Epwin has once again achieved record turnover and profits

In Epwin's 25th year the Group has once again achieved record turnover and profits. The Group has exceeded £150m of sales for the first time in its history, with an increase of 29% over last year. Its operating profit was £12.9m, a rise of 45%.

'With a robust economy and low interest rates encouraging homeowners to improve their properties, we performed well despite a maturing window industry where competition is fierce, says Chairman Jim Rawson.

'The Group product spread is wide so we can take advantage of growth areas such as conservatories, doors and roofline products. This explains why Epwin remains one of the best performing companies in its sector, which vindicates our decision to go back into private ownership in December 1999.

'We have continued to benefit from the instability faced by many of our competitors. Despite a great number of upheavals in the market, Epwin has continued to offer stability and continuity to customers across all businesses. We are now the third largest extruder of PVC-U in the UK.

'Our Jubilee year has been characterised by growth and investment. The £1 million reorganisation of the Paignton site is now well underway and we will have a manufacturing facility that is significantly more efficient. This action has secured the long term future of this site and will fuel the growth of our window companies, including Sierra, Plastal and Kwest, all of which had a successful year.

'Also in Devon we have integrated the Quantal business onto one site, a move that has improved communication and efficiency between the company's bar and kit operations. Quantal has established a clear proposition in the conservatory market, which will prove invaluable as the sector becomes more competitive and fragmented.

'Elsewhere in the country Permadoor continues to go from strength to strength and remains the market leader in composite doors. This growth has led during the year to the creation of a third factory in Malvern.

'We have also established a new warehouse in Wolverhampton to service Plaslyne customers. This 30,000 sq ft facility has freed up space in Telford, enabling us to establish Foilex, the Group's stand-alone profile foiling facility for Group and third party customers.

'Epwin's growth during 2001 has come from all areas of the company. The Board is particularly pleased to repon the success of Swish Buiiding Products, our cellular foam business, which has achieved a significant increase in turnover by carefully targeting key markets. Cellular products are an important part of our evolving product range.

Components showed the biggest growth for Epwin last year

'PROFILE 22, our PVC-U window system business, also reported a strong increase in sales. This is in marked contrast to its competitors and reflects the strength of the company's brand, core product and sales offer.

'During 2001 the number of staff employed by Epwin broke through the 2000 barrier. The Group has one of the most loyal and long serving teams in the industry and, in September, I was pleased to honour 30 staff with awards for 20 years service. These are people who were with me in the very early days of Epwin and some of them have subsequently gone on to run large businesses within the Group.

'2001 has been a good year for the Group, but it would be wrong for us to rest on our laurels. We are facing tough times because our key markets are maturing and the economic future may be less rosy. By continuously investing to improve efficiency we have prepared a very strong base for the future, but we must work hard to capitalise upon it.

http://www.epwin.co.uk

Thermoseal increases stockholding

New standards for thermal efficiency mean that the number of sealed units to be gas filled in the UK is sure to rise.This will entail new types of fittings and keys having to be used by the majority of sealed unit manufacturers. To cater for this increase in demand, Thermoseal has significantly expanded its stocks of all consumables for the sealed unit manufacturer. This has been made possible by the company’s recent move to substantially larger premises.

To mark the company’s move to new 27,500ft2 premises, Thermoseal held a series of open days in early March. A number of significant sealed unit manufacturers attended, who were able to see a number of working machines including Rjukan spacer benders, glass washers and sealant dispense equipment.

Thermoseal's new 27,500ft2 premises

The increased stockholding was particularly interesting for companies who are able to take delivery of complete stillages of bendable spacer bar, now made easier with Thermoseal’s own transport infrastructure.

An ongoing series of training seminars is also proving popular, with themes ranging from the manufacture of georgian grilles to the implementation of Part L and EN1279 and working demonstrations of the latest glass processing software from HANIC. Representatives from leading sealing technology companies Thermix and Kömmerling were on hand to provide much sought after advice on future legislation, energy values and sealant shortages.

‘The open days proved very worthwhile both for new and existing customers’, explains sales director Mark Hickox. ‘and we shall be definitely running them again on a regular basis.’

http://www.thermosealgroup.com

Alcoa's First Quarter Results show promise

Alcoa Inc. has announced net income for the 2002 first quarter of $218 million, or 26 cents per diluted share. Alcoa earned $404 million, or 46 cents per diluted share, in the 2001 first quarter.

