Weekly
Email News for the Glass, Glazing and Fenestration Industries
18th April 2006
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CRITIC'S CORNER
Profile
22 Watches The Armstrongs - Episode 8
The
final episode in the long-running saga that is the Armstrongs
goes not so much with a bang, more a fizzle.
After nine years in the fenestration industry John and Ann are
disillusioned and start pinning their hopes and dreams of millionaire-dom
on their new sign business. With a planned launch at the UK’s
premier sign event just around the corner, John decides the
ideal warm-up venue for Birmingham’s NEC would be the international
sign event in Las Vegas.
More
Here:
A
new addition has joined the Crystal Collection from Hurst
Plastics, the UK manufacturer of PVC-U door infill
panels and polymer doors
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:
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:
Confusion
Reigns
As
the final episode of BBC TV's The Armstrongs is aired, the window industry
can (tentatively - there might be another series) heave a huge sigh
of relief. Thankfully, the general public still doesn't think that the
programme was real, mainly due to groundbreaking comedies such as Alan
Partridge and The Office which blurred the lines between fiction and
documentary.
Sparing the blushes of Ufit's system supplier, I can report that they
were approached by the BBC to do a special from Glassex, and very wisely
declined. The profile supplier also - again, very wisely - insisted
that no shopfloor footage showed their logo.
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]
I
am also pleased to report that The Armstrongs hasn't done any damage to
the public perception of the double glazing industry (although I think
we are pretty close to bottom anyway, above only estate agents and lawyers).
What does bother me about The Armstrongs is that the offhand, egotistical
way they run their business flies in the face of all the government, trade
association and industry led initiatives which were supposed to make the
double glazing industry a grown up business that bright young things would
want to be a part of.
Systems companies have succeeded in putting themselves at the top of the window industry food chain, despite some strong competition in recent years from the bigger fabricators, and have admirably introduced schemes which exert some control on what happens to their perfectly engineered product as it goes down the line from fabricator to installer.
Sadly, the impression left as The Armstrongs series draws to a close, is that such 'Preferred Partner' type initiatives, worthy though they may be, are ultimately meaningless if Ufit is a typical example of the manufacturing sector of our business. Please tell me that's not true! (I expect to be barraged with emails).
MISSED LAST WEEK'S GL@ZINE? IT'S HERE
All of which conveniently allows me to ignore the
spat between the two leading conservatory roof manufacturers
which is reaching truly Machiavellian proportions.
If you think the response from Ultraframe (below)
is a bit 'woolly', bear in mind that being in a
'closed period' means that they can't, by law, provide
figures or even make comments which use percentages
to back up claims, but with interims only weeks
away, the numbers will soon be public anyway.
And in case you haven't compared the Palmer and
MRA reports, their calculations of the size of the
conservatory market differ to the tune of nearly
100,000 installations!
Finally, it's happening this week folks, starting
on Sunday! - our Preview of Interbuild
is here
Swish
goes Zoom
The
new Zoom conservatory
roof system
is now available
as a Swish-approved
product. The
complete,
easy to install
system will
give Swish
Authorised
Fabricators
and Installers
the ability
to cope with
'any roof
style imaginable'
according
to the company.
[More
on this Product]
Product
of the Week
Archive here
PROJECT OF THE WEEK
SWA
Member at BBC's New
Broadcasting House
Project
Management
techniques have proved
just as vital as technical
expertise to a member
of the Steel Window
Association involved
in a contract to refurbish
and convert the BBC's
premises in Central
London.
[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
Ultraframe
Challenges
Synseal
No.
1
Claim
As
a
plc,
it
is
often
difficult
for
Ultraframe
to
give
details
on
sales
performance,
not
least
now
during
a
closed
period.
However
in
our
opinion
the
market
share
analysis
for
2005,
put
forward
by
Michael
Rigby
Associates,
is
inaccurate.
[More
on
this
Story]
Could
Family-Friendly
Budget
Signal
Return
To
Health
For
Conservatory
Sector?
While
hopes
of
income
tax
cuts
to
kick
start
consumer
spending
may
have
been
dashed
by
Gordon
Brown's
recent
Budget,
there
were
some
hopeful
signs
that
recovery
could
soon
start
to
take
place
in
the
conservatory
sector.
[More
on
this
Story]
Greenwood
Reacts
as
Market
Faces
Regulations
Changes
Greenwood
Airvac,
leading
manufacturer
of
both
passive
and
mechanical
ventilation
solutions,
has
offered
its
support
to
consultants,
local
authorities,
housing
associations
and
window
fabricators
facing
the
changes
to
Parts
F
and
L
of
the
Building
Regulations
and
the
adoption
of
a
performance-based
standard
for
domestic
ventilation.
[More
on
this
Story]
March
2006
Sales
of
Super
Spacer®
up
nearly
80%
Warm
edge
technology
is
transforming
the
window
market.
Edgetech
sales
are
up
79.11%
in
March
compared
to
the
same
period
last
year
and
up
58%
year
on
year
for
the
first
quarter
of
2006.
'And
we're
4.6%
up
on
budget
too!'
says
a
delighted
Andy
Jones,
Sales
Director
and
General
Manager
of
Edgetech
UK.
[More
on
this
Story]
Be
a
World
Cup
Winner
with
EBP
World
Cup
mania
is
in
full
swing
at
the
Eurocell
Building
Plastics'
(EBP)
depots.
From
01
May
the
depots
will
have
some
amazing
prizes
up
for
grabs
in
the
lead
up
to
the
2006
World
Cup.
[More
on
this
Story]
The
Freefoam
Expansion
Story
Continues
Freefoam
Plastics,
a
leading
manufacturer
of
quality
approved
environmentally
friendly
roofline
and
rainwater
systems,
have
installed
a
further
production
line
at
their
Northampton
plant
in
line
with
ambitious
expansion
plans
announced
by
the
company
last
year.
[More
on
this
Story]
Lister
Delivers
the
Goods!
Lister
says
that
its
'Right
first
Time'
(RFT)
and
'On
Time
in
Full'
(OtiF)
performance
criteria
was
set
at
an
incredibly
high
standard
for
this
part
of
the
business.
[More
on
this
Story]
Fredericks
Hinges
on
Hardware
Improvements
Trade
super-fabricator
John
Fredericks
has
made
improvements
to
its
hardware
suite
with
the
addition
of
a
modern,
versatile
new
hinge,
which
has
been
specially
designed
to
combine
the
advan