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FEB/MAR <strong>2021</strong><br />
CONNECTING THE WINDOW, DOOR & ROOF FABRICATION SUPPLY CHAIN<br />
DRIVING FORWARD IN <strong>2021</strong><br />
DRIVING FORWARD IN <strong>2021</strong><br />
Made for Trade continues to build on the successes of its Bi-fold<br />
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prepared door operation for the and new the year Multi with Award a new Winning fleet of Korniche vehicles... brand,<br />
prepared for the new year with a new fleet of vehicles...<br />
>>> • FIT SHOW Q&A • SAFER BUILDINGS • SUPPLY ISSUES • AUTOMATION • >>><br />
TOTAL Installer Cover - JAN/FEB <strong>2021</strong>.indd 1 12/01/<strong>2021</strong> 08:29
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Editor’s Comment<br />
SOPHIE STEVENS<br />
EDITOR<br />
SOPHIESTEVENS@MEDIA-NOW.CO.UK<br />
WWW.TOTAL-FABRICATOR.CO.UK<br />
DRIVING FORWARD IN <strong>2021</strong><br />
While the vaccine roll-out is making good progress in getting Covid-19<br />
under control, the UK remains in lockdown [at the time of writing], with<br />
restrictions likely for some months to come.<br />
But for those of us chomping at the bit to get back out there and have a<br />
good old-fashioned face-to-face conversation with somebody other than the<br />
members of our own household, hope is on the horizon in form of the FIT Show.<br />
Hot on the heels of announcing new September dates, FIT Show event director<br />
Nickie West talks about the challenges of the past year, what we can expect<br />
from the show’s <strong>2021</strong> outing and why “nothing beats the power of live events<br />
when it comes to connecting with the market and bringing your products and<br />
services to life” (see pages 32-33).<br />
Elsewhere in this issue, CAB, Exlabesa and Window Ware all give us their<br />
predictions for the year ahead (see pages 18, 22 and 44 respectively); UAP’s<br />
David Jennings discusses the importance of resilience planning as supply<br />
chain disruption continues to impact the fenestration sector (see pages 42-<br />
43); and in the wake of the Grenfell tragedy, Adam Turk, CEO of Siderise and<br />
chair of the Construction Products Association Marketing Integrity Group,<br />
explains the newly-proposed Code for Construction Product Information – and<br />
appeals to the glazing industry to help rebuild confidence, credibility and<br />
integrity in the construction sector:<br />
“Whether you are making windows and doors, specifying them, fitting them or<br />
maintaining them, we all need to be confident that the products we come into<br />
contact with everyday behave and perform as they should. It’s your reputation<br />
on the line,” comments Adam, and you can read what else he has to say from<br />
page16 ...<br />
Enjoy the issue.<br />
Sophie<br />
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12/01/<strong>2021</strong> 08:29<br />
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CONNECTING THE WINDOW, DOOR & ROOF FABRICATION SUPPLY CHAIN<br />
FEB/MAR <strong>2021</strong> TF 3
Contents<br />
ISSUE HIGHLIGHTS<br />
42<br />
16 REBUILDING CONFIDENCE<br />
The proposed new Code for Construction<br />
Product Information is explained<br />
32 FIT AND READY FOR <strong>2021</strong><br />
FIT Show’s Nickie West talks about the<br />
challenges of the past year and what we<br />
can expect from September’s event<br />
42 SUPPLY CHAIN RESILIENCE<br />
As the effects of Covid continue to ripple around<br />
the world, the importance of planning and<br />
ensuring an efficient supply chain is discussed<br />
FEATURES<br />
18 ALUMINIUM INSIGHTS<br />
A word from CAB on what the aluminium fenestration<br />
sector might expect in <strong>2021</strong> and how it compares to<br />
the wider construction sector<br />
26<br />
20 NON-STOP SUPPORT<br />
Alutech Systems explains how it has adapted its<br />
fabrication training and customer service in response<br />
to the coronavirus pandemic<br />
22 OPPORTUNITIES AHEAD?<br />
While some difficulties are inevitable, there are plenty<br />
of opportunities for the fenestration sector says Exlabesa<br />
28 ‘GAME-CHANGING’ FIRE DOOR<br />
ODL Europe explains the concept behind the<br />
Guardsman composite fire door<br />
36 MORE THAN CNC LINKS<br />
Business Micros argues that there’s more to automation<br />
than just cutting and prepping<br />
50 INVEST, BROADEN, GROW<br />
Thermoseal Group discusses the company’s plans to<br />
increase warm edge production to meet growing demand<br />
for more energy efficient components<br />
4 T F FEB/MAR <strong>2021</strong> CONNECTING THE WINDOW, DOOR & ROOF FABRICATION SUPPLY CHAIN
REGULARS<br />
SECTIONS:<br />
12 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR<br />
Safety concerns over bi-fold door deliveries and<br />
supply issues are both in focus<br />
38 VIEWPOINT<br />
<br />
Elumatec’s Neil Parton on why the pursuit of<br />
perfection is not always the best path to success<br />
12<br />
SYSTEMS<br />
20<br />
DOORS<br />
INDUSTRY NEWS<br />
06 GLASS PRICE HIKE WARNING<br />
Glass processors and IGU manufacturers should<br />
prepare now for increased prices and lower<br />
availability says Mackenzie Glass<br />
08 SKILLS SHORTAGE WOES<br />
The Secretary of State for Education has highlighted<br />
the negative economic impact of the skills shortage in<br />
the government’s Skills for Jobs White Paper<br />
26<br />
AUTOMATION<br />
36<br />
HARDWARE &<br />
ACCESSORIES<br />
42<br />
06<br />
CONNECTING THE WINDOW, DOOR & ROOF FABRICATION SUPPLY CHAIN<br />
FEB/MAR<strong>2021</strong> T F 5
Industry News<br />
BORDER DELAY ‘HELL’<br />
Three-fifths of manufacturing firms<br />
experienced “hell” due to border delays in<br />
recent weeks, according to Make UK.<br />
A survey by the manufacturing trade body<br />
revealed 60% of manufacturers experienced<br />
disruptions due to increased “paperwork and<br />
red tape” moving goods in and out of the EU,<br />
despite being prepared for the end of the Brexit<br />
transition period.<br />
This comes as the UK manufacturing sector<br />
recorded the longest supplier lead times in the<br />
last 30 years due to Brexit and Covid impacts,<br />
according to the latest PMI.<br />
Make UK called for the UK government and EU<br />
to ease disruptions, by simplifying customs<br />
paperwork on both sides of the border, fasttracking<br />
training of customs agents, and<br />
working with haulage firms to reduce issues.<br />
Ben Fletcher, policy director at Make UK, told<br />
The Guardian: “The last month has been like<br />
Dante’s fifth circle of hell for importers and<br />
exporters unable to move supplies because of<br />
new red tape.”<br />
Source: www.cips.org<br />
‘PREPARE NOW FOR GLASS PRICE HIKES’<br />
Glass processors and IGU manufacturers<br />
should prepare now for increased prices and<br />
lower availability of product caused by the<br />
global shortage of shipping containers.<br />
This warning from Mackenzie Glass is made amid<br />
reports of price increases of as much as 35% on<br />
some products in as little as 24hours.<br />
This, according to the company’s joint managing<br />
director, Mark Herbert, is attributable to a<br />
massive jump in the price of shipping containers<br />
from the Far East, because of a 30% increase in<br />
demand and the significant disruption caused by<br />
Covid-19 to global shipping.<br />
This has seen the price of a 40ft container to<br />
the UK from China soar from $2,000, to between<br />
$8,000 and $10,000 – a price Mark warns will<br />
have to be passed on through the supply chain.<br />
Mark said: “Shipping containers aren’t in the<br />
right places at the right times, and that means<br />
the slots allocated to them at ports are being<br />
missed and the problem becomes worse. The<br />
implications for UK glass supply are massive at<br />
a time when scheduled maintenance is about to<br />
significantly reduce domestic capacity.<br />
“We have been talking to our suppliers and the<br />
price increases in only a few months have been<br />
Find more industry news at: www.total-fabricator.co.uk<br />
Mark Herbert<br />
staggering. That’s impacted the price of products<br />
coming from China and Japan – purely because<br />
of the cost of shipping. What it’s also created<br />
is increased disruption at UK ports, something<br />
which makes the plans by many of the big glass<br />
manufacturers to bring product in from Europe<br />
while carrying out cold maintenance programmes<br />
in the UK, more challenging.”<br />
Cold maintenance programmes scheduled for<br />
spring and summer this year, by Saint Gobain<br />
and Guardian are expected to run anywhere from<br />
12-20 weeks, significantly reducing capacity.<br />
Mark added: “We’d encourage glass processors<br />
to think as far ahead as they can and talk to<br />
us now about the projects that they have on<br />
the horizon, so that we can work with them<br />
to manage out price increases and potential<br />
shortages in the months ahead.”<br />
VEKA SETS OUT ITS STALL FOR <strong>2021</strong> WITH ‘FEARLESS OPTIMISM’<br />
VEKA is “facing the future with fearless optimism”<br />
and “ambitious plans” according to the systems<br />
house’s newly appointed MD, Neil Evans.<br />
Having begun the year with “record breaking sales”<br />
and order books that are “healthier than ever”,<br />
Neil, who took the helm of the business in January,<br />
said: “We are in a good position, facing the future<br />
with fearless optimism, but a newly earned respect<br />
for the need to be able to flex our strategy and be<br />
nimble in these extraordinary times.<br />
“We are committed to supporting our customers<br />
as the ripples of the pandemic continue to provide<br />
after-shocks not only for our industry, but for<br />
the economy as a whole. As a business, and as<br />
management team, we have a shared ruthless<br />
focus on where we want to be by 2025 and how<br />
we’re going to get there, whilst remaining mindful<br />
that there will be some unexpected twists and<br />
turns along the way.<br />
“Our plans are ambitious, but sustainable, as<br />
we will never put the stability of the business or<br />
people at risk.”<br />
VEKA reports that the year ahead will see it<br />
concentrate on further innovation and driving<br />
improvement for the industry, while ‘continuing to<br />
ensure the business is a great place to work and<br />
always keeping customer service at its heart’.<br />
VEKA will also be exhibiting at the <strong>2021</strong> FIT Show;<br />
continuing to support the industry and embracing<br />
face to face connections once again.<br />
Neil Evans<br />
Neil added: “Standing still is effectively going<br />
backwards, and that has never been an option<br />
for me or VEKA... We know where we are going,<br />
we have learnt from the events in 2020; we know<br />
what we are going to achieve and as a team we<br />
will tackle <strong>2021</strong> as part of our 2025 strategic plan<br />
not only with energy & positivity, but with a clear<br />
call to action.”<br />
6 TF FEB/MAR <strong>2021</strong> CONNECTING THE WINDOW, DOOR & ROOF FABRICATION SUPPLY CHAIN
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Industry News<br />
VBH’S NFA HAT-TRICK<br />
Hardware supplier, VBH, won three of the<br />
four categories in which it was shortlisted<br />
at the 2020 National Fenestration Awards.<br />
For the second year running, VBH was crowned<br />
Hardware Company of the Year, and also recorded<br />
wins in the Social Networker and Young Person<br />
categories, through marketing manager Gary<br />
Gleeson and Northern England area sales manager,<br />
Tyler Shutts, respectively. Customer service team<br />
leader in VBH’s Gillingham head office, Louise<br />
Eagle, finished as runner up to Tyler. Gary Gleeson<br />
said: “We see all these wins as a reflection of<br />
how hard the whole VBH team works to make<br />
our customers’ working days easy, as well as<br />
recognition of the excellent products and services<br />
on offer. These include new products such as our<br />
greenteQ Invicta window shootbolt and Orion 3 star<br />
profile cylinder, and the recently refreshed Q-secure<br />
consumer security guarantee.” www.vbhgb.com<br />
SKILLS SHORTAGE IS ‘HOLDING US BACK’<br />
The Secretary of State for Education has<br />
highlighted the negative economic impact of<br />
the skills shortage in the government’s Skills<br />
for Jobs White Paper, suggesting that college<br />
courses and apprenticeships can offer “better<br />
outcomes” than university.<br />
In the forward to the Department for Education<br />
document, Gavin Williamson said that “too many<br />
people – and too many employers – wrongly<br />
[believe] that studying for a degree at university<br />
is the only worthwhile marker of success”.<br />
He continued: “Although our universities are<br />
world-class, it is not the only choice: in many<br />
cases, a college course or apprenticeship can<br />
offer better outcomes.<br />
“As a result we have a skills gap that is holding<br />
us back economically. We do not have enough<br />
technicians, engineers or health and social care<br />
professionals. Redressing this will be critical<br />
to improving our productivity and international<br />
competitiveness. This is why we intend to prioritise<br />
the courses and qualifications that enable people<br />
to get great jobs and which will support our<br />
economy to compete with the world’s best.”<br />
Find more industry news at: www.total-fabricator.co.uk<br />
Gavin Williamson<br />
In response to the government’s publication of the<br />
White Paper, the Federation of Master Builders<br />
(FMB) said that improvements to the vocational<br />
education system will help address skills gaps in<br />
construction and support local builders to train.<br />
Brian Berry, chief executive of the FMB, said:<br />
“Enhancing apprenticeship opportunities in the<br />
construction sector is vital if we are to ‘build back<br />
better’ from the coronavirus pandemic, and local<br />
builders must be at the forefront of these plans. The<br />
White Paper’s intention to create greater parity of<br />
esteem between vocational and academic education<br />
is an important first step and will encourage more<br />
young people into apprenticeships.”<br />
Photo credit: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/<br />
NEW SILOS INCREASE CAPACITY AT £15M RECYCLING PLANT<br />
VEKA Recycling has invested £150k in six new<br />
silos to increase storage capacity at its stateof-the-art<br />
Wellingborough recycling plant, said<br />
to be the most advanced of its kind in Europe.<br />
The extra space created by the installation of the<br />
two 20m 3 and four 10m 3 silos, completed in January<br />
<strong>2021</strong>, will increase efficiency by reducing the manual<br />
handling of product via forklift. This will greatly<br />
improve the flow of materials around the pioneering<br />
site, which is now fully operational following the<br />
completion of a phased, £15 million investment<br />
programme spanning three years.<br />
Simon Scholes, managing director at VEKA Recycling,<br />
said: “This latest investment in six new silos not<br />
only increases our storage capacity in order to<br />
streamline our own operations but further illustrates<br />
the commitment of our organisation to increase the<br />
capacity for PVC-U recycling in the UK.<br />
“We have obtained planning permission for additional<br />
20m 3 silos at the plant, if and when required and,<br />
although installation is not imminent, there is plenty<br />
of future capacity available should VEKA Recycling<br />
decide to construct these later down the line.”<br />
The six new silos join an existing 130-tonne capacity<br />
silo installed by VEKA Recycling, in late 2019, to hold<br />
a significant proportion of the old window frames<br />
delivered to site prior to processing.<br />
Ultimately, the new silos will enable the organisation<br />
to recycle even greater amounts of waste PVC-U<br />
product in order to achieve its objective to keep as<br />
many end-of-life PVC-U windows and doors out of<br />
landfill as possible.<br />
Simon added: “The recyclability of PVC-U is<br />
becoming a major selling point, as organisations<br />
– along with consumers – become increasingly<br />
aware of the impact of post-consumer waste<br />
on the environment. At VEKA Recycling we are<br />
absolutely determined to reduce this impact and<br />
our ongoing investment in our Wellingborough<br />
plant, which is the most advanced in Europe –<br />
and possibly the world, demonstrates that.”<br />
8 TF FEB/MAR <strong>2021</strong> CONNECTING THE WINDOW, DOOR & ROOF FABRICATION SUPPLY CHAIN
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Industry News<br />
Obituary:<br />
DES TURNBULL<br />
Hardware specialist VBH has announced<br />
that Des Turnbull, until recently the area<br />
sales manager for the Northern Counties,<br />
passed away in hospital on the morning of<br />
Saturday 16th January.<br />
VBH said in a statement: “Des was an<br />
integral part of the VBH team for the best part<br />
of two decades before retiring last <strong>Feb</strong>ruary.<br />
He was very well respected and much liked<br />
by his customers, suppliers, and all at VBH.<br />
“Des was very knowledgeable and enjoyed<br />
passing on his expertise. He was particularly<br />
helpful to newcomers to our industry, helping<br />
them understand some of the vagaries of<br />
window and door hardware. He was always<br />
quick with a joke and will be well missed by<br />
his friends across the whole of VBH.<br />
“Des and his wife, Cath, often combined their<br />
holidays with charity work, frequently taking much<br />
needed equipment to under-funded schools.<br />
“Our sympathies are with Cath and their<br />
family and friends at this very sad time. We<br />
will miss our friend Des dearly.”<br />
WINDOW AND DOOR SALES BOUNCE BACK<br />
Window and door sales bounced back from the last year, to wider concerns about the economy?<br />
decline seen in December, with a 34% jump We can draw confidence from the start that we<br />
in sales and new leads up 111% in January, have seen this year, especially when we consider<br />
according to the latest Business Pilot Barometer. that a number of retailers came back later in the<br />
month, following extended Christmas breaks.<br />
Commenting on the Business Pilot Barometer,<br />
Edition 13: November/December/January 2020/21, “As we have highlighted in previous editions, the<br />
Neil Cooper-Smith, senior analyst, Business Pilot, housing market remains active and we should<br />
said: “The latest Business Pilot Barometer shows expect completions in <strong>March</strong>, ahead of the<br />
that window and door sales bounced-back from Stamp Duty holiday deadline, to convert into new<br />
the decline seen in December with a 34% jump in business in April and May.<br />
sales. More promising still, new leads more than<br />
“Forecasts that unemployment will peak at 6%, while<br />
doubled – up 111% in January on December!<br />
significant, could also have been very much worse<br />
Conversion rates remained more or less static,<br />
given the size of the shock to the UK economy.”<br />
hovering at around the 42% mark.<br />
Year-on-year analysis January 2020 v. <strong>2021</strong><br />
“This bounce in demand for windows is in stark<br />
“January <strong>2021</strong> is the first month in which we<br />
contrast to forecasts for the wider economy. This<br />
can draw a year-on-year comparison. This was<br />
includes the consumer confidence index from<br />
obviously a time when Covid-19 appeared a far<br />
market research firm GfK, which recorded a drop<br />
and distant problem.<br />
to -28 from -26 in December, when it jumped by<br />
the most in eight years on the back of news about “Although given the unique set of challenges the<br />
Covid-19 vaccines.<br />
UK has seen in the last year, we should need to<br />
“This may be in part driven by growing concern resist the temptation to apply too much weight to<br />
about the impact of increased hospitalisations, the figures. A comparison of leads, January 2020<br />
the knock-on effect of how and when, the UK will to <strong>2021</strong>, shows new business enquiries were<br />
come out of lockdown. This has also prompted down year-on-year by around 8%. Sales were<br />
a downgrading of economic forecasts in the 25% down. The caveat is that in January 2020,<br />
first quarter of this year. KPMG, for example, we weren’t in lockdown and conversions were far<br />
suggesting UK growth for <strong>2021</strong> could oscillate easier to achieve.<br />
anywhere between 2.2 and 5.6%.<br />
“These are perhaps the learning points for all of<br />
“The million-dollar question is, will the home us. We need to make sure that our businesses are<br />
improvement sector remain immune, as it did ready for whatever we don’t see coming next!”<br />
SCIENTIST ELECTED<br />
