Weekly Email News for the Glass, Glazing
and Fenestration Industries
20th March 2007
Links Not Working? Go To: http://www.theglazine.com
The
Stuga Microline is running
well and selling well with machine number one having completed seven
months of rigorous production in Eurocell Profile’s fabrication
shop
More
Here:
Marvin
Windows and Doors has expanded its Signature range by
introducing the company’s new Bi-Fold Doors
More
Here:
Cervoglass
the glass roof manufacturing company based in Liverpool has launched
an addition to the existing range of 'new generation glass' products
More Here:
Freefoam
Plastics,
the manufacture of PVC-U and PVC-UE building products for the UK,
Ireland and mainland Europe has launched its next generation rainwater
system
More
Here:
The newly launched Windowmaker OnDemand is a solution that gives instant access at anytime, from anywhere, from a local network or via the internet
More Here:
The
collection of handmade Decra Fused Tiles from North
Western Lead Co (Hyde) Ltd is one of the largest ranges
of fused glass available
More
Here:
The
UK supplier of sliding and folding hardware solutions has announced
the launch of a new system for folding external double glazed doors,
called the Hafele E3
More
Here:
JELD-WEN,
the UK manufacturer of timber patio doors, has extended its collection
with the new Rio patio doorset
More
Here:
Conservatory suppliers can now complete the whole job by offering TimberTech composite decking, made from recycled hardwood sawdust and prime polymers
More Here:
New
from steel systems specialist, Schüco
Jansen, is a range of high-strength, concealed fittings
that can be used to add significant aesthetic appeal to many of
the company's steel window types
More
Here:
The latest addition from Synseal is glob-AL, aluminium top caps, and like all Synseal's roof kits, glob-AL is available in just three days from order to delivery
More Here:
Kestrel
is adding six new Black Grain 712 Trims to its 1,300 plus PVC-U
and PVC-UE product lines, following growing requests from stockists
fabricators and installers
More
Here:
A
fixing which allows PVC-U window and door frames to be fastened
to brick and blockwork, then adjusted for a better quality installation
has been launched by SFS intec
More
Here:
Bromley
Adhesives
is a UK distributor for Beadbuddy 45, which enables sealants to
be gunned easily in situations that used to be impossible such as
under window cills, around bulkheads, in air-conditioning ducts
etc
More
Here:
Nico
has recently launched LoadPro friction hinges for heavy duty applications
More
Here:
The
TS 1200 door closer has been introduced by GEZE
UK, as demand increases for an inexpensive solution that
still achieves regulatory requirements
More
Here:
The
latest addition to Schüco International's
SunControl range is a Sliding Louvre Blade System that provides
excellent shading but which glides away out of sight when not required
More
Here:
The
new Mega Egress hinge from Trojan,
allows the sash to move in line with the frame when fully open
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
MJG
Installations' ten year relationship with Crystal, the
large Hertfordshire-based national PVC-U trade fabricator, has helped
it to confidently bid, and win, a large contract with Oxfordshire
Housing Association
More
Here:
Well
established Kömmerling window
and door fabricator, Great Northern Windows,
is under the new management partnership of Emily Hutchinson and Richard
Allen
More
Here:
Derby
based fabricator Windows Direct
has signed a sole supplier agreement with PVCu systems company, Kömmerling,
and now manufactures Kömmerling Connoisseur and the new System
70 Gold profile system
More
Here:
K2
fabricator, Four Seasons Conservatories
is benefiting from an expanded range of products that includes the
K2 conservatory roof system, K2 roof vent, Celsius Performance Glass
and L2 in a Pack
More
Here:
Using glass to lighten up an enclosed space, whilst combining it
with a feel of the surrounding countryside, was fundamental to a series
of four panels produced by Daedalian Glass
More
Here:
There's
peace of mind on many levels for the armed forces at Leuchars army base
in Fife, Scotland, where 144 houses on the MOD site have been fitted
with new doors and windows manufactured by Sash
UK Ltd
More
Here:
A
250m2 double-glazed Pilkington Planar
system is the latest addition to the 100-year-old His Majesty's Theatre
in Aberdeen as part of its extensive refurbishment, which provides a
