in the Homebuilding & Renovating Awards 2021 and again shortlisted in the NFA’s.

Jo Trotman

a finalist for Best Component Supplier, Best Promotional Campaign through their 21-year business anniversary, supporting two industry charities with a forthcoming sponsorship laden Pink Book production and finally, for the Best Sustainability Initiative. This latter entry is based upon the fact that in February, 2021 the business managed to achieve a zero-landfill mark, which the company believes is the first business of its kind in

“It’s hugely rewarding to receive such lofty accolades and we’ll keep our fingers crossed for the G-Awards night later this year, where we can all celebrate as an industry together once again.” https://bit.ly/3aBdBs9 https://bit.ly/3AysqGH

Wendland Lantern

Shortlisted At G Awards The Wendland Lantern has been shortlisted in the category of Best New Product at the G Awards.

The Lantern was launched in 2020 during the COVID crisis and, says Wendland, has quickly become a ‘fitter’s favourite’ since it came onto the market. Available both in kit form to installers, and for fabrication to fabricators, the Wendland Lantern offers the ideal mix of performance, good looks, and support.

Commenting on the G Awards shortlisting, Wendland brand manager, Chloe McGrath, said: “For our Lantern to be shortlisted at the G Awards so soon after launch is really great news. We worked hard to ensure the product itself offered

all the benefits that we know matter to installers and homeowners, as well as providing a huge amount of support for the marketing and installation side. We have continued to enhance the Lantern and since launch we can now offer the Wendland Lantern in any RAL and in the popular square style.”

In a statement, the company said: ‘The Wendland Lantern is one of the only lanterns on the market to boast a thermally broken ridge, bars, and ring beam, which means it offers terrific thermal performance. Thanks to a super strong ridge the Wendland Lantern has fewer bars than other lanterns, giving it a modern look, and a host of clip-on features means there are no visible fixings. There are also many fitter-friendly features built into the system to make it simple to install, such as the unique pre-assembled RidgeLOCK system, clip-on ridge end covers, pre-fitted thermal clips, and easyfit clip-on cappings.’

Concluding, Chloe said: “It’s a great honour for the Wendland Lantern to be shortlisted at such a notable industry event as the G Awards. On behalf of the Wendland Team, I’d like to congratulate the other nominees and wish them the best of luck.” https://www.wendland.uk.com/

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AWARDS

DoorCo Shortlisted For Five G21 Awards Composite door supplier, DoorCo, has been shortlisted in five categories in this year’s G-Awards – Best New Product for FLiP, Best Component Supplier, COVID 19 Business Hero, Unsung Hero and Best Promotional Campaign – a testament to the hard work and dedication of the team and the latest ‘market-changing’ innovations delivered to the industry this year.

Dan Sullivan, DoorCo MD comments: “The G-Awards is the industry awards, dedicated to celebrating and rewarding excellence in the UK’s fenestration sector. We are obviously delighted to have been shortlisted for no less than five awards in the G21’s.

The independent panel of judges have recognised the hard work and dedication that Lucy Daniels – our unsung hero – and the entire DoorCo team have shown during the turbulent period brought on by

the pandemic, the fallout of which we continue to endure.

“DoorCo is now a serious player in the UK composite door market, achieving exponential growth through a strategic and ambitious programme of investment. But despite this, we have remained true to its roots: an independent composite door component supplier.

Our award entry was based on the transparent, customer-centric values that have been consistently demonstrated throughout the most difficult economical and operational periods ever experienced, celebrating the skills and determination of the team required to navigate the Pandemic, manage significant growth and deliver major innovations. We feel it’s testament to what sets DoorCo apart and are delighted this has been understood and rewarded with shortlisting in the Component Supplier award.

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“This theme flows through most of the other categories we have been shortlisted in too. The COVID-19 Business Hero recognises the forward-thinking attitude the team have shown during this period, which goes beyond delivering fundamental health & safety procedures that have allowed us to operate in a safe and healthy environment. Against the backdrop of instability, we’ve been very people focused, working with customers and suppliers, growing our team, and rewarding, supporting and doing everything we can to keep our staff happy and motivated through superior incentive packages and fun events like our Pay Day Treats, where we’ve had, for example, cakes and pizza delivered from local businesses, so in turn supporting local economy too.

