Weekly
Email News for the Glass, Glazing and Fenestration Industries
28th February 2006
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CRITIC'S CORNER
Profile
22 Watches The Armstrongs - Episode 1
Except from coverage on the likes of Watchdog and Rogue
Traders, it's fair to say that until now the glazing industry
has been fairly under-represented on our TV screens. At last,
it is our turn to get the recognition we deserve - a primetime
slot, straight after Sir Alan Sugar's search for Amstrad's next
tea boy/girl.
However, 'At Work with the Armstrongs' (the latest in
a series of fly on the wall 'reali- docu- drama- soapu- mentries')
appears to be no advert for an industry in turmoil.
More
Here:
Duraflex
fabricator, A-Plas Windows Ltd,
has launched a Bi-Folding Door using PVC-U profile from the
Duraflex Diamond Suite
More
Here:
The
ContourGrid system from US and international manufacturer
GED Integrated Solutions
turns flat, pre-painted, coiled aluminium into custom punched,
formed, cut and shape-routed Georgian bar
More
Here:
Quality
Roofing Systems wants to help conservatory installers
by offering the Allure aluminium conservatory roof system
More
Here:
Elumatec's SBZ 630 has been designed to cut thick-walled aluminium profiles at high speeds and has a 7.5kW motor
More Here:
Comar
Architectural Aluminium Systems
has announced that Comar 5P.i. Tilt & Turn window passed
the enhanced security British Standard: BS 7950
More
Here:
Profile
22 Systems has introduced 'cost-saving' Safeware
Super Steel reinforcement
More
Here:
Jeffrey
Rioux of Saint-Gobain Crystals
presents a report on advances in the design and ballistic
performance of the company's Sapphire Transparent Armour System
More
Here:
Duraflex
has added a high performance composite door to complement
its popular PVC-U Diamond Suite
More
Here:
Trade
fabricator, Griffin Windows,
has recently upgraded its residential doors to offer installers
and consumers even more choice and greater benefits
More
Here:
Ultraframe’s
chambered top cappings have proved a big hit with installers
of the company’s Classic conservatory roofing system
More
Here:
Avocet
says that it has redefined the accepted parameters
for product style, quality and performance, in a new range
appropriately branded Pioneer
More
Here:
The
recent development by North Western
Lead of a self-adhesive lead reel that at 100 metres
was twice the usual length than standard reels
More
Here:
(300+ Listed Products)
Go Here:
For a directory of products sorted by product type
Go Here:
For a directory of products sorted by company in alphabetical order
Joinery
manufacturers of high quality sash windows,
A & W Gowers Ltd of Chelmsford, Essex is a
family concern with an excellent local reputation
More
Here:
Teeside
based Synseal fabricator
installer Budget Windows
has seen huge changes since the management buy out. After completing
the first year under new ownership the investment and changes
are paying off
More
Here:
When
Glenhampton Conservatories
was looking at roofing systems that would not only meet and
fulfil homeowners' needs, but also exceed their expectations,
Wendland's Styal system
was the obvious choice
More
Here:
The
'Cologne Triangle' by architects Gatermann
+ Schossig is a striking yet slender 103 square metre
(338 square feet) tall office tower wrapped in glass that seems
to defy traditional laws of aerodynamics and transparency
More
Here:
Smiths,
a brand new contemporary 4 star hotel in Gretna Green has Synseal's
Legend70 windows and patio doors installed by Preston based Lancashire
Double Glazing
More
Here:
Bringing
light into the interior of a historic stately home recognised
as one of a hundred endangered sites of significance worldwide,
the Rooflight Company once
again proves its conservation credentials in the restoration of
Stowe House
More
Here:
Beaufort's
new Advanced aluminium system has met the aesthetic and performance
demands of a hilltop conservatory in the heart of the Cotswolds
More
Here:
The
brief for this H&B Design Consultants
conservatory was not only to form a relaxation area for the end
client, but also a link between the existing building and new
extension being built at the same time
More
Here:
A
new position has been created for Jerry Brookes as Synseal's
Commercial Sales Development Manager
More
Here:
Synseal
newcomer Simon Walker is looking forward to his role as Area
Sales Manager for East England
More
Here:
Norvik
PVCu Window Systems Ltd has signed new PR & Marketing
Manager, Nick Hibberd
More
Here:
Shepley Window Systems has
appointed John Williams as Commercial Manager to spearhead the
Group's entry into the commercial market
More
Here:
Duraflex
is strengthening its penetration of the commercial market with
a new addition to its commercial sales team, Mike Maltby
