Jan/Feb 2022

JAN/FEB 2022 

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Editor’s Comment 

GEORGE LEWIS 

EDITOR 

GEORGELEWIS@MEDIA-NOW.CO.UK 

WWW.TOTAL-FABRICATOR.CO.UK 

Many within fenestration and construction will be glad to see the back of 

2021 – a year in which we saw material prices increase, skills shortages 

compounded, alongside regular Covid-19 struggles in daily life. 

The reality is, however, these challenges are likely to remain well into 2022, but 

out of the struggle, opportunity often arises. 

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Glazed in 

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In the news, a survey by YouGov and commissioned by Deceuninck (page 8) 

suggests that sustainability will be a hot topic for the industry in the coming 

years, with more than two-thirds of UK homeowners (68%) saying they would 

choose windows and doors with a higher recycled content above products 

which don’t, or those that have a lower level. 

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offering which includes the Korniche bi-folding door at madefortrade. 

CONNECTING THE WINDOW & DOOR FABRICATORS SUPPLY CHAIN 

The survey also suggested that 38% would even be prepared to pay more for home 

improvement products that had a higher recycled content and reduced impact on the 

environment, so this is clearly a trend for fabricators and installers to keep an eye on. 

Positive news in the Business Pilot barometer (page 13) suggests that order 

value and conversion rate actually rose during December, with signs that supply 

chains are starting to stabilise, despite retail sales and leads being down. 

Advertising: 

Publishing Director: Andy Dunn 

DD: 01892 732 047 

Mob: 07963 330777 

Email: andydunn@media-now.co.uk 

Commercial Manager: Jake Roxborough 

DD: 01892 732 047 

Mob: 07956 133314 

Email: jakeroxborough@media-now.co.uk 

Editorial Director: Matt Downs 

DD: 01892 732 047 

Mob: 07963 330774 

Email: mattdowns@media-now.co.uk 

There’s good news for the returning FIT Show in May with CR Laurence and 

Emmegi confirming their attendance amongst others, whilst Checkatrade is set 

to make its debut appearance. Haffner has also extended its stand space to a 

huge 610m 2 , a real positive for visitors to the FIT Show 2022 this May! 

All in all, the industry outlook for 2022 seems to be one of slight optimism but 

as the last couple of years has shown, it’s wise to be braced for turbulence. 

I hope you enjoy the issue. 

George 

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Contents 

ISSUE HIGHLIGHTS 

22 

22 A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE 

Total Fabricator hears from Rob McGlennon, 

Managing Director of Deceuninck, who explains 

how sustainability has become top of the agenda. 

30 DELIVERING SECURE HOMES 

Andy Holland of Rapierstar discusses how a 

cross industry collaboration can give 

homeowners the confidence in home security. 

54 WARM EDGE RISING 

Edgetech’s Managing Director Chris Alderson 

gives his thoughts on the UK’s transition from CE 

to UKCA marking. 

FEATURES 

20 INCREASING BUYER CONFIDENCE 

Sheerline’s David Wigley explains how a retail focus 

is increasing consumer confidence in aluminium 

products. 

48 

28 A BUMPER YEAR 

Total Fabricator hears from Distinction Doors, who reveals its 

big hitters for 2021 in the GRP composite entrance doors 

market. 

36 TIME TO PUSH ON 

Neil Parton, MD of Elumatec, provides reality, resolutions and 

tips to make sure 2022 is as productive as it can be. 

38 A KEY TO GROWTH 

Nuevo Home’s Amar Dhillon explains why the latest 

machinery investment will be key to a successful year ahead for 

the company. 

44 ONE YEAR TO CASH IN 

Dave Broxton, Managing Director at Bohle, explains why 

glass processors have a year to cash in on big tax breaks 

and make businesses fit for the future. 

48 LOOKING FORWARD TO 2022 

Pat Rice, Commercial Director at UAP, discusses the key 

hardware trends from 2021 and what lies ahead in 2022. 

50 TECH MEETS TRADITION 

German hardware manufacturer Burg-Wachter explains 

how with the advancement in smart tech, fabricators can 

now expand their product offering. 

4 T F JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022 CONNECTING THE WINDOW, DOOR & ROOF FABRICATION SUPPLY CHAIN

REGULARS 

16 BEHIND THE SCENES 

In Selecta Systems’ first regular feature, 

Extrusion Manager Kevin Smith provides an 

insight into the extrusion process. 

26 THE DOORCO COLUMN 

 

16 

Ben Aspinall reflects on the lessons of 2021, and 

what to expect with regards to trends within the 

door sector in 2022 

SECTIONS: 

SYSTEMS 

16 

DOORS 

26 

NEWS ROUNDUP 

6 OMICRON A DOUBLE-EDGED 

SWORD? 

9 

Emplas MD Ryan Johnson has written an open letter to 

the industry, discussing some of the opportunities and 

potential challenges that may lie ahead in 2022. 

9 UPSIZING FOR FIT SHOW 

Haffner has confirmed that it has increased its FIT Show 

stand to 610sqm, plus further key names will be on show! 

AUTOMATION 

36 

HARDWARE & 

ACCESSORIES 

46 

GLASS & 

SEALED UNITS 

54 


JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022 T F 5

News Roundup 

FURTHER BOOST FOR 

#UNITEDFRONT 

Suppliers to the home improvement market 

are said to have given their ‘resounding 

approval’ to a recent campaign designed to 

raise some of the challenges faced by the 

fenestration industry. 

Nine new companies have joined the 

founding 19 members of #unitedfront, taking 

the total number of firms adding their support 

to 28 and creating a collective voice that 

accounts for more than £600m of sales and 

over 5000 staff. 

Bosses from Central Window Systems, 

Donwood Group, Double R Glass & Roofing 

Systems, Garnalex, Modplan, Oakland Glass, 

Roseview Windows, Saveheat Group and 

Thermoseal Group are the latest signatories 

to highlight issues that the sector is facing as 

it attempts to meet the national appetite for 

doors, windows, roofing systems and glazing 

products. 

The businesses, which are based across the 

UK and span all the different specialisms 

of the supply chain, clearly lay out three of 

the main challenges currently facing them, 

including disruption with materials, rising 

prices/energy costs and significant labour 

shortages due to the pandemic and Brexit. 

They call for industry to show a #unitedfront 

of solidarity in that every supplier is 

weathering the same storm and that, by 

giving customers an understanding, they can 

quickly work together to provide solutions and 

get back to delivering continuity of supply. 

Ryan Green, Managing Director of Clayton 

Glass, said: “We have had such a fantastic 

response since we launched the campaign in 

October and the overwhelming reaction has 

been positive with suppliers in our sector. 

“As soon as the letter landed, we received 

calls from colleagues, social media support 

and debate about how we could all work 

more collaboratively to help ease the supply 

chain issues as soon as possible.” 

IS OMICRON A ‘DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD’? 

Following the emergence of the Omicron 

variant of Covid-19, Ryan Johnson, Managing 

Director at fabricator, Emplas, has written an 

open letter to the industry, discussing some of 

the opportunities and potential challenges that 

may lie ahead in 2022. 

He said: “Omicron. It’s the latest addition to our 

vocabulary. 

“We came out of the high of G-Awards at the end 

of November, into a return of face masks and 

growing concern as to how the new Covid-19 

variant, will impact on the UK. 

“For the window industry, it has the potential to be 

a double-edged sword. 

“It makes disruption of some form more likely 

in the new year. Staff having to isolate because 

they’ve picked up a positive lateral flow is 

something we’ve now lived with for two-years and 

I suspect, we’re going to have to deal with for a 

little while longer. 

“But it also makes it more likely that people are 

going to continue to work from home, and that 

demand in home improvement will remain high. 

“If it becomes more difficult to travel, to use 

services – it makes it more likely that we’re 

going to spend our money on ‘stuff’, including 

The government has confirmed interim changes 

to Part L of the Building Regs for England, ready 

for the implementation of the Future Homes and 

Buildings Standard in 2025. 

Discussing the changes, Nick Cooper, Technical 

Director at AluK, explained the new Part L means 

a reduction in notional U-Values for windows and 

doors with more than 60% glazing in new dwellings 

to 1.2, with limiting U-Values of 1.4 for all new 

windows (WER Band B minimum) and >60% 

glazed doors (DER Band C minimum) installed in 

existing dwellings. 

He explained the aim is to deliver a 30% reduction 

in carbon emissions from new homes and a 27% 

reduction from other types of building, whilst 

home improvements. 

“Retail leads have slowed a little at the end of 

2021. We need to remember, that that’s from a 

record high and the inflation of the market from 

the Stamp Duty holiday. 

“I believe the bigger challenge will be how we 

manage that demand, resilience in the supply 

chain and how we manage price increases. 

Upstream from us, it’s a seller’s market. PVC-U 

resin supply remains particularly challenging. 

Throw in energy surcharges and we need to be 

prepared for more price increases in the year 

ahead. 

“This is the balancing act that we’re going to have 

to get used to managing. Demand will continue 

but labour, shortages and energy surcharges 

mean that our costs will increase as will those of 

our customers.” 

INTERIM PART L CHANGES CONFIRMED 

there are also changes to Approved Document F which 

apply to trickle vents, and an entirely new Approved 

Document O which applies to glazing and overheating. 

The new Regulations come into force on 15 June 

2022, but there’s a six-month transition period for 

planning applications submitted before that date, 

providing the build work starts before 15 June 

2023. 

Nick Cooper, Technical 

Director at AluK 

6 TF JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022 CONNECTING THE WINDOW, DOOR & ROOF FABRICATION SUPPLY CHAIN

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News Roundup 

FENSTERBAU DATE 

MOVED AGAIN 

Trade show FENSTERBAU FRONTALE has 

been rescheduled and will now take place 

between Tuesday 12th – Friday 15th July 

2022. 

The show was originally due to take place 

from 29th March to 1st April 2022. 

“Although we are allowed to continue to 

run exhibitions, our customers still have a 

strong sense of uncertainty,” explained Petra 

Wolf, Member of the Management Board, 

NürnbergMesse. 

“And given the dynamic nature of the infection 

situation, we unfortunately cannot rule out the 

possibility that legislation at a national and 

state level will have to be adapted or made 

more stringent at short notice.” 

The course taken by the Covid-19 pandemic 

and the postponement of other industry 

events in the first quarter of 2022 is said to 

have recently contributed to the uncertainty 

among the exhibitors of FENSTERBAU 

FRONTALE and HOLZ-HANDWERK. 

Elke Harreiss, Director FENSTERBAU 

FRONTALE, and Stefan Dittrich, Director 

HOLZ-HANDWERK, added: “By acting early 

to reschedule FENSTERBAU FRONTALE and 

HOLZ-HANDWERK to a date in summer, we are 

accommodating the wishes of many exhibitors 

to provide a meeting place for the industry 

where they can network and do business in a 

positive atmosphere in 2022. 

“To achieve this, we are relying on a hygiene 

and access concept that has already proven 

successful and combines our customers’ 

needs for personal interaction with safety in 

the best possible way. 

“Together with our exhibitors and partners, 

we are looking forward to meeting again in 

Nuremberg between 12 and 15 July 2022, 

with positive interaction between industry 

colleagues, profitable new business contacts, 

and all kinds of trends and inspiration for 

business!” 

STUDY SHOWS HOMEOWNERS WOULD 

CHOOSE HIGHER RECYCLED CONTENT 

More than two-thirds of UK homeowners 

(68%) would choose windows and doors with 

a higher recycled content over and above 

products which don’t, or which do so at a 

lower level, according to a new study. 

The findings of the survey by leading pollster 

YouGov also found that 63% of homeowners said 

that they would be more likely to purchase home 

improvements, which they saw as being more 

‘sustainable’. 

Commissioned by Deceuninck, the study also 

found that 38%, would be prepared to pay more 

for home improvement products that had higher 

recycled content and reduced impact on the 

environment. 

Rob McGlennon, Managing Director, Deceuninck, 

said: “Sustainability is going to top the agenda for 

the next decade – it has to. 

“That growing awareness about climate-change 

and the negative impact we’re having as a 

global society on the planet, is filtering into 

each purchasing decision that we’re making as 

consumers. 

“This includes windows and doors. Products 

which are seen as being more energy efficient, 

Certification body the British Board of Agrément 

has been given the green light to issue UK 

Technical Assessments (UKTAs) – the first 

organisation in the UK to gain this approval. 

The announcement comes at a critical time for 

UK-based construction product manufacturers, 

importers and distributors who have just a year 

to prepare their businesses for the switch from 

CE Marking to the new UKCA Marking regime 

for products placed in the GB 

market. 

As part of this process, European 

Technical Assessments (ETAs) 

will be replaced by UKTAs, with 

approved UK-based Technical 

more recyclable and which have a lower impact in 

manufacture, are increasingly important in driving 

the purchasing decisions of end users.” 

When asked to rank the importance of different 

factors which would impact on their decision 

to buy windows and doors, ‘security’ topped 

the billing, rated as important by 91% of total 

respondents. 

Energy efficiency was the next biggest driver, 

cited by 89% of those polled. This was followed 

by appearance and the match/fit to their existing 

property 86%. Sustainability was cited as 

important by 67% of those surveyed. 

You can read more about Rob and Deceuninck’s 

thoughts on sustainability and the opportunities 

for those throughout the supply chain on 

pages 22 and 23 of this issue. 

BBA IS FIRST UKTA ASSESSMENT BODY 

Assessment Bodies (TABs) such as the BBA 

required to assess products for the UK market. 

The news was confirmed by the Department for 

Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC). 

CEO Hardy Giesler, said: “We are delighted to have 

been approved as the first UK TAB able to issue 

UKTAs to our clients. This important milestone 

enables us to respond quickly to the urgent needs 

of our clients who have been 

waiting to progress their ETA to 

UKTA transition for well over 12 

months.” 

See page 54 for further comment 

on UKCA marking from Chris 

Alderson of Edgetech. 


Find more industry news at: www.total-fabricator.co.uk 

THE ONLY WAY IS UP 

AT VBH SWANSEA 

HAFFNER GOES EVEN BIGGER FOR FIT 2022! 

Haffner MD Dave Thomas 

Drastic changes to customers’ ordering 

patterns gave rise to some head scratching 

at VBH’s sales and distribution centre in 

Swansea recently. 

The Swansea centre serves VBH’s customers 

in Wales and South West England, and it had 

become apparent that more stock needed to 

be held locally to help react most efficiently 

to the requirements of customers whose 

hardware uptake had rapidly increased or, in 

some cases, had become erratic. 

The focus was to ensure that sales orders from 

Welsh and South Western customers in 2022 

and beyond would be supplied complete first 

time from Swansea, without the need to ship 

part orders from other VBH sites. 

Floor area was at maximum capacity so Dave 

Prout, VBH Operations Manager - Swansea, and 

his team decided that the only way was up! 

They designed and installed 

high level picking spaces 

and pallet racking to take full 

advantage of the building 

height. 

The re-design has allowed 

for a deeper stock holding of 

VBH Swansea’s most popular lines, including 

those from the greenteQ brand, and has 

created an extra 120 pallet spaces with no 

loss of picking shelves for smaller, slower 

moving products. 

As part of the warehouse upgrade, VBH has 

also invested in a new high-level order picker 

to be used in the narrow aisle design layout. 

The picker is capable of reaching all levels of 

racking and is computer guided to allow for 

safe working in narrow aisles. 

Dave said: “The whole changeover was carried 

out in just two weeks and we are happy to say 

that disruption to the depot’s customers was 

kept to an absolute minimum.” 

