Management
Buys Coastal from Heywood Williams
A
Management Buyout of PVC-U window, door and conservatory fabricator, Coastal,
has been secured from the Heywood Williams Group effective from 1 March
2004. Coastal Windows Ltd is now a new privately owned company, which
will continue to trade under the Coastal brand name under the direction
of Jeremy Beling as Managing Director and Peter French as Sales &
Marketing Director (pictured).
Formerly Coastal’s Finance Director, Jeremy has been very close to
the core management of the company for the past three years and has an
in depth understanding of the business needs of its dealer network.
Well known in the industry, Peter French was previously with Coastal for
25 years and a Board Member for 23 years. Peter’s experience of both
the company and market in general will be invaluable. Paul Maidment is
not part of the MBO and has left the company. There are
no other major staff changes but Coastal is sorry to announce that Business
Development Manager, Mark Holloway, and Area Sales Manager, Davyd Oddy,
have chosen to leave the company.
‘This is a very exciting time for Coastal which is now in control
of its own destiny,’ commented new Managing Director, Jeremy Beling.
'Coastal is one of the longest established trade fabricators and well
respected in the industry. We now have the opportunity to drive the company
forward and are committed to developing our valued customer base to become
the leading independent fabricator in terms of product, quality and service'
Tel: 01202 624011
www.coastalwindows.co.uk
Planet
Invests to Produce 100 Roofs per Week
Planet PVC Group’s new £500,000 roofing factory based in Bamber
Bridge near Preston is now up and running, with production gearing up
for the manufacture of over 100 thermally efficient roofs per week. The
new factory, which has resulted in a four-year supply agreement with Ultraframe,
has created 25 new jobs with another ten likely to be created before the
end of the year.
Steve Hacking, head of operations for the new 17,000 sq ft factory, joined
Planet from Shepley Windows in November last year to oversee the new factory’s
development. He had previously spent ten years with Ultraframe.
'We're currently manufacturing for all Planet's company owned showrooms
with the Planet franchises; Haydock, Isle of Man, Kendal, Leeds and Wakefield
coming on stream this month,' says Hacking. 'March will see us also manufacturing
for all of Planet's southern franchise operations as well.'
The roofing factory is due to take delivery of two bespoke 45 foot trailers
together with a tractor unit and a 7.5 tonne box van which will be used
solely for deliveries from the roofing factory.
‘We had to start manufacturing from scratch within a very short period
of time and have taken on some highly skilled and experienced staff to
ensure we hit the ground running. We’re delighted with how smoothly
the factory is running,’ added Hacking. As the UK’s fastest
growing installer of conservatories, Planet is looking to install 135
conservatories a week by the end of 2004 with 200 installations per week
by 2005/06. The company is unique as it is the only true national franchise
and is aiming to have another 35 franchises secured within the next two
years.
Planet was established in 1995 by the present chairman Dean St John and
has grown to employ over 500 people. The main site and head office is
located on Oldfield Road in Bamber Bridge, just 200 yards from its new
roofing factory. The company is forecasting a £70 million plus turnover
for 2004/05.
New
Owners for KEB Fabrications
One
of Profile 22's largest commercial fabricators, KEB Fabrications Ltd has
announced the retirement of Tony Berwick; Tony had been the company's
MD for 10 years and owner for five of them.
Lawrence
Breakspear, who takes over as Managing Director, has purchased the Birmingham-based
company with Garry Lacey, the company's Financial Director. The multi-million
pound transaction has been financed by HSBC bank and by the directors
themselves. The buyout was finalised on February 1st.
‘We are very pleased with the outcome of this sale. It was very smooth
and as the company's current bankers, HSBC provided part of the money,
it demonstrated to us their faith in the company and ourselves,’
commented Lawrence.
With a turnover approaching £10 million, it has been decided to
consolidate over the next financial year and concentrate on greater efficiencies
and logistical improvements.
The buyout coincides with having just signed a £10 million long-term
supply agreement with Profile 22, KEB's systems company for the last 15
years. Lawrence predicts a bright and confident future for the company
under its new management.
