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THE GL@ZINE ISSUE 111 24th February 2004
Installers:
Are You Up To The Glassex Challenge?
A star event at this year’s Glassex will be The Glassex Challenge
to find The Glassex Installer of the Year. Just think how that title
will boost your customers’ confidence and sales! The Glassex
Challenge will take place throughout Glassex 2004 with four teams
competing each day in a competition designed to promote and reward
excellence in door, window and conservatory installation. The Glassex
Challenge will also be an exciting spectacle for visitors to the
event, as the teams will be competing in the main halls of the exhibition
area. There are thousands of pounds worth of DeWalt tools up for
grabs for successful entrants, and track days as prizes for the
overall winners.
[More
on this Story]
Big
Expansion Reflects Style Group’s National Growth
Style
Group UK plc, manufacturer and supplier of PVCu windows and doors,
has announced the acquisition and relocation of six new regional
developments, boosting job prospects in those areas. The expansion
programme includes the opening of six new sales and installation
sites at Swindon, Chester, Reading, Birmingham, Hull and Bradford.
[More
on this Story]
£250,000
Investment Elevates Radius Plastics
Radius
Plastics, the UK specialist profile bending company, has almost
completed work on a new factory extension and added new specialist
manufacturing equipment, as part of a £250,000 investment
programme. ‘The work is the latest phase of Radius’ plan
to revolutionise customer service, product quality, and deliveries,
in a section of the glazing industry that has been notorious in
these areas.’ says the company.
[More
on this Story]
Edgetech
IG Inc Expands with New Subsidiary Edgetech Europe Ltd
As
a firm indication of its ambitions to take pole position in Europe
as well as in the US, Edgetech IG Inc, the Super Spacer® bar
manufacturer has set up a new subsidiary, Edgetech Europe Ltd. Market
leader in Northern America – where over 85% of the market uses
warm edge technology – the company claims that Super Spacer’s
no-metal, all-foam formula provides one of the best thermal performances
replacing standard cold edge aluminium spacer bars.
[More
on this Story]
New
Clients for Lambert GT Services
Lambert
GT Services Ltd now has a further two clients producing high quality
toughened glass. Tri Warm in Smethwick and Phoenix Door Panels in
Somersham are the latest companies who have chosen a Lambert GT
Services Ltd toughening plant.
[More
on this Story]
New
Cervoglass™ for Perfect Conservatory Roofs
James
Price plc, the Aintree based double glazed unit manufacturer and
specialist glass processor has launched the Cervoglass™ range,
a new generation of advanced conservatory roof glazing under its
Tuff X brand.
[More
on this Story]
‘Holy
Trinity’ Means Start-Up Fabricator Beats Early Targets
'Consistent
Quality,' 'Personal Touch,' 'Caring For The Customer's Individual
Needs.' Those three key criteria are helping to push Kömmerling
start-up fabricator H.W.L. Trade Frames Ltd. well ahead of its business
plan targets.
[More
on this Story]
Right
Approach to Conservatory Design from S&J
Independent
trade manufacturer of conservatory roofs, S&J Marketing has
signed an exclusive deal with software supplier RoofWright to secure
a unique software package for its regular customer base. The move
will enable S&J’s customers to design conservatories with
ease and improve turnaround times and customer service.
[More
on this Story]
Consumer
Credit Licensing Annual Update
The
OFT carried out a total of 1119 licensing actions in 2003. Some
778 licence applications were withdrawn following challenge from
the OFT, 228 warning or advisory letters were issued and 113 Minded
to Revoke/Refuse notices. In addition, the OFT refused 34 licences
and revoked 19 licences.
[More
on this Story]
Schott
Achieves Operating Plus in 2002/2003
Change
will continue to be an important aspect for the Schott international
technology group in the current 2003/2004 fiscal year (to September
30th). At the group’s annual results press conference in Frankfurt
am Main on February 17th, 2004 the new Chairman of the Board of
Management Dr. Udo Ungeheuer indicated that structural reorganisation
was to be speeded up. He referred in this connection to the 'biggest
modernisation process in the corporation’s history ever'.