“Most excitingly, FLiP – our revolutionary new glazing cassette system – has been shortlisted for Best New Product. It is a gamechanger for DoorCo and the industry, designed for performance and aesthetics, taking door glazing to a whole new level. Our customers are delighted with the new opportunity FLiP has created and we’re delighted that the judges have recognised this too. We launched FLiP alongside GRiPCORE – our solid timber core door – as together they create the ultimate composite door. We took the marketing to a whole new level for DoorCo, with independent brands, CGI video and a comprehensive suite of materials all aimed at supporting our customers in their own sales and marketing. The investment and creativity of the team involved has set the benchmark for our brand and marketing and the support we provide our customers, so for this to campaign to be shortlisted in Best Promotional Campaign too is reward in itself.

“Congratulations to all the other nominees – just to reach this stage is a great achievement and we look forward to celebrating with you all on 26th November.” www.door-co.com

AWARDS

Dekko Makes The

Shortlist In Two NFA Categories

uPVC and aluminium trade fabricator Dekko Window Systems have been named as finalists in two categories at this year’s National Fenestration Awards.

The awards event is said to have received over 2,000 nominations in 25 different categories this year, with Dekko standing a chance to win in the Fabricator/Manufacturer and PVC Company categories.

Dekko Sales Director Kurt Greatrex comments: “We are honoured to have been shortlisted in two great categories at the NFAs. “In the past 18 months, our team

has been working tirelessly behind the scenes to keep up with demand, ensuring our lead times are kept to a minimum and that our customers continue to receive the high-quality products and services they’re used to.

The company is also the UK’s largest fabricator of the Residence Collection, as well as offering the Räum range, a luxury collection of aluminium bi-folds, patio doors, windows and entrance doors.

“Being named as finalists really is a testament to what our team has achieved during what’s been a very challenging period for the industry.”

Kurt concludes: “We’re now encouraging all our customers to vote for us in the 2021 NFAs. It would be an honour to win, and we wish all the other finalists the best of luck.”

Dekko supplies the Infinity range of uPVC windows and doors, which are manufactured using pioneering Graf weld technology to deliver a seamless finish.

To place your vote, visit www.fenestrationawards.co.uk www.dekkowindows.com

Alutech Systems Announced As

G21 Finalist For *COVID 19 Business Hero Award Alutech Systems has been announced as a finalist for the upcoming G21 awards in the category of *COVID 19 Business Hero Award. This new category for 2021 has been added to honour businesses that reacted to the global pandemic and pivoted the way they operate to be a force for good within the glass and glazing industry, and marks the first time Alutech has been shortlisted for a G-award since the company began in 2016.

Since then though, Alutech Systems has gone from strength-tostrength, making a name for itself as a reliable supplier of aluminium systems and providing customer service and lead times that have challenged the accepted levels UK aluminium fabricators previously received from other suppliers.

as winning new business and says the company, helping to save the businesses of others.

The West Yorkshire company was quick to respond to the challenges faced by the industry due to multiple lockdowns, shortages and supply chain issues caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, in such a way that saw them not only retain jobs but even create new jobs, as well

Alutech Systems Managing Director, Steve Hudson, commented, “We’re proud to have been recognised in this category. It’s testament to the hard work and dedication of my great team of people who, in line with our company values of always going the extra mile, stepped up to the challenge and did a sterling job in supporting our clients’ needs during such an unprecedented time. We’d also like to thank our suppliers who worked hard with us to overcome the seemingly impossible. And finally, I’d like to thank our customers, new and old, without whose support none of it would be possible.” www.alutechsystems.co.uk WINDOW NEWS | OCTOBER 2021 95

AWARDS sale and automate the rest of the process through to order, through the Emplas Virtual Assistant.

It’s also brought new transparency to its operation, making data on lead times available to its customers in real time, so that they can make an educated decision before they place an order.

Emplas Named

G21 Finalist

Emplas has made it onto this year’s shortlist in the Best Fabricator category in recognition of its continuing investment in product and service innovation and the wider contribution it made to the industry’s return to work from Lockdown.

even more important because of what’s happened since G19.

Emplas was among the very first fabricators to get back to manufacture following Lockdown 1.0, making the processes and procedures it was following to support its own safe return to work, plus guidance on how installers could adapt successfully to Covid-working, available to the whole of the industry.

