The GL@ZINE News

Following a short period in receivership BHD Building Products business, which services leading DIY retailers with conservatories, windows and doors, has been acquired by The Laird Group Plc for £4.2m.

The business, which has traded normally through receivership will now continue as a separate entity within The Laird Group, securing some 400 jobs and the future supply of the company’s range of home improvement products.

Commenting on the move, Geoff Drabble, Managing Director of Laird Security Systems, stated, ‘As a major supplier to BHD we have long been involved with this business which has secured a dominant market share in the retail sector and is continuing to grow its business through builders merchants.

‘The opportunities for BHD are immense as consumers migrate from specialist home improvement companies to large retailers and builders merchants who offer the comfort of dealing with a major company with extended guarantees as standard.

‘BHD has developed a range of innovative, easy to install products to meet the needs of this sector and with the backing of The Laird Group this position can only improve.’

The assets acquired, which have a book value of £7.7 million, generated turnover of £44.5 million in the year to 31 December 2003 with operating profits of £3.1 million. Turnover and operating losses in the six months to 30 June 2004 were £22.9 million and £0.1 million respectively.

Commenting further on the acquisition, Peter Hill, Chief Executive of Laird, said:
'This acquisition allows Laird Security Systems to enhance its position with the large UK retail groups at a time when consumers and trade buyers are focusing on well established outlets for significant DIY purchases.

'The businesses have an excellent product range and sound, long term relationships with major customers, and will benefit from synergies with, and the global reach of, the rest of the Group.'

Board Update:

Anthony Reading and Andrew Robb joined the Laird Board as Non-Executive Directors with effect from 1 September 2004. Andrew Robb becomes Chairman of the Audit Committee with effect from that date.

Tony Reading joins The Laird Group Board having recently retired from Tomkins plc, where for the last eleven years he was an Executive Director and Chairman and CEO, Tomkins Corporation, based in the USA. Prior to this Mr Reading held senior positions with several international companies including that of Group Chief Executive of the Manufacturing and Engineering Division of BTR plc. Mr Reading was recently appointed a Non-Executive Director of Spectris plc and e2v technologies plc.

Andrew Robb was an Executive Director of Pilkington plc responsible for relations with major partners and affiliates worldwide until 2003, having previously been Finance Director from 1989 until 2001. Prior to joining Pilkington Mr Robb held the position of Group Finance Director of P&O. Mr Robb is currently a Non-Executive Director and Chairman of the Audit Committee of Corus Group plc and Kesa Electricals PLC, and for ten years was a Non-Executive Director of Alfred McAlpine plc, where he was also Chairman of the Audit Committee.

Other Recent Acquisitions:

The Laird Group recently acquired Advanced Metal Technologies Inc. (Advanced) for a total consideration of $5.7 million (£3.1 million). In the year to 31 December 2003 Advanced reported sales of $6.5 million.

Advanced is a key supplier to Laird Security Systems' subsidiary Balance Systems Inc (BSI) in the US, providing the specialist coil extension springs used in the window balances for vertically sliding windows. BSI is the leading supplier of window balances to the US market.

The acquisition of Advanced is a further step in the vertical integration of BSI's supply chain and follows the successful acquisition of Fastek Products in 2001. This acquisition brings the technical knowledge, manufacturing expertise and product development opportunities of this key component in house.

Laird has also sold its Laird Plastics Division (Laird Plastics) to an affiliate of Blackfriars Corporation, a privately held, US based company, for a consideration of $65.0 million (£35.7 million) on a debt free basis. The decision to sell the business was set out in Laird's Interim Results Announcement on 3 August 2004. The sale proceeds will be used to reduce Group borrowings and to expand further the Group's core businesses.

Laird Plastics' turnover for the year ended 31 December 2003 was $209.8 million (£127.7 million) with operating profits before exceptional items and goodwill amortisation of $6.5 million (£4.0 million). Net assets which are the subject of the transaction are approximately $47 million (£26 million). Goodwill previously written off to reserves in respect of Laird Plastics amounts to approximately £17 million.

Laird Group made good progress during the first half of 2004, delivering strong turnover and profits growth. Profits before tax, exceptional items and goodwill amortisation increased by 26% to £21.3 million, up 38% at constant exchange rates.