More
Here:
Now
specifiers and contractors can access all the latest
information on CGI's comprehensive
range of fire and security glasses at the click of a
mouse
More
Here:
Wendland
Roof Solutions has introduced a new online
service for its network of fabricators and installers
More
Here:
Daedalian
Glass, the UK designer and manufacturer of
architectural glass projects, has expanded its website
content with an electronic newsletter
More
Here:
The
hardware group of the DHF
has published three technical specifications which set
out the standards for the products. The technical specifications
are available on the DHF website
More
Here
EN 1279 'Glass in buildings - insulating glass units'
has finally been posted in the Official Journal
of the European Union (OJ). This means that, from
next month, IGU manufacturers will be able to CE
mark their units - and by March 2007 all units must
comply with the Construction Products Directive
(CPD). And, said Adam Osborn of Notified Body BM
TRADA Certification, CE marking is the
most effective way to prove compliance
More
Here:
Palram
honoured the true spirit of Christmas this year helping
the needy and the vulnerable, by offering free building
materials desperately needed by the Crisis Open Christmas
More
Here:
KAT
UK,
the supplier of patio doors and vertical sliding sash
windows, donated £3,735.20 during 2005 to Care for
the Wild International (CWI) to aid the charity's work
in protecting wild tigers
More
Here:
One
company which has pre-empted the 'green' revolution is FSG
Technologies. It is installing the Mustang® continuous
aluminium guttering system, supplied by
Aluminium Roofline Products, on 'eco-friendly'
properties built by Paul Newman Homes.
More
Here:
Clean
PVC regrind from recycling of PVC window profiles is a valuable
raw material, that can be used again for the production of
PVC windows. But contamination such as by rubber from seals,
polyamide, plasticised PVC, etc are problematic. The separation
process used by hamos GmbH
in Penzberg works however entirely automatically, i.e. without
manual pre-sorting.
More
Here:
The
Eden Project's new education and resource facility has bespoke
PowerGlaz building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) glass/glass
laminates manufactured by Romag
More
Here:
Malcolm
Wicks recently outlined his vision for micro wind turbines,
solar panels and other microgeneration technologies at the
launch of the Energy Futures Lab at Imperial College in
London
More
Here:
EU
policymakers, social partners and leading safety and health
experts met on 12th December 2005 in Bilbao, Spain, to see
how to better protect European workers from noise and to award
those organisations that have already managed to implement
effective solutions
More
Here:
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From
the Sublime to the Ridiculous
It's an old phrase good for headlines but doesn't quite describe
the contrast between two of our main stories this week. On the one hand
we have the takeover of yet another famous old UK company by foreign
interests (in a global economy does that matter any more?). On the other
hand we have the third largest conservatory company in Coventry washing
its dirty laundry on national television. Perhaps not exactly sublime
to ridiculous, but these are certainly two companies at the opposite
ends of the food chain.
Senior
Design Engineer
Due to continued expansion, Winlock Security
Ltd, the leading UK manufacturer of window handles and associated
hardware, is now in a position to recruit a further Design Engineer
to meet the demands of its rigorous development program.
The ideal candidate should have a Mechanical Engineering background,
with good technical knowledge of window and door hardware.
[More
Here]
RETAIL DOUBLE GLAZING BUSINESS FOR SALE
PVCu WINDOWS DOORS AND CONSERVATORIES
The partners wish to retire and are offering this well established and profitable business as a going concern. Situated on the Hampshire/ Surrey borders for more than 25 years.
[More Here]
British Rooflight will 'Steel' the Show
A
new British made rooflight 'Lumen'
is being launched at this year's National Homebuilding and Renovating
Show (2nd - 5th March 2006, NEC Birmingham).
[More
on this Event]
Dorluxe
Back at Homebuilding Show
Having
enjoyed success at the Homebuilding & Renovating show at London's
Excel last year - Plastmo fabricator, Dorluxe
(the specialist stable door manufacturer) is increasing the size of
its exhibition stand.
[More
on this Event]
Open
Days at GTI, 5th-8th March
'GTI Kombimatec is not going to
Glassex for the first time in 22 years. We feel we can offer our customers
and partners a better experience of seeing window machinery work and
have a go at making real windows themselves,’ says the company.