Haffner’s stand at this year’s FIT Show 

was already set to be the biggest stand in 

the show’s history. But the company has 

confirmed that it’s just got even bigger – the 

new space will be 610sqm. 

Haffner took the decision to extend the stand 

because of a rapid increase in demand and a 

stream of orders for fully seamless set-ups. 

Dave Thomas, Managing Director of Haffner, 

commented: “Fabricators are increasingly 

looking to use the latest technologies to deliver 

outstanding quality that feature-rich products 

demand. The Graf Synergy range is the only range 

for this. It delivers world class seamless welding 

technology and patented welding techniques, 

increasing fabrication efficiencies and delivering 

superior product quality. By showcasing the entire 

range on our stand, we’ll be able to show more 

fabricators what it has to offer.” 

Haffner is the exclusive UK supply partner of Graf 

Synergy and its FIT Show stand will showcase 

machines capable of welding seamless corners, 

transoms, reverse butts, cruciforms and cills, 

showing how far the machinery has come. 

The FIT Show runs from 10th-12th May 2022 at 

the NEC in Birmingham. www.fitshow.co.uk 

EMMEGI (UK) RETURNS AND IT’S A 

FIT SHOW BOW FOR CHECKATRADE 

Emmegi (UK) has announced that it will be 

back exhibiting at the FIT Show in May after 

three years away. 

Checkatrade is also set to make its debut at the 

show, which returns to the NEC between 10th- 

12th May 2022. 

Emmegi (UK) said it will be a chance for new 

and existing customers to chat to the team and 

enjoy some classic Italian-style hospitality. 

Managing Director Ian Latimer, said: “Since 

the beginning, FIT has been a really successful 

show for us – not just in terms of generating 

enquiries for new machines, but as a great 

place to meet up with customers and friends. 

With momentum building for the 2022 event, 

we didn’t want to miss out. 

“Machinery is always a good draw for fabricators 

at exhibitions, so I hope the fact that there’s now 

another machinery company on the floorplan will 

encourage even more people to register.” 

Speaking about Checkatrade’s presence at the 

show, Event Director Nickie West said: “Checkatrade 

is a huge household name, and one that we are 

delighted to be able to bring to FIT Show 2022.” 


JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022 TF 9

News Roundup 

CMO DOUBLING REBRANDS UPAS 

CMOSTORES.COM 

AT Precision has doubled its turnover in the 

past 12 months. 

Sales Director Michael Hewitt commented: 

“In the summer, we’d seen a 342% sales 

increase since we opened our doors in 

February 2020, but in the past six months, 

we’ve gone above and beyond to double our 

turnover, and I’m extremely proud of how far 

the business has come, despite the many 

difficulties across the board.” 

Michael attributes the success to careful 

investments, which includes a factory 

expansion to 18,000 square feet, as well as 

the introduction of two new extrusion lines. 

This has enabled the Durham-based 

company to increase both production and 

capacity, meaning they are able to store at 

least three months’ worth of stock on their 

premises at all times. 

2021 also saw the company further expand 

its product portfolio with a range of plastic 

ancillaries, including injection-moulded cill 

end caps and adapter caps, available in 

black and anthracite grey. 

In addition, the company also recently 

invested £60K in a new range of espagnolette 

window handles. 

Michael concluded: “We’ve enjoyed 

considerable growth in the past 12 months, 

and while favourable market conditions have 

of course played a role in that, our success 

would not have been possible without the 

ongoing investment in our products and 

services.” 


THE DECLINE OF WHITE PVC-U CASEMENTS 

Software company Tommy Trinder analysed 

more than 88,000 PVC-U casements using 

its Framepoint platform in 2021, and this 

data showed the decline of the smooth white 

window, with just 58% of PVC casements 

quoted unfoiled. 

Anthracite grey (8%) and white grain (6%) 

continued to prove popular colour choices in 

2021. But on the whole, Tommy Trinder’s data growing popularity for flush casements. In 2021 

reveals a fragmented appetite for colour. 

around a quarter (24%) of PVC-U windows 

quoted by installers had flush sashes. 

Chris Brunsdon, Tommy Trinder’s CEO, said: 

“Long gone are the days when windows were Smooth white was even less popular as a finish 

white and handles were gold. 

on PVC-U flush casements, accounting for just 

22% of all windows quoted. 

“The activity from Framepoint users in 2021 

suggests we have truly become a rainbow nation A quarter of all flush casements were foiled white 

when it comes to fenestration. 

or cream. 

“Over 1,000 different colour combinations were Agate Grey (13%) was almost twice as popular 

quoted on PVC-U casements during the year.” as Anthracite (7%) in the more traditional 

window form. 

According to the data, traditional woodgrains 

were largely in decline. Only Rosewood (4%) and “Use of the app is growing rapidly,” added Chris. 

Golden Oak (1%) made it into the top 10 most “We have around 1,150 active users of 

popular foils. Mahogany, a former favourite, was Framepoint from over 360 window firms so it’s a 

notable by its absence. Oaks such as Irish Oak, solid representation of the market.” 

English Oak and Natural Oak, whilst trending 

When asked for his thoughts on what colours 

upwards, also failed to make the top tier. 

would be trending in 2022, Chris concluded: 

The Tommy Trinder survey also highlighted “That’s easy. The future is…Basalt Grey!” 

TENDER SUCCESS FOR CARL F GROUPCO 

Carl F Groupco has successfully secured a Groupco, said: “I’m immensely proud of the team 

tender to continue full hardware supply to for their efforts over the past five years working 

one of the largest social housing providers in on this contract, and it just goes to show how 

Wales, Tai Tarian. 

important our emphasis on exceptional service is 

to our customers.” 

Having supplied window and door hardware for 

the past five years, the contract has recently been As part of the Tai Tarian tender, Carl F Groupco 

awarded for another three to five years. 

will supply a full range of window and door 

hardware to Tai Tarian, including Yale Lockmaster 

The doors and windows supplied by Tai Tarian 

door locks, Platinum 3* cylinders, Sparta 

are fabricated to Secured by Design and PAS 24 

window handles, Hoppe Tokyo and Birmingham 

security standards and provide Energy Rating 

door handles, Kenrick Centurion shootbolt 

Scheme certification. 

espagnolettes, Roto door hinges, Cotswold friction 

John Crittenden, Managing Director of Carl F stays and Rapier Star screws. 


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News Roundup 

A PREMIER YEAR FOR 

FRAME MANUFACTURER 

Despite a challenging trading period for 

the industry, frame manufacturer Premier 

Arches has seen a 94% sales uplift in the 

past 12 months, making 2021 its most 

successful year yet. 

Managing Director Sean Greenall attributes 

this success to an increased demand for 

bespoke arched and angled frames across 

the country, matched with the unique and 

specialised service the company offers, 

taking the hassle away from the complicated 

and time-consuming process of profile 

bending. 

He said: “Demand for home improvements 

has skyrocketed in the past two years, 

with more and more homeowners wanting 

to transform their properties with bespoke 

arched and angled windows and doors.” 

Working with over 600 customers across 

the UK, the St Helens-based company 

manufactures and supplies the awkward 

products that others don’t want to make. 

This includes arched, angled, gable, circular 

and entirely bespoke windows and doors 

in a range of 7 stocked systems including 

Residence 9, plus another five non-stocked 

systems. 

Sean added: “Despite the continued 

challenges faced across the industry over the 

past two years, our products and services 

have been in high demand, and we’ve 

managed to maintain a high level of service 

across the board, providing outstanding 

products and a smooth and reliable sales 

process for all our customers. The hard 

work of everyone across the business has 

ensured that Premier Arches experienced an 

extremely successful past 12 months, and 

I’m incredibly proud of our whole team.” 

THE BARRIERS TO DELIVERING HOMES 

More than nine out of ten 

smaller housebuilders have 

said planning is the biggest 

obstacle to increasing their 

housing delivery, according 

to a recent survey from the 

Home Builders Federation 

(HBF), Close Brothers 

Property Finance and Travis 

Perkins. 

The survey, now in its second 

year, takes a deeper look at how 

the Covid-19 pandemic has changed the landscape 

for housing delivery via SMEs and includes an indepth 

focus group this year, which drills down into 

the key findings from the survey. 

The findings also showed that 78% of 

housebuilders see the supply and cost of materials 

as a major barrier to delivery, which was up 20% 

from last year. 

In recent months, global materials shortages 

and subsequent price inflation have proven to be 

another significant barrier for SMEs and it now 

features as one of the top three major barriers 

identified by respondents. 

It also showed that 59% see the supply and cost of 

labour as a major barrier (up from 19% last year). 

Yorkshire fabricator UK Doors Online has won 

two awards at the Northern Enterprise Awards 

2021, in the categories of Best Aluminium 

& Bifold Door Manufacturer 2021 and Best 

Emerging Yorkshire Trading Business 2021 

Now in its third year, the Northern Enterprise 

Awards celebrates the industriousness and 

dedication of businesses and enterprises from the 

north of England. 

Commenting on the double-win, Managing Director, 

Andrew Glover, said: “It’s fantastic to have our 

efforts and achievements recognised in this way. 

UK Doors Online was formed in July 2020, which 

was a challenging time for the industry, with 

multiple lockdowns, material and staff shortages 

Stewart Baseley, Executive 

Chairman of the Home Builders 

Federation, said: “Recent 

decades have seen a collapse in 

SME builders numbers and the 

survey shows the considerable 

challenges the sector continues 

to face. 

“Every single SME I speak to 

is suffering badly from delays 

to the planning process. SMEs 

are literally having to put their businesses on 

hold whilst Local Authorities delay the start of 

construction as their planning departments don’t 

have adequate capacity to process applications 

effectively. 

“Allied to concerns on materials and staff, 

planning delays threaten the demise of even more 

SME builders.” 

A positive to come from the survey is the 

significant growth in the number of apprentices 

employed by respondents: 

Just under 60% of respondents employ 

apprentices in their business, as compared to 

just 33% of respondents last year. 

DOUBLE WIN FOR YORKSHIRE FABRICATOR 

and supply chain issues. 

“Despite this, we continue to beat our own sales 

records month-on-month, more than doubling 

turnover in two years and on track to do this again 

in year three. This is mainly down to the strength 

of our team and their ability to help with any 

enquiries.” 


Contract BP Barometer Talk 

COVID IMPLICATIONS FOR THE SECTOR 

Business Pilot has released its first Barometer of the year, and Senior Analyst Neil Cooper- 

Smith asks if Covid-19 has made the window and door industry better or worse off. 

Figures for window and door sales last 

month [December 2021] show a 38% 

fall in sales. That’s a substantial but not 

entirely unexpected drop: a lot of retailers shut-up 

shop early for Christmas, while December is 

historically also slower. 

That also goes for January. Leads in December 

were also down 44% – from 102 to 57 – which 

means that the start of the year will be quieter for 

many. Despite its size, the figure is unremarkable 

given that we lost much of the month to the 

holiday season. 

Average order values by comparison were up from 

£4,770 to £7,391 – an increase of 55%. Although 

we’re having to join the dots, we’d argue that this 

can, in part, be attributed to the pre-September 

Stamp Duty holiday deadline rush in housing 

completions. 

Although conjecture, it would make sense that 

a couple of months in, those who moved in 

September are starting on home improvements, 

and completing refurbishments. 

At the same time, discretionary spend on single 

(albeit bigger) ticket items, for example bi-folds, 

are likely to have been impacted by the holidays 

and lower seasonal appeal, increasing the 

average order value overall. 

What’s ahead in 2022? 

At the start of 2022 Omicron continues to deliver 

a dose of uncertainty. While there were signs in 

December that supply chains were starting to 

stabilise, the prospect of COVID-related disruption 

continues to hang over the industry. 

This aside, a number of factors which drive 

increased consumer confidence, and therefore 

their willingness to spend, continue to point in a 

positive direction. 

Average house prices rose again last month, 

hitting a record average level of £254,822 

according to the latest data from Nationwide 

building society. 

This represents an increase of 10.4% in the 

12-months to December 2021 – an increase of 

£24,000 over the past year – giving homeowners 

more equity in their properties. 

The challenge is inflation, which the Bank of 

England predicts will peak at around 6% this 

April, from the 5.1% already seen in November. 

Analysts warn this is likely to be compounded 

if, as expected, Ofgem lifts its price cap on 

household gas and electricity bills in April, 

something which could see domestic energy 

prices increase by as much as 50%. 

In summary, confidence in the housing market 

means demand is going to be there in retail but 

affordability is going to be far more of an issue 

than it has been in the last 12-months. 

Has Covid-19 made the window and door 

industry more profitable? 

The answer is, we’re probably never going to 

know, but we think it’s worth considering that 

the window and door industry was on target for 

significant growth before the pandemic hit, at 

around 5% year-on-year through to 2023. 

The growth that has been seen in the last 

18-months has been exponential, but it is by 

definition going to be less sustainable. 

What we can see is that year-on-year sales 

December 2021 were down 23% on those for 

2020. Go back a year further to the pre-Covid era 

and December 2019, and they’re 60% lower. 

So, could the industry have done better if COVID 

hadn’t hit? It’s safe to say that the volume 

wouldn’t have been there without it or, perhaps 

more accurately, the Furlough scheme. 

But there would have been more control, and 

going into their year-end, we know there will be 

retailers who won’t have been as profitable as 

they expected, because of increased complexity 

and cost of doing business during a pandemic. 

Contact Business Pilot: 

0333 050 7632 

www.businesspilot.co.uk/ 

@BusinessPilotUK 



Ultimate Security 

High-Performance 

Low U-Values 

System 10-35 Hi / Hi+ 

Commercial Door and Framing 

Providing high-performance strength and security, 

Metal Technology’s new innovative, commercial 

door and framing system has been developed to 

offer exceptionally low U-values, delivering as low 

as 1.27 W/m 2 K with double glazing and 0.93 W/m 2 K 

with triple glazing. Ideal for high traffic locations 

within the commercial, health, education or 

retail sector. 

Multi-point locking is achievable on sash heights 

up to 3 metres and 100kgs with glazing from 28mm 

to 44mm units. With the full 10-35 range of door 

and framing systems tested to PAS 24, designers 

can specify security doors with confidence. 

Certified:

PAS 24 security tested to comply 

with Secured by Design criteria 

Multi-point locking 

Mag locks 

Panic Exit (push rail or touch bar) 

All of the above in single 

or double door applications 

Available in single or dual colour 

standard RAL finishes 

Cycle tested to BS 6375 Part 2 

Bespoke tooling and jigs to assist 

with rapid manufacture 

LogiKal estimating and production 

software for manufacturing, glass 

and U-value calculations 

Range of stainless steel handle 

options available from stock 

For further information and technical data visit metaltechnology.com 

T +44 (0)28 9448 7777 || orders@metaltechnology.com || Follow us on

Behind the Scenes 

FROM POWDER TO PLASTIC 

In a series of ‘behind the scenes’ features, we explore the inner workings of Selecta Systems. In 

our first feature, Kevin Smith, Extrusion Manager, provides us with an engaging insight into the 

extrusion process, from material mixing through to inspection and testing. 

“To some it’s just a window or a door. To a 

few it’s just a piece of plastic. 

To Selecta Systems it’s a precision 

engineered product! 

A product that undergoes a cycle of meticulous 

processes, a sequence of inspections, a series 

of rigorous internal and external tests to ensure 

it complies with a comprehensive range of 

standards and regulations – this is where the 

window and door journey starts. 

