Weekly
Email News for the Glass, Glazing and Fenestration Industries
11th April 2006
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CRITIC'S CORNER
Profile
22 Watches The Armstrongs - Episode 7
As
we roll ever closer to the end of the fly on the wall rollercoaster
that is The Armstrongs, the hair-brained schemes of our protagonists
show no signs of abating.
This week, Ann decides to ‘sharpen up’ her husband,
who she thinks needs to look the part to successfully launch
U-Fits new neon sign business. With fashion watchwords ‘tailored
and sharp’ ringing in his ears, John dutifully trots to
the shops to be made over, a la Trinny and Susanna, by a personal
shopper.
More
Here:
A
new low-threshold from specialist inline patio door fabricator
Patiomaster, promises
to be ‘ideal for external applications such as conservatories,
porches and entrance doors.’
More
Here:
Windowscreens
UK
of Upminster, Essex has announced the introduction of products
084/085 Double-Entry flyscreens doors
More
Here:
APA
Systems says that the company is now established
as a market leader in extruded aluminium and PVCu window and
door framing systems technology
More
Here:
Andersen
Windows new High Performance™ Low-E4™
self cleaning glass, is being supplied as a standard across
the popular 400 Series range, and hence at no additional charge
More
Here:
Ebor
Equipment Ltd says that as everyone
in the flat glass industry knows, wear and tear on diamond
grinding machines and polishing tools can cause productivity
problems and greatly increase costs
More
Here:
Deceuninck
Ltd
has recently launched its new Belface cladding profile. Belface
is suitable for cladding entire buildings as well as dormers,
eaves, canopies and parapets
More
Here:
HomePro
Insurance is one of the UK's leading providers
of Insurance Backed Guarantees (IBGs) and specialises in providing
insurance and services to the trade and construction industries
More
Here:
Glassex
saw the official launch of Rehau’s
REHAU-Dimension Plus Complete Conservatory Superstructure
system
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:
(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
R's
Doors and Conservatories
is keeping track of profit and costs with Windowlink's Vector
Plus conservatory presentation and pricing software package
More
Here:
TBW
Ltd
staff and their partners were able to celebrate their assessment
and reaccreditation of the prestigious Investors In People award
at the company's annual, complimentary, Christmas Dinner and
Dance on December 16th
More
Here:
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:
The
conservation department of Bournemouth Council has sanctioned
the use of Spectus VS windows
for the refurbishment of a Victorian building in the architecturally
sensitive town centre
More
Here:
The
Arches Centre features innovative use of Technal's
architectural aluminium systems including around 100 windows in
large spans, different colour combinations and frame sizes
More
Here:
When
iSOFT was looking for an HQ building Shaun Baker, chief designer
of Morgan Lovell commissioned Daedalian
Glass, to help with another of its corporate glass
creations
More
Here:
Glass
UK
is taking a bow following its role in the ongoing refurbishment
of the Royal Festival Hall, having provided laminated toughened
glass for a suite of 8 oversized (3m. x 3.1m) Sheerglaze doors,
as well as staircase balustrades and coloured staircase wall panels
More
Here:
It
was a dark night in more ways than one (apart from the firelight)
when New Ford Primary School in Stoke on Trent was set alight
in an arson attack
More
Here:
When
it came to adding the finishing touches to two of his successful
businesses, Mercy's nightclub and neighbouring restaurant bar
Rocco's, Norwich-based businessman and entrepreneur Steve Peri
enlisted the expertise of Contract Glass
More
Here:
Pyroguard
laminated fire glass from CGI International
has been specified for a prestigious project to upgrade all fire
doors in schools across the Isle of Man
More
Here:
Dean
Hague has joined Cheshire-based trade fabricator Advantage
Windows and Conservatories Ltd in the role of Sales
Support Manager
More
Here:
Sash
UK Ltd,
manufacturer of PVCu home improvement products, has appointed
Jo Fearne as the company’s new PR and marketing manager
More
Here:
Rock
DJ by night, Nick Miah, joined the GAP
Birmingham team four months ago as a driver. He's has coloured
plaits for a long time, but when Depot Manager Steve Rimmer
suggested going GAP green he couldn't resist
More
Here:
Deceuninck
Ltd
has announced the appointment of Mike Ward as its new Sales
and Marketing Director for the UK division based at Calne, Wiltshire
More
Here:
Customers
can now go to their own private account area on Lister’s
web site to view and download production information
and well as their latest quotations
More
Here:
The
Web site for TruSeal Technologies,
Inc., a specialist in warm edge spacer systems
for insulating glass (IG), now features enhanced navigation
and updated graphics
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:
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:
Conservatory
Outlet is once again teaming up with UK-based
charity Health and Education for All (HEAL) to raise money
for under privileged children in India
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
PVC Market Has Annus Horribilis in 2005
If
anyone was still in any doubt that 2005 was a tough year for the UK
plastic window market, recently released annual results from Deceuninck
Group and Tessenderlo confirm something of an annus horribilis,
with the UK market at the bottom of the pile along with Germany.
