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THE GL@ZINE ISSUE 185 30th August 2005
Synseal
Enlists Geoff Hoon MP’s Help in Delaying Bad Conservatory Legislation
'Over
the past two years,’ says Nick Dutton, Sales and Marketing Director
of Synseal Extrusions Ltd, ‘we have become increasingly concerned
with the Government’s proposals to include conservatories in new
building regulations. It is not that we are opposed to changes in regulations,
but consultations on its proposals had been restricted to a small number
of people and organisations purporting to represent the interests of the
industry.
[More
on this Story]
Deceuninck
Picks up Major New Customers for Windows and Roofline
Three significant local companies have recently signed up with Deceuninck:
St Helens fabricator, Focus UPVC, will manufacture the company's sculptured
zendow(r) 2800 suite, as will Bradford trade fabricator, Glass Tec Windows.
Swindon building merchants, Drainex Ltd, meanwhile, will now stock the
Deeplas range of cellular PVC-U fascias, soffits, claddings and trims.
[More
on this Story]
Latium
Snaps up HW Plastics for £3m and Takes on £17m Pinking Liabilities
Heywood Williams Group PLC has agreed to sell its Plastic Systems Division
(HW Plastics, Spectus and Kestrel/BCE) to Latium Plastics Holdings Ltd
for a cash consideration of £3 million. In addition, Latium will
assume certain product rectification liabilities and obligations to
the tune of £17m associated with pinking problems which.
[More
on this Story]
Newdawn
Conservatory Roof System Acquired by Bowater Building Products
In the first step in a planned expansion programme, Bowater Building
Products is acquiring the trade and assets of Newdawn & Sun
Ltd, a leading independent manufacturer of commercial and conservatory
roof systems.
[More
on this Story]
Networking
or Neckworking?
The
Publicity In Glazing Society networking event resumes after the
Summer break on 8th September from 6pm onwards. Once again, the
downstairs bar at the Slug & Lettuce in London's Upper Saint
Martins Lane will play host to the glass and glazing industry's
thirstiest.
More
on this Story]
The
Rich, the Famous and the Powerful Take a Stroll for Charity
A
Who's Who of the glass and glazing industry will be taking a stroll
for charity when the 2005 Network Walk takes place in Manchester on
Friday 21st October 2005 to raise money for the Hope House Children's
Hospice.
[More
on this Story]
Veka
Chosen As Supply Partner For UK's Largest Private Social Housing Provider
VEKA
plc, already the number one PVC-u system choice for UK public sector
specifiers, has recently achieved another major coup: The company has
announced that it has been chosen as the sole window systems supplier
to the Places for People Group, the largest private social housing provider
in the UK, as part of a three-year contract.
[More
on this Story]
Sales
of Edgetech Super Spacer up 31% in 2004
International sales results announced by Edgetech IG Inc. show that
sales of Super Spacer®, the world's only TrueWARM® all foam,
NO METAL edge seal, were up 31% in 2004,' explains Andy Jones, Sales
Director and General Manager of Edgetech.
[More
on this Story]
Network
Welcomes Back a Trio of ‘Prodigals’
Network
Veka is celebrating the return of three former members among its latest
intake of recruits – with the prospect of a fourth under discussion.
[More
on this Story]
Danny
Basden Returns to Manufacture Vertical Sliders
Danny
Basden has launched a new company - Victorian Sliders Ltd, and has
begun manufacturing vertical sliding sash windows using Plastmo Profiles
Charisma system.
[More
on this Story]
Easy
Egress First with New Sheerframe VS
Sheerframe
systems company L.B. Plastics says that it has developed the first
PVC vertically sliding sash window to offer all the benefits of
traditional styling, combined with the critical emergency egress
requirements of Part B of the Building Regulations.
[More
on this Story]
New
Corner Cleaners for John Fredericks
As
part of its commitment to invest continually in new equipment and
provide a consistently high quality and flexible service, trade
fabricator John Fredericks has taken delivery of three new Rotox
corner cleaners.
