September 2022

News Roundup
THE WRIGHT STUFF
TuffX has invested £500k to add two more
production lines at its Knowsley factory in
response to continuing high demand for its
specialist toughened glass and popular Infinity
rooflight range.
For more company news visit www.total-installer.co.uk
TUFFX ADDS LINES DUE TO DEMAND FOR GLASS
l-r - Andy Martin, Operations Director, Colin Kennedy,
Construction Director, Cruden Building, Charlie Berry,
Managing Director, Andrew Wright Windows
New contracts valued at just under
£1.8m have been awarded to Irvine
based Andrew Wright Windows by Cruden
Building.
A third laminating line has been installed to meet
demand for laminated glass. The Sagertec glass
laminating machine will allow TuffX to boost its
output, demand for which has increased over the
last few years due to the growing popularity of glass
balustrades and balconies in both commercial and
residential properties.
Components of a third double-glazing line have also
been purchased and recently installed at the factory.
This will boost factory efficiency and production
capacity of TuffX’s Infinity range of products and
Ambience conservatory glass. Demand, and
subsequently output, for TuffX’s Infinity roof lights
has already grown 25% this year, due to the range’s
popularity with homeowners and installers alike,
thanks to its hassle-free ‘drop in and seal’ installation.
www.tuffxglass.co.uk
The nine separate contracts combined
involve the manufacture and supply of more
than 3,500 windows and doors for housing
developments across central Scotland. This
includes new housing developments at
Larkhall in South Lanarkshire, Musselburgh
and Prestonpans in East Lothian and East
Balornock, Castlemilk, Barlanark and
Dennistoun in Glasgow.
Charlie Berry, Managing Director, Andrew Wright
Windows, said: “It is especially pleasing for us to
have won these contracts from one of Scotland’s
most prominent housebuilders. Over the years,
we have invested consistently in our production
facilities and in building a fantastic team of
people with a real focus on delivering quality.”
From two specialist production facilities in Irvine,
the company manufactures double and triple
glazed UPVC windows, with a current annual
production capacity of 30,000 units. Customers
range across the commercial, trade, domestic
and local government sectors.
Cruden Building is part of the Cruden Group,
one of Scotland’s largest development and
construction groups. The company currently
delivers around 1,200 homes per year across the
private and public sectors, representing almost 1
in 15 of homes built annually in Scotland.
www.andrewwright.co.uk
CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY HIT HARD IN 2022
The construction industry accounted for 16%
of administrations in the first six months
of the year – the highest sector in the UK –
according to analysis by full-service law firm
Shakespeare Martineau.
More than 620 businesses, 98 of which came from
the construction industry, filed for administration
between 1 January and 30 June 2022, marking a
60% increase compared to 2021.
Kate Onions, partner and head of construction
disputes at Shakespeare Martineau, said: “It is no
surprise that construction is the worst-hit sector in
the UK for administrations. Not only is there a skills
Half of UK tradespeople have delayed or refused
work because of the materials shortage.
The study, conducted by IronmongeryDirect, found that
more than three-quarters (78%) of tradespeople have
struggled to source the materials they’ve needed in
the last year.
As a result, almost half (46%) have had to delay or
turn down work, and nearly a fifth (19%) have been
forced to let customers down after committing to jobs.
When asked which specific materials they’ve
found difficult to find, one of the most common
gulf as a result of the immigration decisions of the
current government, but there is also wage and
material cost inflation and increasing interest rates,
backed up by a broken procurement model.
“All employers want fixed-price contracts in order to
gain certainty, but in a market plagued by inflation,
it leaves contractors with wafer-thin profit margins,
which filters down the supply chain. With a recession
seemingly on the horizon and potential disputes
caused by Covid delays, sadly, I think we’ll see
a continued increase in the number of insolvent
companies in the construction industry.”
www.shma.co.uk/
HALF REFUSING WORK DUE TO MATERIALS
replies was timber (19%).
More than one in five (22%) respondents said
that they can’t see the shortage easing anytime
soon, and that they believe problems will continue
into 2023. Inflation is the main factor they blame
(20%), with record levels driving up prices across
the board and affecting the supply chain.
The impact of Coronavirus (17%), rising energy
costs (15%) and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
(15%) are also perceived to be responsible.
www.ironmongerydirect.co.uk/
8 T I SEPTEMBER 2022 PRACTICAL CONTENT FOR THE GLAZING INSTALLER & HOME IMPROVEMENT SPECIALIST