From powder to plastic 

So, what is PVCu or uPVC as it is often referred 

to? PVCu is Poly Vinyl Chloride, which is a 

lightweight and yet robust type of plastic 

used in consumer goods. The “u” stands for 

un-plasticised, meaning that the plastic isn’t 

softened in the manufacturing process, thus 

ensuring its strength is maintained. So how do we 

Selecta’s extrusion machines 

go from a raw material powder to a fully formed 

and robust window or door profile? 

Bulk tanker deliveries of lead-free raw materials 

arrive on site on a daily basis in the form of 

resins, stabilisers, impact modifiers etc. and 

are pumped into large storage silos and holding 

stations, where material is accurately weighed to 

Selecta’s formulation. Each raw material delivery 

is QC checked and tested to ensure that it is to 

our material specification before acceptance. 

The PVCu “ingredients” and ratios used in 

the extrusion of the Selecta window and door 

products are specific to a tried and tested Selecta 

“This is where the 

window and door 

journey starts” 

formula and colour. 

The precise proportions of resin, stabilisers and 

modifiers are transferred in to what is effectively 

a large “mixing bowl”, a high speed mixer. The 

computerised system allocates the volumes and 

blends the various raw material ingredients to the 

Selecta formula. QC checks are carried out every 

two hours and automated monitoring ensures the 

consistency of the Selecta formulation. 

The blended mix is assigned to a silo and 

recorded for traceability purposes, with all the 

production processes controlled and managed via 

the ISO 9001 quality management system. 

A window or door profile section tool consists of 

a main die and a sequence of tooling calibrators, 

whilst the extrusion machine is split in to 

sections, the die head, calibrator and cooling 

section, haul off, saw centre and tilt table, with 

each carrying out a particular process during the 

16 T F JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022 

CONNECTING THE WINDOW, DOOR & ROOF FABRICATION SUPPLY CHAIN

Contract Talk 

SYSTEMS 

“It’s not just a window 

or door or a piece of 

plastic to Selecta” 

extrusion of profile. 

The start up of a new profile section run 

begins with the extrusion machine set to the 

specification of the master setting sheet for that 

specific profile section. 

Dependant on the extrusion machine there are 

approximately thirteen temperature 

zones within the head of the 

machine and die zone, and 

each are set to a specific 

temperature to aid the gelation 

of the dry blend. 

Each profile section has specific 

settings for screw speeds, line 

speeds, pressure, vacuums etc. within 

the set up of a new run. 

Once fine-tuned and set-up, the dry blend of 

PVCu material is pumped in to the head of the 

extrusion machine from the silo, which in turn 

via the heat in the machine head and die zones, 

softens the material in to a PVCu gel. 

This softened PVCu gel is then forced through 

the tooling die to form the profile shape. The 

Above: A gasket being co-extruded into a profile. Left: Extrusion Manager Kevin Smith 

warm and soft PVCu profile growth and an automated system douses 

section then goes through chemicals in to the water chamber to maintain a 

a series of calibration dies to safe closed loop water system. 

maintain the profile shape, whilst 

Once cooled inside the seven-metre-long 

chilled water is sprayed over the profile 

calibrator and cooling chambers, the profile 

during the cooling process. 

section’s rubber gasket is co-extruded in to the 

An underground water chamber holding 

gasket channel and the profile section is printed 

thousands of gallons of water pumps water to upon, every one metre, with the company name, 

the extrusion machines via large chillers, which reference to standard EN 12608-1, our climatic 

ensures that the water is preserved to a set zone classification, our resistance to impact 

temperature. 

by falling mass classification, wall thickness 

classification, product code, date and shift 

The water is regularly checked for bacterial 

identification. 

The mixing plant operation 

This aids traceability of the profile section 

throughout it’s journey. 

The next stage is the haul off, which is 

reminiscent of two large tank tracks, that pulls 

the profile along the extrusion machine before the 

protective tape is applied, and the computerised 

saw cuts the section at six metres before hitting 

the tilt table for packing. 

During the profile section’s journey along the 

thirty-metre-long extrusion machine, on-line 

dimensional, operational and visual QC checks 

are carried out and recorded every couple of 

lengths. 

QC lab checks are carried out every two hours 

Continued on page 18 



Behind the Scenes 

Continued from page 17 

QC testing provided by Selecta’s Carl Hillman 

SYSTEMS 

root cause of the failure, and corrective and 

preventive actions applied to ensure the issue 

doesn’t happen again. Passed profile is packed 

within stillages and transferred to the storage 

warehouse, ready for order picking. 

of extrusion, with full dimensional, colour and 

operational checks with associated profiles, 

reinforcements, accessories and ancillaries. 

Upon the start-up and then every two days of a 

profile section’s production run, physical property 

tests are carried out within the QC lab. This 

consists of a series of tests that simulate adverse 

climatic effects to ensure that the profile section 

continues to perform to a high standard when 

subject to these extremities. 

“There’s so much more 

to the whole extrusion 

process, going from 

that initial powdered 

raw material to PVCu 

window or door profile 

section” 

This is done for the ten samples and recorded. 

The test simulates a cold winters night / day and 

the consequence of an object making contact with 

the profile section. 

Two further QC lab tests are carried out, one 

for determination of appearance (heat ageing) 

after exposure at 150 degrees celsius and 

determination of heat reversion. The latter 

determines the deterioration of a profile section 

after three 250mm section samples are placed 

in a conditioned oven at 100 degrees celsius 

for a minimum of one hour. The reversion, or 

deterioration, is measured as a percentage 

change of the final length relative to the initial 

length. 

If a failure is identified, stock is quarantined 

and an investigation is carried out to find the 

All of the extrusion processes and QC testing 

is carried out in accordance with our product 

Kitemark licence, standard BS EN 12608-1:2016 

and our ISO 9001 Quality Management System 

requirements. Company processes, procedures 

and testing are externally audited by British 

Standards Institute (BSi) every 6 months, with 

further audit test sampling carried out at BSi 

UKAS accredited labs based on the same criteria. 

There’s so much more to the whole extrusion 

process, going from that initial powdered raw 

material to PVCu window or door profile section. 

This behind-the-scenes feature will give those 

of you who are unfamiliar with the process a 

quick overview and insight in to the methods and 

A finished profile extrusion 

practices involved. It’s 

not just a window or door or a piece of plastic to 

Selecta. 

It is that precision engineered product that we 

envisaged from the start. 

Contact Selecta Systems: 

0121 325 2100 

www.selectasystems.com/ 

@SelectaSystems 

A finished profile extrusion 

To simulate extreme cold conditions, cold impact 

testing consists of ten profile section samples 

cut to 300mm and conditioned to -10ºC for a 

minimum of 1hr. Selecta, condition sections 

above the requirements with the freezer set to 

-13ºc and for a minimum of 2 hrs. 

Each one of the ten samples is taken out of the 

freezer, once conditioned, and placed in a jig 

where a 1kg weight is dropped on the profile 

section from 1.5m in height. If the sample breaks, 

it fails and if the weight ‘bounces’ off, it passes. 


Innovation comes built-in 

MORLEY IS BACK! 

We’re starting 2022 on a high after successfully fighting back against 

unprecedented supply chain issues to bring back our industry-topping 

10-12 day lead time on our full range of integrated blinds. 

Morley Glass & Glazing Ltd 

Unit 3 

Leeds 27 Industrial Estate 

Bruntcliffe Way 

Leeds LS27 0HH 

morleyglass.co.uk 

0113 277 8722 sales@morleyglass.co.uk

Aluminium 

INCREASING BUYER CONFIDENCE 

Sheerline’s Head of Marketing, David Wigley, talks about how retail-focused products are 

leading to an increase in consumer confidence for aluminium products. 

Consumer attitudes toward aluminium 

windows and doors have changed steadily 

over the past decade, driven by the growth 

of more retail friendly systems that pay more 

care and attention to aesthetics and thermal 

performance, rather than simply repurposing 

products designed for the commercial sector. 

That’s according to David Wigley, Head of 

Marketing at aluminium window and door 

manufacturer Sheerline. 

“Traditional steel and aluminium window and 

door products have historically been plagued 

by issues surrounding energy efficiency, and a 

general lack of aesthetic choice, making them 

less desirable for homeowners. Consumers 

looking for systems that offered the slimmest 

sightlines were often forced to compromise in 

other areas, such as security and finish.” David 

commented. 

“However, with the development of new 

innovative technologies and the introduction of 

retail-focused brands such as Sheerline, the 

industry is starting to experience a rise in demand 

for aluminium as customer trust in this next 

generation of aluminium grows.” 

Designed from scratch, the Sheerline’s Classic 

range incorporates many features and benefits 

demanded by discerning home-improvers, selfbuilders, 

and housebuilders. 

David continued: “In contrast to other window 

lines, our Classic window system was designed 

from scratch and not adapted from an existing 

system. We wanted to create a system which 

revolutionised the way consumers think about 

aluminium windows and doors, while still 

ensuring we provided trade customers with an 

easy-to-manufacture and easy-to-install range. 

“The Classic system presents a whole new range 

of features and benefits to allow fabricators 

and installers to meet the needs of the most 

demanding consumer.” 

David added: “Sheerline Classic is an ideal 

solution for homeowners looking for a tasteful and 

elegant way to improve the look of their homes. 

Even the smallest of apertures will benefit from 

the ultra-slim beadless system. When fitted, 

Sheerline Classic windows provide a stylish look 

that maximises light and views – with slim 59mm 

sightlines on windows using the small outer 

frame.” 

The Classic window range uses Sheerline’s 

patented corner cleat construction method, 

A classic 

aluminium 

sash window 

“Aluminium windows 

are no longer a 

one-style-fits-all 

commercial hand-medown” 

resulting in almost invisible mitred joints, while 

also allowing the system to arrive on site already 

pre-glazed. 

“Our corner cleat system is used across 

all Sheerline ranges to reduce fabrication 

misalignment and create exceptional strong and 

secure corner joints. This eco-friendly system 

also greatly reduces waste by lessening the 

need to crimp corners, leading to less scrappage 

if elements of the window need replacing mid 

manufacture – all made possible by Sheerline’s 

easy to use corner cleat”, David commented. 

To allow for quicker and more efficient 

installations, Classic sashes are pre-glazed 

during fabrication, and use cleverly designed 

corner and run-up ramp mouldings to self-locate 

hinges. This allows sashes to be hung quickly, 

with the hinges held securely, the sash is fixed in 

place. It also eliminates the need to fit gaskets or 

beads on-site. 

David added: “To help reduce installation time 

and associated cost, the Classic system is preglazed 

with the glazed unit securely encapsulated 

within the sash prior to going on-site. Not only 

does this add higher security for the window with 

Sheerline created a white finish fitted to a stone coloured 

property 



Contract Talk 

SYSTEMS 

no beads to attack, but it reduces the likelihood 

of glass breakages occurring during transit and 

fitting. Discovering you are missing a key glass 

unit on-site is also a thing of the past.” 

Designed to provide optimum weather 

performance, while also ensuring good energy 

efficiency, the Classic range combines highperforming 

co-extruded weather seals, including 

across its cills and ancillaries, with Thermlock, 

Sheerline’s patented, multi-chamber technology 

used across all products. 

This has been designed to make sure cold 

bridging is reduced and ensure homes are kept 

warm and energy bills low, an increasing concern 

for homeowners against the looming prospect of 

spiralling energy costs. 

David explained: “Classic also uses less silicone 

for sealing due to Sheerline’s cills, inbuilt 

weatherseals. This saves cost, while also being 

faster and more convenient – the best bit is it 

helps ensure a better performing installation for 

the end-user.” 

The system has been designed to be exceptionally 

secure, featuring specialised hardware that is 

complemented by the Classic system’s design 

to provide high security levels on windows and 

Unobtrusive clean sightlines on a 

recent project 

Sheerline’s Seamless clean corner finish 

doors, an achievement acknowledged by the UK 

police initiative, Secure By Design accreditation. 

“The window’s excellent security performance 

is a fantastic achievement especially taking into 

consideration its slim construction,” said Dave. 

Classic offers two sash options; ‘Stepped’ or 

‘Contemporary’ and a choice of either ‘Standard’ 

or ‘Flush’ outer frames, resulting in a variation 

of choice for consumers to match the aesthetics 

of their home or extension – all available from a 

stocked range of 12 colours. 

“The Classic range is becoming highly sought 

after by homeowners. We have seen growing 

interest in this slim-looking system through our 

website and media channels more recently.” 

David said: “Homes look fantastic fitted with 

Classic windows, and I’ve recently chosen them 

for my own home, replacing tired externally glazed 

PVC-U windows. 

“Aluminium windows are no longer a one-stylefits-all 

commercial hand-me-down, the latest 

generation can now claim to be the perfect 

combination of timeless style, energy efficiency, 

and choice; available in the widest range of styles 

and finishes to suit every home. 

“Add these elements to minimal maintenance 

requirements and enviable sustainability 

credentials, and products like the Sheerline 

Classic system will continue to see growing 

consumer demand in forthcoming years as 

homeowners look for an alternative eco-friendly 

solution,” David concluded. 

Contact Sheerline: 

01332 978000 

www.sheerline.com 

@SheerlineSystem 



Sustainability 

THE GRETA-EFFECT 

Total Fabricator hears from Rob McGlennon, Managing Director of Deceuninck, who explains 

how targets to cut carbon emissions and shifting consumer expectations has put sustainability 

at the top of the agenda in the coming year. 

are very few things which we can 

be certain about but the importance of 

“There 

sustainability in construction, in home 

improvement, in each and every aspect of our 

lives, is one”, says Rob McGlennon, Managing 

Director, Deceuninck. 

“Pretending it’s not happening isn’t an option” he 

continues, “companies that can’t evidence – and I 

mean evidence – their green credentials are going 

to be locked out of new build, and very soon, home 

improvement. 

“And that’s something progressive window and 

door companies should, and are, embracing.” 

Commercial window fabricators have had to 

be able to demonstrate their environmental 

commitments as a key element in winning 

business for decades – but that’s now something 

which should also be part of the pitch for trade 

fabricators and installers, according to the 

Deceuninck boss. 

“I was recently at an event with a group 

of installers, and they were talking about 

Rob McGlennon 

“This legislative 

‘stick’ has been met 

with increasing enduser 

awareness and 

expectation” 

sustainability. One of those installers dismissed its 

importance. 

“It was one of those tumble-weed moments and 

no one said anything, other than I said that I was 

surprised that it didn’t resonate with consumers. 

Ian Cocken says consumers are now much more 

aware of the options available to them when 

considering new or replacement windows. 

Pretending sustainability isn’t there is 

not an option, says Rob 

“Later that day a couple of installers grabbed me 

and said that they hadn’t wanted to contradict the 

guy who had been speaking but that they were 

regularly asked by homeowners about if products 

were manufactured sustainably, and were using 

the recovery and recycling of old PVC-U windows 

as a way to win business. 

“That sums up neatly where we find ourselves. 

There are companies who don’t and may never 

see the opportunity and those that will, are and 

who are quietly already levering a commercial 

advantage from it.” 

Rob argues that there are two factors that are 

converging to bring a certain amount of inevitability 

to proceedings. 

The first is the state of the UK’s notoriously energy 

leaky housing stock. 

Around 75 per cent of the residential properties 

that will be occupied in 2050, already exist. 

This makes improving the energy efficiency of our 

existing housing stock key if the Government is to 

reach its own targets to cut UK carbon emissions. 

“This is the backdrop that we need to set 

December’s changes to Part L against”, continues 

Rob. 

“New requirements for U-values are a direct output 

from Government targets to cut carbon emissions. 

“If it’s going to have a hope in getting anywhere 

close to the targets that have been set, it’s going to 

have to address the energy efficiency of homes. 