“As a team we’ve worked hard to get it right and to continue to support our customers, something we haven’t always been able to do on every occasion.

It supported this through continued investment in a series of new customer lead generation, sales and management tools, as well as launching its new aluminium offer from Aluk.

Ryan Johnson, managing director of Emplas, said: “The G-Awards are always a great event, it brings people from across the industry together and it celebrates innovation and success.

“This year for me, and I suspect a lot of other people, it’s going to be

“Our industry has gone through immense change, and although we’ve seen exceptional demand, we have also had to contend with some pretty substantial challenges.

“I do believe, however, that we’re now fundamentally better as a business, we’ve delivered some very creative solutions to the challenges we have faced and are working with our suppliers and our customers in closer partnership than ever before.

“That we believe is worth celebrating, as well as the achievements of everyone else who has come through a tough two-years.”

Digital tools have formed a key part of Emplas strategy, from lead generation support to point of sale support. This includes the unique integration it has developed for WindowCAD, allowing customers to input data once as part of the

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“Without a doubt it’s been a rollercoaster but we are a better business for it”, Ryan continued.

“We have always been process driven and always looked for ways to innovate and be better, but it’s absolutely true that necessity is the mother of invention and in the last two years, everything has felt like a necessity!

“I believe the most substantial challenges are now behind us but we and our customers will benefit from those innovations long-term”, he added.

Emplas’ Customer Service Manager, Clodagh Driscoll has also scooped a finalist spot in the ‘Unsung Hero’ of the Year category.

Clodagh joined Emplas, in 2008, working her way up through the ranks to become customer services manager in June 2020, to head up Emplas’ 15-strong customer services team.

“Clodagh is a case in point. I can’t tell you the hours that she and her team have put in to get customers what they need and to resolve problems. If there was an option for a team award, we’d have definitely entered them in it, because they’ve worked incredibly hard with an amazing attitude, even when things were pretty challenging.

“They’re not alone but Clodagh’s nomination is perhaps a wider recognition of how hard customer services teams, those on the factory floor, those in every part of every business, have worked to keep things moving.” www.emplas.co.uk

AWARDS

Veka Recycling Reaches G Awards

In Its Second Finals Triumph In the space of two weeks Veka Recycling Ltd has been chosen as a finalist at this year’s G Awards, the second major business awards in a fortnight to recognise the specialist recycler of end-of-life PVC-U windows. The company has been selected as a finalist in the Best Sustainability Initiative category of the G Awards, the finals of which take place in November, in recognition of the completion of the firm’s £15 million state-of-the-art Wellingborough, Northamptonshire recycling facility. This adds to the company reaching the finals just a few days ago, of the National Recycling Awards, in the Recycling Facility of the Year section.

“This is very exciting news,” said Veka Recycling’s managing director Simon Scholes, who has

Veka Recycling aerial shot shows old frames and the new plant

managed the project from conception to its completion after a two-year build, in December 2020.

“Our team has worked incredibly hard to bring this complex project to completion, especially with the challenges posed by Covid-19.

But we did it, and we are delighted that we have reached the finals of these two awards.”

The Veka Recycling facility is claimed to be the most advanced of its type in Europe, combining the latest technology to produce recycled PVC-U pellet of consistently high quality that rivals virgin material. Used extensively for the manufacture of products for the electrical and construction industries, the pellet produced by Veka Recycling at the Wellingborough plant, is increasingly used for the extrusion of new window and door profiles.

Simon also congratulated its sister company within the Veka Group, the Burnley-based systems company Veka PLC, for also reaching the G Awards, including one in the Best Sustainability Initiative category: “Whilst we are run as separate businesses, the ethos of the VEKA Group runs throughout all of our companies. The Awards evening will be an exciting one, that’s for sure!” www.veka-recycling.co.uk

Double Finalist Result For Everglade

Windows London fabricator Everglade Windows has been named a double finalist at the G21 Awards.

“We are very pleased that aïr MOD Series has been recognised at the G21 awards, especially after it has already made a name for itself in the self-build sector after being named Best Windows at the Build It awards,” says Jay Patel, Director at Everglade Windows.

“And we are thrilled to be named in the Best Fabricator final as it’s the award that every window and door manufacturer really wants in the trophy cabinet!”

