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THE GL@ZINE ISSUE 134 27th July 2004
Pilkington
Makes Positive Trading Statement at AGM
At last week’s Annual General Meeting of Pilkington plc, the Chairman,
Sir Nigel Rudd, made the following statement: ‘As I reported at the
time of our Annual Results in May, the continuing focus on cost reduction
enabled Pilkington to report substantially maintained profits despite
continuing challenging conditions in some of our largest markets.
[More
on this Story]
Cardinal
Commissions Ashton Seaming Machinery for new US Plant
Leading USA glass coating specialist Cardinal Glass has selected Ashton
Industrial's latest generation high performance seaming as part of their
new state-of-the-art plant in Virginia.
[More
on this Story]
All
Aboard the Princess for Glasstec 2004
With Glasstec 2004 fast approaching, make sure you've booked your accommodation
for the world's largest glass exhibition. As in previous years, Ritec
has put together an unbeatable travel deal for visitors to the Show, which
includes a luxury cabin aboard the River Princess hotelship.
[More
on this Story]
Eurocell
wins Patent Battle with Ultraframe
The
High Court passed Judgment on the 22nd July that the Pinnacle 500 roofing
system, manufactured by Eurocell, has not infringed any Ultraframe patents.
[More
on this Story]
Consumers
Love Ultraframe's Litespace®
Ultraframe has received over 3000 enquiries for its new Litespace product
that was previewed at the Ideal Home Exhibition in March 2004 at Earls
Court in London.
[More
on this Story]
Versatile
Takes on the Mass Market with Global
Versatile,
a company with its own technically advanced conservatory
roof, has chosen another roof system to sell alongside
it. David Burles, Group Managing Director of The Burles
Group, which includes Versatile Ltd, Modplan Ltd, Modplan
(Wales) Ltd and Connect2 National Plastics, explains.
[More
on this Story]
Queen’s
Award Presented to CGI
Having won the prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise: International
Trade, 2004, CGI International’s Haydock factory was the scene of
a recent official ceremony when Tom Ritchie, Chief Executive, was presented
with the official Queen’s Award bowl and scroll by the Lord Lieutenant
of Merseyside, Alan W Waterworth.
[More
on this Story]
Britons
Clamour for Pilkington Activ™ as Product Celebrates 2nd Birthday
If
international sales of Pilkington Activ™, the self-cleaning glass,
are anything to go by, British homeowners and specifiers would appear
to be far more concerned about keeping their homes and property looking
clean than their counterparts in other European countries. For UK sales
of the product are now greater than the total of Germany, France, Italy
and Norway combined.
[More
on this Story]
Last
few Places at GM Fundraising Golf Day
Just
a few team places remain for the GM Fundraising Charity Golf
Day at Patshull Park Hotel Golf & Country Club on 21st September.
The winners of the fourball team Stableford competition will
represent GM Fundraising in the Regional Final of ‘The
Times’ Corporate Golf Challenge. If successful, they will
then qualify for the National Finals held at La Manga Club in
Spain.
[More
on this Story]
A
BBA First for CWG with Shield Conservatory Roofs
The
Corby Windows Group is the first fabricator of the Shield Global
conservatory roof to be accredited with BBA certification by
the leading test and certification centre, the British Board
of Agrément.
[More
on this Story]
Selecta
Celebrates 20 Years at Birmingham Base
It
is 20 years since extruder of PVCu window systems, Selecta Systems,
decided to make Birmingham its home by acquiring a nine-acre
site to develop a state-of-the-art headquarters in Great Barr.
[More
on this Story]
All
Systems Go at IsoSystems
IsoSystems
has recently purchased new plant and machinery to boost production
capacity to in excess of 1,000 frames per week at its Midlands
factory. Coinciding with the £500,000 investment is the
launch of the new IsoFrames range of 60mm and 70mm internally
glazed window and door frames.
[More
on this Story]
Chiltern
Dynamics Gears up for Garage Doors
Chiltern
Dynamics is one of the five laboratories nominated by the Door
& Shutter Manufacturers’ Association (DSMA) to carry
out testing under the product standard EN 13241-1 Industrial,
Commercial Garage Doors and Gates, which entered a 12-month
transition period on 1st May this year.
