Weekly
Email News for the Glass, Glazing and Fenestration Industries
21st March 2006
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CRITIC'S CORNER
Profile
22 Watches The Armstrongs - Episode 4
The
Armstrongs have a talent - a talent to outdo themselves with
the sublimely ridiculous week after week. This week staffing
issues have come to a head and something has to change. And
change it does....
When it is found out that an original member of the sales team
has only made 11 outgoing calls during the day (one of which
was to order his lunch), the Armstrongs are faced with some
difficult decisions. Judging on past form, and the couple's
attitude to staff, attracting quality job applicants to replace
them could prove difficult and John's dream of installing a
'Napoleon's Imperial Guard' seem destined to remain as just
that.
More
Here:
Saint-Gobain
Glass says that it has launched
another 'first' in the conservatory roof glass market, a dual-action
self-cleaning / solar control glass, SGGBIOCLEAN COOL-LITE
ST
More
Here:
Synseal
fabricators can now get perfectly colour-matched trims for
all its window profiles
More
Here:
Synseal
has announced all its profiles are available in five additional
colours: black, grey, red, blue and green
More
Here:
'When
Spanish Ice, best known as the new name for glue chip, first
came on to the market about a year ago, most observers could
immediately see that it was something quite new and different,’
says UAP
More
Here:
Sapa
Building Systems Dualframe Window
Wall is designed to offer a cost effective alternative to
traditional curtain walling systems - with some significant
added benefits
More
Here:
Britannia
Windows
of Clevedon has launched a new hardware brand, marine spec
More
Here:
Spectus
Window Systems
is unveiling a new rosewood colour option for its Vertical
Slider System, to satisfy demand for natural wood-effect finishes
with a prominent grain
More
Here:
Longevity
of solution is the key word for Comar
5 Pi Cladding adaptors. The adaptor allows the specifier the
design opportunity to incorporate windows into a façade
without the need for additional flashings
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:
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:
(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
Barnsley
fabricator DEM Window Solutions
has adopted WHS Halo's Eclipse esthétique sculptured
profile to be able to offer a more decorative option alongside
its existing Eclipse PCE products
More
Here:
West
End Windows, the specialist aluminium
and PVC-U trade fabricator, has announced the launch of several
new product lines as part of its growth strategy
More
Here:
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:
Sandblasted
glass at a new Lancashire junior school which incorporates designs
from the children's paintings will keep its pristine look through
the use of Ritec's ClearShield
Sandblast Protect - a specialist version of the company's ClearShield
System
More
Here:
PVC-U
vertically sliding windows fabricated using Rehau's
S719 Heritage system have been installed in recently refurbished
accommodation buildings at Dean Close School in Cheltenham
More
Here:
Suffolk
based English Architectural Glazing
has employed a number of techniques and materials in cladding
the entire envelop of the new, high tech Royal Alexandra Children's
Hospital in Brighton
More
Here:
New
homes in Nailsea near Bristol have been given a traditional look
with fully featured windows from the Duraflex
Diamond Suite
More
Here:
Synseal
Extrusions Ltd
announced Kevin Harvey as Sales Director at the opening of Glassex
06
More
Here:
Kenrick,
the door and window hardware manufacturer, has appointed Wayne
Adams as sales manager for the South-West region
More
Here:
Roger
Gear, managing director of Mercian Industrial Doors, has been
appointed chairman of the Industrial Door Group within the Door
and Hardware Federation
More
Here:
Conservatory
Outlet
member West Yorkshire Windows has recognised Maria Franey's
commitment to the company and promoted her to Sales Manager
More
Here:
GAP,
the roofline stockist, has appointed Alistair Cathcart for Commercial
Sales at the Leeds depot
More
Here:
All
Conservatory Outlet customers
now have the benefit of online ordering. ‘Whether
a full Conservatory Outlet member or a trade sales customer,
online ordering makes life easier,’ explains Matthew
Glover, Managing Director
More
Here:
eBuilders
has announced consumer viewing and activity statistics
to offer a glimpse of the growing power and influence
of the Internet in the consumer decision-making process
More
Here:
Emplas
Windows
has now launched a new website to further extend its
reach to its ever growing customer base
More
Here:
Hardware
specialist, Trojan Hardware
and Designs, has updated its corporate look
with a new website
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:
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:
More
than 500 'first generation' PVC-U frames removed from social
housing were successfully recycled as part of a major refurbishment
project at Stoke-on-Trent. Labour and funding provided by
the BPF-backed Recovinyl Scheme
helped to fulfil the project's stringent recycling specification.
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:
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:
UK
Market Still 'Difficult'
Pilkington's annual trading statement was issued yesterday, which
pointed to continuing difficulties in the UK market: seemingly the worst
trading area for the glass maker at the moment. This makes the second
piece of news, that the offer document has been sent out to shareholders
which recommends NSG's 165p offer, more welcome still, since
the expanded group should be able to extract better margins from the
UK once the obvious synergies have been put into place (and the two
companies have been working together long enough to know what those
synergies are).