new entrance area, café and a rehearsal room
More
Here:
Spectus'
Sightline 70+ windows have recently been used to replace 40 failing
PVC-u windows in one unit at the David Lewis Centre near Alderley Edge,
Cheshire
More
Here:
Pilkington
Insulight IGUs incorporating Pilkington Suncool have been installed
as part of the award-winning Lloyd Building project at Trinity College,
Dublin
More
Here:
HOPPE
hardware was specified for the UK's first dedicated moorland research
centre in the Peak District National Park
More
Here:
Aluminium
windows from Beaufort's
Advanced System are combining a traditional look with modern
energy efficiency and easy maintenance at Bickenhall Mansions, a Listed
residential building in London's west end
More
Here:
Self-installed
at this detached house overlooking Poole Bay, glass balconies from Balcony
Systems Ltd provide a no-maintenance, corrosion-resistant
balustrading solution for a harsh coastal environment and clear views
to the ocean
More
Here:
Crystal,
the national PVC-U trade fabricator, is growing rapidly and has announced
a number of key promotions. Tim Davie has been promoted to General
Manager after serving as Crystal's Transport Manager since April 2001
More
Here:
Sam
Kennedy has been appointed the new MD of Spectus.
Sam joins Spectus having proven his capabilities in a senior sales
and marketing role
More
Here:
Iain Pirie has been recruited by the PVC-ue roofline and cladding
specialist Celuform. In the role
of Operations Director he will manage all aspects of planning and
procurement, development, manufacturing, engineering and logistics.
More
Here:
Following
sustained and intensive activity to secure new customers VEKA
plc has appointed Emma Crawford as New Business Administrator
to provide support for the company's new business team
More
Here:
The
BFRC new website is designed
to enable window companies to find out how to get their windows
energy rated, consumers to check who has energy ratings and
provide details of the simulators and independent agencies
who are vital to the window energy rating process
More
Here:
Deceuninck
has announced the launch of a comprehensive new UK specific
website is designed to showcase and support the wide range
of Deceuninck products
More
Here:
Perfection
from GAP, the UK PVC-U
stockist, is now available to order online Perfection is a
range of glass bevelled doors with the detailing encapsulated
within the sealed unit so light shines though
More
Here:
Dan
Pal UK,
a specialist in high-tech materials for the construction industry,
has launched a new version of its website
More
Here:
Pearl
Window Systems Ltd
of Bolton is offering a fantastic raffle prize of a brand new
Ford Fiesta Zetec 1.2 S. It's a sleek metallic black motor with
air con and alloys and it could be yours for only £1.
More
Here:
Wolfgang
Gorner, Business Unit Director at REHAU
Window Division, will be cycling the 300km from London to Paris
in May to raise money for the National Autistic Society
More
Here:
The
Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has warned
employers of the need to 'plan to avoid' work at height
as a firm of specialist joiners was fined a total of £10,000
plus full costs of over £2,124 following a fall
in which a contractor was seriously injured
More
Here:
Solarcentury,
the UK solar energy supplier specialising in building integrated
photovoltaics, has been awarded the EUROSOLAR European Solar
Prize for outstanding industrial and commercial company
More
Here:
Saint-Gobain
Vitrage,
Saint-Gobain's Flat Glass Sector, and Shell (Shell Erneuerbare
Energien GmbH) have announced the foundation of a 50/50
joint-venture for the production and sale of next generation
photovoltaic panels.
More
Here:
Changes
to Part L of the building regulations in the Republic of Ireland,
which came into force in July 2006, will have a dramatic affect on
the specification of new and replacement windows in non-housing. In
most cases Pilkington can help
achieve the new performance requirements with the application of Pilkington
K Glass.
More
here:
PART L ARCHIVE
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A
Crisis of Confidence?
Just over a year ago, in The Glazine of 21st February 2006, we said:
'If
there is one thing increasingly staring us all in the face, it is the
importance of service and delivery in a market which has reached a plateau
in terms of product differentiation. The best product at the best price
is of no use to a customer if it's a day late.