[More
on this Story]
July
23rd was the Day
If
someone tells you it’s ‘fine for phoning’
then don’t misunderstand! It seems to be a
well kept secret, but July 23rd 2004 was the day
you needed to have checked the phone numbers of
any telesales calls you make against the new ‘Corporate
TPS’ register.
[More
on this Story]
Sliders
Growth Continues
Specialist
patio door company Sliders UK has expanded
its factory space for the second time in
12 months and now dominates the industrial
estate it operates from near Preston in
Lancashire.
[More
on this Story]
New
UKae Corner Keys Increase Strength
Following
extensive market research into the ‘weak
spots’ of spacer bar frames manufactured
using corner keys, UKae Limited – the
manufacturer of consumables for the sealed
unit industry – has invested over £100,000
in new tooling and technology.
[More
on this Story]
Listers
Adds Two New Items to its Kestrel Range!
Listers
has been a Kestrel Building plastics stockist now
for over six years but the two latest additions
to the range came as quite a surprise. These two
gorgeous Kestrel chicks have just hatched out from
their nest on one of Listers buildings in Stoke
on Trent.
[More
on this Story]
£2.5
Million Glassex Sales Boost for Elumatec
Elumatec
UK Ltd, the British arm of the world’s biggest
profile machinery manufacturer, has reported additional
sales of £2.5 million taken during and directly
as a result of this year’s Glassex, adding
to an overall increase in new business in its first
quarter of 36% year-on-year.
[More
on this Story]
Emplas
Secures £3m London Refurb Contract
Commercial
and trade fabricator Emplas Window Systems Ltd has
secured a major window replacement contract in London.
Emplas is now the main contractor supplying and
installing over 5000 PVCu windows and doors as part
of a £3m rolling maintenance programme for
the Tabard Gardens Estate near London Bridge.
[More
on this Story]
Kier
Sheffield LLP Chooses System 10 for Long-Term Partnership
A just signed six year partnership agreement with
Kier Sheffield LLP has put System 10 in the public
sector spotlight. System 10 now has three of the
largest UK social housing providers amongst its
client portfolio.
[More
on this Story]
Fusion
Glass Designs Awarded ‘Best Manufacturer of
the Year’
The
specialist architectural glass designer and manufacturer,
Fusion Glass Designs, was recognised as the ‘Best
Manufacturer of the Year’ by UK Trade &
Investment.
[More
on this Story]
The
Omega Group Attracts Complaint
A
complaint, objecting to a point of sale poster for
glazing company The Omega Group of Peterborough,
Cambridgeshire, was upheld in one of the two objections
according to published details from the Advertising
Standards Authority.
[More
on this Story]
Profix
Supplies the Trade
Birmingham-based
Profix Ltd has recently extended its business offer
by supplying products direct to the trade market.
[More
on this Story]
AFG
Announces a Reorganisation and Consolidation
AFG
Industries is reorganising all North American operations
by consolidating their manufacturing and fabrication
into three units.
[More
on this Story]
Alcoa
to Expand Sao Luis, Brazil - Alumar - Aluminium
Smelter by 63,000 Metric Tons
Alcoa
announced on July 20th that its Brazilian 100 percent
equity owned subsidiary, Alcoa Aluminio S.A., will
begin expanding capacity at its Sao Luis (Alumar)
aluminium smelter immediately.
[More
on this Story]
Glass
Seminars and Exhibition at the Building Centre
Throughout
September, the internationally renowned London Building
Centre will play host to a month long event, dedicated
to architectural glass and associated products entitled
‘Glass Products in Practice’.
[More
on this Story]
THE GL@ZINE ISSUE 133 20th July 2004
Roger
Deceuninck has Passed Away, aged 80
It
is with the deepest sorrow that the Board of Directors, the Executive
Committee and all the staff of the Deceuninck group announce the death
of Roger Deceuninck, Honorary Chairman of the Board of Directors of the
group. He died on the 15th July at the age of eighty.
[More
on this Story]
A
Show Room to Show Off
'The
showroom is your window to the outside world but can be a severely under
exploited resource.’ This is the view of system supplier, Deceuninck
Ltd which has recently ‘unveiled’ the company’s new state
of the art showroom at its UK headquarters in Calne, Wiltshire.
