Weekly
Email News for the Glass, Glazing and Fenestration Industries
23rd May 2006
Links Not Working? Go To: http://www.theglazine.com
Instead
of offering customers just one 70mm profile suite, Profile
22 is offering a complete choice of Chamfered,
Bevelled and Sculptured integrated systems to suit trade,
commercial and retail applications
More
Here:
Plastmo has recently
developed Rollex, a fully reversible window that has proven
to be suitable for high-rise applications
More
Here:
A
new decorative antique glass range is now exclusively available
from Hurst Plastics -
the manufacturer of PVC-U door infill panels and polymer doors
More
Here:
Synseal
has extended the range of vent options with a deep chamfer
vent for the single leg bead system Legend70
More
Here:
Introducing
the latest addition to the window trim market from Eurocell
- Ovolo Snap-fit Georgian Bar
More
Here:
Soprano is a new range of door handles is now available from
GU which should prove
to be music to the ears of fabricators everywhere
More
Here:
DeWalt
hammers featuring Active Vibration Control (AVC) have been
added to the Carl F direct
professional tools catalogue
More
Here:
Britannia
has launched its own sculptured window and door system fitted
with marine spec anti corrosion hardware
More
Here:
Franklin
Conservatories has become one of the first companies in the
UK to adopt the Mighty Mullion product range from Window
Widgets
More
Here:
Network
VEKA trade fabricator, Glazerite
Windows, has recently added Bi-folding doors to
its range, available in a choice of 58mm bevelled or 70mm
sculptured profile designs
More
Here:
North
Western Lead
says that it broke the glass bevel mould with its chameleon-like
Dichroic Bevels for doors and windows that produce subtle
changes in colour as the viewer changes position
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
Trade
fabricator Bowfield Window Systems
based in Chesterfield is celebrating its 10th anniversary as
a Plastmo customer
More
Here:
Hull
business KwikFrames is the
latest fabricator signing for WHS Halo. KwikFrames has adopted
WHS Halo's Eclipse PCE profile system
More
Here:
Teesside
fabricator installer Budget Windows
has experienced a growth in business since the management buy
out on New Years Day 2005
More
Here:
Burnley
fabricator, Classic Trade Frames,
has become the latest GU customer to reap the rewards of signing
up for GU Ferco Sold Secure and Lock Solutions scheme
More
Here:
With
its architectural aluminium systems already used on Jurys Inns
at Glasgow, Leeds and Southampton, Metal
Technology has completed the hotel chain’s 3 star
Inn at Heathrow using its high spec acoustic glazing
More
Here:
KAT
UK has supplied 85 vertical sliding sash windows for
a luxury development - Walpole Heights - at Cliftonville, Kent
More
Here:
Pilkington
Activ™
features strongly in the daily operation of window installer Brackenwood:
the product surrounds employees at the company's headquarters
in Basingstoke, as the elevations of the building all use the
self-cleaning glass
More
Here:
During
its long association with Glass UK,
architectural steelwork specialist, Alcono UK, rates the work
they did together at Ditton Manor, the listed HQ of software house,
Computer Associates, as among the best
More
Here:
Sheerframe
PVC profile in cream has enabled specialist newbuild window fabricator
H Jarvis Ltd to deliver the perfect aesthetic and practical solution
for upmarket Darlington house builder Bussey and Armstrong Homes
More
Here:
A
new conservatory for Appleby Manor Country House Hotel has been
designed and installed by Aanco Ltd, with a Wendland
roofing system gracing the bespoke structure
More
Here:
Sheerframe
systems company L.B. Plastics
has appointed Ron Saunders as area sales manager for Scotland
More
Here:
Machinery
specialist, Haffner GB Ltd,
has further strengthened its sales team with the appointment
of Jason Scrivens as Area Sales Manager
More
Here:
Brunel,
the Tamworth based manufacturer of diecastings, pressings and
assemblies has recently appointed Mike Smith as Managing Director
More
Here:
Specialist
sealants and movement jointing systems supplier illbruck
Sealant Systems UK Ltd. has appointed Derek Read
as National Field Sales Manager for its TechSpec Division
More
Here:
Immediate
local technical support and advice for all fenestration projects
of any size is now available from Sika
Industry's new Fenestration Group, headed by Business
Development Manager Jeff Richards
More
Here:
Robbie
Walmsley has joined Total Glass
to further enhance the trade and commercial window fabricator's
commitment to training and staff development programmes
More
Here:
Veka
fabricator, Modplan Ltd,
has appointed Dean Flowers, as business development manager
More
Here:
Edgetech IG Inc.