Anna Plesniar, a process development<br />
scientist at AluK, has been elected<br />
as vice chair of the Qualicoat<br />
Council for the UK and Ireland.<br />
Anna has been AluK’s representative on the<br />
council since the company joined in December<br />
2016 and has been a long-standing advocate<br />
of the benefits of membership to systems<br />
houses and applicators, as well as pretreatment<br />
and powder-coating suppliers.<br />
10 TF FEB/MAR <strong>2021</strong> CONNECTING THE WINDOW, DOOR & ROOF FABRICATION SUPPLY CHAIN
Find more industry news at: www.total-fabricator.co.uk<br />
Obituary:<br />
KULLY HUNTER<br />
Emmegi (UK) has announced the very<br />
sad death of Kully Hunter, the company’s<br />
service manager. She died suddenly on<br />
Friday 8 January <strong>2021</strong>.<br />
£6M INVESTMENT BY CORNWALL GLASS<br />
Cornwall Glass Manufacturing has committed<br />
to more than triple the size of its Highbridge<br />
IGU and glass processing operation as part of a<br />
£6million investment programme.<br />
To be delivered over three-years, the<br />
investment programme will give Cornwall Glass<br />
Manufacturing’s Highbridge IGU lines new<br />
capacity to handle jumbos as well as manufacture<br />
over-sized units.<br />
It will also house a new heat soak oven and<br />
autoclave, reflecting increased demand for heatsoaked<br />
products from the commercial sector,<br />
as well as laminated and specialist products,<br />
creating up to 30 new jobs.<br />
Mark Mitchell, chairman of the Cornwall Group,<br />
said: “We are at the start of what is a three-year<br />
investment programme. What Highbridge will give<br />
us at the end of that journey, is one of the UK’s<br />
most advanced manufacturing facilities with the<br />
ability to handle and process almost any product,<br />
from over-sized IGUs, through to walk-on insulated<br />
glass units; nonslip glass floors; staircases and<br />
other specialist processed glass products.<br />
“While the market remains competitive, we<br />
see significant opportunities going forward.<br />
Investment in our Highbridge site, gives us new<br />
reach along the M4 corridor and the southern half<br />
of the UK.”<br />
The investment programme takes the site from<br />
15,000ft 2 to 55,000ft 2 , making it the largest of the<br />
Cornwall Group manufacturing division’s three sites,<br />
with the other two located in St Austell and Plymouth.<br />
Ian Latimer, Emmegi (UK)’s managing<br />
director, commented: “The whole team here<br />
is devastated by the news. Kully was a friend<br />
as well as a colleague, and we will all miss<br />
her terribly.<br />
“Kully had worked in this industry for many<br />
years and was really popular and well-liked,<br />
so I know her death will be felt by many.<br />
“All our thoughts are obviously with her<br />
husband Wayne, daughter Jess, and her<br />
family and wide circle of friends.”<br />
NEW GGF PRESIDENT<br />
GGF Group Vice-President Tony Smith,<br />
of Pilkington United Kingdom, has been<br />
elected as the Federation’s new President.<br />
Former President, Mark Austin, stepped down<br />
from the role on 31st December 2020 but will<br />
remain on the GGF Board as immediate Past<br />
President.<br />
Tony Smith said that despite the “huge<br />
challenges ahead” due to the issues posed<br />
by the coronavirus pandemic and Brexit,<br />
there are also “exciting opportunities for the<br />
industry and the GGF”.<br />
CAB APPOINTS NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE<br />
The Council for Aluminium in Building (CAB) working with him.”<br />
has named its new CEO as Phil Slinger, who will<br />
Phil (pictured below) said: “I’m thrilled to be<br />
join the Association in <strong>March</strong> <strong>2021</strong>.<br />
named as the new CEO and eager to<br />
CAB President, Mo Panam, said:<br />
continue the advancement of the<br />
“Phil has a strong trade association<br />
business strategy and developing<br />
background including working<br />
additional services for CAB<br />
with and for membership bodies<br />
members.<br />
in the UK construction sector and<br />
“I look forward to meeting with our<br />
European hardware and DIY markets.<br />
diverse membership, to learn more about<br />
“It was Phil’s enthusiasm, focus and experience each member and discover what we can do to<br />
in trade associations that secured him his<br />
support their businesses, alongside promoting<br />
appointment and we are all looking forward to aluminium within the construction industry.”<br />
CONNECTING THE WINDOW, DOOR & ROOF FABRICATION SUPPLY CHAIN<br />
FEB/MAR <strong>2021</strong> TF 11
Letters to the Editor<br />
Find more industry news at: www.total-fabricator.co.uk<br />
MADE FOR TRADE CALLS FOR SAFER BI-FOLD DOOR DELIVERIES<br />
Handling and moving big, heavy and<br />
cumbersome aluminium bi-folding doors is not<br />
a task you would expect just anyone to do, but<br />
this is something the window and door industry<br />
has turned a blind eye to for many years.<br />
In reality, handling a large door off a delivery<br />
vehicle is fraught with danger... an accident<br />
waiting to happen.... out of sight... out of mind.<br />
The industry seems to just expect the driver to deal<br />
with off-loading on site himself and this is a worry .<br />
This is an issue that we, at Made for Trade, have<br />
grappled with for years and although we have<br />
done everything possible to maintain safety,<br />
accidents could happen.<br />
It only takes one serious accident for the Health &<br />
Safety Executive to be all over it and have ongoing<br />
consequences for the industry as a whole, and<br />
when our insurers get hold of it, you can be sure<br />
they will demand stricter risk assessments and<br />
higher premiums.<br />
Think about it !... we always request that the<br />
customer have people in attendance to receive a<br />
bi-fold door delivery but if it is a private residence,<br />
then it might just be an old lady, so what does the<br />
driver do? He struggles... helps when he shouldn’t<br />
and a lost time accident beckons.<br />
With the ever increasing volumes of aluminium<br />
bi-folding door sales, the decision was taken to<br />
add 12 new delivery vehicles to our fleet and with<br />
it, we set our engineering department the design<br />
task of improving delivery safety.<br />
The result is greatly improved safety for drivers<br />
and customers peppered with some relief.<br />
All deliveries are lifted off our vehicles automatically<br />
with our custom designed hoist, ensuring the door is<br />
delivered safely to ground level.<br />
‘Safety’ in the industry, I believe, is taken very<br />
seriously but fully assembled bi-fold deliveries<br />
seem to have been forgotten about.<br />
Some companies deliver bi-fold doors as a kit ,<br />
separate panels with the outer frame to assemble<br />
together on site... which entails a great deal of<br />
time and potential hassle on site for a skilled<br />
installer, because all the parts have to be fitted<br />
together during the erection process.<br />
Made for Trade like most in the industry deliver<br />
completely assembled doors which are quicker<br />
and less dependent on skilled tradesmen to<br />
install, hence the importance of safe handling of<br />
a delivered door to site.<br />
Made for Trade now offer safer delivery options,<br />
but the safe delivery of an assembled bi-fold door<br />
to site I think needs addressing by the industry<br />
as a whole.<br />
Richard Gaunt<br />
Made for Trade<br />
LEAD TIMES MUST BE LENGTHENED, SAYS SMART READY’S GIO<br />
The fenestration industry has seen an<br />
enormous increase in sales over the last nine<br />
months and I believe this places the industry<br />
in a strong position to welcome and embrace<br />
change as we continue into <strong>2021</strong>.<br />
For that change to benefit the industry as a whole,<br />
we must widen our consideration to include the other<br />
businesses in the industry rather than focussing just<br />
on ourselves. The businesses that make up a supply<br />
chain are not singular entities, rather they are part of<br />
an ecosystem that supports and is supported by the<br />
other businesses above and below them. It makes<br />
sense that decisions are made that strengthen these<br />
connections rather than adding undue strain.<br />
Freighting components and raw materials into the<br />
UK from China and the Far East has gone up nearly<br />
270%, and when sea freighting isn’t available, the<br />
price of air freighting is exorbitant. These panicdriven<br />
decisions are not sustainable. These supply<br />
issues are not permanent, and we will be able to go<br />
back to meeting our usual lead times at some point in<br />
the not-too-distant future. In the meantime, there is a<br />
quick fix that will ease the pressure we are all under:<br />
lengthening lead times across the industry.<br />
Increasing lead times is a way that we as individual<br />
businesses can offer breathing space to both<br />
ourselves and the other businesses in the industry.<br />
If we extend delivery times, we would be avoiding<br />
the current ‘feast or famine’ situation that we’re<br />
all in now. When materials arrive, there is a glut of<br />
fulfilled orders but when supply slows, businesses<br />
are back to not being able to deliver. This yo-yo-ing<br />
is frustrating for everyone in the supply chain and is<br />
especially exasperating for our ultimate customers<br />
who have been assured of delivery times and are<br />
bored with hearing about Covid-related delays.<br />
The cost of buying raw materials from Asia is<br />
going to increase and it will inevitably be in a<br />
permanent way. We don’t need to hamstring the<br />
industry by overspending on the delivery of these<br />
goods at their current prices. Bring lead times up<br />
to two weeks (or longer) across the board so that<br />
we all know where we stand without the stress of<br />
failing to meet deadlines.<br />
I know we can and will all get through this by working<br />
collectively and collaboratively, and that ultimately<br />
by doing this, our industry will come out stronger and<br />
more resilient.<br />
Giovanni Laporta, Smart Ready<br />
Got a comment, contribution or rant? email<br />
sophiestevens@media-now.co.uk<br />
12 TF FEB/MAR <strong>2021</strong> CONNECTING THE WINDOW, DOOR & ROOF FABRICATION SUPPLY CHAIN
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Advertorial<br />
Made for Trade<br />
Driving forward in to <strong>2021</strong><br />
Made for Trade complete<br />
investment in enhanced<br />
safety delivery fleet<br />
Made for Trade have announced a significant long-term<br />
investment in the expansion of their fleet of delivery<br />
vehicles. Each of the 10 new vehicles also comes equipped<br />
with another MFT design innovation, changing the way<br />
their products are handled both at the factory and also at<br />
delivery sites, the new design significantly decreases risk<br />
and puts safety of their employees first.<br />
MFT’s announcement, along with other news of their product<br />
expansion is a strong indication of their industry position and<br />
growth plans throughout 2020-<strong>2021</strong> and beyond.<br />
“For some time, we have been looking at the handling<br />
challenges presented by the loading and unloading of large<br />
heavy products from our wagons and we had some good<br />
design ideas of what we wanted to achieve. With sales<br />
dictating a need for more wagons to satisfy increasing<br />
delivery requirements we took the opportunity to kill 2 birds<br />
with one stone and had a custom fleet developed with local<br />
vehicle suppliers. We think this is a first in fenestration and<br />
is a significant step forward in transport safety.” Chris Wann.<br />
Business Manager.<br />
2020 has been a tough year for many businesses within<br />
the fenestration industry and some of the industry heavy<br />
hitters are either gone or have been significantly reshaped.<br />
Thankfully, it has not all been doom and gloom and there are<br />
many winners as a market driven by home improvements<br />
went stratospheric. With ongoing investment in new vehicles,<br />
additional staff and the expansion of their delivery coverage,<br />
Made for Trade really do mean business as they enter <strong>2021</strong> in<br />
a strong position with some exciting new developments on<br />
the brink of release into the market.<br />
FLEET IMPROVEMENTS<br />
The new 12-tonne Rollaflex vehicles have been commissioned<br />
from a local vehicle supplier with the functional design<br />
concept provided by the engineering team at MFT. The brief<br />
was to come up with a cost-effective loading and unloading<br />
solution which minimised the risks associated with manual<br />
lifting and provided a safe means of working at a height.<br />
Health and safety is one of MFT’s top priorities when it<br />
comes to the welfare of their staff and the safe delivery of<br />
their products.<br />
depending on the style of door. Once all stillages are full,<br />
the wagons move into the loading positions, the retractable<br />
curtain is drawn back, and the stillage is moved by forklift<br />
onto the wagon bed and locked into place.<br />
Once at the customers site, the driver conducts a risk<br />
assessment, cordons off the area and uses an articulated<br />
crane mounted to the vehicle bed for the safe and secure<br />
unloading of the door from the wagon to the ground in<br />
readiness for the customer to collect. The new design<br />
ensures that manual lifting of the doors is eliminated and<br />
that the operator is always safe, even when working from the<br />
unprotected wagon sides to attach the crane hook to the<br />
slings via a retractable barrier.<br />
DELIVERY COVERAGE EXPANSION<br />
The addition of more vehicles to the fleet also allows MFT to<br />
increase their delivery coverage area to include several new<br />
postcodes in Scotland. This move, the implementation of the<br />
first phase of a larger growth plan, cements the company’s<br />
intention to provide their top class service to customers<br />
that had previously struggled to obtain MFT door products<br />
alongside the Korniche lantern roof which is delivered<br />
nationwide.<br />
For more updates on this news, new product releases and<br />
to see how MFT provide the BEST PRODUCTS, at the<br />
BEST PRICES with the BEST SERVICE, head over to www.<br />
madefortrade.co and register online to receive regular emails.<br />
We would also like to take this opportunity to say a big<br />
thanks to all our customers in what has been a turbulent<br />
2020. Your loyalty has contributed entirely to our great<br />
sales volume, which in turn allows us to maintain the level of<br />
investment needed to improve service and expand our trade<br />
product range available to you, our customers.<br />
With these improvements to our service and 2 new products<br />
ready for launch in the new year, here’s hoping for a<br />
smoother journey in <strong>2021</strong><br />
www.madefortrade.co<br />
The logistics cycle starts off with the doors being moved<br />
from coded dispatch racks and loaded onto specially made<br />
stillages at floor level. As each door is placed onto the stillage<br />
a set of soft slings are fitted to predetermined safe positions<br />
14 T F FEB/MAR <strong>2021</strong> CONNECTING THE WINDOW, DOOR & ROOF FABRICATION SUPPLY CHAIN<br />
Advertorial_layout - Vehilces_DEC_2020 copy.indd 1 09/12/2020 13:19
DELIVERING<br />
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Made for Trade<br />
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MFT’s fleet of 12 NEW vehicles incorporate an in-house<br />
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provides a safe means of working at a height.<br />
SAFETY... AT NO<br />
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Product Standards<br />
BETTER DATA: SAFER BUILDINGS<br />
Adam Turk, CEO of Siderise and Chair of the Construction Products Association Marketing<br />
Integrity Group, explains the new proposed Code for Construction Product Information and<br />
appeals to the glazing industry to help rebuild confidence, credibility and integrity in the<br />
construction industry in the wake of Grenfell.<br />
In the aftermath of the Grenfell disaster, Dame<br />
Judith Hackitt was commissioned to carry out<br />
an independent review of Building Regulations<br />
and fire safety. Her final report – Building A Safer<br />
Future – included important recommendations<br />
for greater clarity in construction product<br />
information. The report also made clear that<br />
action was needed to ensure events like Grenfell<br />
never happened again.<br />
MIG Chair Adam Turk<br />
Providing misleading product information is not<br />
common practice and in 30 years of working in<br />
the industry, I’ve found that most businesses<br />
operate with integrity. So, while they are in<br />
the minority, companies who provide false or<br />
misleading product information negatively impact<br />
the whole industry’s reputation.<br />
To stand up to the credibility challenge facing<br />
construction and address the findings of the<br />
report, the Construction Products Association<br />
(CPA) established the Marketing Integrity Group<br />
(MIG) in 2018. I was appointed to lead the Group,<br />
alongside Polypipe divisional marketing director<br />
and MIG deputy chair, Catherine Fyfe.<br />
Creating the Code<br />
The first step was to understand what the<br />
industry thought, from both providers and users<br />
of product information. So we undertook a Call<br />
for Evidence survey in 2019, which received<br />
over 500 responses and almost 200 pages<br />
of free text information. It was clear from the<br />
detail submitted that change was needed and<br />
in particular that product information could be<br />
relied upon by those that depend on it. The MIG,<br />
as representatives of product manufacturers from<br />
across the construction supply chain, set about<br />
creating a new Code of Conduct.<br />
“Whether you are making windows and doors,<br />
specifying them, fitting them or maintaining<br />
them, we all need to be confident that the<br />
products behave and perform as they should”<br />
This Code would ensure construction<br />
manufacturers provide reliable, accurate<br />
information – whether written in a brochure, a<br />
presentation, on a website or said in conversation<br />
– so users of product information have all the<br />
facts when making decisions about specifying or<br />
installing their products.<br />
The Code would be voluntary but there would be<br />
encouragement to join and achieve widespread<br />
compliance. The alternative could be something<br />
devised and imposed by the Government,<br />
developed with minimal input and involvement<br />
from the industry.<br />
Working with industry marketing and technical<br />
professionals, the Code for Construction Product<br />
Information (CCPI) was created. The Code is built<br />
around five ‘acid tests’, derived from the Call for<br />
Evidence survey where most people told us that to<br />
be trustworthy, product information must be Clear,<br />
Accurate, Up-to-date, Accessible and Unambiguous.<br />
16 T F FEB/MAR <strong>2021</strong> CONNECTING THE WINDOW, DOOR & ROOF FABRICATION SUPPLY CHAIN
The Code has 11 clauses and is broken down into<br />
four main sections:<br />
1. Information creation<br />
Ensure rigorous sign off procedures are in place,<br />
that version control is used so the latest information<br />
is always available and ending the practice of<br />
misleading and/or ambiguous wording or images.<br />
2. Core information<br />
Where performance or compliance information is<br />
given, it must be supported by evidence.<br />
3. Associated information<br />
This covers information regarding the handling,<br />
installation, operation, maintenance and disposal<br />
of construction products. This section also<br />
covers guarantees and warranties, to ensure<br />
manufacturers are transparent about what is<br />
covered, excluded and required to comply with<br />
any terms and conditions.<br />
4. Support and competence<br />
Ensuring that people providing support and advice<br />
have sufficient training and knowledge for their role.<br />
Management & auditing<br />
For this Code to truly make a difference, it’s<br />
important compliance is independently assessed<br />
and verified. We don’t want manufacturers<br />
‘marking their own homework’, but equally, we<br />
need to recognise the effort behind compliance.<br />
So the CPA, with the support of the Considerate<br />
Constructors Scheme (CCS), have established<br />
Construction Product Information Limited (CPIL)<br />
– an independent, not-for-profit organisation<br />
that will be responsible for administering and<br />
managing the forthcoming Code, and auditing<br />
registrants. CPIL will have an independent<br />