Alcoa lost $142 million, or 17 cents per share, in the fourth quarter of 2001. Included in the fourth quarter is a special after tax charge of $241 million, or 28 cents per share, for a strategic restructuring in the company's manufacturing system.

'The near-term operating climate remains challenging, and we continue to focus on managing what is in our control,'said Chairman and CEO Alain Belda. 'As demand for aluminum strengthens, we will capture the efficiencies generated by last year's strategic restructuring of our operations and the continued deployment of the Alcoa Business System (ABS).'

Net income for the 2002 first quarter includes income of $34 million, or 4 cents per share, from the cumulative effect of the change in accounting for goodwill required by the adoption of FASB 142. The income is primarily the result of the write-off of negative goodwill generated by acquiring assets below book value, demonstrating Alcoa's disciplined approach to acquisitions. In addition to this one-time adjustment, goodwill will no longer be amortized under the new accounting standard. This change had a positive impact of $44 million, or 5 cents per share, in the first quarter compared with the year ago quarter.

A restructuring at Elkem, the company's partner in Norway, and charges associated with the power failure at Alcoa's Warrick, Ind., smelter had negative one-time impacts on net income in the 2002 first quarter. The negative impacts were nearly offset by favorable non-operating gains. The net effect of these items was a charge of 1 cent per share in the quarter.

Comparing the first quarter of 2002 with the first quarter of 2001, the company stated that the average three-month LME price for primary aluminum declined by 7.5 cents per pound, or 11%. The company also stated that this quarter was negatively effected by a significant decline in year over year end market demand. The decline in both price and demand dampened the benefits derived from ongoing cost reduction efforts.

At the end of the 2002 first quarter, Alcoa had achieved $436 million in annualized cost savings and remains on target to achieve its $1.0 billion 2003 goal. The run rate at the end of the quarter was $109 million, compared with $87 million in the prior quarter. Capital expenditures were held to $238 million in the first quarter.

Alcoa continues to have 635,000 metric tons (mt) of aluminum production idled on a base capacity of 4.1 million mt.
    
http://www.alcoa.com

HW Glass, Wigan, Invest in Latest Ashton Technology

HW Glass Ltd, Wigan, UK independent manufacturers of volume and bespoke processed and toughened glass products is the first company in the UK to install an Ashton Automatic Arrissing line with a 'Reverse – 'G' layout for maximum glass size 2.5 x 1.7m, with an extra conveyor after arrissing.

HW was introduced to Ashton Industrial through its joint venture partner in thick special toughened QTG based in Mansfield.

Venture partner John Devine, of Independent Glass, Glasgow, has purchased several stand alone arrissing machines from AIS and after a thorough examination of options available HW were convinced of the merits of the Ashton equipment.

Commented Director Stephen Holden ‘We can pre-process glass up to 1m sq. in 6 seconds and larger pieces up to 4m sq. in no more than 10 seconds, including edge-deletion. From a customer service perspective this puts us right at the leading edge in terms of compliance with Document L and beyond, not to mention the ability to provide product with improved lead times.’

These times are achieved due to Ashton Industrial’s trailing-edge switching system, where pieces of glass are always transported around the ‘inside track’. This ensures maximum throughput capacity, particularly when processing small pieces of glass.

HW Glass is also the first company to have the new Automatic Edge Deletion units fitted, which are capable of being mounted on air flotation or castor tables as well as the auto arrissing line are designed to automatically adjust to any glass thickness.

The grinding wheel consists of an expanding rubber drum fitted with a Telum grinding belt, which cleanly removes even the hardest coatings in a single pass. Unlike conventional grinding wheels there is no change in the diameter of the wheel due to wear.

Ashton Industrial feels that its auto arrissing line is ideally suited to the handling of coated glass as their machinery does not need to grip the top surface of the glass.

With integral edge- deletion being an available option, the ability to transport glass from the cutting table through the arrissing line, washing machines and the furnace without any manual handling (if so desired) will greatly benefit glass tougheners.

Another first for HW Glass was the purchase of the new Ashton Horizontal Washing Machine which Ashton claim, is one of the fastest on the market, with speeds of up to 15 linear metres per minute capable of being achieved. It is also one of the smallest, being only 1600mm long (plus run-out conveyor).

The HW Glass washing machine has a double drying zone, with motorised adjustment of the upper washing machine frame and ‘economiser’ switching of pre-spray zone pump.

The washing machine is manufactured entirely in stainless steel. Ashton Industrial confirm that their design was heavily influenced by the world-renowned Bielefeld Union machine which was considered to be the finest machine in the world for over two decades.