welcomes new Receptionist and Order Processor Louise Dodd to
its UK base in Coventry
More
Here:
A
new fact-finding study into online shopping was launched
on 27th April by the Office
of Fair Trading. Around 130,000 UK businesses
now sell online, in a market representing about 2.5
percent of all household spending
More
Here:
All
visitors to MRW.co.uk can now access the full news stories
behind the latest recycling and waste headlines. The
website's news content (which was previously only accessible
to Materials Recycling Week
subscribers) is just a click away
More
Here:
Eurocell
has recently launched The Exchange; a section on the
company’s website which allows businesses within
the industry to free up money that is tied down in unused
machinery/goods
More
Here:
Trade
fabricator, Griffin Windows,
has made it easier for its customers to do business
with the company thanks to the introduction of electronic
ordering software
More
Here:
Thermoseal
Group Ltd
has revamped its company website at www.ThermosealGroup.com
More
Here:
Children in India are brushing up on their art skills
thanks to a donation from Conservatory
Outlet
More
Here:
Staff at Cheltenham-based window hardware manufacturer
Securistyle are putting
their best feet forward in a Marathon challenge in aid
of a local cancer charity
More
Here:
To promote sales of Spectus'
easy-to-fabricate Elite 70 system and to mark 10 years
in business, The Trade Plastics Centre (TPC), Stroud recently
staged a charity open day at its Cheltenham store
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:
Freefoam's
research into the colour stability of PVC products when exposed
to increased UV levels and extreme conditions, and a review
of the current levels to which roofline products are exposed
in the UK and Ireland, gives food for thought. Updated data
from the National Radiological Protection Division of the
Health Protection Agency shows that the worrying trend of
increasing UV radiation levels has continued in 2005.
More
Here:
Key
decision makers have heard how the market for recycled glass
products is growing, following a series of successful trials.
The results were revealed at the annual Glass
Action meeting, held at Tankersley Manor, Barnsley,
which was attended by more than 100 top industry professionals
from all over the country.
More
Here:
Once
again HansenGroup Companies
have triumphed in the annual RoSPA Occupational Health and
Safety Awards. AccentHansen, FendorHansen and MagHansen have
again secured Gold.
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:
Market
Continues to Shift
This week sees a market still very much in a state of flux. The ramifications
of several high profile systems companies exiting the UK market continues
to dominate activities at the fabricator level, the latest example of
this being ex-Schüco manufacturer Orion Windows,
which has switched to Rehau.
This can never be an easy process, and one hopes that after 15 years
with Schüco, the Newton Abbott based fabricator had a bit of advanced
warning that they would be required to re-tool.
Orion is certainly sounding very positive about its future, with production
director Shaun Western saying that 'Orion intends to become the premier
supplier of Rehau across the southern half of the UK and we plan to
increase volume capacity in our fully automated factory from our existing
1,800 frames per week.’
Rare Opportunity
Window and door hardware and ventilation specialist SIEGENIA-AUBI LTD is looking for two dynamic people to join its technical sales team and take responsibility for driving sales of high performance hardware and ventilation solutions in the north and south of the country.
[More Here]
New
Sales Training Courses
Following the recent sell-out success
of the Sales Masterclass Seminars, Purplex have launched a series
of high-impact sales training courses in the North and South of England.
Sales Mastery™ is a one day intensive sales training programmes
designed specifically for the Window and Conservatory Industry.