Board as its governance structure with Amanda<br />
Long, CEO of CCS also taking on the CEO role for<br />
CPIL. All successful assessments will be given<br />
a numbered licence to demonstrate compliance<br />
with the CCPI. The licence will be valid for one<br />
year and subject to ongoing assessment.<br />
Working together for change<br />
Ideally, we’d like the Code to go live in June <strong>2021</strong>,<br />
with the first companies being CCPI approved<br />
by the end of the year. But before we reach that<br />
point, we need your help.<br />
We are running an industry-wide consultation<br />
from 1 <strong>Feb</strong>ruary <strong>2021</strong> to 31 <strong>March</strong> <strong>2021</strong> to gather<br />
feedback on the Code, its launch and the ongoing<br />
management and policing of it.<br />
Why are we asking you to take part? Because we<br />
are all in this together. Construction products are<br />
used throughout the life cycle of a building and<br />
have a critical impact on safety, energy efficiency<br />
and performance. Whether you are making<br />
windows and doors, specifying them, fitting them<br />
or maintaining them, we all need to be confident<br />
that the products we come into contact with<br />
everyday behave and perform as they should. It’s<br />
your reputation on the line.<br />
The country is watching how we respond to<br />
Grenfell and while our industry’s integrity has<br />
been damaged, we can demonstrate our strength<br />
by rising to the challenge and building a legacy of<br />
safer buildings.<br />
The CCPI Consulation Report gives further<br />
details on the proposed new code<br />
For more information, read the Consultation<br />
report at: https://bit.ly/36Zn5w9 and then tell us<br />
what you think before 31 <strong>March</strong> <strong>2021</strong>.<br />
“Our industry’s integrity<br />
has been damaged but<br />
we can demonstrate<br />
our strength by rising<br />
to the challenge and<br />
building a legacy of<br />
safer buildings”<br />
www.buildingsafely.co.uk<br />
CONNECTING THE WINDOW, DOOR & ROOF FABRICATION SUPPLY CHAIN<br />
FEB/MAR <strong>2021</strong> T F 17
Aluminium<br />
ALUMINIUM INSIGHTS FOR <strong>2021</strong><br />
With Brexit and Covid-19 issues still very much with us, Adrian Toon, board director<br />
at the Council for Aluminium in Building (CAB), analyses the data with regard to the<br />
aluminium fenestration sector and the wider construction industry.<br />
CAB’s 2020 final quarter ‘State of the Trade<br />
Survey’ showed a distinct caution within<br />
the fenestration industry compared to<br />
the wider construction industry. CAB’s survey<br />
is taken from its membership and the results<br />
benchmarked against the wider construction<br />
industry by the CPA. Normally CAB members fare<br />
much better, or are more optimistic than that of<br />
the general construction industry, but the last<br />
report of 2020 offers an interesting insight.<br />
Only 36% of the CAB membership, on balance,<br />
said that their historic sales, which reflect the<br />
fourth quarter of 2020 against the third quarter<br />
of 2020, had increased compared to 85% on<br />
balance of the wider construction industry.<br />
Looking forward to the first quarter of <strong>2021</strong>, on<br />
balance, only 32% of CAB members expected<br />
sales to increase, whilst 48% on balance of the<br />
wider construction industry expected sales to<br />
increase. The change could be reflecting the delay<br />
in which the supply of aluminium fenestration<br />
follows some time after building starts on site.<br />
The year ended with a net balance of 14% of<br />
CAB members suggesting that sales volumes had<br />
reduced in the previous year.<br />
The main driving factor for CAB members remains<br />
the costs of materials and obviously the exchange<br />
rate, as much of the UK’s aluminium is imported.<br />
Looking forward, 62% of CAB members suggested<br />
that the demand for product would be the likely<br />
constraining factor in business for the next 12<br />
months, reflecting the conservative figure in both<br />
reported historic and expected sales forecasts.<br />
Looking at capacity utilisation and companies<br />
that are operating at over 90% of capacity, less<br />
than 50% of CAB members suggested they were<br />
running at this level and there does not seem to<br />
be an expected improvement in the year ahead.<br />
The wider construction industry is faring a little<br />
better, but the restrictions imposed by the Covid-<br />
19 outbreak continue to make business difficult<br />
for most.<br />
On balance, 27% of members have indicated that<br />
labour costs during the last year have increased,<br />
and on balance 64% of members expect that there<br />
will be further increases in cost in the year ahead.<br />
Both historic and expected costs remain higher<br />
than that of the wider construction industry.<br />
Encouraging to see is that capital investment<br />
from CAB members, on net balance across all<br />
capital assets, is set to double in the year ahead,<br />
suggesting confidence in the coming months.<br />
Construction output will rise<br />
The Construction Products Association (CPA)<br />
anticipates that construction output in <strong>2021</strong><br />
will rise by 14% with the largest growth rates in<br />
<strong>2021</strong> expected to be in infrastructure at 32%,<br />
public housing RM&I at 21% and industrial<br />
construction by 19%. The CPA’s main scenario<br />
for 2022 anticipates that construction output will<br />
rise by a further 4.9%, with the largest growth<br />
rates expected to be in public housing (10%) and<br />
industrial construction (8.5%). Obviously, these<br />
figures are based on combating the Covid-19 virus<br />
as one of the main restrictions we currently face.<br />
In fenestration circles, whilst commercial newbuild<br />
and refurbishment outlooks may be a little<br />
cautious, there is a possibility that the home<br />
improvement sector could bounce back after the<br />
current lockdown, as it did for the first lockdown<br />
in 2020. With homeowners looking to spend<br />
capital not spent on holidays, in improving their<br />
homes and property, these improvements often<br />
include replacement windows and doors. Whilst<br />
still far from the most widely used fenestration<br />
material in the UK today, aluminium continues to<br />
grow and is arguably the material of choice for<br />
the homeowner given its affordability.<br />
Despite the pandemic, it is business as usual<br />
at CAB and staff are on hand at the offices and<br />
working remotely to answer any aluminium<br />
fenestration related questions. Information is also<br />
regularly updated on the CAB website.<br />
Contact CAB:<br />
01453 828851<br />
www.c-a-b.org.uk<br />
@CABaluminium<br />
18 T F FEB/MAR <strong>2021</strong> CONNECTING THE WINDOW, DOOR & ROOF FABRICATION SUPPLY CHAIN
Innovation comes built-in<br />
MANUFACTURING<br />
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Morley Glass & Glazing Ltd<br />
Unit 3, Leeds 27 Industrial Estate<br />
Bruntcliffe Way, Leeds LS27 0HH<br />
Email: info@morleyglass.co.uk<br />
Direct fax for quotations: 0113 277 8723<br />
www.morleyglass.co.uk<br />
Tel: 0113 277 8722
Customer Service<br />
NON-STOP SYSTEMS SUPPORT<br />
Aluminium systems supplier, Alutech Systems, tells Total Fabricator how it has adapted its<br />
fabrication training and customer service in response to the coronavirus pandemic, to ensure<br />
its customers continue to thrive in testing times.<br />
The full extent of the impact of the<br />
coronavirus pandemic on the UK economy<br />
is still unknown. But for some businesses,<br />
adversity has fuelled innovation and changed<br />
the way they operate forever. That is certainly<br />
the case for West Yorkshire-based aluminium<br />
systems supplier, Alutech Systems, whose quick<br />
response to supporting customers through the<br />
pandemic has resulted in significant growth.<br />
SYSTEMS<br />
Despite these testing times, Alutech has<br />
continued to challenge the levels of customer<br />
service that the fenestration industry has come<br />
to expect from suppliers, in the way it has<br />
adapted its processes and procedures during the<br />
pandemic to continue to provide the support its<br />
customers need to not only survive, but thrive.<br />
“When lockdown began in <strong>March</strong> last year,” says<br />
managing director, Steve Hudson, “we quickly<br />
adjusted to continue the set-up training we offer<br />
to new customers, which is usually delivered at<br />
our in-house training and product demonstration<br />
suite or at their own premises, and instead<br />
deliver it virtually via a live online video link.<br />
“We also produced a series of fabrication<br />
training videos for our YouTube channel,<br />
designed to work alongside<br />
our technical manual for our<br />
BF73 system for bi-folding<br />
and French doors, enabling<br />
our customers to review any<br />
technical training information<br />
accessibly and easily, at a time<br />
that suits them.<br />
“As part of our ‘new normal’<br />
going forward, virtual training<br />
will continue as a fantastic<br />
addition to our available services,<br />
enabling our friendly and skilled<br />
Above and below: Set-up training for new<br />
customers is now delivered virtually, via<br />
video link. Right: Fabrication training videos<br />
are available on Alutech’s YouTube channel<br />
training staff to connect with<br />
customers around the country<br />
from the comfort of their own<br />
warehouse.”<br />
Alutech’s adaptability, hardworking<br />
staff and huge stock capacity has certainly<br />
stood the company in good stead, with volumes<br />
up 50% last summer. Existing customers have<br />
grown and new ones have come on board, in<br />
favour of Alutech’s personal,<br />
friendly approach to customer<br />
service, on which the business<br />
is founded.<br />
Steve adds, “Our customers<br />
come to us wanting more than<br />
to be treated like a number and<br />
that’s not how we do things<br />
here. We like to be on first<br />
name terms and will work<br />
closely with each customer<br />
from one order to the next.<br />
“Customer experience is<br />
everything to us, nothing it<br />
is too much trouble and we believe in going the<br />
extra mile by doing the little things that count a<br />
lot. Such as, taking the time to individually wrap<br />
each length of profile for every order to ensure it<br />
arrives in perfect condition, cutting down on the<br />
time spent on remakes and returns. We also offer<br />
flexibility when it comes to delivering profile, so<br />
our customers get what they want, when they<br />
need it. And thanks to our large storage facility in<br />
Yorkshire, we’ve been able to hold many weeks’<br />
worth of finished product and hardware, right<br />
here in the UK, available for immediate delivery,<br />
throughout the pandemic. This has allowed us to<br />
maintain our five-day delivery on stocked product.”<br />
Contact Alutech Systems:<br />
01924 350 110<br />
alutechsystems.co.uk<br />
@AlutechSystems<br />
20 T F FEB/MAR <strong>2021</strong> CONNECTING THE WINDOW, DOOR & ROOF FABRICATION SUPPLY CHAIN
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<strong>2021</strong> Forecast<br />
SYSTEMS<br />
REASONS TO BE CHEERFUL IN <strong>2021</strong>?<br />
While 2020 is behind us, the impact of Covid-19 is not and many are wondering what this<br />
year will bring. Kevin Warner, Exlabesa Building System’s sales director, argues that while<br />
some difficulties are inevitable, there are plenty of opportunities for the fenestration sector.<br />
F<br />
enestration weathered the coronavirus crisis<br />
of 2020 better than most industries. Retail<br />
and hospitality were devastated. Travel and<br />
tourism were forced to close down almost entirely.<br />
But partly through a summer where millions were<br />
shut inside and forced to face home imperfections<br />
that otherwise would’ve been easy to ignore,<br />
and partly through people diverting income that<br />
normally might’ve gone on pricey foreign holidays,<br />
the glazing sector has boomed.<br />
After the first extremely challenging lockdown<br />
of 2020, fabricators and installers returned to<br />
find shockingly high demand for their services<br />
– so much so that many struggled to keep up,<br />
particularly given the severe disruption to the<br />
supply chain.<br />
The second half of the year went on to be one of the<br />
most buoyant periods in the history of fenestration.<br />
Over the Christmas period, naturally, things<br />
slowed – and while 2020 is finally over, the crisis<br />
isn’t. Coronavirus is still very much a present<br />
threat, and even with the roll out of the vaccines,<br />
we are unlikely to see substantial changes until<br />
mid-<strong>2021</strong>.<br />
But at Exlabesa Building Systems, we’re confident<br />
that <strong>2021</strong> will be a positive, prosperous period for<br />
UK glass and glazing.<br />
Construction-led recovery?<br />
For the first quarter of this year at least, we know<br />
we’ll still be riding the wave of the post-lockdown<br />
boom that kicked-in last summer. Many of our<br />
customers are fully-booked months in advance,<br />
and I can easily see them being busy well into Q2.<br />
After that, it’s much harder to say. It’s possible<br />
that this summer might look something like the<br />
last – with much of the population vaccinated,<br />
life could start to get back to something<br />
“Millions of<br />
homes will<br />
need upgrades<br />
to windows and<br />
doors if they’re<br />
going to be fit for a net<br />
zero future”<br />
approaching reality, but I suspect it will be a<br />
while before millions of people are able to start<br />
jetting around the world again.<br />
In that scenario, you can foresee people again<br />
using their disposable income to make the most<br />
of warmer weather in the UK, by installing patio<br />
doors, bi-folds, balustrades, balconies and other<br />
products that help blur the lines between indoors<br />
and outdoors.<br />
One thing we know from past recessions is that<br />
governments often make housebuilding and<br />
construction more generally a major part of their<br />
plans for economic recovery.<br />
In the UK, Downing Street has repeatedly stated<br />
its intention to ‘build back better’, and I think<br />
it’s certainly possible that fenestration could<br />
benefit from a government-backed increase in<br />
construction projects around the country in the<br />
year ahead.<br />
Climate back in the spotlight<br />
As we gradually get on top of the pandemic<br />
throughout <strong>2021</strong>, I think we’ll see climate change<br />
quickly take corona’s place as the world’s most<br />
urgent priority – and dominate the conversation<br />
in our sector and the country more generally<br />
between now and 2050.<br />
Again, that presents opportunities<br />
for fenestration. Millions of<br />
homes around the country<br />
will need renovation work –<br />
including upgrades to windows<br />
and doors – if they’re going to be<br />
fit for a net zero future.<br />
New products in the pipeline<br />
At Exlabesa Building Systems, we’ve got ambitious<br />
plans for the months ahead – including the launch<br />
of new product lines, and a raft of enhancements<br />
to our already extensive existing range.<br />
After a long year of Zoom and Teams calls, we’re<br />
very excited for the chance to showcase all this<br />
and more at the FIT Show in September.<br />
We’re sure it might look a little different<br />
than normal, but we’re still looking forward<br />
to reminding the industry of the outstanding<br />
selection of products Exlabesa Building Systems<br />
can provide.<br />
Contact Exlabesa Building Systems:<br />
01302 762500<br />
www.exlabesa.co.uk<br />
@exlabesaBS_UK<br />
22 T F FEB/MAR <strong>2021</strong> CONNECTING THE WINDOW, DOOR & ROOF FABRICATION SUPPLY CHAIN
Updates<br />
GARNALEX LAUNCHES SHEERLINE PRESTIGE<br />
Garnalex has launched Sheerline Prestige, described as its most<br />
versatile and thermally efficient aluminium window and door system.<br />
Featuring a full-depth Eurogroove, Prestige lets fabricators use their existing<br />
PVC-U hardware to streamline manufacturing, and according to Garnalex, is<br />
set to help ‘redefine installer expectations’ in <strong>2021</strong>.<br />
Prestige boasts what Garnalex claims is the widest range of window styles<br />
and includes doors and French doors. The system is available in the same<br />
style options and 12 stocked colours as Classic, Sheerline’s ultra slim<br />
window system. Prestige also includes 28-44mm glazing options and a<br />
choice of small, intermediate and large outer frames to accommodate<br />
different plaster lines and window reveals for a perfect finish for any size and<br />
style of home.<br />
Prestige was developed from Sheerline’s core principles of beautiful<br />
aesthetics, top performance and innovative, fabricator and installer-friendly<br />
design. Built around Sheerline’s Thermavic multi-chamber, thermal design,<br />
U-values are as low as 0.9 W/(m²K) for triple glazing and 1.3 U-value W/<br />
(m²K) double glazed. Sheerline’s cills feature this same technology coupled<br />
with innovative in-built weather sealing that keep draughts and rain safely<br />
outside. Prestige also incorporates Sheerline’s patented corner jointing<br />
method, ‘making it easy and quick to fabricate beautiful, easily repeatable<br />
perfect corners, time and time again’ according to Garnalex.<br />
Roger Hartshorn, Garnalex CEO, said: “The launch of Sheerline Prestige<br />
is timely. The market remains strong and consumer demand for high<br />
performance, beautiful products is soaring. Sheerline is perfectly poised to<br />
help fabricators and installers benefit from this demand. Our first system,<br />
Sheerline Classic, is a super-slim specialist window, ideal for replacing<br />
traditional steel-framed windows or contemporary properties. Our second<br />
system, Sheerline Prestige is our most versatile system with beautiful looks,<br />
and doors and French doors, and a choice of sizes and designs to suit any<br />
type of property. The feedback from fabricators has been extremely positive<br />
and we’re excited about the year ahead.” www.sheerline.com<br />
TECHNAL SYSTEMS TRANSFORM DATED OFFICE<br />
Technal aluminium window, curtain walling and doors have been<br />
specified and installed at Heathervale House – transforming the<br />
outdated office development.<br />
Situated in the centre of Royal Tunbridge Wells, Heathervale House is a<br />
commercial property, which has been used as an office space for decades.<br />
Originally clad in brick, slate and hung tile, the building had started to show<br />
signs of disrepair, looking tired and dilapidated. To bring it back to life, the<br />
building owner developed plans to undertake a wide scale refurbishment<br />
and extension of the property. Following a feasibility study, the building was<br />
handed across to design-led architectural practice, MortonScarr.<br />
From the outset, MortonScarr recognised how important updated glazing<br />
systems would be in improving the aesthetics and performance of the<br />
building, both internally and externally. Previously, Heathervale House had<br />
featured small, brown-framed windows, which limited how much sunlight<br />
those inside the offices received through the day.<br />
Explaining how the architectural aluminium systems supplier got involved,<br />
Technal project consultant, Graeme MacInnes said: “MortonScarr<br />
contacted us at an early stage of the design process to provide the build<br />
team with technical advice on how it could best achieve its vision whilst<br />
improving the building’s external envelope performance. One of the project<br />
team’s key ambitions was to incorporate more glazing products into the<br />
build, to create a much brighter, lighter space.”<br />
The entire façade of the original three-storey building was re-clad with<br />
concrete tiles, with projecting brass window boxes also incorporated.<br />
The window boxes, which feature Technal systems, added visual<br />
relief to the building externally, whilst maximising internal vistas for<br />
occupants. www.technal.com/en/uk/<br />
24 T F FEB/MAR <strong>2021</strong> CONNECTING THE WINDOW, DOOR & ROOF FABRICATION SUPPLY CHAIN
SYSTEMS<br />
TWO-DECADE TECHNICAL PARTNERSHIP FOR SENIOR<br />
A 20-year partnership between Senior Architectural Systems and Rapierstar demonstrates how a<br />
continued focus on fastening systems is a key factor in achieving long-term success for window,<br />
door and curtain walling systems.<br />
Senior Architectural Systems is approaching 30 years in the market and is renowned for the continuous<br />
innovation which has delivered a technically superior range of UK designed and made aluminium systems.<br />