The KEB team has concentrated, over the last couple of years, in securing
long-term partnering deals with a number of Housing Associations and Local
Authorities, which have created a near £20 million pound futures
order book that spans the next nine years.
‘Partnering is definitely the way forward and beneficial to any company.
We will be securing more partnering deals in the future and will set up
a dedicated resource for newbuild windows,’ Lawrence adds.
Profile 22 fully supports the MBO, as Managing Director, Keith White comments:
‘This represents a new era for the company and we wish KEB and their
new management team all the very best for the future.’
With the support of the Profile 22 team, KEB will be well placed to service
the increasing demands of the commercial window replacement sector. ‘However,
it would be wrong to assume that KEB is purely a Commercial window company,’
continues Lawrence.
‘It has to be acknowledged that over £1.5 million of our turnover
is in fact trade supply only work and this may be another area for expansion.
Potential new traders that wish to buy into KEB's superb quality products
are continually approaching us, having heard of our reputation for speedy
and timely delivery of quality frames,’ comments Financial Director
Garry Lacey.
They both feel happy for the moment though, with 1,250 windows and 2,800
sealed units produced weekly and will concentrate their efforts in uplifting
the service to their client base and to the end user.
As Lawrence concludes: ‘Profile 22 is a quality and well specified
system and that is important to us. Working in partnership with our customers
with a highly-specified system, such as Profile 22, is the key to successful
and on-going contracts.’
Tel: 01952 290910
Total
Glass Invests Over Half A Million in Dedicated Disabled Production Line
Liverpool
based fabricator Total Glass Ltd is investing £560,000 in a sixth
production line that will be modified to be operable by disabled workers.
As well as increasing production capacity by 25 per cent, Total Glass
will work with the local Knowsley Council in the creation of better working
opportunities for the disabled.
The £560,000 production line will consist of saws, quad welders
and corner cleaners that will have been altered in line with Health &
Safety requirements relevant to use by disabled. These modifications will
be accompanied by a number of specific working procedures and methods
of operation as laid out by H&S.
'Total Glass is a major local employee and it is important that we encourage
greater integration on the factory floor,' said Total Glass managing director
Frank Deary. 'The changes that are being made are not just to the machinery
- they are also being embraced by all our existing employees who are receiving
advice and guidance on how to work alongside special needs employees.
Their encouragement and enthusiasm is vital to ensuring this endeavour
succeeds overall.'
As well as modification to the machinery, Total Glass is reviewing all
its time and motion procedures, and on-going employee training.
'We knew we were going to have to increase capacity, which would require
a major investment,' continued Frank Deary. 'Taking on more man power
was going to be part of this. It seemed the ideal opportunity to start
fulfilling the social responsibilities inherent in being a key local employer.
Our suppliers have also been extremely helpful in meeting the changes
required, and I would like to thank them for their unstinting cooperation.'
Tel: 0151 549 2339
Email: mailto:sales@totalglass.com
Web: http://www.totalglass.com
Synseal’s
Chairman ‘A True Hero’ says Management Today
‘Britain’s
entrepreneurs are the true heroes of the British economy,’ says renowned
business magazine Management Today. ‘They are the people flying the
flag for business and giving us a future, and we laud them at MT in our
first-ever listing of those we consider to be the Top 100 entrepreneurs
of today.’ The listing and the company valuation was produced by
Philip Beresford.
On the strength of Synseal’s outstanding performance over the past
five years Management Today ranks its chairman Gary Dutton equal 14th,
ahead of the founders of lastminute.com and Lakeland, in its list of Britain’s
top 100 entrepreneurs in January’s edition of the respected magazine.
The ranking is based on turnover growth of 206% from £17m five years
ago to £52m in its latest accounts. Number of employees rose by
171% from 162 to 439. To put its performance in perspective, Management
Today’s valuation of Synseal at £87m compares with a Heywood
Williams plc market capitalisation mid February of £67.5m.
