April 2022

Training
TOPPING UP ON TRAINING
AluK has recently reopened its training academy in Chepstow, Wales. Below, Training
Manager Darren Burford explains why it’s important for installers to increase their knowledge
on all things aluminium.
AluK has just announced the reopening of
its training academy in Chepstow, with a
full range of installation and fabrication
courses available to book now.
For AluK, the Academy exists primarily to broaden
customers’ knowledge about its aluminium
window, door, and curtain walling systems and
to encourage best practice in installation and
fabrication. It’s an impressive, fully equipped
facility located right in the heart of AluK’s
350,000 sq ft manufacturing plant and the
emphasis is very much on practical training.
Darren Burford, AluK’s Training Manager said:
“As we learnt during the pandemic, online training
is all well and good, but there’s no real substitute
for hands-on experience. It’s all about learning
direct from the systems house and working in
line with our approved processes and technical
manual to improve quality and reduce snagging
or remedials.”
AluK’s one-day installation workshop is dedicated
to its SL50 and SG50 curtain walling systems
and is designed for installers and site supervisors
with any level of industry experience who have
not previously fitted AluK curtain walling. Some
knowledge of the window, door and curtain wall
industry is beneficial, but it is not essential.
The workshop introduces installers to the
theoretical aspects and principles of the AluK
curtain wall systems and the contents of the
technical manual. It covers glass and glazing,
bracketry, fixings, testing, and sealants.
Delegates learn how to install both the SL50 and
SG50 systems into a designated structure, and
how to use safety tools and installation aids to
achieve a successful outcome in line with AluK’s
recommendations. At the end of the day, there is
Left: AluK’s Training Manager Darren Burford.
a short assessment to obtain the GQA certificate.
The workshop runs every month from May to
December during 2022.
There are also plenty of product-based courses
available at the Academy, on AluK’s bi-folds (BSF70
and F82), windows and entrance doors (58BW and
58BD), sliders (BSC94 and SC156) and curtain
walling (SL50 and SG50). These last two days and
include a full brief on the system, and then an
introduction to the LogiKal processing software.
Primarily aimed at fabricators, they are none the
less useful for installers who want to understand
more about the capabilities of AluK products.
Darren Burford added: “All the AluK courses are
ideal for all those new starters over the past
couple of years who might have missed out on
formal training, and as a refresher for those who
might just be new to our systems. There’s an
understandable focus on training newcomers at
the moment, but we shouldn’t lose sight of the
value that comes from investing time and money
in training your existing workforce and, even more
crucially, the costs to the business of not making
those investments.
“All our training is free, but I know installers will
still weigh up the cost of sending staff out for
one or two days against the added value they will
bring to the business once they have improved
their skills. However, time and again delegates
who attend the Academy tell us that the benefits
would still stack up in even if we made a charge
for our training, as I know lots of the machinery
and software companies do.”
The reopening of the Academy is a reminder
for the market that AluK is the only aluminium
systems house that has it all ‘in-house’. It offers
a comprehensive customer support package,
which also includes in-house CAD design,
technical advice, sales and marketing support
and testing facilities.
Contact AluK Academy:
01291 639739
www.alukacademy.co.uk
@AluK_GB
28 T I APRIL 2022 PRACTICAL CONTENT FOR THE GLAZING INSTALLER & HOME IMPROVEMENT SPECIALIST