Rapierstar worked closely with Senior in the original development of the SF52, launched in 2015, to ensure<br />
the suite of fasteners recommended for the assembly of the curtain wall provides a robust, reliable fix for the<br />
duration of the installation’s service life and beyond. This included developing a bespoke screw to fix a cleat<br />
that was key to the success of the system, and five years on Rapierstar is supplying an average of between 60,000-70,000 of these fasteners every month.<br />
Rapierstar fasteners have been tested with all Senior’s aluminium systems which gives any fabricator of SF52 and its other systems full confidence in the<br />
long-term success of an installation. www.rapierstar.com<br />
A Rapierstar stainless steel self-tapping drill point screw,<br />
which is typically used in products manufactured using<br />
Senior Architectural Systems’ aluminium profiles<br />
SHEERLINE LAUNCHES DEDICATED VIDEO WEBSITE<br />
Garnalex has produced a suite of high impact, engaging videos to support the launch of Sheerline<br />
Classic. With a dedicated website, www.sheerlinevideo.com, Garnalex’s practical videos tell fabricators<br />
and installers everything they need to know about this groundbreaking new window system.<br />
The quality videos, which are short, bite-size length for quick and easy viewing, demonstrate clearly<br />
Sheerline’s innovations and key benefits. A useful reference and sales aid for fabricators and installers,<br />
the comprehensive library covers a range of practical topics including: Assembly; Installing and<br />
deglazing; Installer and fabricators benefits; Maintaining Sheerline aluminium windows for homeowners.<br />
Garnalex CEO, Roger Hartshorn said: “Sheerline is so innovative – and different from older aluminium<br />
systems – that it needs to be seen to be believed. We’d originally invested in a state-of-the-art training suite but with Covid-19 restrictions likely to be<br />
in place for some months, we realised we needed to adapt. So, we commisioned this series of practical and easy-to-digest videos so fabricators and<br />
installers can start fabricating, selling and installing Sheerline straight away to maximise their sales... The response has been very positive – and it’s<br />
great to see so many fabricators and installers using our dedicated video library website so frequently.” www.sheerlinevideo.com<br />
SPECTUS FLUSH TILT & TURN WINDOWS SPECIFIED<br />
Some 200 Spectus Flush Tilt & Turn windows were specified for a 60-home extra care development<br />
in Grimsby. The three-storey building, Burchester Court, comprises of 60 one and two-bedroom<br />
apartments, all with accessible and open plan living space.<br />
With contemporary design a key feature of the new development, the window contractor choices were critical.<br />
Spectus Flush Tilt & Turn windows are an ideal solution for both medium- and high-rise buildings such<br />
as residential housing, offices, hospitals and universities. Specifically designed to prevent the framework<br />
from overlapping to give a more ‘flush’ appearance, a high-performance centre seal system with optional<br />
third weather seal means the window can achieve a Window Energy Rating of A++ with double glazing<br />
and a U-value of 0.8 W/(m 2 K) with triple glazing. The Spectus Flush Tilt & Turn is suitable for large window apertures and can accommodate opening sizes<br />
of 1,464mm x 2,314mm with a sash weight load of 150kg. A triple seal is also available for improved weather and thermal performance.<br />
In this project, the sleek look of the windows, combined with a grey on white colour, created the contemporary look required. www.spectus.co.uk<br />
CONNECTING THE WINDOW, DOOR & ROOF FABRICATION SUPPLY CHAIN<br />
FEB/MAR <strong>2021</strong> T F 25
Composite Doors<br />
ENGINEERED FOR SUCCESS<br />
Dan Sullivan, MD of composite door manufacturer, DOORCO, tells Total Fabricator why<br />
the company’s new solid core composite door, engineered using GRiPCORE Technology, is<br />
pushing boundaries.<br />
DOORCO is driven by innovating products<br />
which help our customers stand out from<br />
the crowd in the increasingly competitive<br />
composite door market. We have unique doors<br />
in our portfolio, like the leading contemporary<br />
composite door Monza II, the unrivalled<br />
aluminium alternative LINKS, the versatile and<br />
fashionable Farmhouse and the 6/4 Combi for<br />
easy manufacturing of traditional styles. All these<br />
products have one thing in common – a traditional<br />
foam filled core. Developing a DOORCO solid core<br />
door was a logical step for us.<br />
A solid core composite door is not groundbreaking,<br />
therefore DOORCO needed to create something that<br />
really pushed the boundaries and engineer out all<br />
the issues consumers face with the current market.<br />
With GRiPCORE Technology we have done just<br />
that, thanks to our collective experience and new<br />
specialist partners.<br />
“It is truly the most<br />
engineered door I have<br />
ever seen”<br />
What is GRiPCORE?<br />
GRiPCORE Technology is a hybrid of modern<br />
and traditional materials. It has the same 4mm<br />
GRP skins as the rest of our products, which are<br />
pressed on to a unique matrix of cross laminated<br />
engineered timber and hardwood stiles and<br />
rails. Safety and security have been built into<br />
GRiPCORE’s DNA, delivering a stronger, heavier<br />
and more robust door that will not crack, move or<br />
de-laminate. It is truly the most engineered door<br />
I have ever seen. In fact, we are so confident in<br />
the product and the engineering and investment<br />
behind it, we are offering a 10 Year Warranty on<br />
all GRiPCORE doors, with a further guarantee that<br />
the door blank will not move/bow/twist more than<br />
3mm in that time. Both will give you and your<br />
customers confidence for years to come.<br />
Launching GRiPCORE<br />
The new GRiPCORE doors will be available in the<br />
next few months and if you are an existing DOORCO<br />
customer, very little investment is required to<br />
introduce the new range into your product portfolio.<br />
GRiPCORE’s manufacturing requirements do<br />
not vary from our standard door product, so no<br />
additional tooling or equipment is required. Stock<br />
is also often a big challenge, so we’ve made this<br />
simpler too: GRiPCORE is available in a one size<br />
fits all 914mm blank. This means that from one<br />
slab, you can make all required door sizes which<br />
minimises complex ordering and storage, saving<br />
you time and money.<br />
To put it simply, as the majority of our existing<br />
door styles are available, GRiPCORE is a premium<br />
DOORCO alternative. We will, of course, be<br />
launching some bespoke glass and colour options<br />
to match and a new suite of marketing materials<br />
to support your sales. This includes a new stateof-the-art<br />
video illustrating how GRiPCORE is<br />
made, which can be viewed on the homepage of<br />
our website.<br />
We are really excited about GRiPCORE’s potential<br />
and anticipate it being a real game-changer for<br />
DOORCO and the composite door market as a<br />
whole.<br />
Contact DOORCO:<br />
01625 428955<br />
www.door-co.com<br />
@DOORCO_Official<br />
26 T F FEB/MAR <strong>2021</strong> CONNECTING THE WINDOW, DOOR & ROOF FABRICATION SUPPLY CHAIN
GRiPCORE technology is<br />
a hybrid of modern and<br />
traditional materials.<br />
DOORCO’s signature 4mm GRP skins are pressed on<br />
to a unique matrix of cross laminated engineered<br />
timber and hardwood stiles and rails.<br />
Safety and security have been built into GRiPCORE’s<br />
DNA, delivering a stronger, heavier and more robust<br />
door that will not crack, move or de-laminate.<br />
Available as a one size fits all 914mm (44mm) door.<br />
Register your interest today →<br />
01625 428955<br />
Email. info@door-co.com | Visit. www.door-co.com<br />
Motorway House | Charter Way | Macclesfield | Cheshire | SK10 2NY
Fire Doors<br />
A 'GAME-CHANGING' FIRE DOOR<br />
The Guardsman composite fire door is the result of a two-year, six figure development by<br />
ODL Europe in conjunction with Capstone Engineering. Nathan Barr, managing director at<br />
ODL Europe, discusses its development, features and benefits with Total Fabricator.<br />
What prompted the Guardsman’s development?<br />
Our goal was simple: to develop a 30-minute<br />
composite fire door that offered reliable<br />
performance and consistent test results. We<br />
wanted to develop a product that would perform<br />
over and above anything else currently seen in<br />
the composite fire door market.<br />
What was the biggest challenge when<br />
developing the door?<br />
There were two key challenges we needed<br />
to overcome. We needed a material that would<br />
replace the phenolic foam core that’s at the heart<br />
of most composite fire doors. We also needed a<br />
design that would consistently meet the required<br />
standards even when assembled by different<br />
fabricators. We worked with the engineers at our<br />
partners Capstone, the world-leading supplier of<br />
composite doors. We also enlisted the help of a<br />
handful of experienced fire door fabricators and<br />
we then put a six-figure investment sum behind<br />
the development.<br />
How does the door perform in tests?<br />
To know we had succeeded, we set ourselves the<br />
toughest test. The doors would have to be tested<br />
to the European fire test standard of BS EN 1634-<br />
1:2008, the more onerous test standard required<br />
by Part B of building regulations. This would give<br />
evidence of our success because many other<br />
fire doors on the market still rely on BS476-22<br />
test evidence. While this means they meet legal<br />
standards because it’s listed as an alternative<br />
standard in Part B of building regulations, it doesn’t<br />
take a door out of its comfort zone. We wanted to<br />
do better. At ODL Europe we have a saying ‘good<br />
enough, isn’t good enough’ and with the safety<br />
performance and responsibility of a fire door, we<br />
needed to ensure that we were delivering something<br />
over and above anything else in the market.<br />
You have described the Guardsman as a<br />
‘gamechanger’. How does it differ from the<br />
composite fire doors currently on the market?<br />
You only have to look at the headline benefits. The<br />
Guardsman’s performance – in both glazed and<br />
unglazed versions and across multiple fabricators<br />
– has proved unrivalled and most importantly,<br />
consistent. Consistency in fire door performance<br />
is critical and our Guardsman door slab has<br />
achieved the same consistent results, with several<br />
fabricators during rigorous testing. We set out to<br />
develop a 30-minute fire door and in our most<br />
recent tests, the doors achieved, on average, a<br />
100% overrun past the 30-minute mark. In some<br />
instances, they achieved over 70 minutes.<br />
We tested the doors in conjunction with our<br />
market-leading TriSYS glazing cassettes and<br />
TS008 letterplates. Both achieved ratings far in<br />
excess of anything they’ve achieved with any other<br />
composite fire door and we don’t say that lightly.<br />
We have the testing evidence to back this up.<br />
Nathan Barr<br />
Of course, the fire rating was the critical element<br />
for us. But we knew there were other factors that<br />
were important. For fabricators, that means the<br />
Guardsman can be fabricated to a range of sizes<br />
from just two base designs. This comes on top<br />
of the reassuring reliability of the fire resistance<br />
ratings. And the quality of the 2mm GRP facings<br />
and the classic low maintenance benefits of a<br />
composite door mean it is able to withstand the<br />
rigours of day-to-day life.<br />
What is Agrifiber and what are the<br />
environmental benefits?<br />
Our first challenge was to the replace the<br />
phenolic foam core. In its place, we are using<br />
Agrifiber, which is a board material made from<br />
resin-bonded agricultural fibres. At the right<br />
density, it has the superb structural properties<br />
and the excellent fire resistance we needed. It’s<br />
also a green building product, which will help<br />
specifiers wanting to maximise the environmental<br />
standards of a scheme. We’ve coupled Agrifiber<br />
28 T F FEB/MAR <strong>2021</strong> CONNECTING THE WINDOW, DOOR & ROOF FABRICATION SUPPLY CHAIN
“We believe that Guardsman can kickstart a step<br />
change in the composite fire door sector and deliver<br />
better, more reliable fire protection”<br />
with hardwood stiles and rails and Capstone GRP<br />
skins. It means we have developed an exceptional<br />
composite fire door with all the superior qualities<br />
of a Capstone door.<br />
What advantages does Agrifiber hold over the<br />
phenolic foam traditionally used in fire doors?<br />
Agrifiber is stronger and more stable than the<br />
phenolic foam that most other composite fire doors<br />
within the market use. It offers consistent material<br />
densities, which delivers the same consistently<br />
exceptional fire resistance results every time.<br />
We believe that Guardsman can kickstart a step<br />
change in the composite fire door sector and<br />
deliver better, more reliable fire protection.<br />
What are the specific benefits of the<br />
Guardsman for fabricators?<br />
We are working with strategic fabricating partners<br />
who are undertaking independent testing as<br />
a criteria of supply. The Guardsman Fire Door<br />
can be manufactured to suit any structural door<br />
aperture in a range of door styles from just two<br />
base designs.<br />
What are the colour options? And what about<br />
security, weather testing and warranties?<br />
Colour: Black, white and grey.<br />
Testing: The Guardsman Fire Door has been<br />
independently tested to the European fire test<br />
standard of EN 1634-1:2008.<br />
Security: The Guardsman Fire Door has been<br />
tested and complies to PAS24:2016 accreditation.<br />
Environmental Standards: Timbers used in the<br />
manufacturing of the Guardsman Fire Door slab<br />
are subject to FSC chain of custody certification,<br />
ensuring they are from sustainable sources.<br />
Management: Capstone and ODL Europe operate<br />
certified management systems to ISO 9001 and<br />
ISO 14001.<br />
Manufacturing: The Guardsman Fire Door<br />
slab is manufactured as part of the BM Trada<br />
Q-Mark scheme, which means we have full<br />
manufacturing traceability.<br />
Memberships: ODL Europe are members of the<br />
Association of Composite Door Manufacturers<br />
(ACDM), which means that all our door slabs are<br />
tested to and comply with all current UK standards.<br />
What’s next for ODL Europe when it comes to doors?<br />
<strong>2021</strong> has already seen the launch of two<br />
new door slabs – Deco and Moderne. The<br />
new Moderne door taps into the trend for<br />
contemporary door design and offers elegant<br />
modern detailing throughout. And the new Deco<br />
door is a cottage door design that gives the<br />
sophisticated heritage styling that is so popular at<br />
the moment. Both door slabs were as the result<br />
of customer feedback and deliver on the latest<br />
trends in composite door design. As for the future<br />
– I would just say, watch this space!<br />
Contact ODL Europe:<br />
0151 933 0299<br />
www.odleurope.com<br />
@ODL_Europe<br />
CONNECTING THE WINDOW, DOOR & ROOF FABRICATION SUPPLY CHAIN<br />
FEB/MAR <strong>2021</strong> T F 29
Updates<br />
For further info on all these updates and more, visit www.total-fabricator.co.uk<br />
GET IN THE GROOVE WITH INFINITY EXPANSION<br />
Distinction Doors’ popular Infinity Collection has been extended for <strong>2021</strong> with the addition of 10 striking<br />
new designs, featuring distinctive groove detailing and a variety of glazing apertures.<br />
Distinction Doors has reported a huge increase in demand for its products over the past 12 months as<br />
consumers spend more on home improvements during the pandemic. The buoyant market prompted the<br />
entrance door supplier to expand its Infinity Collection – a premium set of ‘on-trend’ grooved door styles.<br />
The 10 new designs all feature five grooved horizontal lines running the full width of the door. Building on the<br />
unswerving popularity of Distinction’s top 10 best-seller, the original grooved design – GD01, GD07 is available<br />
as a solid door.<br />
For those homeowners who wish to add natural light to their home, GD08, GD09 and GD10 all come with<br />
glazing apertures, each with three options for positioning – left, centre and right. Glazing to complete and<br />
complement the new door designs is available through Distinction Glass. www.distinctiondoors.co.uk<br />
NEW HYBRID SLIDING SYSTEM FOR HIGH-RISE LIVING<br />
Designed to ‘future-proof’ for an ageing population, more extreme weather conditions and increasingly<br />
noisy, high-rise cities, Technal has launched Tigal. This new, hybrid sliding aluminium system combines the<br />
advantages of a sliding door with the high performance of a window, and is especially suitable for tall buildings.<br />
Designed to provide quiet, comfortable surroundings for occupiers whilst performing well in challenging high-rise<br />
conditions, Technal has paid particular attention to Tigal’s design. Combining sleek lines and concealed hardware, it<br />
delivers a balanced aesthetic that won’t detract from the overall design intent of the building.<br />
This hybrid system combines multi-point locking around the perimeter and Technal says its patented central<br />
sealing system guarantees exceptional water-tightness performance which is up to four times better than a<br />
traditional sliding door. www.technal.co.uk<br />
WINDOW WARE'S NEW EBROCHURE IS OUT<br />
Independent hardware supplier, Window Ware, has launched its new commercial door hardware ebrochure.<br />
Featuring 20 pages packed with closing solutions for all kinds of commercial aluminium doors developed by Axim<br />
Architectural Hardware, the ebrochure is the final piece of a launch campaign which started back in <strong>March</strong> 2020 but got<br />
interrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic.<br />
The ebrochure showcases Axim’s collection of durable, easy-fitting EN 1154-complaint concealed overhead transom<br />
closers, including the TC8800 transom closer and its longer spindle variant, the TC9600 – both top choices for<br />
commercial door fabricators – as well as the fully adjustable TC9900, which Window Ware describes as ‘the go-to<br />
replacement closer for many a door repair’. The Axim commercial door hardware ebrochure is available to read now in<br />
the download section at: www.windowware.co.uk<br />
ONE DOOR SYSTEM THAT DOES IT ALL<br />
Alutech says it is taking away the headache of having to stock multiple systems by offering fabricators one<br />
system that caters for all door styles with the BF73 aluminium door system.<br />
Whether the project is a single door, French door or bi-folding door, they can all be fabricated from the same BF73<br />
system. The system is so versatile that it can cater for projects that call for shaped frames, fixed frames, sidelights,<br />
astragal bars, blinds in glass and can even be used as an entrance door with optional inserted aluminium panels.<br />
The BF73 system has been designed to be quick and easy to fabricate and install. The system offers a unique<br />
adjustable jamb feature for maximum adjustability during the installation stage. The optional adjustable jamb offers<br />
easier installs with 4mm tolerance. Alutech says its aluminium door systems also offer high levels of security, thermal<br />
efficiency, noise reduction and weather proofing. www.alutechsystems.co.uk<br />
30 T F FEB/MAR <strong>2021</strong> CONNECTING THE WINDOW, DOOR & ROOF FABRICATION SUPPLY CHAIN
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Roundbrand<br />
CONNECTING THE WINDOW, DOOR & ROOF FABRICATION SUPPLY CHAIN<br />
FEB/MAR <strong>2021</strong> T F 31
FIT Show Q&A: Nickie West<br />
'I CANNOT WAIT TO DO WHAT WE DO<br />
BEST WHEN WE OPEN THE DOORS'<br />
Hot on the heels of announcing its new September 26th – 28th dates, we chat to FIT Show<br />
event director Nickie West about the challenges of the past year and what people can expect<br />
when the show opens its doors later this year...<br />
TF: It’s been a very difficult year or so for<br />
the live events sector – what’s been going<br />
on behind the scenes at FIT Show?<br />
NW: Well, we have become quite good at<br />
changing dates, which isn’t something I wanted<br />
to add to my repertoire. Across the event industry,<br />
we have all had to adapt to the challenges<br />
presented by the ever-changing impact of the<br />
global COVID-19 pandemic. But we are a resilient<br />
