Bohle Signs for 2008 After 'Pretty Good' First Day: Stand B110

Gary Dean, Managing Director of glass tools and consumables supplier Bohle Ltd UK, has signed contracts committing his company to a substantial stand at GP&T which, for 2008 will be staged alongside Glassex.

With two hours of the opening day of this year's Glassex to go Gary declared that Bohle had enjoyed a good first day, and certainly enough to commit to next year: 'We've had a pretty good day,' said Gary.

'All of the visitors to our stand have been buyers and company owners and it has been successful enough for me already to make a commitment again for next year.

'We need Glassex and sitting alongside GP&T next year will give it a further boost. There's a nice buzz this year too - we're really enjoying it!'

Bohle is celebrating the run up to its 75th birthday by offering visitors the Bohle Bonus, which involves a number of free accessories and discounts.

More about this below.

Competitions and Promos Galore at Glassex '07

Anyone planning to visit Glassex this year will certainly not be disappointed with the opportunities the show offers. With the exhibition harbouring an exhibitor base that represents every facet of the industry, as well as highlighting key areas of future growth within its core feature areas, it is fair to say that Glassex is still the number one choice exhibition for the UK fenestration industry to launch its new products and services...and where there are new products and services to be launched, there are invariably an abundance of promotions and competitions, and this is definitely the case for 2007's show, with something on offer to whet the appetite of every visitor.

£1000 worth of DeWalt tools: Stand D100

Pre-planning a visit to the show will see at least four lucky people walking away with £1000 worth of DeWalt tools just for pre-registering. One person daily will be picked to win a new top-of-the-range DeWalt Cordless 36V Li-Ion tool chest containing a Rotary Hammer Drill, Circular Saw, Reciprocating Saw, floodlight, batteries and a charger.

All visitors who decided to sign up to the show in advance of the exhibition opening its doors will also automatically be entered into a daily prize draw, where up to ten lucky people will be taking home either a DeWalt Compact Cordless DrillDriver or a Crossline Laser each and every day! So if you have not yet pre-registered, then what are you waiting for! It doesn't stop there...DeWalt will also be running a series of mini draws and giveaways throughout the show so fitting them into your exhibition schedule could well pay off, just visit stand D100.

Win a £4000 Conservatory at Affordable: Stand D095
If you are interested in winning yourself a conservatory, then a visit to stand D095 should be firmly placed in your exhibition itinerary. To mark its first time to the exhibition, Blackpool based Affordable Windows will be offering visitors with the chance to win a 3.5m x 3.5m PVCu conservatory that has an Ultraframe roof with a gable front, valued at £4000. Aiming to attract a new wealth of interest in its product range, Affordable Windows believe that this competition is the perfect way to target specifiers and installers to its stand. The winner will be announced at the end of the exhibition.

Win a Citreon Berlingo for 3 Months: Supertrucks Stand F090
A visit to see Supertrucks based on stand F090 is in order if you are looking for promotions and competitions rolled into one. As a specialist in purpose built glass handling and carrying products, Supertrucks will be offering free anodising on its roof and side rack products worth up to £275 to help promote its new glass carrier based on the Citroen Relay that will be showcased on the stand. But as if that was not enough, Supertrucks will be giving away a Citroen Berlingo free of charge for six months.

Win £1000 Worth of Glass at Tuff X: Stand D060
Tuff X is using Glassex to launch its new Cervo Solar Clear range of side glazing for conservatories and is offering £1000 worth of the conservatory glass products to one lucky visitor to the stand.

TNCC Champagne Reception: Gold Club Lounge
The National Conservatory Company (TNCC - formerly known as PBM Roof Systems) will be holding a champagne reception in the Glassex Gold Club lounge on Tuesday, 11am to mark the launch of its new company name. The whole event will be hosted by RB the robot and will be caight on camera by a roving film crew.
‘We were impressed with the overall concept of the Gold Club and wanted to utilise its full business potential to assist with the re-branding of our company,’ said Adrian Williams, managing director of TNCC. ‘Glassex and particularly the Gold Club, is all about conducting business with industry professionals, and we are delighted to put our names behind it.

