June/July 2020

Industry News
CUSTOMADE GROUP
ACQUIRED BY NIMBUS
European Private Equity fund Nimbus, together
with its financing source MidCap Financial, have
agreed to buy the majority of the Customade
Group out of administration and create a new
group in a controversial ‘pre-pack’ bail-out.
NEW MEMBERSHIP FOR FABRICATORS
Certass TA chairman, Jon Vanstone,
believes the time is right to extend
support to the entire supply chain
The new group is made up of Virtuoso Doors,
Polyframe Norwich, Polyframe Stonehouse,
Real Aluminium, Atlas, Fineline Aluminium
and Stevenswood.
This acquisition saves more than 870 jobs and
in a statement issued by Customade Group, is
said to provide ‘a strong footing for the acquired
businesses to face the post Covid-19 economic
pressures and pursue the new owner’s
ambitious growth plans’.
Alexander de Haas, of Nimbus, commented:
“We are delighted to invest in the Customade
Group. The business has a market leading
product and customer service proposition but
has faced unprecedented challenges in the
last six months. Our investment will allow the
group to recover and focus on a long-term
growth strategy which will include significant
investment in the manufacturing capability of
the group.”
The new group management team will be led by
chief executive, David Leng, who added: “After
an extensive process it has been good to find
an experienced investment partner in Nimbus
to save the majority of the Customade business
in these exceptionally difficult economic
circumstances. I am very disappointed for the
great staff, suppliers and customers at the
Polyframe Halifax and Polyframe Livingston
factories. These sites were uneconomic to reopen
and we were unable to raise funding in
these difficult times to restart them. I would like
to sincerely thank everyone for their hard work
and understanding. For the new restructured
group we can now look forward to a much
stronger and certain future.”
See more on page 11
Certass Trade Association (Certass TA) has
opened its doors to the fenestration industry
supply chain with its new membership for
fabricators, component manufacturers and
other suppliers in the industry.
The current ‘Trade Association of the Year’, as
awarded by BEIS-sponsored Trade Association
Forum, supported local installers through the
Covid-19 pandemic by directly sharing interpreted
help, advice and opinions on government guidance
as it broke. Certass TA delivered continual relevant
information through its Facebook Members Forum,
and the free ‘Secure Procedures for Working in the
Home’ pack.
Jon Vanstone, chairman at Certass TA, said:
“The beginning of the Covid-19 situation made
it very clear that we were lacking a connection
between the glazing industry and government. The
fabricators I talked to confided that they weren’t
receiving the support and advice that they needed
from their trade organisations and didn’t know
where to go to ask questions of government.
“With my positions in other construction industry
sectors, I was able to bring the view of glazing
to the right people in government and wider
construction community, ask questions and
get clarity on information to help installers and
fabricators through the pandemic.
“Feedback has been positive, and with so much
regulatory change on the horizon, it makes sense
to now open up our trade association to the wider
industry to support the entire supply chain, with good
practice advice and information as well as giving
them a voice in future government-led discussions.”
Certass TA membership gives fabricators access
to a monthly webinar with Jon Vanstone to discuss
the position of government and regulations with
a debate on key actions. They also get access to
Certass TA documents and best practice guidance,
the Certass TA Members Forum on Facebook and
information relating to consumer feedback on
installers’ work.
Fabricator and manufacturer members will have
their own profile on the Certass TA website and be
able to submit their news to feature on the Certass
TA members monthly newsletter to more than
3,000 installation companies.
John added: “Certass TA is modern and inclusive.
And that’s how we want it to stay. There is only
one level of membership and everyone pays the
same price, no matter how big the company, so
we are not conflicted when it comes to treating all
members equally.
“With so many changes ahead in the next few
years and the need for our supply chain to see the
evolving horizon as clearly as possible, the question
is: can businesses afford not to be involved and
connected to the information we hold?” To apply
for membership visit: https://members.certass.
co.uk/register.
6 TF JUNE/JULY 2020 CONNECTING THE WINDOW, DOOR & ROOF FABRICATION SUPPLY CHAIN