HEWITT GREEN-LIGHTS £20m FOR SOLAR POWER

Thousands of homes and offices across the UK are set to be powered by cleaner energy as part of a £20m solar power programme approved today by Trade and Industry Secretary Patricia Hewitt.

The money is being made available through the DTI's Major Photovoltaics Demonstration Programme (PV MDP) and will help reduce carbon emissions and significantly cut the cost of solar technology over the next three years. Grants will be offered to the private and public sector to install solar systems on new or existing buildings.

As a result of this investment, the number of domestic solar power - or photovoltaic - installations in the UK is expected to increase ten fold by 2005.

Ms Hewitt was speaking during a visit to the Beddington Zero Energy Development (Bed ZED) in Sutton.

She said:
'The Government has a commitment to developing and exploiting all forms of renewable energy, so I am delighted to announce the first phase of this very important programme.

'This money will not only contribute to the UK achieving its ambitious environmental goals, but also help the UK photovoltaic industry develop the technology to allow us to compete for this massive global market.

'I am also pleased to announce the appointment of a consortium led by the Energy Saving Trust, and including Halcrow and Novacroft, as the programme management contractor. The consortium will be responsible for the day to day running of the programme and I look forward to working with them during this very exciting time for the renewables industry.'

Today's announcement builds on other DTI solar energy initiatives recently announced by Energy Minister Brian Wilson. These include:

- £4m of funding for the installation of solar systems on public buildings including schools, galleries, church halls and sports centres all over the UK

- £4m for sun-powered social and private housing developments across the UK, representing 380 houses, flats and bungalows.

Ms Hewitt pointed to the BedZED development as a good example of how sustainable development could be factored in to new housing and offices. Bed ZED is an 82-home environmentally friendly, energy-efficient mix of housing and workspace that aims to be the first 'carbon neutral' community. The solar part of the project has been funded by the European Union and the DTI. The Peabody Trust, one of London's largest housing associations, manages the development.

Richard McCarthy, Chief Executive, Peabody Trust said:
'BedZED is one of the leading models of urban sustainability in Europe, combining innovative design and construction techniques with a firm commitment to creating a truly sustainable new community.'

Click here for more information on Photovoltaics

RUGBY TACKLES THE FUTURE

Deceuninck fabricator Rugby Windows has invested over £300,000 in internal restructuring and manufacturing facilities. The company, which next year will be celebrating 20 years of working with Deceuninck, is now poised to double turnover in the coming months.

Rugby Windows director Dave Thomas

After nearly four years suffering from a life threatening illness, director Ron Boorman is firmly back in the driving seat, and is intent on taking advantage of the opportunities available in both the trade and new build markets. One of his key moves was to appoint two new directors, Dave Thomas and Anthony Hopewell, to help implement these changes.

'The market has perceptibly matured during my absence. There is a growing sophistication to customer demands that requires keener competitiveness from the fabricators,' said Ron Boorman. 'We have already achieved BBA accreditation, and are also going for ISO 9002. Yet in addition we have streamlined all our internal procedures to achieve greater efficiencies and reduce wastage on our resources.'

Tel: 01249 816969
Fax: 01249 815234
Web: http://www.deceuninck.com

Smile When You're Winning

42% of the Windows & Doors industry improved their company's performance last year, according to financial analysts Plimsoll Publishing. Plimsoll's new analysis, 2nd Edition 2002 published March 25th, has been strengthened to appeal to the non-accountant as well as the accountant in understanding company performance figures.

Plimsoll's new UK Windows & Doors analysis, covering 1000 companies, is its most comprehensive analysis to date. One of the new features of the analysis awards each company with one of three "mood" indicators or faces to represent improvement or decline in performance.

The 3 performance indicators are:

Good Mood:
377 companies improved significantly

Bad Mood:
372 companies declined

Passive Mood:
149 companies remained unchanged

These indicators are calculated on the overall 'score' of the company's individual performance over the last 12 months. It is a combination of 5 key ratios. The basis of these ratios is simple as any fall is a decline in financial performance and an increase is an improvement.

372 companies are showing a decline in their financial performance and are warranting a 'bad' mood. Whilst not all of these companies are in serious difficulties, 208 or 56% of companies are showing two consecutive 'sad' face years indicating difficulties caused by competitive markets or poor management of their affairs. These companies are showing these early signs of financial difficulties that can lead to the failure of the company.

Remarkably, 377 companies analysed showed an improvement in performance. 'Most might see this as amazing. Yet the irony here is how so many in the industry can be seen as smiling when there is so much poor economic and business news about. I believe this figure proves that management are in control in these companies,' says David Pattison, Senior Analyst at Plimsoll.
The Plimsoll analysis is aimed at managers, directors and decision makers wanting to be better informed on competitor behaviour and yet who do not have the time or skills to fully understand how to analyse a competitor's performance.

This 1154-page comprehensive publication guarantees that anyone who spots a missing company will receive that company's analysis free of charge.

You can call 01642 626400 and request a list of companies included or order the Windows & Doors publication including the new performance 'mood' indicators for £305. Readers of The Gl@zine can receive a 5% discount if mentioning this article upon ordering.