[More
on this Story]
Heywood
Williams FD Leaves as Head Office is Slimmed Down
Heywood
Williams has announced that Laurence Campbell, Finance Director, has decided
to leave the Group in September to become Finance Director of Hammonds,
the international law firm. Separately, a selected number of senior managers
based at the Group's headquarters left the company on July 13th and certain
head office functions have been rationalised.
[More
on this Story]
Nova
Group Ltd Signs Deal with Global
With
a turnover of £13.8 million at the end
of 2003, trade fabricator Nova Group has clearly
found a winning formula since it was first established
in 1971. Producing 1200 frames and 6,000 units
a week and up to 40 conservatory roofs, why
has the company decided to change its conservatory
roof supplier now?
[More
on this Story]
Alcoa
Income Rises 86 Percent over Year-Ago Quarter; Equals
Highest Ever
Alcoa
reported on July 7th second quarter net income of $404
million, or $0.46 per diluted share, up 14 percent from
$355 million, or $0.40, in the previous quarter, and up
87 percent from $216 million, or $0.26, in the second
quarter of 2003.
[More
on this Story]
Alcoa
Creates Global Building & Construction Systems Business
in Geneva
Alcoa
also announced on 7th July the creation of a new global
Alcoa Building and Construction Systems business, that
will combine the company's European Building and Construction
systems business with its Kawneer North American operations.
[More
on this Story]
Glass
Seminars and Exhibition at the Building Centre
Throughout
September, the internationally renowned London Building
Centre will play host to a month long event, dedicated
to architectural glass and associated products entitled
‘Glass Products in Practice’.
[More
on this Story]
Last
chance for Glazing Industry Fun Charity Golf Day
West
Midlands Golf Club will be playing host to the 2004 Glazing
Industry Fun Charity Golf Day on Thursday 29th July. The parkland
course is situated off M42, junction 6, near to the NEC in Warwickshire
and offers a test of golf for all handicaps, with a number of
holes featuring the dreaded wet stuff!
[More
on this Story]
The
Automation Warehouse Goes Global after Acquisition by Urmet
With
the acquisition of its ltalian based parent company, Aprimatic,
by the Urmet Group, The Automation Warehouse has changed its
name to Global Access Technology (G.A.T.). The news was announced
at an event held at Donnington racecourse, where the Aprimatic
sponsored Ferrari was competing.
[More
on this Story]
Roman
Glass sets Auction Record
A
Roman bowl has become the most expensive piece of ancient glass
ever sold at auction. The piece sold for £2,646,650 at
Bonhams in London on Wednesday 14th July. It was bought by a
telephone bidder. The Constable-Maxwell cage-cup dates from
the third century and is decorated with a delicate lattice design.
It has survived intact for 17 centuries.
[More
on this Story]
Sliders
Make Runner Up
The
prestigious G04 awards held in June at the ICC in Birmingham
saw 18-month-old patio door specialist Sliders UK nominated
for the title of ‘Distributor of the Year’. According
to the judges the decision was a close call but Sliders narrowly
missed out to the winners Mila.
[More
on this Story]
Your
Doorstep - your Decision: OFT Campaign Shows Pressure Sales
Tactics the Door
Psychological
sales ploys will be shown the door with a new OFT campaign designed
to help consumers buying goods and services in their home. Spearheaded
by film star Nanette Newman, the campaign aims to equip consumers
with the skills they need to identify psychological sales techniques.
[More
on this Story]
MV
Building Contracts Advertising Attracts Complaint
A
complaint, objecting to a regional press advertisement,
for a double glazing company that fitted conservatories
MV Building Contracts Ltd of Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire,
was upheld in both of the two objections according
to published details from the Advertising Standards
Authority.
[More
on this Story]
Eurocell
Building Plastics Expands with Branches 54, 55 and 56
Eurocell
Building Plastics, the UK network of trade centres, has recently
opened its 54th, 55th and 56th branches. The latest branches at
Burton-On-Trent, Southend and Bolton have added further quality
to the network of EBP centres and sub-stockists.