Midlands entrepreneur John Armstrong reports that ‘From Southend to Scotland, firms have been clamouring to join the recently launched V4M (Value for Money, www.v4mtf.co.uk) scheme.’

John Armstrong (pictured) launched V4M this summer, offering firms nationwide the chance to act as exclusive dealerships in different areas of the country to sell and distribute supply-only PVCu products under the V4M banner to customers who order over the internet and has witnessed a great response to the scheme.

Each dealership has its own website where private and trade customers can log on and place specific orders without having to speak to anyone. Customers can also obtain online quotes, order and download conservatory base plans and 3D drawings.

Firms that join the scheme as dealerships will decide what they want to sell and will set their own prices on their individual websites. The V4M service will also filter business leads to its network of dealerships.

Internally beaded windows and doors will be manufactured and supplied, unglazed, for dealerships to sell in their exclusive area to trade, DIY, builders or anyone else needing PVCu products. In addition modular conservatories with more than 400 sizes available will also be offered.

Deliveries will be made to dealerships once a week and they will be able to process orders using V4M software which will generate invoices for customers.

John Armstrong, who has already built up his first business, Coventry-based U-fit.co.uk, said V4M had generated interest from around the country with people from Southend, East Yorkshire, Cumbria and Scotland already expressing an interest in joining.

He said: ‘Since the first dealership launched in Tamworth we have received several other enquiries from firms around the country about joining the V4M dealership.

‘V4M is a new concept, developed in response to changing trends in how people want to buy double glazing. We have a simple range of designs to keep things cost effective and believe the concept has huge potential in changing the way people buy their windows and conservatories.

‘I have been delighted with the response we have had so far but am obviously keen to hear from other firms around the UK which are interested in joining V4M. Hopefully, we will be able to reach our target of establishing 25 to 30 regional dealerships in England and Wales.’

A free seminar for prospective dealerships - which is being filmed by the BBC for a documentary - is being held in November and information about ticket availability is on the http://www.v4mtf.co.uk website.

Contact: John Armstrong
Tel: 024 7668 6682

Network Veka members will enjoy preferential discounts and benefits through a group purchasing deal signed with Travis Perkins, one of the UK’s leading builders’ merchants.

Members can take advantage of specially negotiated prices on more than 100,000 product lines and enjoy dedicated services such as tool hire, a brick matching service and Call-Collect, whereby their local branch will have their stocked goods and paperwork ready for collection in less than two working hours.

‘More than 50 of the organisation’s 140 member companies already use Travis Perkins for timber, building materials and silicone,’ said Network Veka Managing Director John Ogilvie, ‘This agreement will not only give members preferential terms with Travis Perkins but also help the entire membership make the most of our considerable buying power.’

Travis Perkins is continually extending its product range, supplying everything in building and home improvement from foundations to the roof tiles. Network Veka members can make excellent savings and get expert advice from knowledgeable staff - and with more than 700 branches nationwide, members are never far away from a branch of Travis Perkins.

Tony Provenzano, Travis Perkins’ Project leader for Network Veka, said: ‘As one of the UK’s leading builders’ merchants, Travis Perkins is looking forward being of service to, and building our relationship with, Network Veka members nationwide.’

The buying power from Network Veka has already broadened member benefits including privileged terms on a wide range of materials from extra guarantees on hardware to national fleet status on Renault cars and vans. Network Veka recently completed a deal with Henderson Garage Doors to give members exclusive terms on its popular ranges of GRP, steel and timber doors through the Travis Perkins distribution network.

Contact: John Ogilvie
Tel: 01282 473170

Taking shape...this 100,000 sq ft 'skeletal' structure will be the new home for Total Glass, one of Profile 22's largest fabricators, early next year. The £3 million factory, at Knowsley near Liverpool, is thought to be the biggest industrial building currently under construction in the Merseyside area.

Extra space is an urgent necessity for Total Glass whose year on year growth of more than 25% year in both its trade and commercial sectors means it is quickly outgrowing its existing 60,000 sq ft premises.

The factory has also attracted additional Government funding via the North West Development Agency and will provide extra production capacity, as well as modern facilities and a better working environment for the 145 employees.

‘We believe it's our overall service - a quality product reliably delivered with the service and backup our customers deserve - that is the driving force behind our continued success,’ says Frank Deary, Managing Director of Total Glass.