Congratulations to reader (and contributor) Nicola Abbey, from Abbey
Marketing, whose eagle-eyed TV viewing spotted that John Armstrong
was reading The Gl@zine in last week's episode of BBC2's new
hit programme. I should also add that in the last couple of weeks we
have received calls from the Daily Mail, Radio 2 and Capital
Radio all wanting to find out whether The Armstrongs was real or
a spoof.
General
Manager, Durham
Our
client is a well established and successful manufacturer of PVCu windows,
doors and conservatories, providing solutions principally for the
commercial sector from their Midlands base. Due to a recent expansion
they plan to create an equally successful operation from a modern
purpose built unit in Durham.
[More
Here]
Looking
Back on Polyclose
The
organisers say that once again, this 12th edition of Polyclose
was without a doubt a big success. A total of 15,364 people from Belgium
and other countries visited Polyclose in Ghent/Belgium between January
19 and January 21.
[More
on this Event]
BRE
Events
Each month BRE runs a number of
training workshops and seminars on important issues. The programme
for the first quarter of 2006 includes:
[More
on this Event]
Edgetech
to Present at GPD China 2006
Gerhard
Reichert, Edgetech's Vice President
of International Business Development, is scheduled to present ‘Improving
Long-Term Energy Performance of Insulating Glass in Buildings,’
at the upcoming Glass Processing Days (GPD) China 2006 in Beijing,
China.
[More
on this Event]
Closing
Report - 3rd Fenestration China 2005
China’s
economy keeps on growing – and puts the People’s Republic
in the headlines as the future fourth-largest economic nation in the
world. The long-term boom markets also include the building industry.
Window and facade construction was presented as a subsegment of the
industry at Fenestration China,
which took place in Peking from 16-19 November 2005.
[More
on this Event]
Fensterbau
2006
Trade
visitors at the exhibition duo fensterbau/frontale and HOLZ-HANDWERK,
which takes place in the Exhibition Centre Nuremberg from 22-25 March
2006, can look forward to a comprehensive range of products from over
1,200 exhibitors from all over the world. Another good reason for
visiting the exhibition is the extra information offered by the supporting
programme on windows, facades and woodworking.
[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]
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!!
While
many companies claim to be market leaders in the new housing sector,
the Abbott Group says that it
has proven just that by winning the manufacturer of the year award
at the prestigious Taylor Woodrow Supplier Awards 2006.
More
Here:
HOPPE
(UK), the supplier of door and window
hardware, has just received Secured by Design (SBD) certification
enabling homeowners to be as secure as possible.
More
Here:
A
lively and colourful residential and commercial development in Glasgow,
which features innovative use of glazing systems from architectural
aluminium specialist, Technal,
has won another major award.
More
Here:
A
cost effective pay-as-you-go system of providing business leads
to reputable tradesmen and suppliers with no join up fee or
contract has been launched in the UK by Quotatis
More
Here:
Effective
use of the radio and internet are just two of the ways Conservatory
Outlet helps members target homeowners.
More
Here:
The
roofline stockist, GAP,
has a philosophy to work hard and play hard. So when customer
Phil Martindale asked GAP to part-sponsor his entry in the endurance
motor racing series Uniroyal Fun Cup, it agreed.
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:
Chiltern
Dynamics and sister company BM
TRADA Certification have produced a free technical
information sheet with up-to-date information on CE marking of
windows and doors.
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:
Orders
in the twelve months to January 2006 rose by eight per
cent compared with 2004, and orders in the three months to January
2006 rose by 16 per cent compared to the same period a year earlier.
Orders in the three months to January 2006 rose by six per cent
compared to the previous three months, with decreases in private
housing, infrastructure and public non housing orders being offset
by increases in public housing, private industrial and private
commercial orders.
More
here:
As
part of its ongoing improvement plan Abbseal
(UK) Ltd is now offering a customised training package
to its key business partners.
More
Here:
Birmingham-based
System 10 fabricator Shelforce
has launched a training programme designed to encourage local disadvantaged
residents into the PVC-U windows and doors industry.
More
Here:
Warmseal
Ltd, based near Newcastle upon Tyne, a manufacturer of
double glazing, doors and conservatories, is proud of the success
of over 60 of its employees.
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]
Meanwhile,
John Ogilvie of Network VEKA says this about the programme: 'Most
respectable companies have worked very hard to leave this image behind,
so it does them no favours. On the positive side, the programme sharpens
the homeowners' minds to the need to choose very carefully.'
'Our organisation operates strict vetting and policing procedures so customers
know that they are assured of high standards simply by choosing a Network
VEKA member. To date, the Armstrongs have not applied for membership!'
'If this is what fly-on-the-wall TV shows us about our industry, I'd rather
buy my windows from Ozzie Osbourne.'
Our weekly critique of this entertaining if slightly bizarre programme
is here.
More
news from Glassex this week, with a number of
reports from exhibitors, a letter from a disgruntled
ex-visitor and a report on the inaugural Glassex PIGS
night. Part Three of our Glassex Review will appear
next week, so keep sending in those comments!
