Glassex
2003 Shows the Industry's Soft(ware) Side
With
a buoyant UK conservatory industry prompting the creation of an increasing
number of information technology solutions specifically designed for this
sector, it is hardly surprising that this year's Glassex heralds the highest
number of software exhibitors attending the event to date. Many of the
industry's most established software companies - and some of its newest
entrants - will be using Glassex 2003 as the platform for new products
and ideas, both for the conservatory and window markets.
One such company is Midlands based software developer Ab Initio Software,
creator of the successful AdminBase database application for the window
industry. The company's Installation & Training Manager Roy Vassie
is looking forward to introducing additions to the AdminBase system at
Glassex 2003:
'Ab Initio software is returning to Glassex for the sixth consecutive
year because we feel that Glassex gives us a unique opportunity to demonstrate
our product. Previous years have proved to be very productive for us,
producing excellent levels of interest and sales. In common with most
companies we also look on Glassex as the ideal place to demonstrate new
features like our latest Client Server version that will be available
in 2003.'
Windowlink Ltd is taking its largest ever stand at the event to promote
its solutions. Says Managing Director Giles Hayhurst:
'We always look forward to Glassex for two reasons: it gives us a cracking
start to our Financial Year which begins in April and it's a great venue
for demonstrating our latest developments to both new and existing customers.
Our product range has expanded considerably in both conservatory, windows
and doors sales presentation and manufacturing software, and so 2003 sees
us take our largest stand ever as a showcase for a whole portfolio of
brand new developments.'
Visitors to this year's Glassex event can also look forward to new developments
from First Degree Systems, whose Operations Manager Alan Bark has promised
'a collection of additions and enhancements to its established range of
software products'.
Other software and hardware suppliers worth looking at will include first-time
Glassex exhibitor Production Software Technology, Business Micros, Caliburn,
Comfortable Software.com, Clear Thinking Software and Conservatories Online.com.
Web: http://www.glassex.com
New
Information on Day Lighting and Design Trends at GPD 2003 Architectural
Sessions
Glass Processing Days (GPD), will take place on June 15-18 2003 in Tampere,
Finland. More than 900 glass industry decision-makers from more than 60
countries are expected to participate.
Architectural sessions of the conference will have highly respected architects,
designers and glass specialists as speakers. Topics of the sessions covers
for example present-day trends in glass buildings, new developments, glass
as an indoor and outdoor building material and use of artistic elements
and day lighting.
The GPD 2003 conference is honoured to have Mr Jacques Aschenbroich, Senior
Vice President of Compagnie de Saint-Gobain, Chairman and CEO of Saint-Gobain
Vitrage and Managing Director of the Flat Glass Division of La Compagnie
de Saint-Gobain as Opening Speaker. Mr Jacques Aschenbroich's presentation
will consist of Saint-Gobain's views on the industry's latest trends and
on the future challenges of glass compared to other competing materials.
Deutsche Post Tower as a case study in the architectural sessions:
One of the most interesting architectural case studies to be introduced
at GPD 2003 is Deutsche Post Tower in Bonn, Germany, designed by Architect
Helmut Jahn and Prof. Dr. Werner Sobek. The case study will analyse the
entire design process of the interesting glass tower. The target is to
go through all the design and construction challenges and found solutions
in order to give useful aspects to be considered in glass architecture.
One of the interesting architectural sessions anticipated by the architects,
designers and architectural glass specialists is Current trends in glass
exterior glazing and interior use. The chairmen of the session are Architect
Mr. James Carpenter from James Carpenter Design Associates Inc., Mr. Andrew
Hall from Ove Arup & Partners Facade Engineering and Mr. Lasse Vahtera
from the Finnish Association of Architects.
'Each day the glass becomes more important and versatile element in the
architecture. These days it is not any more a window, but glass has become
a value-added product giving very essential touch for the design. The
Glass Processing Days conference has the ambitious goal to assist the
glass industry and architects to innovate together new technologies and
ways to use glass and combine it with the other building materials by
providing the right forum', says Mr Jorma Vitkala, Chairman of the Organising
Committee.
New Technical Developments and Applications:
One of the targets of Glass Processing Days is to generate new technological
innovations. One of the architectural sessions is solely concentrating
on new developments and applications. The Chairmen of this session are
Dr. Norbert Wruk from Pilkington Deutschland AG and Mr. Frank Rubbert
from Saint-Gobain Glass. One of the invited Speakers are Dr. Kevin D.
Sanderson from Pilkington Technology Centre and he will talk about Photocatalytic
coatings for self cleaning glass. The other invited speaker is Mr. Philippe
Armand from Saint-Gobain Glass he will also talk about self cleaning coatings
for architectural applications.