Everglade Windows has been fabricating windows and doors in West London since 1980 and offers exclusive brands One Collection, aïr and aïr MOD Series to the trade. The comapny has invested

more than £1.5 million in operations throughout 2021, including a new Schirmer uPVC cutting & machining centre, Rotox SVK 508 welding machine and an Emmegi Comet aluminium CNC machine.

Shortlisted for Best New Product, aïr MOD Series is the exclusive

range of aluminium windows and doors developed in-house by Everglade Windows to create an impressive suite which maintains high levels of choice for customers whilst simplifying surveying and installation with multi-functional profile sections. www.evergladetrade.co.uk WINDOW NEWS | OCTOBER 2021 97

MARKETING & INTERNET

Connect Hub Helps Users Achieve A

Flexible Telecoms Solution Epwin Window Systems has launched an exclusive partnership with innovative telecoms provider ConXhub for users of its integrated digital resource centre, Connect.

ConXhub helps tradespeople enhance connectivity with their customer base delivering a flexible and streamlined telecom solution.

Gerald Allen, Marketing Manager at Epwin Window Systems, said: “Connect helps our fabricators and installers to access the vast range of business support available to them and, in doing so, help them drive sales, grow profit and simplify the access points. ConXhub was the perfect fit for us to assist our tradespeople by providing them with the most efficient and flexible telecoms solution on the market.”

Mark Trowbridge, Founder and CEO of ConXhub, added: “We are

delighted to have partnered with Epwin Windows Systems and be part of Connect. At ConXhub we have taken all the communication tools any tradesperson, SME or corporation needs and designed a perfectly mobile and super cost-effective telecom solution to replace all outdated and equipment dependent predecessors.”

As a result of the partnership, Epwin Connect users can receive an additional phone number attached to their mobile. This means they can have a telephone number solely dedicated to their customers, but still only need to have one mobile phone which provides a cutting-edge streamlined platform.

It gives them more privacy and helps them achieve an improved work/life balance.

ConXhub simply sits on top of a user’s personal mobile phone

98 WINDOW NEWS | OCTOBER 2021

and nothing else is needed. With an unbeatable monthly cost that includes all features and unlimited outbound and inbound calls, it puts even the most sophisticated of communications tools into the hands of every business, not just those with bigger budgets.

Epwin Window Systems says the Connect platform is something only a systems house with the size and scale of Epwin Window Systems could provide. It’s a 24/7/365 bespoke-designed digital integrated platform for the vast range of value-added benefits that are available to Epwin Window Systems’ customers. It brings together all the company’s technical, commercial sales and marketing support, plus a lead generation mechanism that passes retail and commercial leads to fabricators and installers. Rolling discounts from industry partners adds even more value, as this latest partnership with ConXhub demonstrates.

Epwin Window Systems customers who have already signed up to Connect will see details of the partnership the next time they log in to the platform. To join for the first time, complete the form at https://bit.ly/2YBP0AW

MARKETING & INTERNET

ODL Europe Launches New

Composite Door Brochure

ODL Europe has published a new composite door brochure to support their growing customer base.

Ian Glenister, ODL Europe’s Technical Sales Manager, said: “Our new brochure showcases our complete composite door collection, including our newly-launched Deco and Moderne door ranges. The brochure will continue to support our customers while appealing to to-

day’s design-conscious consumer by demonstrating the wide choice on offer.”

The comprehensive 60-page brochure is filled with high-quality images throughout covering the full range of doors and multiple glazing options available from the Bootle-based business.

The contemporary new brochure design demonstrates their extensive door range including the wide selection of composite door styles, choice of finishes, four glazing frame collections, large colour palette and extensive decorative glass options. Ian said: “Our new brochure will not only support our fabricating customers but also translates into a better representation of our doors for the domestic market.”

The new brochure has lifestyle imagery throughout and is supported with technical information to help homeowners choose the right door for their home. Ian said: “The brochure stresses the technical benefits of our products so today’s consumer can buy with increased confidence. We have developed a range of traditional and contemporary door styles that will suit all tastes, house styles and budgets, along with some unique door styles to satisfy the most discerning customers.”

