November/December 2021

Company News
ANDY JONES JOINS MFT
MFT’s Bradley Gaunt, Andy Jones and Chris Wann
Andy Jones has joined Made For Trade (MFT)
as commercial director, forming part of the
company’s strategy to ‘expand out of the
SME arena to become a larger enterprise’.
As MFT continues to build on the success
of its award-winning Korniche lantern,
while also ramping-up production of its new
Korniche aluminium bi-folding doors, the new
appointment rounds off another ‘bumper’
year of growth.
Andy joins MFT following an ‘exceptional
18 months’ for the business, during which
time the company has managed ‘to keep
delivering on promised dates’ and increased
its manufacturing resource by 15%, creating
around 35 new jobs amid challenging
industry conditions.
Andy said: “I am really looking forward to
working alongside Brad, Chris and the wider
MFT team. I have known MFT and its directors
for many years and have always admired
their attention to detail in product design
and engineering... They are already the UK’s
largest manufacturer of aluminium lantern
roofs and bi-folding doors, and I look forward
to increasing this position over the coming
months and years and taking the Korniche
brand to the next level.”
DRAWING PATENT IS ‘ICING ON THE CAKE’
Quoting software provider, Tommy Trinder, has
been granted a patent for its unique interface,
which allows users to free draw windows and
doors with their finger (or a mouse), as part of
its Framepoint platform.
Chris Brunsdon, founder and CEO of Tommy
Trinder, said: “Installers want quoting software
that is easy to use, and it doesn’t get any simpler
than free-sketching your windows and doors.
There’s a real ‘wow’ moment for homeowners
when they see it in action too. We’re so chuffed
this ground-breaking technology has finally been
recognised with a patent.”
Chief technology officer, Robert Franks, said:“We
started developing our free-drawing technology
a little over eight years ago... New technology to
WHITESALES ACQUIRES LAREINE ENGINEERING
Whitesales and Lareine Engineering, two
companies in the flat rooflight, roof glazing
and daylighting market, have come together in
an acquisition deal.
On 5 November 2021, Lareine became a wholly
owned subsidiary of Whitesales and will continue
to operate from its base in West Lothian.
Tom Bates, managing director at Lareine, said:
“This is a really exciting new chapter for Lareine.
We are joining forces with a refreshing and
dynamic business in the daylighting market which
shares our values and is committed to investing
in our future. That’s a huge positive and the news
has been warmly welcomed by the whole team.”
Chester White, Whitesales’ managing director,
For more company news visit www.total-installer.co.uk
render shapes and images via the web was just
emerging at that time, and we moved quickly to
leverage this to develop our interface for handdrawing
windows and doors. I’m really proud of
what we managed to deliver – the images are
super-fast and photo-realistic throughout the
system. Getting the patent is the icing on the cake!”
The Tommy Trinder team with the patent
says that the move is good news for both
businesses. He explained: “For Lareine, it secures
the long-term future of the business as a major
supplier of engineered daylight solutions to key
markets in Scotland and the North of England,
and establishes the West Lothian facility as our
UK manufacturing hub. It brings guaranteed
investment in new facilities, technologies, and
processes as we are looking to increase volumes
right across our ranges, and in continuous
rooflights in particular.
“For Whitesales, which is already the UK leader in
this market, it gives us additional manufacturing
capacity in line with our plans for continued rapid
growth and gives us vital control over our UKbased
supply chain.”
VBH SCOOPS 2 NFA AWARDS IN DONCASTER
Hardware company, VBH, has been successful
in two categories – and finished as runner-up
in three more – at the recent National
Fenestration Awards (NFAs).
The company won Best Digital Marketing
Campaign for its promotion of the Q-secure
consumer hardware guarantee, which will pay
out up to £8,000 in the event of a break in, and
regional sales manager, Tyler Shutts, shared the
Young Person of the Year award to follow up her
outright win in 2020.
Marketing manager, Gary Gleeson, said: “It’s great
to be recognised in this way by the industry and
we really appreciate every vote cast our way. We
see all awards success, regardless of category, as
a giant pat-on-the-back for the whole team and
everyone at VBH is thrilled to bits...
Above: The VBH team travelled to Doncaster Races for the
awards ceremony. Far right: Tyler Shutts with her award.
“For Tyler to get the nod two years in a row in
her individual category shows just how highly
rated she is by her customers in the North, and
is testament to the great service that she and her
customer service co-ordinators provide.”
8 T I NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2021 PRACTICAL CONTENT FOR THE GLAZING INSTALLER & HOME IMPROVEMENT SPECIALIST