[More
on this Story]
Queen's
Awards Official Meets Haydock Glass Specialists
Merseyside
specialist glass maker CGI International Ltd revealed the secret
of its business success during a whistle-stop tour to promote entries
for this year's Queen's Awards for Enterprise.
[More
on this Story]
Open
Day Event Paves the Way for Further Eurocell Roadshows
The
sun shone on Eurocell Building Plastics in more ways than one
when the company recently held its first open day at its Grimsby
branch. After a flood of early morning interest, the event attracted
a steady stream of customers throughout the day, drawn by the
aroma of a free barbecue and an array of trade stands.
[More
on this Story]
McInnes
Sets Up New Venture
Iain
McInnes has left Wendland Roof Solutions to set up McInnes Communications.
Best known for establishing the K2 brand he has also worked on other
entities in The Burnden Group both in the UK and USA, having originally
worked for Veka and most recently Wendland.
[More
on this Story]
Shepley
Will get Back to you Within the Hour - That's a Promise
Shepley
has launched its latest customer service development, the One
Hour Promise aimed at keeping customers in the know. The One-Hour
Promise means that when customers telephone with a query, we promise
to fulfil the inquiry within the hour.
[More
on this Story]
Piper
Scores 10 Year Contract with West Kent Housing Association
Veka
fabricator Piper Windows, Doors and Conservatories of Ramsgate has
signed a ten year partnering agreement with West Kent Housing Association
for the supply and installation of Veka windows. Piper says that
it was awarded the contract due to the high quality and long term
performance of its products and its proven reputation for excellent
customer service and support, particularly in the public sector.
[More
on this Story]
New
Technology is Key for Kenrick
Window
hardware manufacturer Kenrick has invested in new Cosmos software
technology, consigning many of the initial cumbersome and time-consuming
prototypes to the past.
[More
on this Story]
PVC-U
Window & Door Profile Markets in Europe
The European PVC-U windows industry has got used to bad news
from Germany, but it came as a shock when, after a run of
several good years, volume dropped sharply in the UK, Europe's
biggest PVC-U windows market, says a new report from MRA.
[More
on this Story]
Helping
Increase Sales And Profitability
Major developments to Aztec Conservatory Roof Systems'
product and service have seen the company double
its turnover in the first half of the year and simultaneously
increase its customer base by 20%.
[More
on this Story]
The
Hidden Cost of Inefficiency
According
to new research, commercial property investors are jeopardising
future rental and resale income if they choose to ignore
property energy performance after energy performance
certificates are introduced from January 2006.
[More
on this Story]
OFT
Urges SMEs to Report Anti-Competitive Practices
Nearly
a quarter of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) across Britain
believe they are harmed by unfair practices such as cartel price fixing
and collusion to set tender prices, says new research from the OFT.
The research found that one in three SMEs say they are aware of anti-competitive
activities in their industries and one in five (22 per cent) feel they
have been a victim of anti-competitive behaviour.
[More
on this Story]
THE GL@ZINE ISSUE 184 9th August 2005
Major
Homeowner Survey gives New Hope to the Replacement Window Industry
‘In
our latest homeowner survey, ‘Windows - Replace or Repair? A Survey
of Homeowners in the UK’, carried out in June this year, 6,000 adults
were interviewed, of which 3,000 qualified as being heads of households
(or their partners) of owner occupier properties. The results show that
there is good news and bad news for companies to work on', says Palmer
Market Research.
[More
on this Story]
Advantage
Partners Leivers and Millership
Advantage
Windows and Conservatories Ltd has signed a 12 month supply agreement
with its customer, Nottingham based window company Leivers and Millership,
to supply fabricated K2 roofs.
[More
on this Story]
Stuga
Flowline ZX4 for Future Products
Future Products, the successful Synseal fabricator in Synseal’s
home town of Mansfield has ordered the latest version of the Stuga Flowline,
known as the Flowline ZX4.
[More
on this Story]
James
Godfrey Wins 2005 Schüco Karting Challenge
The
UK final of the 2005 Schüco Karting Challenge was held at Whilton
Mill on Thursday, 28th July and it was James Godfrey of Balfour
Beatty Construction who came away with the title.