[More
on this Event]
Industry
Wide Seminar Set for May 10th 2006
Keeping
up to date with rapidly changing energy efficiency issues and environmental
legislation is of paramount importance to everyone in the window and
glass markets. Edgetech UK and
other industry experts are holding a free one day seminar on May 10th
at Coventry football team's home ground the Ricoh Arena.
[More
on this Event]
Glassex
’06: 'The Most Diverse for Years'
Glassex has long been regarded as the barometer of the glass and glazing
industry, with the event in recent years of course more closely representing
windows, doors and conservatories.
[More
on this Event]
Get
'Six Appeal' at G06!
Make Friday 15 September a night to remember - the date for the G06
Awards Presentation, the industry's most sparkling event, has
been announced.
[More
on this Event]
Proskills
Apprenticeship And HR Events
Proskills,
the Sector Skills Council with responsibility for the Glass and Glazing
industries, in partnership with The Glass and Glazing Federation,
British Glass and the Learning and Skills Council, is holding three,
free of charge, Glass Industry launch workshops for Training and HR
staff.
[More
on this Event]
Henkel
Joins List of Interbuild Newcomers
Henkel
is among the key names on a growing list of 63 companies set to make
their first appearance as exhibitors at Interbuild 2006 the
UK's premier building and construction show (NEC, April 23-27).
[More
on this Event]
Exhibition
Calendar
Go
Here:
for upcoming exhibitions in the UK and the rest of the world.
UPDATED!!
GU
Ferco's
new G4 range of Europa security multi-point locks has been awarded
(British Board of Agrement) BBA No: 2569 approval.
More
Here:
Just over a year since it was set up, Frameline
Ltd on Merseyside has been awarded BS 7950 and BS 7412
accreditation for its PVC-U windows fabricated from the Duraflex
Diamond Suite.
More
Here:
A
recent convert to the Duraflex
PVC-U system, Select Window and Door Systems in Maldon has just
been awarded Secured by Design accreditation for both its Bevelled
and Featured range fabricated from the Duraflex Diamond Suite.
More
Here:
'A
company's staff is its greatest asset,’ says Adrian Locker,
Newstead Trade Frames' Managing
Director, ‘which is why we were recently awarded the prestigious
Investor in People standard.
More
Here:
Wexford-based
Edgetech customer Senator
Windows Ltd is the first manufacturer in Southern Ireland
to achieve a BFRC C rating on its casement windows.
More
Here:
When
Steve Simpson of Tudor Glass in Bury takes a break from his
day job, he is still surrounded by reminders of the Pilkington
product range he works with on a daily basis. A keen and successful
amateur rally driver, Steve's car is now emblazoned with the
logo of Pilkington Activ™
More
Here:
The
importance of an issue can be gauged by the amount of air-time
it receives. Concern for the environment is continuing to rise
and with it, so is the number of TV programmes showing how best
to be eco-friendly. Aluminium Roofline
Products is appearing in one such show - 'The House
That Dick Built'.
More
Here:
Britain's
ever growing lorry-spotting cult has a new challenge this month
with a unique set of liveries to watch out for. This follows
the introduction by the Yorkshire-based Style
Group of a fleet of six new articulated vehicles
worth almost £1/2 million with exceptionally lively and
easily recognisable star-studded livery.
More
Here:
Approved
Swish Installer Barry Gwinnett
Building & Joinery Services has made good a botched roofline
installation that featured on the BBC1 consumer watchdog programme
Rogue Traders.
More
Here:
As Spring approaches, Ultraframe
is helping its customers prepare for their busiest time of year
by providing installers with the tools to maximise their marketing
campaigns.
More
here:
North Western Lead
has produced a brochure with 48 photographs of decorative glass
panels: 24 with lead and film and 24 featuring Decra Bevels. NWL
trade customers can have their own logo, their own name and address,
plus full contact details professionally overprinted on the brochure
for a nominal fee.
More
here:
Bohle
has launched the latest version of its huge and highly comprehensive
catalogue of everything the glass and glazing industry could ever
need.
More
here:
A
new consultation that aims to provide the Government with a framework
to guide future progress in the construction industry was launched
on 2nd February by the Rt. Hon Alun Michael, Minister of State
for Industry and the Regions. The draft Strategy
for Sustainable Construction Report 2006 consultation
will seek views from key construction stakeholders on the direction
they think the industry should take with a view to developing
and maintaining a more sustainable future.