'Late delivery and missing parts played a part in the recent problems
at Planet, which it says it has solved now. In today's issue
we report on the OFT's censure of St Helens Glass, which points
to a catalogue of failed or inadequate deliveries.'
With
the news last week that this 37 year old company - part of the Latium
Group since 2001 - has hit the skids, with the loss of 275 jobs,
questions are being asked about the role of the OFT in bringing about
a loss of confidence in the company, and failing to help stem its recent
demise.
After the two year enquiry by the OFT into the company, St Helens
Glass was running up crippling annual losses of more than £3 million
before it collapsed, with confidence amongst consumers in the company
at an all time low.
However,
the role of owner Brian Kennedy must also be
called into question, with comments from him suggesting
that he had little to do with the day-to-day running
of the company at the same time as regretting the loss
of his investment in the company. Directors and staff
at some of the more recent Latium acquisitions
will surely be looking for a more hands-on approach
from Mr Kennedy in the light of this failure.
Finally, we have a new Glassex Review section below, with a number of additional companies reporting on how their Glassex was for them - and by and large it seems to have paid off for most. If you have not yet submitted your Glassex experiences, please do so to news@theglazine.com.
Window Industry Seminars Return
April
sees the return of a series of business seminars specifically for
the Window Industry. The two seminars, ‘Sales Masterclass’
and ‘Business Supergrowth’, are designed to help fabricators
and installers grow and improve their business, generate more leads,
and improve sales performance.
[More
on this Event]
Sustainable
London at the Building Centre
Sustainable
London: Addressing Climate Change in the Capital will be held at
the Building Centre, Store Street, London Friday 9th March - Saturday
28th April 2007.
[More
on this Event]
Independent
Glass Showcase at Railtex
Glasgow
based Independent Glass was
recently honoured to receive a visit from Parliamentary under Secretary
of State for Transport, Tom Harris, at the recent Railtex exhibition
in London.
[More
on this Event]
Architecture Week 15 - 24 June 2007
Architecture Week 2007 will be taking place across the UK from the 15 - 24 June 2007, with events spanning a wide range of contemporary arts and culture, coming together in celebration of the built environment.
Olympic Delivery Authority 'Plastics Industry Day'
The Olympic Delivery Authority will hold a 'Plastics Industry Day' with the British Plastics Federation and plastics industry, to discuss the role of plastics in the Games. The meeting, which will take place in the next 3-4 months, forms part of the ODA strategy to engage with stakeholders at an early stage.
Rockdoor
to Exhibit at CIH Exhibition
Rockdoor
will be showcasing its PVC-U composite door at this years Chartered
Institute of Housing exhibition. The exhibition, being held at Harrogate
International Centre from June 19-21, is the UK's most established
social housing and regeneration event
[More
on this Event]
Work
Wise Week 2007
The
smarter working campaign is gathering momentum as Work Wise Week
2007 is announced. Work Wise Week this year will run from Wednesday
May 16th to Tuesday May 22nd, and will include National Work from
Home Day on Friday May 18th.
[More
on this Event]
Success
for Doorset Solutions for Education
A
partnership of three well-known companies proved a big hit with
specifiers and contractors, when they exhibited a range of solutions
ideally suited for educational buildings at the Building Schools
Exhibition and Conference (BSEC).
[More
on this Event]
fensterbau/frontale
2008
New
halls 4A and 7A in the Exhibition Centre Nuremberg will be included
in the structure of fensterbau/frontale for 2008 (2-5 April). Around
94,000 m2 of gross display area are now available – over 20
per cent more than 2006.
[More
on this Event]
One of the most famous brands on the high street comes to the Ideal Home Show this year (9th March - 1st April) as the JELD-WEN showhouse will be styled by designers from Marks & Spencer.
Almost 21,000 trade visitors came to Peking for Fenestration China from 5-8 December 2006 and visited 210 exhibitors on some 22,000 square metres of display area.