Tel: 0208 551 4046
E-mail: mailto:sblundell@ashton-industrial.com
Web: http://www.ashton-industrial.com

Sweet victory for ASSA ABLOY in Miami

'First for ASSA ABLOY into Miami is as good as we could have dreamt of,' Skipper Neal McDonald (pictured below) writes in The Independent about his progress in the Volvo Ocean Race.


'After a leg of incredible intensity and extremely close racing coming in top of the pile was a sweet victory. For two weeks solid we had battle hard with Tyco for second place with illbruck a safe distance ahead. For most of the world (including illbruck I expect) it looked like the lead they had was just about untouchable. We proved otherwise.'

'Our crew worked like men possessed from start to finish and in the end it all paid off. On the way we made plenty of errors, got caught out by plenty of “bad clouds” and had our fair share of ups and downs. But as is often the case with the winner we must have made fewer mistakes than the rest. Our speed was good, our tactics solid and most of all our will to win remained high right up to the end.'

'Changeable light winds and slightly different tactics gave us the upper hand. Six miles from the finish I was at the helm and was just about to give a sigh of relief and admit to myself that we had finally done it. At that very second, what wind we had, completely vanished and pushing a foul current we actually started going backwards! Total silence on the boat said it all – so near but so far. Flashing before me was the horror thought that two and a half weeks of hard work were on the line this close to the finish.'

'If the wind did not come back for several hours we could have been swept miles away from the line, allowing the possibility of several boats to slip in front of us. I could almost have started crying. Twenty minutes of pure hell followed, sails slating as we slowly drifted away from our goal. Thank goodness our patience was eventually rewarded- the breeze gently filled in. As the new breeze filled in we inched our way towards the line safely ahead of illbruck. Not until the gun went off did we really feel safe, and boy what a feeling!'

'Overall the second win puts us in second place and just a little closer to the one time invincible 'green machine' (illbruck). And a small margin ahead of the pack behind. I write this having had little time to reflect on the whole situation but one thing is for sure – the future for ASSA ABLOY looks bright. We have gone from strength to strength, and now are an obvious force to be reckoned with.'

'Our current overall second place is by no means safe – any one of three boats are champing at the bit waiting for us to make mistakes in the next few legs -but they are going to have to work dam hard to catch us. The chances of catching illbruck overall may look slim from the outside but we still have four legs to go (44 per cent of the points are still left to be accounted for) – much can happen in that time. We in particular feel that our campaign is improving fast and have every intention to keep fighting hard to the end –they now have to start looking over their shoulders a little harder than they have had to before.'

'Being skipper for nearly half of the race has been just as hard as I thought it would be. I have little illusions about how easy the transition from watch leader to skipper has been made for me in this situation. I’ve had tremendous support from the crew and our sponsors. I am fortunate to be surrounded by such talent and experience that my transition has been as smooth as it could be. I feel more comfortable every day with the role I’ve ended up in. I will admit that when asked to do it in Cape Town I was terrified!'

'As for the race itself, I’ve been so wrapped up in the sailing I don’t have a great feel as to how it is perceived in the outside world. From what my mum says it’s a huge success – but I guess she may be a little biased. I feel the internet has much to do with the coverage the VOR gets and over the last few years has really made a big jump in getting offshore racing out to the public. The boat emails, video footage, and positions reports really keep the interest going. From our sponsors’ point of view the race appears a huge success. The stopovers may not be that popular with the sailors (due to the workload of checking the boats and getting the prepared for the next leg) but they do provide a massive opportunity for the sponsors to get coverage. ASSA ABLOY has over 2.000 corporate guests coming to Miami alone!'

'Much talk has gone on about the future of the race, what type of boats, what type of format etc. For me, all my energy is going into finishing this one! I do have some thoughts but they are pretty personal ones and are more based on what type of boats I like sailing. The real issue is to make it a format that keeps the audience the media and therefore the sponsors happy, it is their money and they need to see a return for it. They have to be confident that the balance sheets all add up at the end of the day. That side of it is all a bit above my station – I’m just a simple sailor at heart.'
Neal McDonald
Source: The Independent 2002-03-31

Web: http://www.assabloyracingteam.com

GreenLine Windows Linking Ecology With Economy

A leaf from the Lime tree has been chosen by Kömmerling as the symbol for its new 'GreenLine' windows.