bunch, we know how to manage even the most<br />
challenging of situations, we know how to run<br />
safe and secure events and I know that the<br />
events industry will return stronger than ever as<br />
soon as the Government gives the go ahead to<br />
do so.<br />
Behind the scenes we have very much been<br />
focusing on enhancing our proposition to meet<br />
the changing needs of the market. We’re in a<br />
very fortunate position in the sector because of<br />
the uplift in home improvement demands on the<br />
back of the amount of time people have spent at<br />
home during the various lockdown periods. We’ll<br />
be introducing new features, such as our outdoor<br />
living focus, as a direct reflection of the demand<br />
within the market.<br />
We have also been putting exciting plans in place<br />
to increase the lifetime value of the show. We’ve<br />
worked on our brand story and have also been<br />
exploring new and innovative ways to work with<br />
exhibitors to develop content that will add value<br />
to a visitor both pre and post FIT Show. A great<br />
example of this is the ‘WorkSmart’ campaign we<br />
have just launched with Business Pilot to help<br />
installers increase profitability. We have had<br />
more time to develop our content and this will<br />
directly benefit our FIT Show audience.<br />
“It’s going to be a very<br />
exciting showcase<br />
of the very latest<br />
products from every<br />
corner of the industry”<br />
Many exhibition organisers opted<br />
for virtual events – was this ever a<br />
consideration for FIT Show in some format<br />
– even in addition to the Live event?<br />
A virtual FIT Show was never on the cards, nor<br />
is it on the horizon any time in the future. FIT<br />
Show is all about face-to-face connections,<br />
seeing the latest products up close, being able<br />
to compare them side-by-side. You cannot do<br />
this virtually. I am yet to see one example of<br />
an online alternative to a B2B trade show that<br />
has delivered. Yes, virtual has a role to play in<br />
enhancing the show experience, such as hybrid<br />
events, or in delivering learning content, but it<br />
doesn’t match up to the power of live events.<br />
We are already looking at ways to increase the<br />
shelf life of the content delivered at FIT Show, and<br />
how we can extend our whole offering above and<br />
beyond the three physical days at the show. You<br />
can expect to see some hybrid elements to our<br />
next instalment, but it will be very much the live<br />
FIT Show platform that our audience expects with<br />
enhancements rather than replacements”<br />
It’s exciting to have the new dates in place<br />
– what has the response been like to the<br />
announcement? Are you getting a strong<br />
feeling people will be happy to be back at<br />
live events?<br />
Nickie West, FIT Show event director<br />
We’re really pleased to have secured new dates<br />
for the show later in the year, when we feel we<br />
will be in a much stronger position to deliver a<br />
successful FIT Show for the industry. As always,<br />
our community has thrown its weight behind the<br />
dateline. As well as moving our exhibitors over to<br />
the new dateline, we have also attracted some<br />
exciting new brands on the back of the new date<br />
announcement.<br />
The sentiment across the sector is very much that<br />
people are desperate to get back to face-to-face<br />
business. In addition to the need for face-to-face<br />
interaction, there has been no industry event<br />
since 2019 and throughout this time businesses<br />
have still been developing new products. Brands<br />
are relying on FIT Show as a platform to bring<br />
these products to market. It’s going to be a very<br />
exciting showcase of the very latest products from<br />
every corner of the industry – and a celebration of<br />
bringing everyone back together again.<br />
With regards to the format of the show,<br />
will you have any measures in place and<br />
do you envisage any differences in terms<br />
of social distancing, hand sanitisers,<br />
stand layouts etc.?<br />
32 T F FEB/MAR <strong>2021</strong> CONNECTING THE WINDOW, DOOR & ROOF FABRICATION SUPPLY CHAIN
FIT Show will still have the same award-winning<br />
look and feel that the industry expects from our<br />
event. We will be running one seminar theatre<br />
in September with an extremely comprehensive<br />
learning programme and will be introducing new<br />
demonstration and meeting areas so that we can<br />
give our audience more opportunities to see the<br />
latest products in action and build connections.<br />
In terms of mask wearing and hand sanitizing,<br />
we will follow whatever guidelines are in place at<br />
the time. Our operations team are staying abreast<br />
of the ever-changing guidelines for running safe<br />
events, which might include rapid testing and<br />
screening. Whatever happens over the next few<br />
months, I can assure our audience that we will<br />
deliver a safe and successful FIT Show when we<br />
are allowed to do so.<br />
Do you feel the types of challenges the<br />
pandemic has presented for fabricators<br />
and installers around supply of materials,<br />
working in the home, remote-selling etc.<br />
will influence seminars and debates at<br />
this year’s FIT Show?<br />
We will absolutely be addressing key industry<br />
issues as part of the FIT Show <strong>2021</strong> learning<br />
programme. We have not finalised the seminar<br />
programme as yet, but our core pillars will<br />
include; ‘doing better business’, ‘sustainability’,<br />
‘innovation’ and ‘legislation’. We expect that<br />
these topics will evolve significantly over the<br />
coming months, especially as we see the full<br />
impact of Brexit and the Greener Homes rollout.<br />
Our learning programme will be fully up-to-date<br />
to help arm our visitors with the content that is<br />
most relevant to them at the time of the show.<br />
Likewise, I’m sure on the tech and<br />
product side there’ll be many new<br />
launches to assist installers and the<br />
supply chain, as well as present new<br />
offerings to the home-owner who we’re<br />
constantly hearing has more money to<br />
spend and extend…<br />
New products are an element I am hugely excited<br />
about when FIT Show returns. I’ve spoken to<br />
so many exhibitors who have got multiple new<br />
“Quite simply, we would not run FIT Show if it<br />
was not safe to do so. All of the necessary safety<br />
measures will be in place before we open the<br />
doors to anyone”<br />
products and innovations that they are going to<br />
be bringing to FIT Show - this will be the first time<br />
that visitors will have had the opportunity to see<br />
these products up close.<br />
“I’ve spoken to so<br />
many exhibitors who<br />
have got multiple<br />
new products and<br />
innovations that<br />
they are going to be<br />
bringing to FIT Show”<br />
In terms of new offerings, alongside the<br />
unprecedented surge in demand from<br />
homeowners for home improvements in general,<br />
outdoor living enhancements have seen a<br />
massive 64% increase in demand. To reflect<br />
this, we have developed a brand new ‘Outdoor<br />
Living’ feature which will showcase everything<br />
from sun rooms and garden rooms through<br />
to conservatories and canopies, decking and<br />
fencing, awnings, gates and other associated<br />
outdoor home improvement products.<br />
What would your message be to potential<br />
exhibitors or visitors, if there are any, who<br />
are perhaps still reluctant to venture to<br />
the FIT Show this year?<br />
I would reassure anyone who had reservations<br />
about attending a live event that event organisers<br />
are experts in delivering safe events. We have<br />
dealt with various health and safety issues, from<br />
natural disasters through to terrorist threats.<br />
Quite simply, we would not run FIT Show if it<br />
was not safe to do so. All of the necessary safety<br />
measures will be in place before we open the<br />
doors to anyone. And, if during the run up to FIT<br />
Show, I did not hand-on-heart believe that we<br />
could deliver a safe event, we would work with<br />
our exhibitors and stakeholders to find a solution<br />
that was right for them.<br />
We were ahead of the curve in terms of moving<br />
the May show to a dateline we felt offered us all<br />
more room for the climate to improve, but we will<br />
of course remain nimble. As always, our priorities<br />
are protecting ROI for exhibitors and visitors,<br />
alongside protecting the FIT Show brand for the<br />
industry.<br />
I believe that it’s more important than ever that<br />
brands support FIT Show <strong>2021</strong>. We believe that<br />
the exhibitor line-up will be a real marker of those<br />
brands that have not only survived the pandemic,<br />
but indeed thrived. Our team is poised and ready<br />
to bring new exhibitors on board and work with<br />
them to deliver a seamless FIT Show experience.<br />
What have you learned from the past year<br />
with regards to Live events and is there<br />
anything you’ll take with you from this<br />
experience going forward?<br />
Over the last year, I have been reminded how<br />
resilient the events industry is. We have had to<br />
think on our feet throughout the pandemic and<br />
react to the needs of the market where we would<br />
usually be proactive.<br />
The biggest thing that the pandemic has<br />
highlighted is that nothing beats the power of<br />
live events when it comes to connecting with the<br />
market and bringing your products and services<br />
to life in the live event arena. I cannot wait to do<br />
what we do best when we open the doors on FIT<br />
Show in September.<br />
Find out more about FIT Show / book a stand<br />
0207 886 3100<br />
fitshow.co.uk<br />
@fitshow #FITShow21<br />
CONNECTING THE WINDOW, DOOR & ROOF FABRICATION SUPPLY CHAIN<br />
FEB/MAR <strong>2021</strong> T F 33
Advertorial: Metal Technology<br />
'A TRUSTED PARTNER' IN ALL AREAS<br />
With a product portfolio encompassing over 30 window, door, curtain walling, brise soleil<br />
and louvre system solutions, and extensive experience across all sectors, it’s no surprise<br />
Metal Technology has established itself as a trusted partner of fabricators, developers,<br />
contractors and architects...<br />
The company<br />
Since 1985, Metal Technology has been<br />
defining spaces through its architectural<br />
glazing solutions and has grown to become<br />
one of the UK and Ireland’s leading designers<br />
and suppliers of bespoke aluminium window,<br />
door, curtain wall and solar shading systems for<br />
commercial and residential applications.<br />
Committed to excellence in all aspects of<br />
sustainable product design, customer service<br />
and technical support, the company has become<br />
a trusted partner of fabricators, developers,<br />
contractors and architects.<br />
Product range<br />
Metal Technology’s product portfolio<br />
encompasses over 30 window, door, curtain<br />
walling, brise soleil and louvre systems. Its<br />
Thermally Enhanced (Hi+) portfolio offers the<br />
designer a wide and diverse choice of profiles<br />
that provide structural integrity, weather<br />
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The company has recently launched a new<br />
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accommodate greater floor slab deflection and<br />
glass movement in high-rise or multi-storey<br />
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Sectors<br />
Education<br />
Metal Technology has vast experience of<br />
providing fenestration solutions for over 1,000<br />
universities, colleges, schools and student<br />
accommodation throughout the UK. The company<br />
was a key supplier in a number of recently<br />
completed projects: the award-winning Horizon<br />
Heights student accommodation development<br />
Above, examples of projects Metal Technology have been involved with. Left: CDE Global HQ; Right: Queensferry High School<br />
in Liverpool, City Campus at Canterbury<br />
Christ Church University, the environmentally<br />
sustainable Queensferry High School and the<br />
£29m South West College in Enniskillen, which is<br />
Northern Ireland’s first Passivhaus Premium Plus<br />
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Retail<br />
From leading supermarkets and shopping centres<br />
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Leisure<br />
Metal Technology has supplied its design<br />
solutions and high-performance systems for<br />
major hotel groups such as Maldron, Marriott,<br />
Hilton and Jurys across the UK and Ireland.<br />
Recent developments include Hastings Grand<br />
Central Hotel in Belfast and Dublin’s new stateof-the-art<br />
Marlin Hotel. A vast range of Metal<br />
Technology’s systems were utilised for South<br />
Lake Leisure Centre, a significant new multi-use<br />
sports and leisure facility in Northern Ireland.<br />
Healthcare<br />
From Glasgow’s Victoria and Southern General<br />
Hospitals to its Maryhill Health Centre, Metal<br />
Technology has applied its expertise in close<br />
collaboration with designers to deliver financially<br />
economic yet technically robust solutions.<br />
Commercial<br />
Contracted for many commercial schemes<br />
throughout the UK, Metal Technology supplied<br />
their architectural glazing systems for a number<br />
of recently completed developments: CABI’s<br />
stunning new low energy headquarters in<br />
Wallingford, Earl Grey – the signature Grade A<br />
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CDE Global headquarters in Cookstown.<br />
Residential<br />
Signature apartment blocks in London, Belfast<br />
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Metal Technology’s windows, curtain walling,<br />
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externally, adding to the design possibilities, while<br />
the intrinsic qualities of aluminium – infinite<br />
recyclability, durability, strength and lightness<br />
mean it is one of the most sustainable building<br />
materials in use today.<br />
Contact Metal Technology:<br />
028 9448 7777<br />
metaltechnology.com<br />
@MetalTechAlumin<br />
34 T F FEB/MAR <strong>2021</strong> CONNECTING THE WINDOW, DOOR & ROOF FABRICATION SUPPLY CHAIN
Ultimate Security<br />
High-Performance<br />
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Mag locks<br />
Panic Exit<br />
Multi-point locking<br />
metaltechnology.com<br />
Providing high-performance strength and security,<br />
Metal Technology’s new innovative, commercial door<br />
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triple glazing. Ideal for high traffic locations within the<br />
commercial, health, education or retail sector.<br />
Multi-point locking is achievable on sash heights up<br />
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Follow us on
Software<br />
MORE THAN MACHINE LINKS<br />
AUTOMATION<br />
Nick Bailey, business development manager at window industry software supplier Business<br />
Micros, argues that there’s more to automation than just cutting and prepping....<br />
In a typical year, the Business Micros team<br />
probably averages one machine link installation<br />
every three weeks. Over the last extraordinary<br />
year though, that increased to one every other<br />
week as fabricators invested record amounts in<br />
machinery to try to increase their output, while<br />
constrained by social distancing in their factories.<br />
“Using software to automate more<br />
factory processes can arguably<br />
make an even bigger impact on<br />
accuracy and margins than the<br />
CNC machine itself”<br />
We’re still quoting at much higher volumes on<br />
machine links than ever before and, with no<br />
sign of any tailing off in demand, I think that will<br />
continue for the foreseeable future.<br />
For most fabricators, investing in a CNC machine<br />
is obviously all about automating as much of the<br />
cutting and prepping process as possible to increase<br />
volumes, and maximise efficiencies and output<br />
per person. But it’s also about achieving greater<br />
accuracy, reliability and consistency and eliminating<br />
errors which ultimately compromise margins.<br />
There’s no reason though why automation needs<br />
to stop at cutting and prepping. Using Business<br />
Micros EvoNET software to automate more of the<br />
processes within the factory can arguably make<br />
an even bigger impact on accuracy and margins<br />
than the CNC machine itself.<br />
For instance, EvoNET can be used to automate<br />
batching – freeing up the admin time used on the<br />
task, improving the flow around the factory and<br />
making the machine itself work more efficiently.<br />
Users can set their own filters and batching rules<br />
according to how orders are placed with them so<br />
that when they come to release a day’s work, it<br />
has already been filtered by colour, product, route<br />
and even complexity.<br />
Adding EvoNET barcode scanning alongside<br />
allows for an even smoother journey round the<br />
factory and lets users know exactly where every<br />
frame is at every given moment. Custom scan<br />
points can even be added which push some<br />
frames ahead of others based on their priority<br />
status. And, once a frame is completed, EvoNET<br />
can even be used to trigger automated alerts for<br />
customers to advise that orders are ready for<br />
collection or set to be delivered on time.<br />
Despatch and delivery can be automated using<br />
EvoNET in exactly the same way. The software<br />
can be set up to pre-allocate customer orders<br />
onto specific delivery routes and despatch scan<br />
points used to ensure vans are loaded in the drop<br />
order set by the transport team. When the frames<br />
arrive at the customer, the process completes with<br />
a digital signature on the delivery device. This is<br />
automatically sent back to EvoNET and a delivery<br />
note is sent direct to the customer’s inbox.<br />
Users can add automated invoices and a whole<br />
raft of other custom paperwork options to the<br />
collection and delivery notes, and free up admin<br />
and processing time to reduce costs while also<br />
improving service and customer satisfaction levels.<br />
Effectively, EvoNET can eliminate the vast majority<br />
of paperwork, which takes out the opportunities<br />
for manual errors either at the fabricator or at their<br />
customer, and frees up time for both parties to<br />
focus on other areas of their business.<br />
As well as all the aspects of automation,<br />
EvoNET is also, of course, an effective business<br />
management and reporting system. It allows<br />
customers to view a real-time dashboard showing<br />
everything from work in progress to quality errors<br />
and generate reports on turnover, margins, bills<br />
of materials and even fitting schedules. The data<br />
it produces helps customers to analyse areas for<br />
improvement within the business, and to support<br />
better forecasting and optimised stockholding.<br />
There is wide range of standard modules<br />
available within EvoNET so customers can add<br />
the ones which are the best fit for their business<br />
and focus on those areas where they can<br />
generate the biggest payback in terms of both<br />
accuracy and efficiency.<br />
Contact Business Micros:<br />
01925 296105<br />
www.businessmicros.co.uk<br />
@Business_Micros<br />
36 T F FEB/MAR <strong>2021</strong> CONNECTING THE WINDOW, DOOR & ROOF FABRICATION SUPPLY CHAIN
This label is not a statutory requirement. It is a voluntary label provided as a customer service to allow consumers to make informed<br />
decisions based on the noise reduction performance of competing products.<br />
© Only to be reproduced by permission of British Fenestration Rating Council Ltd<br />
This label is not a statutory requirement. It is a voluntary label provided as a customer service to allow consumers to make informed<br />
decisions based on the noise reduction performance of competing products.<br />
© Only to be reproduced by permission of British Fenestration Rating Council Ltd<br />
the benefits with BFRC<br />
Noise Reduction Ratings<br />
Noise Reduction<br />
Noise Reduction<br />
Window<br />
Company Name Ltd<br />
PVC-U Casement Window<br />
A Rated Windows<br />
Noise Reduction (R w )<br />
(In accordance with BS EN ISO 10140-2 or<br />
BS EN 14351.) Actual acoustic performance for a<br />
specific application depends on: the type and<br />
location of the external noise, the location of the<br />
window or door, and how the elements or fabric of<br />
the building perform.<br />
A ++<br />
A +<br />
A<br />
B<br />
C<br />
D<br />
E<br />
Correction for high frequency and low<br />
frequency (C,C tr )<br />
Licence No. 123456<br />
A ++<br />
Company Name Ltd<br />
Composite Door<br />
A Rated Doors<br />
Review Date: 03/08/2020<br />