PPG
Showcases Roof Glazing at NAIAS 2007
PPG
Industries showcased new Sungate fR infrared-reflective roof glass
at the 2007 North American International Auto Show.
[More
on this Event]
Bekaert
at Gulf Glass
Bekaert,
the partner of choice for customers seeking the higher coater throughput
offered by rotatable sputtering technologies, will be exhibiting at
the first edition of Gulf Glass on stand E02, from 27-29th March 2007.
[More
on this Event]
Polymer
Foams 2007 Conference
Applied
Market Information, LLC (AMI) is organising an international conference
with a clear focus on applications and applied technology. Polymer
Foams 2007 will take place 2-3 October at the Doubletree
Hotel in Newark, NJ, USA.
[More
on this Event]
Interbuild
2007
Interbuild,
the UK's most comprehensive building and construction trade show returns
to its traditional time slot in the autumn from 2007, show organisers
Emap Construct confirmed.
[More
on this Event]
Developed by Clement Steel Windows and now available
from members of the Steel Window Association,
the EB24 steel window has been awarded BS7950 through third party
independent testing.
More
here:
In this month's What's New section of the BBA
website there is news on a new BBA inspection scheme run for Excel
Building Solutions for its BBA-approved Warmcel insulation product
and Eclipse Trade Frames BBA-verified BFRC A to E energy-rated range
of Profile 22 windows.
More
here:
Kevin McClure and Martin Davidson of Rooms
& Views were asked by Phil Heaps, Redrow Homes' (Lancashire)
Commercial Director to attend the company's offices at 10.30am on
Friday 23rd February 2007.
More
here:
Long
term VEKA fabricator Manx Glass and
Glazing is commemorating 100 years of the famous
TT Races on the Isle of Man by sponsoring one of the high powered
bikes to be used in the races.
More
Here:
A
local primary school has benefited from the generosity of Rochdale
company Anglian Building Products
after it stepped in to sponsor a new sports kit.
More
Here:
One
hundred and fifty people defied the storms on Thursday 18th
January to visit the open day at Synseal's customer Northwich
Glass.
More
Here:
Passivent is aiming
to help householders understand why ventilation is important,
and the legal requirements regarding its inclusion in replacement
windows by publishing an informative guide, ‘Ventilate Right’.
More
Here:
The Steel Window Association
(SWA) continues to fight the common misapprehension that new steel
windows are either difficult to obtain or even no longer made!
More
Here:
Ultraframe
has introduced a range of updated literature to assist its customers
with specifying, surveying and selling the company’s conservatory
roofs. The updated brochures are the Surveyor's Guide, Formulae
Guide, Conservatory Directory and the Essential Guide to Conservatories.
More
Here:
A new brochure has been produced by Carl
F Petersen Ltd, the specialist distributor of window
and door fittings. The literature presents the comprehensive range
of Fuhr multi-point locking door bolts.
More
Here:
Hardware distributor, Wagner,
has introduced a new full colour product guide for its range of
fanlight window gear.
More
Here:
Orders
in the twelve months to January 2007 rose by three per cent compared
with the previous twelve months, but orders in the three months
to January 2007 fell by six per cent compared to the same period
a year earlier.
More
here:
NHBC, the authority and leading
expert on new homes, on 9th March submitted its response to the
Government's ‘Building a Greener Future: Zero Carbon Development’
consultation.
More
here:
Carl
F Petersen,
the specialist window and door hardware distributor, has achieved
the Investors in People standard.
More
Here:
The
National Glass Association (NGA)
announced recently that one of the three largest glazing contractors
in the United States, Trainor Glass Co., has become the latest subscriber
to its on-line training programme, MyGlassClass.com.
More
Here:
Purplex,
the window industry consultancy, is opening a new Training Academy
at its offices in Weston Super Mare on 12th March.
More
Here:
In the context of CE Marking,
most flat glass products sold in the European Union must now conform
to European technical standards known as harmonised European Norms
(hEN), as dictated by the Comité Européen de Normalisation
(CEN).
