News @ The GL@ZINE

Last week Synseal Extrusions Ltd revealed Global 600, its contemporary roof designed specifically for the UK market, will be available in the autumn. ‘After appearing in the Glazine www.synseal.com had 491 visits, a new record and 196 came directly from the Glazine banner,’ explains Nick Dutton, Synseal's Sales and Marketing Director.

‘The latest development is a new concept in low pitch conservatory roofing. The Global 600 glazing bar will recreate the way a conservatory should be - but with contemporary flair. We acknowledge that the UK housing stock is designed on imperial measurements, so we designed a conservatory roof to match.

'The 600mm (2ft) glazing centres perfectly match standard UK window sizes making the overall structure easier on the eye and allowing more light in too. The 2.5° pitch makes this the most versatile roof for quick, simple, secure and good looking installations even in the most difficult spaces. The prepared components will come in environmentally friendly single or double packs ready and complete for quick and simple onsite installation.'

For more details about Global 600, the new concept in conservatory roofing, visit http://www.synseal.com

Hope House Kids Greet GMF Riders

The System zendow sponsored, GM Fundraising 'Top to Bottom' Cycle Ride reached a poignant waypoint last night as the riders arrived at Hope House Hospice to be greeted by the children, parents and staff plus a contingent of local press and the lovely Miss Wales, Laura Livesey. The John O’ Groats to Lands End cycle ride is raising funds for Hope House and was planned to overnight near the hospice in Oswestry, Shropshire.

Following a photo call and radio interviews the ten GM Fundraising riders, accompanied by seven 'Day' riders on the 86 mile Wrightington to Oswestry leg, were invited into Hope House for drinks and a buffet with some of the children. The riders were then taken on a tour of the facility with all agreeing that the visit had been a morale booster, two-thirds of the way through the ride to Lands End.

The GM Fundraising Riders with Miss Wales, Laura Livesey and some of the Kids from Hope House

Alan Sadler of Fabstore commented, 'This really brings it home to you what this ride is all about. The quality of care the kids receive and the mood of happiness about the place has to be seen to be believed'. All the sponsorship from the ride will go directly to Hope House with Status Systems sponsorship underwriting the event and every rider picking up their own costs.

The participating riders are Gary Morton (Conservatory Roof Craft), Alan & Phil Rothwell (Patterson & Rothwell), Jim Bergson (Bergson & Eaton), Gary Torr (Shepley), Alan Sadler (Fabstore), Graeme Bailey, Adrian Girling, Keith Aspinall (All of Business Micros) and Iain McInnes (Wendland).

Sponsorship can be pledged by email to individual riders via GM Fundraising founder, Gary Morton at gary@garymorton.co.uk. Information on Hope House can be found at their website www.hopehouse.org.uk.

G05: A Night of Celebration

It was a night of celebration as the glass glazing and fenestration industry gathered at the G 05 Awards at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole on Friday night. Close to 500 industry members were in attendance as the ‘best of the best’ for 2005 were announced to a highly vocal and appreciative audience.

Star of stage and screen Bradley Walsh was in cracking irreverent form as winners and sponsors alike fell victim to his cutting humour as they joined him on stage.

Top of the pile were two companies from either end of the country as Warmseal Windows of Newcastle and Masterframe Windows of Witham, Essex bagged a brace of trophies each. Back again to pick up where they left off last year were P&P Glass and GSL who also were successful in the Conservatory Installer of the Year category and Glass Project of the Year respectively.

Taking top honours in the Glass Company of the Year was Darby Glass while Ritec International scooped the Specialist of the Year title.

Also celebrating was Mark Warren of Lister Trade Frames of Stoke on Trent, who was quick to praise his entire workforce for making this achievement possible.

Newcomers Select Home Improvements, SWC Trade Frames and Safestyle partied into the night as they also romped home in their respective categories.

The countdown for insulating glass unit (IGU) manufacturers to meet the requirements of the Construction Products Directive is now officially underway.

Publication of the long awaited BS EN 1279 Standard is now complete. BS EN 1279 is written in six parts and the recent publication of Part 5 means that all six parts of the Standard are now available and the 21 month transition and implementation phase has officially begun.

This means that by around February 2007 IGU manufacturers will need to be in a position to demonstrate compliance with the Construction Products Directive. BSI Product Services is here to help and can offer the prestigious Kitemark for BS EN 1279. Already almost 300 manufacturers have been issued with a Kitemark licence for BS EN 1279.

As well as offering the Kitemark for IGU's BSI is a Notified Body under the Construction Products Directive and can offer EN 1279 testing to support CE marking requirements.