Glass Processing Days has been organised seven times. The first conference
in 1992 attracted 30 participants. In 1994 the number of the participants
exceeded 100, and in 1997 the conference attracted over 600 participants.
GPD is organised by Tamales, which is part of Gyro Technologies. Tamales
designs and manufactures safety glass lines and machines for the architectural,
automotive, furniture and domestic appliance glass industries.
Contact: Mr Jorma Vitkala, Chairman of the Organising Committee
Tel: +358 (0) 40 553 2042
Web: http://www.glassfiles.com
or http://www.glassprocessingdays.com
Tests
Show PVC with Calcium Zinc Lasts Better and Longer
'Weathering
tests conducted for PVC compound supplier, Doeflex-Vitapol, the PVC division
of Vita Thermoplastic Compounds Ltd confirm that products based on calcium
zinc stabilisers significantly outperform lead-based alternatives.' says
the company.
Doeflex-Vitapol,
recently launched their new CAL-X range of calcium zinc based rigid PVC
extrusion and moulding compounds to meet the need for environmentally
friendly products and the Europe-wide commitment to switch from lead based
products.
'Results show that ecologically sound calcium zinc is still 'fit for purpose'
after 15 years exposure to the elements, while lead-based PVC suffered
significant colour loss,' comments Tony Walsh, Managing Director of Freefoam
Plastics, a manufacturer of roofline and rainwater systems. 'Virtually
all installers and stockists are aware of the risks of discolouration
with lead based PVC, but these tests demonstrate that PVC profiles with
calcium zinc also look better, for much longer than lead based formulations
which fade much sooner.'
'Freefoam have used advanced calcium zinc in foam profiles, mouldings
and rainwater for some time, because we believe that it makes a better
board in terms of impact resistance, workability and finish. Thanks to
calcium zinc and CAL-X's 'colour lock®' technology we offer a 20 year
extended guarantee on all our products. It's a first in our industry.'
Tel: 01604 759871
Web: http://www.cal-x.co.uk
Learning
from History? - The Wired Glass Debate Hots Up
Tom
Ritchie of CGI International comments:
'As a fire glass manufacturer based in Europe, we have for some months
been following the 'debate' between the wired glass v safety lobbies.
This is a serious matter and our comments are not, in any way, seeking
to deny the existence of the problem.
'In many aspects of our glass industry, the world seems a small place,
with good technology ideas being transferred, licensed or copied in a
very short time.
'But in this current fire glass/wired glass debate, we really do feel
that, for once, we in Europe have 'been there, done it and are already
wearing the tee shirts'.
'The use of imbedded wired glass is widespread in the UK, where one of
its manufacturers is based but the waiver on fire glass, which is not
impact safe was, in England, removed in the early 1990's, due partially
to safety pressure groups but also, essentially, by the new availability
of non-compromise fire/safety glass products.
'These 'new' products fall into several categories, which are:
* Thicker wire/thicker glass - in the imbedded wired product, which will
achieve the UK minimum impact level of the 12" ball drop (equivalent
to ANSI Z97.1).
* Laminated wired - an unique process to produce Pyroguard Wired, by combining
wire and resin interlayers which will achieve 18" ball drop (category
1)
* Wire free fire glasses #1, bespoke manufactured, tempered products,
which can easily achieve category 2 impact but may be limited to steel
frame details and non-hose stream fire usage.
* Wire free fire glasses #2, tempered outer, reactive gel-filled, which
can do it all - up to 120 minute fire plus hose-stream but (currently)
only made in Europe and shipped piece-by-piece.
* Wire free fire glasses #3, stock-size produced, reactive interlayer
laminated glasses, which can be held in stock locally and easily cut-to-size
(thicker, longer time zones may need to be saw-cut).
'In this final grouping #3, our company CGI International, purchased the
Pyroguard product range in 1994, manufactures in the UK and already exports
to many international markets. Pyroguard is a special resin-laminate in
the #3 range.
'For the US, we have successfully tested both Pyroguard Wired and Pyroguard
Clear (non-wired) for 20 minute fire stoppage in wood and steel and, importantly,
both products achieve category 1 impact standard and are simple three-ply
laminates, which can be held in stock and cut; no filming, no coatings,
no edge tape - just cut and go.
'The safety debate is a real one but the products to solve the apparent
dilemma are already invented, and tested, and stocked in the USA.
We hope by the communicative means of The Gl@zine, we can make this knowledge
more widespread.'