[More
on this Story]
Avanti
Systems Expands with Epsilon Acquisition
Avanti
Systems, the UK's largest independent manufacturer of office partitioning
systems, has taken over Oxted based Epsilon as part of its ever-expanding
partitioning operation.
[More
on this Story]
Guardian
Industries Inaugurates Float Glass Plant in Poland
Guardian
Industries recently inaugurated its float glass facility in Czestochowa,
Poland.
[More
on this Story]
Asahi
Glass Invests in Hungary for Automotive Safety Glass Plant
Asahi Glass Co., Ltd. (AGC) will build a new automotive
glass plant near Tatabanya, Hungary to serve the growing market in Central
and Eastern Europe (CEE) and to support existing customers in the region.
[More
on this Story]
Cardinal's
Durant FG Plant Now Operational
Cardinal
FG Company has announced the beginning of operations of its fourth float
plant, residing in Durant, Oklahoma.
[More
on this Story]
HT
Troplast Sale Nears Completion
Europe’s
largest window profile extruder is expected to be sold within the next
few weeks.
[More
on this Story]
THE GL@ZINE ISSUE 132 13th July2004
Laird
Acquires Lindman
In a move that links two leaders in the UK building products market, door
company Lindman Ltd has been purchased by the Laird Group plc for an undisclosed
sum. Lindman says that it pioneered the original fibreglass composite
door in the UK in 1987, and has since successfully promoted and developed
its products using GRP thermosetting resin technology.
[More
on this Story]
Investing
in Quality, Efficiency and Service
Glasscraft Decorative Ltd has just celebrated eleven years of growth.
The Leeds based company serves a wide assortment of glass customers throughout
Yorkshire, supplying sealed units and single glazed toughened glass. In
order to achieve its quality and production goals, the company has chosen
Promac Glass Machinery as its preferred machinery supplier.
[More
on this Story]
Synseal
Customers Gain from the Lowest Price Increases in the Industry
As
the market braces itself for further raw material price hikes in PVC resin
and steel, some suppliers are implementing price increases of 4-8% on
profile, and up to 18% on steel. Synseal has decided to absorb the bulk
of these increases and limit the burden on customers with a 2% increase.
This rise excludes conservatory kits and bar length sales which will continue
to be sold at current prices.
[More
on this Story]
QRS
Chooses Global
'Quality
Roofing Systems is a BBA Accredited conservatory
roof fabricator at the quality end of the market’
explains QRS Company Director Dave Buttery.
‘We initially fabricated the Quantal Roof
and the K2 Roofing System both to BBA Accredited
fabricator status. A few months ago the decision
to replace K2 with Global was taken.
[More
on this Story]
Dempsey
Adds new 3000 Deceuninck Suite to Range
West-Yorkshire
based Dempsey Dyer has introduced the new 3000 Series
by Deceuninck, to further enhance its product portfolio.
‘The new 70mm suite is being viewed as one of the
most technically advanced, high performing systems available
on the market.’ says the company.
[More
on this Story]
Eric
Davis joins KS Profiles
Eric
Davis, ex Board Director of the Plastmo group, has joined
KS Profiles as its new Sales Director. 'Eric joins at
an exciting time for the company, with dramatic sales
growth in the past 12 months with the very successful
KS Fortuna suite and the current introduction of the company’s
new 70mm pre-gasketted KS Delphi decorated system.' says
the company.
[More
on this Story]
CGI
International ‘Early Adopter’ on Doc M Compliant
Vision Panels in Fire Doors
Fire
resistant Pyroguard 7mm Clear Glass from CGI International
has been successfully tested to meet the new and exacting
standards required by the recently-implemented Building
Regulation Approved Document M on vision panels in doors.
[More
on this Story]
Working
Factory Showroom - Fabricator’s ‘Centre of Excellence’
for Elumatec and Kömmerling
A
Stockport window manufacturer is being used as a ‘working
factory showroom’ by two of its long-standing key suppliers.
Kömmerling fabricator Alexander Windows has recently invested
£350,000 in an Elumatec SBZ615 saw centre and quad head
vertical welder - and Elumatec is now bringing potential customers
into Alexander to see the machine in action.