BSI Standards Update Stand F029
On Wednesday 12.45 – 1.30pm BSI's Kevin Frewin will be delivering a lecture: Standards Update – Windows, Doors and Glass. The introduction of harmonised European standards is increasingly impacting the Glass and Glazing industry. BSI’s seminar will provide an update to the industry on the progress of Standards – what is here today and what is coming soon.

BSI Product Services is on hand to offer advice on a variety of industry issues and to explain the implications of current and new standards as well as to discuss product testing, CE Marking and Kitemark certification. BSI offers technical support, seminars and a comprehensive range of testing, assessment and certification services for construction products including doors, windows and their components. Key areas of focus will include Energy Ratings for windows (BSI Product Services is a BFRC approved Independent Agency); the new European standard for windows and doors (EN 14351-1); our Kitemark scheme for Window Installations and our ability to offer an alternative to FENSA for window installers

Energy Efficiency Zone
Demonstrating that it has its finger on the pulse of the industry, Glassex 2007 has introduced a feature zone into the show that focuses on the all-important area of energy-efficiency. Sponsored by Edgetech, exhibitors include Bystronic, Forel, Hegla, Inagas, Thermoseal, Thermaseal and Unilam.

Secure By Design - Stand D007
Glassex has formed a partnership agreement with Secure By Design, to help strengthen its appeal to both companies wishing to exhibit and to the general visitor base, seeing an influx of hardware and security companies commit to this years show. These include major brands such as Yale, Hoppe, J. Banks & Co, Nicholls & Cooke, LJ Pratley & Partners, Tongling Nextool Technology Company and Shine Fully.

Secured by Design (SBD) is a flagship initiative from the Association of Chief Police Officers that’s tackling the issues of community safety and security head on. Founded on the principle of designing out crime through the use of effective prevention and security standards, SBD provides a unique, reliable certification service for the building and construction industry and recognition of effective security measures. The only products authorised to display the SBD logo have passed stringent standards testing conducted by a suitably accredited, independent, third party testing bodies. The Secured by Design logo is the only symbol that guarantees a product has achieved police approval

Window Energy Rating – The BFRC Answers its Critics: GGF Stand C040

Window Energy Rating has been with us for several years, and after an initially slow start, has gained momentum rapidly. By the 23rd January 2007, the British Fenestration Rating Council (BFRC) had registered 203 windows of which 159 were rated as C or above - a very clear indication that, to date, the scheme has had the desired effect. It has made system companies and fabricators much more aware of thermal performance and the need to develop energy efficient windows.

The BFRC currently has 33 Registered Certified Simulators, working within many of the major system companies, industry certification bodies and consultancies. It would appear that the industry’s initial scepticism about the BFRC rating scheme has been replaced by a cautious acceptance. That is not to say that the scheme does not still have its detractors, but many of the criticisms levelled at the scheme stem from a lack of detailed understanding about Window Energy Ratings.

1) 'The rating is too heavily dependent on solar heat gain'

The equation used to obtain the BFRC rating was developed by the European Window Energy Rating (EWER) scheme which rigorously tested the scientific approach to assessing the energy balance of a window over a 12 month period. The resulting number obtained from the equation indicates the amount of energy lost (or gained) by a window in a year. The influence of solar heat gain within the equation is a consequence of the climatic conditions in the UK and not a result of an inappropriately applied equation. Neither was it a result of a sinister plot by certain glass manufacturers!!!

2) 'It is too difficult to obtain an A-rating'

The criterion for obtaining an A-rating is not simply to obtain the highest rating possible. An A-rating is awarded to a window that achieves a neutral or positive energy balance i.e. within the context of a predominantly cold UK climate, the window will often actually have an overall heating benefit throughout the year. So instead of window sizes being limited in order to minimise heat loss, A-rated windows can be maximised to obtain the highest possible, passive, solar gain – a very useful tool in the quest to develop the “zero carbon house” that we have been hearing about so much lately.