CGI International Ltd
Tel: 011 44 20 7 960 6060
Email: mailto:info@cgii.co.uk
Web: http://www.cgii.co.uk
Morty
to Spend more Time with his Family
Gary
Morton, Chief Executive Officer for Deceuninck Holdings (UK) Ltd, is taking
a new role within the UK operation from January 2003.
'I
have lived away from my family and home for some 16 years now and it is
time to redress the imbalance between my personal and professional lives,'
explained Gary. 'Last year alone I spent over 160 nights away on business.
With this in mind I have been discussing my ongoing role with our Group
CEO Clement De Meersman for some months and we have agreed that I will
work as a Non-Executive Director on a part-time basis. This move will
also allow me to pursue other interests I have which are closer to home.
'My role wlll be to assist in the implementation of the strategy we have
been working on for the last twelve months, advise the management teams
in the relevant companies and continue the relationship I have with our
many customers in the UK group', continued Gary.
Clement De Meersman the Deceuninck Global CEO commented 'It is always
sad for a Group such as ours to lose a key member of the Management team.
However I am delighted to have been able to agree for Gary to continue
in another capacity and therefore retain his skills in the UK Group'.
Gary added, 'I have to thank the Group and Clement in particular for their
understanding in this matter. It demonstrates clearly how professional
they are. As a result I am delighted to continue playing a role in the
UK Group's continued success'
Tel: 01249 816969
Web: http://www.deceuninck.com
Alcoa
Acts to Lower Costs; Announces 4th Quarter Loss; Awards Dividends
Alcoa
Inc. announced on 8th January actions designed to accelerate its cost
reduction initiatives and further focus its business portfolio to increase
long-term earnings power. These fourth quarter actions include significant
restructuring efforts, particularly the sale of certain non-core businesses.
For the fourth quarter 2002, Alcoa announced a net loss of $223 million,
or $0.27 per diluted share, according to Generally Accepted Accounting
Principles.
Sales for the fourth quarter were $5.06 billion compared to $5.10 billion
in the fourth quarter of 2001. Sales for the year were $20.26 billion
compared to $22.50 billion for 2001. The loss for the fourth quarter of
$0.27 per diluted share compared to earnings of $0.23 in the third quarter
of 2002, and a loss of $0.17 in the fourth quarter of 2001. Net income
for the year 2002 was $0.49 per diluted share compared to $1.05 in 2001.
The 2002 results were negatively impacted by significantly lower realised
prices for primary aluminum and alumina, and lingering weaknesses in key
end markets.
Excluding one-time charges, income from continuing operations was $133
million, or $0.16 per diluted share in the quarter (see attached schedule).
Included within income from continuing operations was approximately $40
million ($0.05 per diluted share) in various non-recurring after tax charges,
the largest of which is an increase to its environmental reserves, principally
for the Grasse River site in New York. Through its Alcoa Business System,
the company also recorded a $40 million after-tax LIFO benefit by continuing
to reduce inventories and capturing the resulting savings.
'Global manufacturing weakness has persisted longer than we anticipated,'
said Alain Belda, Alcoa Chairman and CEO. 'In particular, aerospace, industrial
gas turbine and telecommunication markets remained soft, reinforcing the
need to increase the scope of our cost savings and restructuring initiatives.
These initiatives will give us increased flexibility for future profitable
growth opportunities in our core activities.'
Alcoa recorded a special after-tax charge of $95 million in the fourth
quarter of 2002 to restructure operations of businesses serving the aerospace,
automotive and industrial gas turbine markets, and in the U.S. smelting
system. The restructuring includes operations that have experienced negligible
growth, particularly in Europe and South America. The after-tax charge
includes costs for employee severance and asset rationalization, and will
affect approximately 8,000 employees at over 70 locations. While these
restructuring actions will take place in 2003, the majority of the economic
benefits will be realised in 2004.
Alcoa also announced that it has conducted a portfolio review of its businesses
and the markets they serve. It has established ongoing criteria for aluminum
and non-aluminum businesses, including the ability to grow in excess of
GDP or deliver superior returns in sectors where Alcoa has a sustainable
competitive advantage. As a result of this review, Alcoa intends to divest
certain businesses that do not meet these criteria in sectors such as
alumina and chemicals, packaging, building and construction, automotive
and general industrial and distribution. Certain of the businesses to
be divested include speciality chemicals, speciality packaging equipment,
architectural products in North America, commodity automotive fasteners,
certain fabricated operations in South America, a minority equity stake
in Latasa, and foil facilities in St. Louis, Missouri and Russellville,
Arkansas. These businesses generated approximately $1.3 billion in total
revenues in 2002. Proceeds from the sales will be deployed primarily to
reduce debt, increasing the company's flexibility for future growth opportunities
in its core businesses. The company recorded an after tax charge of $221
million in the fourth quarter of 2002 on the divestitures, $78 million
of which related to discontinued operations.