[More
on this Story]
Alcoa's
Pinjarra Efficiency Upgrade Approved; Alumina Production To Increase
By 600,000 mtpy
Alcoa
announced on February 6th that Alcoa World Alumina and Chemicals
(AWAC), - a global alliance between Alcoa and Alumina Ltd, with
Alcoa holding 60% - has received the Western Australian Government's
environmental approval for its previously announced US $270 million
Pinjarra alumina refinery efficiency upgrade..
[More
on this Story]
Alcoa
Sells Its 10% Stake in Alscon
Alcoa
confirmed on 19th February that it has sold its 10 percent stake
in the Alscon smelter in Ikot Abasi, Nigeria to the Federal Government
of Nigeria. Alcoa assumed the stake as part of its acquisition of
Reynolds Metals. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
[More
on this Story]
THE GL@ZINE ISSUE 110 17th February 2004
Glassex
Seminar Programme Hits the Nail on the Head
The Glassex 2004 Seminar Programme – now a key feature of the
UK glass and glazing industry’s leading annual trade event
- will continue to reflect industry trends with a diverse agenda,
say organisers EMAP Maclaren. However, whilst concentrating on current
issues, the seminars will also focus on the immediate future of
the industry and the challenges facing it.
[More
on this Story]
Dale
Joinery Collapses with £18m debts
Rochdale
based Dale Joinery has gone into receivership with reported debts
of £18.5m, threatening nearly 200 jobs. Managers broke
the news to staff on Monday afternoon, hours after drivers were
ordered not to deliver goods until cash on previous orders was collected.
[More
on this Story]
Asahi
Group Back in Profit for 2003
Asahi Glass has reported its consolidated results for fiscal year
ending December 31st 2003. On net sales of Y1,243bn (2002: Y1,295bn)
the company has reported net income of Y53.6m (against a loss of
Y3.9m in the previous year). While its glass businesses accounted
for over half the total sales (Y664bn; in 2002: Y708bn), its share
of the operating income fell from Y37.8bn in 2002 to Y35.5bn in
2003.
[More
on this Story]
Masco
Reports Record Sales and Earnings for 2003, and Warns of European
Disposals
Masco
Corporation reported on February 13th that net sales from continuing
operations for the year ended December 31st, 2003, aided by acquisitions,
increased 20 percent to a record $10.9bn compared with $9.1bn for
2002.
[More
on this Story]
Shield
Roof Customers Grow 33.6% in Fourth Quarter of 2003
Synseal
says that it has seen dramatic growth in recent years, and it continues
to expand. Some of this growth has come from new customers - in
the final three months of 2003 Synseal set up and began trading
with 76 new Shield and Global customers. These are in addition to
the new Global conservatory roof customers who all came on stream
when the roof was launched in 2003. Unlike Shield, Global is a roof
for all systems.
[More
on this Story]
M1
Trade Frames Moving on Up!
M1
Trade frames, a fabricator of Eurocell’s Ultimate 70mm window
system, has announced that the company has invested in larger premises
as well as new machinery to cope with the increase in demand.
[More
on this Story]
K2
Hosts Customers at Work and Play in Gleneagles and Launches Installer
Scheme
K2,
the UK conservatory roofing system manufacturer, played host to
more than 200 customers last week as the company held its ‘Work
& Play’ conference in the Five Star surroundings of Gleneagles.
[More
on this Story]
On-line ordering through Synergebuild increased to over 70 per cent of orders received as Status Systems completed its first month of trading in 2004. This is an increase of over 20 per cent since last autumn, putting Status well on track to reach its target of over 95 per cent of total orders to be received through Synergebuild by the end of 2004.
BRE
Roof Study Examines Falls
Roofing
industry experts have concluded that most falls are the result
of fragile roofs, fragile rooflights and unguarded edges. The
main findings of the project are being published in a BRE Information
Paper - Designing Roofs with Safety in Mind - which will be available
in April 2004.