[More
on this Event]
Nemex
2006 Answers Energy Efficiency Issues
The
National Energy Management Exhibition and Conference (Nemex)
2006 tackles energy efficiency issues from 16th - 18th May at the
NEC, Birmingham.
[More
on this Event]
Welcome
to the 6th ICCG
Following
the last five successful ICCGs, this year´s conference will
be held on June 18th – 22nd. The ICCG International Organising
Committee and the local organiser, the Fraunhofer Institute for Electron
Beam and Plasma Technology [FEP] welcome you to the 6th ICCG in Dresden,
Germany.
[More
on this Event]
ISAAG
2006
For
the second time the International Symposium on the Application of
Architectural Glass (ISAAG 2006) will be held in Munich (Germany)
on October 30-31, 2006.
[More
on this Event]
Total
Glass Exhibits at CIH
Demonstrating
a solid track record in manufacturing and installing highly-specified
window and door products for the social housing sector is the focus
for Total Glass Ltd at this year's CIH exhibition in Harrogate.
[More
on this Event]
Ultra
Installers Benefit at the H&R Show
Ultraframe
made a successful first appearance at the National Homebuilding and
Renovating Show held at the NEC in March.
More
on this Event]
GTI
Open Day Success
GTI
has reported the company's factory open days a success, generating
an excellent level of enquiries with several orders taken over the
four days.
[More
on this Event]
Newstead
Spring
Showcase Brings in Orders
'Our
two day showcase in March was a resounding success,’ says Newstead's
Managing Director Adrian Locker. ‘We wanted to demonstrate the
depth of Newstead's product range to existing and potential customers.
We've already had orders directly from the open day.’
[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]
Exhibition
Calendar
Go
Here:
for upcoming exhibitions in the UK and the rest of the world.
!!JUST UPDATED!!
Duraflex
has
gained BBA Certification for its PVC-U casement and tilt and turn
windows, residential doors (Pas 23/24) and Duraframe cavity closer.
More
here:
Sliding sash specialist Masterframe Windows
has reached the regional finals of the Orange National Business
Awards 2006 for Business Innovation of the Year, for its Bygone
Collection window.
More
here:
Doncaster fabricator Direct Trade
has achieved the British Fenestration Rating Council (BFRC) Window
Energy Ratings A to E on windows fabricated from WHS
Halo's Eclipse (Chamfered) and Esthétique (Sculptured)
system.
More
here:
Nationwide
has now achieved the PAS23 and PAS24 kite mark on the company’s
new Eurocell Logik door system, using the Millenco Mantis high performance
multipoint locking solution.
More
here:
Glass Magazine, an official publication of the National Glass Association,
will present its first Crystal Achievement
Awards for commercial glass applications in its September
issue.
More
here:
Window Fitters Mate (WFM),
the independent trade counter company, has published the results
of a survey recently carried out through the company’s 27 nationwide
branches.
More
here:
Trade
fabricator Euroglaze is
hoping to score with a new World Cup themed promotion kicking
off this month.
More
Here:
Former
Eurovision winner Cheryl Baker has been chosen to head up a
new multi million pound national television advertising campaign
for Safestyle UK
More
Here:
The
Eastbourne branch of
Window Store is proud of its association with Commonwealth
Games double gold medal winner Charlotte Kerwood and the Sussex
Clay Pigeon Shooting Association.
More
Here:
Freefoam
has now introduced its new Fortex point-of-sale display board
available to all stockists to help promote awareness of the
product in the market place.
More
Here:
Mark
Smith, the Managing Director of Rochford-based Smith's
Glass, was the lucky winner of REHAU's Premiere prize
draw at Glassex.
More
Here:
To coincide with the launch of the company’s new
GlazaTherm™ Roof Ventilator, Lonsdale
has published a guide entitled ‘Important Questions To Ask
Any Roof Vent Manufacturer’.
More
here:
The new and completely updated Universal Imports
Collection 2006 is available now from UAP.