'The actions announced on 8th Januaryfurther Alcoa's drive to improve
our cost position in ongoing operations around the world, focus on customers
in key downstream sectors, and grow in core markets,' said Belda. 'These
initiatives, in conjunction with our continued focus on the application
of the Alcoa Business System, will ensure that we will exceed our cost
savings targets for 2003.'
At the end of the 2002 fourth quarter, Alcoa had achieved $600 million
in annualised cost savings toward its $1.0 billion 2003 goal. The run
rate at the end of the fourth quarter was $150 million, compared with
$140 million in the prior quarter.
As part of its annual review of goodwill, Alcoa also recorded a $20 million
impairment associated with assets serving the telecommunication market.
For the year 2002, net income was $420 million, or $.49 per share. Excluding
one-time charges, income from continuing operations was $779 million,
or $.92 per share. Excluding one-time charges, the effective tax rate
for 2002 was 30%.
As previously announced, Alcoa's accumulated pension obligation exceeded
the fair value of plan assets at year-end, which resulted in an $820 million
charge to equity. Cash contributions to the major pension plans in 2003
are not projected to be materially different than in 2002.
Alcoa began 2002 with 129,000 employees throughout the world. During the
year it completed a number of key acquisitions in core markets including
Ivex Packaging and Fairchild Fasteners with approximately 8,000 employees.
The company completed the year with 127,000 employees.
Alcoa Announces Dividend
The Board of Directors of Alcoa declared on 10th January a quarterly common
stock dividend of 15 cents per share payable February 25th, 2003 to shareholders
of record at the close of business on February 7th, 2003. This is Alcoa's
96th consecutive quarterly dividend on its common stock.
The directors also declared a quarterly dividend of 93.75 cents per share
on Alcoa's $3.75 cumulative preferred stock payable April 1st, 2003 to
shareholders of record at the close of business on March 14th, 2003.
Government
Tackles Noisy Neighbours Through Tougher Building Regs- but what about
acoustic glazing?
In
a move to deal with the misery of noisy neighbours, the Government is
demanding more robust building standards to improve soundproofing in new
homes and schools. Steps to protect sound privacy are included in recent
amendments to Part E the Building Regulations, which come into effect
next year. Official guidance on the amendments was published in December
2002. However, there appears to be a conspicious absence of any mention
of acoustic glazing as a solution to the problem of noise.
Announcing the new guidance on Part E of the Building Regulations dealing
with Resistance to the passage of sound, the Minister responsible for
Building Regulations, Christopher Leslie, MP, said:
'Too many people experience noisy neighbours, whether late night parties,
or loud television. This can have a significant impact on quality of life.
It is also one of the things councils get the most complaints about. At
a time when we are encouraging the construction industry to build to greater
densities, this issue is even more important.
'That is why I am publishing official guidance on new amendments to the
Building Regulations. The amendments and guidance will improve standards
of sound privacy between homes, and will go further to improve the sound
insulation of walls and floors within the home, as well as between rooms
in hostels, hotels and residential homes.
'The scope of Part E of the Building Regulations will extend beyond separating
walls and floors in houses and flats, to deal with reverberation in the
common parts of blocks of flats, and also acoustic conditions in schools.'
The new requirements for Part E come into force on 1st July 2003. Guidance
in the Approved Document to Part E refers to the introduction of a sampling
procedure, known as Pre-completion Testing, which checks that builders
are achieving the higher performance standards in new homes.
Pre-completion Testing for new houses and flats will come into force on
1st January 2004. This later date gives the House Builders Federation
time to develop Robust Standard Details (RSDs). The RSDs would be constructions
that perform consistently well, and so would not require regular testing.
Should the House Builders Federation successfully satisfy the Building
Regulations Advisory Committee on the practicality of the RSD approach,
the Government will consider further amending the Building Regulations
to allow new houses and flats using RSDs to be built without Pre-Completion
Testing.
Separate amendments dealing with fire safety will bring Part B of the
Building Regulations in line with new European Standards. The changes
recognise new European fire testing methods for construction products,
and reflect the requirements contained in the European Construction Products
Directive (CPD). The measure will enable manufacturers to market building
products more freely within the EU.
Referring to the Part B amendments, Christopher Leslie said:
'We are also addressing the need to remove barriers to trade in construction
products by providing guidance on new European fire safety testing measures
for those products. This will enable manufacturers to more easily comply
with European Standards as well as existing British Standards.