‘Our sales are growing across the board, but conservatories have
had a big impact on our growth,’ comments Nick Dutton sales and marketing
director of Synseal Extrusions. ‘We are still growing quickly, particularly
in conservatories where some big names are making the switch to Global
roofs.’ In 2003 Synseal was featured in the Sunday Times Profit Track
top 100 companies.
Tel: 01623 443 200
Web: http://www.synseal.com
UK
door panel manufacturer, Portal Products, has expanded its existing decorative
glass shop into a new 5,500 sq ft unit next to its Cheltenham site to
boost production efficiency and meet rising customer demand for glass
designs.
Portal
is doubling the number of its decorative glass artists to 31 to meet demand
for its range of options for both its PVCu panels and Paladin composite
doors.
Space freed up by moving the glass shop to the additional factory unit
gives much-needed extra room for packing and storage of finished products
before despatch.
Portal’s Managing Director, Peter Shears explains: ‘Decorative
glass is an important area of our business and this new facility gives
us increased capacity to meet orders more quickly and efficiently.
‘With the growing demand for both composite doors and PVCu panels,
we have witnessed a corresponding need to expand our decorative glass
operation,’ continues Peter.
Portal considers itself a comprehensive one-stop shop for decorative glass
manufacturing. Its collection of glass designs feature traditional etches,
coloured decorative and diamond-bevelled glass. Bespoke designs can also
be produced.
Portal uses pre-aged lead to give a traditional darkened appearance in
all its leaded designs, while all PVCu door panels carry the ten-year
guarantee in line with that offered by window companies.
The company’s portfolio comprises PVCu panels, aluminium panels and
composite doors in steel and GRP, giving the company flexibility to cater
for all markets. Similarly, products such as Amatis inverted panels and
the resin-bevelled glass range have also increased the appeal, and sales,
of the range.
Tel: 01242 267000
EFCO
Glass Temperer - First in Cornwall
Although
involved in the glass industry for over 20 years, the Directors of Cornwall
Glass & Glazing were self confessed 'toughened glass virgins'. So,
when it came to installing glass tempering equipment to meet the increasing
demand for this type of glass, Managing Director Mark Mitchell was understandably
cautious.
Cornwall
Glass & Glazing Limited is a family company established some 25 years
ago. With seven outlets throughout the South West the company has a reputation
as a one-stop-shop for local businesses and individuals alike, supplying
everything from a single pane of picture frame glass, through silicones
and safety clothing right through to large architectural glass panels.
Over the last few years, the Directors of Cornwall Glass were securing
more and more orders for toughened processed glass and as they had no
tempering equipment, this key part of the production process was subcontracted
out of the county.
'This resulted in several problems: additional transport costs, delays,
but most importantly lack of control.' said Mark: 'We reached a point
when we thought enough is enough - the market is looking for faster and
faster delivery times and we were relying on others to maintain our reputation.
It was obvious that to expand turnover we needed our own glass tempering
facility. Not only would we be able to regain control of our production
but also we could reduce wastage, maximise quality and generally reduce
our costs.'
This decision coincided with the introduction of Building Regulation Document
L. Energy saving Low-E coated toughened glass fast became the standard
rather than the exception for insulated architectural glass applications
and orders for this type of glass rose dramatically.
Plans were therefore drawn up for the building of a purpose built glass
processing factory in St Austell, to complement the company's existing
facility - bringing the total available area to 30,000 sq,ft.
The heart of the facility was to be a tempering furnace and as this would
be the biggest capital investment the company had ever made, the Directors
took great care researching the various suppliers. 'We looked at manufacturers
throughout Europe, Taiwan and China, visited glass processors and manufacturing
plants and eventually narrowed it down to three suppliers, including two
from the UK' said Mark.
'Flexibility was vital, a proportion of our production goes to the architectural
market - a machine was therefore required that could handle staircases,
balustrades, partitioning and lift shaft panels. However any equipment
had to be able to switch immediately to processing smaller pieces such
as shelves, furniture glass and mirrors - right down to small inspection
panels.'
'In the end we chose the proposal from EFCO Furnaces. Although not the
cheapest tender, we felt it did offer the best value for money. We liked
their hands-on approach, their enthusiasm and willingness to 'hold our
hand' right through the project.'