Over the past 15 years, Total Glass and Profile 22 have worked towards a shared vision through the fabricator availing itself of the range of services provided by its systems supplier, from technical advice in factory layout planning to specialist training courses and marketing support as the business has expanded.

With six production lines producing 2,000 frames per week, Total has used strong strategic business planning to build and achieve record levels of success backed, in turn, with consistent high levels of product quality and service from its systems supplier.

Delivery is a vital component of this accomplishment, as Frank comments: ‘There aren't many companies that can boast a 98.7% successful delivery rate and this consistent performance is a big factor for us in winning new business.

‘With a five-day turnaround on all products in our range, from frames to conservatory roofs, we work hard at maintaining our reputation for exceptional customer service. Through this and expansion into new areas, we are achieving out aim of becoming a truly national supplier,’ adds Frank.

Schüco International, manufacturer of window, door and façade systems, has announced that Friedhelm J. Stellet (left), Chief Executive GB since 1990, will be leaving on September 30th to take up a new appointment as Vice President for Asia.

The Chief Executive GB designate is Marc von Briel (right) who currently works at Schüco's headquarters in Bielefeld, Germany, as Export Sales Manager with special responsibilities for the UK, France and Italy.

Mr Stellet's appointment underlines Schüco's awareness of the growing importance of the Far East and its determination to maximise the business opportunities that exist in the region.

He will be based in Beijing and will be responsible for the company's subsidiaries and agents in the area.

Born in 1966, Marc von Briel graduated from the University of Stuttgart with a degree in mechanical engineering. He subsequently studied for Masters Degrees in both engineering and business administration and has worked in South Africa and Australia as well as in Germany.

He joined Schüco International in 2001 as Export Sales Co-ordination Manager.

Mr von Briel, who is married, will be moving to the UK and is intending to find a home close to Schüco's headquarters in Milton Keynes.

In addition to his native German, he speaks fluent English, French and Italian and is a qualified yachtsman, diver and paraglider.

With the market for conservatory roofs becoming ever more diversified, Eurocell’s growing nationwide network of Pinnacle Roof Fabricators now have access to the following two services.

Conservatory structural calculations
This service is now in place whereby structural calculations in accordance with ‘Building Regulations or Building Control’ can be provided. Relevant structural assessment forms and downloads can be obtained from Eurocell. There will be a charge for this service.

Conservatory portal frames
Eurocell has also announced a new arrangement with portal frame specialist Aluspan, which will provide fabricators of the Pinnacle Conservatory Roof System the facility to deal direct for large span conservatory designs. Aluspan has all the information required to provide bespoke portal frame design solutions for the Pinnacle Conservatory Roof System. See http://www.eurocell.co.uk for further specifications.

Eurocell Profiles is based in Alfreton Derbyshire and manufactures the Pinnacle bespoke conservatory system and Pinnacle 500 Modular Lean to Roof. Eurocell also manufactures a range of window, door and curtain walling systems as well as manufacturing and distributing a wide range of PVCu building products from a nationwide network of Building Centres.

Tel: 01773 842 100
Email: mailto:marketing@eurocell.co.uk

Radley PVCU has added the new Clip Fit Conservatory to its PVCu portfolio. The Oxon-based fabricator is offering the standard size conservatory as a complete, easy to install package with a 7-day delivery.

Radley’s new 3m x 3.5m Clip Fit Conservatory features the WHS Halo PVCu system and Ultraframe Uzone roof and costs just £2,500 including window boards and fixings. It is available in white as standard, but can be foiled or coloured by Radley’s in-house colouring facility at an additional cost.

Installation of the new Clip Fit Conservatory couldn’t be easier - frames clip together quickly and easily with the new WHS Halo coupling system, which has been designed specifically for Halo’s 70mm outerframes, ie Eclipse and Esthetique systems. This patented system is suitable for conservatory installations as it enables coupling without the need to access inner chambers, thereby eliminating the need to deglaze on site. A versatile solution, it can be used to fix window frame to window frame, window frame to door or side lights to door.

Radley sees its new Clip Fit Conservatory as a top quality alternative to the same-priced standard conservatories available from builders’ merchants and similar outlets. According to Gary Wanless, of Radley PVCU’s Trade Sales, this latest addition to its range is already generating considerable interest. ‘Combining Radley’s manufacturing quality and market-leading components we believe our Clip Fit Conservatory is going to be a real winner with builders and installers nationwide.’