[More
on this Story]
BWF
Timber Window Report
The
relatively buoyant state of the UK construction industry is reflected
in bullish figures revealed by the British Woodworking Federation
(BWF) Timber Window Accreditation Scheme’s first independent
report on the state of the UK’s timber window sector.
[More
on this Story]
Huge
Increase in Bankruptcies
The
number of people going bankrupt has soared by nearly a third during
the past year. During the final three months of 2003, 10,271 people
in England and Wales became insolvent, 12% more than during the
previous quarter and a 28.9% jump on the same period of 2002.
[More
on this Story]
UK
Company Profitability Enters Fifth Year of Decline
The
collapse in profitability of UK companies continued into the second
quarter of 2003, according to Experian® in its latest Corporate
Health Check. The average return on capital among leading
British companies across the industrial economy fell from 5.76
per cent in the 12 months to March 2003 to 5.23 per cent in the
twelve months to June 2003.
[More
on this Story]
OFT
Revokes Home Improvement Credit Licences
Mr
Jeremy Mitchell, trading as Visions by Design, based in Hunwick
near Darlington, has had his consumer credit licence revoked by
the OFT. The partnership licence of Mr Mitchell and Mr Terence
Stannard, trading as Renaissance Home Improvements, based in Jarrow,
Tyne & Wear, has also been revoked.
[More
on this Story]
Everwhite
Joins the British Plastic Federation
Everwhite
Plastics Ltd, a supplier of PVC-UE roofline products, has joined
the British Plastic Federation (BPF). Ken Davies, Managing Director
of Everwhite says, ‘The knowledge and experience offered by
the BPF combined with Everwhite’s expertise and extensive investment
programme, promises to make for a winning combination. We invested
£2.4 million in 2003 alone, into one of the widest ranges
of roofline products in the industry.
[More
on this Story]
Saint-Gobain
Expands its Presence in Romania in Glass Manufacturing for the Construction
Industry
In
view of the strong growth in the South-East European markets, Saint-Gobain’s
Flat Glass Division (Saint-Gobain Vitrage) has decided to strengthen
its presence in the region by building a new float line. The new
plant will be built at the Calarasi site in Romania and will manufacture
high quality flat glass using Saint-Gobain's latest technological
developments.
[More
on this Story]
Saint-Gobain
Vitrage Acquires a New Float Line in China
The
Flat Glass Division of Saint-Gobain (Saint-Gobain Vitrage) and its
Korean partner Hanglas started proceedings on October 8th, 2003
to purchase a float line located in Qingdao (Shandong province)
in North Eastern China.This operation was carried out through a
joint venture company.
[More
on this Story]
Proos
Roofing Deal Raises Procell’s Profile in Scotland
The
successful partnership that has flourished over recent months between
SIG Roofing Supplies Group and Premier Profiles has already been
given a New Year boost with an agreement for Premier to supply Proos
Roofing in Paisley, one of the largest roofing materials distributors
in the West of Scotland.
[More
on this Story]
BPF’s
Business Support Network Welcomes Atradius on Board
Atradius,
one of the world’s leading credit insurance and credit management
companies, has joined the British Plastics Federation’s (BPF)
Business Support Network.
[More
on this Story]
Trelleborg
Shows Favourable Trend in 2003 Financial Report
The
Trelleborg Group shows a continued favourable trend in earnings
and sales despite the challenging market situation in the Group's
principal markets during the year. Profit after net financial items
increased by 61 percent to SEK 1,091 M (677).
[More
on this Story]
CertainTeed
Celebrates a Century of Building America
This year, CertainTeed Corporation, a North American manufacturer
of building materials, joins the ranks of the few companies to have
reached 100 years of service.
[More
on this Story]
Alcoa
Named One of the Best Managed Companies by Forbes
Alcoa announced on 16th January that Forbes Magazine has named it
one of the 'Best Managed Companies'.
[More
on this Story]
THE GL@ZINE ISSUE 109 10th February 2004
Glassex
Indicates Future Trends as Composite Doors Prove all the Rage
With just a few weeks to go before the annual Glassex
show opens its doors for the 24th time, details on what exhibitors
are planning to launch at the event reveal that once again Glassex
will accurately represent both the current movement and future trends
of the UK window, door and conservatory industry. This is illustrated
for the 2004 event by the number of composite door manufacturers
who have signed up to appear at the event..