'Amendments to the Approved Document for Part B of the Building Regulations
come into effect on 1st March and will facilitate harmonisation between
our existing national test procedures and those which have been produced
in support of the Construction Products Directive (CPD).
Draft
Report on Quality Mark Business Plan
Government
officials have welcomed a draft business plan to develop the anti-cowboy
builders initiative the Quality Mark Scheme, from external specialists
Atkins Management Consultants.
The report, looking into the future of the Scheme and how it should achieve
its Government objectives of achieving critical mass and becoming ultimately
self- funding, endorses the viability of Quality Mark and offers a series
of recommendations on how Scheme membership might be boosted.
The draft report was well received when presented on Wednesday 18th December
to the Scheme's Shadow Ownership Group, which includes key stakeholders
from the construction industry, local government and consumer groups.
SOG members were to digest the detailed analysis and recommendations of
the 120-page report over Christmas and give feedback to Atkins by mid-January.
Then a final report will be produced for consideration by DTI officials
and Energy and Construction Minister Brian Wilson.
A DTI spokesman said:
'The document itself is very detailed, running to more than 120 pages
in its current form, and is intended to form the basis of discussions
between the DTI and the Quality Mark Shadow Ownership Group on future
direction, funding levels and arrangements for the Scheme in years ahead,
with the key themes being growth and self-funding.
'Rolling out the Quality Mark Scheme is a Manifesto commitment and it
is gratifying to note that the report says 'Potential net social benefits
if the scheme is successful are crudely estimated at around £10
billion in net present value terms, far outweighing the costs. This justifies
continued public spending.'
'The report's broad range of options and analysis will prove invaluable
in taking the Scheme forward. Quality Mark is one of the most important
innovations for the domestic construction sector for many years as it
seeks to restore the industry's reputation at the same time as tackling
a serious problem for homeowners.'
Quality Mark was launched to deal with the rising number of complaints
about Britain's number one consumer problem: cowboy builders in the domestic
repair, maintenance and improvement sector, where, nationally, Britain's
Trading Standards officers recorded 106,000 complaints over the last year.
This is thought to be the tip of the iceberg and official complaints are
estimated to be rising at around 5% a year.
The Government developed the Scheme in partnership with representatives
of the construction industry, consumer groups, local authorities and others.
Its dual purpose is to bring peace of mind and protection to consumers
at the same time as promoting rather than penalising legitimate practitioners
of the 20 associated building trades who work in people's homes.
The Scheme works by placing contact details of tradesmen who reach the
Quality Mark standard on a single national register. This is accessed
free-of-charge by phoning low cost call centre number 0845 300 80 40 or
via the internet at http://www.qualitymark.org.uk
Family
Business goes Nuts for Hometrim
Family-run
business, Chestnut Roofing, is the latest company in the North West to
be appointed as a registered stockist of the Hometrim range of PVC roofline
products from LB Plastics Ltd.
With
25 years of expertise as a roofing merchant, Cliff Cato, owner of Chestnut
Roofing (pictured right with delivery driver Bob Ambrose), was looking
to move into the PVC roofline market and found that Hometrim best suited
the company’s needs.
Says Cliff, 'We looked at a number of competitive ranges but decided to
go with Hometrim because of the 10-year guarantee offered by the manufacturer,
LB Plastics Ltd. The guarantee, and having a successful company name behind
us, means we can be confident we are giving our customers the best possible
products and that our reputation will not be affected by sub-standard
materials.'
The Hometrim range is made from high performance weatherproof PVCu and
is kite marked to 557619. The 10-year guarantee covers the range against
discolouration, warping, twisting and rotting, all common problems associated
with timber roofline products. Developed for use in both newbuild and
refurbishment projects, the range is widely accepted by planners as suitable
for use in conservation areas. In addition, Hometrim is available in classic
white or woodgrain finishes to complement any style of building.
Chestnut Roofing has branches in The Wirral and Liverpool and has seen
an increase in sales since choosing to stock Hometrim. Cliff Cato comments,
'We have been pleasantly surprised by the amount of Hometrim we have sold
in just a few months of stocking it. It has become a real asset to the
company and has opened up a new market for us.'
Tel: 01773 852311
Email: mailto:sheerframe@lbplastics.co.uk
Web: http://www.sheerframe.co.uk
Masterdor’s
Pioneering Partnership
Manse
Masterdor ltd has entered into a pioneering partnership with Calderdale's
largest registered social landlord, Pennine Housing 2000 on a five year
project that will involve thousands of tenants and properties in Halifax.