“This includes not only new ones but those that 

already exist – something reflected in the new 

1.4W/m 2 K (or WER B rating) for replacement 

windows and doors (introduced alongside the 

1.2W/m 2 K introduced for new build) last month 

[December]. 



Contract Talk 

SYSTEMS 

Research shows two-thirds of UK homeowners would choose 

windows and doors with a higher recycled content. 

“Yes, price is a factor and will be a determining 

factor for some but for others, and critically, those 

who are prepared to pay more, the sustainability 

of the product or service that they are purchasing, 

is key.” 

This is backed up by new research commissioned 

by Deceuninck and conducted by YouGov, 

which shows that more than two-thirds of UK 

homeowners (68%) would choose windows and 

doors with a higher recycled content, over and 

above products which don’t contain recycled 

content, or which did so at lower levels. 

The study also found that 38% would be prepared 

to pay more for home improvement products that 

had higher recycled content and reduced impact on 

the environment. 

“Everyone knows what they should be doing”, Rob 

says. “This isn’t an epiphany moment, we know 

how important sustainability is. 

“People expect the products that they purchase 

from electric cars to windows, to deliver an 

environmental benefit” 

“What’s different is that now there is a very clear 

and tangible connection between running a greener 

business and fitting a more sustainable product 

and making more money.” 

Deceuninck is an 

advocate of being 

more sustainable 

This legislative ‘stick’ has been met with 

increasing end-user awareness and 

expectation. Energy prices, already high, 

could jump by 50% when the energy 

price cap is reviewed in April, put 

energy efficiency in even sharper 

focus. 

It is, however, the shift in 

consumer expectation that 

Rob argues is becoming the 

greater driver. 

“People expect the products 

that they purchase from 

electric cars to windows, to 

deliver an environmental benefit. 

“What they buy needs to deliver 

a ‘carbon benefit’, helping them to 

reduce their individual footprint”, Rob 

continues. 

Deceuninck has invested more the 15million 

Euros in one of the world’s most advanced PVC-U 

recycling and compounding facilities. 

This gives it the capability to reprocess up to 

45,000 tonnes of post-consumer and postmanufacturing 

PVC-U per year – the equivalent of 

preventing 3million windows from going to landfill 

annually. 

Use of recycled material also delivers a reduction 

in CO 2 emissions of 90,000 tonnes compared to 

virgin feedstocks as well as a 90% energy saving. 

“It’s about doing the right thing for the environment 

but also recognising the commercial opportunities 

and sales platforms that sustainability and strong 

green credentials deliver”, Rob concludes. 

Contact Deceuninck: 

01249 816 969 

www.deceuninck.co.uk 

@Deceuninck 



Updates 

St Helens-based company Premier Arches manufactures and supplies the awkward products that others 

don’t want to make. 

This includes arched, angled, gable, circular and entirely bespoke windows and doors in a range of seven stocked 

systems including Residence 9, plus another 5 non-stocked systems, offering a full service to fabricators. 

Established in 2015 by three brothers – Sean, Thomas and Daniel – who were frustrated by the ‘messiness’ of 

the arched frame sector, Premier Arches has grown significantly in the past six years, and today serves over 600 

customers across the UK. 

Managing Director Sean Greenall commented: “My brothers and I saw a real gap in the market when it comes to 

arched frames and profile bending – most PVC fabricators simply don’t have the tools or the expertise for it, and so 

our goal with Premier Arches is to transform an often daunting market into a simple and pain-free process.” 

www.premierarches.co.uk/ 

SYSTEMS 

For further updates, visit www.total-fabricator.co.uk 

A PREMIER CHOICE FOR ALL PROFILE BENDING NEEDS 

L-R Premier Arches founders Daniel Maloney, Sean 

Greenall and Thomas Greenall. 

KOMMERLING RENEWS MAINZ 05 SHIRT SPONSORSHIP 

Systems provider profine and specifically its KÖMMERLING brand, will remain on the Mainz 05 shirt 

chest until 2024 after renewing its partnership. 

The KÖMMERLING brand has been on the shirts of the team since 2015 and it is the longest commitment of 

a partner as main and shirt sponsor in the history of professional football at Mainz 05. 

Dr. Peter Mrosik, owner and CEO of profine, said: “Our cooperation with Mainz 05 is a very important 

component in the strategy of our KOMMERLING brand and has been extremely successful to date. The 

response from our partner companies to this end customer marketing is also very positive. Like Mainz 05, 

KOMMERLING stands for sustainability, and we are also united by values such as responsibility, authenticity 

and team spirit.” www.kommerling.co.uk 

SENIOR PROVIDES PACKAGE FOR RETIREMENT VILLAGE 

Senior Architectural Systems has supplied the full aluminium fenestration package for a 

new retirement village in the West Midlands, which comprises 261 one- and two-bedroom 

apartments for the over 55s. 

The scheme features Senior’s SPW600 aluminium windows, SPW501 doors and thermally enhanced 

SF52 curtain walling; all fabricated and installed by supply chain partner Acorn Architectural Aluminium 

for main contractor Vistry. The Solihull Retirement Village is the latest contract to be completed by 

Senior in the care residential sector, with the manufacturer previously supplying aluminium fenestration 

solutions to other large-scale developments such as the Harrison Extra Care Home scheme in Hull and 

Fern House in Bingley, West Yorkshire. www.seniorarchitecturalsystems.co.uk 

STRONG 2021 FOR EUROCELL DESPITE CHALLENGES 

Vertically integrated UK manufacturer, recycler and distributor of window, door, and roofline PVC-U 

products Eurocell has reported strong sales across 2021, reflecting continued good levels of underlying 

trade and consumer demand for its products. 

Sales of both extruded profiles and building plastics have grown over the past twelve months as the repair, 

maintenance and improvement market, house building, and consumer-driven outdoor living trends have continued 

to fuel demand for the company’s products. 

Other 2021 highlights showcase further evidence of the company’s ongoing commitment to a sustainable future, 

as well as the allocation of significant investment that has expanded current warehouse and manufacturing 

capacity to better support fabricators and installers in the future. www.eurocell.co.uk/ 


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The Doorco Column 

WHAT'S IN STORE IN 2022? 

In this month’s Door Trends column, Ben Aspinall, Marketing & IT Manager at DoorCo, 

reports on a different view of the market – reflecting on the lessons of 2021, and what to 

expect from DoorCo and the market in 2022. 

Doorco had two successful product launches with GRiPCORE and FLiP in 2021 despite a diffuclt year for the window and door industry 

January is often the time we take stock, put 

the previous year behind us and start to 

action the plans made for the year ahead. 

It’s particularly poignant this year as 2021 

was a tough time for everyone involved in the 

fenestration industry. 

For DoorCo, it was quite the rollercoaster ride! So, 

in this first column of the new year, we will reflect 

on where we are today, share what we’ve learnt 

and what we think is to be expected in the world 

of composite doors in 2022. 

Highs and lows 

Against the backdrop of a turbulent market, 

with component price increases hitting from all 

sides and global supply issues, DoorCo actually 

enjoyed quite a few positives last year; we had 

two successful product launches with GRiPCORE 

and FLiP, both of which had a significant impact 

on the trends we discuss in this column; we’ve 

gained new customers and grown our market 

share; and, finished in a relatively good position 

with stock on the shelves and our first G Award 

for Best Promotional Campaign. 

All in all, we have emerged stronger than we 

could have expected but there have certainly 

Ben Aspinall 

been lessons learnt along the way, which we will 

take forward with us this year: 

Commitment 

Despite everything, DoorCo remained committed 

to the long-term business development plans. 

While many backed down, we pushed forward 

with our plans to launch the new products we’d 

been developing, and this paid dividend as, for 

example, we delivered FLiP as a solution to the 

glazing cassette supply issues faced last year. 

Furthermore, the product launches have 

positioned DoorCo as the only UK manufacturer to 

supply two types of composite door and our own 

glazing cassette system. 

Continuing our commitment to delivering a 

conscientious approach to manufacturing and 

supply, with our customers and their customers 


Doorco’s company brand values 

Compass values 

always in focus, we conducted a production 

efficiency overhaul and made big machinery 

investments, including additional CNC machines 

and paint lines. 

This allowed our service offering to flex and 

evolve to a multi-level, hybrid service that 

supports the customer as they need, whether 

that is a fully comprehensive prepping service, 

additional fabricator manufacturing support with 

painting or prepping, or a Just In Time distribution 

delivery proposition – all which is underpinned by 

integrated IT systems with zero paperwork. 

As we look ahead, commitment remains a priority 

for 2022; we don’t know what’s going to happen 

with Covid, let alone consumer spending, so those 

that will succeed will be those that are prepared 

to keep moving forward, being flexible, adaptable 

and constantly striving towards the targets and 

ambitions set. 

Communication 

When you are operating on code red as many of 

us have been, it’s imperative to communicate 

with customers, suppliers and internally across 

the business. 

Open and honest communication is the only way 

to manage expectations – good and bad – so that 

everyone knows where they stand. 

It is fundamental to customer service, which 

is going to be even more important in the 

competitive market we face. 

Collaboration 

Working together is key, with your team and the 

supply chain. DoorCo’s team have really pulled 

together to navigate the business through the 

pandemic, and more than just communicating 

with customers and suppliers, we worked closely 

with them to ensure the decisions we made didn’t 

negatively impact their businesses or undermine 

those relationships. 

This shows loyalty and respect, something that is 

going to be paramount in surviving 2022. 

Working closer and sharing information on 

forecasts for example, will only strengthen these 

relationships and the intel we’re all party to, 

helping everything to run smoother. 

Core values 

It’s good business ethics that drive all of the 

above. DoorCo has a series of values that 

underpin the business; the fundamental beliefs 

and behaviours set by the directors back in the 

early days that remain the cornerstones of the 

business today. 

In 2022, DoorCo will concentrate on delivering 

these values – Conscientious, Committed, 

Collaborative, Considered, Connected, Consult, 

Complete, Communicate and Committed – and 

what the brand promotes, particularly in the early 

part of the year when we are focusing on our 

service proposition. 

When the market is competitive, customers will 

be looking at what’s over and above product and 

price. They will be looking for suppliers that are 

committed, communicate well and are prepared 

to collaborate. 

We think this is the only way to ensure customers 

are satisfied, and acknowledge we have work to 

do on defining our service offering ahead of the 

much-anticipated FIT Show. 

Connecting 

Our aim for FIT Show 2022 is to connect. Our 

award-winning marketing campaign has put 

GRiPCORE and FLiP at the forefront of our product 

portfolio but there’s much more to DoorCo. 

All our brands will be there in all their glory, 

including what DoorCo stands for with our core 

values. 

We plan to be there in force, with a full team 

ready to connect with customers to help them 

understand not only what they can expect from 

DoorCo, but also who delivers it. 

We look forward to seeing you there on stand Q11. 

Contact Doorco: 

01625 428955 

www.door-co.com 

@DOORCO_Official 



Door Trends 

A 'BUMPER YEAR' FOR GRP DOORS 

Total Fabricator hears from Distinction Doors, who reveals its big hitters from the past 12 

months in the GRP composite entrance doors market, which could give an indication of 

what to expect in 2022. 

2021 was reportedly a strong year for glass 

reinforced plastic (GRP) composite entrance 

doors. 

The most popular door style for 2021 was Esteem 

(ES02), the continuing option for a traditional 

front door. Palma is said to be the number one 

glass design, combining geometric shapes in 

transparent and stippled glass with zinc calming. 

And finally, topping the Distinction bespoke colour 

chart was Anthracite Grey. 

Door Styles 

Traditional door styles dominated Distinction door 

sales in 2021. Doors from both the signature and 

nxt-gen collections ranked highly, with Esteem 

and Elegance (EL01) featuring multiple times. 

The remainder of the top ten continued the 

traditional theme with both Rustic Renown 

(RR02) and Rustic Renown Diamond (RR03) 

included. Cottage (RE01), Classical (CL01), and 

The nxt-gen Esteem door 

Traditional doors like Elegance was 

one of Distinction’s top sellers 

Eclat (EC01) came in at places six, seven and 

nine, respectively. 

Glass Designs 

Customers chose to complement these traditional 

door styles with classic glass designs. 

Diamonds with linear shapes in stippled and 

obscure glass dominated the top three – Palma, 

Kara and Lunna. 

Aspen and Trieste also featured and offered a 

flavour of the arts and crafts movement, said 

to be an ideal choice for properties dating to the 

mid-19th to early 20th century. 

Accents of colour also made it into the top ten 

with Kara offering four colour options for its 

diamond detail and the more elaborate Edwardian 

featuring red and green elements. 

Colours 

With Anthracite Grey reigning supreme in the 

number one slot, it’s certainly not the only shade 

of grey in the Distinction top ten of bespoke 

colours. 

In fact, 50% of the chart was grey, five of which 

were in the top six. 

Tonal variations of blue and green followed closely 

behind - Steel Blue; Chartwell and Azure Blue. 

While Ruby Red and Black Brown injected some 

drama, two classic shades for traditional door 

styles. 

Commenting on its popular products, Bethaney 

Larkman, Marketing Manager for Distinction 

Doors said: “It’s always interesting to find out 

which products and colours our customers favour. 

“We’re not surprised by the enduring popularity of 

grey but what is striking is the combination of a 

modern colour palette with classic entrance door 

designs and decorative glass. 

“It’s a mix that works well for older and new build 

properties and has universal appeal. 

“With new door designs and cassette options 

launching in 2022, alongside a refreshed paint 

offering, we’re excited to see what our customers 

will choose this year.” 

Contact Distinction Doors: 

0345 2000 816 

www.distinctiondoors.co.uk 

@DistinctionDrs 


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01634 263 300

Door Security 

DELIVERING MORE SECURE HOMES 

Andy Holland, Technical & Marketing Manager at Rapierstar discusses how a cross industry 

collaboration can give homeowners the confidence in the security of their homes in the 

event of a fire or break in. 

A 

technical collaboration involving 

Winkhaus, Rapierstar and major door set 

manufacturers is helping to ensure endusers 

can have total confidence that the doors 

installed in their homes will stand-up well in the 

event of a fire or burglary attempt. 

At the heart of the doorset solution is the 

Winkhaus FireFrame, a door outerframe system 

which has raised the bar in terms of its fire, 

smoke and security performance capabilities 

since it was launched in 2017. 

Since then, the development team at Winkhaus 

has been working to ensure the system enables 

door manufacturers to reliably replicate the 

performance characteristics across different 

types of door slab, with no margin for error. 

Designed to work with 44mm thick timber and 

composite fire doors, FireFrame is constructed 

from materials that have been successfully used 

in Europe for over 30 years. 

Its design allows for frames with visually 

appealing slim internal sight lines which assist 

wheelchair access, plus multiple glazing options 

and compatibility with industry leading low 

thresholds. FireFrame is a mechanically jointed 

system, allowing damaged individual frame 

members to be replaced as necessary. 

It enables doorsets to be created that have 

manufacture and installation audited by the 

independent third-party Q Mark certification 

scheme to ensure consistency in respect of fire 

and security performance. 

That means a completed doorset built with 

FireFrame will exceed the requirements of a 30- 

or 60-minute fire test and the PAS24 test which 

“It is a powerful combination 

that has unsurprisingly attracted 

strong interest, particularly 

from social housing specifiers 

seeking to maximise safety for 

their tenants” – Andy Holland 

demonstrates enhanced security and compliance 

with Approved Document Q of the Building 

Regulations for England and Wales. 

It has attracted strong interest, particularly from 

social housing specifiers seeking to maximise 

safety for their tenants. 