51<br />
(-1,-4)<br />
To verify this licence please contact<br />
enquiries@bfrc.org<br />
Noise Reduction<br />
Door<br />
A ++<br />
A +<br />
A<br />
Noise Reduction (R w )<br />
B<br />
C<br />
D<br />
E<br />
(In accordance with BS EN ISO 10140-2 or BS EN 14351.)<br />
A ++<br />
51<br />
Licence No. 123456<br />
Review Date: 01/01/2019<br />
To verify this licence: enquiries@bfrc.org<br />
British Fenestration Rating Council<br />
Prove acoustic performance with BFRC ratings<br />
BFRC Noise Reduction Ratings let you prove the<br />
acoustic performance of your window and door<br />
products with our highly recognised ‘rainbow’<br />
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Viewpoint<br />
AUTOMATION<br />
THANKFULLY, NOBODY'S PERFECT<br />
Neil Parton, managing director, Elumatec UK, explains why the pursuit of perfection is not<br />
always the best path to success, even when it comes to machinery...<br />
As I write this, it’s damp and grey and we’re<br />
back in another lockdown. Right now, the<br />
new year’s resolutions set back in January<br />
are starting to look somewhat optimistic but<br />
I’m okay with that. I’ve seen enough Januarys<br />
to realise that progress isn’t always smooth but<br />
even small steps move you forward. I also know<br />
that aiming for perfection doesn’t always serve<br />
us well.<br />
The joy of imperfection<br />
I’m thankful that we’re not perfect because it’s<br />
our imperfections that make us interesting. They<br />
are the source of so much richness, creativity and<br />
excitement. If you’re not sure what I mean, imagine<br />
you’re watching your football team. By relentless<br />
application, the team has achieved perfection.<br />
Every single member of the squad is in peak<br />
condition, every pass they make is judged to the<br />
millimetre and they never lose possession. Every<br />
shot on goal sails past your opponent’s keeper.<br />
You’d stop celebrating when the score was sixnil.<br />
By 10-nil you would have stopped caring<br />
because this is the most boring display you’ve<br />
ever seen. As soon as the novelty wears off, there<br />
is zero tension. No drama, nothing to debate,<br />
no attacking play on which to pin your hopes,<br />
no heart-in-the-mouth final injury-time minutes<br />
when an equaliser seems inevitable.<br />
Perfection isn’t only a problem in sport. It’s also<br />
well documented that some faces are deemed<br />
unattractive because they are too symmetrical,<br />
too cold, too alien to our expectations. We like<br />
our fellow humans to look human and we like<br />
them to be human in their behaviour too. And that<br />
applies across every walk of life, from the football<br />
pitch to the catwalk, from the shop floor to the<br />
boardroom. We relate to people we can relate<br />
to, but it’s very hard to establish rapport with<br />
someone who doesn’t seem to have any flaws.<br />
It’s imperfect and that’s okay<br />
I’ve used the expression ‘seem to have’ because I<br />
don’t believe perfect people exist, and if someone<br />
is trying to convince you of their perfection, you<br />
can bet they are feigning something. The same<br />
applies, of course, to plant and machinery.<br />
If someone tells me they are looking for the perfect<br />
machine, I’ll make certain they know all the pros<br />
and cons of what we’re offering. The last thing<br />
we want to do is erode long-term trust by using<br />
a false pretence to make a sale. If we can deliver<br />
something that comes close − possibly closer<br />
than any alternative − we’re happy, but we’re not<br />
blind to the fact that our machinery and software<br />
are still being refined by our engineers. As a<br />
business, Elumatec isn’t standing still. We are<br />
proud of what we do, but we remain determined<br />
to enhance our products and service. And that’s a<br />
good thing because thinking you are already at the<br />
very top of your game is a route to complacency.<br />
To make improvements happen, you need to<br />
Neil Parton<br />
“If you wait for<br />
perfection − which you<br />
will never find − you<br />
paralyse your operation”<br />
believe that things need improving and honesty<br />
about that is essential because only an honest<br />
appraisal will help you fix an issue. Going back<br />
to the football pitch, there’s no point pretending<br />
there’s nothing wrong with your defence if you<br />
concede every five minutes.<br />
Paralysed by perfectionism?<br />
But let’s go back to that search for the perfect<br />
machine, and let’s assume for a moment that<br />
it doesn’t exist. The ones on the market all<br />
have a drawback − it could be something like<br />
delivery timescale or spares availability. What<br />
are you going to do? Will you keep on looking for<br />
perfection or will you compromise?<br />
If you compromise, you have the capacity to<br />
start improving your business now. If you wait<br />
for perfection − which you will never find − you<br />
paralyse your operation. In time, because your<br />
competitors have capitalised on sub-optimal<br />
gains, you find yourself going backwards.<br />
Perfectionists can be crippled by their high<br />
standards. They might believe, wrongly, that<br />
they can’t be faulted, and their arrogance makes<br />
them unstable or difficult to work with. For other<br />
perfectionists, nothing is good enough, so nothing<br />
gets done and that’s no way to take a business<br />
forward.<br />
We’re all human. Things go wrong and during<br />
these exceptional times, we have sometimes<br />
been caught out by events, but we always strive<br />
to do our best − for our customers, our people<br />
and our community. I say forget perfection: it’s<br />
far smarter to aim for the best you can manage,<br />
with good intentions, honesty and complete<br />
understanding of your position. That way you will<br />
make progress.<br />
Contact Elumatec:<br />
01908 580 800<br />
www.elumatec.com<br />
@elumatecUK<br />
38 T F FEB/MAR <strong>2021</strong> CONNECTING THE WINDOW, DOOR & ROOF FABRICATION SUPPLY CHAIN
36 Years Experience Supplying<br />
Market Leading Aluminium Machinery<br />
to the Glazing Industry<br />
n Supplier of the first FOM LMX 650<br />
cutting line in the UK<br />
n Agents for Comall and FOM<br />
machines for over 20 years<br />
n Specialists in providing aluminium<br />
machinery solutions<br />
01753 885 408<br />
sales@rogerfranklin.co.uk<br />
SERVICES TO THE GLAZING INDUSTRY<br />
www.rogerfranklin.co.uk
Updates<br />
NEW MACHINERY SCALES UP PRODUCTION FOR D&I<br />
Fabricator D&I Window Solutions is scaling up its operation with investment in numerous<br />
aluminium fabrication machines from industry specialist, Haffner Murat.<br />
The large-scale investment is a result of D&I Window Solutions’ strategic expansion into trade manufacture.<br />
David Saxon, director of D&I said: “We’ve seen a considerable increase in demand for aluminium bi-folds<br />
in recent months and we spotted an opportunity to capitalise on the growth by expanding into the trade<br />
market. When it came to investing in the machinery we needed, Haffner Murat was the only choice for us.”<br />
D&I will be investing in six new machines in total to set up their new trade production: an Adir C<br />
Fom Industrie CNC machining centre, a Panda Echo 300 Fom Industrie pneumatic saw, a Quota Base<br />
Fom Industrie 3m discharge roller table, a Porter Fom Industrie 3m infeed roller table, a Crab XL Fom<br />
Industrie corner crimper & rollertable, and a TT 405 Haffner Murat double mitre saw.<br />
www.haffnermurat.com<br />
PREMO IS FIRST IN THE UK WITH QUADRA L3<br />
Premo Fabrications is the first façade manufacturer in the UK to take delivery of a new L3 version of<br />
Emmegi’s flagship, 20-axes Quadra aluminium machining centre.<br />
The L0, L1 and L2 versions of the Quadra can all cut, drill and machine in one single operation, delivering huge<br />
advances in efficiency, but the L3 adds an extra dimension with a secondary module equipped with a dual drilling<br />
unit. This can mill, drill and tap at any angle on the ends of the profile as well as on the horizontal, allowing<br />
companies like Premo to broaden the options they can offer in unitised curtain walling.<br />
Jack Tait, the facades production manager at Premo Fabrications, explained the benefits of the new machine:<br />
“This dual drilling unit opens up additional new business streams for us and gives us capabilities which go beyond<br />
our immediate needs but which we know will be useful in the future.” www.emmegi.com<br />
Premo Fabrications has taken<br />
delivery of a new Emmegi Quadra L3<br />
FABRICATOR INVESTS £96K IN NEW MACHINERY<br />
Colin Shorney, managing<br />
director at Dudley’s<br />
Cardiff-based aluminium fabricator, Dudley’s Aluminium, has invested £96,000 in state-of-the-art machinery as it<br />
continues to work on a number of important projects throughout the UK.<br />
The company has purchased a Phantomatic M3 CNC machining centre, featuring three controlled axes allowing processing on<br />
three sides of the workpiece, as well as an electronic double mitre saw complete with a swarf extractor and connection kit.<br />
The machines have both been purchased from Emmegi, a leading supplier of advanced equipment for aluminium, light alloy and<br />
steel fabricators, to complement Dudley’s existing major CNC machining centre.<br />
CNC machining is a process used in the manufacturing sector that involves the use of computers to control machine tools. The<br />
new and existing equipment will be able to read each other’s programmes as well as standardising operation and maintenance<br />
procedures, leading to improved product accuracy, increased output and shorter lead times.<br />
AN ALUMINIUM 'FIRST' FOR SHEERLINE<br />
In what is said be an industry first for aluminium, Sheerline fabricators can now use Sheerline’s product<br />
database on Business Micros Evolution, First Degree and LogiKal.<br />
While it is common for PVC-U systems companies to provide compatibility with multiple software systems,<br />
Sheerline, by Garnalex, says it is the only aluminium systems company to offer this benefit and its software<br />
partners ‘make it quick and easy for fabricators to set up with Sheerline’.<br />
Adrian Girling (pictured right), Garnalex’s software development director, said: “We understand the importance<br />
of user-friendly software systems for fabricators. The Garnalex team has a lot of in-house experience of using<br />
this type of software and we’re delighted to offer compatibility with Business Micros Evolution, First Degree and<br />
LogiKal. www.sheerline.com<br />
40 T F FEB/MAR <strong>2021</strong> CONNECTING THE WINDOW, DOOR & ROOF FABRICATION SUPPLY CHAIN
AUTOMATION<br />
For further info on all these updates and more, visit www.total-fabricator.co.uk<br />
STERNFENSTER INVESTS IN PRECISION CRIMPING<br />
Sternfenster has invested in state-of-the-art aluminium crimping technology, bringing new levels<br />
precision to its aluminium product lines.<br />
Its new 4-head Ever Theta frame crimping machine from FOM brings exceptional accuracy to manufacture<br />
using profile scanning technology. This includes flagging out of tolerance profiles of as little as 0.4mm out in<br />
length or 0.9mm on the diagonal, bringing a very high degree of accuracy to 45º mitre and 90º joints.<br />
Mike Parczuk, managing director, Sternfenster, said: “The precision that the new crimper brings<br />
to manufacture is incredible. It picks up out of tolerance profiles in a way that you simply cannot do<br />
manually – however, good the individual operative.<br />
“More importantly it does it over and over again, bringing a far higher degree of consistency to<br />
manufacture compared to manual processes. That means we can guarantee product quality from the first<br />
to the two hundredth frame. It’s about repeatability.” www.sternfenster.com<br />
SECOND LUNA R INVESTMENT FOR EPWIN<br />
Epwin Window Systems has increased its foiling capacity with the investment of sixfigures<br />
in a second Luna R automatic profile lamination machine.<br />
Clare O’Hara, managing director at Epwin Window Systems, said: “This latest investment will<br />
support the continuing growth for our coloured products by reducing set up times, increasing<br />
product output and delivering superb product accuracy.”<br />
The Luna R machine offers the best in lamination technology with an automatic set-up, allowing<br />
Epwin Window Systems to efficiently scale-up its foiling capacity in line with demand. The<br />
machine’s flexibility and intelligent technology can wrap even the most complex of profiles whilst delivering exceptional product quality.<br />
www.epwinwindowsystems.co.uk<br />
QUICKSLIDE MAXIMISES EFFICIENCY WITH EVONET<br />
Quickslide is using EvoNET software to<br />
streamline its operations<br />
Quickslide has highlighted its commitment to improving standards and service with a comprehensive overhaul<br />
of its business management and IT infrastructure.<br />
The latest investment will allow the West Yorkshire based fabricator to drastically reduce its reliance on old<br />
fashioned paperwork, introduce digital, automated documents for invoicing and order notes, plus allow for greater<br />
efficiency in the processing, manufacture, transport and delivery of its product range. Developed using the latest<br />
EvoNET management tool from Business Micros, the new system means that every order that arrives at Quickslide<br />
can now be tracked from the factory floor, right up to point of delivery. As well as being able to automatically<br />
generate orders into delivery runs, the new system integrates with satellite navigation to work out the most<br />
efficient delivery route and introduces a host of other commercial benefits for Quickslide. www.quickslide.co.uk<br />
3D ALUMINIUM UPGRADES TO PHANTOMATIC X4<br />
Oxfordshire-based 3D Aluminium has upgraded its original Emmegi Phantomatic T3A 3-axes machining<br />
centre to a brand new Phantomatic X4 4-axes model, to add to the X4 it already owns in order to expand<br />
capacity and increase its versatility.<br />
The fourth axis on the X4 model allows it to machine profile at any angle from 0 to 180°, in comparison with the<br />
T3A which can machine from above and from 90º to right and left from the vertical. This gives 3D more flexibility<br />
for machining on profile edges and on more complex profile shapes.<br />
Alongside the new machining centre, 3D has also invested in a new Emmegi Precision TS2 twin-head electronic<br />
saw, complete with a patented profile clamping device which, as the name suggests, achieves extremely precise<br />
cuts. www.emmegi.com<br />
CONNECTING THE WINDOW, DOOR & ROOF FABRICATION SUPPLY CHAIN<br />
FEB/MAR <strong>2021</strong> T F 41
Supply Chain Challenges<br />
BUILDING SUPPLY CHAIN RESILIENCE<br />
David Jennings from door hardware specialist, UAP, discusses the<br />
importance of resilience planning and ensuring an efficient supply chain<br />
for fabricators and installers.<br />
For anyone waiting for consignments of<br />
products arriving from overseas, the news<br />
coverage of stationary lorries marooned<br />
nose-to-tail at British ports in December was<br />
a worrying sight. Those scenes may have been<br />
the result of a perfect storm that has, for now,<br />
abated, but they were also a premonition of what<br />
may lie ahead for fabricators and installers that<br />
rely on an international supply chain. It may be<br />
manufacturers who need to manage the prompt<br />
production and transport of goods to the UK but<br />
the knock-on effects will be felt throughout the<br />
wholesale, retail and installation sectors too.<br />
As we’ve been told more than once by both<br />
media and government over the past year, these<br />
are unprecedented times. During 2020, we all<br />
navigated the challenges of Covid-19, with<br />
lockdown restrictions, reduced staffing, social<br />
distancing and PPE requirements. Fluctuations<br />
in demand affected companies across all<br />
links in the supply chain which, coupled with<br />
changing rules, made it difficult to plan. With<br />
the end of the Brexit transition period on 1st<br />
January and the continuing battle against the<br />
pandemic, those challenges remain in <strong>2021</strong>.<br />
Even before the temporary border closures in<br />
December, stockpiling strategies to safeguard<br />
against potential ‘no deal’ shortages were already<br />
causing chaos at UK ports and a number of<br />
shipping lines have been avoiding consignments<br />
to the UK as a result. Now that the EU trade<br />
deal has been agreed, that backdrop has been<br />
embellished with confusion over new import rules<br />
and paperwork requirements, which is having<br />
an impact on goods entering the UK from beyond<br />
Europe too. It’s a complex supply chain landscape<br />
with the potential to spell one word for the<br />
fenestration sector: delays.<br />
“It’s a complex supply chain landscape with the<br />
potential to spell one word for the fenestration<br />
sector: delays”<br />
It may be complex, and there have definitely<br />
been a few curve balls along the way, but it<br />
was clear from the earliest stages of Covid-19<br />
that supply chains would be affected and that<br />
the effects would last beyond the peak of the<br />
pandemic. As time has gone on, the impact has<br />
been cumulative. Breaks in production, demand<br />
for warehousing and logistics and port delays<br />
have all had a profound and lingering impact on<br />
lead times and the fenestration sector has relied<br />
on manufacturers acting promptly and wisely with<br />
contingency planning to get them the components<br />
they need on time.<br />
How China affects the UK<br />
Even when the disruption of the pandemic has<br />
subsided and the dust has settled following the<br />
new EU trading relationship, the consequences<br />
of the past 12 months will continue to affect<br />
supply chain efficiency, particularly for any goods<br />
imported from China.<br />
The Chinese manufacturing landscape is one we<br />
know very well at UAP, because we have been<br />
working with trusted manufacturing partners<br />
there for many years. Our products are designed,<br />
developed and tested by us in the UK, but<br />
manufactured to our exacting quality assurance<br />
standards by Chinese factories, so we understand<br />
how the sector operates over there. Just as<br />
the Christmas and New Year break punctuate<br />
production schedules and influence the timing of<br />
maintenance shut downs in the UK, Chinese New<br />
Year is a time of celebration that has a major<br />
impact on manufacturing capacity in China. Every<br />
year, workers who have travelled to the cities to<br />
work in factories travel home for Chinese New<br />
Year, often spending a two-week break with their<br />
42 T F FEB/MAR <strong>2021</strong> CONNECTING THE WINDOW, DOOR & ROOF FABRICATION SUPPLY CHAIN
HARDWARE & ACCESSORIES<br />
family, which is bookended on either side by a<br />
journey of at least a week. Each year, a proportion<br />
of the Chinese workforce opts to stay in the<br />
provinces after the celebrations and the need<br />
to replace them can cause further production<br />
delays and reduced capacity. That annual cycle<br />
has a significant effect on production schedules,<br />
for which UK companies importing goods from<br />
China need to prepare by ordering in advance<br />
and managing their UK stockholding. This year,<br />
the fall-out from Chinese New Year is likely to<br />
be even greater than usual because lockdown<br />
restrictions prevented the 2020 celebrations so<br />
Chinese factories are anticipating a longer hiatus<br />
and an increased worker drop off this year.<br />
Against this backdrop, changes in the Chinese<br />
manufacturing sector are also affecting capacity.<br />
For example, the drive to meet international<br />
environmental standards has reduced the number<br />
of metal plating operators, cutting capacity for<br />
plating of hardware products. As a result, UK<br />
companies must have established relationships<br />
and diligent lead time planning in place if they<br />
are to meet demand and offer acceptable delivery<br />
terms to customers.<br />
established manufacturing partnerships and a<br />
good understanding of how the Chinese market<br />
operates. Indeed, our relationships in China meant<br />
that we were faster than most in recognising how<br />
severely it was likely to affect the UK market.<br />
Because of those insights, we were able to plan<br />
and implement a strategy for maintaining stock<br />
levels and mitigating the risk of delays. Product<br />
development and investment continued, and we<br />
looked at where we needed to add more warehousing<br />
capacity in order to build resilience for the company<br />
and our customers. As a result, we started <strong>2021</strong><br />
with an additional 25,000ft 2 of warehousing space,<br />