[More
on this Story]
Double
Celebrations for Veka's Gemini
Oldham
based trade fabricator Gemini UPVC Ltd recently celebrated two important
milestones with a factory Open Day event on 22nd July: Twenty years
in business, and one year since the company opted to switch to Veka's
Matrix 70mm fully sculptured system.
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on this Story]
Pilkington
Gets 'Activ' Again with Architects
In
the second series of special seminars organised by Pilkington in association
with architectural journal Architecture Today, more than a hundred architects
from around the country enjoyed presentations from the UK's leading
architects, staged in landmark buildings in Bristol, Birmingham, Cambridge
and London.
[More
on this Story]
Veka
in the Market for Piper Windows
The
Veka Big Rig has been hitting the streets again, this time in Romford
Market. Veka fabricator, Piper Windows has used the state of the art
mobile showroom to highlight its partnering arrangement with the London
Borough of Havering’s Decent Homes Scheme.
[More
on this Story]
Pilkington
CEO Presents Prize to ‘Activ In Architecture’ Competition
Winner
Fittingly
The Brunswick Centre in Bloomsbury, London – the winning project
of the 2005 ‘Activ in Architecture’ competition organised
by Pilkington - was the scene for a presentation ceremony at which
Pilkington plc Chief Executive, Stuart Chambers, formally presented
the prize to the winning entrant, architects for the project Levitt
Bernstein Associates.
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on this Story]
Active
and Passive Fire Protection 'Explained Days'
Chiltern
International Fire is staging a range of active and passive fire protection
events to cater for the needs of the fire services, specifiers, manufacturers,
regulators and managers or owners of buildings and residential properties.
[More
on this Story]
Interframe
Takes on Wendland Modual
Wendland
Roof Solutions is now supplying one of its largest customers with
its Modual low pitch modular roofing system. Interframe Ltd was founded
in 1985 and says that it has gone from strength to strength in the
market, being acquired by Shepley Windows Systems Ltd in 2003 but
continuing to trade as Interframe Ltd.
[More
on this Story]
10,000
Doors and Not One Late
Providing
consistently efficient, reliable deliveries can be difficult for
a lot of companies. Many don’t have the resources or the efficient
procedures in place to make it happen. GAP, Europe’s fourth
largest door panel manufacturer, says that it has broken the mould
with not one late delivery in the 10,000 doors manufactured during
June.
[More
on this Story]
Every
Letter under the Sun
Newdawn
Northern Area Business Manager, Andrew Buglass recently celebrated
the sale of his 1000th kit roof this year. Having successfully helped
establish a chain of retail conservatory outlets across the North
of England Andrew has created a great opportunity for his local
fabricators and a major challenge for Newdawn.
[More
on this Story]
New
World Breaks its Own Record with Apeer
New
World Developments says that it has broken its own record with a
38% increase in sales over last year. This has been mostly due to
its Apeer door which is surpassing targets with June the best month
ever.
[More
on this Story]
Tradelink
Completes Rebrand Of MPM Windows
Tradelink,
the East Anglian trade fabricator, has announced that it has completed
the rebrand of MPM Windows, the Mildenhall based fabricator it
acquired in December 2000.
[More
on this Story]
Just
Rewards for KAT UK's John
KAT
UK fabricator, John Hitchener, has been rewarded for a waste reducing
idea that will save the company up to £15,000 per year.
[More
on this Story]
Kestrel:
New Lorries, New Livery
A
fleet of five new Kestrel BCE lorries with distinctive graphics
have recently been delivered to the company and are now to be
seen on the highways and byways of the UK, delivering the company’s
products to customers.
[More
on this Story]
Emphasis
on Ventilation at Titon
Titon
has announced a restructure of its sales and marketing activity
with the launch of a new division for domestic ventilation systems,
headed up by Nick Howlett, Product Development Director.
[More
on this Story]
£60,000
More Flexibility for Newstead’s Customers
Niche
markets like arched windows and doors are proving popular, with
potential for growth and profit. That’s why Newstead Trade
Frames has just invested £60,000 in a new profile bending
machine from Universal Arches.