3) 'It is too easy to obtain an A-rating'

The standard for an A-rating has been covered in point 2 above. This criticism stems from the fact that after approximately two years of the scheme, there are now some 25 windows with A-ratings. This isn’t because the standard was set too low, but rather it is a tribute to the ingenuity and resourcefulness of window designers who applied innovative application of existing technology, or developed novel technologies to make the windows more energy efficient. Details of how improvements could be realised were outlined in the BFRC Information Sheet No.5, first published in 2004 and updated in 2005. Designers have used this advice to realise improvements in ratings. It should also be remembered that most current A-rated windows are relatively expensive to produce; This is therefore reflected within the prices charged for this premium product.

4) 'It is becoming easier to obtain A – C ratings'

This is absolutely true, but not through any inconsistency in the calculation method, or laxity by simulators. It is simply and solely due to the fact that window designers are becoming much more aware of how to obtain better overall energy performance and hence good ratings. The first C-ratings were hard won, simply because window designers had less experience of how to best achieve good ratings. Now, the benefits of triple glazing, flush gaskets, warm-edge spacer bars and low-iron glass are well understood, and consequently it is easier to obtain a good rating for a window. It should not be forgotten these A-C rated windows are substantially superior to those on the market which meet the current mandatory Building Regulations.

There can of course be additional problems created when utilising some of these thermal performance enhancing techniques e.g. triple glazing by having the additional glass will result in a heavier, wider product, often more expensive which is not always accepted for replacement windows within the UK due to the house design. The ingenuity of the industry in designing and producing windows which achieve high energy performance and ratings without always requiring triple glazing and therefore potentially allowing greater take up in the mass domestic replacement market is to be commended.

5) 'Obtaining an Energy Rating has no effect on sales'

With all due respect, Window Energy Rating was never designed to be a sales and marketing gimmick. Energy Rating is simply a means of comparing the thermal performance of widely differing windows. Companies that have carried out Energy Rating, been innovative in their design process to improve their ratings, and then promoted their work with an effective marketing campaign have seen measurable improvements in terms of sales. Energy Rating is only one tool of many that can be used to effectively market windows.

6) 'Energy Rating favours PVC-U / timber / aluminium'.

This is absolutely untrue. It should be noted that there are A-rated windows available in each of these materials. The fact that there are more PVC-U windows with ratings simply reflects the market share enjoyed by the product and that the rating scheme has been more readily taken up by companies in this market sector. There is absolutely nothing preventing other material sectors obtaining equally numerous, high ratings.
If you would like to learn more about the BFRC and Window Energy Rating, or need help with Energy Ratings from an independent Certified Simulator, detailed information can be found the BFRC website at www.bfrc.org..

Win a TV from Synseal at Glassex: Stand B070

As Synseal prepares for its biggest advertising campaign to date, it adds an extra incentive for visitors to Glassex.

To promote the launch of its £multi-million ITV campaign Synseal is giving away four flat screen 32" TVs, one every day, for the duration of the show. The stand will be showing the new TV advert to support sales for fabricators and installers of Synseal Complete Conservatories.

‘In previous years at Glassex we've launched new products. This is the first time we've used Glassex to launch a marketing campaign but this is no ordinary campaign,’ explains Nick Dutton, Synseal's Sales and Marketing Director. ‘Over 33 million people will see the advert in 2007 alone. Since 2002, when we launched Shield Complete Conservatories at Glassex, conservatory sales have played a massive part in Synseal's success. Now we have a strong nationwide customer base capable of servicing the level of demand created by a campaign of this size.’

Visitors to the front of house Synseal stand simply have their cards swiped to be entered into the daily draw. At the end of the day one lucky winner will be drawn from the day's entries.

Web: http://www.synseal.co.uk

Most Anticipated Awards: CAB Stand F074

The inaugural UK Aluminium in Renovation Awards 2007 takes place at the East Midlands Conference Centre in Nottingham on Thursday March 22nd hosted by Danish comedienne, TV personality and writer, Sandi Toksvig.