Says Elaine Durno, BSI Product Manager 'At BSI we are well positioned to help IGU manufacturers meet the requirements of the Construction Products Directive. Not only have we invested in the development of our large, modern test facilities with UKAS accreditation but we can also provide technical expertise and assistance in all areas of product testing and certification.'

The race to get the first ‘C’ rated window from The British Fenestration Ratings Council (BFRC) is over – with Masterframe’s Bygone Collection first past the post.

The BFRC, the regulatory body for energy efficiency ratings for windows, has confirmed that Masterframe now has a ’green’ window - i.e. a window that’s energy efficiency to at least -20kWh/m2/year.

Masterframe’s Technical Manager Ray Rabett explains how the company did it: ‘The ‘C’ was easier for Masterframe to achieve than most other sash window fabricators, as we use a three chambered sash profile extruded by Halo.

'We’ve also used Low Iron glass on the outside, and hard coat Low E glass inside. An argon-filled sealed unit and a warm edge spacer ensure that energy loss is kept to a minimum. Bygone Preferred Installers now have a choice between the standard Bygone Collection window, with all its advances, and this ‘C’ rated sash.

‘Homeowners are familiar with the system, especially the ‘Energy Efficiency Recommended’ swing tag logo which Masterframe and its customers can now use. BFRC ratings can help differentiate products and make a great sales tool for installers.

'It’s a more expensive window, but it is unique in the marketplace, and installers are selling at a premium. Order and delivery time to installers won’t be affected, and will be as good as ever.’

Tel: 01376 510410
Web: http://www.masterframe.co.uk

Spare a pound- and help raise £90,000 in 90 days to help victims of the Tsumani disaster is the plea from the conservatory industry’s Gordon Cooke.

Gordon, technical sales manager at Aztec Conservatory Roof Systems, is aiming to raise £90,000 in 90 days for the charity Bridge 4 Hope, by, among other activities, selling badges for £1, and T-shirts for £10. A single pound sterling is equivalent to 300 rupees: enough to feed a family of four for a week in Sri Lanka!

Gordon himself has given significantly more- in time, labour and effort. Within days of the Boxing Day Tsumani, he had flown to Sri Lanka, one of the least publicised of the worst hit areas and further devastated by civil war, to physically contribute towards the rebuilding effort. He spent two weeks of his annual holiday using his skills as a joiner and carpenter to help in the remote village of Thirukovil where over 30% of the local population had lost their lives when the wave hit.

Since his return, Gordon has, with ex Royal Marine Harry Barrow, set up Bridge 4 Hope, a charity to buy a plot of land on which to build a community centre, to rebuild the school and to establish a brick making facility to be operated by children at the local orphanage making bricks to rebuild the village. Gordon and Harry, together with Ashley Eckersley from Excel Trade Frames and Nick Chamber, an IT specialist, will be revisiting Thirukovil in July with the proceeds from their fund-raising efforts to begin work on the project.

Gordon says, ‘Most media coverage has been in the tourist areas, but Thirukovil is on the east coast and one of the worst hit areas. There is nothing left in the village, everything was swept away. The people are not asking for charity, they are trying to help themselves, for example the children have put their photos on the badges as their contribution. The children will be operating the brick making equipment to make the bricks to rebuild their village. But we need money to do this, and an insignificant amount to you and I makes a huge difference to them: £1 is equivalent to 300 rupees, which is enough to feed a family of four for a week!’

He asks that people sell badges on the charity’s behalf too, following examples set by a school in Morecambe that raised £2000, and a primary school in Ashton in Makerfield. ‘If children in Sri Lanka and the UK are making the effort, maybe adults should follow their example,’ he says.

Details of how to help fund raise, or to donate, are available on the charity’s website, http://www.bridge4hope.com, or by contacting Gordon direct on 07766 495202.

Email: mailto:admin@bridge4hope.com

Eurocell Building Plastics at Grimsby is to hold an open day for trade customers on Thursday, June 23rd.

The event, which will be staged in a marquee outside the company's Birchin Way Industrial Estate premises, will feature displays and a roadshow. Visitors will be able to ask the professionals everything they need to know about the products and services offered by Eurocell Building Plastics, Rhodia Sealants and Coatings, DeWalt Power Tools and Comfyair Air Conditioning Units. The event ties in with the launch of Rhodia's latest flat roof coating system and visitors will be able to see the latest technology in air conditioning for homes and conservatories.

Sales Manager Kevin Dunderdale, who has organised the event, said the event was not just targeted at new customers, but also aimed at educating existing ones about additional products.