More
here:
Promac
has published a new 84 page consumables brochure which is packed
with details on a wide number of products and accessories for
the PVC, aluminium and glass markets.
More
here:
Composite door manufacturer Rockdoor
has launched a new brochure for homeowners.
More
here:
Spectus
Window Systems is introducing a Specifier Guide, bringing
together information on regulations, technical performance and
design.
More
here:
Orders
in the twelve months to February 2006 rose by eight per
cent compared with the previous twelve months, and orders in the
three months to February 2006 rose by 9 per cent compared to the
same period a year earlier.
More
here:
Fabricator
and installer support scheme Trade Lynks'
latest business improvement workshop warned attendees not to fall
into the 'classic sales pitfalls that are dogging the industry.'
More
Here:
Manufacturing and Operations Engineering students at the University
of Limerick in Southern Ireland received the benefit of Edgetech's
Andy Jones's wisdom in early March this year.
More
Here:
The Steel Window Association (SWA) is mounting a campaign against competitors that have published unfounded allegations regarding the quality and availability of steel windows. SWA Director Jenni Turner says that a few unscrupulous companies that make windows in other materials have stated on their websites that steel windows rust and do not meet the requirements of Part L.
More here:
PART L ARCHIVE
At
GlassBuild America:
The Glass, Window & Door Expo - September
19-21, 2006 - you'll find over 350 exhibiting
companies and more than 200,000 net square feet of exhibit space.
[More
on this Event]
From
the 24th - 28th October 2006, glasstec
will once again open its doors to the worldwide glass and glazing
industries in Düsseldorf.
[More
on this Event]
GPD
Returns to China in April 23 - 24, 2006 in conjunction with the
China Glass Expo in Beijing which
is scheduled for April 25-28.
[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.
[More
on this Event]
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]
Interbuild 07, The Home of Building, will be staged at
the NEC Birmingham for five days between Sunday 28th October and Thursday
1st November 2007. While remaining at the NEC, Interbuild will move
to Halls 3, 3a, 4 and 5 in 2007.
[More
on this Event]
Anyone
still wondering what that Speed Frame stand at Glassex was about
(you remember, the one with the attractive models and racing car simulator?),
need look no further than this week's Glazine. Below we have details of
Speed Frame's first Trade and Builder Depot, the latest chapter
in a long story of Ian Harrison trying to get the New Build market under
control.
Pro-Fix,
an existing customer of Speed Frame for over 5 years, has recently relocated
into a new unit on the latest phase of the Blaydon Trade Estate, Gateshead.
The Depot is situated in a prime location off Chainbridge Road within
easy reach of the A1 and comprises 290 sq metres of showroom space. The
showroom exhibit includes conservatories, composite doors and windows
set into purpose built brick displays.
The depot also accommodates a trade counter and large storage area, selling
stocked off the shelf products and providing 'a first class service to
New Build and Trade customers alike.'
Last week it was the insulating glass consumables market which was reporting the collapse of a major historic player, in the shape of UKAe. This week, it is the roofline market which has lost a big name, with the Administrator being called in to manage the affairs of the lossmaking Permacell, which Synseal acquired from Laird along with the still successful Legend system, which was relocated to Huthwaite. Statements will follow, but the administrator has said that what Synseal bought was 'subsequently discovered to be in a significantly less stable condition to that which was expected'.
The foam market should be the window industry's Holy Grail, but rising raw material costs and dropping prices (7% last year alone) has meant that margins are tight. This week we have a copy of MRA's Roofline Quartely Report available for download.
We also have an interesting letter from Mike Rigby about the ongoing implications of raw material costs set against declining selling prices.
Higher
Costs, Lower
Selling
Prices
We've
got used
to hearing
about new
oil and
energy price
rises, and
we've all
had to accept
higher costs,
sometimes
as fuel
surcharges.
We don't
have a choice.
The price
of other
materials
including
PVC resin,
have gone
up too.
But since
2002 fabricators
and installers
have been
slow to
raise their
selling
prices while
inevitably
costs have
been accumulating.