No longer do specifiers need to make a one or 

the other choice, with twelve leading doorset 

manufacturers already providing a dual-certified 

FireFrame based solution to customers across 

the UK. 

How Rapierstar assisted development 

Anyone who has witnessed independent fire, 

smoke and security testing will know that they 

subject doorsets to the toughest conditions in 

order to replicate real-world situations. 

As a result, these tests will quickly reveal the 

weakest point in any window or door construction. 

All too often, that weak point is a fastener, usually 

because the wrong type or size has been used, 

undermining the strength and durability of, for 

example, the hardware attachment to the door. 

It is an issue that the Winkhaus team were fully 

prepared for and took proactive steps to avoid, 

including by collaborating with Rapierstar. 

The glazing detail of the FireFrame solution 

Our technical team worked closely with Winkhaus 

to assess the requirements for every fastener 

Continued on page 32 


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Door Security 

Continued from page 30 

'STRONG DEMAND' 

Birmingham window and door 

manufacturer Shelforce is looking to 

increase its capacity to cope with the 

demand for its Fireshel 30-minute fire 

resistant door. 

From a standing start, Shelforce was 

manufacturing 70 fire doors a week from its 

headquarters in Erdington – and projections 

for 2022 mean the company is set to be even 

busier this year. 

Howard Trotter, Business Manager at 

Shelforce, said: “With the projects we have 

booked in this year, plus the enquiries we 

are getting, we will have to increase our 

production capacity to cope. 

Illustration of the Winkhaus FireFrame with a white composite door 

used in the FireFrame’s construction. 

This included scrutinising the selection of 

fasteners for the outerframe joint assembly 

and extensions, fixed glazing, lock keeps and 

thresholds. 

The doorset had to withstand the toughest of test 

conditions for a residential product of this kind. 

Winkhaus sought to ensure it would comply with 

the MHCLG requirements for fire doors, including 

30- and 60-minute fire door tests to EN 1634- 

“The doorset had to 

withstand the toughest 

of test conditions for a 

residential product of 

this kind” 

1:2014 and smoke control to EN 1634-3:2004, as 

well as PAS24 Enhanced Security Performance. 

Successfully demonstrating fire, smoke 

and security compliance has enabled us to 

compile a Recommended Fastener Manual 

(RFM) specifically for FireFrame which doorset 

manufacturers can use to ensure they do not 

deviate from the tested specification. 

This RFM details the exact fastener types to use 

throughout the assembly, including the head 

design, thread type and sizes, plus the location 

for fixing into the FireFrame. 

“With almost 35,000 fire doors to replace in 

Birmingham, demand is set to remain both 

high and constant for local authority projects 

both this year and into the future.” 

The Fireshel is said to provide the perfect 

solution for local authorities who need fully 

EN tested 3rd Party Accredited, replacement 

Fire Door sets, which are compliant 

with the latest 2020 MHCLG Annex A 

recommendations. 

Fire and smoke tested from both the inside 

and outside and PAS 024 Security tested, 

the door set, complete with fanlight glazing 

panel, achieved 49 minutes fire resistance 

when EN1634-1 tested. 

The Fireshel offers the end user assurance 

that all the components used in its 

manufacture have been tested and approved 

against the new 2020 Q Mark Fire and 

Security Composite door Set requirements. 

www.shelforce.com 

All fastener sizes are specifically identified/ 

confirmed within the Winkhaus – Field of 

Application technical documentation. 

The lock keeps used as part of the FireFrame showing 

the recommended fasteners in situ 

Contact Rapierstar: 

01260 223311 

www.rapierstar.com 

@Rapierstar 


This label is not a statutory requirement. It is a voluntary label provided as a customer service to allow consumers to make informed 

decisions based on the noise reduction performance of competing products. 

© Only to be reproduced by permission of British Fenestration Rating Council Ltd 

This label is not a statutory requirement. It is a voluntary label provided as a customer service to allow consumers to make informed 

decisions based on the noise reduction performance of competing products. 

© Only to be reproduced by permission of British Fenestration Rating Council Ltd 

Your customers deserve 

a little peace and quiet 

Noise Reduction 


Window 

Company Logo Ltd 

PVC-U Casement Window 

A Rated Windows 

A++ 

A+ 

A 

B 

C 

D 

E 

A ++ 

Noise Reduction (R w ) 

(In accordance with BS EN ISO 10140-2 or 

BS EN 14351.) Actual acoustic performance for a 

specific application depends on: the type and 

location of the external noise, the location of the 

window or door, and how the elements or fabric of 

the building perform. 

Correction for high frequency and low 

frequency (C,C tr ) 

51 

(-1,-4) 

Licence No. 123456 

Review Date: 03/08/2020 

To verify this licence please contact 

enquiries@bfrc.org 


Door 

Company Logo Ltd 

Composite Door 

A Rated Doors 

A++ 

A+ 

A 

B 

C 

D 

E 

A ++ 

Noise Reduction (R w ) 

(In accordance with BS EN ISO 10140-2 or BS EN 14351.) 

43 

Licence No. 123456 

Review Date: 01/01/2019 

To verify this licence: enquiries@bfrc.org 

British Fenestration Rating Council 

Prove acoustic performance with BFRC ratings 

BFRC Noise Reduction Ratings let you prove the 

acoustic performance of your window and door 

products with our highly recognised ‘rainbow’ 

rating label - independent, impartial, trusted. 

Homeowners no longer select new windows and 

doors simply based on price. They want to know 

what they purchase will improve their home’s 

comfort, so product performance is now a priority. 

Find out more at bfrc.org 

By using the renowned BFRC rating scale to 

demonstrate the noise reduction properties of your 

windows or doors, you can show installers and 

consumers the quality of your products. 

Your products will stand out from your competitors’ 

and you’ll be able to avoid a race to the bottom 

on price. Sell using BFRC proven performance and 

leave your customers in no doubt.

Updates 


VISTA CONTRIBUTES TO MODULAR HOUSING PROJECT 

Composite door manufacturer Vista Panels has helped on a £9.8 million 

development in South Ayrshire, Scotland’s largest social modular housing 

development to date, helping to deliver much-needed new affordable housing. 

Working with Riverside Scotland, the UK’s largest social housing landlord, and Connect 

Modular, part of The Wee House Group, Vista supplied its high-quality GRP composite door 

for all of the factory built homes. 

“We are thrilled to see our door used in this growing sector, and I feel it will really help 

tackle both the housing crisis and the environmental one,” commented Ian Smith, Vista’s 

Business Development and Marketing Manager. 

The investment – which includes Scottish Government funding of £4.7 million – begins 

with the delivery of 63 brand new affordable homes, the first phase of a 250-strong 

property development located at the site. 

Ian added: “The UK’s housing crisis and reducing our carbon footprint are both very important issues to us, and we’re therefore very excited to be partnering with 

companies that share the same values.” www.vistapanels.co.uk 

NOVA GROUP ENDORSEMENT FOR SBD LETTERPLATE 

When Mila launched its new Kitemarked SupaSecure and ProSecure letterplates, the response from the 

market was said to have been exceptional, with both high and low volume customers making the switch to the 

SupaSecure stainless steel version in particular. 

One typical fabricator is the Altrincham-based trade specialist Nova Group, which is now fitting the new Mila 

SupaSecure letterplate as standard on all its Secured by Design accredited residential doors. 

For Nova’s Managing Director Simon Felstein, the decision to choose Mila was easy. He said: “What’s clear from the 

design of the letterplate is that it’s got the fabricator firmly in mind.” 

The Mila TS008 letterplate is a patent-pending design featuring anti-fishing fins which open with a smooth concertina 

action to allow mail to be posted through. Crucially though, the fins restrict the internal flap opening to 80° and this, in 

combination with an angled postal ramp which deflects items upwards, is what makes fishing impossible. 

“The product obviously meets the Door and Hardware Federation’s TS008: 2015 security standard, and the updated 

PAS24:2016 required for SBD accreditation, which is a big USP for our trade customers, but it doesn’t have any of the bulky cowls or cumbersome add-ons that 

we’ve seen in SBD letterplates from other hardware companies,” concluded Simon. www.mila.co.uk 

ANTARCTIC BUILDING GETS ALUMINIUM DOOR SYSTEM 

The British Antarctic Survey has continued to use and maintain a Research Station located 67º south on Adelaide Island which was established in 

1975 with the help of a window and door system from Aluprof. 

Known as Rothera, the busy station is used as a hub for other countries working in the area, offering a landing strip and wharf. The site has continued to 

develop over the years and in 2018 work began on the new Discovery Building 

The MB-86 ST window and door system has been designed to offer outstanding insulation 

properties. Offered in three varieties, ST, SI and AERO the MB-86 was the first ever aluminium 

system to employ silica aerogel, a nano-porous material that has a very high proportion of free 

void volume compared to conventional solid materials. 

Since setting up the Aluprof Office at the Business Design Centre in London, the company has 

rapidly grown their specification influence in the UK with its architectural aluminium systems. 

Further expansion of the company’s headquarters in Altrincham now provides specifiers with 

meeting facilities and an extensive showroom of commercial systems to view. 

www.aluprof.co.uk 


i-fold 

door 

TFK02 

Patented clip bead delivering the fastest glazing time. 

Trickle vents positioned in frame - no need for extenders! 

Full bearings and stainless steel hardware for the smoothest 

glide every time. All with a 10 year manufacturer’s guarantee. 





* Discount applies to all trade customers and applied to the first, single item purchase only of the Korniche Bifolding Door | *Korniche Bi-folding 

door price is based on 5-5-0 configuration 3750 x 2000 , stock colour, delivered. Unglazed. Price is correct at point of publishing. Delivery 

restrictions apply. Product specification and prices may be subject to change without prior notice.

Planning for 2022 

TIME TO PUSH ON THIS YEAR 

AUTOMATION 

Neil Parton, Managing Director at machinery provider Elumatec, provides reality, resolutions 

and tips to make sure 2022 is as productive as it can be for businesses. 

January is the month for fresh starts and 

resolutions. Unfortunately, towards the end 

of January, many resolutions are abandoned 

amid a big dose of reality. The antidote to this is 

straightforward: expect reality and be prepared to 

deal with it. 

But what is reality? What should we expect to face? 

Hard to say, isn’t it? The last couple of years have 

been different and very disruptive, and we’re not 

out of the woods yet. There are many problems in 

global supply chains. Prices are rising and delays 

in sourcing are now commonplace. Attitudes 

to employment have changed. Individuals and 

businesses are rethinking their priorities. 

But while recent events have been extraordinary, 

uncertainty itself is a constant. Tomorrow, everything 

may change again, but if we sit around waiting until 

everything is settled, nothing will get done. Every 

amazing feat – whether it’s in science, exploration, 

sport, the arts – has been achieved because 

someone decided to put aside their uncertainty 

and press on. It’s the same in business. Results 

are harvested when a venture matures, but first, 

someone needs to get out there and plant seeds. 

Resolve to push on 

Although failed resolutions are something of a joke, 

the new year is, I believe, a suitable time for pushing 

on. A lot of us will have spent the tail end of 2021 

planning. The festive season is behind us and we’re 

still months off the peak holiday season. 

What’s more, the glazing industry’s customers are 

waiting for us to act. If we sit around waiting for 

supply chain issues to resolve themselves, we’ll go 

backwards, not forwards. Let’s give those plans a 

quick review now and make things happen. 

Tips for making progress in the real world 

Don’t dither. Do. 

Elumatec’s Neil Parton 

Fresh starts are often accompanied by something 

like a spring clean. Whether practical or symbolic, 

don’t make the mistake of keeping on cleaning and 

tweaking. It’s a form of procrastination. At some 

stage, you need to commit and make progress with 

the work. 

Use your plans but don’t let them rule you 

Many people believe that to achieve something you 

must stick rigidly to a plan, but what if that plan 

is no longer relevant? You could be achieving the 

month-on-month planned increase in output of a 

product you cannot sell. Plans should be flexible and 

kept under review. 

Address problems 

Don’t put up with things that are holding you back. 

If a machine can’t operate at the rate you need, look 

at replacing it. Delaying won’t solve the problem 

and throwing extra shifts at it might cause extra 

unnecessary complications. 

Stop doing the things that don’t work 

Persistence and determination are admirable 

qualities. So is knowing when to quit. If it doesn’t 

work and it can’t be fixed, don’t exhaust your energy 

and finances trying. Find another way. 

Keep learning 

Don’t think you know everything. Keep an open, 

curious mind. When you look at a process, question 

whether there might be a better way to achieve it. If 

you have a problem, the answer might come from a 

team member, your industry peers or an unrelated 

source but don’t give up. 

Follow tech developments 

The pace of technological change presents 

challenges, but you need to embrace it. Without 

technology, businesses will be reduced – at best – to 

being niche suppliers with limited potential. 

Think about automation 

While automation may seem a step too far for some 

businesses, it can bring many benefits including 

precision, productivity and safer working practices. 

Use your people for the skilled jobs machinery can’t 

handle, and where possible leave repetitive tasks to 

robots. 

Make sustainability more than a buzzword 

Following COP26, there’s been a lot of talk about 

sustainability being a throwaway term routinely used 

by all sorts of organisations. It needs to be more than 

that. Legislation and consumer demand will make 

it so. You’ll have to do it soon enough, so embrace it 

and enjoy the potential savings. 

Be realistic but get on with it 

This is the real world. You will make mistakes. You 

will miss targets. You might have to change track, 

but when you keep going, working towards your goal, 

you’ll also enjoy successes, make discoveries, clinch 

deals, and eventually, you’ll nail it. 

Good luck and happy New Year. 

Contact Elumatec: 

01908 580 800 

www.elumatec.com 

@elumatecUK 


EVOLUTION MACHINERY SALES – WHAT A YEAR!! 

WE wanted to be different, WE wanted to be led from a sound engineering base, WE wanted a fine machinery offering to include not only 

new – but to include correctly refurbished machines, WE constantly strive to provide the best service we can and to be:- 

“Refreshingly different and great value for money” 

We designed our Evolution machinery range to provide our UPVC and Aluminium fabricators a much better, up to the minute opportunity to 

manufacture quality products without the high prices normally associated with new machinery investment. 

Our engineering team of 12 site engineers and 14 support in-house engineers have once again worked hard and diligently to support all of 

our customers of all production volumes to meet their demands and increased production output. 

Our areas of expertise: New start ups & established fabricators, One off machinery upgrades, CNC technology – machining centres & 

corner cleaners etc, Seamless Quad welders, On site repairs and servicing 

Evolution Brand: 

“Evolution” An exclusive brand of new machines dedicated to both the UPVC and Aluminium fabricator. The range is comprehensive from a 

simple chop saw through to CNC machining centres. The full range is quite superb in every respect. Build quality, accuracy and reliability 

are the norm whereby every machine is covered with a comprehensive 24 month warranty. 

Call us for prices and specification – you will be pleasantly surprised. 

Workshops: 

In our 22,000 Sq.Ft workshops we overhaul and recondition multi-head welders, verti-quads and cut and prep lines ready for resale into 

our clients premises backed up with our own engineering team. 

You can always make an appointment to call in to discuss your requirements and meet the team and see what we do for yourself. 

EVO AUTO DOUBLE 

MITRE SAW 

EVO DOOR 

LOCK ROUTER 

EVO AUTO 

WATER-SLOT 

EVO COPY 

ROUTER 

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EVO COPY ROUTER 

WITH TRIPLE DRILLS 

Bassra Machine Tools Ltd/ TA Evolution Machinery Sales 

99 Spring Road, Tyseley, Birmingham B11 3DJ 

0121 707 4343 • john@evolution-machinery.co.uk

Machinery 

'A KEY TO GROWTH' 

AUTOMATION 

Amar Dhillon, Director at glazing supplier NÜEVO HOME shares why the company’s latest 

machinery investment is the key to a successful year ahead. 