'Many customers don't realise the scope of what's on offer and this will be the chance for them to see everything, ask questions and talk to our sales team,' he said. 'We are expecting the event to attract a number of new customers as well as building on the relationships we already have.'

Refreshments will be available and there will be a free draw to win a DeWalt cordless hammer drill worth £250. If successful, the event could be mirrored at Eurocell's other trade centres throughout the country, with its newly-equipped centre at Peterborough, Cambridgeshire being the next in line.

Tel: 01773 842300
Web: http://www.eurocell.co.uk

Shepley Window Systems launched its conservatory division back in May 2001 and four years on sales are going through the roof, with record sales of 73 conservatory roofs being sold in just one week of May alone. ‘While Shepley is well known for our market-leading range of PVCu windows and doors, more and more of our customers now cap it all off with a stronger, slimmer and easier to install roof’ comments Wes Clarkson, Shepley's conservatory roof sales manager.

‘From award-winning frames, built using Shepley's 20 years of fabricating experience, to the strongest roof and the finest finial, Shepley can offer the complete one-stop for conservatories’

Shepley customer Brian Pearson of Wright Windows comments, ‘Shepley provides a good, reliable service backed up with knowledgeable staff. It's a strong, well constructed roof system at a reasonable price in such a competitive market. With Shepley you get excellent back up with quick results’.

Tel: 0161 339 2433

Total Glass Finalists in Business Awards

The accolades just keep coming for Total Glass, one of the UK‚s leading and fastest-growing window and door fabricators. Fresh from clinching a Best Business of the Year Award last year, the Liverpool-based firm has made the finals in two categories of the prestigious Daily Post and Echo Regional Business Awards, organised by its major local newspapers.

Total Glass, which moved into purpose-built 100,000 sq ft premises in February, was shortlisted in the first category, Small to Medium Enterprise of the Year Award, for 'showing continued investment despite difficult market conditions'. According to the judges, 'this firm aspires to excellence with service standards'. They were also impressed with the way Total is exploiting overseas potential.

In the second category, Employer of the Year, Total was nominated for its on-going commitment to employee training and personnel development. The judges commented: 'This firm has maintained focus on training despite being in a highly competitive market. It is demonstrating commendable social purpose by recruiting people straight from government employment schemes.'

The results are due to be announced this Thursday (June 16th) at a BlackTie awards dinner - so best of luck Total Glass!

Looking forward to the ceremony, MD Frank Deary and his management team are delighted with this latest kudos, adding to the already high morale within the company following the recent 'Kings of Europe' crowning of the victorious Liverpool football team.

'We're delighted that our achievements to date in everything we do, from customer service to training have been recognised in this way. Our commitment to providing the best quality products and service to all our customers, large or small, remains our Number One priority,' says Frank.

At the end of 2004, the company won Best Business of the Year in the Knowsley Economic Forum Enterprise Awards for its progressive approach to supporting the local community through its recruitment and training programmes. For further information on Total Glass, contact Frank Deary on 0151 549 2339 or visit the website at www.totalglass.com

A video message from the GM Fundraising John O’Groats-Lands End Cycle Ride team, shown during Friday nights G05 Awards prompted £2437 of donations to Hope House Hospice. The appeal from GM Fundraising founder, Gary Morton was shown on two large screens and featured footage of the riders taken in Scotland, with a request to donate money via envelopes placed on the Awards tables.

Morton, playing to the audience, raised a laugh when he suggested that placing money in an envelope was significantly easier than tearing one’s backside apart on a bike for a fortnight.

Commenting on the amount raised at the G05 Awards Morton said, ‘The team really appreciate this magnificent gesture from the glazing industry. Had we not been on the ride, most of us would have been present at the G05 Awards so it’s great that we had the opportunity to ‘be there’ by video and make the appeal. Many thanks to the G05 organisers and to those present at the Awards for their tremendous generosity’. The ‘Top to Bottom’ ride, sponsored by Status Systems’ zendow brand, is scheduled to finish at Lands End on the afternoon of Saturday 18th June, where families, friends and sponsors will meet the riders.