Copies of the new Composite Door brochure can be downloaded from the website at www.odleurope.com

AluK Design Studio Goes Online To Welcome People Face To Face

As the UK returns to face-to-face meetings, networking and showroom visits, AluK has launched a new website to promote its London Design Studio. Located right in the heart of London’s architectural community in Worship Street, the Design Studio showcases all of AluK’s window, door and curtain walling systems and provides a dedicated contemporary meeting space.

The user-friendly new website at www.alukdesignstudio.co.uk includes a video tour of the studio, and a page dedicated to the products on show.

Gavin Snowdon, the London Design Studio Manager, commented: “The website hopefully reminds customers and industry colleagues of this fantastic space and facility. We’ve already hosted a post-lockdown get together and one of our famous AluK Quiz Nights and it was so great to welcome people back.

It also makes it easy for visitors to book slots for viewings or meetings with the AluK team, and even submit an enquiry to hire the whole studio to host their own event.

“We’re now putting together a whole schedule of events for specifiers and consultants during the Autumn and Winter and these will all be posted on the website and available to book in addition to regular visits.”

WINDOW NEWS | OCTOBER 2021 99

MARKETING & INTERNET

Mercury Introduces

Retail Brochure

Mercury Specialist Frames Ltd has published a new retail brochure to help promote its aluminium window and door products into the consumer. Steve Cross, Director at Mercury, said “Our latest high-end consumer brochure showcases our range of quality aluminium windows and doors to help inspire homeowners. It helps our customers sell to end users and close the sale by providing all the information they require to make an informed choice.”

doors, designer entrance doors, casement windows, heritage windows, sash windows and aluminium lantern roofs. Steve said: “The demand for domestic aluminium products has grown exponentially over the last few years as these products deliver the aspirational improvements that consumers are seeking. The focus on images in our new brochure reinforces the importance of the lifestyle element in choosing our aluminium products.”

the default material for commercial or architecturally-styled homes, has now become the products of choice for high-end properties and modern homes alike. We have also seen an upturn for aluminium products in traditional properties and our aluminium heritage window collection allow our customers to tap into this market too.”

The new brochure has stunning lifestyle imagery throughout that showcases exactly why Mercury’s aluminium products are a popular choice with consumers, says the company. The photography is supported with information to help homeowners choose the aluminium windows and doors that are right for their homes. It includes aluminium bifold doors, patio

There has been a considerable upturn in demand for domestic aluminium window and door products following the first lockdown especially for bifold and patio doors. Consumers have had time to research their replacement window and door products and are looking for contemporary, slimline products more than ever. Steve said: “What was once considered

Since 2002 Mercury has been manufacturing a comprehensive range of specialist aluminium and PVC-U products for their growing trade customer base. The Gloucester-based business has an ambitious growth strategy in place.

Steve concluded: “Since 2020 we have doubled our turnover and remain well on track to continue to meet our growth strategy over the next four years. We recently opened a second manufacturing plant in Gloucester, have made several six-figure investments in automation machinery from Haffner and recruited several high-level appointments to our talented team. Our growth and ambitions remain focussed on supporting our customers at every level as our latest consumer brochure demonstrates.” sales@mercuryspecialistframes. co.uk

Their New Aluminium

100 WINDOW NEWS | OCTOBER 2021

MARKETING & INTERNET

The Consultancy Delivers

For SWC Trade Frames

New Specifier’s Guide And CPD

Launched To Raise

Awareness Of The Key Role

Of Fire Door Hardware Specifiers can now access two new resources to improve their understanding of the legislation that applies to fire door hardware at different stages of a building’s life cycle.

Customers previously used a standard single sheet price list for the whole of the SWC range.

Now, they can set up their own online accounts and use the bespoke SWC Tranquility Composite Door Builder to design and quote using any product combination – either face to face with a customer or after a sales visit, and even print off a PDF showing the final door selection to give to the homeowner as confirmation. Once the quote is accepted, the customer can log back into their account and place their order direct.

SWC have added the Tranquility ordering system in response to a surge in demand over recent months for their ‘expertly crafted’ composite doors, as busy installers across the North East of England look for a competitive, mass market product which is fast and easy to fit but manufactured with the utmost attention to detail, said the company.