[Read
the Rest
Here]
Roofline
Quarterly
Trends
2005
was a particularly
difficult
year for
the window
market and
increased
saturation
has been
blamed for
weaker demand.
But, roofline
is young,
growing
and has
lots of
potential.
Consumers
are becoming
more aware
of roofline,
and roofline
is moving
up the homeowners'
wish list.
[Read
the Rest
Here]
Kombimatec
Improves Clean
Up on Poorly
Welded PVC
Joints
A
new system
for the automatic
cleaning of
welded joints
that are not
always a perfect
square has
been invented,
designed and
patented by
Kombimatec
here in the
UK. Automatic
PVC weld cleaners
are an essential
piece of machinery
for any fabricator
to produce
windows &
doors competitively.
The very best
cleaning results
are achieved
when accurate
square welds
are consistently
produced.
[More
on this Product]
Product
of the Week
Archive here
PROJECT OF THE WEEK
Haran
Glass Proves Just
the Ticket for Times
Square
Haran
Glass, the structural
glass specialist,
has been appointed
to realise the construction
of a 26 step, glass
amphitheatre in the
heart of Manhattan,
New York. Constructed
entirely of glass,
the new amphitheatre
will be situated in
Father Duffy Square,
Times Square, and
will house the highly
successful TKTS booth
which sells discounted,
same day tickets for
Broadway productions.
[More
on this Project]
THIS WEEK'S NEWS
Orion
Window
Systems
Switches
to
Rehau
Newton
Abbot-based
trade
and
commercial
fabricator
Orion
Window
Systems
has
announced
that
it
has
begun
fabricating
in
the
Rehau
PVC-U
system.
After
15
years
fabricating
in
Schüco
PVC-U,
Orion
has
chosen
a
system
with
a
similar
reputation
for
quality
and
performance
and
one
which
it
believes
can
provide
the
platform
for
further
future
growth.
[More
on
this
Story]
Speed
Frame
opens
1st
Trade
and
Builder
Depot
Pro-Fix
Installations
North
East
Ltd,
an
existing
customer
of
Speed
Frame
for
over
5
years,
has
recently
relocated
into
a
new
unit
on
the
latest
phase
of
the
Blaydon
Trade
Estate,
Gateshead.
The
Depot
is
situated
in
a
prime
location
off
Chainbridge
Road
within
easy
reach
of
the
A1.
[More
on
this
Story]
WHS
Halo Takes the Heat
out of Understanding
WER
Conscious of this
need for clarity of
understanding WER,
and in order to ensure
fabricators are as
well informed as possible,
WHS Halo has prepared
a WER 'Ready Reckoner'
as part of its In
Business Together
business and technical
support programme.
[More
on this Story]
Chiltern
Dynamics Invests in
Vertical Sliding Sash
Test Facility
Chiltern
Dynamics has invested
in a testing rig for
vertically sliding
sash windows to meet
demand from manufacturers
who wish to undergo
the rigorous testing
required by BS 7950:1997
for enhanced security
performance of windows
for domestic applications.
[More
on this Story]
Swift
Frame
Focuses
on
Customer
Service
Swift
Frame
is
offering
its
approved
installers
and
distributors
Windowlink's
Focus
Plus
sales
presentation
and
pricing
program
to
give
them
a
competitive
edge
in
today's
challenging
marketplace.
[More
on
this
Story]
Human
Garden
Habits
are
Thrown
into
the
Limelight
As
the
BBC
begins
to
unveil
the
latest
data
from
its
annual
Springwatch
survey,
the
UK
provider
of
next
generation
PVCu
decking
and
fencing,
Fitrite,
has
made
public
the
results
of
nationwide
research
that
reveals
the
garden
habits
of
UK
homeowners.
[More
on
this
Story]
Harnser
on
the
Move
as
Crane
Sales
Rise
As
sales
of
the
Harnser
-
a
portable
crane
for
quickly
and
safely
lifting
windows
into
upper
floors
-
take
off,
the
company