More
Here:
Climate
Change is the EU's top priority according to the European Commission
and Member States are committed to cutting down on CO2 emissions to
meet the Kyoto Protocol targets. Despite all the efforts, Member States
keep on wasting a significant part of their energy due to inefficiency
and buildings are responsible for 40% of Europe's total carbon-dioxide
emissions.
More
Here:
The
European Lead Sheet Industry Association
(ELSIA) has invested in long-term research, which investigated the
comparative environmental performance of lead sheet and other building
materials
More
Here:
Reed
Exhibitions plans to hold the next Interplas
on 15-18 May 2007.
[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.
[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.
[More
on this Event]
PRODUCT OF THE WEEK
Sash
Offers
an Elegant
Smoking
Shelter
As
the
smoking
ban
approaches,
most
establishments
will
have
already
begun
the
onerous
task
of finding
a solution,
which
provides
outdoor
shelter
for
clientele
wishing
to smoke,
without
detracting
from
the
aesthetic
appeal
of their
premises.
The
range
of gazebo's
from
Sash
UK offers
an alternative
to the
typical
'bus
shelter'
design,
creating
an attractive
appendage
to any
property.
[More
on this
Product]
Product
of the
Week
Archive
here
PROJECT OF THE WEEK
Daedalian
Screen
Brings
Church
Transept
Back
to
Life
The
south
transept
of
the
Church
of
St
Peter
and
St
Paul
in
Great
Missenden,
Bucks,
has
been
transformed
and
brought
back
into
the
body
of
the
church
with
a
magnificent
three-bladed
glass
screen
designed
by
Nicholas
Mynheer
and
made
by
Daedalian
Glass.
[More
on
this
Project]
Project of the Week Archive here
PILKINGTON FANTASY FOOTBALL
Premiership
Rollercoaster
Rides
On
Just
another
run
of the
mill
week
in the
Premiership
then.
Ronaldo
sets
up three
goals
in United’s
thrashing
of Bolton,
dubious
refereeing
decisions
see
West
Ham
actually
win
a game,
and
England’s
Number
One
goalie
scores
against
his
stand-in.
Who
says
the
Premiership
isn’t
the
best
league
in the
world?
[Latest
Results
Here]
THIS WEEK'S NEWS
OFT
Enquiry
into
St
Helens
Glass
ends
in
Company
Collapse
Brian
Kennedy
appears
to
have
paid
the
price
for
his
hands-off
approach
with
St
Helens
Glass
Ltd,
which
ceased
to
trade
on
8
March
2007
pending
entering
into
a
formal
insolvency
procedure
(Creditors
Voluntary
Liquidation).
[Read
the
Rest
Here]
Laird
Group
Plc
Announces
2006
Record
Profits
The
Laird
Group
Plc
(‘Laird’)
has
announced
record
profits
for
2006,
the
proposed
divestment
of
its
Security
Systems
Division
for
£242.5
million
(to
Lupus
Investment,
which
already
owns
Schlegel)
to
create
a
focused
electronics
and
technology
company,
and
a
proposed
return
of
cash
to
shareholders
of
£100
million.
[Read
the
Rest
Here]
Complaint
Against
Safestyle
UK
Upheld
A
complaint
objecting
to
a
TV
ad
for
windows
and
doors
from
Safestyle
UK
was
upheld
on
both
of
the
two
objections
according
to
information
published
by
the
Advertising
Standards
Authority
(ASA).
[Read
the
Rest
Here]
Synseal's
National
Billboard
Campaign
Starts
24th
March
Synseal
continues
its
national
branding
campaign
with
a
nationwide
billboard
campaign.
The
results
from
the
TV
campaign
have
been
superb,
with
over
600
leads
directly
from
the
TV
campaign.
The
billboards
continue
to
keep
Synseal's
name
in
homeowners'
minds.
[Read
the
Rest
Here]
UK's
Largest
Fabricator
Camden
Group
Commits
to
Super
Spacer
With
an
investment
programme
totalling
£30
million,
trade
customers
now
have
more
choice
with
Camden
Group
-
and
Super
Spacer
warm
edge
technology.