GM Fundraising supports Hope House Hospice, which provides palliative care for children with terminal conditions. The hospice needs to raise up to £4M a year to cover it’s operating costs and the GM Fundraising team is appealing for further sponsorship for the ‘Top to Bottom’ riders. Readers of the Gl@zine can pledge funds by email at mailto:gary@garymorton.co.uk or visit the Hope House website http://www.hopehouse.org.uk. The participating riders are- Alan & Phil Rothwell (Patterson & Rothwell), Jim Bergson (Bergson & Eaton), Gary Torr (Shepley), Alan Sadler (Fabstore), Graeme Bailey, Adrian Girling, Keith Aspinall (All of Business Micros) and Iain McInnes (Wendland)

Masterframe’s Double Whammy at G05 Awards

Masterframe Windows is still celebrating after scooping two awards at the GO5 Awards on Friday night, when the leading manufacturer of premium PVC-U sliding sash windows was announced the winner of both the Customer Care Award and Energy Efficiency Initiative of the Year.

'The G05 Awards celebrate the best of the best,' comments Alan Burgess, Managing Director of Masterframe, 'and winning both these awards, as well as just being pipped to the post for the Fabricator of the Year category, is great recognition for our hard working employees, and a superb third party endorsement for the dedication we provide our clients.

We aim to delight and exceed expectations in whatever we do. After all if you are not moving forwards, you are actually moving backwards as others pass you by, so staying at the forefront of the industry is crucial. These awards just go to prove we have the bells and whistles to make the best PVC-U sash window on the market. Other people are still playing catch up with our BBA certificate, and now we’re also the first window company to get a BFRC rating, an achievement that won us the Energy Efficiency Initiative award.

Customer care is the top priority at Masterframe, winning the Customer Care Award was really special, and I’d like to publicly thank the whole team for making this happen.'

Not content with the recent accolade, Masterframe has also won through to the regional finals of the 2005 National Business Customer Focus Award, sponsored by Orange, held later this month.

Thermlock Sales Drive Better Energy Efficiency

Sales of Thermlock, the patented thermally enhanced reinforcement system from Sheerframe systems manufacturer LB Plastics, have reached record levels and are now challenging the sales of standard profile reinforcement.

Reflecting the shift by fabricators throughout the UK and Ireland towards the optimum energy efficiency window, in the past 12 months sales of Thermlock have increased by 1200 per cent, a remarkable level given that the product was only launched in 2003.

At the same time, sales of standard aluminium and steel reinforcement have fallen as fabricators continue their development of windows which are stronger, more secure and thermally superior.

Conventionally reinforced three chamber profiles struggle to beat the 2.0W/m2K requirement under current Part L regulations (England) and Park J (Scotland).

Where Thermlock reinforcement is used, the important 1.8W/m2K U-value is easily surpassed without the need for exotic combinations of glass and gas.

The full significance of Thermlock is being seen now that the focus is switching to the energy window and the BFRC rating system.

It is believed that window makers will only be able to achieve fully reinforced BS7950 for windows and energy ratings of C or above if they use Thermlock reinforcing.

David Strang, Sheerframe product director says, 'The continuous tightening of energy efficiency standards under Part L and Part J in Scotland makes Thermlock a vital component in today's windows'.

'But the system benefits fabricators in many ways, particularly in terms of strength, its workability and marketing potential, and we believe this excellent combination is driving change at this rapid pace.' Launched two years ago, the Thermlock system enables fabricators to achieve a structurally sound, energy efficient window, reinforced as required, in the full range of style options including composite doors and top reversibles.

Encapsulating the metal reinforcing material with a specialist thermoplastic compound transforms its qualities in a number of ways.

Different Thermlock profiles are designed to sit snugly and neatly within specially designed chambers within the Sheerframe 7000 and Sheerframe 6000 systems.

Thermlock delivers a torsional rigidity many times better than steel and its deflection strength is 35 per cent stronger than standard aluminium.

http://www.sheerframe.co.uk

New Avocet customer Midland Window Group of Coventry has already exceeded its initial target for the first six months of trading within just eight weeks of opening for business. The company had originally planned on manufacturing up to 150 frames per week by September 2005 but has already achieved this milestone four months early, with its Managing Director Manj Sanghera reporting rapidly growing local interest in its products and services.

Based in a purpose-built 4,000 sq ft factory in Binley Industrial Estate, Coventry, Midland Window Group has already invested around £120,000 in new machinery in order to achieve its ambition to provide a better quality of service for local installers and tradesmen. Says Manj Sanghera:

‘When we looked at the possibility of setting up on our own, we found that a lot of people locally were fed up with not getting the basic service they felt they deserved from their suppliers. My view is that my customer’s problem is my problem. If I have to go out at odd hours sometimes to fulfil our obligations, then that’s what has to be done. Midland is providing local window companies with the right service and the right attitude, and that’s why we are succeeding where others are failing.’