with a further 35,000ft 2 planned for this year. Our<br />
All of these factors make manufacturing products<br />
overseas for the UK market more challenging<br />
for the fenestration supply chain, but none of<br />
them are insurmountable. At UAP, we began the<br />
pandemic in a position of strength with longstockholding<br />
currently sits at £7m, and will increase<br />
to £8m by the end of <strong>2021</strong>.<br />
Because we anticipated delays and production<br />
capacity issues in China during <strong>Feb</strong>ruary and <strong>March</strong><br />
<strong>2021</strong>, we ordered our products months in advance<br />
and ensured that consignments for Q1-2 were either<br />
received or en route by the end of 2020. Products<br />
for Q2-3 are already on order and we will continue<br />
to build the likelihood of extended lead times and<br />
shipping delays into our production planning.<br />
Capitalising on potential<br />
It’s been a tough year for the fenestration sector<br />
but, with a strong housebuilding sector and<br />
consumers spending their holiday budgets on<br />
home improvements instead, the potential for a<br />
strong recovery is very promising. But recovery<br />
can only happen if the products needed are<br />
available to respond to demand, so supply chain<br />
resilience is central to the future prosperity of the<br />
industry. That’s why UAP has been so focused<br />
on planning ahead with high stock levels and<br />
advance orders, not only to underpin our own<br />
business continuity, but also to ensure fabricators<br />
and installers can rely on consistent service<br />
levels and short lead times.<br />
Contact UAP:<br />
0161 796 7268<br />
uapcorporate.com<br />
@UAP_Limited<br />
CONNECTING THE WINDOW, DOOR & ROOF FABRICATION SUPPLY CHAIN<br />
FEB/MAR <strong>2021</strong> T F 43
2020 Review<br />
HARDWARE & ACCESSORIES<br />
LOOKING BACK, MOVING FORWARD<br />
2020 created both challenges and opportunities in equal measure for all kinds of<br />
businesses. Sam Nuckey, managing director of Window Ware, tells Total Fabricator how her<br />
company successfully navigated what was an unprecedented year.<br />
S<br />
am Nuckey, managing director of window,<br />
door and conservatory hardware distributor,<br />
Window Ware, admits that the past ten<br />
months have been “tough going”.<br />
But, she says, “thanks to careful pre-planning, hard<br />
work and determination, our resilient teams and brand<br />
partners have rallied together and come through.”<br />
Sam goes on to explain, “It turned out that by<br />
diligently maintaining our usual buffer stock and<br />
high stocks pre-Covid, we had at the same time<br />
ensured we were in a strong position to weather<br />
the first national lockdown and better manage<br />
the impact of the pandemic. All those months<br />
spent putting Brexit contingency measures in<br />
place and managing essential stock to cushion<br />
our customers against supply chain issues has<br />
proved invaluable.<br />
“Despite those efforts, like many providers, we<br />
know our service has still suffered somewhat in<br />
the past few months, but the situation could have<br />
been far worse were it not for our primed agility,<br />
adaptability and planning.<br />
“Regular conversations with all stakeholders and<br />
persistent forward thinking have been crucial in<br />
our company’s ability to stay agile, take action<br />
and adapt, both throughout lockdown and during<br />
more recent months as restrictions lifted and the<br />
industry finally got back to work.”<br />
Despite the complications the pandemic has<br />
caused, Window Ware has nevertheless been<br />
able to maintain a strong OTIF of 92% and an<br />
input accuracy of over 99%, with the whole team<br />
going the extra mile to make dependable next day<br />
deliveries the norm even in abnormal times.<br />
Customers could still count on a quick<br />
response too. Even during the tightest lockdown<br />
restrictions, the Window Ware crew made sure<br />
to answer all queries the very same working day,<br />
picking up 95% of customer calls within just 10<br />
seconds, and continuing to keep their customers<br />
informed with all the usual order updates.<br />
Sam Nuckey<br />
“Obviously, we know we haven’t succeeded<br />
to satisfy our customers first time, every<br />
time”, admits Sam. “But our aspirations and<br />
service targets remained high and didn’t waver<br />
despite the challenges we faced. We’ve had<br />
to temporarily change team and resource<br />
responsibilities, as well as adapt our alter<br />
processes in order to save time or add immediate<br />
and continuous visibility.”<br />
Successful year<br />
While no one could have predicted how 2020<br />
would ultimately turn out, Window Ware made<br />
sure to begin the year with a bang when it<br />
launched its new premium Glide Hardware sliding<br />
door solutions and was appointed approved<br />
hardware distribution partner for PVC-U systems<br />
house, Kömmerling.<br />
The following month, the preferred hardware<br />
distributor extended its offering of tilt-and-turn<br />
gearing with the arrival of the GU Uni-Jet range.<br />
Alongside Maco T&T components, fabricators could<br />
now take their pick from two leading-brand systems<br />
for their PVC, aluminium and timber windows.<br />
That same month, Window Ware celebrated<br />
10 years since the launch of the specialist<br />
tools range, Xpert, which has helped trade<br />
professionals work faster, smarter and safer<br />
since 2010 with a tried and tested selection of<br />
essential tools such as moon knives, PVC-U saws<br />
and gasket shears.<br />
When autumn arrived, Window Ware kept up<br />
the pace with a new campaign to promote Yale<br />
Lockmaster 21, the latest iteration of Yale’s bestselling<br />
multi-point door lock. At the same time,<br />
it extended its range of RW Simon Framevent<br />
window trickle vents with several on-trend grey<br />
finishes and continued to give fabricators a<br />
hassle-free way to offer a ‘smart’ upgrade on<br />
their doors with the Kubu-version multipoint door<br />
lock from Avantis Hardware.<br />
Safety first<br />
For every order, every process and every<br />
interaction with customers, colleagues and<br />
brand partners alike, Window Ware has made<br />
health and safety the utmost priority. Strict<br />
social distancing, new operational ‘bubbles’<br />
and rigorous hygiene measures have been<br />
implemented throughout the warehouse, trade<br />
counter and office space to minimise risk of<br />
infection and keep everybody fit and well.<br />
Sam concluded: “We know that the challenges we<br />
faced in 2020 are spilling over into <strong>2021</strong>, but with<br />
our proven technical and commercial skills and<br />
many years of industry experience on our side,<br />
I’m confident that we will continue to go from<br />
strength to strength.”<br />
Contact Window Ware:<br />
01234 242 724<br />
www.windowware.co.uk<br />
@WindowWare<br />
44 T F FEB/MAR <strong>2021</strong> CONNECTING THE WINDOW, DOOR & ROOF FABRICATION SUPPLY CHAIN
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CONNECTING THE WINDOW, DOOR & ROOF FABRICATION SUPPLY CHAIN<br />
FEB/MAR <strong>2021</strong> T F 45
Updates<br />
SECURITY ENHANCED BI-FOLD LOCK FROM ALUTECH<br />
Yorkshire-based aluminium systems supplier, Alutech, says it is offering its<br />
fabricator customers ‘the ultimate security kit’ for aluminium bi-folding doors, with<br />
the launch of its new AluLock.<br />
Alutech MD, Steve Hudson, explained: “AluLock is available exclusively for Alutech<br />
customers, providing a top security solution for their bi-fold doors in one easy to order<br />
kit, which combines a one-star barrel, with the option to upgrade to the Ultion three-star<br />
barrel, along with the Brisant Sweet handle and an exclusively designed Duplex double<br />
hook lock. The AluLock kit has been designed to remove the headache for our fabricators<br />
of sourcing locking hardware separately and provides premium security and aesthetics to<br />
help them differentiate their product above that of their competitors.”<br />
Download the brochure from: https://alutechsystems.co.uk/downloads/<br />
FABRICATOR-FRIENDLY HERITAGE RANGE<br />
Fabricator, TruFrame, made a significant contribution to the design and development of Mila’s new range of Heritage espag<br />
handles, helping to make the range “more attractive, easier to fit and much less prone to mechanical failure”, so it’s no<br />
surprise that the fabricator has become one of the first customers to start fitting the new handles on its flush sash windows.<br />
TruFrame worked closely with Mila’s design team to give a fabricator’s perspective on how the perfect ‘heritage’ espag handle<br />
would look and function – and Mila reports that the finished product ticks every item on its wish list.<br />
Stand-out features include a ‘proper’ push-button key locking mechanism, a simple push-fit screw cover cap with faux clocked<br />
screw detail for truly authentic styling, and a unique rosette key design.<br />
Mila reports that the Heritage range is already proving popular with customers fabricating in all of the ‘big name’ sculptured and<br />
flush sash ranges, including the likes of Liniar, Deceuninck, Epwin, Rehau and R9. www.mila.co.uk/heritage-espag-handles/<br />
BESPOKE LOCK PACKAGE<br />
Working with established manufacturer partner, FUHR, Carl F Groupco has created a bespoke stainlesssteel<br />
locking package for Senior Architectural Systems, PURe aluminium door range.<br />
Carl F Groupco’s brief was to source stainless steel multipoint locking solutions to address every door type<br />
in the PURe range including lever, key wind up and SmartSecure electronic operated single commercial doors,<br />
panic/emergency escape and French doors.<br />
Working with FUHR, a tailored package of door locks was created to Senior’s exacting specification, all with<br />
bespoke keeps designed specifically for the profile. Flexibility of the hardware supplied enables special extensions<br />
and add-ons for full multipoint locking for doors up to 3m high.<br />
www.seniorarchitectural.co.uk/architectural-systems/pure-commercial-door/<br />
U70 PARTNERS WITH YALE ON WINDOW LOCK<br />
Yale has strengthened its relationship with trade fabricator U70, after developing a new<br />
Encloser window lock as part of the launch of U70’s Kommerling C76 window system.<br />
Martin Killick, MD at U70, said: “We have been using a range of Yale products, including window and<br />
door locks, friction hinges and cylinders, for over a decade and have complete faith in the brand and the<br />
quality of its products. As we expand our range, we’re dedicated to ensuring that our PVC-U window systems<br />
have superior security credentials. As such, we are thrilled that Yale have developed a new 26mm backset<br />
Encloser window lock specially tailored to the requirements of the Kommerling C76 window system.”<br />
The Yale Encloser features bi-directional locking technology with optimal weather proofing and<br />
security performance. www.yaledws.co.uk<br />
46 T F FEB/MAR <strong>2021</strong> CONNECTING THE WINDOW, DOOR & ROOF FABRICATION SUPPLY CHAIN
HARDWARE & ACCESSORIES<br />
For further info on all these hardware updates and more, visit www.total-fabricator.co.uk<br />
VBH GETS SMART WITH NEW ELECTRONIC HANDLE<br />
Hardware supplier, VBH, has added the Q-Smart electronic smart handle to its range of premium<br />
quality window and door hardware and furniture.<br />
It’s a keyless product which gives the homeowner three methods of gaining access. The first is a<br />
proximity fob that communicates with a reader built into the handle unit; the second is via the Blusafe<br />
app that allows the user to use their mobile phone as a key, and the third is fingerprint recognition. The<br />
app enables the main user to send permanent or temporary timed keys to people’s phones.<br />
VBH says that this eliminates any need to lose control of physical keys by leaving them with neighbours<br />
or in a ‘safe’ place’. The app has the added benefit of keeping a log of operations, thus providing visitor<br />
management records.<br />
Q-Smart is fully tested at BSI and certified to ETSI TS103 645 (CYBER; Cyber Security for Consumer Internet<br />
of Things). www.vbhgb.com<br />
UAP LAUNCHES FULLEX KINETICA+ K4 LOCK<br />
UAP, the manufacturer of security and fire safety hardware for doors and windows, has launched<br />
the Fullex Kinetica+ K4; a state of the art locking system that combines advanced, patented<br />
features to deliver what it claims is ‘one of the most secure 3* cylinder locks ever produced’.<br />
Building on the credentials of the Fullex Kinetica locking range, Kinetica+ K4 breaks new ground in<br />
security hardware by combining a standard 3* cylinder lock profile with multiple intricate design features,<br />
delivering a lock that is easy to install but ‘virtually impossible’ to bypass. Rigorously tested at UAP’s inhouse<br />
test facility and by a third party testing house as part of the product development process, the new<br />
lock has defeated the newest methods of gaining entry developed by locksmiths and is Secured by Design,<br />
British Kitemarked and Sold Secure Diamond Standard. https://uapcorporate.com/<br />
PAS 24 SECURE HARDWARE FROM AT PRECISION<br />
Supplier of aluminium bi-fold hardware, AT Precision, has recently passed the PAS<br />
24:2016 test, meaning all of its products now meet the industry standard.<br />
AT Precision sells to more than 100 fabricators across the country, and its Everglide range<br />
includes bi-folding door rollers, high-quality top-guides, pull handles and hinges, all of which are<br />
made from cast aluminium and are compatible with major systems.<br />
The company’s sales director, Michael Hewitt, said: “We are delighted to have been PAS<br />
24:2016 accredited, as it means we can confidently guarantee all our customers that our<br />
products meet the industry standards, and that they are of the highest quality.”<br />
www.atprecision.co.uk<br />
'GAME CHANGING' DELIVERY FROM MILA<br />
Mila has launched what it is calling ‘the most fabricator focused’ TS008 certified letterplate on<br />
the market. And, claims Mila, it’s ‘the best looking’ to boot.<br />
Developed in response to feedback from fabricators on what their ideal TS008 letterplate would look<br />
like, it is slimline, ‘stylish’, leakproof and easy to fit in standard apertures.<br />
The Mila letterplate is available in both stainless steel SupaSecure and standard ProSecure versions. It<br />
has ‘sailed through’ the Door & Hardware Federation’s TS008: 2015 security standard, which is now part<br />
of the updated PAS24: 2016 required to achieve Secured by Design accreditation and Approved Document<br />
Q. The letterplate also incorporates patent-pending ‘anti-fishing fins’ which open with a smooth<br />
concertina action to allow mail to be posted through. www.mila.co.uk/supasecure-ts008-letterplate/<br />
CONNECTING THE WINDOW, DOOR & ROOF FABRICATION SUPPLY CHAIN<br />
FEB/MAR <strong>2021</strong> T F 47
Glaze Tube: Video Content<br />
PRESS PLAY ON QUALITY CONTENT<br />
FOR YOUR SECTOR...<br />
Glaze Tube is the new platform for digital content from the leading players in your sector.<br />
Easily accessible on any device, Glaze Tube is packed full and constantly updated with<br />
practical, informative and entertaining video content, including how-to’s; project and<br />
product focuses; installation advice; training and webinars; plus interviews and opinions<br />
from those operating throughout the glazing and associated products supply chain.<br />
With new FIT Show dates in<br />
place, hear why VEKA feel it’s<br />
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Find out more about hardware<br />
expert VBH’s Q-Smart electronic<br />
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FABRICATORS<br />
48 T F FEB/MAR <strong>2021</strong> CONNECTING THE WINDOW, DOOR & ROOF FABRICATION SUPPLY CHAIN
See why installers think<br />
Deceuninck’s Decalu88<br />
aluminium bi-fold door is<br />
perfect for those in the<br />
retail sector...<br />
Watch how Dakea<br />
develop and produce their<br />
maintenance-free PVC<br />
roof windows...<br />
So head over to www.glaze-tube.co.uk to view all these videos and so much more, or<br />
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01892 732 047 to put your company and products in front of your potential customers.<br />
GLAZE<br />
TUBE<br />
FIND US AT WWW.GLAZE-TUBE.CO.UK<br />
CONNECTING THE WINDOW, DOOR & ROOF FABRICATION SUPPLY CHAIN<br />
FEB/MAR <strong>2021</strong> T F 49
Warm Edge<br />
GLASS PROCESSING & SEALED UNITS<br />
INVEST, BROADEN, GROW<br />
Thermoseal Group’s sales director, Mark Hickox, reflects on the ‘rollercoaster’ that was 2020<br />
and discusses the company’s plans to increase warm edge production to meet growing<br />
demand for more energy efficient components.<br />
Thermoseal Group has a clear strategy to<br />
become a world leader in the warm edge<br />
spacer market.<br />
We estimate over 50% of all insulated glass<br />
produced in the UK contains our products, the<br />
vast majority of which will now be our highest<br />
performance warm edge spacers. Whilst the impact<br />
of using a warm edge spacer is relatively small in<br />
relation to the whole window, it is enough to help in<br />
pushing a Window Energy Rating of a ‘B’ to an ‘A’ or<br />
even from an ‘A+’ to an ‘A++’, thus generating an<br />
increased demand for our products as we all strive<br />
for a more energy efficient offering.<br />
I am sure everyone will agree that the past year has<br />
been a rollercoaster and will not be surprised to see<br />
that our sales of warm edge spacers have followed<br />
a similar path to most of the window industry. If you<br />
look at the graph (below), you will see the steep fall<br />
in sales from the end of <strong>March</strong> which is synonymous<br />
with Covid-19 lockdown number one. You will then<br />
see a period of increased sales which follows a<br />
similar trajectory to 2019, but at a higher volume.<br />
This past year has been one of the most uncertain<br />
in everyone’s lifetime for many reasons, but it is<br />
thanks to our team and their vigilance in following<br />
strict Covid-19 guidelines and remaining in small<br />
“We have a list of customers<br />
waiting for our production<br />
capacity to be increased”<br />
work bubbles that we have kept the virus at<br />
bay across the business and even managed to<br />
increase our production of warm edge products to<br />
meet the increased demand. Like most, we have<br />
had a few isolated incidences of the virus when<br />
we have had teams self-isolating (all of which<br />
have recovered well), but multi-skilling our staff<br />
has meant that we have managed to stretch our<br />
resources to cover.<br />
We are in the fortunate position that we<br />
purchased a new warm edge production site in<br />
the latter part of 2019, which has been extremely<br />
useful this past year. It allowed us to move<br />
Thermoflex production to our new site which gave<br />
our team a larger workspace to implement and<br />
maintain Covid-19 guidelines. It has also allowed<br />
us to increase production capacity of Thermoflex.<br />
This site has now become our ‘Centre for<br />
Innovation and Manufacturing’. It has two new<br />
laboratories and additional test rooms to give our<br />
technical team everything they need to develop<br />
new energy efficient products, whilst maintaining<br />
the highest quality standards and enhancing our<br />
current product portfolio.<br />
Another vital use of this building has been to<br />
house our increased stockholding to help ensure<br />
continuity of supply to the UK and export markets<br />
to counter supply issues caused by Covid-19 and,<br />
of course, Brexit. Where possible, we have also<br />
dual-sourced products to counter any delay in<br />
sourcing materials that are vital for production.<br />
We only work with established high-quality<br />
suppliers, so this is not always the easiest thing<br />
to do.<br />
Moving into <strong>2021</strong>, I think we have all accepted<br />
that we will have to live with the constraints of<br />
the Covid-19 virus, but on the basis that we have<br />
a list of customers waiting for our production<br />
capacity to be increased, we are planning to<br />
continue to invest, broaden our product range<br />
and grow our warm edge capacity. We have new<br />
machinery currently being installed and further<br />
equipment on order to increase our capacity<br />
further throughout this year. This includes<br />
both production of warm edge spacers and an<br />
expansion of our ever-growing injection moulding<br />
division which currently produces many millions<br />
of fittings per year.<br />
Contact Thermoseal Group:<br />
0121 331 3950<br />
www.thermosealgroup.com<br />