[More
on this Story]
Listers
Staff do the Shuffle
Careful
planning by Listers production team was paramount in the recent
move to the company's new 90,000 sq foot premises in Stoke to
ensure smooth operations. The 'shuffle' had to be done over
one weekend with no disruption to its customer's deliveries.
So, how did Listers do it? The company decided to use entirely
its own staff and its own transport to complete the mammoth
task of transporting and re-commissioning its materials, equipment
& machinery.
[More
on this Story]
CWG
Expands with the Acquisition of Midlands Based Kömmerling
Fabricator
Corby
Windows Limited has bought the assets of Birmingham based Window
Spec Ltd. from the administrative receiver, it is renamed Garrison
Windows and will concentrate on fabricating the Kömmerling
Connoisseur fully sculptured 70mm PVCu system.
[More
on this Story]
Winlock
Provides Hardware Solution for US Garage Door Producer
When
a leading US-based sectional garage door manufacturer turned
its attention to the European market it asked its UK Distributor
to source a British company to help redesign its handle and
Winlock Security was approached for advice.
[More
on this Story]
JPW
New Address and Email details
JPW
Glass Services, the supplier of glass processing machinery to
the trade, has moved premises. The new contact details are as
follows:
[More
on this Story]
Colour
Me Beautiful with Quantal
Quantal
has installed a state of the art in-house paint
shop. The company says that it is the only conservatory
roofing systems company to offer such a service.
[More
on this Story]
Double
Glazing Entrepreneur's New Web-Based Trade Dealership
He's already built a successful UK double glazing company and
starred in a BBC TV show. But now British entrepreneur John Armstrong
has taken on a new business challenge by unveiling a new style
trade dealership. Having already built up his Coventry-based business,
U-fit.co.uk, which specialises in 'do-it-yourself' conservatories
across the UK, he has launched a new nationwide trade dealership
idea called V4M
[More
on this Story]
Which?
Report ‘Time to Stop the Crime’ 2004 - Insist on Laminated
Glass
Insurers
should put pressure on car manufacturers to raise their security
standards according to the July Which? Report (published July
1st); which goes on to say ‘Until they do, it’s going
to be the car owner who suffers’. With more than 1.4 million
cars broken into in 2003, the report reveals a startling deficiency
in the design of the UK car population.
[More
on this Story]
Hoffmann
Solves a Traditional Problem
Traditional
Roof Lanterns is one of those quintessentially English companies that
has found success in perfecting a niche product from another era in modern
times. Even the company’s location in the fascinating and historic
old harbour town of Rye in East Sussex – one of the original 'Cinque
Ports'– seems in keeping with its craft.
[More
on this Story]
Alcoa
Breaks Ground on $1.1 Billion Iceland Smelter
Alcoa
broke ground on 8th July on its 322,000 metric ton per year (mtpy) Fjardaal
aluminum smelter in East Iceland, the company's first greenfield smelter
in 20 years.
[More
on this Story]
THE GL@ZINE ISSUE 131 6th July2004
BWF
Accredited Timber Windows Link with BSI Kitemark
The
British Woodworking Federation has announced
that its Timber Window Accreditation Scheme
will henceforth be run in partnership with the
BSI Kitemark Scheme. This means that all factory
glazed timber windows manufactured in accordance
with the Scheme will now carry the prestigious
BSI Kitemark in addition to the tamper-evident
BWF label.
[More
on this Story]
Deceuninck
Launches New System
Deceuninck
has introduced a new PVCu profile system to
offer fabricators an even greater choice of
window design. The new 70mm window and door
suite, known as 3000 Series, is a technically
advanced, high performing system and demonstrates
the considerable research and design undertaken
by the company.
[More
on this Story]
New
Kitemark for PVCu Window Installation
BSI
Product Services has launched a new Kitemark
scheme designed to save both time and money
relating to the survey and installation process
for PVCu windows.
[More
on this Story]
Four
Months to go for glasstec 2004: Positive Mood
amongst Exhibitors
Four
months to go before the international glass
trade fair glasstec 2004 opens its doors in
Düsseldorf. And once again it is expecting
around 54,000 experts from all over the world
to visit.