In today’s climate of increased demand, 

extended lead times and material shortages, 

automation is key to saving both time and 

money. 

That’s why bespoke glazing supplier NÜEVO 

HOME has invested half a million pounds in new 

machinery in order to improve its manufacturing 

capability, product quality, and overall customer 

offering. 

Built in Italy, the company’s new Axel cut and 

divide 5-axis processing machining combines 

advanced cutting capabilities and high-speed 

part processing with integrated automation, 

maximising machine productivity and facilitating 

unattended operation. 

Saving time and money 

The Axel cut and divide 5-axis processing 

machine offers high performance FOM electrospindles 

designed for heavy duty metal working, 

full interpolation on 5-axis and wide range angle 

ranges, independent automatic clamp positioning, 

rotating support rollers to avoid scratches on 

materials and automatic correction of extrusion 

tolerances by a probe system. 

In addition, it boasts flow-drill and heavy duty 

milling operations, as well as 3D FOM software. 

NÜEVO HOME Director Amar Dhillon commented: 

“Since opening our doors, we’ve prided ourselves 

on manufacturing the highest quality products. 

“Due to steady year on year growth combined 

with increased demand in the past 24 months, 

we needed to increase our production. 

“The machine is already having a positive impact 

on the business and its automation features 

have made a massive difference by increasing 

production. 

“Due to the increased output, we’ve also been 

able to eliminate overtime, which serves to save 

even more money in the long run.” 

A wide product range 

As long-time partners of Schüco, Cortizo and 

Reynaers, NÜEVO HOME supplies the EvoFold 

bi-fold door, a product designed to merge home 

and garden. 

Allowing for over 94% glazing areas, EvoFold has 

a fully integrated flush threshold and high thermal 

insulation thanks to an integrated polyamide 

thermal break. 

NÜEVO HOME also has the EvoSlide sliding door 

– with 20mm interlock sightline available and 

two to six panels of up to 2.5m wide and 3m high, 

multiple track as well as threshold options, these 

double sliding patio doors also offer the possibility 

of a pocket system, smoothly disappearing into a 

wall cavity when fully opened. 

As well as the traditional manual operating 

system, NÜEVO HOME also offers the EvoGlide 

sliding door, a modern and practical automatic 

motorised system ideal for luxury home 

automation. 

And finally in the range is the Nüminium entrance 

door. These come in panel heights of up to 3m, 

with a maximum panel weight of 220kg while 

The £500,000 machinery investment Inset: Amar Dhillon 

exceeding building regulation requirements for 

energy efficiency. 

The company also supplies a range of Nüminium 

casement and tilt and turn windows, as well as 

the EvoWall curtain walling system. 

Consistent construction 

Amar continued: “By investing in the Axel cut 

and divide 5-axis processing machine, we can 

achieve market leading construction, finish, 

production flow and efficiency. This enables us to 

deliver the consistent, best quality products and 

services that our customers are used to. 

“The machinery’s automation features have also 

set us up to produce high-quality products while 

saving both time and money, which in the current 

trading climate, is an important consideration for 

all our customers. 

“This will enable us to maintain high-quality 

standards as we grow, while boosting productivity 

and production, setting us up for a successful 

and prosperous year ahead.” 

Contact NÜEVO HOME: 

01753 505 125 

www.nuevo-home.co.uk 

@NuevoHome 


Expertise, Experience, Trust 

FOM AXEL 5 COMALL MACH KIBI 500 COMALL JOB 15 

URBAN AKS 8400 GRAULE ASP 650 PRESSTA DYNO 9 

ELECTRICAL SPARES SPARE PARTS & CONSUMABLES TOOLS, BLADES & CUTTERS 

Suppliers of FOM, Comall, Urban, Pressta and Graule machinery and stockists of a wide range 

of spare parts, David & Roger Franklin prides itself on supplying quality machinery and 

engineering solutions to UK fabricators, striving to maintain the highest standard of 

customer support and care, together with an unbiased and honest sales ethos. 

Contact us to find out more 

01753 885 408 

sales@rogerfranklin.co.uk 

SERVICES TO THE GLAZING INDUSTRY 

www.rogerfranklin.co.uk

Customer support 

'A GREATER LEVEL OF CHOICE' 

AUTOMATION 

As more fabricators offer aluminium alongside PVCu, Chris Bailey, Business Development 

Manager at Kall Kwik Machinery, explains how the company can offer increased support for 

customers when they’re developing their offering... 

The rise of aluminium glazing over the last 

10 years or so has come as no surprise to 

anyone. 

After PVCu dominated home improvements 

for years, aluminium made a comeback, with 

quicker turnaround times and increased thermal 

performance, making it the preferred option for 

homeowners 

The increased market share of aluminium started 

with bifold doors and homeowners then began to 

choose aluminium windows to match their doors 

to the rest of their property. 

We’ve seen the knock-on effect that this change 

has had all the way up the supply chain. 

Whereas PVCu and aluminium fabrication was 

traditionally seen as an either / or situation, more 

manufacturers have expanded their range in 

recent years to include both PVCu and aluminium 

options to offer more choice to customers. 

Developments at Kall Kwik mean we can 

now support customers with both PVCu and 

aluminium machinery, through new partnerships 

with major suppliers FOM and Graf, providing a 

huge range of benefits for our customers. 

Aluminium 

With homeowners being given more choice by 

manufacturers who offer the best of both by 

supplying aluminium and PVCu, we’ve also 

decided to improve the level of choice on offer for 

our customers. 

Consequently, this means they can now be much 

more flexible with their processes and get a 

greater range of machinery from Kall Kwik. 

After previously only offering PVCu machines, our 

partnership with FOM means we have expanded 

into a new side of the market, enabling us to 

also offer a comprehensive range of aluminium 

Chirs Bailey (left) alongside Technical Director Danny Jones 

machinery and allowing us to extend our services 

to a wider selection of customers. 

PVCu options 

The partnership with Graf gives customers more 

choice within their PVCu production, as we can 

add to our already impressive portfolio of Urban 

machinery with another established window 

machinery supplier. 

Our Technical Director, Danny Jones, has worked 

with practically every PVCu machine on the 

market, meaning the knowledge we can provide 

for Graf customers will continue to be of the 

highest standards, helping new customers find 

the right machinery for their business as well as 

the best possible level of support and aftercare. 

Being able to offer PVCu and aluminium options 

means our customers can get a wider selection of 

window machinery from one place. 

It’s not only about the initial products on offer 

though, it also benefits fabricators by meaning 

we can offer aftercare on a wider selection of 

machines. 

Extended level of support 

As part of our business model, we place a great 

emphasis on service and aftercare. 

We know the job doesn’t stop at installation and 

there is a lot which goes into ensuring that the 

machines we provide are running smoothly and 

working as best as they can for our customers. 

The expansion of our range also means 

customers can benefit from our support and 

aftercare service across a greater selection of 

their machinery. 

It’s not just new customers though, we can offer 

support and service packages to those customers 

who already have FOM and Graf machines in 

place. 

Your machinery partners 

Expanding our range of suppliers means 

manufacturers can benefit from a huge selection 

of window machinery and support in one place. 

We provide a comprehensive level of machinery 

options and aftercare solutions to help make your 

window manufacturing process as efficient as 

possible. 

Whether you’re looking for new aluminium 

machinery or PVCu machinery, or if your existing 

ones need service or maintenance work, then 

choosing Kall Kwik is an arrangement which 

satisfies all parties. 

As we see it, our job as machinery suppliers is to 

clearly explain all the available options and how 

each one can benefit your manufacturing process, 

enabling you to make an informed decision. 

Contact Kall Kwik: 

0161 486 1911 

www.kallkwik.uk.com/ 

@KallKwikNews 


DoorGlass Brochure 21/22 Total Fabricator Half Page.qxp_Layout 1 18/08/2021 14:01 

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In association with Total Installer & 

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contact Andy or Jake on: 01892 732 047 

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Email: sales@regalead.co.uk | Web: www.regalead.co.uk

Updates 

AUTOMATION 


ROSEVIEW INVESTS IN SECOND MACHINING CENTRE 

Roseview Windows has invested in a second SBA-4 VS PVC-U Profile Machining Centre 

from Haffner to support continued growth in its manufacturing. 

The company has grown year-on-year since it was established over 40 years ago and has 

reportedly witnessed a sharp upturn in demand in the past 18 months as a result of the 

continued popularity of feature-rich sash windows. 

To help meet the growth in demand, Roseview ordered its first SBA-4 VS PVC-U Profile 

Machining Centre earlier this year to replace an ageing machine and drive greater efficiencies 

across the shop floor. Having been impressed with the machine’s manufacturing efficiency and 

automated capabilities, it recently took the decision to invest in a second machine to further 

support its growth strategy. 

www.roseview.co.uk/ 

A FRAMELESS FUTURE FOR LUMI'S BALLYMENA SITE 

Lumi has made a significant investment in its latest range of ‘frameless’ windows and doors, 

with the addition of new machinery to its Ballymena factory. 

Setting out to expand manufacturing capacity for Lumi Aluminium products, a £61K Emmegi CNC 

machine was delivered in early December, followed by a further £5K expenditure on an Elumatec 223 

End Miller, which was installed later the same month. 

Lumi MD, Asa McGillian, said: “Our latest investment in automation has been made to satisfy 

the steady growth in demand for Lumi Aluminium products since we launched the range at the 

start of this year.” 

https://lumiwindows.com 

£500,000 MACHINERY ORDER FOR NUEVO HOME 

As seen on page 38, NÜEVO HOME has invested half a million pounds in new machinery in order to 

improve its manufacturing capability, product quality, and overall customer offering. 

Built in Italy, the company’s new Axel cut and divide 5 axis processing machining combines advanced 

cutting capabilities and high-speed part processing with integrated automation, maximising machine 

productivity and facilitating unattended operation. 

Working from a 85,000 square foot manufacturing facility just outside London, NÜEVO HOME specialises 

in manufacturing and installing luxury aluminium home improvement products within a variety of high-end 

domestic settings. 

As long-time partners of Schüco, Cortizo and Raynaers, the company supplies the EvoFold bi-fold door. 

www.nuevo-home.co.uk 

Above: The new Emmegi Comet X6HP at 

Senator Windows 

EXECUTIVE DECISION FOR SENATOR 

Senator Windows has chosen Emmegi (UK) to supply its new Comet X6HP CNC machine. 

Senator Windows, a member of the Gowan Group, has been crafting windows and doors since 1985 at a 

manufacturing facility in Wexford. 

The machine is a large scale 4-axis CNC designed to maximise volumes and optimise efficiency. It has a 

pendular mode which allows for profile to be machined in two independent work areas and two supplementary 

axes to position the vices and reference stops. This means Senator can potentially work on up to four separate 

pieces at the same time, maximising throughput. The investment is part of the company’s ongoing expansion in 

aluminium, with sales of its Sensations range of windows, bi-folds, sliders and front and rear doors all seeing 

sustained growth. www.senatorwindows.ie/ 


Investments & Tax-breaks 

ONE YEAR TO CASH IN 

Total Fabricator hears from Dave Broxton, Managing Director of Bohle, who says glass 

processors have a year to cash-in on big tax-breaks and make their businesses green and fit 

for the future. 

It’s almost a year since the Government 

introduced its super-deduction tax break, which 

means glass processors also have one year left 

to save tens of thousands of pounds on efficiency 

gains and green investments. 

Dave Broxton 

“Glass processors have a unique opportunity to 

build increased efficiencies into their operations”, 

explained Dave Broxton, MD Bohle. 

“There are massive tax breaks which reduce the 

cost of capital investments. It’s an opportunity 

for manufacturers to invest, to build a better 

and more sustainable business, and at far lower 

cost.” 

Dave argued that sustainability has been critical 

in doing business with large corporates for some 

time. 

They recognise the value it delivers to their brand 

and the potential threat, weaknesses within their 

supply chain can create. 

Most businesses now also have environmental 

declarations in place, the obligatory ‘commitment 

to minimise the impact of their operations on the 

environment’. 

“We all want to be greener, at home and in 

business. That is shifting things. It makes 

sustainability a prerequisite to doing business 

and if you aren’t able to evidence what you’re 

doing you’re going to lose out. 

“Glass processors now have a year to tap into 

a major tax break that can be used to support 

them in improving efficiency, making more profit 

and becoming greener, while also saving on tax”, 

Dave argued. 

The super-deduction scheme was launched by 

Chancellor Rishi Sunak on 1st April 2021 and 

allows companies to access a capital allowance 

“Glass processors now have a year to tap into a 

major tax break that can be used to support them 

in improving efficiency, making more profit and 

becoming greener” 

of 130% on qualifying plant and machinery 

investments. 

This means that in practical terms, as a glass 

processor, if you commit to spend £100,000 on 

plant and equipment, you can deduct £130,000 

from your taxable profits. 

With Corporation tax currently at 19%, that 

equates to a saving of £24,700. 

Prior to this this capital investments would 

either fall within a company’s annual investment 

allowance and produce relief of only £19,000 or 

alternatively be tax-relieved at 18 per cent of the 

cost per annum. The scheme will run until the 

31st March 2023. 

“The idea is that it will encourage businesses to 

invest in equipment and productivity, which they 

might otherwise have delayed”, Dave continued. 

“It applies to a range of capital investments. 

It doesn’t have to be green but in going down 

that route, you’re future proofing your business 

and depending on the investments you make, 

making significant long-term efficiency gains and 

increasing your profitability or capacity, as part of 

that process.” 

He argues that wastewater is a case in point 

adding significant cost to production, either in 

the form of management or lower product quality 

because of contamination. 


“You’re saving money, 

increasing production 

capacity, improving 

product quality while 

saving a stack of tax” 

This includes significantly reducing the lifespan of 

tooling and concretion of glass finings within the 

machine and tanks. 

The cost of cleaning or changing coolant also 

quickly adds up. 

According to Bohle, using just 400 litres of 

water as part of your weekly cleaning cycle 

equates to a yearly water consumption of 

approx. 20,000 litres as well as high cost for 

its disposal. 

“There is a business cost but also an 

environmental cost”, Dave said, “that is going 

to become dearer, not only because wastewater 

disposal is going to cost more but because not 

being able to demonstrate what you’re doing to 

minimise your environmental impact will preclude 

you from the market.” 

The glass processing industry has traditionally 

Thousands of pounds can be saved by making greener 

investments in a company 

relied on centrifugal water cleaning systems, 

however, according to Bohle, these can’t filter 

glass particles < 5 µm. 

This is something which, it argues, can over time 

contribute to lower product quality and a build-up 

of concretion in the machine and its tanks. 

It gets over this problem through an alternative 

system. 

Suitable for a wide assortment of grinding, drilling 

and sawing glass equipment, Bohle sedimentors 

use a sophisticated and automated, multi-stage 

process to remove contaminants from coolants 

and water. 

This includes filtering of glass particles of < 5 

µm or less but doing so using far less energy. 

Another key feature of Bohle’s range is that it 

uses a ‘bypass system’ for batch cleansing. 

This isolates water, coolant and flocculant, from 

the line during the cleaning process, completely 

eliminating the potential risk from flocculant 

contamination and tool damage – creating a 

closed system. 

“You can deliver significant tax savings, while 

guaranteeing access to markets and giving 

yourself a great environmental story, at the same 

time as making your business more efficient”, 

Dave argued. 