Email: mailto:plimsoll@dial.pipex.com
Web: http://www.plimsoll.co.uk.

Network names its first 'Millionaire'

Network VEKA has announced its first £lmillion salesman - less than six months after rewarding the first people to reach half that figure. Sales have been booming so quickly among the Network's 100-plus member companies that the organisation had to have the special pewter '£1Million Club' badge minted almost before the dust had settled from its first '£1/2 Million Club' awards ceremony.

The 'millionaire' is Roy Bramwell of Knutsford-based Goodlife Windows (to the left of the picture). Network VEKA Operations Manager John Ogilvie visited the showroom to present Roy with his badge and a bottle of Champagne to mark his achievement.

The £1Million and £1/2Million Club figures are calculated from March 2000, the point where Network VEKA brought the management of its deal registration and insurance-backed guarantees in-house. The first awards were made at the group's AGM last September when Roy and nine other salespeople were recognised for each reaching the £500,000 in that period.

Roy, a 12-year veteran at Goodlife, says there's no real secret to success: 'Just never tell lies. Be sincere with the customers and you will earn their confidence.'

Operations Manager John Ogilvie said 'Roy was already well beyond the half million by the time we awarded the first badges.

'But now he is past the million mark there are already a few gathering speed behind him. I don't think it will be long before we are ordering a few more of the special badges'.

Contact: John Ogilvie
Tel: 01282 716611
Email: networkveka@veka.com
Web: http://www.networkveka.com

Why do so many companies want to make their own door panels?

Over the past few years there has been a surge in companies starting to make their own door panels. For some of these companies it was because they wanted to save money on buying in panels; for some it was because they wanted to sell panels to local businesses, and for others it was to control the production and quality.

Paul Webster of MPN Windows (pictured here with his wife) began panel production in December 2001. Paul said 'I had wanted to make door panels for some years and had seen the editorials and advertisements in the trade press. But I didn’t think that setting up and making panels was going to be so easy.

'I was buying in several panels every week, but I knew that if I could offer panels made locally I could also build a good trade base so I contacted the UK Door Panel Network to find out what they could do for me. They helped me enormously, and I set up manufacturing for only £2,950 + VAT, and everything they said about how easy it is to make panels was true.

'I now have the facility to make up to 100 panels per week, which is far more than I need at the moment, although I am already producing 25 panels per week. I believe that making panels with the right machinery is easy, quick, safe, clean and profitable.'

The UK Door Panel Network told us, 'We are setting up companies at the rate of one every ten days or so at present. Our policy is not to set up companies in the same area who will compete with each other, as this would just split the business. Our objective is to proactively help each company grow their panel business locally.'

Tel: 0800 018 3499
Web: http://www.ukdoorpanelnetwork.co.uk/
E-Mail: sales@ukdoorpanelnetwork.co.uk

Grorud fully reversible hinge system meets BS requirements

Grorud Industries, the UK supplier of high performance locks and hinges for windows and doors, claims it has developed the first fully reversible hardware solution to meet the requirements of BS7950.

'The move is highly significant and will, for the first time, enable manufacturers to produce fully reversible windows, which are 'Secured by design' compliant and provide end-users with the highest possible security standards.' says the company.

Consett-based Grorud claims to be the only hardware manufacturer whose fully reversible hinge called System 2000 - Top Turn HS-1 - has police approval for use in a recognised 'Secured by design' reversible window profile.

Grorud worked closely with the British Standards Institute to develop a number of enhancements to its G2475 Top Turn hinge. These included additional security pins featuring special keeps, a G-force locking system and a special aluminium extrusion on the bottom of the window sash.

Locking points around the window were mechanically load tested to see if they could withstand 3.0 kilo newtons of force for 10 seconds (the equivalent weight of a motorbike standing on an area the size of a matchbox for the same length of time).

The same window was then put through a physical intervention test. This involved l.0 kilo newtons of force being applied sideways on each locking point (the equivalent of a strong man attempting to force the window with a large crowbar).

(L-R) Les Elliot and Alan Sanderson from Grorud with John Cole from Secured by Design, together with the fully reversible window which has passed BS7950

The system successfully passed both the mechanical loading and physical intervention tests.
Les Elliot, Grorud's field sales manager, said: 'This is a major coup for Grorud and represents a major step forward for fully reversible window systems in the UK.

'With product that meets the requirements of British Standards and has 'Secured by design' approval, window manufacturers will be able to provide customers with high security windows with all the benefits and advantages fully reversible hinge systems provide.'

Following the successful test, the British Standards Institute is now putting forward proposals for fully reversible windows to be included within the current testing scope of BS7950. A full test report is available from BSI, quoting BS (261/4270439); 21 January 2002.

Contact: Les Elliot
Tel: 01207 581485
Email: grorud.industries@btinternet.com
Web: http://www.grorudindustries.com

CARDALE FINDS GARAGE HANDLE SOLUTION FROM WINLOCK

When Cardale Garage Doors, Brackley, Northants was looking for a new, price-competitive garage door handle with increased security features, the company rejected the option to source the products from the Far East. Suppliers there were unable to offer the combination of sufficient design variations nor the technical support, service and delivery requirements Cardale requires from its suppliers.