Profine Group did not mention the UK in its financial announcement
made at Fensterbau at the end of last month, but clearly is also
going through something of a hiatus, despite its magnificent presence
at the show.
However, the overall picture for the international producers is rosy,
with the US looking up and Eastern Europe still expanding rapidly. And
even if raw material prices stabilise at their current high levels,
2006 is already looking pretty hopeful, with first quarter predictions
on a general upswing.
Sustainability
Takes Centre Stand at Interbuild
Working with the organisers of Interbuild the Council for Aluminium
in Building is attending Interbuild 2006 held on April 23rd to 27th
and heading up the centre piece for the aluminium in construction
feature in conjunction with the Aluminium Federation - Alfed.
[More
on this Event]
GlassBuild
America
At
GlassBuild America: The Glass,
Window & Door Expo - September
19-21, 2006 - you'll find over 350 exhibiting
companies – more than 200,000 net square feet of exhibit space
provides an all-encompassing central showcase. 8,000 + professionals
from all segments of the glass, window, and door industries will be
in attendance.
[More
on this Event]
GPD
2007
Plans for GPD 2007 (June 15 - 18) are well underway. The event will
again be held in its traditional grounds in Tampere, Finland. It will
comprise a conference, workshops, a glass product exhibition and the
unforgettable evening social programme.
[More
on this Event]
GPD
China 2006
GPD
Returns to China in April 23 - 24, 2006. The Glass Processing
Days Conference returns to China in conjunction with the China Glass
Expo in Beijing. The conference targets members of the international
glass community who take a special interest in the industry's developments
in China. China Glass is scheduled for April 25-28.
[More
on this Event]
The Window Industry is facing tough times, with more and more fabricators and installers feeling the pressure of fewer leads, less orders and cut-throat margins. According to Industry consultant Andrew Scott companies need to take action now, or face extinction.
Speakers
Confirmed for Energy Seminar
FaberMaunsell
(ODPM), BFRC and Energy Saving Trust confirmed to speak at industry-wide
seminar, Ricoh Arena May 10th.
[More
on this Event]
glasstec
2006: ‘glass technology live’
The
importance of solar energy as a key source of electricity is growing
at the same steady pace as is the potential for glass in solar building
components. A special show ‘glass technology live 2006’
organised at glasstec 2006 in Düsseldorf from 24th to 28th October,
is to focus on ‘Façade-Integrated Photovoltaics’.
[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]
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.
!!JUST UPDATED!!
The
Direct Window Co has achieved a 'C' rated window thanks
to the help and support from Edgetech, For.El and machinery supplier
Promac.
More
here:
The
Sheerframe suite of PVC door outerframes
for composite doors has successfully achieved a 30 minute fire door
rating to BS476: Part 22, the first PVC system of its kind to reach
this all-important standard.
More
here:
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:
Network
VEKA trade fabricator, Glazerite Windows,
has recently completed a Customer Satisfaction Survey as part
of the company’s ongoing customer commitment to provide
the highest level of quality and support under its ISO9001 accreditation.
More
Here:
Sun
Trade Windows celebrated the opening
of its second Trade Counter in the Cheney Manor area of Swindon
recently with a customer Open Day.
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:
Eurocell
has announced the availability of the company’s newly designed
Sales Support Literature Guide. The guide has been created to
make customers aware of what literature is available via their
dedicated profile supplier and to make it easier to order.
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:
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:
2005
has proven to be a successful year of seminars for the UK window hardware
manufacturer, Securistyle, whose
specification team has been presenting to over 1000 delegates at its
120 organised CPD seminars.
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:
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
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]
It's
a big week for Synseal, who is making a big noise about the results
of the recently published 2005 UK Conservatory Report (from MRA)
which shows Synseal to have come out as the No 1 seller of conservatory
roofs.
Nick Dutton is understandably ecstatic: 'We started as a customer of the
company we’ve now overtaken' he says. 'For many window installers
conservatories were seen as an added extra, now they are part of an expanding
product portfolio. As the replacement casement window market becomes saturated
– according to the latest Pocket Marketing Book 83% of households
now have double glazing – conservatories are the new core market,'
he adds.
Our fourth and final Glassex Review is here. This week we feature Bystronic, Rehau, the GGF, Macrolux Polytec and IQ Glass, along with a few pictures of industry personalities.