[More
on this Story]
Today the Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF) announced that everyday throughout the Glassex Exhibition it would be addressing the industry on the latest to do with Approved Document L – proposed revisions for 2005; Health & Safety and the contribution warm edge technology can make to increasing the energy efficiency of windows.
Awards
Scheme for Glass & Glazing Industry Returns: GO 4 it!
Following a four year absence from the glass and glazing industry
event calendar, the awards scheme for glaziers, window fabricators
and installers, and those associated with the industry is set
to make a welcome return. With entries being sought in 10 different
categories, the scheme is to be called G 04, Awards for the
Glass and Glazing Industry, and will culminate in an Awards
Gala Dinner, held in conjunction with the GGF Annual Convention,
on Friday June 18th 2004 at the ICC in Birmingham.
[More
on this Story]
Festive
Frolics Caught on Camera in Coventry’s real-life Version
of The Office
Millions of viewers tuned in to watch the latest festive antics
of egotistical boss David Brent in BBC’s hit comedy The
Office – but staff at Coventry based U-fit.co.uk gave him
a run for his money in the Christmas TV schedules. They let
their hair down for the cameras at the Christmas party –
and the hilarious results were screened in the documentary Office
Christmas Parties on BBC2.
[More
on this Story]
Web
Cam Tracks Progress with Veka’s New Distribution & Logistics
Centre
Veka
has found the ideal solution for keeping tabs on progress of building
work on the company’s new 200,000 square feet distribution
and logistics centre by installing a web cam high above the site.
In fact, anyone can take a look at this impressive project through
the company’s web site.
[More
on this Story]
Synseal Launches Pre-Gasketed Shield
Synseal Extrusions Ltd has recently launched pre-gasketed Shield profile. ‘It will save customers a substantial amount of time,’ explains Andy Dunbar, Technical Manager of Synseal. ‘All Synseal fabricators have to do now is cut and weld. And all they have to pay for this time saving addition is the price of the gasket, nothing more.
Status Takes Logical New Approach to Nationwide Logistics
Status Systems has signed a contract with transport experts RF Fielding (Cheshire) Ltd to implement improvements to its logistics network, in direct response to increasing sales. With over 30 new fabricators joining the Status ranks in 2003, the extruder has taken a long term approach to overhauling its transport systems to ensure standards of customer service are maintained.
Two Leaders : One Complete Glass Solution
Suppliers to the glass industry, Bohle AG and Ritec International Ltd announce the formation of a new joint venture company in Germany, Bohle ClearShield GmbH, as of 1st February 2004. The new company will provide a wide range of solutions for the renovation, protection and maintenance of glass.
Total
Glass Partners with Cotswold
Liverpool
based fabricator Total Glass Ltd has reinforced its partnership
with Cotswold Architectural Products to ensure all its customers,
whether fitting one or one hundred windows a week, are installing
windows that meet with emergency egress requirements.
[More
on this Story]
Aluplast
UK – Three new Extruders in Three Months
Aluplast
UK has recently installed three new extruders at its expanding
Lutterworth extrusion base in Leicestershire. The installation
programme was completed just after the New Year, having started
back in November 2003 with the first extruder being installed
in record time. These new machines include high output extruders
capable of processing over 500kg of powder per hour.
[More
on this Story]
Celuform
Blames Dramatic Rise in Raw Material Costs for Price Hike
A
5.5 per cent price increase has been announced by Celuform, the
UK PVC-ue building products manufacturer. 'Since July last year
raw material costs have increased by more than a fifth, and we
have been absorbing the higher prices,' says Ged Ferris, Celuform's
marketing manager.
[More
on this Story]
GGF
Announces new President
The Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF) has appointed Nigel Richmond,
Chief Operating Officer of Bowater Windows, as its new President.
With several years experience in the window industry, Nigel Richmond
has been actively involved in GGF affairs for many years, most recently
spending 9 years as Chairman of the Finance and Membership Committee.