Tel: 01235 516700

Patio door specialist Sliders UK has exceeded its ambitious sales and production targets and now regularly supplies over 200 patio doors per week throughout the UK.

‘We are delighted to have achieved this milestone ahead of target,’ said director Ian Longbottom, ‘Sliders has invested heavily to keep capacity ahead of demand in order that we can always react to new business effectively.’

The company now fully expects to achieve its target of 250 doors per week by the end of its second year. ‘Our consistent rapid growth demonstrates an unrivalled commitment to our customers,’ said Ian. An independent audit commissioned by Sliders UK from BenchmarQ earned the company a prestigious Gold Award for customer service.

Sliders also announces that it has seen a substantial increase in take-up since introducing brilliant chrome as an option for patio door handles. The new handle complements the existing range of white and gold die cast furniture and provides an aesthetic match for the increasing use of chrome window and door furniture.

Since Sliders UK was formed in November 2002 it says its high quality bevelled and fully featured products, aggressive pricing and reliable short lead times have proven a huge success with customers across the UK.

Tel: 01772 698222
Web: http://www.sliders-uk.com

Century Homes Increases Share in UK Timber Frame Market With Major Acquisition

Century Homes, the largest timber frame home manufacturer in the UK and Ireland, has announced that it has significantly increased its presence in the British timber frame market by signing a deal to take control of Northumberland-based, timber frame company, Timber Frame Solutions (TFS).

'This is a major strategic expansion for Century Homes in Britain, and in particular in England, as it gives us the capacity to produce in excess of 2,500 units direct to the market,' said Gerry McCaughey, chief executive of Century Homes. 'This plant in Blyth is ideally located to target both the English and Scottish markets and will excellently augment Century's existing plant in Tredegar, Wales and the Company's sales and engineering office in London.'

'This expansion follows Century Homes' very successful formula of spreading our product reach by investing in strong regional locations and will help us achieve our 400% growth target in Britain in the next five years,' added McCaughey.

Established in 1999 by Pierse Contracting of Dublin, Ireland's third largest construction business, TFS was set up to develop a strong customer base in England by capitalising on its location. It operates as a full function timber frame business encompassing sales, design,
manufacture and erection.

TFS concentrates on medium and large scale projects requiring a degree of technical input in the design process, providing an opportunity for building strong relationships with potential clients. Areas of strength include the social and private housing markets, and the education and health sectors. TFS has also earned a particularly strong reputation in developing high performance closed panel systems, offering very high thermal performance using specially selected eco-friendly materials to reinforce the environmental benefits of timber frame construction.

Under the terms of the deal, Century Homes has taken over control of Timber Frame Solutions from its founding Parent Group. As part of the new management arrangement, the design, engineering and production systems of the Blyth plant will be integrated to fit into Century Homes' state of the art automated manufacturing systems and internationally recognised quality standards. In addition, all of the plant's products will now bear the Century Homes brand name.

'This announcement signals our intention to be the pioneering timber frame company in the market by offering a more comprehensive package to British customers,' concluded McCaughey. 'We will be using our extra capacity in the market to target major commercial builders with medium and large housing schemes. In addition we hope to help in the social and urban regeneration of many areas through participation in social and affordable housing schemes.'

About Century Homes
Century Homes was established in 1990 in Monaghan, Ireland. It is the largest timber-frame building company in Europe. At present the company has 40% of the timber frame housing market in Ireland and produces over 5,000 buildings per annum or one in ten of all new Irish houses.

The company currently employs 320 in total in its Irish plants in Longford, Dungarvan, Monaghan, and 40 between its plant in Cardiff and a sales and engineering office in London. The new plant in Blyth will have a staff of 40 people. In January 2005 the company will open another new plant in Tullamore, in the Irish midlands, which will employ 120 people when operational.

In 2003 the company announced a major expansion, which will see it grow its total workforce to 600 over the next five years and will double its turnover from its current level of EUR50 million to EUR100 million over the same time frame.

Gerry McCaughey is the Irish Industry Entrepreneur of the Year and Chairperson of the Irish Alliance for Insurance Reform.