Mark Catchpole, Sales Director at SWC Trade Frames, says: “Composite doors represent a huge opportunity for us in both

the short and medium term. We know that we have a product which stands out from the rest and the bespoke Tranquility software gives us yet another USP. “The feedback from installers on the new Door Designer option has been really positive, with the vast majority of customers now opting to use this rather than our existing online ordering software.”

He adds: “It’s really intuitive and user-friendly, gives them access to all our design options and has smart, built-in sense checks which alert them to any errors on product combinations or problems such as size limitations. They can price and order top-lights and side-lights as well and crucially convert quotes to orders from within the Designer, without having to complete another order form.” https://bit.ly/30lKR52 https://bit.ly/3v5AH3B https://bit.ly/3aABobG

The Specifier’s Guide to Ironmongery and Fire Safety has been published by the Guild of Architectural Ironmongers (GAI) to mark this year’s Fire Door Safety Week.

The corresponding RIBA-approved CPD is now available for GAI members to deliver to architects, who will receive double learning points for attending.

Both the CPD and Specifier’s Guide look at the wider fire safety legislation and guidance that directly impacts the specification of architectural ironmongery including Approved Documents, British and international standards, the Construction Products Regulation (CPR), fire testing and third-party certification.

It also covers legislation and guidance that is relevant post-handover, in particular: the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order, which applies to England and Wales; the Fire Safety (Scotland) Regulations; Fire and Rescue Services (Northern Ireland) Order; and health and safety regulations.

The Specifier’s Guide can be downloaded from the GAI website: www.gai.org.uk/GAISpecGuides

WINDOW NEWS | OCTOBER 2021 101

EVENTS

Conservatory Outlet Recognises The Importance Of

Collaboration With Special Gala Weekend Wakefield-based fabricator Conservatory Outlet marked the power of collaboration last weekend by saying ‘thank you’ to its 27-strong network of retailers.

members for their support over the past two years before commemorating several key achievements that have taken place during what has been a very testing period.

The multi-day event, which culminated with a Gala Dinner at the historic Tower of London, recognised the achievements of companies that have overcome the many challenges of the pandemic to post record sales and harness new technology to improve the customer journey.

“Most of us have grown up in this sector, it’s our sector, and in our respective regions we have reached the top spot, leading the way in traditional market conditions we know so well.

The evening began with a tour of the historic palace, which included a private viewing of the Crown Jewels and a guided walk along the Line of Kings, followed by a three-course meal and awards ceremony in the White Tower.

Greg Kane, CEO at Conservatory Outlet Group, opened proceedings by thanking the Network

“All of our businesses, people and systems are finely tuned to succeed in these conditions, but then it changed… almost overnight, demand is everywhere but supply became very difficult to manage.

“The last twenty months have proven time and time again the fantastic innovation and resilience of the Conservatory Outlet Network and this is something we will tap into as we meet the current challenges head-on.”

102 WINDOW NEWS | OCTOBER 2021

He continued: “We are investing time and money into developing our operational systems, creating a customer journey that ensures we can thrive in current market conditions and thrive in the future, as the world changes rapidly again!

“Our IT systems have been transformed, we’ve beefed up our board, retrained our staff and are committed to launching new products, supporting all of our network members as we all adapt to the ‘new normal’.”

Speedy Home Improvements was formally welcomed as the newest member of the Conservatory Outlet family and, as part of the celebrations, owners Greg and Leighanne Cox were presented with the ‘Newcomer of the Year’ Award for their outstanding start to life within the Network.

The father-and-daughter pair has achieved a 30% increase in sales and invested £100,000 into its first ever showroom in Horsham since joining.

Long-standing Network member Joedan was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award to

EVENTS honour the company’s founding partners, John and Nicky Purcaro’s, 38th year in the sector.

Other award winners on the evening, included:

Top Glazing Summit Speaker Line-Up Confirmed

• 5 Star Windows/Eden/Hazlemere (10 Years as Network Members) • Amber/County/Planet/Trademark (Outstanding Customer Satisfaction) • Bon Accord/TWC (Outstanding Digital Innovation) • ERG (Exceptional Growth) • Pennie Home Improvements (Revolutionary Sales Approach) • Premier (Next Generation Achievement) • West Yorkshire Windows (Inspirational Transformation) Michael Giscombe, Conservatory Outlet Managing Director, said that the event showcased the group’s resilience.

