Birchdale Glass Enjoys Savings Thanks to Bostik's Evo-Stik Hiflo

Family-run firm Birchdale Glass has been manufacturing insulated glass units (IGUs) for over 15 years and has grown from a single unit facility to its current five unit site in Uxbridge, Middlesex. Employing over 80 staff, Birchdale has a turnover in excess of £7 million.

As specialist glass processors and contractors to the construction industry the company has a divisional structure which allows it to offer a complete and integrated solution, from structural bolted or bonded glazing facades, aluminium curtain walling windows and doors to the supply and installation of IGUs and architectural toughened glass.

Having invested in the latest technology for all of the various divisions of the company, Birchdale Glass is able to offer products manufactured to the very highest of standards and in accordance with its British Standard approved quality management system to BS EN ISO 9002 : 1994.

The 1,500 IGUs manufactured each week by the dedicated production line are guaranteed for ten years and all carry the British Standard Kite Mark, something they have done for the last ten years.

Factory manager, Paul Deanus, oversees the glass factory which comprises a semi-automatic cutting line, a toughened glass processing line and an IGU manufacturing area, processing over 90 tonnes of glass a week. He closely monitors the factory and makes recommendations on any changes and improvements that need to be made and six years ago, implemented the change over from a two part perimeter sealant to Evo-Stik Hiflo, from leading sealant manufacturer Bostik.

He says: ‘With the current BS EN1279 legislation, many manufacturers are now looking to improve their gas filled units. Since implementing the Hot Melt system we have seen many benefits, including increased efficiency and cost savings, and can honestly say we have never looked back.’

Birchdale Glass has enjoyed huge savings since implementing the changeover as the previous system could see wastage of up to 25 per cent due to the purging and tooling process. With Evo-Stik Hiflo, there is no need to mix or purge so there is no wastage and is therefore a much cleaner system.

‘Prior to using the current hot melt, we were using the two part sealant which was well-liked by the manufacturing team as they were used to the process. However, implementing the new system was an instant success and the team quickly got used to the new procedure.’

Paul agrees this has had a huge impact on the workflow rate within the factory: ‘We run a much more efficient system with less waste which can only be an improvement on our environmental impact.’

Bostik's support team invested heavily in supporting the implementation of the new system, explaining the benefits and also taking the factory management team to other premises to see the hot melt in action. Bostik sales manager, Geoff Jackson, oversaw the changes. He says: ‘Following the decision to change over to Bostik's Evo-Stik Hiflo, we worked very closely with Paul and the IGU team, spending several days at the factory, to ensure the system was up and running as efficiently as possible.’

Paul concludes: ‘We had great support from the Bostik team and we always felt that any implementation issues would be sorted out quickly and disruption in the factory minimised. Overall the change to Bostik's hot melt means we are now more efficient in manufacturing and subsequently in cost’.

For further information on Bostik's range of products for the IG industry, log on to http://www.bostik.co.uk or call 01785 272727.

For further information on Birchdale Glass please log on to http://www.birchdaleglass.com or call 01895 259111.