Wendland Styal fabricator Yorkshire Trade Windows Ltd, which recently extended its roof fabrication facility, has converted two important new customers to buying Styal roofs. Both companies – Warmseal of Newcastle and Canon Conservatories of County Durham – made the decision to change supplier because of the professionalism demonstrated by YTW and the strength, adaptability and fitter-friendly qualities of the Wendland Styal system.

Warmseal started life in 1987 in a small double-fronted showroom in Newcastle, and has grown to become the North East’s foremost window, door and conservatory installer. The company now operates four factory units with a combined size of around 45,000 sq ft and currently installs up to 10 conservatories per week. Following an MBO of the company last year, the new Warmseal Directors decided to take another look at their existing roof system supplier and found them wanting.

David Luke, Warmseal’s Sales Director, comments:
‘We’d been using the same company for many years and felt that we were no longer getting the support we needed from it. We decided to trial four different roofs, including Styal, over a period of a few months to ensure we had thoroughly investigated all considerations. We didn’t want it to be an overnight decision.‘We visited both YTW and Wendland several times to see for ourselves how the roofs were made and installed. Yorkshire Trade Windows impressed us with their dynamism and we came away confident that we had found not only a better supplier but a superior roof system. Styal has a number of unique selling points, a prime one being its adaptability for customisation – it’s a better looking system than the rest and our installers gave us excellent feedback when they used it, saying that everything arrived well-labelled and easy to understand. It was a clear winner for us.’

Canon Conservatories of County Durham has traded successfully for 14 years and sells up to five conservatories per week throughout the North East and beyond.

Managing Director Peter Jennings explains:
‘Our frames were already supplied by Yorkshire Trade Windows, so when the company started using the Wendland Styal system we decided to try the roofs as well. We were very impressed with the quality and strength of the Styal system and how well it matches our Rehau profile. YTW provides an excellent service and we are really pleased with how things are going with the new system, the quality of which we think is second to none.’

Shepley Window Systems has recently purchased wireless headsets for the company’s entire customer services team. Using DECT (digitally enhanced cordless technology), this latest improvement means all members of the team can answer calls from anywhere within Shepley, not just at their desks.

Lorraine Wood, Shepley’s customer service manager comments, ‘Not all queries can be dealt with sitting at our desks within the department, so it’s great that we can now go into the technical, production or order processing departments to get answers for our customers in minutes, while still being able to answer incoming calls’.

Tel: 0161 339 2433
Email: mailto:james.brisbane@shepley.com
Web: http:// www.shepley.com

Sentinel Doors recently joined staff from Leicester City Council to celebrate the installation of its 4000th composite residential door, since its first involvement with the council in 2001. The celebration lunch, which was held at the Sawday Street factory in Leicester on Wednesday 18th August, followed the installation of the door on the Bruanstone Frith Estate and included the presentation of a cake by Steve Brown and Kevin Kiernan of Sentinel, to the lucky tenant.

The rolling refurbishment and maintenance programme, which also includes the supply of windows from WHS Halo, was started in 1998 and will involve the refurbishment of 21,000 properties over a seven year period.

Tenants are being offered a choice of styles and colours, and all doors are fitted with hardware approved under the 'Secured by Design' scheme.

Commenting for Leicester City Council, Cllr Roger Blackmore, says: 'This is an important milestone for the housing department and means that we are well on way to fulfilling the refurbishment programme.'

Tendering for the original contract was managed independently through the Eastern Shires Purchasing Organisation (ESPO), which acts as Procurement agents for Leicester City Council. The Organisation selected Sentinel for its combination of product and service quality, experience and price.

Says Sentinel managing director Steve Brown: 'We too are delighted to have reached this milestone as it is one of the largest door replacement contracts we have managed.'

Contact: Phil Mundell
Tel: 01443 229219

Trademark Windows has joined forces with the leading designer and manufacturer of conservatory roofing systems Ultraframe, to develop a climate controlled portal conservatory at Wokingham Hospital.

The 'pavilion conservatory' installation is set to become a major feature of the community hospital and will provide patients, visitors and residents with a light, bright and welcoming respite space away from the wards.

Managing Director of Trademark Windows in Wokingham, Mark Ashwell, heard about the project to transform the hospital through an appeal in the local newspaper.