EFCO Furnaces' proposal was for one of its glass tempering systems with
a 4000mm x 1750mm load area.
'We saw the furnace at various stages of manufacture and it was delivered
to our new facility on November 3rd - the very day promised. The new tempering
system sits directly on the factory floor without the need for excavations
or special foundations. As it had been fully assembled, piped, wired and
tested before despatch, within three weeks of delivery, it was fully commissioned,
producing high quality toughened glass. EFCO engineers also trained the
company's operatives in the efficient use of the equipment.'
The EFCO equipment is capable of producing 4 to 25mm thick high quality
clear, tinted, and Low E hard and soft coated toughened glass to customers
in architectural, commercial and industrial markets.
Mark is more than happy with his investment: 'Evaluated against the cost
of subcontracting alone, the EFCO toughening plant will pay for itself
well within our budgeted period. We have reduced our order to supply cycles
dramatically and cannot put a value on the confidence we now have in our
products and our ability to provide our customers with a first class service.
'We are delighted and cannot praise the equipment or the people at EFCO
Furnaces highly enough and would recommend them to anyone. As this is
the first toughening plant in Cornwall, the fact that they were just four
driving hours away was a great comfort to us, but quite frankly the way
the equipment has performed so far, we do not anticipate having to call
them out in an emergency anyway,' he concluded.
For EFCO Furnaces Limited, the Cornwall Glass & Glazing contract is
another project to add to the company's portfolio. The company is a member
of the Solent Steel Engineering Group and supplies its products to glass
processors in over thirty countries.
Contact: Doug Harvey
Tel: 07887 657560
KAT
UK Increases Patio Door Capacity by 25 Per Cent
With
more growth predicted for its PVCu patio door products, KAT UK has invested
£250,000 in another patio door production line at its Macclesfield
manufacturing plant.
Alongside this investment the company will also be introducing a two shift
system. Overall these two measures will increase KAT's patio door manufacturing
capacity by 25 per cent.
'A year ago, we had a clear strategy for our business, investing in different
parts of our business and we were looking forward to a period of consolidation.
However, the summer saw an unprecedented increase in demand for patio
doors, and our capacity was stretched beyond limits. We had planned to
make 65 doors every day and made the necessary investment to support saies,
but demand was in fact 25 per cent higher. To be honest, the huge surge
in demand caught us on the hop. Our current investment plans ensure that
we will now be in a stronger position to cope with any unexpected surges
in demand.' said director David Richards.
Tel: 01625 439666
Email: mailto:sales@katuk.co.uk
Web: http://www.katuk.co.uk
Profoil
Invests in Building Products Lamination
PVCu
lamination specialist Profoil Ltd has recently invested £50,000
in a 650mm foiling head at its Kettering based plant. The head is ideal
for foiling wider foam products such as fascias and end boards.
'Foam building products are a significant growth area for window companies,'
said Profoil's managing director Colin Deans (pictured). 'Offering the
opportunity to complement the choice of coloured or finished windows with
matching PVCu building products will give these window companies vital
competitive edge in a maturing market place.'
Profoil is one of the UK's most prolific lamination companies, offering
an extensive range of colours and finishes from the most popular woodgrains,
to the most obscure greens, reds and blues.
Email: mailto:sales@profoil.sagehost.co.uk
Web: http://www.profoil-ltd.co.uk
Association
Issues A Cautionary Warning to Chancellor
In
advance of the Chancellor's Budget Statement, the Construction Products
Association's President, Roy Harrison, has called on Gordon Brown to act
with caution and not undermine industry's competitiveness in the global
market place.
Commenting on the Association's submission, Roy Harrison said: 'In
recent years our industry has seen a raft of fiscal and regulatory measures
that have added substantially to industry costs and had a significant
impact on our global competitiveness. I have, therefore, urged the
Chancellor to introduce no further taxes on business, nor increase the
level of existing ones.