[More
on this Story]
IMI
Trading Update Warns of Lower Profits in UK Building Products
Sector
IMI
plc - the parent company of Polypipe and Premier Profiles
- has issued a trading update in advance of its interim
results announcement: 'The steady improvement in general
conditions is continuing and we expect to be able to report
overall like for like volumes 5% higher than the first
half of 2003. Order intake is running around 7-8% ahead
of this time last year.
[More
on this Story]
Kömmerling,
the new Name for Stag, Signals a Cohesive Presence Across
its Markets
Stag
Limited, a supplier of adhesives and sealants to the glass
and glazing industry, announced on June 30th its name
change to Kömmerling UK Limited. The new name brings
the company in line with its European partners in France
and Germany and strengthens the organisation's presence
across the pan-European market.
[More
on this Story]
Building
Users Face Prosecution if Doors do not Comply with Legislation
Owners,
occupiers and managers of industrial and commercial buildings
face prosecution if doors and shutters do not meet the
latest legislation, warns the Door and Hardware Federation
(DHF).
[More
on this Story]
Whitehall
to Breathe New Life into Ailing Quality Mark
Chancellor Gordon Brown is set to give the go-ahead for an
overhaul of the Quality Mark, its anti-cowboy builder initiative.
The move comes as it has emerged that the government has called
in an external consultant to address industry concerns over
the scheme, which was introduced in June 2001, and to review
its future.
[More
on this Story]
Shrewsbury
Firm Meets Minister at Downing Street
Two
directors of a Shrewsbury based glass firm met the Pensions
Minster Malcolm Wicks at a Downing Street reception on 22nd
June. The event was arranged to celebrate 100 companies in
the UK having become Employer Champions for the Government’s
Age Positive Campaign.
[More
on this Story]
Cervoglass
and New Dawn – Partnering for Success
Cervoglass,
the conservatory roof glass from independent specialist glass
processor James Price Tuff X ‘is already proving a great
success in the market’ says the company. A strategic
partnership has been formed with conservatory roof systems
company – Newdawn & Sun Ltd which is now distributing
the product through over 250 fabricators and trade outlets.
[More
on this Story]
Security
Glazing makes all the Difference - AAGMA Co-Sponsors Car Security
Awards
Advancements
in glazing technology are helping vehicle manufacturers to
get 30 times tougher on car crime. The increasingly important
role of glazing in vehicle security has been highlighted by
the Advanced Automotive Glazing Manufacturer's Association
(AAGMA), co-sponsor of the first ever British Insurance Car
Security Awards.
[More
on this Story]
Six
of the Best for Corby Windows Group
After
changing to Stuga automatic sawing centres four years ago
Corby Windows Group is so pleased with the machine that the
company has purchased a total of six of them over the subsequent
years with the most recent just having been installed straight
from Glassex.
[More
on this Story]
Quality
Message Takes Hold in Ireland
One
of Ireland’s windowmakers believes that the
quality message is hitting home in the Irish market.
‘The decision, by County Tyrone-based fabricator
Malplas, to use SFS stainless steel fastener products
right from the start for all exposed fastener
applications, reflects the growing move towards
quality specification in window components in
the province.’ says the company.
[More
on this Story]
Alcoa
Increases Stake in Halco
Alcoa
announced on June 28th that its Alcoa World
Alumina affiliate - a global alliance between
Alcoa (60%) and Alumina Limited of Australia
(40%) - has increased its ownership stake in
Halco (Mining) Inc.
[More
on this Story]
Alcoa
Halts Modernisation Project at Baie-Comeau
Alcoa
announced on June 28th that, despite several
months of hard work and good-faith negotiations
between the company and the Quebec Government,
the parties have not been able to generate the
conditions that could lead to an agreement.
As a result, Alcoa will not implement its proposed
plan to modernise its Baie-Comeau smelter.
[More
on this Story]
SE
Europe Window Market Finally Picking up, says Report
by InterConnection
The lean years in the South-Eastern European window
market are finally over. In 2005 the market will pass
the 9.0 million level for the first time. The
IC- Market Monitor Tracking® Windows in South-Eastern
Europe 2004 is a detailed market and branch analysis
of the window market and contains market figures in
quantity and value for the years 1998-2003 and development
forecasts to 2006.
[More
on this Story]