Mark said: 'We jumped at the opportunity to get involved in a project of this size, especially one which gives something back to the local community. At Trademark we pride our reputation on supporting the community and volunteered our skills. We turned to Ultraframe because of their top quality technical and engineering support service to help us deliver a complex roof of this size and dimension'

Dr Alan Penn, Chairman of the Wokingham Primary Care Trust said: 'We are delighted to see the project come together. The vision, expertise and support from TradeMark Windows and Ultraframe have been exceptional. This project will mean a great deal to the Wokingham Hospital and the work done to date by the Trademark Windows and Ultraframe team has proved invaluable.'

The 6.5 x 6.5 m roof will extend the hospital over a disused court yard. Mark Ashwell continued: 'It is going to be a really unique installation. Our engineering team has carried out the survey and will be pivotal to the installation, however we could not have managed this scale of conservatory roof without specialist help from the Ultraframe Portals team. The Ultraframe team's technical support, experience and professionalism has been invaluable to us. It has allowed us to work quickly and efficiently and get the project off the ground and has been vital to making this project a success.'

Ultraframe Portals division specialises in the design, pricing, manufacturing and supply of portal framed and bespoke conservatory roofs which require the inclusion of additional structural support.

Portals General Manger, Glenn Hodgson said: 'We understand that every Portal installation is a bespoke one. The team is geared to tailor our services to suit each individual project's requirements. This is a fantastic opportunity to be involved with'.

The pavilion extension will be completed by December and officially opened by Uri Gellar, a patron of the Wokingham Community Hospital.

TradeMark's headquarters in Wokingham contains the company's new showrooms, trade counter and the factory. TradeMark's annual turnover has passed £10 million and is still growing.

One of the last remaining manual jobs in the glass industry can now be automated by a new machine designed specifically for the application of lead to glass. The Decorex machine series, which is about to start manufacturer trials, will operate at twice the speed of a manual leader and will produce perfect lead layouts every time.

RegaLead has been working with specialist glass machinery manufacturers Cadram and R&R to produce what the market has been looking for, and RegaLead and Cadram will together be promoting and marketing the machine in the UK. RegaLead has already commissioned the manufacture of a new spool to carry 100 metres of lead instead of the current industry standard of 50 metres which will increase efficiency by reducing spool changeover time.

The new machine is produced under a joint development agreement between RegaLead, R&R– better known for its quality Georgian Bar manufacturing equipment – and Cadram (Computer Aided Design Resin & Machines).

This development is a progression from an original machine designed and produced by Cadram for laying 3M Accentrim™ Tape. It was evident that the glass industry would benefit from the automated application of lead designs and that Accentrim Tape™ application was not dissimilar to the laying of lead.

The machine can produce designs from software packages such as Lisec’s GPS.lead, and has an online or offline processing facility. It will bring the last remaining time-consuming manual process within the glass industry into the 21st century, and it will also remove the errors that can occur with manual application.

Harald Apfelthaler, R&R’s Chief Operations Manager, who is responsible for the machine’s manufacture, says the company is producing two types of machine, and that these are tailored to suit the average UK glass company. He adds that the machines are capable of laying up 200 linear metres of 9mm lead per hour. The basic machine can be set up to lay either 3M Accentrim™ Tape or lead. Both machines will be on show on the R&R and Cadram stands at Glasstec in Düsseldorf in November.

Cadram’s Managing Director, Ron Baker, says the next stage is to introduce the machine into the market place for full evaluation in a production environment. Indeed, Cadram has already received an order for the first machine from one of the largest UK independent sealed unit manufacturers which were delivered in August.

Mike Whitlam, UK Office Manager of Lisec Software, says the GPS.lead software has already been used by over 20 of the UK’s major sealed unit manufacturers and has been proved to reduce labour times on leaded units by up to 30%. The linking of this already popular software package to the Decorex machine will improve efficiencies even further.

Guy Hubble, Sales and Marketing Director of RegaLead, also adds that the software helps line up the leading, for example in bay windows or multiple window installations. Where diamonds or square lead designs are used, the computer-aided design will optimise the line up throughout the installation.

This new innovation combines the experience of four specialist companies, who together are helping to bring the industry right up to date by eliminating time consuming manual lead laying through automation. It is expected that UK demand will initially be for around 25 to 30 machines, and return on investment will be rapid as a result of increased speed and efficiency as well as reduced labour costs.

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

Patio door manufacturer, PatioMaster, has appointed an East Kilbride fabricator to complete its network supplying the whole of Scotland with quality in-line PVCu sliding patio doors.