Our second Glassex Review is here.
Our
first Glassex Review is here.
Glassex
- an Exhibition
in Decline?
Having
been to
many window
Exhibitions
in my 30
years in
this business
Glassex
was always
the one
to go to,
to be seen
at and look
forward
to. However,
things have
changed:
is it the
Exhibition
itself,
the industry,
maybe the
organises
are out
of touch
and entrenched
in the ‘yee
ha’
days long
gone and
see the
event as
a meeting
place, or
has it become
the burial
ground for
the industry's
Dinosaurs?
[Read
the Rest
Here]
Innovative
Spectus Threshold
makes an Easy
Fit
Low
thresholds
will be easier
to install,
thanks to
Spectus Systems'
new joint
block. Available
for both Spectus'
Elite 63 and
Elite 70 door
suites, the
joint block
will make
fitting the
special wheelchair
accessible
low threshold
a considerably
faster and
less complicated
operation,
requiring
no special
extra tools.
[More
on this Product]
Product
of the Week
Archive here
PROJECT OF THE WEEK
Pilkington
Activ™ Offers
Wigan Pier a Clear
Future
Pilkington
Activ™ is playing
a crucial role in
one of Wigan's most
ambitious projects,
the regeneration of
the Wigan Pier Quarter
which the partners
behind the project
(namely Wigan Council,
Wigan Leisure and
Culture Trust and
British Waterways)
hope to create as
an environment that
follows in the footsteps
of other successful
North West regeneration
projects such as Salford
Quays and the Albert
Dock.
[More
on this Project]
Harry
Houdini To Do It Again?
With the battle for
fourth place continuing
to excite, the relegation
dogfight at the foot
of the Premiership
is just as entertaining
(unless you support
a team caught up in
it of course!). While
some have suggested
that West Ham's warm
welcome to the returning
Harry Redknapp extended
as far as Alan Pardew's
team selection, Pompey
deserve credit for
another quality performance,
notably from Pedro
Mendes who has taken
it upon himself to
score the goal of
the week every time
he unleashes a shot.
[More
on this Here]
THIS WEEK'S NEWS
Glassex
2006
Review:
Part
2
More
news
from
Glassex,
in
our
Exhibition
Review
Part
2:
this
week
we
feature
comments
and
product
launches
from
Synseal,
Eazi
Lift,
Haffner,
Hoppe,
Masterframe,
Newdawn,
Plastmo,
Profitmaker,
Promac,
Quantal/Tradeplas,
Swish,
Ultraframe,
Windowlink,
John
Fredericks/Artisan
and
Rehau.
We
also
have
a
report
from
the
Glassex
PIGS
night
and
details
of
the
Glassex
Challenge.
[More
on
this
Story]
PIGS
Get
Snouts
in
Trough
in
Brum
One
of
Birmingham's
leading
nightspots,
Mechu
Bar,
played
host
to
the
inaugural
Glassex
Publicity
In
Glazing
Society
event.
On
the
Sunday
night
of
the
show,
well
over
a
hundred
of
the
industry's
leading
marketing,
advertising
and
PR
professionals
got
together
for
the
glass
and
glazing
markets
only
dedicated
networking
event.
[More
on
this
Story]
Romsey
Snatches
Glassex
Installer
of
the
Year
Title
for
Second
Year
Running
Laurence
Wood
and
Gavin
Stainburn
have
reaffirmed
their
skills
and
superiority
in
the
annual
Glassex
Challenge
as
the
duo
from
the
Romsey
Conservatory
Company
swept
the
board
for
the
second
year
running
to
become
the
Glassex
Installer
of
the
Year
2006.
[More
on
this
Story]
Pilkington
Hit
by
'Difficult'
UK
Trading
Conditions
Pilkington
yesterday
issued
the
following
trading
up-date
ahead
of
the
announcement
of
its
results
for
the
year
to
31
March
2006.
Stuart
Chambers,
Group
Chief
Executive
commented:
'Trading
in
Group
companies
remains
in
line
with
our
expectations,
with
a
good
performance
in
Automotive
and
Building
Products
holding
up.
[More
on
this
Story]
Major
Irish
Distributor
Plans
Growth
with
Sapa
Sapa
Building
Systems
has
announced
that
it
is
to
join
forces
with
major
Irish
distributor
Profile
Systems
in
what
is
a
strategically
important
distribution
agreement
for
both
companies.
[More
on
this
Story]
Speakers
Confirmed
for
Energy
Seminar
FaberMaunsell
(ODPM),
BFRC
and
Energy
Saving
Trust
confirmed
to
speak
at
industry-wide
seminar,
Ricoh
Arena
May
10th
Experts
on
the
building
regulations,
energy
efficiency
and
the
window
industry
will
speak
at
the
seminar,
Increase
your
profits:
Energy
Efficiency
in
Focus,
sponsored
by
Edgetech
IG
Inc.
[More
on
this
Story]