It was important to Manj that the company choose the right hardware supplier, and for this he sought out familial advice:

‘We are a Rehau fabricator and we target the quality end of the market, so it was vital that the hardware we offered was compatible. My uncle Harminger Singh runs Euroglazing Limited, a major fabricator with three locations in Southall, Derby and Gravesend, and he recommended Avocet to us. Having spoken at length with our local Avocet sales rep, Chris Williams, we were happy to take my family’s advice and go with the company. Avocet has a very strong product portfolio and it has the right approach to match ours. In particular its staff were very supportive, especially during the important set-up period. What impressed us also was the feeling that the Avocet team was always ‘on-hand’ if we ever needed any advice or help.’

Having got off to a flying start, Midland Window Group has re-assessed its initial targets and now has high hopes of achieving a weekly output of 300 plus frames by the end of the year. The company, which sells doors and conservatories in addition to its windows, has also begun to supply Synseal’s Global roof and has started selling a new patio door line. Plans are already underway to invest £10,000 in a mezzanine floor at the Coventry factory to extend production still further. Says Manj Sanghera:

‘We plan to fill the service gap that currently exists in this area and become the number one choice for local installers.’

For further information contact Manj Sanghera, Midland Window Group on 02476 445551.

Devlin Glazing has been trading for almost 15 years and is now firmly established in the manufacture of double glazed units. Currently the company manufactures 95% of its double glazed units using Edgetech Super Spacer®.

‘Our customers appreciate the fact that we manufacture a quality warm edge unit,’ explains Dermot Devlin, Owner of Devlin Glazing. ‘The increased thermal performance and longer life durability are only a few of the advantages we receive.’

Last November the company invested in a new Willian IG production line capable of producing 600 units per day, a significant upgrade from the old line. Dermot continues: ‘Our aim is to manufacture a quality warm edge double glazed unit to the correct specification delivered on time to our customers.’

Tel: 02476 705570

Allweather Group, based in Vacaville CA, is taking delivery of the company's third Ashton Industrial fully automated glass arrissing line for processing random, mixed lite sizes at high speed. The very first of these lines in the USA was installed at Allweather's Vacaville site five years ago, and the first of the upgraded PLC-controlled MK2 lines was delivered two years later. This third, latest generation line is headed for Allweather Group's factory in Phoenix, Arizona Tempering. It features vacuum belt hold-down for processing small lites, and seams a pane top and bottom on all 4 sides every 7 seconds. Logo marking is performed by an integrated CO2 laser without cycle time penalties.

Glasswerks Group has also taken delivery of a second Ashton automatic arrissing line for the company's new Catalina Tempering facility in Los Angeles. It too features laser logo marking and adds to the capacity of their first Ashton line commissioned in 2002.

Northwestern Industries' new Yuma, Arizona plant will be serviced by a high speed Ashton arrissing line with simultaneous on-line edge deletion capability, and a new fully automated system for building rows and batches of panes for the tempering furnace.

Tel: +44 (0) 208 551 4046
Email: mailto:sashton@ashton-industrial.com
Web: http://www.ashton-industrial.com

In the first four months of the current year, the Conzzeta Group increased net revenues by 9.8% to CHF 338.2 million (previous year: CHF 308.0 million). On a comparable basis, i.e. adjusted for the effects of acquisitions and currency translation, the rise was 8.6%.

This improvement is largely due to the positive development in Sheet Metal Processing Systems (Bystronic) and Glass Processing Systems (Bystronic glass). As a result of the disproportionate rise in material costs, the operating result (EBIT) showed only a marginal rise to CHF 12.4 million (CHF 11.8 million). Thanks to extraordinary revenues from the sale of real estate, the Group profit reached CHF 10.9 million (CHF 8.4 million).

Business units

The Sheet Metal Processing Systems business unit increased revenues to CHF 144.8 million (CHF 122.4 million) in the first four months of the current year, a rise of 18.3% compared with the result in the same weak period of 2004. The takeover of two sales companies in Great Britain and Sweden contributed to the growth in revenues. The level of new orders was slightly down compared with a year ago.

In the Glass Processing Systems business unit, sales grew by 19.1% to CHF 53.6 million (CHF 45.7 million). This was largely due to the increased demand for automotive glass and insulating glass systems as well as the welcome recovery in the North American and Asian markets. New orders were on a par with the healthy levels seen in previous months.

The Coating Materials business unit reported sales of CHF 32.2 million, on a par with the previous year's level. Sales in the architectural paints division were higher thanks to the acquisition of the remaining 50% equity in the Jordan Peinture SA sales company. Sales of print finishing products fell compared with the strong performance in 2004. As already announced, the architectural paints division (SWISS LACK Group) will be sold to Akzo Nobel with effect from January 1, 2006.