More
here:
The
team from Rehau's London office
has just completed its 40th CPD seminar since the office was opened
at the Building Centre one year ago this month.
More
Here:
Part L and J (Scotland) have affected Roof Window specifications, with particular emphasis on thermal transmissions and installation systems. Fakro Roof Windows has a pro-active Research and Development section
More here:
PART L ARCHIVE
The
exhibition duo HOLZ-HANDWERK and
fensterbau/frontale takes place
again in the Exhibition Centre Nuremberg from 22-25 March 2006. The
combined trade fairs with over 1,200 exhibitors and well over 90,000
trade visitors will again be a unique industry platform and the meeting-place
for the industries concerned in 2006.
[More
on this Event]
A
new exhibition plant is growing out of the desert sand: More than
2,800 trade visitors and conference participants attended the first
Intelligent Building Middle East
(IBME).
[More
on this Event]
Reed
Exhibitions plans to hold the next Interplas
on 15-18 May 2007. This is five months before K, the world’s
largest plastics event that takes place every three years in Düsseldorf,
Germany. The next Interplas was originally due to run on 7-9 October
2008.
[More
on this Event]
More leading companies are following the example of Eleco and Akzo
Nobel in backing a concerted push by TRADA, the Timber Research &
Development Association, to raise the profile of timber at Interbuild
2006.
[More
on this Event]
MosBuild+ 2005 Exhibition was
the biggest Windows & Doors exhibition ever to be held in Russia.
The event hosted over 300 Exhibitors and 40,000 visitors over the
four day International Event. The 2006 show will be 4-7th April.
[More
on this Event]
GPD
China will once again be held in conjunction with China
Glass 2006 in Beijing, China. This time, it will be held
just before China Glass. The venue will be announced later.
[More
on this Event]
Exhibition
Calendar
Go
Here:
for upcoming exhibitions in the UK and the rest of the world.
UPDATED!!
We speak of course of the long awaited acquisition of the British glassmaker
which invented the float process and still leads the world in flat glass
R&D, and which still gets wrongly called a family firm despite the
fact that even the last Pilkington at the helm was not a member
of the founding family.
The UK glassmaker has thoroughly reinvented iteself in the last few years,
and the NSG acquisition is the icing on the cake.
Commenting on the acquisition, Nigel Rees, GGF's Chief Executive said:
'The GGF supports anything that safeguards the future or strengthens
an organisation allowing it to continue developing high quality products
for current and future needs.'
At the other end of the glass and glazing industry spectrum, we have U-Fit and the brilliant - if painful to watch - BBC2 programme The Armstrongs. This week, we have the pleasure in launching - courtesy of Profile 22's PR Manager Graeme Jackson - a regular 'TV Critic' slot which will be analysing the programme week by week. See top left hand column or click here.
We can't help agreeing with our TV Critic in his belief that The Armstrong's knock-down bargain-basement culture is at the root of what is ultimately stifling this company (and others like it) from further growth. The pair managed to secure the services of a consultant at a fifth of the original price he was asking (£3,000 from £15,000) - but with the loss of how much of the package (not to mention motivation)?
In applying for a new, highly motivated sales exec, they were obliged to employ the only person who applied, and then tried to put him on a 10 day contract. And when another salesman didn't turn up one day, they spend the entire morning complaining that his phone was ringing - without even bothering to answer it!
Even Ricky Gervais couldn't have made that up....
Scaremongering
about Security
Last
Saturday’s edition of The Daily Mail (18th February
2006) carried a feature entitled ‘The door lock
that a burglar can open in just five seconds’.
The story revealed that 'a major flaw in one of Britain’s
most commonly used door locks leaves millions of homes
wide open to burglars.' The story quoted John Charnley,
a locksmith, who demonstrated how easy it is to break
the lock.
Read
The Rest Here:
All's
Well that Ends Well?
I was approached to assist Glaze Tech Windows of Northampton
for assistance in their plan to achieve the goal of
moving into the social housing market. To do this
they wanted a kitemark and therefore needed ISO 9001;2000
to support it. Funding assistance would be coming
from their new profile suppliers KS Profiles of Daventry.
In fact this was one of the 'carrots' offered by KS
to entice them away from Plastmo.