The partnership agreement will see Pennine Housing's in-house Building
Maintenance Services part-build new doors to the Masterdor specification,
which will then be fitted to tenants' homes as part of Pennine's £11
2m improvement programme.
A new door-assembly factory has been constructed at one of Pennine Housing's
maintenance depots and four additional jobs created for local people.
The partnership will have considerable benefits for Pennine, including
considerable cost-savings for the non-profit making organisation, allowing
more of its resources to be dedicated to tenant initiatives.
Martin Reed, workforce development manager at Pennine Housing 2000 said,
‘By involving us in the measuring, manufacturing and installation
of the doors, and giving us access to their ordering and product information
database, Manse Masterdor ltd has allowed us to guarantee a high level
of consistency and customer service.’
The project is part of Pennine Housing's promise to tenants to modernise
their homes. It aims to ensure that the houses meet the government's Decent
Homes Standard by replacing kitchens, bathrooms, heating systems and,
in some cases, knocking down and replacing pre-fabricated houses. Tenants
are playing a major role in steering the schemes with consultation a major
part of the planning process.
Manse Masterdor Ltd produces bespoke external doors and the Masterdor
has been produced for Housing Associations since 1992, enabling the company
to gain an understanding of the needs and priorities of tenants. In every
case, Masterdor door-sets are bespoke and available in a wide range of
style and colours. The company's production technique means that it can
supply some of the widest door-sets currently available on the market,
ensuring easier access and a higher level of security for disabled and
elderly residents.
Front
(from left to right): Steve Galloway, supervisor; Jeff Shaw, operations
manager; Eddie Kennedy, workshop operative and Mike Hudson, director of
Manse Masterdor.
Back (from left to right): Martin Reed, workforce devetopment manager;
Steve McConnachie, workshop operative and Steve Rowland, workshop operative.
Says Mike Hudson, director at Manse Masterdor, ‘We are delighted
to be working in such close partnership with Pennine Housing and to be
able to contribute to the local community in such a positive way. Our
aim is to provide the tenants with secure, attractive, weather-resistant
doors that can be easily maintained.’
Pennine's Building Maintenance Service will receive the part-manufactured
doors from the Manse Masterdor ltd base in Knaresborough and do the assembly
and finishing work. The three new Assembly workers and the new factory
supervisor Steve Galloway will be responsible for finishing the 7,000
doors and fitting them to traditional two, three and four bedroom properties.
The first few weeks of the project have been spent on specialised training
with Manse Masterdor personnel. ‘I'd never realised how much effort
Manse actually puts into these doors,’ said Steve Galloway. ‘The
quality and finishing of these doors is amazing.’
The first doors from the new factory were fitted to tenants' homes in
September 2002.
Tel: 01423 866868
Email: mailto:info@masterdor.co.uk
Web: http://www.masterdor.co.uk
Interframe
Ltd, the Paignton-based manufacturer of Rehau Tritec PVCu windows and
doors has recently expanded into the South London area.
Interframe has acquired its sixth trade counter, this time in Mitcham,
Surrey. This represents a significant step forward for the company, which
recently announced a £500,000 investment in new machinery at its
Paignton factory.
Managing Director, Warrick Butler, said 'The acquisition of the South
London trade counter represents the completion of a key part of our strategic
plan. It will enable us to develop further our customer base in the London
area where there is a huge potential for the sale of our products.'
Interframe now has trade counters in Plymouth, Paignton, Poole, Fareham,
Marlborough and Mitcham, and has a turnover of £12 million per annum.
Tel: 01803 666633
Email: mailto:mail@interframe.co.uk
Web: http://www.interframe.co.uk
Some
interesting snippets from the last couple of Email Bulletins from Glass
Training Ltd include courses on Glass Fusing from Pearsons Glass, a course
designed to improve your Report Writing Skills and an insight into Pyschometric
Testing in staff recruitment.
Report Writing Skills
Do you feel your report writing skills could be better but don't have
time to attend a course? We're running a 'learning pathway' distance learning
programme in report writing with one to one telephone counselling. For
more details contact: mailto:julia@glass-training.co.uk
Understanding Glass
Do you want your employees to have a better understanding of glass? Our
Glass Manufacture Open Learning Course is perfect for busy people who
need to study at their own pace. Contact: mailto:elaine@glass-training.co.uk
for more details.
Glass Fusing Courses
Glass Training Limited member, Pearsons Glass, is offering glass fusing
courses at its premises in Liverpool. This exciting way of processing
glass produces quite stunning pieces of work! Pearsons offers two courses
- basic and intermediate. Contact: mailto:info@pearsonsglass.co.uk
to find out more.