Winlock Security of Telford, Shropshire came to Cardale's rescue with a specially designed handle, offering improved security, whilst at the same time taking account of an ergonomic shape that can be easiiy and effectively packaged.

Cardale's marketing manager, Will Simmonds (pictured left, with Winlock's sales director Phillip Swann) said, 'We were looking for a high quality product that could be available at short notice and from a company that could offer us good service. As with any manufacturing company these days, cost was important to us but we were also determined that the new handle should offer more security features and a higher degree of flexibility.

'I have to say Winlock responded magnificently to the challenge and met all our criteria and time scales,' explained Will.

For Winlock, sales director Philip Swann said, 'The Cardale challenge gave our designers and engineers something interesting to get their teeth into. We thrive on problem-solving and were delighted to come up with a new handle that met their demanding criteria.'

Tel: 01952 680178
Email: mailto:sales@winlock.uk.com
Web: http://www.winlock.uk.com

SENTINEL AWARDED £2.5 MILLION CONTRACT

Sentinel Doors, who are operating major 'Project Partnerships' with local authorities and housing associations throughout the UK, have been awarded a £2.5 million contract by Tonbridge and Malling Housing Association.

The 5,500 door contract is expected to run over 31/2 years, with Sentinel supplying and installing approximately 40 doors per week. All doors supplied comply with PAS 23/24 and Secured by Design standards and tenants will be offered five door styles from the Sentinel 100 Series range.

Commenting on the choice of door supplier, the Association's Liam Watters says: 'We asked a number of manufacturers to tender for the contract - all of whom had been used by other housing associations and local authorities. Sentinel was chosen for the quality of its product and on recommendation.'

Contact: Phil Mundell
Tel: 01443 229219
Email: post@sentinel-doors.com

SAPA ANNOUNCES GGF SPONSORSHIP

For the third consecutive year, Sapa Building Systems has announced its sponsorship of the annual GGF Convention.

Due to be held on 30-31 May at The Belfry, the GGF expect over 200 members to attend. With the industry facing the challenge of implementing the changes to Part L, the Conference includes a presentation of the FENSA scheme by guest keynote speaker Paul Everall, Head of the Building Regulations Division at the DETR.

Sapa Sales Director Jon Palethorpe explains why they continue to sponsor the event: 'The GGF Convention has always been the flagship event for the GGF with attendance increasing year on year. We find it's a good opportunity to catch up with colleagues and customers alike and exchange news about what is going on in the industry. We are delighted to be sponsoring the event again and look forward to seeing everyone there in this very important year'.

Contact: Janet O'Neill
Tel: 01684 853500
Email: janet.oneill@sapagroup.com
Web: http://www.sapagroup.com/ukbuildingsystems

ORDERS SOAR FOR APOLLO VS

Apollo Birmingham Ltd is soaring into 2002 with an order book which has outstripped their best expectations. When they launched their new vertical sliding window, during late 2001, the technical team were confident that the product would match up to the high standards of their existing specialist portfolio, but little did they realize that it would become so popular in such a short space of time.

Vince Joyce of Apollo, attributes success of the new VS to a number of factors. 'Customers like the appearance and are impressed with its strength and rigidity. But most important of all, they consider Apollo’s quality and service package to be excellent value in comparison to similar offerings on the market.'

The unexpected high level of orders for the start of the new year meant some reorganisation for the Apollo team during the Christmas shut down. 'Our overall sales have been rising steadily over the last twelve months and we had already installed new machinery and increased the work force' explains Vince, 'but the success of the vertical slider has created additional demands. We dedicated considerable time during the shut down to reviewing production procedures in order to ensure that we can increase capacity still further, whilst maintaining our high standards on our total product offering.'

Apollo’s VS has an ovolo shaped bead and equal sightline option for the top and bottom sashes. A deep bottom rail and flush gasket detail, together with a range of period styles and attractive finishes, provide comprehensive options for a truly authentic appeal.

Optimum strength and stability is achieved through securing all fixings and hardware to the steel or aluminium reinforcement of the internal chambers. In addition, an aluminium interlock, for the top sash, has been designed to increase the rigidity of larger windows.

Suitable for use in all market sectors, the VS provides excellent thermal properties and weathering performance, whilst the smooth action pivot bars make cleaning simple, allowing the external face to be cleaned from the inside of the property. The window does not require opening to meet building regulation air flow requirements, as air flow specification can be achieved through glazed in vents.

Vince concludes, 'We already have a strong order book for 2002, on both our door and other specialist products, but we’ve planned well and are looking forward to some exciting challenges.'
Apollo’s standard product portfolio includes aluminium and PVC residential and patio doors, in standard or cut to size kits, as well as ready to fit and options such as glazed or unglazed, and internally or externally beaded are on offer, together with a wide variety of finishes and colour coated product.

Tel: 0121 526 3736.

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