'We continue to be concerned about the economic and environmental consequences
of the Climate Change Levy and, as a matter of priority, I have asked
the Chancellor to publish a comprehensive review of these consequences
and to also consider the long-term role of the Levy once an EU Emission
Trading Scheme is established. In addition, the Government promised
to review the Aggregates Tax within two years of its introduction and
I have pressed for that review to be undertaken and published without
delay.
'There is a chronic shortage of housing in this country. Government
has set a target to ensure that 60% of all new housing provision is on
brownfield sites. However, the upfront costs and risks of decontaminating
such sites can act as a significant deterrent to owners and developers
alike. I am, therefore, calling on the Chancellor to incentivise
owners by offsetting the cost of cleaning up contaminated sites against
their Corporation Tax liability. This relief could be conditional upon
the site's disposal for development within a reasonable timescale.
'We know that there is enormous potential for improving the overall housing
supply by encouraging the better use and upgrading of existing properties.
Householder developments requiring planning permission in 2002, including
house extensions and loft conversions, totalled 263,000, almost double
the number of new private housing starts during the same year.
'We, like many other organisations, have for some time been pressing for
a reduction in the rate of VAT on all repair, maintenance and improvement
(RM&I) work and, once again, I have strongly urged the Chancellor
to extend a VAT rate of 5% to all RM&I work. This would help
close the VAT gap with new housing provision and support a wide range
of Government policy objectives.'
In its submission, the Association is also seeking:
* A minimum 35% allowance rate on all capital investment to raise the
overall level of investment
* A reduction in stamp duty for all commercial property transactions to
encourage business to operate from more efficient premises
* Extension of the lower rate of VAT to a wider range of energy efficient
products to help reduce the need for energy and support a key objective
in the Government's Housing Bill
Tel: 020 7323 3770
Web: http://www.constprod.org.uk
Geocel
Seals Deal with Stelmax
In
addition to its range of silicone and acrylic sealants and adhesives,
Geocel can now offer glazing installers Stelmax 1961 and 1965 Gap Fillers
and Sealants, 1985 Adhesive and Ultraclean PVCu cleaner.
Stelmax 1965 and 1961 Gap Filler and Sealant are known to glazing installers
for their high strength bond. Both are solvented PVC compounds which bond
to PVCu by solvent attack, creating a high strength chemical bond. Both
products are easy to use direct from the nozzle with no tooling required
and both are tack-free immediately on appiication. Specially formulated
for use with PVCu the company says that both products offer superior gap-filling
properties than generalist 'super-glu' type products.
Both products, available in white, have a wide variety of uses on site
for the glazing contractor such as filling small gaps between trim and
frame, frame and window boards or ciils, and in vertical sections or angle
gaps in bay window construction. Stelmax 1965 is supplied in a 132g tube,
while Stelmax 1961,which has a slightly higher body making it suitable
for filling larger gaps, comes in a 300gm cartridge.
Stelmax 1985 is a solvented PVC adhesive which can be used for a wide
variety of bonding applications on site including bonding small areas
of PVC and ABS where
there is no requirement for gap filling. Stelmax 1985 is supplied in a
135g tube and is available in white and clear. It works on the same chemical
principles as 1961 and 1965 creating a high strength bond.
Stelmax PVC Ultraclean is a solvented cleaner based on an alcohol and
ester mixture for light cleaning and degreasing of PVCu substrates prior
to applying gap filler or adhesive. PVC Ultraclean comes in 1 litre bottles.
Geocel offers professional tradesmen a wide range of sealants, adhesives,
gap fillers and accessories. Geocel is a strategic partner of Dow Corning,
Dow Chemical, Stelmax and PC Cox.
Tel: 01752 202060
Email: mailto:arikken@geocel.co.uk
GEPVP
Commits to European Standards
The
members of GEPVP, i.e. flat glass producers belonging to the Glaverbel,
Pilkington and SaintGobain groups, have committed themselves to strictly
follow the rules of the new European Standards on glass products for buildings.
This will enable the architect, contractor, glazier and consumer to compare
accurately products on a standard calculation and measurement basis. This
will also ensure producers are operating on a level playing field in accordance
with the new standards.
Web: http://www.gepvp.org