The Awards which are being organised by the Council for Aluminium in Building have a £5,000 first prize and up to 10 projects may be nominated for the European Aluminium in Renovation Awards which will be held later in 2007.

The event is planned to be both informative and very enjoyable with many major players throughout the sector attending.

Bill Gething is Chair of the Judges and well qualified with his team to choose the most outstanding uses of aluminium in refurbishment projects.

Justin Ratcliffe of the CAB comments:

'The tremendous range of projects submitted by architects highlights both aluminium’s versatility and its sustainability claims. The interest in the competition across the entire aluminium in building supply chain means the Awards Dinner is now one of the most eagerly anticipated events of the year'

There is still time to book tickets which are priced at £99.50 + VAT each or tables of 10 priced at £950 + VAT.

Contact CAB on 01453 828851 or booking forms and full details are available at http://www.c-a-b.org.uk under events.

Super Spacer Will Feature on 14 Stands (Edgetech: Stand G120)

Visitors to Glassex who are interested in Edgetech's warm edge technology Super Spacer®, will have the choice of 14 stands to visit at the show, reflecting the popularity of the product across the entire supply chain. This high profile presence is in addition to Edgetech's sponsorship of the Energy Efficiency Zone, and the company's own 'Taking the Stress out of window energy ratings' stand G120.

Combined with Edgetech's launch of SDL, the consumer DVD 'Windows that don't cost the earth' and the WER:DIY self-assessment tool in conjunction with Pilkington, means it will be difficult to avoid the energy efficiency solutions at Glassex this year.

Andy Jones, Managing Director of Edgetech UK comments: ‘The opportunity to sponsor the Energy Efficiency zone and the associated forum gives us the ideal platform to promote our services and products. But perhaps even more exciting, is the fact that Super Spacer features so heavily across so many other exhibitors' stands.

'It shows just how actively the industry as a whole has embraced energy efficient windows, and especially Super Spacer. Machinery suppliers will be showing fabricators and sealed unit manufacturers the options available for Super Spacer application, from the fully automated equipment exhibited on the Promac and Lisec stands, to the hand air float table more suitable for smaller companies on the Basra stand.

'System companies too will be exhibiting WER labelled products thanks to Super Spacer® including Plastmo and Selecta. And for installers who want to find out where they can buy their energy efficient windows and roofs with Super Spacer warm edge technology built in, Camden, Listers, Conservatory Outlet, Direct Trade Windows and Reflex will all be on hand to help.

'We're looking forward to welcoming visitors to our own stand, especially with the offer of a free professional massage, but this year Glassex also represents a great opportunity for companies of all types and sizes to see hands on, how widely and easily available higher performance energy rated windows with Super Spacer now are.’

Web: http://www.superspacer.com

Bohle Offers Glassex-Only Deals for all Visitors: Stand B110

Glass tools and consumables supplier Bohle Ltd UK is offering a series of one-off Glassex-only trade-up deals this year, in the first of the company's 70th Birthday celebrations.

The Bohle Bonus is being offered on a huge range of products from top line glass processing machinery to basic hand tools to ensure there is something for everyone. In each case buyers choosing any of the specially selected range of Bohle Bonus merchandise will automatically be awarded an upgrade, some worth more than a £1000! And these deals are not available outside Glassex and end with the show.

Glassex Bohle Bonus offers include:

* Order a Straight Line Edger - receive a set of replacement wheels free plus 12 months extra warranty package - worth more than £1000!

* Order the 4000.0 glass cutter, get a free upgrade to the Active Wheel Specification

* Order any Drilling Machine and get an upgrade to laser positioning free - worth up to £500!

* Order the Glass Buddy get a upgrade pack that also includes a free Active Glass Detector

* Order 3 of the new Veribor 601BL lifters and get an extra 1 free - worth nearly £50!

* Order 3 of the new glass door handles and get an extra 1 of the same value free

* Order 3 or more pairs of shower hinges and get a free pair of sealing strips

* Order any Bohle Belt Grinder and get an upgrade of extra table extensions free - worth up to £600!