Robert Seckler AG (production automation), incorporated under Other Industrial Activities, improved its sales by 50% in the first four months of the year. PREBETON SA (prefabricated concrete) held sales at 2004 levels. Both companies have healthy order books.

Outlook
After a marked recovery in the business climate in 2004, growth slowed in a number of sectors during the first months of the current year. Raw material prices for chemical products and steel were up, while the competitive and margin pressure persisted.

New orders are solid in the Conzzeta Group's operating units. Measures to strength market presence, increase productivity and introduce new products will continue. For the 2005 business year, the Conzzeta Group expects revenue growth above all in Machinery and Systems Engineering. Increased raw material costs will have an impact on results.

Connaught Windows is celebrating its move to a new two acre site at Wallisdown, Bournemouth where it has capacity to double its manufacturing output and consolidate its position as a leading window and conservatory fabricator in the south.

'The continuing success of Connaught Windows is largely due to its ability to remain competitive on price while achieving superior quality and service and guaranteed delivery times. In the 12 years since it was set up, the company has continuously reinvested profits in its manufacturing equipment and a staff of nearly 50 experienced operators and technicians.' says Managing director Steve Witzcak.

Connaught Windows founders Steve and Linda Witczak with sales manager Jackie Macey (in red)

Steve , who set the company up with his wife Linda, continues to be a regular presence on the shop floor: 'I worked as a window installer myself, and I know the problems fitters face on site if windows are badly made or not delivered on time. I take personal satisfaction in ensuring that every window and conservatory kit that leaves our factory meets Connaught standards.'

The new factory has had to get up to speed immediately to cater for increasing demand for Connaught's conservatories and the new vertical sliding windows, perfect replacements for traditional sash windows in Victorian and Edwardian properties that are opening up a whole new market for installers.

At the recent series of half-day events held around the UK, over 95% of attendees supported the formation of Proskills, the prospective Sector Skills Council, which will work with Government to develop the skills that UK business needs in five key industry sectors: Glass, Extractives, Paint & Coatings, Building Products and Print. One of the key features of Proskills will be its employer-led approach.

The sessions, which were held in Cardiff, Belfast, Manchester, London and Glasgow attracted more than 200 people from the sector, including 30 people working within the glass and glass products sector. At each of which Terry Watts, Proskills’ newly appointed CEO, outlined the purpose and structure of the new venture and then led discussion in group sessions where participants discussed the key skills issues, the role of Government in the industrial training arena and how Proskills will help will help meet current challenges.

Feedback from the roadshows identified four key skill priorities for the sector: recruitment and development of young people into the industry, improvement of management competence, continuous development of the workforce and Health and Safety competencies.

Acting on the first of these, Proskills is already undertaking a £190,000 project, to look at ways of attracting more young people in a job-market where competition from ‘sexier’ industries, such as media and IT, make it difficult to recruit into the industry, despite the many exciting opportunities that are available. The project will look at good practice across the sector, leading to the creation of a set of new and modified Apprenticeship programmes which are expected to be available in the Spring of 2006.

To quote Barry Chilvers, Chairman of the Glass and Glazing Federation Training Forum, and a Director of Anglian Home Improvements: ‘We can now pool a mass of experience and channel it in such a way to have a major impact on our Industry. The Glass and Fenestration Industries have desperately needed such a scheme (even if they didn’t know it) for all the years I have worked in the industry.’

Contact:: Terry Watts
Tel: 0114 275 9345
Email: mailto:info@proskills.org.uk
Web: http://www.proskills.org.uk

Despite the dwindling numbers at last month's Glass Processing and Technology show, Albert Equipment UK feels that its presence, for the first time at this event, was a great success. The choice of machinery to exhibit proved inspired, as Albert Equipment UK appeared to be able to cater for both the traditional processors as well as the decorative glass market.

'Although obviously disappointed with the overall numbers at the show, we were impressed by the quality and diversity of the leads we obtained' says Damien Pooley, Product Manager at Albert Equipment UK. 'Originally, we went to the show with the intention of getting ourselves and our products better known in the UK, but we are delighted to say that we have already received orders off the back of our appearance there. We have also got some interesting ideas for future products thanks to some of the people that we met at the exhibition'.

On the Albert Equipment UK stand was exhibited a 3F-110 nine-wheeled straight line edging machine, used for the arissing, grinding and smoothing of flat glass edges and a 4S- 1600A automatic sandblasting machine that has the capacity to sandblast glass 1600mm high at up to 9 linear metres per second.