@SamThermoseal<br />
50 T F FEB/MAR <strong>2021</strong> CONNECTING THE WINDOW, DOOR & ROOF FABRICATION SUPPLY CHAIN
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Glass<br />
WW1 PROJECT BENEFITS FROM GREENVISION FUND<br />
Leeds-based Morley Glass & Glazing has pledged £500 to help fund<br />
repairs to an important piece of Yorkshire’s World War One heritage.<br />
Morley’s contribution to the Yorkshire Trench is its first donation from its<br />
GreenVision Fund, where it uses the money it receives from supplying Saint-<br />
Gobain Glass with recycled glass cullet to support charities and support<br />
sustainable projects.<br />
Located just outside the Belgian town of Ypres, The Yorkshire Trench earned<br />
its name after it was manned and improved by the 49th West Riding of<br />
Yorkshire Division in 1915. The small section of trench is one of the very few<br />
World War One front line trenches that still exists in its original position, after<br />
being rediscovered by a group of amateur archaeologists in 1992.<br />
Now, a campaign led by Yorkshire historian John Morrison, is seeking to reinstate<br />
the site after recent bad weather conditions in Flanders have led to<br />
serious damage to the trench, which until recently was accessible to the public.<br />
An initial estimate for repairs is £135,000, part of which will be contributed by<br />
the city of Leper, which owns the site. The campaign is crowdfunding the costs<br />
via a JustGiving page, which has already amassed over £3,000 in donations.<br />
Ian Short, managing director of Morley Glass & Glazing, commented: “Morley<br />
Glass is honoured to help preserve the memory of such heroic men. It would<br />
be a terrible shame for such an important piece of Yorkshire history to be<br />
lost. Together with our customers, we have recycled 318 tonnes of postconsumer<br />
waste glass, saving 95,400 tons of Co2 emissions, and are looking<br />
for more charities and green initiatives to support with the money we receive<br />
for the cullet.”<br />
If you would like to make a donation, visit the campaign’s JustGiving<br />
page: www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/yorkshiretrench or email<br />
YorkshireTrench@gmail.com for more information.<br />
If you’d like to be considered for a Green Fund donation of £500 email<br />
greenvision@morleyglass.co.uk or visit:<br />
www.morleyglass.co.uk/glass-recycling-leeds/<br />
CANADIAN PROJECT BRINGS THE OUTSIDE IN<br />
Lake Huron House sees local ‘cabin country’ architecture completely<br />
reimagined to create a modern family retreat on the banks of one of<br />
North America’s five Great Lakes.<br />
Taking a contemporary architectural approach, the residence maximises<br />
its lakeside views, while remaining sensitive to its surroundings and<br />
sustainability impact in the extremes of the Canadian climate.<br />
Glass not only provides distinct visual features throughout the home,<br />
but also serves as a robust external surface that plays a vital role in<br />
maintaining the building’s energy efficiency.<br />
iron Pilkington Optiwhite, it ensures that the neutral appearance does not<br />
spoil the beautiful views of the landscape and creates a bright and airy<br />
internal living space.<br />
The glazing ensures that the occupants can enjoy the vistas and are<br />
comfortable all year round, while reducing the need for constant air<br />
conditioning, in turn cutting energy bills and making the home more<br />
environmentally friendly.<br />
The lake-facing side of the house features a double-height glass wall<br />
that maximises natural light in the interior of the building and also offers<br />
expansive views towards the lakeside.<br />
Pilkington Suncool 70/35 OW T was specified for the project to help bring<br />
the outdoors in by creating the perfect balance of natural light, while<br />
minimising solar heat gain. Having an eye on sustainability was key,<br />
and this specification delivers excellent thermal properties that can help<br />
reduce the home’s energy consumption.<br />
By combining the Pilkington Suncool coating with extra clear true low<br />
52 T F FEB/MAR <strong>2021</strong> CONNECTING THE WINDOW, DOOR & ROOF FABRICATION SUPPLY CHAIN
GLASS PROCESSING & SEALED UNITS<br />
BARRIER CONCEPT RECOGNISED BY HIGHWAYS UK<br />
Highways UK has recognised an innovative roadside barrier concept,<br />
developed by Pilkington United Kingdom, in its Civils and Materials<br />
Innovation Awards.<br />
The barrier concept designed by Pilkington UK features a special coating<br />
that’s able to break down gaseous nitric oxide emissions from road traffic,<br />
while its lamination also gives it sound-attenuating properties that help to<br />
reduce noise pollution.<br />
The company, which hopes to arrange trials of the barrier, expects the<br />
combination of features to have a big impact on the health and wellbeing<br />
of communities that live near busy roads and motorways. The concept<br />
won the award scheme’s environment category against strong entries from<br />
infrastructure giant, Balfour Beatty, and road marking specialist, WJ-Group.<br />
Meanwhile, the barrier’s self-cleaning functionality and hurricane-rated<br />
lamination make it a low-maintenance solution for highways authorities. It<br />
can also be screen-printed with a pattern visible to birds – preventing them<br />
from flying into the reflection they see in the barrier.<br />
While less common in the UK, highway barriers are often used across Europe<br />
to help protect against crosswinds. Pilkington Optiwhite glass manufactured<br />
at Pilkington Italia’s Venice plant was recently specified for barriers on Renzo<br />
Piano’s San Giorgio Bridge in Genoa – the replacement for the Morandi<br />
Bridge that collapsed two years ago.<br />
Rory Back, R&D incubator technical manager at Pilkington parent company,<br />
the NSG Group, said: “This recognition of our concept ultimately represents<br />
the increasingly expansive role that innovative flat glass can play in our built<br />
environment. Billions are set to be injected into necessary UK infrastructure<br />
projects and much-needed housebuilding in the next few years – which is<br />
likely to put more of the population living within reach of busy roads.<br />
“Our roadside barrier concept will help infrastructure planners and<br />
developers in meeting their obligations to the environment and the wellbeing<br />
of the communities they build by.”<br />
www.pilkington.com/en-gb/uk<br />
UK'S LARGEST STOCK GLASS DISTRIBUTION CENTRE<br />
Glassolutions has opened what it claims is the UK’s largest stock<br />
glass distribution centre, in Elland, West Yorkshire.<br />
The Glassolutions Northern Hub comprises a 30,000ft 2 warehouse and<br />
10,000ft 2 office space and will employ 35 people from its former premises<br />
in Bradford and Huddersfield, including the creation of 11 new jobs.<br />
Lisa Dunn, distribution director at Glassolutions, which has invested<br />
more than £1million in the new premises, said: “The Northern Hub is<br />
an impressive facility that will lead to an even better service for our<br />
customers and is an exciting development for Glassolutions in the UK.<br />
“Situated close to the M62 between Leeds and Manchester we are<br />
perfectly located to serve the North of England with fast, efficient<br />
deliveries of the widest range of glass and glazing products, plus our<br />
enhanced online ordering system means that our customers can even get<br />
their glass on the go. The Northern Hub puts us in a fantastic position for<br />
the future growth of the business.”<br />
https://glassolutions.co.uk/en-gb<br />
“This will be a complete one stop shop for all glass and glazing products<br />
including clear float, tinted float, low iron, soft and hard coat, laminated,<br />
patterned, wired, silvered, fire-glass and self-cleaning glass in stock, cut<br />
sized and processed.<br />
“All our customers from small traditional glaziers and joiners to large<br />
sealed unit manufacturers, window fabricators and installers, fit out<br />
companies and glass merchants will benefit from daily deliveries across<br />
the North of England, as well as online ordering and a collection service.<br />
CONNECTING THE WINDOW, DOOR & ROOF FABRICATION SUPPLY CHAIN<br />
FEB/MAR <strong>2021</strong> T F 53
Updates<br />
Swisspacer has claimed there are ‘good opportunities for window<br />
makers in Europe to turn their gaze overseas’ as the US and Canada<br />
begin to ‘catch-up in matters of energy-efficient construction’.<br />
With the North American market showing an increasing interest in windows<br />
made in Europe, two studies prepared by EMU Systems in Colorado, on behalf<br />
of Swisspacer, list the differences between the relevant American and European<br />
standards. According to Swisspacer, these provide important insights for those<br />
looking to engage with the North American and Canadian markets.<br />
In ‘The Impact of Glass Spacers on Energy Performance and Risk of<br />
Condensation in American/Canadian Windows’, five glass spacer bars<br />
were combined with nine window frame profiles. The studies investigate<br />
the thermal resistance on the frame, the glass edge and across the entire<br />
window, as well as the surface temperature at the glass edge on the basis of<br />
the locally applicable standards and calculation methods. In some cases, the<br />
latter differ significantly from European regulations and designations.<br />
While, for example, the spacer bars are included in the formula as a separate,<br />
purely linear factor in Europe, in North America the spacer bar is considered<br />
in the calculation as being a ‘glass edge’ area. This involves calculating a<br />
corresponding value for an area with a width of 63.5 mm (2.5 ins) all round. As<br />
this overlaps with the “U-frame”, a better spacer bar also results in a better<br />
value for the frame. Based on the North American calculation methods, it is<br />
possible to improve the U-values of windows by up to 22%.<br />
GLASS PROCESSING & SEALED UNITS<br />
EUROPEAN WINDOWS IN DEMAND IN NORTH AMERICA<br />
The studies supply relevant results in the area of condensation precipitation<br />
in the various climate zones of the North American continent. With a highly<br />
efficient spacer bar between the panes, the risk of condensation reduces<br />
significantly: thus the temperatures on the glass edge were on average 7.2<br />
°C higher than for aluminium spacer bars across all systems. A maximum<br />
improvement of up to 11 °C is possible.<br />
The studies also explain the classifications for the Energy Star label used<br />
in the USA and Canada. The requirements are based on climatic zones and<br />
primarily measure the U-value of the windows and the solar gain. In Canada,<br />
an energy rating factor of at least 40 is also required for new buildings. Even<br />
in high-quality profile systems, this is achievable only in conjunction with the<br />
best spacer bars available, such as the Swisspacer Ultimate.<br />
‘The Impact of Glass Spacers on Energy Performance and Risk of Condensation<br />
in American/Canadian Windows’, is available at: en.swisspacer.com/studies<br />
SUPER SPACER USED FOR DANISH STUDENT BLOCK<br />
Edgetech’s warm edge products have been used at a 415,000ft 2<br />
student accommodation block in Copenhagen, Denmark, with ‘costeffectiveness<br />
and sustainability at the forefront’.<br />
BaseCamp Lyngby’s ventilated curtain wall was insulated with rock wool<br />
and clad with slabs made of pressed volcanic basalt rock from Rockpanel,<br />
while its green roof is covered in solar panels to generate electricity. Any<br />
rain that falls on the structure is disposed of via evaporation, reducing the<br />
ambient temperature and strain on the sewer system.<br />
It required more than 4,000 IGUs, which had to conform to the irregular<br />
shape of the undulating building – and that, combined with the need for<br />
outstanding thermal performance, made Super Spacer T-Spacer Premium<br />
Plus a suitable choice.<br />
Danish IGU manufacturer Glaseksperten, which was contracted to work on<br />
the project, operates a fully-automated, state-of-the-art Super Spacer line.<br />
“Super Spacer is of key importance to Glaseksperten in supplying quality<br />
products which also ensure we are a leading company in economical<br />
and ecological terms,” said sales manager, Jesper Hønning. “The fully<br />
automated continuous application of spacer from the reel saves time and<br />
money, while guaranteeing top-class product quality.”<br />
Chris Alderson, Edgetech managing director, said: “We’re absolutely<br />
delighted to see Edgetech products used in such a stunning building.<br />
Scandinavia is a global pioneer in sustainable construction, and a major<br />
growth market for warm-edge technology.<br />
“We’re confident that Super Spacer T-Spacer Premium Plus will offer the<br />
building’s residents outstanding performance for many decades to come.”<br />
www.edgetechig.co.uk<br />
54 T F FEB/MAR <strong>2021</strong> CONNECTING THE WINDOW, DOOR & ROOF FABRICATION SUPPLY CHAIN
NEC BIRMINGHAM, 26-28 SEPTEMBER <strong>2021</strong><br />
Register for a FREE ticket today by scanning<br />
the QR Code or visiting FITShow.co.uk<br />
#FITShow21
Sustainable Workwear<br />
TURNING WASTE INTO WORKWEAR<br />
Peter Dumigan, managing director of the Hultafors Group UK, which owns Snickers<br />
Workwear, Hultafors Tools, EMMA, Solid Gear and Toe Guard safety footwear, as well as<br />
Hellberg Safety PPE, talks ‘Preferred Fibres’ and sustainable workwear…<br />
Just as the effects of plastic waste on the<br />
environment have been brought to the<br />
centre of consumer consciousness in recent<br />
years, so the problems caused by the disposal of<br />
clothing and shoes are coming to the fore.<br />
Images of ‘ragpickers’ on our waste clothing<br />
mountains in Africa are an increasing cause<br />
for concern as landfill sites in the UK become<br />
overwhelmed and we dispose of our waste on<br />
someone else’s doorstep. That’s why the sourcing<br />
of sustainable and environmentally responsible<br />
workwear and safety footwear is becoming a key<br />
part of our environmental consciousness.<br />
Fabric technology has always been a key driver<br />
in the design and development of Snickers<br />
Workwear garments. Fabrics that deliver comfort<br />
and functionality, flexibility and durability are key<br />
components of every single product in the range.<br />
Now, as consumers and corporates strive to<br />
reduce their impact on the planet, the Hultafors<br />
Group is implementing a policy of replacing<br />
conventional fabrics in its workwear products<br />
with sustainable fabrics – Preferred Fibres.<br />
Given the increasing levels of awareness about<br />
the impact of waste on our environment, this<br />
will surely have an impact on the clothes people<br />
choose for work in years to come. For Snickers<br />
Workwear, this product development and design<br />
philosophy is being applied to every new product<br />
in the Snickers Workwear collection with the<br />
additional assurance that the Snickers hallmarks<br />
of design, comfort, functionality and durability will<br />
not be compromised in any way.<br />
Snickers Workwear’s objective is to ensure that<br />
by 2030, 70% of the fabrics used are Preferred<br />
Fibres – those with sustainable properties and<br />
a lower environmental footprint. As early as<br />
2023, the company will be at 40% – a significant<br />
achievement by any measure. For those that<br />
haven’t come across the term, Preferred Fibres<br />
are those that have more sustainable properties<br />
compared to conventional man-made alternatives.<br />
Given that almost any fabric and garment can be<br />
developed with recycled polyester yarn, Snickers<br />
Workwear’s aim is to replace conventional fibres,<br />
such as polyester, with Preferred Fibres which<br />
have full manufacturing transparency, traceability<br />
and thus reduce our climate impact and prevent<br />
waste from going into landfill.<br />
Environmentally friendly fleece jackets<br />
Man-made materials such as nylon and polyester<br />
fabrics can easily be recycled to create new,<br />
Preferred Fibres, that have the same performance<br />
levels in comfort, flexibility and durability as the<br />
originals. Take Snickers Workwear’s new fleece<br />
jackets and gilets for example.<br />
Snickers Workwear’s new fleece Jackets<br />
for men and women are made from 100%<br />
recycled Polartec polyester, which increases the<br />
breathability of the fabric and makes them very<br />
comfortable and warm.<br />
They’re lightweight with great insulation<br />
properties and, with designs for both men and<br />
women – and a fit that ensures mobility and<br />
flexibility on site – these soft and versatile<br />
Safety footwear that's creating<br />
a positive footprint<br />
We’ve all seen how quickly clothing and footwear<br />
containers at waste disposal centres fill up, which is why<br />
we all have to ensure that footwear and garments are<br />
disposed of in an environmentally responsible way.<br />
EMMA Safety Footwear, the Hultafors Group’s latest<br />
brand addition to its market-leading PPE portfolio,<br />
has the solution to this problem. It’s a policy of ‘100%<br />
Circularity’ in all its products. Every shoe and boot in the<br />
EMMA range is made entirely from recycled or recyclable<br />
materials. It’s a 100% ‘circular’ manufacturing, usage<br />
and recycling process for every shoe and boot it produces.<br />
www.emmasafetyfootwear.com<br />
garments are great for both work and leisure.<br />
Either as an everyday outer jacket in dry, cold<br />
weather, or as an insulating mid-layer on cold<br />
and wet workdays.<br />
Wearing sustainable garments such as these<br />
is an easy but very urgent step in developing<br />
your company’s and your own sustainability<br />
roadmap, so you will be able to make a conscious<br />
contribution to the environment and save<br />
valuable resources such as energy and water<br />
with your buying decisions.<br />
Contact Hultafors Group / Snickers Workwear:<br />
www.hultaforsgroup.co.uk<br />
www.snickersworkwear.com<br />
56 T F FEB/MAR <strong>2021</strong> CONNECTING THE WINDOW, DOOR & ROOF FABRICATION SUPPLY CHAIN
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502 Worle Park Way, Weston-super-Mare, BS22 6WA
Workwear<br />
HIGH-PERFORMANCE JACKETS FIT THE BILL<br />
With ‘street-smart’ designs for men and women,<br />
all Snickers Workwear jackets include ‘must-have’<br />
features that focus on fit and freedom of movement,<br />
as well as using innovative fabrics that are designed<br />
to deliver long lasting protection and stretch comfort.<br />
Snickers says whatever you need – for work, play or<br />
protection against hazards – Snickers can offer jackets<br />
that will work on site and are also ideal for leisure,<br />
ensuring optimal performance, comfort, good looks and<br />
visibility.<br />
Snickers’ AllroundWork Jackets are just what the name<br />
suggests, delivering a great all-round performance.<br />
There’s also FlexiWork Jackets that provide ‘superb’<br />
comfort and weather-proofing for those on the move,<br />
and LiteWork jackets that keep the wearer ‘feeling cool<br />
and looking good’ in warmer weather.<br />
www.snickersworkwear.co.uk/products/93<br />
<strong>2021</strong> SNICKERS CATALOGUE OUT NOW<br />
With a focus on comfort, performance and sustainability, the <strong>2021</strong> digital<br />
catalogue from Snickers Workwear includes new products made using the<br />
recycled performance fibre brand, Repreve.<br />
There’s also new AllroundWork Topwear with the cooling 37.5 moisture<br />
transportation fabric, as well as upgraded FlexiWork Stretch trousers with extra<br />
functionality and durability. By popular demand, there’s also a stretchy hi-vis<br />
work jacket with great comfort and flexibility for high-performance work and<br />
high visibility in low-light conditions.<br />
‘Street-smart’ stretch fabrics in the AllroundWork clothing range offer mobile<br />
comfort and a layered clothing system to suit the weather on site – rain or<br />
shine, wind or snow – plus an extensive range of EN-certified ProtecWork and<br />
PPE products.<br />
Complemented by Snickers Workwear’s profiling and embroidery services and<br />
the most extensive range of garment sizes, Snickers Workwear says this clothing<br />
system delivers the ultimate solution to make every man and woman’s workday<br />
easier and safer.<br />
Visit: www.snickersworkwear.com/page/product_guide_media to download a<br />
digital catalogue.<br />
58 T F FEB/MAR <strong>2021</strong> CONNECTING THE WINDOW, DOOR & ROOF FABRICATION SUPPLY CHAIN
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Fabricators<br />
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MAY/JUNE 2019<br />
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