'Kömmerling's GreenLine trademark guarantees a high degree of environmental responsibility.' says Sales and Marketing Manager Dan Whalley, 'It's self-imposed responsibility, which is the most effective means of environmental protection. Windows carrying the GreenLine symbol show that both Kömmerling and the fabricator have voluntarily met strict 'green' guidelines, starting with extrusion, going right through to installation.'

In its latest environmental breakthrough, all Kömmerling PVCu window systems in the UK are now produced from profile extruded using Calcium-Zinc stabilisers instead of lead.

As well as its 'green' properties, Kömmerling claim that their research has found that Calcium-Zinc profile also tends to have a higher degree of weather resistance than that of conventional stabilisers, and the silk mat sheen is likely to be retained longer.

Currently, most common window profiles use lead stabilisers. Mixed-in lead phosphites are an integral part of the PVCu compound, and are a large contributor to the noted advantages of PVCu windows. But the long-time use of lead as a proven stabiliser in PVCu window profile has become a controversial ecological debate. Although the technology of traditional lead stabilisers is regarded as perfect, the environmental aspects are being critically questioned.

As a result, Kömmerling has been researching for several years to find a formula that meets the performance of lead, while being environmentally sound. Economical production has just been perfected for Kömmerling's entire UK range of profile.

'GreenLine windows provide a link between ecology and economy, with major environmental benefits, and advantages to all involved in the construction industry. Architects and builders, as well as our own network of fabricators around the country, now have the advanced ecological altemative to traditional window systems.

'And when many generations have passed, and the now young 'GreenLine' windows have become very old they can be recycled, conserving resources and avoiding incineration. The recycled PVCu can then be used as the raw material for new products.'

Tel: 01784 464000
Email: enquiries@kommerling.com
Web: http://www.kommerling.com

Pilkington Activ goes to market

Following successful test marketing in Ireland, Austria and North America, and its subsequent launch in North America in January, Pilkington Activ™ Self-Cleaning Glass has been launched internationally, focusing on Europe and other markets of strategic interest to Pilkington.This major launch is being undertaken in phases to ensure adequate supply to all markets and that selected customer partners are properly trained. As from this month Pilkington Activ is available in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Ireland, Benelux and France. It will be launched in other European markets, including the UK, Nordic region, Italy and Poland, during the summer. Countries in Eastern and Central Europe and Australia will follow later this year.

As part of the launch, a consumer leaflet in various languages is now available, containing details on this revolutionary product.

www.pilkington.com/activ

It's as simple as ABC for Denmark

Pilkington Denmark has helped to develop a new method of labelling low-e glass designed to make energy-efficient windows' U-values understandable to the end-user. The simple A-B-C classification is part of a larger nation-wide campaign to encourage the wider use of Low-E Glass in windows, and to help people understand that both heat loss and heat gain values are important in making a window more efficient.

Current building regulations demand that all new buildings should contain low-e glass - but there are no such rules for refurbishment projects and fewer than 20 per cent of these make use of low-e in Denmark.

'If we wish people to use these products we must reassure them that they are buying the right product for the job,'said technical manager Carl Axel Lorentzen.

'Pilkington has been involved in developing the labelling formula and it is now being used on all our IGU products and in our brochures.'

The classification runs from 'A' - the most energy-efficient window pane - with low U-value and high g-factor (sun-energy) through to 'F' for double glazing without low-e glass and 'G' for standard single-glazing. Only A, B and C products are rated as energy-efficient because they have a positive energy effect in cold weather. A new method of labelling low-e glass in Denmark is helping to make energy-efficient windows' U-values understandable to the end-user.

Glaverbel brings its production capacity into line with demand

Although the forecast by the European Group of Flat Glass Producers was for growth of 1% in 2002 (a figure which had already been revised downwards), demand for clear glass on the European construction markets is contracting, with resulting pressure on prices. Glaverbel has therefore decided to reduce its float glass production capacity by putting its Tiel float plant in the Netherlands on standby for a period of three months. This will have the effect of withdrawing 35,000 tonnes of glass from the market as of the end of April. The Tiel float glass furnace produces clear glass destined mainly for the construction industry, which is experiencing difficulties both in the Netherlands and in Germany. The capacity reduction comes on top of the cutback already announced, equivalent to the annual output of one float plant. This initial cutback is being achieved by reducing the pull of the float furnaces, and by bringing forward the repair operations or extending the repair periods for certain production facilities.

Glaverbel says it is able to adapt its glass output to the level of demand, without affecting supplies to the automotive market or specialised industrial applications, thanks to the flexible management of its capacity made possible by having a suite of 15 production plants in Europe.