He succeeds Trevor Coles of AGS Home Improvements to the position
of President.
[More
on this Story]
Crystal
Makes a Clear Choice with Ukae
Sealed
unit manufacturer Crystal Units Limited has signed an agreement
for UKae Ltd to supply all of its IGU consumables and components
over a two year period. The new supply deal, which coincides with
Crystal Units' recent move to a 40,000 sq ft state-of-the-art manufacturing
facility in North London, is a major coup for UKae.
[More
on this Story]
China
Glass Teams up with GP&T for 2004
The
organisers of the Glass Processing and Technology Exhibition have
been approached by the organisers of the China Glass Exhibition
to arrange a UK group of exhibitors and visitors to China Glass
2004 which takes place in Beijing from the 11th - 14th April this
year.
[More
on this Story]
Quicker
Cutting at KAT
As part of its overall investment programme for 2004, KAT UK has
recently installed a new double mitre saw, worth in excess of £20,000,
at its dedicated patio door line in Macclesfield.
[More
on this Story]
CAP
Reorganises for Service Expansion
CAP,
the UK architectural glazing manufacturer and installer has restructured
to offer improved flexibility in a changing marketplace. Now
with an Architectural Division specialising in large projects like
the Lowry Hotel, Salford and a RMS Division which will concentrate
on refurbishment, maintenance and small works, the company claims
that these two dedicated teams can operate with improved focus and
skills appropriate to the contract.
[More
on this Story]
Leamore
Continues Expansion Plans
Leamore
Windows, one of Eurocell’s most prestigious fabricators has
recently revealed a further £35k investment in a new showroom
to complement the two existing ones on the company’s site.
[More
on this Story]
Wessex
Frames Takes the South West by Storm
Long time Hallmark Panels customer Wessexframes PVC-U Windows and
Doors Trade Supplies is on course to increase its output by 55%
within just 12 months thanks to a combination of strategic investment
and a good service record that has seen the company become one of
the biggest trade suppliers in the South West.
[More
on this Story]
Malbern
Expands Vehicle Fleet
Manchester
based Malbern Windows Group has added three new vehicles to its
fleet bringing the total to over 20. The new vehicles were needed
to cope with the growing retail business and the continued expansion
of the company`s new build and trade fabrication business, through
it`s specialist division Malbern Direct.
[More
on this Story]
CertainTeed
Continues to Innovate with New Patent Grants
Two
U.S. patents were recently granted to CertainTeed Corporation for
innovative new products designed to make composite deck and vinyl
siding installations easier and more accurate than ever. The patents
were granted for the company's Boardwalk Triangle Deck Square and
STUDfinder™ Installation System.
[More
on this Story]
THE GL@ZINE ISSUE 108 3rd February 2004
Glassex
2004 Gears up for Machinery Extravaganza
With just a few weeks to go before Glassex opens its doors
for the 24th time, major machinery manufacturers have begun
to announce some of their plans for this year's event. The
recent announcement that Promac Window Machinery has once
again demonstrated its commitment to the event following a
highly successful show last year has created a high level
of anticipation for what machinery manufacturers will choose
to launch at Glassex 2004.
[More
on this Story]
Yule
Transfers to Guardian Low-E Product
Driven to look at alternative to low E hard coat products
by ongoing and inexplicable price increases from their
existing suppliers, AC Yule began trials at their
Elgin factory with Guardian's 1.4D product early in
2003. Six months later, after glowing reports on all
fronts, the decision was taken to switch the glass
plants at both Aberdeen and Livingston completely
to the new product. The company has not looked back
and now other unit manufacturers in Scotland have
began using 1.4D due to the demand by the trade.
[More
on this Story]
Glass
the Weakest Link at Saint-Gobain, but Currency Exchange
Rates Still the Main Problem
Saint Gobain's Group sales dipped 2.3% in 2003 on an
actual structure basis and 3.7% based on a comparable
structure. At constant exchange rates (based on average
2002 exchange rates), sales were up 4.1% on an actual
structure basis, and 2.5% based on a comparable structure.