“You’re saving money, increasing production 

capacity, improving product quality while saving 

a stack of tax – but you need to act now because 

you only have a year to do it.” 

Bohle is offering a free 60 to 90-day trial of its 

sedimentor. It’s also offering glass processors, 

advice and support on accessing the Super- 

Deduction Scheme. 

Contact Bohle: 

0800 616151 

www.bohle.com 

@BohleLtd 

Bohle is offering up to a 90-day trial of its 

sedimentor machine 



Certified Products 

A CERTIFIED BENEFIT 

Daniel May, Director of Consort Architectural Hardware, explains why, now more than ever, 

modern building projects can benefit from the use of certified products. 

The needs of modern building environments 

have evolved. Throughout the construction 

process, decision makers are more 

commonly deliberating on themes such as 

innovation, accessibility and sustainability. And 

that’s not mentioning the renewed focus on 

building safety and performance, following the 

Hackitt Review. 

As the collective commitment towards these 

topics grows, it’s as vital as ever for design 

professionals to deliver reliable, quality materials 

and hardware on their projects. 

Architectural hardware, for example, is one of 

the most heavily used elements within a building 

environment, and a typical busy door can be 

used 150 times each day. Door hardware plays a 

pivotal role in a building’s operational network 

and its fire safety, and so the application of 

certified hardware solutions shouldn’t be 

undervalued. 

Daniel May of Consort explained: “While 

it’s important to deliver on aesthetics and 

innovation, there is always a clear responsibility 

to provide safe and secure building environments. 

“The latest in reforms – think the Building Safety 

Bill and the regulations that has introduced – will 

continue to raise the standards associated with 

building design and with that, the benefits of 

certified hardware will shine. 

“Along the supply chain, the durability of 

hardware products is key, and this is in no 

way more assured than with independent 

certifications. For example, for fire doors to 

operate as intended, they rely on fitted hardware 

to perform – opening and closing upon demand 

to ensure the compartmentalisation of smoke 

and fire. 

“Fire door hardware products should, at a 

minimum, be CE marked, showing they comply 

with the minimum in regulatory requirements. 

However, to emphasise the highest levels 

of performance and durability, product 

manufacturers will often look towards third-party 

certifications such as the commonly recognised 

Certifire – a certification scheme that assures the 

performance, quality, reliability and traceability of 

hardware products. 

“For architects, specifiers and end users alike, 

product certifications such as Certifire boost the 

dependability of hardware choices and make for 

an easier, less time-consuming selection process. 

Design teams will sometimes face a choice between using 

certified products versus less reliable but cheaper options 

“The time has come for decision 

makers to do their part to limit 

the consumption of construction 

resources” - Daniel May 

“They provide additional confidence that the 

chosen product will perform when called upon, 

remaining safe and high performing throughout 

its lifecycle. 

“A building is a network of design choices, all of 

which must work in tandem for the infrastructure 

to operate as intended. Should one area fail, for 

example, the mechanisms of a fire door closer, 

the infrastructure becomes compromised – 

heightening safety and security risks for the 

building’s occupants and visitors. 

“It’s critical that only the most durable products 

are used in these scenarios and whether using 

non-standard or standard arm applications, 


HARDWARE & ACCESSORIES 

hardware must be compliant - with various 

areas considered, such as meeting DDA 

requirements by paying close attention towards 

the opening forces used in public spaces. And 

while manufacturers have a responsibility to test, 

label and supply the highest standard of product, 

decision makers must then also choose to apply 

hardware that meets the requirements of the 

building in question.” 

Hardware can also gain environmental certifications to 

make sure it is safe to put into a building 

Avoiding costly errors 

In some cases, design teams will face a choice 

between the initial costs of certified products 

and their less reliable counterparts. Although 

economic considerations are often part of the 

construction process, durable hardware will 

continue to perform long after its initial supply 

period, whereas cheaper hardware alternatives 

can become counter-intuitive, failing to offer that 

same quality and durability and leading to costly 

consequences. 

Later in a building’s lifecycle, where less durable 

products have been used, complications can 

arise. With this, the costs associated with future 

maintenance and replacements can quickly begin 

to add up and work against the original decision. 

Not to mention the expense to building safety. 

More recently, sustainability continues to grow 

into the conversation, fairly asking questions 

about the environmental impact buildings omit. 

Building design will benefit from 

raised standards, says Daniel. 

As was referenced at the recent COP26 

conference, the built environment and 

construction sector accounts for 38% of the 

world’s Carbon Emissions. 

For the UK specifically, it’s said that 45% of 

the total UK carbon emissions are associated 

to the built environment and changes must 

now be made to avoid both environmental and 

reputational costs. 

Daniel added: “The time has come for decision 

makers to do their part to limit the consumption 

of construction resources too, and certified 

architectural hardware can play its part here too. 

“Hardware can also gain environmental 

certifications, such as ISO 14000, which is a set 

of standards designed to reduce environmental 

waste and damage. 

“Similar to Certifire, BREEAM is a third-party 

sustainability assessment method focusing on 

infrastructure and buildings. Hardware products 

can become recognised under independent 

standards – providing users with peace of mind 

that products are more durable, ethically sourced 

and environmentally resourceful. 

“The aim is to reduce replacement hardware 

and the amount of packaging that is associated 

with replacements. And extended durability – 

represented through certifications – is the way 

forward. 

“The benefit of using certified architectural 

hardware is now clearer than ever. From 

performance benefits to dependability, all 

hardware – even the often-overlooked lever 

handles and flush bolts – should meet the 

requirements of their building, and there’s no 

better way to ensure this than with certified 

products. Building design will benefit from raised 

standards, and right now, decision makers can 

benefit from certification-led design.” 

Contact Consort Architectural Hardware: 

0121 3598189 

www.consort-hw.com 

@Consort_HW 



2022 Trends 

WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR IN 2022 

Pat Rice, Commercial Director at hardware manufacturer UAP, discusses the key trends 

from 2021 and what lies ahead for the industry in 2022. 

This time last year, all the talk was about 

adjusting to the ‘new normal’ as the 

construction sector braced itself for 

continued uncertainty in 2021. 

UAP’s Kinetica+ K4 

It’s clear now that the goal should be old 

normal+: business as usual with the added 

benefits of embracing the lessons we have 

learned during the pandemic. 

Supply chain challenges 

For UAP, those lessons began right at the 

beginning of COVID-19. 

Accepting weeks before the UK locked down that 

the issue would be global and the impact on 

supply chains would be immense, we invested 

in manufacturing products ahead of time and 

increased stockholding capacity. 

As the situation has evolved, companies across 

the delivery chain have continued to battle with 

supply challenges. 

It’s an issue that has followed the industry 

throughout 2021 and looks set to continue in 

2022. 

And, of course, because demand 

is outstripping supply for so many 

commodities – including the transport 

needed to get them from A to B – price rises are 

inherently linked to supply chain shortages too. 

The only way to address supply chain issues is 

to acknowledge them and develop a strategy to 

counter the difficulties. 

Over the past year, we have invested in our 

warehousing and logistics systems to translate 

our stockholding advantages into efficient 

order picking and short lead times, helping the 

fenestration sector to access the products they 

need with reliability and accountability. 

Customer-focused 

Choice and flexibility will continue to play a key 

role in serving customers in 2022. 

High levels of demand look set to remain, so 

there is a need to be able to offer alternatives and 

ask the right questions about what the customer 

really needs. 

Understanding the customer’s needs is 

embedded in our culture at UAP, through market 

“The only way to address supply 

chain issues is to acknowledge 

them and develop a strategy to 

counter the difficulties” - Pat Rice 

insight, feedback from our sales team and our 

annual customer survey. 

We use that knowledge to approach our 

operational management with a continuous 

improvement mind-set, and to drive product 

development. 

It has been very clear to us at UAP that one of the 

outcomes of the pandemic is people’s focus on feeling 

safe, comfortable and secure in their own homes. 



UAP has invested in packaging 

equipment to be more sustainable 

As a result, our focus on safety and security 

innovation, with products like the recently 

launched Kinetica+ K4 3* cylinder from our 

Fullex range, has been more important than ever, 

and is driving our R&D investment for 2022 and 

beyond too. 

The Kinetica+ K4 not only combines an array of 

security features to make it virtually impossible to 

break-in, it also comes with a Bio+ key, which is 

impregnated with an anti-viral and anti-bacterial 

agent to safeguard against infection. 

It seems likely that the new consciousness 

about health and wellbeing will prompt further 

innovation. 

Another key feature of Kinetica+ K4 which we 

see as an example of a continuing trend in 2022 

is ease of installation. 

Time pressures, squeezed margins and rising 

labour costs all mean that the market needs 

products that are faster and simpler to install. 

Escalating trends 

Some of the trends we have seen emerge over 

the past year have been escalated rather than 

prompted by the pandemic. 

The use of technology is one of those trends, 

thanks to the way tech-resistant consumers 

have been forced to embrace the use of apps and 

online systems during lockdowns. 

There is now a much wider and more enthusiastic 

acceptance that tech can enhance lifestyles. 

It’s a trend that has led to the development of 

the smart door hardware from our Intelligent 

Hardware brand and our new range of electronic 

locks. 

Looking ahead, we can see real opportunities 

to tap into tech-enabled products and address 

operational challenges with digital systems. 

Finally, a look at what we’ve learned and where 

the market will go next would not be complete 

without noting the growing importance of 

environmental considerations. 

It is clear that both public awareness and 

increased compliance will drive more ecoconscious 

purchasing decisions. 

For companies like UAP, that means considering 

how we package products to minimise waste. 

We’ve invested in packaging equipment 

that enables us to use marine reclaim and 

biodegradable materials, enabling us to be virginplastics 

free. 

Looking ahead, we are continuing to examine 

how we can reduce our emissions, as well as 

offsetting with our tree planting programme – 

50,000 at the last count! 

Embracing opportunities 

The fenestration sector ended 2020 with the hope 

that the turmoil of the pandemic would all be a 

distant memory by the end of 2021, and here we 

are, as 2022 begins, still braced for uncertainty. 

But what we’ve learned is an important part of 

our toolkit and top of the list is that embracing 

opportunities is just as important as responding 

to the challenges. 

Contact UAP: 

0161 796 7268 

uapcorporate.com 

@UAP_Limited 



Smart Tech 


TECHNOLOGY MEETS TRADITION 

Burg-Wachter explains that whilst the way we secure our homes has remained constant for 

years, the advent of smart technology has changed all that, giving fabricators an opportunity 

to expand their product offering. 

With homeowners now wanting the 

previously unattainable levels of 

convenience that only smart home 

technology can deliver, smart security technology 

represents not only an excellent profit opportunity, 

but also the chance to deliver the products and 

services customers will increasingly demand. 

A growing market 

The market is huge and is growing – it is 

estimated that the smart home security market 

will be worth in excess of $140 billion by 2026. 

Everyone can benefit from the previously 

unattainable reassurance and convenience that 

smart home products - including smart alarms 

– provide. In particular, the elderly and those 

living with disability can gain real peace of mind 

knowing that they are protected but more than 

that, their families and friends can be alerted if 

necessary thanks to the smart technology; it’s 

like being guarded 24/7. 

Opportunity for fabricators 

Mark Pearson, Commercial Director at Burg- 

Wächter, Germany’s security experts, said: “Now 

is the ideal time for fabricators to get on board 

with the latest developments in, and the many 

benefits of, smart home security. In addition, 

since smartware works harmoniously with 

existing security products, there is no need to 

abandon traditional security products, in fact, 

they are interdependent.” 

Smart technology – how to choose? 

Mark continued: “With the important components 

hidden, it is difficult, if not impossible, to look at 

a piece of smartware and ascertain its quality 

and reliability – so how do you choose the right 

smartware? 

“Look at a supplier’s reputation – do they 

supply quality products? Is there a good back-up 

service? Can they advise me if required? Good 

products, that are simple to fit as well as reliable, 

come from trusted brands, so look out for those.” 

With over 100 years’ experience in the design and 

manufacture of security products, Burg-Wächter 

offers BURGprotect, a smart alarm system that is 

quick and easy to install. 

Operated via an intuitive free app, once installed 

the property is always protected and aware of 

potential issues at home, no matter where the 

user is or what time it is. If a sensor detects 

movement, a notification is sent to the user’s 

smart phone and action can be taken, putting you 

very much in control. 

With additional window & door contacts and a 

water sensor also available, the easy to set up 

BURGprotect alarm starter kit is said to be the 

smart way to protect. 

Mark added: “We acknowledge that, with 

technology moving at such as fast rate, there may 

Smart technology is being manufactured and used in homes more and more every year. 

be some concerns about a product’s longevity. 

However, smartphone-controlled products 

benefit from the latest updates because, as iOS 

or Android update their software, a product’s 

firmware is similarly automatically updated with 

a notification which is simply accepted by the 

user. 

“We are working tirelessly to make sure our 

smart home security products are both reliable 

and robust and we’re here to provide as much 

support as we can to help our customers feel 

comfortable with the new developments in smart 

home security. 

“In fact, later this year Burg-Wächter will be 

announcing some exciting news about its new 

generation of smart home security, offering an 

even greater degree of convenience for both 

installers and their customers alike.” 

Contact Burg-Wächter: 

01274 395 333 

www.burg.biz/uk 

@burgwachteruk 


Complete 

Hardware 

Support 

 

 

 

 

 

Technical advice from industry experts 

In house fit ups and training 

Testing and accreditation guidance 

Comprehensive manufacturer guarantees 

£millions in stock to support OTIF delivery 

service 

Get in touch and speak to 

one of our experts today: 

t. Peterborough: 

01733 393330 

t. Cumbernauld: 

01236 721557 

e. sales@carlfgroupco.co.uk 

w. www.carlfgroupco.co.uk 

ARCHITECTURAL ALUMINIUM SPECIALISTS 

UK WIDE MANUFACTURE, SUPPLY & INSTALLATION 

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For a competitive quote contact us on: 

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Updates 



WHAT'S IN STORE FOR CARL F GROUPCO IN 2022? 

Managing Director of hardware distributor Carl F Groupco John Crittenden discusses what the 

company has planned for the following 12 months. 

“Moving into 2022, the goal at Carl F Groupco remains the same – maintaining our OTIF targets, serving 

our customers and exceeding expectations. 

“While predicting what’s in store over the next 12 months is almost impossible, it’s vital that our 

businesses are prepared for further challenges by managing stock, production planning and empowering 

our work forces to react quickly when required. 

“We are carrying our highest levels of stock to safeguard supply and have recently launched our biggest 

digital development ever; combining three of our brands to make browsing our hardware range online even 

easier. 2022 remains the same, we have recruited a new Regional Sales Manager and will be launching a 

new edition of hardware catalogue in early 2022, our largest to date.” www.carlfgroupco.co.uk 

VBH EXPANDS OMEGA LETTERBOX RANGE 

The greenteQ Omega letterbox range from VBH has evolved to include both a remodelled standard 

sized box and a completely new 56mm Slim version to suit ultra slim transoms. 

The opening on Omega Slim is offset towards the bottom of the box’s frame. The greenteQ design team has 

calculated that this maximises the available aperture whilst ensuring that the letterbox doesn’t overhang the 

bead on even the slimmest sections. 

Omega letterboxes feature convex curved metal flaps that open to near vertical both inside and outside, 

ensuring that relatively thick packages can be put through the door without putting stress on the letterbox’s 

springs.Omega has been tested to BS EN 13724 with a classification of 4241. This calls for 25,000 full 

‘closed – fully open – closed’ cycles. It is available in nine finishes of the greenteQ Suite. www.vbhgb.com 

ALUTECH CHOOSES INGENIOUS RANGE FROM MILA 

Just a few months after hardware specialist Mila announced that it was adding the Ingenious 

range of multipoint door locks to its product line up, Alutech Systems has already adopted the 

Ingenious Duplex Professional lock as the default lock on its range of aluminium door systems. 