Asahi announces the extension of the offer period of Glaverbel take-over bid

Asahi Glass Co Ltd, announced the extension until Friday 5 April 2002 of the offer period of the take-over bid for all Glaverbel (GLAB.BRU) shares held by public shareholders. The offer on ordinary shares, convertible bonds and stock options started on March 18 and the offer period would initially last, as per the prospectus, for 10 business days. All the other terms of the offer remain unchanged.

“Asahi Glass was informed by the collecting agents that certain Glaverbel investors, in particular our foreign investors, have faced practical difficulties to tender their shares or their bonds because of the Easter bank holidays on March 29 and April 1st”, said Mr. Masayuki Kamiya, Director Corporate Planning of AGC. “Asahi Glass has therefore decided, with the approval of the Banking and Finance Commission, in order to allow such investors to tender, to extend the offer period. Based on the market reactions since the approval of the prospectus and the repeated supportive research reports in the financial community, Asahi Glass is confident that the Glaverbel shareholders will tender. This confidence is similar regarding the attitudes of bond- and option-holders, who are also aware of the unique capital gain opportunity of the take-over bid”, concluded Mr. Kamiya.

As announced on March 27, AGC started with the implementation of its global reorganisation.
General information regarding the on-going take-over bid on Glaverbel equity securities:
AGC hold at beginning of the offer period directly 55% and indirectly a total of 65% of Glaverbel’s capital. In addition to the purchase of the ordinary shares through the tender offer, AGC is to purchase all the outstanding convertible bonds of Glaverbel, and stock options.

Petercam Securities SA, the independent Belgian investment bank appointed unanimously by the board of directors of Glaverbel, has confirmed the fairness of the consideration offered.
The offer is subject to the condition that, on the basis of acceptances received at the end of the offer, AGC would own, directly and indirectly, 90% or more of the voting shares of Glaverbel. The offer is not subject to any other conditions.

PPG protects US against Windshields From China

Officials with PPG Industries said they are pleased with the recent 3-2 vote by the U.S. International Trade Commission that says imports of automotive replacement glass windshields from China are causing material injury to the domestic industry.

PPG and fellow domestic producers Safelite Glass Corp. and Viracon/Curvlite filed an antidumping petition Feb. 28, 2001.

'The imposition of antidumping duties on these imports will serve to restore a competitive market balance in the U.S.,' said David Sharick, PPG vice president for automotive replacement glass. 'Today's decision confirms what we have said for more than a year -- that unfairly priced replacement windshields from China are causing harm to the U.S. automotive replacement glass windshield industry. The commission's final staff report showed that imports from China had increased by 275 percent between 1998 and 2000 and an additional 38 percent in the first nine months of 2001 compared to the same period in 2000. During this period, the domestic industry saw net sales decline by more than $58 million and operating income levels decline by more than $20 million.'

After the commission sends its decision and the reasons for its determination to the U.S. Department of Commerce, which is expected to occur March 28, the Department of Commerce will then issue an antidumping duty order to the U.S. Customs Service a week later.

A Bright Future with Synseal for Future Fabrications

Future Fabrications were one of the many Synseal customers awaiting the new Shield Conservatory System in the months leading up to its launch. 'We use the Shield profile to fabricate all our conservatories and we were really keen to start using the new conservatory system,' comments Paul Neal, Managing Director of Future Fabrications. 'Although we don't install the conservatories we fabricate, the new system is beneficial to us in terms of aesthetics. It makes sense that a conservatory should consist of one and the same profile for the entire frame. We are certainly optimistic that Synseal's latest development will underpin more sales for us.'

'We've seen Synseal change dramatically over the last couple of years, working hard to emphasise their position as market leader. We use them because our customers like to know that the top level supplier is the best out there.' Paul believes Synseal's particular strengths lie in the continual improvement of design and innovation and the wall thickness which reflects changes in the window industry as a whole. Further affirmation that Synseal drives the market. 'The style and quality of windows have improved greatly over the years as manufacturing processes have become more sophisticated. A significant change is the increasing use of the reverse weld method and design with the internal beaded feature. Synseal really lends itself to this design.'

Paul Kirby, Sales and Marketing Director of Future Fabrications was delighted with the company's success at Glassex. 'The show went extremely well for us this year, we're pleased with the number of leads we had for our windows, doors and conservatory systems alike. The new conservatory system is big news for the market and I think generic roof suppliers will really have to sit up and take notice of Synseal.'

Tel: 01623 443 200
Web: http://www.synseal.com

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