Tel: 0121 7333003
Email: mailto:sales@albertequipment.co.uk

The latest decorative glass product developments from RegaLead are proving a big hit with Direct Door Panels. The West Yorkshire-based door company has recently expanded its glazing options with RegaLead’s Fused Glass Tile System and RegaLead’s embossed films.

Direct Door Panels offers fabricators and installers a comprehensive choice of PVC-U infill door panels and composite doors. ‘RegaLead probably supplies 95% of our glazing materials, including bevels, self adhesive lead strips and coloured films,’ says Paul Edwards, Direct Door Panels’ Sales and Marketing Manager. ‘The company has a fantastic range, and with products like its new fused glass tile system we can offer our customers something really different and exciting.’

RegaLead’s recently launched Fused Glass Tile System consists of 48 designs of fused glass tiles that can be bonded to glass to create stunning decorative effects for applications such as door panels, glazed partitions and furniture. And, over 20 new designs will be introduced by mid 2005.

The recently extended Stained Glass Art Film range offers a choice of both traditional and contemporary glass effects. New styles include the Semi-Opaque Wisps and Embossed Backgrounds, and a wider choice of designs and colours including pale, subtle shades as well as marble and new metallic effects.

Direct Door Panels is equally impressed with RegaLead’s service and marketing support. RegaLead literature can be overprinted, or supplied on CD for customers to produce their own personalised marketing material. In addition, the Stained Glass Art Film range is accompanied by a complete marketing package, including a catalogue and fan swatches showing all the colours, plus a CD version. ‘And the RegaLead bevel brochures and design software, for example, make it really easy for us to talk our customers through all the different bevelled glass options that we can offer,’ adds Paul.

Many of RegaLead’s new bevels are specifically suited to the composite and infill panel door market, and are unique to RegaLead. The enhanced bevel range includes 22 new door bevels, plus 9 for fanlights, and15 new multi-faceted and feature bevels.

Paul concludes: ‘As a forward-thinking company we are always looking to stay one step ahead, which is why we like working with a market-leader like RegaLead, whose innovative ideas set the trends rather than simply follow them.’

Tel: 0161 946 1164
Web: http://www.regalead.com

In order to supply installers with the latest in technological advancement, Sierra Windows has made a successful transition to using high performance Low E soft coat glass as standard in all glazed products.

'The change has been extremely well received by our customers,' explains Brian Webb, Sales and Marketing Director. 'The benefits of the new glass are many and this has led to a dramatic increase in our glazed business. Installers who used to buy unglazed frames have switched to glazed, simply because the high levels of quality and service from Sierra are hard to rival.

'From a purely aesthetic point of view, Low E soft coat has a far superior appearance. It looks clean, clear and bright, and lets in more light. In addition, it offers 13% better thermal efficiency, making it very popular all round with homeowners.

Tel: 08700 113706
Web: http://www.sierrawindows.co.uk

Stockport-based fabricator Alexander Windows has come up with a solution for would-be trade customers who want the quality of the Kömmerling window system, but can’t compete in their market place on the price.

Alexander’s trade showroom has recently been refurbished to feature a new, specially-designed concept, which is rapidly being snapped up by installers who previously felt Kömmerling was out of their price range.

Says Marketing Director Richard Robinson: ‘Many potential new trade customers loved our window, recognising the system as one of the best on the market. However, we were regularly putting a lot of energy into quoting for new trade business, only to be told the window would be too expensive for their end-user customers.

‘We had a top quality product, but were competing against companies offering an inferior window system with different locking mechanisms.’

So Kömmerling Lite has been introduced for its trade supply-only customers. It comprises the Kömmerling Connoisseur profile, but with a series of reduced specifications in other aspects of the window. ‘This means we can cut down on overall production time, making the finished product more affordable for our trade customers who have to compete in a more price-sensitive market.

‘We did look at a couple of other window systems to manufacture alongside Kömmerling, in order to be able to offer a cheaper window, but nothing on the market could give us the quality we needed. So we came up with this new concept, which makes Kömmerling available to a sector of the market who previously would not have been able to afford it, by giving them all the meat, in terms of the window profile, but not quite so much of the gravy.’

Trade business currently accounts for 28% of Alexander’s turnover, but Richard forecasts that figure will grow considerably over the coming 12 months, through Kömmerling Lite.

Alexander Windows was founded by Managing Director Steve Wood (pictured above) and his wife Gaenor (who is Richard’s sister) in the summer of 1991. Gaenor had just given birth to their son, Alexander – and Steve says it was the perfect name for the company, too, being strong and dynamic, and putting them first in the Yellow Pages!