Our third Glassex Review is here.
Our second Glassex Review is here.
Our first Glassex Review is here.
We also begin our Preview of Interbuild and here we have the first Review of Fensterbau
How
Much Do
You Know
About EN1279?
One
of the biggest
developments
in legislation
is about
to hit the
industry
and I'm
not sure
how many
people know
about it
or the consequences
of non-compliance.
There has
been the
odd trickle
of information,
the odd
article
mentioning
EN1279 but
how much
does the
industry
know about
this fundamental
standard?
[Read
the Rest
Here]
The
Energy Issue
Reading
the piece
by Paul
Lindsay
of Swish,
it is pleasing
that someone
is willing
to try and
sell on
benefits
and abandon
the 'cheapest'
approach.
But I do
think the
point has
been missed!
[Read
the Rest
Here]
Sekisui
Aids Designs
In Glass
Sekisui
S-Lec SEF
Interlayer
is being used
in the creation
of a revolutionary
range of laminated
glass panels
that incorporate
full colour
photographic
images.
[More
on this Product]
Product
of the Week
Archive here
PROJECT OF THE WEEK
Curtain
Up for Total Glass
Total Glass Commercial
has recently completed
a major curtain walling
contract to supply
and fit PVC-U screens
as part of refurbishment
works at a sheltered
housing scheme in
the Gedling district
of Nottingham. We
now show before and
after images.
[More
on this Project]
Place
Your Bets, Please
A stirring performance
from Wayne Rooney
put paid to Arsenal
at Old Trafford, but
even he wouldn't bet
on Manchester United
catching Chelsea.
Okay, so he might
have just a little
flutter...
[More
on this Here]
THIS WEEK'S NEWS
ASA
Helps
to
Clarify
Misleading
Claims
over
Part
L
Claims
that
a
Dupont
product
obviates
the
need
to
ventilate
roofs
in
order
to
pass
Part
L
were
weakened
by
the
Advertising
Standards
Authority
(ASA)
in
a
recent
judgement
Building
Products
Design
and
Hambleside
Danelaw
had
both
objected
to
an
advertorial
and
a
trade
press
ad
for
a
roofing
manufacturer
and
also
a
mailing
and
a
leaflet.
[More
on
this
Story]
fensterbau/frontale
2006
Sets
New
Record
for
Visitors
The
exhibition
duo
fensterbau/frontale
and
HOLZ-HANDWERK
2006
has
set
a
new
record
with
100,762
trade
visitors
(2004:
92,294)
and
a
distinctly
larger
international
share.
1,184
exhibitors
from
30
countries
showed
their
products
and
services
for
woodworking,
windows
and
facades
in
the
Exhibition
Centre
Nuremberg
from
22-25
March
2006.
Pictures
and
Show
Reports.
[More
on
this
Story]
Synseal
is
Officially
Number
One
in
Conservatories
Synseal
is
number
one
in
conservatories.
It’s
official.
Synseal
has
sold
more
conservatory
roofs,
and
taken
the
top
spot
according
to
The
UK
Conservatory
Report
-
2005
Market
&
Forecasts.
[More
on
this
Story]
UK
Joins
Germany
as
Poor
Performer
in
Deceuninck
Fiscal
2005
The
Deceuninck
Group
has
announced
its
2005
results:
the
10.6%
increase
in
sales
was
much
higher
than
expected
at
the
beginning
of
the
year.
The
increased
cost
of
raw
materials
was
largely
compensated
for
and
the
operating
cash
flow
was
84.3m
euros,
a
rise
of
12.7%
on
2004.
Pre-tax
earnings
rose
vigorously
(+32.5%),
as
did
net
earnings
(+92.3%).
[More
on
this
Story]
Eastern
Europe
Boosts
Profine’s
Results
The
Profine
window
profile
group
achieved
4%
overall
growth
in
sales
in
2005
to
721.9m
euros,
the
company
announced
on
the
first
day
of
Fensterbau
in
Nuremberg.
[More
on
this
Story]
Tessenderlo
Group:
Net
Profit
of
35.1
Million
EUR
in
2005
Tessenderlo
Group’s
revenue
improved
by
more
than
4.2
%
in
2005
compared
to
2004
going
from
2,062.9
million
EUR
to
2,149.5
million
EUR.
In
the
UK,
Fairbrook
was
faced
with
difficult
market
conditions.
The
renovation
sector
in
particular
weakened
in
2005.
Tessenderlo
Group
nevertheless
succeeded
in
maintaining
business
at
the
level
of
2004,
thanks
to
its
distribution
network.
[More
on
this
Story]