[More
on this Story]
Aluminium
Roofline Products Reach Climax
In
what is widely accepted as a weak and saturated replacement
casement window market, Devon based Climax Windows reports
it's continuing to grow due to its forward-looking diversification
into the aluminium guttering market.
[More
on this Story]
Increasing
Fleet Orders Help Volkswagen Secure Record Sales
Following
a record year of sales in 2004, Volkswagen Commercial
Vehicles is on course for a repeat performance,
with year to date sales in 2005 already up 23 per
cent on last year's results for the same period.
[More
on this Story]
OFT
Refers Acquisition by Ardagh of Redfearn Glass
The
OFT recently referred the completed acquisition by Ardagh
International Holdings Ltd of Redfearn Glass Limited
(previously Rexam Glass Barnsley Limited) to the Competition
Commission.
[More
on this Story]
Accreditation
is a Reality
The
majority of us scorn any mention of Public Sector accreditation as a
marketing ploy but how many of us actually understand what it means,
why it is needed and how it can increase opportunities? The UK Trades
Confederation investigates...
[More
on this Story]
Trelleborg
Earnings Improvement in the Second Quarter
The
Trelleborg Group increased its net sales to SEK 6,348 M (6,108) in
the second quarter of 2005. Organic growth was 4 percent. For continuing
operations, excluding restructuring costs and impairment losses, net
profit rose 13 percent to SEK 355 M (315). All five business areas
reported improved operating profit in the second quarter.
[More
on this Story]
THE GL@ZINE ISSUE 183 2nd August 2005
Ultraframe
Loses to Burnden
The
Burnden Group Plc has announced that on 27th July judgement was delivered
in its long-running legal battle with Ultraframe and that Ultraframe has
failed in most of its claims. The case dates back to 1998. In total
Ultraframe brought 4 actions against The Burnden Group and its directors
Gary and Sally Fielding as well as associated companies K2 Conservatory
Roof Systems Ltd, BCP Plastics Ltd and Burnden Holdings (UK) Ltd.
[More
on this Story]
Court
Ruling: Ultraframe's View
On
July 27th the High Court delivered a judgment in the legal case between
Ultraframe and The Burnden Group and Burnden Conservatory Products ('Burnden'),
Burnden’s founder Gary Fielding, and his wife Sally Fielding and
others.
[More
on this Story]
Pinnacle
500 Statement
Eurocell
says that it is able to continue to offer a low pitch conservatory roof
as a replacement for the company's Pinnacle 500, which has been withdrawn
from sale due to the recent decision by the Court of Appeal.
[More
on this Story]
Deceuninck
Sales Rise by 10% in Second Quarter, but UK Declines
Group
Deceuninck has announced that turnover rose by 10% to 172m euros during
the second quarter compared with the second quarter of 2004. For the
full half year this amounts to an increase of about 6% to 297m euros.
[More
on this Story]
Deceuninck
Status Here for the Long Haul
Following the recent announcement of the merger of Deceuninck and its
sister company Status Systems the company is reporting positive response
to its restructured organisation. Whilst the operational issues were
a clear focus the company has also taken the opportunity to structure
its sales and customer support teams.
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on this Story]
Chairman's
Address to Pilkington AGM
At the Annual General Meeting of Pilkington plc on 28th July, the Chairman,
Sir Nigel Rudd, made the following statement: 'As I reported at the
time of our Annual Results in May, Pilkington continues to benefit from
improvements in operational efficiency and unremitting cost reduction
programmes.
[More
on this Story]
Saint-Gobain
Group First-Half 2005 Results
Consolidated
first-half sales for the Saint-Gobain Group (six months ended June 30th,
2005) came in at €16,877 million, up 7.0%, or 7.4% at constant
exchange rates.
[More
on this Story]
Total
Approach to Efficiency
The
move to a multi-million pound purpose-built 100,000 sq ft factory
gave Total Glass the perfect opportunity to plan an efficient manufacturing
and delivery strategy from the outset, enabling the trade fabricator
to maintain its position as a quality and reliable supplier of windows,
doors and conservatories.