Directors of PatioMaster Scotland, Lex Philips and Andy McKenzie have opened a new 2,000 sq ft unit in James Watt Place to meet demand from a growing customer base across the country for high security patio doors with a five-day turnaround.

However, business has been brisk, and following an unexpectedly busier than anticipated start, the pair are now planning to move into larger premises in the coming months. A new bespoke vehicle specially adapted to carry patio doors has also been added to the fleet.

Andy comments: ‘Our customers place great value on being able to source quality patio doors on short lead times from a supplier who, for this part of the world, is relatively local.

This means we can respond quickly to any queries or issues, enabling our customers to get on with running their businesses.’

PatioMaster Product Manager, Richard Parker welcomed PatioMaster Scotland to the network, adding: ‘The success of our regional approach in supplying ready-made patio doors to fabricators who lack the time or facilities to make the product themselves and are willing to ‘buy in’ speaks for itself.’

For more information, please contact PatioMaster Scotland on 01355 590991

Scotplas has been a roofline stockist for 10 years. When Eddie Edwards, Commercial Director, arrived seven years ago Scotplas had four branches and was turning over £1million. In 2003 with an annual turnover of £11million from 14 branches, Scotplas came 58th in the Fastest Growing Businesses section of the Deloitte & Touche Indy 100 Awards 2003. Nine months ago Scotplas changed one of its roofline suppliers to Everwhite to ensure continued growth.

Eddie explains why Scotplas switched: ‘We changed supplier because of poor service and quality issues. Everwhite contacted us and we were impressed with the professional approach of the company. The Everwhite team are helpful – they are a great support, as a supplier should be. Everwhite’s product range is expanding all the time, the woodgrain and ogee capping boards are particularly popular. We actively promote the Everwhite brand, and sales of Everwhite have continued to grow over the last nine months. The excellent service makes our lives easier because we know what products we’re getting, we know when we’re getting them and have them in stock for our customers when they need them.’

Tel: 01685 882 447

The global economic recovery under way in the mechanical engineering sector since the beginning of the year is showing clear signs of kicking in for the Homag Group AG.

The manufacturer of machines and plants for the woodworking industry registered an increase in incoming orders during the first half of 2004 of 21.5 per cent, taking the total order value to 311.5 million Euro compared to only 256.3 million Euro in the previous year. Turnover also increased by 6.8 per cent to 302.8 million Euro (as against: 283.4 million in 2003). The apparent discrepancy between these increases is down to the natural time delay between incoming orders and the resulting turnover and also to the low level of orders in hand at the beginning of the year.

Spokesman for the Management Board Klaus Bukenberger considers the welcome market revival to be largely due to a green light for investment activity throughout the industry following two to three years of accumulated investment backlog and uncertainty. ‘We are expecting demand to normalise over the second half of the year, which we assume will be reflected in a slightly more moderate growth rate for this period’. For 2004 overall, the Board is predicting an increase in turnover compared to 2003 of ‘around ten per cent’.

As the intense competitive situation in the marketplace shows no signs of abating, however, profit margins continue to suffer. This, on top of the increases in the cost of raw materials and a strong Euro, is largely responsible for an operating result for Homag Group in first six months of 2004 which leaves Buckenberger far from happy. However, the profit situation is showing clear improvement over the comparable period for the previous year, due in some part to costs saved through staffing cuts. The Homag Group workforce numbered 5,018 on June 30th, 2004 compared to a figure of 5,302 on the same date in the previous year.

September 2004 will see the global player extending its existing facilities in Shanghai, China. With this move, the Homag Group is responding to the growing significance of the Asian market by strengthening its already considerable competitive edge in the region. The Group recognised the market potential of the region as early on as 1993, and has been producing in China ever since. Over the past two years, the Homag Group has actually doubled its local production capacity, and is looking to achieve a further 50 per cent increase with this latest expansion of its existing plant. On June 30, 2004, the company employed a production workforce of 160 in China, with more than 100 additional employees on the payroll at its eight different service and sales locations in China.

The company has also reported positive development of its markets in Eastern Europe and the CIS over the first half of the year. According to Homag, this is due partially to the relocation of Western European producers to the East. The stronger of the Western European markets succeeded in holding their high level achieved during the previous year, while domestic sales registered an unexpectedly good recovery. The Homag Group puts this positive development down primarily to the renewed flow of investment activity in Germany.