Read
The Rest Here:
GLASSEX 2006
Our
Glassex
Preview continues to grow. This week we have
exclusive details of some of the winners of the Glassex
Conservatory
Design Competition, full editorial on the stand
presentations of over 70 companies, the fully updated
Exhibitor
List (with over 20 new exhibitors listed) full
details on the excellent Seminar
Programme, which has been changed in the past
few weeks.
Glassex Exhibitors:
don't forget, The Gl@zine will be publishing right up
until the first day of the show, with a special Glassex
Show Issue on Monday 6th, plus our normal issue
on Tuesday the 7th, so let us have details of your last
minute or surprise stand presentations. Email: news@theglazine.com.
Manhattan
- Art Deco Inspired
'The
Manhattan' is
a newly designed
window handle
range launched
by Laird Security
Hardware. ‘Featuring
a unique look,
the Manhattan's
design has been
inspired by the
elegance of ‘Art
Deco’ offering
a timeless elegance
that will delight
any home,’
says the company.
[More
on this Product]
Product of
the Week Archive
here
Blue
Heaven: Radisson Frankfurt
Driving
into downtown Frankfurt
from the west, the
travellers eye is
caught by what appears
to be a huge flying
saucer sticking out
of the ground. The
latest figurehead
of the Radisson SAS
hotel group sits like
a futuristic disc
amidst the already
modern downtown architecture.
Behind a glass façade
of 11,400 square metres
are 428 4-star hotel
rooms, protected from
excessive solar radiation
by Interpane’s
ipasol blue 40/23.
[More
on this Project]
THIS WEEK'S NEWS
NSG
to
Proceed
with
£1.8bn
Cash
Acquisition
of
Pilkington
plc
Nippon
Sheet
Glass
Co
Ltd
(NSG)
yesterday
resolved
to
proceed
with
a
recommended
cash
acquisition
of
the
entire
issued
share
capital
of
British
glass
maker,
Pilkington
plc
to
make
it
a
wholly
owned
subsidiary
of
NSG.
Pilkington
is
a
c.20%
owned
affiliated
company
and
global
business
partner
of
NSG.
NSG
has
issued
the
following
statement:
[More
on
this
Story]
Patio
Enclosures
Litigation
Concludes
with
£6m
Hit
for
Ultraframe
Ultraframe
Plc
has
been
advised
that
the
Ohio
Court
of
Appeal
has
refused
its
Four
Seasons
business
permission
to
appeal,
in
the
Ohio
Supreme
Court,
an
adverse
jury
verdict
dating
back
to
September
2004.
This
litigation,
relating
to
Patio
Enclosures
and
announced
on
3rd
September
2004,
is
therefore
now
concluded.
[More
on
this
Story]
Shepley
Puts
the
Record
Straight
Shepley
Window
Systems
has
had
a
busy
start
to
2006
with
the
introduction
of
the
70mm
Veka
Matrix
system.
Whilst
Shepley
has
been
busy
concentrating
efforts
on
ensuring
a
smooth
transition
for
their
customers,
the
market
has
already
been
made
aware
of
this
change
from
Veka
and
Shepley’s
previous
supplier,
Rehau.
[More
on
this
Story]
Le
Mans
Winner
at
Glassex!!
Three
times
GT1
Class
winner
at
Le
Mans,
Oliver
Gavin,
will
be
making
an
appearance
on
the
GlazeKart
stand
(A129)
at
Glassex
on
Tuesday,
7th
March.
Oliver
is
a
works
GM
driver
and
heads
the
driving
line-up
in
the
works
Corvette
C6.R
[More
on
this
Story]
Sunday
PIGS
Night
at
Glassex
Publicity
In
Glazing
Society
(PIGS)
is
an
informal
networking
event,
open
to
anyone
connected
to
marketing
in
the
glazing
market.
For
Glassex
2006,
there
is
a
special
PIGS
Event
at
the
award
winning
Mechu
Bar
in
Summerrow,
off
Paradise
Circus
in
Birmingham,
on
Sunday,
the
first
night
of
Glassex.
[More
on
this
Story]
Mila's
5th
Comedy
Night
at
Glassex
Mila
Hardware
would
like
to
invite
customers
and
friends
to
join
them
for
a
night
of
comedy
on
Tuesday
7th
March.
Now
in
its
5th
successive
year,
the
Mila
Comedy
night
during
Glassex
is
an
unmissable
social
event
for
exhibitors
and
visitors
alike.
[More
on
this
Story]