[More
on this Story]
Plastmo
in Bouyant Mood
Despite
difficult market conditions, the Directors of Plastmo Limited Group
announce a positive improvement in the Group's performance, compared
to that of the last half year, mainly due to an improved contribution
from Abbott Group.
[More
on this Story]
British
Institute of Architectural Technologists (BIAT) Receives Royal Charter
British Institute of Architectural Technologists (BIAT) officially
received its Royal Charter on 22 July, and changed its name to The
Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists (CIAT).
[More
on this Story]
Solvay
Interim Sales up 16% and Operating profits up 33%
Sales of the Solvay group for the 1st half of 2005 reached EUR 4,039
million, up 16% compared to the 1st half of 2004 (+17% in the 2nd
quarter). Sales of all three sectors improved: Plastics (+18%),
Chemicals (+16%) and Pharmaceuticals (+13%).
[More
on this Story]
Composite
Doors - It's the Future!
When
Shepley launched the Visage® range of composite doors back in
September 2004 they were expected to do well but Tim Walker, Shepley's
sales director, says that he has been overwhelmed by the response.
[More
on this Story]
Gloucester
Turnaround for Darby
The
Darby Glass plant in Gloucester is reporting a period of significant
growth. Under a new management team, sales over the last six-month
period have soared and are looking set to exceed the target of a
40% increase for the current financial year.
[More
on this Story]
New
S&J Conservatory - As Easy as ABC
Conservatory
manufacturer S&J says that its Advanced Building Concept (ABC)
will cut the time and cost of the average conservatory installation.
‘For the installer, it means little mess, easy, one day installation
and a top quality conservatory, coupled with a huge potential
for high profits.’
[More
on this Story]
KAT
UK Travels to France on Fact Finding Mission
Representatives
from KAT UK, a supplier of patio doors and sash windows, recently
crossed the channel on a fact finding mission to France.
[More
on this Story]
Small
Doors Make Big Impact for New World
Mini-Apeer
doorsets are opening new sales opportunities for fabricators.
Door manufacturer New World Developments is producing small versions
of its double-skinned GRP door Apeer, so that sales teams can
easily transport a fully working model to any venue for close
scrutiny.
[More
on this Story]
Scottish
Roofing Contractors Fined for Collusive Bidding
Six
roofing contractors have been found by the OFT to have agreed to
fix the prices of flat roofing services in Western-Central Scotland
through collusive tendering. They have been fined almost £260,000
in total (reduced to about £138,000 by leniency).
[More
on this Story]
Omnico
Just Keeps Growing
Omnico
Plastics, the supplier of cellular plastic to the construction industry
has announced the opening of the company’s new branch in Abingdon.
The purpose built 4,700sqft warehouse situated on the Fairacres
Trading Estate opened on 20th June 2005 and offers excellent road
links from the A34.
[More
on this Story]
Securistyle
Achieves Hat Trick of Hotel Success
Window
hardware manufacturer Securistyle has achieved
a hat trick of hotel success with the installation
of commercial window hinges in three luxury
Dubai hotels.
[More
on this Story]
Fabricators
Flock to Schüco’s Innovations Days
Innovations
Days are a new initiative by Schüco designed
to keep the company’s fabricators fully informed
about the company’s latest systems and products.
After a successful launch in November last year,
the company has just completed its second Innovations
session which was so heavily subscribed that the
original two days had to be increased to three.
[More
on this Story]
Cash
for PVC Waste with Recovinyl
Window
companies can now cut the costs of disposing of old PVC window and
door frames under a new scheme aimed at promoting greater recycling
of post-consumer PVC waste. It also covers ancillary PVC products
such as roofline products, cladding, shutters and blinds.
[More
on this Story]
Tioxide
Europe Fails in CGU Claim
A
claim for an indemnity under a 'claims made' liability insurance
policy failed where the Claimant could not establish that it had
suffered 'loss' as defined in the policy. The Claimant was not entitled
to aggregate the claims made against it in the absence of an aggregation
[More
on this Story]