Bohle UK's Managing Director Gary Dean says that this is what exhibitions should be about: ‘Visitors to exhibitions should be able to expect special deals, competitions and something special for making the effort to attend. There's a lot going on at this year's Glassex and we wanted to make an impact too and offer visitors to our stand something they can't get any other time.’

Carlton TV Presenter Joins Bystronic Team at Glassex: Stand J100

Carlton Televsion presenter Llewella Bailey joins the Bystronic Glass UK team at Glassex where she will present a number of informative industry related short presentations on-stand on behalf of the company.

With so much focus being placed on climate change, global warming, carbon emissions and energy efficiency, Llewella was very interested to take part in the presentations that will help to clarify the importance of energy efficient production methods for the glazing industry.

This year on stand J100 Bystronic Glass UK will focus mainly on thermal efficiency and the product advancements that will be introduced throughout 2007 that will assist manufacturers in achieving the important criteria relating to BS EN 1279.
Bystronic says that it is synonymous for providing superior standards to the glass processing market and that its leading market position will be clearly defined at Glassex with concise fifteen minute presentations, four times a day, all of which will be hosted by Miss Bailey.

Incorporated into the short seminars will be information on key industry issues relating in particular to warm edge technology as well as current trends in glass processing and cost efficient solutions for manufacturers.

With system solutions, technologies and services for integrated glass applications, the company will be situated on stand J100 in the new energy efficiency zone at the exhibition.

Several products from the company's gas filling range will be used for demonstration purposes including the Swiftgas and the new ESA Super Spacer applicator.

Additionally the company will present new and advanced product developments including the static X/Y craneway which will reinforce Bystronic's commitment to provide products with lasting customer benefit, reliability and quality support services.

Steve Powell comments, ‘We were thrilled when Llewella agreed to take part in our on-stand exhibition this year knowing that as a television journalist this reflects the seriousness of thermal efficiency in association with major topical issues. Her presence will greatly assist in highlighting the important aspects for manufacturers relating to economical and reliable production methods.’

For more information on any of the products available in the Bystronic range please call 01952 677971 or e-mail sales@bystronic-glass.co.uk

Reflex Hits the Small Screen! - Stand B090

The super coated conservatory glass reflex is starring in two films this month. Firstly on the Synseal stand at Glassex, the company chose to use reflex smart glass to glaze the conservatory used in their multi million pound TV adverts about to hit ITV. The second is the launching of an installer sales DVD by reflex glass designed to explain to consumers the unique advantages of having reflex glass in their new conservatory purchase.

Filmed with the domestic homeowner in mind the short film helps customers understand the premium branded conservatory glass benefits. Showcasing the product updates which will come into production during March reflex will boast 99% UV protection and 90% Infrared heat blocking as standard, something no other glass unit can offer with a 20 year unit warranty, the company says.

'Nothing else in the double glazed unit market can compare to the performance of our latest reflex+ range of glasses', commented Sally Hassle from reflex. 'We have fine tuned our coating manufacturing to produce the ultimate conservatory glazing to stand us apart from anything else' she added.

'You get what your pay for' is the theme with the DVD; the professionally made film uses animated graphics and cleverly shot footage to convey the difference between reflex glass and basic tinted glass units with limited UV and IR blocking performance.

With over heating issues in summer being addressed right through to energy savings in winter and a no nonsense approach to low maintenance easy to clean glass, the DVD is the perfect tool for installers. Both existing and new reflex accounts can use the DVD to promote a 'total shield' glazing package, with both the roof and side windows for maximum UV and IR protection. Homeowners are becoming more switched on with regards to energy efficiency and warm edge spacer bar technology features greatly in the DVD to explain how more heat is lost through metal spacer bars than the Super Spacer product that completes the premium unit package.

The improved UV and IR protection, make reflex glass the best performing product that money can buy, better IR protection than any of the competitions glass units, no other toughened conservatory glass comes close to the 99% UV protection that reflex glass will now offer.

Visit stand B090 at Glassex for UV andIR transmission demos.

Web: www.reflexglass.co.uk Email sales@reflexglass.co.uk.

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