3 Year Contract - South Yorkshire
GTL has signed a 3 year contract with the LSC to assist companies in South
Yorkshire in the glass industry and related sectors to add value through
using Workforce Development Plans. It will be targeted at people employed
within the glass and related industries to support them to acquire the
personal and vocational skills required to enable them to perform more
effectively in the workplace. This project is partly funded by the European
Social Fund. For further information contact: mailto:julia@glass-training.co.uk
Selection of Staff
Psychometric testing can give you an insight into the skills and aptitude
of potential employees. If you are recruiting staff and need to carry
out some psychometric tests to help you make key decisions contact:
mailto:denis@glass-training.co.uk
Salmon Expects 'Around 20 SSCs'
Margaret Salmon, Chair of the Sector Skills Development Agency (SSDA),
has indicated that Sector Skills Councils (SSCs) are likely to need at
least `half a million employees' to gain a licence - and that the new
network may eventually be `around 20 SSCs', covering the majority of the
UK's workforce. Speaking at the Skills Convention in Salford Quays last
week, Ms Salmon also said that `good progress' had been made in establishing
the new network of SSCs. More details at: http://www.ssda.org.uk/newsletters/involve.shtml
Chrome-Free
First for Qualicoat UK
An
initiative to raise quality standards in architectural finishing
Strathclyde Powder Coatings (SPC) of Cumbernauld, Scotland is the one
of the latest companies to gain full approval by Qualicoat - the independent
quality label for architectural finishing - and become a member of Qualicoat
UK.
The company is also the first to be licensed in the United Kingdom as
users of chrome-free pre-treatment technology.
New Pretreatments
Correct pre-treatment of aluminium prior to coating is a vital stage in
the powder coating process. The total system must provide both decorative
and functional protection. For many years specifications such as British
Standard have asked for chromium conversion coatings.
However worldwide, environmental regulations have specifically targeted
hexavalent chromium, a highly effective but toxic material. For decades,
‘hex chrome,’ has been the primary ingredient and mainstay of
high-performance metal pretreatment.
The search for an alternative to hexavalent chromium has been lengthy.
The greatest difficulty is creating a formula that offers the protective
properties of chromium but without the toxicity, environmental hazards
and the handling risks.
Qualicoat Initiative
Qualicoat recognised the need to change from chrome but didn't want to
compromise performance standards. It therefore initiated an extensive
and thorough evaluation of alternative technologies. This involved both
laboratory and natural evaluation including a minimum three years outside
exposure test.
The first chrome-free systems were approved in 1996 and since then new
processes continue to be tested.
Strathclyde's Choice
Douglas McAllister, General Manager of SPC, commented that, ‘in choosing
a chrome-free process for our new production facility here in Cumbernauld,
Central Scotland, we were selecting the most advanced and environmentally
benevolent system available today.
‘The Qualicoat approval system allows us to look beyond current and
often outdated standards, which do not at present reflect the quality
and ecological ideals which this procedure is able to achieve.
‘We are confident that this new generation of architectural powder
coatings will stand SPC. in good stead for the future as environmental
issues will continue to dominate, dictate and influence government policy
and specifiers, not only in the UK but also throughout Europe.
‘SPC in it's short time of being approved, has been involved in major
architectural projects in rainscreen / overcladding components not only
in Scotland, but through out the mainland and off shore UK offering a
full cost effective service.’
Commenting further Douglas McAllister said, ‘Strathclyde chose the
Qualicoat system because it is independent. The Qualicoat inspector can
come at anytime and all visits are unannounced. This is key - it ensures
we must maintain our standards at all times. To meet Qualicoat's requirements
we have invested heavily in equipment and training of personnel but we
feel the investment is very worthwhile. We look forward to a long and
prosperous relation with Qualicoat.’
After the initial preliminary inspections and two full, unannounced, audits
Strathclyde Powder Coatngs gained their Qualicoat licence in April 2002.
Why specify Qualicoat pretreatments, powders and coaters
Since it's launch in the UK a year ago, Qualicoat UK is gaining in strength
and an increasing number of architectural coating companies are currently
undergoing the approval process. Holders of the Qualicoat label are independently
inspected and tested by accredited laboratories. The inspection covers
the entire coating process. Pre-treatment, powder and application are
all tested against a rigorous specification.
The whole process is intended to give architects peace of mind when specifying
a finish and when choosing a coating applicator. By going through the
meticulous approval process a coater shows his commitment to architectural
finishing and in turn gives confidence to the architect.