After a disappointing two years, the North American market showed signs of a modest recovery during the first half of 2004. The Homag Group is anticipating new impetus to be generated by the International Woodworking Machinery & Furniture Supply Fair (IWF) due to be held in Atlanta at the end of August. At what is one of North America’s most important trade fairs, the Group will be lending weight to the revival of its US business by presenting a series of new products.

Contact: Andreas Hermann
Tel.: +49 7443 13-2199
Email: mailto:andreas.hermann@homag.de
Web: http://www.homag.de

Family owned panel and timber importing and distribution company, James Latham, which has been established for almost 250 years and now has nine distribution centres around the UK, has acquired the Gateshead sheet material and fabrication arm of FH Thompson & Sons Limited.

FH Thompson & Sons Limited, also a family business and with an impressive century long heritage itself, has enjoyed a commercial relationship with James Latham for almost half of that time.

Roger Latham, Chairman of James Latham commented, ‘I am delighted that we were given the opportunity to purchase FH Thompson & Sons Limited which shares so many of our values and has a similar ethos towards how it conducts business. Because of our trading history, we know the company so well and intend to build on the excellent service and first class reputation that it is recognised for.

‘The acquisition is part of our growth strategy and for the first time, gives Lathams a presence in the north east, which will deliver obvious benefits to our customer base in this region. The two businesses will also provide mutual benefits and complementary areas of expertise to deliver a wider product range and improved service to customers.’

Based in Gateshead and employing 17 people, the FH Thompson & Sons Limited site will be rebranded James Latham Gateshead and as well as utilising FH Thompson’s specialist fabrication facility, will also incorporate Lathams burgeoning panel product range. The north east business will be headed up by Operations Director John Bowman who will report into Group Panel Products Director Chris Sutton.

Alcoa and Newmont Sign Joint Venture to Explore Gold in Suriname

Alcoa World Alumina LLC announced on 9th August the signing of a joint venture agreement in which Newmont will explore for gold. Newmont will determine the feasibility of commencing gold mining operations in Suriname if justified by the exploration results.

Alcoa's subsidiary in Suriname, Suriname Aluminum Company LLC (Suralco), holds the Witlage and Merian exploration concessions there, which total 65,000 hectacres with the possibility of expansion to 100,000 hectacres. Suralco identified some gold anomalies at the concessions in the course of exploring for bauxite.

The joint venture agreement calls for Newmont to spend up to six years exploring for gold in the concessions. At the end of the exploration period, Newmont will complete a feasibility study that would describe the reserves of gold and the nature and extent of mine facilities needed to tap it.

'We think it is important that this be viewed in perspective,' said John Sibly, President Global Manufacturing, Alcoa World Alumina and Chemicals. 'While we are pleased to have this opportunity to work with Newmont, the success and magnitude of gold exploration projects are difficult to predict. In addition, this is a very long term project with minimal financial impact in the near term.'

In exchange for their investment, exploratory work, and operational management of the process, Newmont would receive an equity interest in the potential gold mining operation. Newmont and Alcoa share a strong commitment to sustainable development.

Alcoa's presence in Suriname extends back to 1916. The business originally focused on mining bauxite. In 1958, Suralco signed an agreement with the Suriname government to develop the country's hydropower and bring the aluminium industry to the country. Today, Suralco produces approximately 5,350 metric tons of alumina each day at its Paranam location. Suralco and an affiliate of BHP Billiton own 55% and 45%, respectively, of the Paranam facility. Alcoa was advised by ANZ Investment Bank.

Newmont, based in Denver, is the world's premier gold mining company and the largest gold producer with significant assets on five continents.

Suralco is part of Alcoa World Alumina and Chemicals, an enterprise owned 60% by Alcoa and 40% by Alumina Limited of Australia. Alcoa is the world's leading producer and manager of primary aluminium, fabricated aluminium and alumina facilities, and is active in all major aspects of the industry. Alcoa serves the aerospace, automotive, packaging, building and construction, commercial transportation and industrial markets, bringing design, engineering, production and other capabilities of Alcoa's businesses to customers.

The company has 120,000 employees in 42 countries and has been a member of the Dow Jones Industrial Average for 45 years and the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes since 2001.

Web: http://www.alcoa.com