“The weekend has been a phenomenal weekend, arguably the best we’ve ever held. Being a Network allows us to host events like without any fear of competition between our members.”

He continued: “Given how the last 20 months have been, our collaborative approach to sales and marketing has been invaluable, allowing companies to flourish where others have floundered.

“We pride ourselves on this close-knit and collective relationship across the Group and will continue to leverage this ‘togetherness’ as we emerge from the shackles of the pandemic and a difficult supply chain environment.” www.conservatoryoutlet.co.uk

All speakers for the Glazing Summit 2021 have now been confirmed by organisers – and the stellar line-up is a mouth-watering one.

The event, the biggest one-day conference in the glazing calendar, takes place on Thursday, October 21 at Edgbaston Stadium and Conference Centre, Birmingham and will tackle some of the biggest challenges facing fabricators, installers, glass companies and component suppliers.

Four debates, on conquering the supply chain crisis, embracing a sustainable future, the challenges installers have faced, and whether it’s time to buy, sell or bust, will feature four expert panellists and a host asking the tough questions.

Industry experts who will be speaking on the day include Gary Morton of Central Window Systems, Nathan Barr of ODL Europe, Sam Nuckey of Window Ware, Dean Bradley of Glazpart, John McComb of Reynaers, Mark Gajda, Rehau, and Gary Hyem of FRP Corporate Finance.

Keynote speakers will include Insight Data MD Andrew Scott with the 2021 State of the Industry Report; GGF expert David Borland on the regulation minefield and what the industry should know; leading economist Greg Perdon on the economic outlook for the industry; and legendary business guru Geoff Burch on growth through leadership.

The calibre of speakers doesn’t end when the day finishes either, with Simon Evans, one of the UK’s most respected and best loved comedians, taking centre stage at the Glazing Summit Dinner in the evening.

Andrew Scott, founder of the Glazing Summit, commented: “We have assembled a fantastic lineup of big-name speakers to tackle the biggest industry issues and we are looking forward to hearing their views. Since the agenda has been finalised and the speakers have been announced, interest has snowballed.”

For more information on the agenda and a full list of speakers, visit https://bit.ly/3v3BrpY

WINDOW NEWS | OCTOBER 2021 103

CHARITY

GM Fundraising’s GMF Cup 2021 Golfing Competition Tees Up Over £40,000 For Hope House Children’s Hospices

GM Fundraising has confirmed that its GMF Cup 2021 golfing competition has raised £41,033.74 for Hope House Children’s Hospices. The Ryder-Cup style event took place 14-16 September in Quinta do Lago, Portugal and saw two teams made up of representatives from the industry go headto-head.

in ensuring this event happened – it was an amazing achievement given the circumstances. A big thank you must also go to the staff at both Wyndham Grand Algarve and the South Course, Quinta Do Lago, for their patience and understanding.”

Gary Morton, founder of GM Fundraising, said: “It was great to return to Quinta do Lago for our fundraising event. Having had to postpone it twice, it was incredibly rewarding to finally be able to get it over the line and raise some much-needed funds for the families and kids at Hope House Children’s Hospices.”

The event saw representatives from well-known business across the industry, including software companies, extruders, hardware and machinery suppliers, as well as many leading fabricators. Two teams – Team Hope and Team GMF – went head-to-head with Team Hope eventually emerging as winners. The final result was Team Hope 14.5 and Team GMF 12.5.

He continued: “I would like to thank all of the players, support team and indeed the whole GM Fundraising team for their efforts

All funds raised at the event will go to Hope House Children’s Hospices, which has a mission to ensure that no one should face the death

104 WINDOW NEWS | OCTOBER 2021

of a child alone. It costs £6.5 million every year to run its services and 86% of this is spent on care.

Over 95% of Hope House’s annual costs are met through charitable donations and GM Fundraising is its largest single donor.

Gary concluded: “Like all charities, Hope House has been hard-hit by the pandemic and fundraising is more important than ever. Through events such as the GMF100 cycle challenge and now the GMF Cup we have raised an impressive total of £101,327.42 so far this year. The support of the industry never ceases to amaze me and every pound raised goes towards helping the kids. Once again, on behalf of the whole GMF team, the families and, most importantly, the kids at Hope House, a huge thank you.” www.gmfundraising.co.uk

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