Now one of the leading fabricators in the Manchester area, Alexander Windows employs around 60 people at its 30,000 square foot site, currently manufacturing up to 350 frames a week, with turnover running at £4.5m.

Pumping profits into constantly improving and updating the company is a major part of the Alexander ethos, having invested over half-a-million-pounds in new technology and machinery in the last 12 months. ‘It’s led to considerable efficiencies in the manufacturing process, meaning we’re now able to make more windows with our existing workforce,’ says Steve Wood.

And moving with the times has always been a fundamental way that Alexander Windows works as a fabricator. This is reflected in its decision to manufacture only one of Kömmerling’s three systems. ‘Previously we used to fabricate from the 70mm GOLD system and the third-generation curved ovolo system, Connoisseur.
But Connoisseur’s classically-curved ovolo shape more accurately replicates the type of windows our own installation operation, run by Martin Edwards, was replacing. Also, it was successfully test-marketed to our trade customers by Trade and Commercial Manager Russell Palmer, and as a result it’s the only system we use now.’

The company prides itself on being used as a ‘working factory showroom’ by Kömmerling, and another of its long-standing key suppliers, Elumatec. Following Alexander Windows’ purchase of a SBZ615 saw centre and quad head vertical welder, Elumatec is now bringing potential customers into Alexander to see the machine in action.

‘We’ve got several different types of Elumatec machines, and it looks like we’re going to be a working factory showroom for the company in the UK on an on-going basis,’ says Alexander Windows’ Operations Manager Sean O’Hara. ‘A number of companies have already been in to see how we fit the machinery into our shopfloor set-up to ensure maximum production efficiency. And several more are booked in over the coming few weeks.’

The new saw centre and quad welder work on a production line with several other pieces of Elumatec equipment, including two CNC machines, a four head and a three head welder, and two single head variable angle welders.

‘It’s the way we use the combination to maximum effect, that makes Alexander Windows such a good example for fabricators considering investing in such state-of-the-art machinery.’

Kömmerling also uses Alexander as a ‘centre of excellence’ frequently taking fabricators considering switching to the Kömmerling Connoisseur system, to see the plant in operation. ‘We’ve recently had companies in from as far apart as Scotland and London,’ says Sean O’Hara.

Another aspect of Alexander’s philosophy is the company’s moral social responsibility. ‘We benefit from the local community – we make our living from them, so we feel it’s only right to put something back,’ says Richard Robinson.
The company’s latest charity contribution is to sponsor its local radio station’s calendar to raise money for Christies Hospital in Manchester. It’s the largest cancer treatment centre of its kind in Europe, and an international leader in cancer research and development. ‘We’ve sponsored Miss September – she’s one of the radio station’s senior account executives, and she came along to our manufacturing plant and was photographed amongst the windows and the machinery.’

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles' record sales figures have been boosted again with a major order from Glasgow City Council. Throughout 2005, more than 200 Caddy vans will be delivered to the local authority by Glasgow's Verve Volkswagen Van Centre, where they will provide transport for almost all of the Council's departments.

Providing key services to a population of over 600,000, front-line council operatives from areas including road maintenance; building services maintenance; care services; cleansing; parks; social work; education; and environment protection services, will all benefit from the versatile Caddy's benchmark specifications and legendary reliability.

John Kilian, Transport Manager for Glasgow City Council, explains why this van is becoming so popular in both the public and private sectors:'Glasgow City Council needed a van that could meet the many demands of its different departments. Combining the quality construction you'd expect from Volkswagen with exceptional load capacity, the Caddy provides us with the flexible working platform we were looking for.'

The Volkswagen Caddy has set new standards in the compact van sector, with a payload of 819 kg (including driver), and a load volume of 3.2 m2. The only van in its class to have a side-loading door fitted as standard, a second side door is also available as an option. A comprehensive package of safety features, comprising ABS, traction control and engine braking control, is fitted as standard.

Each Caddy van in Glasgow City Council's fleet will clock-up between 15,000 and 25,000 miles a year, and so fuel efficiency is paramount. The Caddy's two diesel engines provide outputs of 69 PS and 104 PS, and employ Volkswagen's Pumpe Düse fuel injection system, offering greater efficiency and fuel economy than conventional diesel engine technology.

In 2004, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles achieved sales of 20,803 units, which represents a 27.2 per cent increase over 2003 - itself a record year. The record-breaking figure gave the company a 6.2 per cent share of the UK light commercial vehicle market.

For further information on the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles range or to find your nearest Volkswagen Van Centre, call 0800 717131 or visit http://www.volkswagen-vans.co.uk