Currency effects had a 6.1 point negative impact on
sales for the year, particularly due to the significant
depreciation of the US dollar, pound sterling and Brazilian
real against the euro (down 16%, 9% and 20% respectively).
[More
on this Story]
Palram wins Olympic
title with £2m Athens Stadium Roof Contract
Palram Europe has won a prestigious £2 million
contract to supply state-of-the-art polycarbonate roof
panels for the Athens Olympic stadium. The stunning
24 000 sq m roof of the main stadium has been described
as the 'jewel in crown' of the Athens Olympics Stadium
Complex, designed by acclaimed Spanish architect Santiago
Calatrava and set to be a signature of this year's Olympics
in August.
[More
on this Story]
Sliders
UK - Investing in Quality
Machinery investment of over £180,000 has provided
patio specialist Sliders UK with a platform for continued
unprecedented growth in 2004. The latest new machines are
from Elumatec and include a double stacking verti-quad welder,
CNC corner cleaner, automatic screw fixing station and a
computerised saw. A CNC copy router is also on order.
[More
on this Story]
Optima Awarded £1.2m
Contract for 'K2' project
Specialist glazing contractor Optima Architectural Glass
has won an order worth approximately £1.2 million
for work on a new office development designed by the Richard
Rogers Partnership. Referred to as K2, the project is located
in St. Katharine Dock, London E1. Working with main contractor,
Taylor Woodrow Construction Ltd, Optima will commence operations
in March 2004.
[More
on this Story]
Pertici Trials new Scarabeo
55 Cutting Center at KEB Fabrications
Pertici announces the successful completion
of an operational trial of the new model of Pertici Scarabeo
55 Cutting Center at KEB Fabrications Ltd. This model has
been in full operation in KEB Fabrications Ltd for eight
months without any problems
[More
on this Story]
Complaint
about Safestyle UK Advert is Rejected by ASA
An objection was made to the Advertising Standards Authority
by a member of the public in Staffs to a directory advertisement
for window and door manufacturing company Safestyle UK.
The advert stated '0% interest free credit' in the bottom
right-hand corner. The complainant challenged the availability
of loans with 0% interest-free credit for the advertisers'
customers.
[More
on this Story]
3
Men + 1 Robot = 1000+ Sealed Units per Day
McIlhatton and Co Ltd in County Antrim needed a cost effective
way to increase the company’s production capacity and
satisfy the growing demand for higher spec sealed units.
'An increase in customer demand - showing no sign of slowing
down - meant we simply had to find a way to increase our
production capacity,' explains Paddy McIlhatton.
[More
on this Story]
Profile
22 Moves into Top Gear
Profile 22 is driving enhancements in customer service and
company growth through substantial investment in a new delivery
fleet. The high-specification vehicles include five rigid
lorries, four tractor units and four 45-foot trailers -
all sporting the new Profile 22 livery
[More
on this Story]
CertainTeed
and 3M Partner to Offer Bevelled Glass Alternative
CertainTeed
Corporation and 3M have partnered to produce Prism GridTM,
a new window application that offers the look of custom
bevelled glass. Employing 3M's patented optical film technology,
Prism Grid transforms the appearance of glass in a way that
allows light to filter through, casting a rainbow of colours
and creating the look of bevelled glass at an affordable
cost
[More
on this Story]
Alcoa
sets New 3-Year Cost-Savings Challenge; Company Seeks Additional
$1.2bn in Annual Savings by 2006
At
a meeting with analysts and investors on 22nd January, Alcoa
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Alain Belda, announced
a new company-wide, three-year cost savings challenge, following
the successful completion of Alcoa's 2001-2003 cost-savings
programme in which it achieved $1.012 billion in annual savings.
[More
on this Story]
CertainTeed
Windows to Open New California Facility
As
part of CertainTeed Corporation's strategy to become a nationwide,
fully integrated vinyl window manufacturer and supplier, the
company has announced plans to open a 229,000 square foot
production facility in West Sacramento, California for the
manufacture of its vinyl windows and patio doors
[More
on this Story]