Alutech previously offered its aluminium systems with a three-hook multipoint lock as standard but 

has upgraded to Ingenious’ clever five-hook option Duplex because it offers higher levels of security, 

combined with better value. 

It is providing its fabricators with a USP by branding the lock Alulock and focusing on it being 

the only model on the market to come with two pairs of high-security cast zinc hooks which work 

together in a pincer movement to protect against lifting. www.alutechsystems.co.uk/ 

ENHANCED STOCK HOLDING STRENGTHENS SUPPLY 

Bohle has increased the volume of product it holds in stock, strengthening its supply network and 

enhancing its ability to support customers with fast delivery times of 24-48 hours on standard orders. 

Bohle now has 2,500 items available from stock. Customers can place orders online, 24/7, for a comprehensive 

range of hardware, glass handling, cutting, glazing and consumables, including popular products such as the 

VetroMount balustrading system, MasterTrack internal sliding door system and Veribor lifting equipment. 

Dave Broxton, Managing Director, Bohle, commented: “We have managed to reduce our lead times from 3-5 

days to a maximum of 48 hours on standard orders with the option of next day deliveries if required. That has 

proved vital in managing consistent high levels of demand throughout the pandemic and means our customers 

are well placed to respond to ongoing high levels of activity in 2022.” www.bohle.com 


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502 Worle Park Way, Weston-super-Mare, BS22 6WA

UKCA Marking 

YOU CAN'T RUSH QUALITY 

Edgetech Managing Director Chris Alderson gives his thoughts on the UK’s transition from 

CE to UKCA marking. 

We might be suffering through the 

worst supply chain disruption in a 

generation, with huge knock-on impacts 

for businesses around the globe, but here’s 

something to be grateful for – it was nearly a lot 

worse. 

Managing Director of 

Edgetech Chris Alderson 

When the UK voted to leave the EU, it effectively 

voted to remove itself from a vast and 

complicated web of regulation on everything from 

working hours to environmental protections. 

However, untangling itself from those regulations 

was always going to be a long and painful 

process – as our sector almost discovered last 

year in relation to CE marking. 

Crisis averted – for now 

As I’m sure everyone reading this is aware, for 

decades the CE mark has been what indicates 

whether a product complies with EU health, 

safety and environmental protection regulations. 

Now we’ve left, we need something to replace it – 

and that’s how the UKCA mark came into being. 

The UKCA (UK Conformity Assessed) mark is 

designed to cover most of the products that the 

CE mark currently applies to. 

It sounds very simple, and in theory it is – replace 

one standard with another. But in practise, 

unfortunately, it’s anything but. 

Each of the tens of millions of products currently 

covered by the CE mark will have to be retested to 

comply with the new UKCA standard – a process 

which, realistically, could take literally years to 

complete. 

It would be a huge task even if the country had a 

healthy number of test centres able to issue the 

marks. But it doesn’t – there’s a severe shortage 

of testing capacity in the UK. 

This left tens of thousands of British businesses 

on the edge of a very scary precipice – the 

government deadline for complying with the new 

mark was January 2022, and there was no way 

that all the products that needed retesting would 

get the stamp of approval on time. 

Given the huge supply chain difficulties the 

country is grappling with already, having millions 

of products suddenly declared illegal on January 

1st 2022 would’ve caused chaos. 

Thankfully, after a lot of lobbying from industry 

groups representing a whole range of different 

sectors, the government relented, and that 

scenario was prevented – for now. 

Ministers have extended the deadline for a year, 

meaning that to be eligible for sale, all products 

must have UKCA marking by January 2023. 

It’s an extremely welcome move – but personally, 

I wonder if it’ll be enough. 

Test centres don’t spring up from nowhere. 

Establishing them is a long and complicated 

process – and I struggle to see how we’ll have 

enough even by next year to allow businesses to 

comfortably comply with changing standards. 

In the UK, for example, we currently don’t have 

a single approved test centre capable of testing 

IGUs to EN1279 Part 4 or WA17/1 for thermal 

testing. 


GLASS PROCESSING & SEALED UNITS 

MAXIMISING VIEWS 

Everyone loves a room with a view, and they 

don’t come much more striking than an 

uninterrupted vista of a fjord. 

Further concerns 

That’s not the only potential problem that 

concerns me. Sixty percent of the UK’s 

construction imports come from the EU. 

“Untangling itself from 

those regulations 

was always going to 

be a long and painful 

process” 

At the moment, EU suppliers only need the one 

certification, the CE mark, to trade both here and 

in mainland Europe. 

From January 2023, if those businesses want 

to continue operating in the British market as 

well as the EU, they’ll have to UKCA mark their 

products too. 

On this front, my main concern is this – will 

European suppliers go through the long and 

expensive process of getting certification that’s 

only valid in the UK? 

I’m certain that many will. The UK is a major 

market. But I’m also sure that some will conclude 

that it’s not worth the hassle – potentially 

constraining supply even further. 

The situation is even more complex for Northern 

Irish businesses. 

As things currently stand, if they want to service 

the mainland UK and Irish market as well as their 

home market they will be required to conform to 

no less than three standards – the EU’s CE mark, 

the UKCA mark, and the territory’s own UKNI 

mark. 

Ultimately, the biggest issue is the lack of a 

Mutual Recognition Agreement between the UK 

and the EU, which would allow test evidence from 

Approved Bodies in one region to be accepted in 

another. 

Time for pragmatism 

Compromising on quality and safety isn’t an 

option. We need products sold in this country 

to conform to the very highest standards, and a 

robust system of certification is vital to ensuring 

that. 

But to deliver and maintain those standards 

during this period of transition, I think we need 

to take a pragmatic approach. Safety isn’t 

something that can be rushed. 

I think ministers need to be ready to extend the 

deadline again if it becomes clear that thousands 

of businesses are going to be unable to meet 

it – and possibly even be prepared to allow a 

transitional arrangement where both CE and 

UKCA marks are valid in the UK for a limited time. 

Rather than meeting an arbitrary deadline, I 

think the most important thing is that we get 

the UK’s post-Brexit accreditation regime right 

– and ensure that millions of products don’t 

compromise on the vital standards that keep 

consumers safe. 

Contact Edgetech: 

02476 639931 

www.edgetechig.co.uk 

@EdgetechUK 

So, when the owner of Summer House in 

Norway was discussing designs for the 

building with their architect, maximising sight 

lines to make the most of its stunning setting 

was top of the list of priorities. 

That’s what led the designer to specify a wall 

of Pilkington Planar structural glass along the 

outward-facing side of the property’s main 

living space. 

The wedge-shaped window is more than 10 

metres wide and almost five metres high at its 

tallest point, creating a panoramic scene of 

sea and sky. 

And, to maximise the vertical aspect of the 

view – as well as the amount of natural light 

entering the building – the window is topped 

by a 90cm-deep section of roof glazing. 

These allow the toughened vertical glass to 

stand up to significant wind loads while also 

supporting the roof glazing, which is able to 

resist large snow loads as a result. 

The units that make up the roof glazing also 

feature a laminated pane to lend further 

strength, being made up of an outer 12mm 

layer of toughened glass and an inner layer 

formed of two 6mm-thick sheets sandwiching 

a polyvinylbutyral (PVB) interlayer. 

The whole system is bolted together with 

low-profile Pilkington Planar stainless steel 

fittings. 



Updates 

Pyroguard, part of the Technical Fire Safety Group, has kick-started 2022 with the launch of its new 

website. 

Boasting a fresh, modern look and designed to provide the ultimate user-friendly experience, the new website 

allows visitors to easily browse and research products from across Pyroguard’s comprehensive portfolio. 

The new website is designed to serve as a one-stop resource for visitors wishing to learn more about 

Pyroguard’s range of fire safety glass solutions. The site is also now available in Spanish, German and Italian, as 

well as English, Dutch and French. 

In addition to the new, modern look and available languages, the website has been revamped to include a 

whole host of user-friendly features, offering improved navigation and functionality. 

Visitors can also benefit from having quick and easy access to Pyroguard’s online resources, with dedicated 

‘Downloads’ and ‘Resources’ zones. www.pyroguard.eu 

GLASS PROCESSING & SEALED UNITS 

NEW YEAR, NEW SITE FOR PYROGUARD 

SUPER SPACER HELPS TRANSFORM NY SKYLINE 

MACHINERY INVESTMENT FOR MACKENZIE GLASS 

Mackenzie Glass increased its capacity to offer cut-to-size product with a six-figure 

investment, in a new automatic Boterro cutting line and table. 

The investment will include a new Bottero 630CBM-R automatic loading machine; a Bottero 

343BCS-R automatic float glass cutting table and Bottero 103BBM-R air floatation breakout 

table. 

Its purchase of a new Bottero cutting line, represents the largest and latest in a series of 

investments. 

This includes the addition of a new Sagertec Horizontal Washing Machine to its toughening 

line, plus Adelio Lattuada Gamma Straight-line Bevelling Machine and Delta M4 C Radius 

Corner Machine in June 2021. www.mackenzieglass.co.uk 

Super Spacer T-Spacer SG from Edgetech has helped revitalise three historic features of the 

New York skyline. 

Glass manufacturer AGC INTERPANE supplied around 25,000 square metres of insulating glass, 

equipped with 20mm T-Spacer SG, for use on 660 Fifth Avenue. 

The 450 tonnes of insulated glass used in the refurbishment was manufactured with light-grey 

T-Spacer SG, and sealed with grey silicone. 

Edgetech Managing Director Chris Alderson commented: “Edgetech spacers have been used in 

landmark buildings all around the world. It’s hugely gratifying to see our products incorporated 

in outstanding projects as a permanent part of the New York skyline, and with them, these iconic 

buildings will go on to offer exceptional performance for decades to come.” www.edgetechig.co.uk 

A 'SMART' CHOICE FOR SAN DIEGO INSTALLATION 

SageGlass, a subsidiary of Saint-Gobain, has been chosen by IQHQ, a life sciences real estate 

development company, to create one of the largest smart glass installations in the world. 

SageGlass will provide 150,000 square feet of SageGlass Harmony electrochromic glass, controls, and 

software for IQHQ’s Research and Development District (RaDD), a 1.7 million square foot life science 

development on the waterfront in San Diego, USA. 

Electrochromic glass – also referred to as smart glass or dynamic glass – uses advanced intelligence to 

automatically tint throughout the day, reducing glare and regulating temperatures while letting natural light 

in. 

SageGlass’ Bright Silver exterior finish will provide a vibrant and uniform glazing to complement RaDD’s 

coastal setting. www.sageglass.com/eu 


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People & Workwear 


BOOST FOR SHEERLINE TECHNICAL TEAM 

Derby-based aluminium systems company, 

Sheerline Aluminium Windows and Doors, has 

strengthened its customer support with Robert 

Bell, Stephen Thomas and Aaron Housley 

appointed to its technical team. 

No strangers to the fenestration industry or 

aluminium products, each brings with them a 

wealth of industry experience having worked 

closely with fabricators and installers for many 

years. These new roles will deliver technical 

support, training, and advice on a variety of 

window, door, and roof lantern related matters. 

Robert started out as a PVCu window fitter in 

the 1980s and gained experience as a surveyor, 

Contract Manager and Production Manager, 

before joining Sheerline to provide technical 

training and support to fabricators based in 

Ireland. 

Additionally, Aaron Housley joins to provide first 

line support for manufacturing software enquiries 

from Sheerline customers, being appointed as 

Manufacturing Software Support Engineer. 

Andy Russell, Technical Services Director for 

Garnalex, said: “Technical support is pivotal 

to our success. As a proactive company, we 

consistently ensure our customers’ needs are 

met, even before a problem arises. 

Above: Sheerline’s new technical employees 

“The new appointments are just the first of 

many planned over forthcoming months, and 

with our anticipated growth I’m expecting to see 

more colleagues joining us in our manufacturing 

facilities and internal departments during 2022.” 

LAYERED BENEFITS 

Dressing for 

the cold is like 

building a house 

– start with a 

good foundation. 

The Snickers 

Workwear 

Baselayer clothing 

for professional 

tradesmen and women uses high-tech 

breathable fabrics for ventilation and body 

moisture transport for sustainable warmth 

and comfort. The Base-, Mid- and Toplayer 

clothing combines to keep you working dry, 

warm and comfortable wherever you are on 

site. With sustainability at the forefront of 

Snickers Workwear’s clothing philosophy, 

garments are available in recycled polyester 

and merino wool, as well as the 37.5 

technology ventilating fabric to suit different 

types of work in a variety of cold and wet 

weather conditions. 

The AllroundWork, FLEXIWork and LITEwork 

designs and fabrics will keep you warm 

and dry. All the garments are made from 

quick drying fabrics that come with special 

ventilation features to control and regulate 

the heat from your body. 

www.snickersworkwear.com 

CNC RECYCLING ADDS TO SALES TEAM 

CNC Recycling has appointed a 

Business Development Manager to 

strengthen the sales team. 

Kate Riley (pictured) joins the UPVC 

window recycling company to support its 

substantial growth over the course of the 

last 16 months. 

Kate previously worked for Ecoplas, (now Eurocell 

Recycle) as Commercial Manager for just 

over eight years managing and developing the 

procurement, logistics and customer service for 

UPVC window recycling. 

Dressing right and staying 

comfortable when it’s cold and wet 

demands the best in Climate Control 

working clothes from Snickers 

Workewear. 

Snickers Workwear’s body-mapping 

Mid-layer working clothes help 

deliver advanced ventilation to 

control and regulate the heat from your body. 

Made to last from sustainable fabrics such as 

micro fleece and recycled polyester, they’re 

said to be great for both work and leisure 

activities. These garments insulate and keep 

Managing Director Melanie Reid, said: 

“Kate is a highly respected person 

within our industry and brings a 

wealth of experience and success in 

leading sales teams and delivering 

results. We have a strong strategy 

for further growth in 2022 and Kate 

is absolutely the right person to both consolidate 

and deliver new business into our operation as 

she is someone who truly understands window 

recycling. This is part of our ongoing commitment 

to be the trusted and reliable recycling partner to 

the Fenestration Industry.” 

DRESSING FOR THE OCCASION ON SITE 

heat around your body by effectively 

creating an air pocket inside your 

clothes. 

They complement Snickers 

Workwear’s FlexiWork Base-layer 

undergarments that combine 

sustainable, animal-friendly Merino 

Wool with polyamide for warmth 

and ventilation. The Top-layer or ‘outer shell’ 

AllroundWork and Flexiwork Weatherproof 

Jackets and Trousers will also keep you warm, 

dry and comfortable all day long. 

www.snickersworkwear.com 


Fabricators 

Grow Your Business! 

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MAY/JUNE 2019 

PRACTICALCONTENTFORTHEGLAZINGINSTALLER & HOMEIMPROVEMENTSPECIALIST 

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PRACTICAL CONTENT FOR THE GLAZING INSTALLER & HOME IMPROVEMENT SPECIALIST 

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PRACTICAL CONTENT FOR THE GLAZING INSTALLER & HOME IMPROVEMENT SPECIALIST 

TI Talk: Pro-Fitter 

Product Updates 

Business Focus 

Top Tips: Bi-folds 

Total Talk Q&A 

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Product Updates 

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Windows. Reinvented for modern life. 

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Jan/Feb 2022

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