Contact: Mr. M. Askew
Tel: 0121 456 1103
Web: http://www.qualicoat.net
Ornamental Fence from Bufftech Combines the Appearance of Wrought Iron
with the Durability of Composite Technology
Bufftech,
a brand of CertainTeed Corporation, introduces the Prestige™ Series
line of ornamental composite fencing. Prestige fencing brings composite
technology to the fencing industry, combining the classic look of wrought
iron estate fencing, with the contemporary maintenance-free and durability
features homeowners expect today.
With the growing popularity of vinyl fencing, fence dealers have been
asking for a black, polyvinylchloride (PVC) ornamental fence to extend
their product offerings and take advantage of a segment of the market
that is currently dominated by steel and aluminum. That has never been
practical because of the inability to manufacture a fade-resistant, black
PVC fence that can withstand heat distortion.
Prestige fencing has a patent-pending, composite formulation of polypropylene
and fiberglass. This composite material is claimed to give Prestige fencing
fade-resistance and greater durability than its aluminum counterparts,
while capturing the smooth, distinctive matte finish look of wrought iron.
Prestige fencing is virtually maintenance free and never needs painting
or staining. It also carries a lifetime, limited warranty, including five
years of SureStart™ protection in the unlikely event a manufacturing
defect should occur during the early years following installation.
'One of the truly aesthetically pleasing aspects of this product is its
concealed fastening system,' says Chris Bourque, Director of Marketing
for Bufftech. 'There are no distracting screws or worries about chipped
paint from stripping the screws during installation like you typically
find on aluminum fences. This creates a very smooth look, an almost Old
World feel, with the estate elegance of wrought iron custom craftsmanship.'
Prestige fencing is available in several different styles for residential
use: 4' x 6' Top Rail, 4' x 6'and 5' x 6' Thru-Picket, and a 4.5' x 6'
Top Rail pool fence which meets all applicable pool codes. Tri-Point,
Ball Point, and Pyramid finial caps are available as accessories for the
Thru-Picket models.
Prestige fencing can be used in a number of residential applications:
around pools, the perimeter of properties, entrances to home developments,
and playgrounds. 'Prestige affords many of the features homeowners want
- security, durability and virtually no maintenance, and does so distinctively
without dominating the landscape,' says Bourque. 'Prestige is also highly
resistant to damage from day-to-day wear and tear, unlike aluminum which
can be damaged from everyday normal run-ins with lawn mowers or occasional
climbers,' he adds.
Prestige is one of many fence products marketed under the Bufftech brand
name, which is sold exclusively through professional fence dealers. Bufftech
products are manufactured by CertainTeed Corporation, an American manufacturer
of building materials including - fiber glass insulation; commercial and
residential roofing; vinyl and fibercement siding; vinyl windows and patio
doors; vinyl fence, deck and railing; ventilation and foundation products;
composite decking and railing; piping products and ceiling products. The
company is headquartered in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, and has approximately
7,000 employees and more than 40 manufacturing facilities throughout the
United States. The company had sales of approximately $2.2 billion in
2001.
Web: http://www.bufftech.com
or
http://www.certainteed.com
Chemetall
Adding Value to Glass
Chemetall's
Glass division is involved in the development, manufacture and sales of
chemical specialities for adding value to glass.
The product range comprises:
* Sealants for the manufacture of high performance insulating glass units
based on polysulfide and polyurethane.
* Laminating materials for the manufacture of laminated glass for sound
reduction, safety and security.
* Apart from the established range of resins for sound reduction and safety
applications, Chemetall offer product solutions for emergency exit systems
and high security applications.
* Resin systems for the manufacture of photo voltaic panels.
* Systems for modifying silicate surfaces. These products are used to
create durable , easy to clean coatings on glass.
* Within the Glass Division the Aachener Chemische Werke GmbH develops
and sells products for cleaning, cutting grinding and polishing of flat
glass and hollow ware.
Of increasing importance are the interleavant products which inhibit glass
corrosion of float glass in transit.
Extensive testing and advisory services are a component of Chemetall's
offering. The group's modern laboratories at its Frankfurt headquarters
offer facilities for the weathering and testing of insulating glass including
a sound test rig. Thanks to various own devices for testing laminated
glass products and access to a test shooting range and a testing facility
for explosion resistance, Chemetall is able to conduct comprehensive tests
of safety and security products.
The R&D work is supported by the Group's Central Analytical Laboratory.
The Glass Division is part of Chemetall's Strategic Business Unit Polymer
chemistry. Chemetall records annual sales of about 660 Million Euro and
has about 2,600 employees.
Web: http://www.chemetall.com